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Jessica Coran #8
Bitter Instinct
FBI Medical Examiner Dr. Jessica Coran is investigating a series of bizarre murders attributed to the Poet. His calling card is human skin engraved with toxic ink and verse. For Jessica, the most baffling aspect of the crimes is that no victim shows signs of resistance, or even fear. Only she has the insight to read between the Poet's lines-and to stop him before his final stroke of insane genius.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2001
8 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Robert W. Walker
184 books75 followersAka Geoffrey Caine, Glenn Hale, Evan Kingsbury, Stephen Robertson
Master of suspense and bone-chilling terror, Robert W. Walker, BS and MS in English Education, Northwestern University, has penned 44 novels and has taught language and writing for over 25 years. Showing no signs of slowing down, he is currently juggling not one but three new series ideas, and has completed a film script and a TV treatment. Having grown up in Chicago and having been born in the shadow of the Shiloh battlefield, near Corinth, Mississippi, Walker has two writing traditions to uphold--the Windy City one and the Southern one--all of which makes him uniquely suited to write City for Ransom and its sequels, Shadows in White City and City of the Absent. His Dead On will be published in July 2009. Walker is currently working on a new romantic-suspense-historical-mainstream novel, titled Children of Salem. In 2003 and 2004 Walker saw an unprecedented seven novels released on the "unsuspecting public," as he puts it. Final Edge, Grave Instinct, and Absolute Instinct were published in 2004. City of the Absent debuted in 2008 from Avon. Walker lives in Charleston, West Virginia.
Master of suspense and bone-chilling terror, Robert W. Walker, BS and MS in English Education, Northwestern University, has penned 44 novels and has taught language and writing for over 25 years. Showing no signs of slowing down, he is currently juggling not one but three new series ideas, and has completed a film script and a TV treatment. Having grown up in Chicago and having been born in the shadow of the Shiloh battlefield, near Corinth, Mississippi, Walker has two writing traditions to uphold--the Windy City one and the Southern one--all of which makes him uniquely suited to write City for Ransom and its sequels, Shadows in White City and City of the Absent. His Dead On will be published in July 2009. Walker is currently working on a new romantic-suspense-historical-mainstream novel, titled Children of Salem. In 2003 and 2004 Walker saw an unprecedented seven novels released on the "unsuspecting public," as he puts it. Final Edge, Grave Instinct, and Absolute Instinct were published in 2004. City of the Absent debuted in 2008 from Avon. Walker lives in Charleston, West Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 4, 2012
Book 8 in the series
Bitter Instinct is quite original – at least to this reader. Plenty of times it appeared the FBI had their “man” only to discover another ‘dead’ end. (pardon the pun :D) Many possible suspects.
This is the first I’ve read from this author and it’s quite good. I thought too much information was discussed by the agents to civilians though. Seemed unprofessional.
FBI is called in to help uncover a serial killer when local Philadelphia investigators are stymied. Young folks are being killed while no apparent struggle is being detected at any of the crime scenes, suggesting that each knows and trusts their killer.
Each person has a poem etched into their backs but what exactly is the toxin used in the ink? That’s what FBI medical examiner Dr. Jessica Coran wants to know along with the other agents assigned to the case. Also assigned is FBI psychic Kim Desinor.
Jessica and Kim visit local shops where poetry readings are read from poems either etched or penned on the backs of the young participants. From there they are led to teachers and writers of poetry, meeting many sketchy characters in their search to uncover the killer. Meanwhile the poet killer continues his/her work and more bodies are discovered by their respective friends or family.
Bitter Instinct is quite original – at least to this reader. Plenty of times it appeared the FBI had their “man” only to discover another ‘dead’ end. (pardon the pun :D) Many possible suspects.
This is the first I’ve read from this author and it’s quite good. I thought too much information was discussed by the agents to civilians though. Seemed unprofessional.
FBI is called in to help uncover a serial killer when local Philadelphia investigators are stymied. Young folks are being killed while no apparent struggle is being detected at any of the crime scenes, suggesting that each knows and trusts their killer.
Each person has a poem etched into their backs but what exactly is the toxin used in the ink? That’s what FBI medical examiner Dr. Jessica Coran wants to know along with the other agents assigned to the case. Also assigned is FBI psychic Kim Desinor.
Jessica and Kim visit local shops where poetry readings are read from poems either etched or penned on the backs of the young participants. From there they are led to teachers and writers of poetry, meeting many sketchy characters in their search to uncover the killer. Meanwhile the poet killer continues his/her work and more bodies are discovered by their respective friends or family.
November 22, 2015
Meh... certainly not bone chilling as the cover claimed. confusing, slightly off dialogue. FBI agents and cops with poor judgement. just not very good in my book.
May 25, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews