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Killer Instinct
Welcome to Camp Lakeview.
As the camp nurse at a behavioral rehabilitation camp for troubled pre-teens, I’m supposed to handle split lips, heatstroke, and campers who’d rather die than spend their summer here.
Nothing I can’t handle.
Camp Lakeview is where rich parents send their kids when they’re trying to keep them out of trouble. The rest are wards of the state, dropped here when there’s nowhere else to put them. Either way, everyone arrives with a file, including me.
Then, there’s Wesley.
He’s one of the counselors, equipped with a pretty smile and watchful eyes. He’s harmless. Flirty? Sure. Dangerous? Hardly.
That is, until someone turns up dead.
The town sheriff claims it was an accident. The camp director won’t listen to my suspicions, but Wesley knows exactly what—and who—I’m afraid of.
And he doesn’t just want revenge.
He wants me.
KILLER INSTINCT is an ’80s slasher MF dark romance.
As the camp nurse at a behavioral rehabilitation camp for troubled pre-teens, I’m supposed to handle split lips, heatstroke, and campers who’d rather die than spend their summer here.
Nothing I can’t handle.
Camp Lakeview is where rich parents send their kids when they’re trying to keep them out of trouble. The rest are wards of the state, dropped here when there’s nowhere else to put them. Either way, everyone arrives with a file, including me.
Then, there’s Wesley.
He’s one of the counselors, equipped with a pretty smile and watchful eyes. He’s harmless. Flirty? Sure. Dangerous? Hardly.
That is, until someone turns up dead.
The town sheriff claims it was an accident. The camp director won’t listen to my suspicions, but Wesley knows exactly what—and who—I’m afraid of.
And he doesn’t just want revenge.
He wants me.
KILLER INSTINCT is an ’80s slasher MF dark romance.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2026
About the author
Jane Ann Darling
3 books14 followersJane Ann Darling writes dark romance with a wicked streak and has a soft spot for happily ever afters—eventually. Fueled by an unhealthy amount of coffee and a lifelong love affair with classic rock, she spends her nights plotting her next novel instead of getting a decent amount of sleep.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 26, 2026
If you aren't just as obsessed with this book as I am after reading the brilliant chapter titles, you're wrong. Because I was hooked before the story even started. AND I AM FURIOUS AT THE ENDING.
The way the tension was built and strung out throughout the entirety of the book was *chef's kiss*. Talk about a page-turner! I never knew exactly what was lurking in the next chapter, and I fear I now have an unhealthy love of gorgeous killers. (THAT SHOWER SCENE?!? I'M SCREAMING. It will live in my daydreams forever.) Tatum was the grumpiest grump who wore Camp Lakeview polos and sarcasm like a badge of dishonor. Wesley was the sunshine psycho who can save my life whenever he fancies. Dani was the bestie with every bad idea. And I appreciated the incompetence of every authority figure so that I could continue to experience shallow breathing for the entirety of the book.
Jane Ann Darling, you did it again. Left me on read two summers in a row without any sequels on the horizon. How dare you.
The way the tension was built and strung out throughout the entirety of the book was *chef's kiss*. Talk about a page-turner! I never knew exactly what was lurking in the next chapter, and I fear I now have an unhealthy love of gorgeous killers. (THAT SHOWER SCENE?!? I'M SCREAMING. It will live in my daydreams forever.) Tatum was the grumpiest grump who wore Camp Lakeview polos and sarcasm like a badge of dishonor. Wesley was the sunshine psycho who can save my life whenever he fancies. Dani was the bestie with every bad idea. And I appreciated the incompetence of every authority figure so that I could continue to experience shallow breathing for the entirety of the book.
Jane Ann Darling, you did it again. Left me on read two summers in a row without any sequels on the horizon. How dare you.
July 2, 2026
Jane Anne Darling says it best:
𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘵 is her love letter to slasher movies, dark romance readers, and every girl who saw the villain and thought, “Okay, but hear me out.”
This book was sooo good!!! ♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎
One of my top reads of the year so far 😙🤌
Classic 𝖘𝖚𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖗𝖜𝖊𝖊𝖓 slasher complete with:
• Summer camp for delinquents
• Troubled main characters
• Will they or won’t they
• it can’t be him/her
• OMG! It is them!
AND THEN! To end it on 𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙏 note?!?!??
Ugh, I need more. ☠︎
𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘵 is her love letter to slasher movies, dark romance readers, and every girl who saw the villain and thought, “Okay, but hear me out.”
This book was sooo good!!! ♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎
One of my top reads of the year so far 😙🤌
Classic 𝖘𝖚𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖗𝖜𝖊𝖊𝖓 slasher complete with:
• Summer camp for delinquents
• Troubled main characters
• Will they or won’t they
• it can’t be him/her
• OMG! It is them!
