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Killer Instinct

Hunted: A Thrilling FBI Romance

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The chase is on in New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden's latest installment in the Killer Instinct series!

Josh Duvane's SEAL training not only hardened his body, but also his mind. Though his latest investigation as part of the FBI's Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team is pushing him to his limits. The Sandy Shore killer taunts local police as Josh recovers his victims off the coast of Florida. Of all the women taken, only Casey Quinn has survived. As this unrelenting psychopath stalks her every move, Josh is all that stands between her and certain death. Now it's time for him to turn the tables and use every ounce of training to stop the killer from having the last laugh…

Killer Instinct

182 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 20, 2017

144 people are currently reading
449 people want to read

About the author

Cynthia Eden

314 books6,813 followers
Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.


Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.

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5 stars
155 (31%)
4 stars
190 (39%)
3 stars
117 (24%)
2 stars
14 (2%)
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9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Jo.
957 reviews242 followers
June 22, 2017
“I’m the girl who should have died. Everyone else did, but I didn’t.”

Casey Quinn is a survivor. She’s also a reporter who wants to be the voice of the victims, to have the world hear their stories. But when Casey manages to be the only victim who escapes The Sandy Shore killer, she’s the victim and one who needs protecting from the serial killer who is not done with her. And her protection comes in the form of sexy Josh Duvane who is part of the FBI’s Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team. Together they must put a stop to the killer before he strikes again.

I really liked both Casey and Josh and I liked their instant attraction that even their first hostile meeting, with him calling her a vulture because she’s a reporter and then proceeding to protect her by giving her a lift home in the dark, couldn’t disguise. I also really liked how protective and possessive Josh was over Casey and even though everything about their relationship happened fast, I enjoyed it.

Cynthia Eden is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors, her books are usually filled with evil psychopaths and twists and action, and I must say this book felt a little like a water down version. Don’t get me wrong, there were still tense moments but I wasn’t complete captivated like I usually am. Also I pretty much guessed who the killer was (although the twist about the killer I really didn’t expect and I liked it) early on in the book.

This author writes the most chilling and twisty romantic thrillers and even though this wasn’t my favorite by her, I’m still loving this series and I can’t wait for the next book. This series is a must read for all RS fans.

Profile Image for Paula Brandon.
1,274 reviews39 followers
August 2, 2018
The last third of this romantic serial killer thriller was quite good, just what I look for in a book of this type! Unfortunately, the first two thirds were a bit of a repetitive slog. Casey Quinn is in the town of Hope, a journalist following the exploits of the Sandy Shore Killer. Unfortunately, she becomes the story, after being kidnapped by the killer and narrowly escaping. This has her teaming up with FBI agent Josh Duvane to capture the murderer.

The biggest problem with Hunter is that it is just so repetitive. Casey is captured by the killer and escapes, and she repeats this sequence of events to various investigators for what feels like every following chapter. Instead of a simple "Casey told the detective/FBI agent what happened," we get a blow-by-blow recount of the event. Over and over again! It wasn't necessary, and was clearly there to pad out the word count of a thriller that honestly didn't have a whole lot of plot.

A lot of the dialogue was really cringeworthy. At first I hated Josh with his comment that Casey must be "adventurous" because she wore sexy heels. (Really? A strange attitude for a female author to give her Hero in this day and age). But he didn't say anything else offensive after that point, so I managed to forgive him, and pretended in my head that he looked just like Charlie Hunnam! Casey never really quite came to life for me, because she spent most of her time shaking and quivering and telling her abduction story over and over again.

But as I said, the last third really kicks into gear, and delivers a couple of good plot twists and a dollop of suspense! It definitely saved the book!
Profile Image for Lyndi W..
2,042 reviews211 followers
July 13, 2017
Difficult start for me with Casey being a little TSTL. But then she stopped being a moron and everything was much better. I liked the plot and I thought the villain's motives were creative - they were just a teensy bit too obvious for me. Plenty of action, a nice little romance, and some tense moments of villainy... Overall, I liked it, but Cynthia Eden has done way better.
Profile Image for Timitra.
1,773 reviews10 followers
June 17, 2017
I really enjoyed this action packed, edge of the seat suspense filled read. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Copy won in a contest
Profile Image for Kathy Davie.
4,876 reviews737 followers
June 19, 2017
Insta-romance that was not believable. Combine that with the events that two smart people should have anticipated, and ehhhh...
Profile Image for Susan.
4,818 reviews127 followers
September 6, 2017
Good book with good, fast-paced suspense. The tiny town of Hope is suffering through the attacks of a second serial killer in the space of a few weeks. Josh is a former SEAL who now works for the FBI using his skills to find evidence underwater. The story opens as Josh has found the killer's third victim and the frustration hits him hard. It doesn't help to be accosted by reporters as soon as the team returns to shore. One reporter, in particular, rubs him the wrong way. Casey has a reputation for being relentless when she covers stories such as this. Having been on the receiving end of similar publicity, she is determined to give a voice to the victims.

Though their first meeting is contentious, with Josh quite clear on his opinion of reporters, he is also able to see that there is more to his anger than can be blamed on Casey. I liked the fact that he was able to see it, apologize, and try to make her see why. Even in those circumstances, his protectiveness is obvious as he tries to show her that she could be feeding the beast and putting herself in harm's way. Beneath the antagonism, there is also a simmering attraction that flares between them. Finding her skulking in the dark outside the sheriff's office brings that attraction to the surface as he once again chides her for recklessness, and escorts her back to her hotel.

What neither knows is that the killer has indeed decided on his next victim and is waiting to pounce. Casey isn't ready to die, however, and fights back, managing to escape. Josh is determined to keep Casey safe from the killer who seems determined to finish what he started. He takes her into protective custody, where the sparks between them really begin to fly. I loved seeing a connection deeper than just the physical as they worked together to find the killer. Each of them is surprised to find that they want more from each other. Josh initially tries to deny it, but both of his friends, Hayden and Tucker, see it and call him on it. It was pretty sweet to see two strong characters like Josh and Casey become so protective of each other.

The suspense of the story was really good. From the first attack on Casey to the end, the action was fast and intense. Occasional glimpses into the perp's point of view added to the suspense of when he would strike next. Casey's determination to help, rather than remain protected in the safe house, increased the sense of impending danger. As their investigation progressed, twists and turns kept me guessing as to which of several possibilities was the killer. While the killer turned out to be one of my top suspects, there was a twist that I hadn't seen coming. The final confrontation was intense and had me glued to the pages until it was over.
Profile Image for Cindy.
2,350 reviews172 followers
July 23, 2017
What are the chances of two serial killers taking up in the same town? Pretty high it seems. At the end of Abduction one serial killer was put away but at the start of Hunted it seems another has taken his place.

This was another fast paced suspense. The hero this time is Josh Duvane who served in the Navy with the Sheriff of Hope – Hayden Black (the hero of Abduction). Josh now works for the FBI on the Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team. He is currently in Hope retrieving bodies a killer is leaving underwater. The reporters are there in abundances with this being the 2nd killer in months. As with most law enforcement he isnt fond of the press but Casey Quinn who is a well known investigative reporter and piques his interest. When she is taken by the killer and manages to escape he vows to protect her at all cost..

For those that dont know these Harlequin Intrigue novels are set in the same “world” as the books in the Killer Instinct series. In this book we get to meet FBI profiler Tucker Frost who is the hero of the next Killer Instinct book Before the Dawn.
Profile Image for Lauren.
2,516 reviews159 followers
May 23, 2022
Hunted
3 Stars

Series note: This book is connected to Eden's Killer Instincts series. In terms of chronology, it should be read following After the Dark and Abduction.

The Sandy Shore killer is terrorizing the small town of Hope, Florida. Josh Duvane, former Navy SEAL and current agent with the FBI's UNSERT unit, is tasked with locating the victims' bodies and uncovering evidence off the coast. When news journalist Casey Quinn escapes the killer's clutches, she and Josh must work together to stop the monster once and for good.

It requires a great deal of suspension of disbelief to accept that another serial killer is at work in the same town. Moreover, it is easy to figure out the identity of the villain and the red-herring is not at all misleading. That said, there are several intense and suspenseful moments, and Casey's strength and resilience are particularly admirable.

Casey and Josh's romance is, unfortunately, rather boring. They have very little chemistry and the potential for conflict between a journalist and a cop is very quickly glossed over.

All in all, this is not the best example of Eden's work but it is a quick and light read nonetheless.
Profile Image for Darcy.
14.5k reviews544 followers
July 2, 2017
I wasn't sure about this one at the start, seemed the same old report/law enforcement conflict. What save the book for me was Casey's past. I was glad that she told Josh, so that he could understand for her it really was about the victims, she wasn't trying to glorify the killers. But like all of those in the Killer Instinct world, the killer was a little too close to home. This one did have a bit of a twist, didn't see that coming.
Profile Image for Coral.
776 reviews31 followers
September 5, 2017
Plot: 3.5/5
Characterisation: 3.5/5
Prose: 4/5
How much I enjoyed it: 3/5
Profile Image for Hannah.
2,009 reviews33 followers
May 30, 2018
I love Cynthia Eden. This can be read as a standalone but does fit into the Killer Instinct world if you care about reading order it falls between After The Dawn and Before the Dawn.
Profile Image for Lea Bookjoy.
1,801 reviews91 followers
June 19, 2023
French & English reviews

Le tome avec Josh que j'attendais avec impatience

Quand j'ai vu qu'il y avait un tome avec Josh, l'ancien SEAL que l'on voit dans le premier tome, j'étais très emballée et je n'ai pas du tout été déçu !

On a ici une romance entre Josh l'agent du FBI badass et Casey, une journaliste mignonne qui casse le cliché des vautours avides de scoop (ce que j'ai particulièrement apprécié !) sur fond de serial killer sadique qui n'hésite pas à narguer avec la police (on retrouve d'ailleurs le shérif Hayden du tome Abduction (clairement moi au bout du deuxième serial killer je démissionne ><))
Là encore, j'ai beaucoup apprécié l'intrigue qui était bien tordue et qui nous fait douter de tout le monde !

Bref, une romance haletante et sexy qui m'a tenue en haleine du début à la fin !
Chronologiquement, c'est le dernier tome de cette série et la parfaite conclusion à une série que j'aurais lu avec beaucoup de plaisir ! J'aurais adoré avoir d'autres tomes et même si ce n'est pas une série coup de cœur absolu, je la recommande =)


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


The book with Josh that I was looking forward to

When I saw that there was a book with Josh, the former SEAL that we see in the first book, I was very excited and I was not disappointed at all !

Here we have a romance between Josh the badass FBI agent and Casey, a cute journalist who breaks the cliché of scoop-hungry vultures (which I particularly appreciated !) with a sadistic serial killer who doesn't hesitate to taunt the police (we also see again Sheriff Hayden from Abduction (clearly after the second serial killer I quit >< ))
Again, I really enjoyed the plot which was very twisted and which makes us doubt everyone !

In short, a breathtaking and sexy romance that kept me spellbound from start to finish !
Chronologically, it is the last book in this series and the perfect conclusion to a series that I have read with great pleasure ! I would have loved to have other books and even if it's not an absolute favorite series, I recommend it =)
Profile Image for Larena.
441 reviews19 followers
June 25, 2017
Contemporary Romantic Suspense


Florida


Josh Duvane has had his body and mind hardened by his SEAL training. Now he is a part of the FBI’s Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team and his latest investigation is pushing him to his limits. Josh recovers the victims of the Sandy Shore killer off the Florida coast as the killer taunts the local police. Casey Quinn is the only woman that has survived of those taken.

Josh is all that stands between her and certain death as the unrelenting psychopath stalks her every move. He now has to use every ounce of training to turn the tables and stop the killer from getting the last laugh.


This is another great book that is in a series that is proving to be amazing. The books pull the reader in and will have them wanting the next one right now. The characters and story lines are enough to pull the reader in and have them feeling like they are right there with the characters. It also keeps you guessing just who the killer is and how they are finding out what they know. This one takes the reader on a roller coaster ride that doesn’t end until the very end.
Profile Image for Paula Legate.
Author 17 books25 followers
November 6, 2017
I loved this book. It can be read as a standalone. I however read (Abduction) first, and it was what happened before. I loved both books, and added both to my favorite’s list.
In this book Hunted the perp was sadistic. I had a suspicion on who it was, but was still surprised at the ending.
Casey was a news reporter, reporting on the Sandy Shore Killer. The killer was taking young woman. He thought it was a game. He would call the sheriff office when he first kidnapped a new victim. Then it was a race against the clock to see if they could get to them and find them before the perp killed them.
Casey was the first and only person to ever get away. Josh who is a FBI agent vows to protect her. This was a fast pace book with action, and suspense. I loved how Casey, and Josh started off as strangers but how a bond of something special formed. The spark was there for both of them. Excellent book!
Profile Image for Victoria.
785 reviews1 follower
July 28, 2017
I love Cynthia's Romantic suspense novels. She always has twists and makes you work for it :).

Here we have another serial killer in Hope Florida. This is strange, they tend to like the limelight all for themselves. To go where someone else has just been killing is not normal.

We have Josh showing up again recovering the bodies from the ocean. It just about kills him. He wants to bring them home alive but it rarely happens. Casey is a NYC news reporter whom Josh pegs all wrong from the start. He realizes this and notices that she fits the perps victims. So he takes her back to her hotel.

Right after Casey goes to her room she is taken. She is lucky and escapes the killer the next morning. Knowing that the killer will come after her for ruining his plans Josh takes her into protective custody and sparks fly.

Entertaining fast paced thriller. Loved it.
Profile Image for Pet.
3,791 reviews9 followers
July 3, 2017
No matter how unlikely the characters are to work well together. CE makes it work, and she does it in a way that I most enjoy. There might be some friction between the characters during the story, but not to the point where I could not believe they would get past that, or see that there is a connection between them.
Josh is a bit off at the beginning, but considering what Casey's job is I'm surprised at how polite he is. And despite her job I liked Casey, she is honorable in what she does and that is extremely rare.
As always a wonderful story I could not put down.
3,546 reviews14 followers
June 14, 2023
Hunted is a fantastic romantic suspense by Cynthia Eden. Ms. Eden has provided readers with a well-written book and populated it with a stellar cast of characters. Josh is currently working for the FBI's Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team. Casey is in town to report the story. Instead she becomes the story. Josh and Casey's tale is packed with drama, humor, spice, action and suspense. I enjoyed this book and look forward to my next book by Cynthia Eden. This is a complete book, not a cliffhanger.

I read a print copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for A.
271 reviews
August 11, 2022
Liked Josh and Casey. Don’t really like the reporting part of it. Wary of reporters and their drive for stories. And that wariness was well founded after this story. Obvious antagonist, I had my guess on point, though there were one or two twists in the middle. Good to see Hayden in this story, now will be reading Tucker’s story. Pretty book cover. The author should also have better reasoning for her antagonists, she should learn to tie up the loose ends better. Wasn’t really convincing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,112 reviews8 followers
August 13, 2017
Not my favorite

While this was a good read, it was not what I tend to expect from Cynthia Eden. It moved a bit slower and lacked the over the top alpha I've come to love about this author's writing. Ms. Eden remains a favorite author of mine, so regardless, I will continue to buy whatever she writes.
Profile Image for Kate.
250 reviews5 followers
January 4, 2018
This book wasn't as strong as the others in the series. I feel like I knew pretty quickly how it was going to end. There wasn't much of a twist like some of the others had. Josh and Casey's relationship seemed kind of forced. There was really no buildup or tension, they just kind of happened quickly.
Profile Image for Tracie R.
2,143 reviews
January 21, 2018
ADDICTIVE!! A serial killer with an eye on the end game, A victim who won’t give in and an FBI agent determined to put an end to this killer before he tries again. Hunted is a superb romantic suspense that had me on the edge of my seat. I could feel the rawness and intensity of the characters that took me with them as they hunted the hunter!!
Profile Image for Rachel-RN.
2,434 reviews29 followers
November 29, 2020
CE usually does an interesting romantic suspense. Casey and Josh fall hard for each other. The villain is guessed fairly easily. One distraction; calling condoms "protection." Each and every time. Overall this was entertaining. Not the best, not the worst.
1,313 reviews8 followers
June 5, 2017
Average story.
Profile Image for Felice Foster.
894 reviews1 follower
July 4, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed. Waiting impatiently for the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Rebecca Delio.
1,117 reviews5 followers
July 5, 2017
Excellent Story

I thought this book was wonderful, the story was exciting. I have only read a few of Cynthia Eden's books but I found them very good...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

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