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殺人本能
在巷子裡殺人，是謀殺；在戰場上殺人，是求生；那麼，在職場上殺人是什麼？
弱肉強食的紅海職場，適者生存的不二法則
打從工作第一天起，你的「殺人本能」就啟動了！
傑森．史德曼是英卓電子公司的業務經理，負責銷售電漿電視、平面液晶螢幕、LED顯示器等大型高價電子產品。他風趣機智、熱愛工作，不過個性上缺乏能讓他在企業中步步高升的「殺人本能」──從競爭者手中搶下大筆訂單、不講情面裁掉表現不佳的員工、用盡手段剷除異己等等──傑森可能已經坐上公司的冷板凳。
當傑森認識了柯特．山姆克之後，一切全然改觀。柯特是剛從伊拉克戰場回國的特種部隊軍人，傑森為了回報柯特幫的一個忙，於是替他在公司的安全部門覓得一份工作。自此之後，傑森時來運轉，簽下大筆銷售訂單、完成主管交付的挖角工作；競爭對手開始接連出錯：向大客戶提報前電腦磁碟損毀、好端端的保時捷跑車無故拋錨結果放了客戶鴿子、待出貨的一批平面電視電路晶片全遭腐蝕……
傑森之前總以為這是幸運之神的眷顧，此時不禁開始心生懷疑，直到辦公室裡出現一具上吊的屍體，傑森的不安逐漸化為恐懼……下一個受害者，會不會就是自己？過去最要好的朋友，會不會是最恐怖難纏的敵人？
弱肉強食的紅海職場，適者生存的不二法則
打從工作第一天起，你的「殺人本能」就啟動了！
傑森．史德曼是英卓電子公司的業務經理，負責銷售電漿電視、平面液晶螢幕、LED顯示器等大型高價電子產品。他風趣機智、熱愛工作，不過個性上缺乏能讓他在企業中步步高升的「殺人本能」──從競爭者手中搶下大筆訂單、不講情面裁掉表現不佳的員工、用盡手段剷除異己等等──傑森可能已經坐上公司的冷板凳。
當傑森認識了柯特．山姆克之後，一切全然改觀。柯特是剛從伊拉克戰場回國的特種部隊軍人，傑森為了回報柯特幫的一個忙，於是替他在公司的安全部門覓得一份工作。自此之後，傑森時來運轉，簽下大筆銷售訂單、完成主管交付的挖角工作；競爭對手開始接連出錯：向大客戶提報前電腦磁碟損毀、好端端的保時捷跑車無故拋錨結果放了客戶鴿子、待出貨的一批平面電視電路晶片全遭腐蝕……
傑森之前總以為這是幸運之神的眷顧，此時不禁開始心生懷疑，直到辦公室裡出現一具上吊的屍體，傑森的不安逐漸化為恐懼……下一個受害者，會不會就是自己？過去最要好的朋友，會不會是最恐怖難纏的敵人？
432 pages, Paperback
First published May 16, 2006
439 people are currently reading
1994 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Finder
70 books2,676 followersJoseph Finder is the author of the forthcoming novel JUDGMENT and fourteen other novels, many of them New York Times bestsellers, published in 35 countries around the world. His book HIGH CRIMES was adapted into a movie starring Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd; PARANOIA was made into the Harrison Ford/Gary Oldman film.
He was born in Chicago, lived in the Philippines, Afghanistan, Washington State, and upstate New York. His novels have won numerous awards, including the Strand Critics award, the Barry Award, and the International Thriller Writers’ Thriller Award for best novel. His first novel, THE MOSCOW CLUB, was named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 10 best spy novels of all time.
He lives with his wife in Boston and Cape Cod, where he roots for the Red Sox and mourns his Golden Retriever rescue dog, Mia. He’s currently trying to convince his wife to get another dog.
He was born in Chicago, lived in the Philippines, Afghanistan, Washington State, and upstate New York. His novels have won numerous awards, including the Strand Critics award, the Barry Award, and the International Thriller Writers’ Thriller Award for best novel. His first novel, THE MOSCOW CLUB, was named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 10 best spy novels of all time.
He lives with his wife in Boston and Cape Cod, where he roots for the Red Sox and mourns his Golden Retriever rescue dog, Mia. He’s currently trying to convince his wife to get another dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 369 reviews
March 5, 2024
Hasta el momento, lo poco que he leído de este autor no me ha defraudado. En esta entrega, Jason Steadman, el protagonista, se verá sometido a una dura prueba cuando, para poder ser alguien en su empresa y dar un paso definitivo a su carrera, confía en un personaje al que acaba de conocer, Kurt Semko, quién le abrirá las puertas al triunfo, pero a un precio al que Jason tendrá que pagar demasiado caro, poniendo en juego la vida de su familia.
Me ha gustado como el autor describe el afán de supervivencia del protagonista, con los suficientes giros en la trama para que esta nunca decaiga. No es una novela de antología, pero es una muy buena lectura. Un thriller que engancha, y que te deja con buen sabor de boca. Seguiré leyendo a este escritor.
Fecha de lectura: enero de 2017.
Me ha gustado como el autor describe el afán de supervivencia del protagonista, con los suficientes giros en la trama para que esta nunca decaiga. No es una novela de antología, pero es una muy buena lectura. Un thriller que engancha, y que te deja con buen sabor de boca. Seguiré leyendo a este escritor.
Fecha de lectura: enero de 2017.
May 3, 2025
The same kind of Finder's books. I've guessed the final after no more than eighty pages. Technical, somehow alert and easy to read, but I don't like too much the characters, who make me feel embarrassed because of their poor behavior.
I mean Jason, his wife and her family, otherwise I've should go for four stars.
I mean Jason, his wife and her family, otherwise I've should go for four stars.
February 12, 2021
2.5 ⭐️ “Lo único que cuenta es el número de veces que lo consigas. Cuantas más veces fracases Y sigas intentándolo, más veces lo conseguirás.”
Jason trabaja en una empresa que se dedica a la venta de pantallas LCD. Es un vendedor nato, carismático y con mucho futuro en su carrera. Un día tiene un accidente en su carro y conoce a Kurt. Lo invita a un partido de béisbol de la empresa y este se convierte en el salvador del partido.
Kurt es un veterano de las fuerzas especiales del ejército . Que emplea todo lo aprendido en su vida diaria. Jason le busca trabajo en su empresa por la química amistosa que tuvieron entre ambos.
La historia se basa en lo qué pasa normalmente en el ámbito corporativo entre los colegas: envidia, fraternidad, celos del éxito del otro y lo que se está dispuesto a hacer por alcanzar los objetivos.
Es un libro con mucho suspenso, pero en lo particular casi no me gustó. Me encontré que se alargó mucho la historia y no simpaticé con los personajes.
De todos modos, si te gusta el tema relacionado con ventas y empresas, va a ser de tu agrado.
“La única forma de sobrevivir a una emboscada es devolver el fuego de inmediato y liquidar a todos los tiradores enemigos, obligando al enemigo a emprender la retirada. “
Jason trabaja en una empresa que se dedica a la venta de pantallas LCD. Es un vendedor nato, carismático y con mucho futuro en su carrera. Un día tiene un accidente en su carro y conoce a Kurt. Lo invita a un partido de béisbol de la empresa y este se convierte en el salvador del partido.
Kurt es un veterano de las fuerzas especiales del ejército . Que emplea todo lo aprendido en su vida diaria. Jason le busca trabajo en su empresa por la química amistosa que tuvieron entre ambos.
La historia se basa en lo qué pasa normalmente en el ámbito corporativo entre los colegas: envidia, fraternidad, celos del éxito del otro y lo que se está dispuesto a hacer por alcanzar los objetivos.
Es un libro con mucho suspenso, pero en lo particular casi no me gustó. Me encontré que se alargó mucho la historia y no simpaticé con los personajes.
De todos modos, si te gusta el tema relacionado con ventas y empresas, va a ser de tu agrado.
“La única forma de sobrevivir a una emboscada es devolver el fuego de inmediato y liquidar a todos los tiradores enemigos, obligando al enemigo a emprender la retirada. “
November 4, 2016
Ο Τζέισον Στέντμαν είναι διευθυντής πωλήσεων στην Εντρόνικς, μια μεγάλη εταιρεία ηλεκτρονικών συσκευών με έδρα τη Βοστόνη. Είναι παντρεμένος με μια γυναίκα ξεπεσμένης αριστοκρατικής οικογένειας αλλά με λαμπρό και διαυγές μυαλό, όμως ως εργαζόμενος δε διεκδικεί μια καλύτερη θέση μέσα στην εταιρεία. Όλα αυτά αλλάζουν όταν μια μέρα, μετά από ένα μικρό τροχαίο, γνωρίζει τον Κερτ Σέμκο, που έρχεται με τον γερανό του να πάει το αμάξι στο κοντινότερο συνεργείο. Η γνωριμία αυτή θα είναι μοιραία για τη ζωή του Στέντμαν.
Γρήγορο και στακάτο θριλεράκι, δείχνει μέχρι πού μπορεί να φτάσει ένας κατά τα άλλα φιλήσυχος άνθρωπος όταν κινδυνεύει η οικογένειά του και η δική του ζωή. Με κινηματογραφική γραφή, συνεχόμενες ανατροπές και αλεπάλληλες εκπλήξεις, ο συγγραφέας διαλύει μεθοδικά τη ζωή του Στέντμαν και των συναδέλφων του στη δουλειά. Εντελώς τυχαία κατά τα φαινόμενα δημιουργούνται συνεχώς ευκαιρίες για ανάδειξη των ικανοτήτων του Στέντμαν και σταδιακά βγαίνουν από τη μέση επαγγελματίες ανταγωνιστές του. Αυτό είναι το σημείο που με ενόχλησε, ότι ο πρωταγωνιστής άργησε να πάρει πρέφα ότι κάποια τροχαία και κάποια ηλεκτρονικά σαμποτάζ προέρχονται από τον νέο του φίλο, οδηγό γερανού και γνώστη της πληροφορικής.
Κατά τα άλλα, ο Στέντμαν και ο Σέμκο δένονται όλο και περισσότερο, η ιστορία κλιμακώνεται και όταν ο καλοκάγαθος Στέντμαν αποφασίζει να πάρει τη ζωή του στα χέρια του διαπιστώνει πως αυτό δεν είναι καθόλου εύκολο. Πολλοί χαρακτήρες, έξυπνοι τρόποι διακοπής της ιστορίας σε καίριο σημείο και ένα αναπάντεχο τέλος!
Γρήγορο και στακάτο θριλεράκι, δείχνει μέχρι πού μπορεί να φτάσει ένας κατά τα άλλα φιλήσυχος άνθρωπος όταν κινδυνεύει η οικογένειά του και η δική του ζωή. Με κινηματογραφική γραφή, συνεχόμενες ανατροπές και αλεπάλληλες εκπλήξεις, ο συγγραφέας διαλύει μεθοδικά τη ζωή του Στέντμαν και των συναδέλφων του στη δουλειά. Εντελώς τυχαία κατά τα φαινόμενα δημιουργούνται συνεχώς ευκαιρίες για ανάδειξη των ικανοτήτων του Στέντμαν και σταδιακά βγαίνουν από τη μέση επαγγελματίες ανταγωνιστές του. Αυτό είναι το σημείο που με ενόχλησε, ότι ο πρωταγωνιστής άργησε να πάρει πρέφα ότι κάποια τροχαία και κάποια ηλεκτρονικά σαμποτάζ προέρχονται από τον νέο του φίλο, οδηγό γερανού και γνώστη της πληροφορικής.
Κατά τα άλλα, ο Στέντμαν και ο Σέμκο δένονται όλο και περισσότερο, η ιστορία κλιμακώνεται και όταν ο καλοκάγαθος Στέντμαν αποφασίζει να πάρει τη ζωή του στα χέρια του διαπιστώνει πως αυτό δεν είναι καθόλου εύκολο. Πολλοί χαρακτήρες, έξυπνοι τρόποι διακοπής της ιστορίας σε καίριο σημείο και ένα αναπάντεχο τέλος!
July 20, 2009
Ever since Paranoia, Mr. Finder's work has been getting progressively worse.
Paranoia was a niche, new and exciting. The prospective of corporate espionage, high-tech spying, survival of the most devious, it was a great concept, an exciting new story (as I read it I could almost smell the movie popcorn, the upcoming blockbuster). But then came Company Man, with its disappointing tale and unbelievable characters. And now - Killer Instinct.
What happened, Mr. Finder? Commercialization got in the way? Was it the need to publish, to produce another moneymaking novel without honoring our intelligence? Why write if your characters would be bleak and simpleminded? Why produce a story if it will be as regular as a patient on a fiber diet? Where are the exciting unforeseen circumstances? What happened to eeriness, unpredicted behaviors, risky yet credible propositions? How come your novels are getting worse instead of better? Why the all foreseen Hollywood ending now? Think over these questions and make the right choices in your next book. But keep in mind, it's hard keeping the fans if you produce frequent nonsense.
I don't recommend this one. Try `Paranoia' or check out Grisham or Patterson's books instead.
Paranoia was a niche, new and exciting. The prospective of corporate espionage, high-tech spying, survival of the most devious, it was a great concept, an exciting new story (as I read it I could almost smell the movie popcorn, the upcoming blockbuster). But then came Company Man, with its disappointing tale and unbelievable characters. And now - Killer Instinct.
What happened, Mr. Finder? Commercialization got in the way? Was it the need to publish, to produce another moneymaking novel without honoring our intelligence? Why write if your characters would be bleak and simpleminded? Why produce a story if it will be as regular as a patient on a fiber diet? Where are the exciting unforeseen circumstances? What happened to eeriness, unpredicted behaviors, risky yet credible propositions? How come your novels are getting worse instead of better? Why the all foreseen Hollywood ending now? Think over these questions and make the right choices in your next book. But keep in mind, it's hard keeping the fans if you produce frequent nonsense.
I don't recommend this one. Try `Paranoia' or check out Grisham or Patterson's books instead.
August 23, 2013
It is really hard for me to give a book FIVE stars. This one worked for me on so many levels and the twist at the end was something I should have seen coming, am kicking myself for not seeing, but I love it when I miss something like that.
The story is about a salesman who is not getting ahead. He has tried to climb the corporate ladder, is approaching middle age and still isn't seeing any solid success in his life. He meets a tow truck driver and the two have an instant connection that leads to his assisting the former special forces soldier in getting a job in corporate security at his firm. It isn't long until he starts getting all the breaks, only to discover that his new friend may be behind those breaks.
The pacing in this story is perfect.. it is flawless.. the author manages to keep the action moving, stirs up sympathy for the hero, and create the right amount of tension and fear, even while showing us the dilemma that the hero is facing and all of the emotion that goes with it.
A powerful thriller, with the right amount of twists and tension in it to keep the reader up all night. Truly a page turner.
The story is about a salesman who is not getting ahead. He has tried to climb the corporate ladder, is approaching middle age and still isn't seeing any solid success in his life. He meets a tow truck driver and the two have an instant connection that leads to his assisting the former special forces soldier in getting a job in corporate security at his firm. It isn't long until he starts getting all the breaks, only to discover that his new friend may be behind those breaks.
The pacing in this story is perfect.. it is flawless.. the author manages to keep the action moving, stirs up sympathy for the hero, and create the right amount of tension and fear, even while showing us the dilemma that the hero is facing and all of the emotion that goes with it.
A powerful thriller, with the right amount of twists and tension in it to keep the reader up all night. Truly a page turner.
August 25, 2021
Notes:
Between the great narration & setup for the story, I'm going to up the rating from 3.5 to 4 stars. The ending was predictable, but I really enjoyed the way Finder setup the characters and meshed the details of events.
Between the great narration & setup for the story, I'm going to up the rating from 3.5 to 4 stars. The ending was predictable, but I really enjoyed the way Finder setup the characters and meshed the details of events.
November 8, 2022
לסקירה מפורטת בעברית, קישור לבלוג שלי -
https://sivi-the-avid-reader.com/רצח-...
https://sivi-the-avid-reader.com/רצח-...
May 2, 2010
A readable corporate thriller about a sales exec who makes a new friend in Kurt (ex Special Forces), who turns out to have rather interesting and problematic ideas about friendship. Mixed in with this is the highly-charged corporate sales environment (complete with ludicrous self-help programs), scheming rivals, an ambituous wife and machinations from the corporate suite. Shades of Macbeth. The audiobook was very well read by the excellent Scott Brick, to whom I would listen even if he was reciting a catalog of lawnmower parts.
June 1, 2015
O livro tem algumas partes previsíveis, o que acabava por fazer com que não me surpreendesse tanto com certas coisas que iam acontecendo.
Estava à espera de mais qualquer coisa.
Estava à espera de mais qualquer coisa.
August 7, 2022
4 sterren- Nederlandse paperback
Naar minibieb Velden
Naar minibieb Velden
August 17, 2020
Jason Steadman is a solidly performing salesman for a major electronics company in Boston. He’s done well but has grown a bit stagnant lately; not a good thing when news comes of a merger and a likely pairing down of the sales force. Enter Kurt Semko, a former special forces officer and new friend who takes Jason under his wing, gets him in shape both physically and mentally to rise up the sales ladder. Little things start to happen in Jason’s favor while bad luck befalls Jason’s competitors. Coincidence? The small favors that Kurt performs for Jason become bigger…and even lethal. Kurt is a true friend…
I’ve been wanting to try a Joseph Finder novel for quite some time. This was a random selection, but I think it worked well for me. Even though published in 2006, it’s a bit dated but only because the state of electronic technology moves so fast. Still, that doesn’t interfere with the enjoyment of the plot at all.
The writing is absorbing and easy flowing but above all I was most impressed by the pacing. Thrillers and suspense novels rely on pacing more than anything else to hook the reader and keep them engaged right to the end and Finder does this superbly here. After spending quite a bit of time setting the stage, introducing the characters, their motivations etc., I felt like I knew them well. I was thoroughly immersed in their lives even if, sometimes, I was annoyed at Jason’s choices. As the suspense slowly escalated, I found myself completely engrossed and thoroughly nervous for what seemed to be coming. The final 50 pages or so were absolutely gripping; indeed, there was no way I was going to bed before finishing this one.
I’ll definitely be on the lookout for my next Joseph Finder thriller.
I’ve been wanting to try a Joseph Finder novel for quite some time. This was a random selection, but I think it worked well for me. Even though published in 2006, it’s a bit dated but only because the state of electronic technology moves so fast. Still, that doesn’t interfere with the enjoyment of the plot at all.
The writing is absorbing and easy flowing but above all I was most impressed by the pacing. Thrillers and suspense novels rely on pacing more than anything else to hook the reader and keep them engaged right to the end and Finder does this superbly here. After spending quite a bit of time setting the stage, introducing the characters, their motivations etc., I felt like I knew them well. I was thoroughly immersed in their lives even if, sometimes, I was annoyed at Jason’s choices. As the suspense slowly escalated, I found myself completely engrossed and thoroughly nervous for what seemed to be coming. The final 50 pages or so were absolutely gripping; indeed, there was no way I was going to bed before finishing this one.
I’ll definitely be on the lookout for my next Joseph Finder thriller.
September 22, 2018
Very interesting read with lots of intrigue and humor. Also included a lot of corporate sales tactics and lingo that is unusual with thriller fictional books.
October 23, 2017
Killer Instinct is a novel about a corporate middle manager whose career isn’t elevating the way he and in particular his wife want it to. Things change for Jason Steadman when he has a chance encounter with Kurt Semco, a former Special Forces operative who was dishonorably discharged. Jason gets Kurt a job at his firm, an electronics company that sells television screens. Then things start to change for the better for Jason. He gets sudden good fortune and bad things happen to his rivals—all Kurt’s doing. Eventually, Jason has a change of heart about Kurt and his benefactor becomes a deadly foe.
I really wanted to like this novel, and for about the first two thirds of the novel, I did enjoy it. But then things start to go south. The novel had an interesting premise, good promise, and lots of tension. The writing was strong, but it had two serious flaws that brought it down to mediocrity. The first is characterization. Jason’s wife is a terribly inconsistent and unlikeable character who starts off as this super-pushy women who selfishly tries to force her husband into elevating in his career so that she can enjoy a better life, but then becomes the caring wife who only wants the best out of him. She didn’t work for me and neither did Jason. He was a weasel and a worm. He had no problem taking Kurt’s help, and he had to be dumb not to realize that Kurt was the source of his good luck. When he finally got cold feet, instead of confronting his friend, he went behind his back and tried to get him fired. He was such a poor character that I was rooting for Kurt, even though he was pretty evil. The other fatal flaw was the total lack of believability. There was nothing that Kurt couldn’t do. He was omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. It’s hard to fathom that at the beginning of the story, he was a mere tow truck driver when he should have been running a third world country.
The novel wasn’t bad despite these flaws. It just could have been much better. Still, if you choose to ignore some of these flaws, the novel has some entertainment value.
Carl Alves – author of Battle of the Soul
I really wanted to like this novel, and for about the first two thirds of the novel, I did enjoy it. But then things start to go south. The novel had an interesting premise, good promise, and lots of tension. The writing was strong, but it had two serious flaws that brought it down to mediocrity. The first is characterization. Jason’s wife is a terribly inconsistent and unlikeable character who starts off as this super-pushy women who selfishly tries to force her husband into elevating in his career so that she can enjoy a better life, but then becomes the caring wife who only wants the best out of him. She didn’t work for me and neither did Jason. He was a weasel and a worm. He had no problem taking Kurt’s help, and he had to be dumb not to realize that Kurt was the source of his good luck. When he finally got cold feet, instead of confronting his friend, he went behind his back and tried to get him fired. He was such a poor character that I was rooting for Kurt, even though he was pretty evil. The other fatal flaw was the total lack of believability. There was nothing that Kurt couldn’t do. He was omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. It’s hard to fathom that at the beginning of the story, he was a mere tow truck driver when he should have been running a third world country.
The novel wasn’t bad despite these flaws. It just could have been much better. Still, if you choose to ignore some of these flaws, the novel has some entertainment value.
Carl Alves – author of Battle of the Soul
August 24, 2022
Too much suspension of belief required
May 28, 2020
Meu segundo livro de Joseph Finder mostra que o autor parece não gostar de sair da sua zona de conforto, abordando conspirações e espionagem no mundo corporativo. Em “Instinto Assassino”, Jason Steadman é um executivo de vendas que resolve tomar um atalho pro sucesso contando com a ajuda nada ética de seu novo amigo, Kurt Semko, um ex-militar das Forças Especiais. Deixando de lado as caretas marcantes do Jim Carrey, o roteiro lembra muito o do filme “The Cable Guy": um prestador de serviço solícito, que confunde atenção com amizade e desenvolve uma relação doentia e obsessiva.
A ascensão meteórica na carreira de Jason coincide com uma estranha maré de azar de seus concorrentes, e é quando ele se dá conta (meio tarde demais) que a situação saiu do controle, que seu novo amigo é um maluco de marca maior. Nada de inovador nisso, né? Num roteiro previsível e batido, mas muito bem conduzido, Jason e Kurt desenvolvem uma guerra psicológica que termina num embate na sede da empresa, lembrando os momentos finais de outro filme, “Colateral”.
Reli a minha resenha de “Paranoia” de junho/2019 e é impressionante como a avaliação também valeria para este livro. A narrativa de Joseph Finder cai como uma luva pro meu gosto pessoal, e mesmo sem criar estórias criativas nem investir em finais surpreendentes, ele consegue prender sua atenção e proporcionar uma leitura muito agradável. É também pra isso que vamos atrás de um livro, certo? Entretanto, desta vez, não vou repetir minha avaliação anterior de 5 estrelas por sentir que Kurt foi um pouco negligenciado; nas mãos de um Stephen King, a chantagem e esse thriller psicológico ganhariam contornos muito mais tensos e interessantes.
A ascensão meteórica na carreira de Jason coincide com uma estranha maré de azar de seus concorrentes, e é quando ele se dá conta (meio tarde demais) que a situação saiu do controle, que seu novo amigo é um maluco de marca maior. Nada de inovador nisso, né? Num roteiro previsível e batido, mas muito bem conduzido, Jason e Kurt desenvolvem uma guerra psicológica que termina num embate na sede da empresa, lembrando os momentos finais de outro filme, “Colateral”.
Reli a minha resenha de “Paranoia” de junho/2019 e é impressionante como a avaliação também valeria para este livro. A narrativa de Joseph Finder cai como uma luva pro meu gosto pessoal, e mesmo sem criar estórias criativas nem investir em finais surpreendentes, ele consegue prender sua atenção e proporcionar uma leitura muito agradável. É também pra isso que vamos atrás de um livro, certo? Entretanto, desta vez, não vou repetir minha avaliação anterior de 5 estrelas por sentir que Kurt foi um pouco negligenciado; nas mãos de um Stephen King, a chantagem e esse thriller psicológico ganhariam contornos muito mais tensos e interessantes.
March 18, 2021
ATRAPANTE, DENSA, ENTRETENIDA, PROFUNDAMENTE ARGUMENTADA
Estoy muy impresionado con esta lectura. No me había propuesto leer este libro, y hasta hace dos semanas desconocía al autor, así que la sorpresa es mucha. Todo el despliegue del mundo empresarial me dejó pasmado. Y el desarrollo de la trama y sus personajes. Aunque se veía venir muchas cosas, creo que eso fue una de las cosas que más me gustó. Ya estoy deseando leer otro libro de este autor.
Estoy muy impresionado con esta lectura. No me había propuesto leer este libro, y hasta hace dos semanas desconocía al autor, así que la sorpresa es mucha. Todo el despliegue del mundo empresarial me dejó pasmado. Y el desarrollo de la trama y sus personajes. Aunque se veía venir muchas cosas, creo que eso fue una de las cosas que más me gustó. Ya estoy deseando leer otro libro de este autor.
August 14, 2016
Jason Steadman, the protagonist in author Joseph Finder's, "Killer Instinct", is an electronics salesman and expert for a company in Boston called "Entronics". Married to Kate, Jason's career to date has been somewhat mediocre. The boss "Gordy" doesn't think much of Jason because he sees the fair haired guy Trevor Allard as the top dog. Gordy is a throw back boss in the business world because he believes the more pressure, and intimidation he can apply to his workers the more they'll produce/ sell. To Jason's chagrin Trevor is the smooth talking salesman who snags the big deals with the big clients. Also now that Gordy is expecting to move up in the company shortly, he wants Trevor to fill his position. Jason badly wants Gordy's job but doesn't see a way to impress Gordy who marvels at Trevor. Meanwhile one night travelling home and not paying attention to the road, Jason has a car accident. He's not hurt but his car is dinged up pretty good. The tow truck driver who arrives, Kurt Semko, goes out of his way to help Jason get car to a reputable mechanic and drives him home. Soon Jason and Kurt are fast friends. Kurt was special forces sergeant in Iraq who was dishonorably discharged over a "minor incident" after a botched mission. Kurt is very talented in several areas. He was drafted as a pitcher by the Detroit Tigers, but ended up in the army stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a special forces soldier, Kurt knows many things about guns, explosives, and how war is fought. Jason is so impressed he gets Kurt a spot on Entronics company soft ball team as a pitcher. The team is usually pretty bad but with a ringer in Kurt things look up quickly. Jason also goes to bat for Kurt at Entronics getting him a job in corporate security. Kurt then takes Jason under his wing teaching him how to use the art of war to get ahead in company. However Jason gets very curious that every time there is a stumbling block in his way something comes along every time to Jason's benefit. Even though Jason and Kurt have become best friends something is very off. Jason begins to smell a rat. Kurt must be working behind the scenes sabotaging others in the office to get Jason promotions and big time accounts landed. When Trevor's Porsche crashes killing him and Brett Gleason from the office, Jason is terrified for his life. It seems crossing Kurt is not a healthy thing to do. With an exciting and intense plot this thriller was a superb page turner. Author Joseph Finder manages to get surprises on almost every page. Joseph Finder is certainly a master story teller. With each book of his I've read, they seem to get better each time out. "Killer Instinct" came out in 2006 but it's not really dated. Except for some technology this one still reads like it just came out recently. The supporting characters have enough strength to keep this plot moving at a fairly fast pace. Protagonists Jason and Kurt certainly seem to come alive off the pages. At just over 380 pages this yarn really shined in the final 100 pages. The build up to the big finish was exceptionally well crafted. (If I hadn't gotten sick I'd have read this at least 24 hrs. quicker). Writer Joseph Finder has quickly made it to my favorite authors list. I'm really glad I got to see him in person at this year at Tucson's Festival Of Books back in March. Since then I've read five of his books, and loved them all. Giving, "Killer Instinct", four stars out of a possible five stars. Really would have like to given it a solid 4.25 stars. It's a really good read. Please check it out. If you're not reading Joseph Finder, who is a master suspense thriller story teller you're really missing out ! Do not miss this author. Don't miss this book either.
April 11, 2009
FINDER DOES IT AGAIN -- WHAT ELSE IS NEW??
I've come to the conclusion that the very best time to review a Finder book is as soon as you've finished the very last page. At that time, you're so wound up that to wait a day or two before penning your thoughts would be doing the book an injustice. So with that thought in mind, I've just completed my 4th book by this amazing author and am, once again, ready to sing its praises.
How does he do it? Every single book is a page turner and every single book actually leaves you breathless. I think one of the things I appreciate most about his books is all the research he obviously does. Everything is believable and everything is something you could actually imagine happening to yourself.
In Killer Instinct, he pits two unlikely characters in a symbiotic relationship until the tide eventually turns and best friends become enemies. It is said that it is wise to keep your friends close and your enemies even closer and Finder does a great job of meshing out this quote from Sun Tzu's Art of War.
Killer Instinct takes you into the world of high-end electronics and the struggle to climb the corporate ladder. Jason Steadman is feeling pressure from all ends as he tries to move from District Sales Manager into the more glorified Vice President of Sales position. Most of this pressure is coming from his wife, who grew up with money and is now missing some of the perks her former life offered. She's beginning to feel that Jason is not quite as ambitious as she thought he was when she married him.....definitely not something any guy wants to hear.
When Jason meets Kurt Semko, a former Special Forces officer, his life will change and his rise up the corporate ladder will be escalated. Unfortunately, this rise does not come cheap as Jason will find out soon enough as this once symbiotic relationship now turns parasitic.
I've loved all of Finder's books because, while plausible, I can never seem to figure out how the main character is going to extract himself from the mess in which he's gotten involved. I will say this to all of you readers out there.....you can never go wrong with a book by Joe Finder. It's just that simple....he's just that good. He must have a "killer instinct" when it comes to writing "great" books.
I've come to the conclusion that the very best time to review a Finder book is as soon as you've finished the very last page. At that time, you're so wound up that to wait a day or two before penning your thoughts would be doing the book an injustice. So with that thought in mind, I've just completed my 4th book by this amazing author and am, once again, ready to sing its praises.
How does he do it? Every single book is a page turner and every single book actually leaves you breathless. I think one of the things I appreciate most about his books is all the research he obviously does. Everything is believable and everything is something you could actually imagine happening to yourself.
In Killer Instinct, he pits two unlikely characters in a symbiotic relationship until the tide eventually turns and best friends become enemies. It is said that it is wise to keep your friends close and your enemies even closer and Finder does a great job of meshing out this quote from Sun Tzu's Art of War.
Killer Instinct takes you into the world of high-end electronics and the struggle to climb the corporate ladder. Jason Steadman is feeling pressure from all ends as he tries to move from District Sales Manager into the more glorified Vice President of Sales position. Most of this pressure is coming from his wife, who grew up with money and is now missing some of the perks her former life offered. She's beginning to feel that Jason is not quite as ambitious as she thought he was when she married him.....definitely not something any guy wants to hear.
When Jason meets Kurt Semko, a former Special Forces officer, his life will change and his rise up the corporate ladder will be escalated. Unfortunately, this rise does not come cheap as Jason will find out soon enough as this once symbiotic relationship now turns parasitic.
I've loved all of Finder's books because, while plausible, I can never seem to figure out how the main character is going to extract himself from the mess in which he's gotten involved. I will say this to all of you readers out there.....you can never go wrong with a book by Joe Finder. It's just that simple....he's just that good. He must have a "killer instinct" when it comes to writing "great" books.
June 24, 2013
Joseph Finder is one of my favorite thriller writers who, along with Greg Iles, manage to be much less well known than some of their peers in spite of usually spending some time on NY Times bestseller lists. This is the third book in a row (Paranoia, Company Man) where Finder has found his niche, and that is of thrillers within corporations.
While I actually prefer the style protagonist you'd find in a David Morrell novel (well-trained and super-equipped), a kind found in Finder's earlier novels, it is refreshing to get one like Jason Steadman, a very average talented but underachieving guy who hardly works out, has never fired a gun, and wouldn't know what to do in a physical fight. It's also interesting that the ultimate villain of this book (super trained and ready for anything) actually begins as the ultimate friend, helping Jason's career take off in unethical but seemingly harmless ways. As the stakes get higher, and more is revealed, Jason's world is revealed to be a two-fold nightmare, one where the bosses in his corporation aren't telling the truth and one where his life is in danger.
Personally, I'd normally consider much of the above paragraph a spoiler. However, the synopsis and nearly every review tells as much, and I doubt this review will be the first thing you read before considering this book.
As a bonus, the unabridged audio has an excerpt from a conversation between Joseph Finder and fascinating author Malcolm Gladwell.
While I actually prefer the style protagonist you'd find in a David Morrell novel (well-trained and super-equipped), a kind found in Finder's earlier novels, it is refreshing to get one like Jason Steadman, a very average talented but underachieving guy who hardly works out, has never fired a gun, and wouldn't know what to do in a physical fight. It's also interesting that the ultimate villain of this book (super trained and ready for anything) actually begins as the ultimate friend, helping Jason's career take off in unethical but seemingly harmless ways. As the stakes get higher, and more is revealed, Jason's world is revealed to be a two-fold nightmare, one where the bosses in his corporation aren't telling the truth and one where his life is in danger.
Personally, I'd normally consider much of the above paragraph a spoiler. However, the synopsis and nearly every review tells as much, and I doubt this review will be the first thing you read before considering this book.
As a bonus, the unabridged audio has an excerpt from a conversation between Joseph Finder and fascinating author Malcolm Gladwell.
March 4, 2011
The thrills in this book build slowly but then explode with a bang, just like the friendship between Jason and Kurt. Kurt helps Jason out when his car needs a tow and Jason takes note that Kurt, with his army special forces training, seems to have the kind of athletic prowess and assertive personality that Jason is lacking but could really use. Jason is a businessman for an electronics company and as he gets to know Kurt he finds that several of Kurt's special forces skills could be useful to him in the cutthroat world of business. He gets Kurt a job as a security officer at his firm and Kurt helps him out with a couple of things and at first Jason really appreciates all the help Kurt has given him. But then he becomes suspicious of some disturbing things going on around the office and he begins to wonder, just how 'safe' is Kurt anyway? [return]The way this builds to a highly dangerous situation for Jason was wonderful. The scenario of someone you take a liking to at first and invite into your life suddenly surprising you was truly chilling. Fans of thrills and chills and truly creepy bad guys should give this one a read or a listen.
February 2, 2019
The more of his books I read, the more I realize that Joe Finder is a flawless writer. His characters are so real, with very little description, the action is intense, the twists will snap your head and the endings always catch you off guard and are very satisfying. Killer Instinct is all of these and more!
August 24, 2019
Great book a true pageturner. But sometimes I felt like if reading some of Michael Crightons techno thrillers like for example disclosure. But anyway I like it good book for vacation - do not read if you are working for a multinational electronic tycoon company ;-)
April 28, 2008
Really. You wouldn't think something called Killer Instinct would be so boring!
September 14, 2019
One of the most impressive aspects of a Joseph Finder thriller is that everything that takes place is frighteningly real. Another is that his characters are credible and not afraid to fight back.
October 11, 2024
believable
I could not put this book down. It was a very believable story. A young salesman runs off the road while on the phone with his wife. He is not injured but needs a tow truck to take his car to a repair shop. The tow truck driver was so helpful, suggesting a shop his friend owns, he then offered the young man a ride home, way above his call of duty. The tow truck driver is ex military, part of a specialy trained unit. They talk baseball and Kurt, the tow truck driver starts to pitch for the young man’s companies baseball team. An opening comes up in security and Kurt is hired. He is so thankful he starts helping the young man land big sales, in a very surprising was. Good book
I could not put this book down. It was a very believable story. A young salesman runs off the road while on the phone with his wife. He is not injured but needs a tow truck to take his car to a repair shop. The tow truck driver was so helpful, suggesting a shop his friend owns, he then offered the young man a ride home, way above his call of duty. The tow truck driver is ex military, part of a specialy trained unit. They talk baseball and Kurt, the tow truck driver starts to pitch for the young man’s companies baseball team. An opening comes up in security and Kurt is hired. He is so thankful he starts helping the young man land big sales, in a very surprising was. Good book
Want to read
November 15, 2019Synopsis: Jason Steadman is a sales executive whose career is stalled. He meets a Special Forces Officer and bad things happen to his rivals.
October 26, 2022
Listened to the audio version during walk and drive times - It held my interest well. The basic premise is over the top and demands significant suspension of disbelief, but it's the best novel I've encountered recently for giving a sense of the way high powered salespeople behave and work in a corporate environment. I'll try another one by this author eventually.
June 14, 2019
What an amazing book with grit, stamina, and murder.
Jack Steadman is trying to work His was up the corporate ladder, although he has charm, looks, and a charisma, he just doesn’t have a cutthroat desire or killer instinct in perusing his dream.
Then he meets Kurt Semko, a retired special forces OP’s soldier and his world changes.
For the better?
For the company he works for?
For his precious life?
Well you’ll just have to dive into this one to find out if Jack has what it takes after meeting Kurt!
Jack Steadman is trying to work His was up the corporate ladder, although he has charm, looks, and a charisma, he just doesn’t have a cutthroat desire or killer instinct in perusing his dream.
Then he meets Kurt Semko, a retired special forces OP’s soldier and his world changes.
For the better?
For the company he works for?
For his precious life?
Well you’ll just have to dive into this one to find out if Jack has what it takes after meeting Kurt!
January 26, 2019
I thought this was an interesting and exciting book. It was different from most thrillers in that it focused on more real people in real settings. In this case and electronics salesman. This was something I could relate to, having known many similar types of people in the software sales business. Enter a corrupting influence that helps him develop that "killer instinct" and suddenly he goes from being a so-so salesman to a high level manager. There is lots of action and agony in this book, as well as some food for thought.
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