AND THEN! To end it on 𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙏 note?!?!??
Ugh, I need more. ☠︎
June 25, 2026
Buckle up because this one is a dark and twisted wild ride. OMG, this one hit the ground running. I was invested from the very beginning. I was not prepared for the direction this story went in, but damn, I was all for it. This was hot and wickedly delicious. I’ve never read this author before but I’ll definitely be reading everything that was ever written by them. This was top notch.
July 9, 2026
I feel like this could’ve benefited from a few more chapters so as to feel less rushed. Reminded me of ‘Dead of Summer’ by AJ Merlin almost beat for beat, & therefore made me wish I was reading that book instead. Anyway. If you’re looking for a quick slasher summer type of read, it’s fine.
June 17, 2026
What a wild ride loved it
July 6, 2026
The first thing that drew me to the book was the cover, then the blurb. However, I did forget that the whole premise of this book is that Camp Lakeview is a camp for juvenile delinquents. That difference is probably what makes the book. The kids seemed much less delinquent, actually, than the young adult counselors. This book was a mix up of Scream and Friday the 13th. I could have used more spice but again, we're talking about young adults, and not a camp where everyone is sleeping with everyone. The spice content made sense especially because so many "accidents " happened. Tatum is suspicious while actively trying to figure things out. There are twists and turns throughout, even when the killer seems certain. I liked how the camp turned out in the end.
Thank you to, Good Girl Author Services and Jane Ann Darling, for providing me with an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you to, Good Girl Author Services and Jane Ann Darling, for providing me with an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
June 30, 2026
I was drawn to this book because of the eighties slasher vibes. I love horror/slasher books. You throw in oldie horror themes and I am in. Instantly, got the eighties vibes for sure. Yes, you will pick up right away on Jason elements but there are other tones as well.
It does not take too long before the story starts picking up. So this is a plus. What is happening at the camp and by whom is not revealed right away. There is a build up.
While this is a slasher story, for those who don't have a strong stomach, don't worry as there is not a ton of blood and gore. Not too graphic at all. There is nothing wrong with the story only that I sadly did not jive with it due to the fact that I did not really connect with any of the cast of characters. Although the author does know how to write and I would try another book from the author.
It does not take too long before the story starts picking up. So this is a plus. What is happening at the camp and by whom is not revealed right away. There is a build up.
While this is a slasher story, for those who don't have a strong stomach, don't worry as there is not a ton of blood and gore. Not too graphic at all. There is nothing wrong with the story only that I sadly did not jive with it due to the fact that I did not really connect with any of the cast of characters. Although the author does know how to write and I would try another book from the author.
July 10, 2026
Killer Instinct is a 80's slasher style, dark romance, adventure thriller.
When I tell you this story had me wrapped up all day. I couldn't stop reading.
Tatum is the camp nurse at Camp Lakeview, where rich parents send their kids to keep them out of trouble. Then there's Wesley, one of the camp counselors. He's flirty with a pretty smile and a chipper attitude. Until a body turns up. The sheriff claims it was an accident, but Tatum knows it was a murder. She saw the marks on the body. And then other kids begin to disappear. Tatum starts receiving threats because now the killer wants her.
The story was great. The pacing kept me hooked. The ending is sending me over the edge. And the shower seen is burned into my brain. This was a great story and I would love to reread this again in spooky season. It definitely has that eerie, chilling vibe to it that I love!
When I tell you this story had me wrapped up all day. I couldn't stop reading.
Tatum is the camp nurse at Camp Lakeview, where rich parents send their kids to keep them out of trouble. Then there's Wesley, one of the camp counselors. He's flirty with a pretty smile and a chipper attitude. Until a body turns up. The sheriff claims it was an accident, but Tatum knows it was a murder. She saw the marks on the body. And then other kids begin to disappear. Tatum starts receiving threats because now the killer wants her.
The story was great. The pacing kept me hooked. The ending is sending me over the edge. And the shower seen is burned into my brain. This was a great story and I would love to reread this again in spooky season. It definitely has that eerie, chilling vibe to it that I love!
July 31, 2026
Perfect Summer Read!
A spicy & spooky Summerween read that had me hooked from start to finish!
This author is officially a one click buy for me. The witty banter and fantastic humor had me giggling between all the angst and delicious tension between the FMC and MMC. Their chemistry was incredible, and the balance of laughs, emotion, and spice made this such a fun addictive read. I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait to read more from this author.
A spicy & spooky Summerween read that had me hooked from start to finish!
This author is officially a one click buy for me. The witty banter and fantastic humor had me giggling between all the angst and delicious tension between the FMC and MMC. Their chemistry was incredible, and the balance of laughs, emotion, and spice made this such a fun addictive read. I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait to read more from this author.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews