What do you think?
Rate this book
Survival Instinct
Jeannie Parker stumbled through the frozen woods until she found the broken cabin. She was mad-lucky to find the decrepit shelter in the middle of nowhere. Her only destination was to get away from him. The promise of a romantic getaway turned into another horrifying game. This time he meant business. And this time, she was over it.
But her husband’s coming for her–to end her for real–she knows it in her bones. Their final showdown awaits. At least she’s stopped lying to herself about his depravity–so impossible to withstand, let alone outwit. Maybe she doesn’t deserve to get away given her complicity over the years. Cloaking herself in delusions proved the only way to stay married to a serial killer.
Still, a budding survival instinct within, Nag, disagrees with her assessment. The strongest part of herself won’t allow an easy surrender. Nag changes the odds.
And the odds stack up against her. Plummeting temperatures, endless wilderness, and festering evil diminish any chance of escape. Only one question remains: can she root out her own demons and flip the script on her inevitable demise?
But her husband’s coming for her–to end her for real–she knows it in her bones. Their final showdown awaits. At least she’s stopped lying to herself about his depravity–so impossible to withstand, let alone outwit. Maybe she doesn’t deserve to get away given her complicity over the years. Cloaking herself in delusions proved the only way to stay married to a serial killer.
Still, a budding survival instinct within, Nag, disagrees with her assessment. The strongest part of herself won’t allow an easy surrender. Nag changes the odds.
And the odds stack up against her. Plummeting temperatures, endless wilderness, and festering evil diminish any chance of escape. Only one question remains: can she root out her own demons and flip the script on her inevitable demise?
- GenresFiction
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2019
211 people are currently reading
522 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 15, 2020
Emotionally Intense
A young couple find themselves in a failing marriage and neither aware of the brutal childhood trauma each has survived. They go to a remote, isolated inn run by an elderly acquaintance of the husband. Don't want to give anything away, but I found myself hoping for each to find strength and healing.
A young couple find themselves in a failing marriage and neither aware of the brutal childhood trauma each has survived. They go to a remote, isolated inn run by an elderly acquaintance of the husband. Don't want to give anything away, but I found myself hoping for each to find strength and healing.
November 14, 2020
This was one scary book. I read at night so every noise I heard my eyes would travel to the doorway of my bedroom, waiting.... However I really enjoyed the story. Every chapter has you captured and you want to dive into the story and help the victim. I would never pass up another Katherine Carlson book after reading this. Don't pass it by.
January 2, 2020
A Plus!!
This is the Best psychological thriller I have ever read. Ms Carlson is a storytelling Genius. She is able to take readers on a mind blowing thrill ride that we never want to end.
Survival Instinct is so very very good!! I wish one day it can be made into the Big screen masterpiece it deserves to be. So worthy of all cinematic praise. Please read and enjoy
This is the Best psychological thriller I have ever read. Ms Carlson is a storytelling Genius. She is able to take readers on a mind blowing thrill ride that we never want to end.
Survival Instinct is so very very good!! I wish one day it can be made into the Big screen masterpiece it deserves to be. So worthy of all cinematic praise. Please read and enjoy
November 3, 2019
SUSPENSE!
Raced through this in one day sipping chai tea and nibbling biscuits.
Haven’t enjoyed a book this much since Misery. This book puts the “psychological” in thriller. I love how survival instincts and inner demons come to life so vividly–almost as would-be characters that we can care about. The weather and the forest take on supernatural hues. There is sustained suspense throughout, and I love the oscillating timeline and point of view. The story is face-paced in many spots and intriguing in others. Even poignant in places.
Recommended.
(Received a digital advance reader copy).
Raced through this in one day sipping chai tea and nibbling biscuits.
Haven’t enjoyed a book this much since Misery. This book puts the “psychological” in thriller. I love how survival instincts and inner demons come to life so vividly–almost as would-be characters that we can care about. The weather and the forest take on supernatural hues. There is sustained suspense throughout, and I love the oscillating timeline and point of view. The story is face-paced in many spots and intriguing in others. Even poignant in places.
Recommended.
(Received a digital advance reader copy).
November 3, 2019
A gripping, enchanting vivid read.
From the beginning the author grabs you and holds you in the palm of her panic, rage, fear and loathing. An excellent vivid read. The characters are written as though intimately familiar to your inner self, they resonate with an honesty. Recommend this book highly, my usual fare is sci if fantasy thriller but this.... this was a welcome,refreshing, well written romp with riveting, thrilling madness. Every character is memorable and strangely enjoyable right down to Becky the cat. Couldn’t put it down on the first, or second, read.
From the beginning the author grabs you and holds you in the palm of her panic, rage, fear and loathing. An excellent vivid read. The characters are written as though intimately familiar to your inner self, they resonate with an honesty. Recommend this book highly, my usual fare is sci if fantasy thriller but this.... this was a welcome,refreshing, well written romp with riveting, thrilling madness. Every character is memorable and strangely enjoyable right down to Becky the cat. Couldn’t put it down on the first, or second, read.
January 18, 2020
***Received via Goodreads Giveaway***
I got 65% through this before I finally gave up. I tried to finish, but it was just too rough.
It definitely could have used an editor; I found typos and misuse of words. The writing wasn't the greatest, but it was bearable. But the worst part was the inner dialogue between Jeannie and Nag, when another person was in the mix. It was too damn hard trying to figure out if Jeannie was talking to Nag or the other person in the room. Carlson needed a better way to differentiate.
I got 65% through this before I finally gave up. I tried to finish, but it was just too rough.
It definitely could have used an editor; I found typos and misuse of words. The writing wasn't the greatest, but it was bearable. But the worst part was the inner dialogue between Jeannie and Nag, when another person was in the mix. It was too damn hard trying to figure out if Jeannie was talking to Nag or the other person in the room. Carlson needed a better way to differentiate.
February 19, 2020
Bizarrely thought provoking
This was definitely a "horse of a different color" story. So different. But what my addled mind gleaned from it was man's internal struggle within himself. The fight man has with himself everyday to decide the right from wrong, good from evil, fight or flight, weaknesses and strengths, what path to take. Life's decisions can be overwhelming but we need to persevere. Make the best choice. Enlightening story but not for everyone
This was definitely a "horse of a different color" story. So different. But what my addled mind gleaned from it was man's internal struggle within himself. The fight man has with himself everyday to decide the right from wrong, good from evil, fight or flight, weaknesses and strengths, what path to take. Life's decisions can be overwhelming but we need to persevere. Make the best choice. Enlightening story but not for everyone
April 18, 2025
this author’s other book (gorge) is fantastic!
Didn’t care for this one’s multiple perspectives (or the abundance of vulgarities) but still really like the author. I read her later book “Gorge” first and really enjoyed that one, which went deeper into one woman’s pov and had humor too. So although I didn’t enjoy this book, I recommend the author and will keep reading her works :)
Didn’t care for this one’s multiple perspectives (or the abundance of vulgarities) but still really like the author. I read her later book “Gorge” first and really enjoyed that one, which went deeper into one woman’s pov and had humor too. So although I didn’t enjoy this book, I recommend the author and will keep reading her works :)
November 5, 2019
In many ways, this is a horror story. It's also heartbreakingly sad. And redemptive.
I haven't read many suspense thrillers that offer such depth. Things are not always as they seem. Caverns of the mind are explored thoroughly for better and for worse.
(Nag, the Survival Instinct, is a stand-out).
5 stars.
August 9, 2020
Fast Read
The story was good, it was too short. I will be reading the next book in this series. Hopefully find out more about Jeannie. I enjoyed the way the author made you feel about the character’s. At one point you don’t like the characters and then next you like the characters and understand why they are in this place. I recommend this book and looking for more!
The story was good, it was too short. I will be reading the next book in this series. Hopefully find out more about Jeannie. I enjoyed the way the author made you feel about the character’s. At one point you don’t like the characters and then next you like the characters and understand why they are in this place. I recommend this book and looking for more!
November 2, 2019
Read this as an ARC and WHOA!
It's layered and suspenseful and thrilling. A deeply psychological tale and a story I will read again. Loved the characters–and a truly unpredictable ending that I won't spoil.
Carlson understands how to create tension and kick-ass protagonists.
January 10, 2020
Terrible
I don’t even know what to say. Tough read. I almost stopped halfway through, but carried on. Should’ve read something else.
I don’t even know what to say. Tough read. I almost stopped halfway through, but carried on. Should’ve read something else.
January 18, 2020
So unique. Lots of tension. Puts the "psychological" in psychological thriller.
June 17, 2021
Intense
Plays with the secrets inside us all. Written so your drawn into all the flawed characters. Read it in one day.
Plays with the secrets inside us all. Written so your drawn into all the flawed characters. Read it in one day.
March 11, 2022
Fantastic
This was an awesome and creepy read. I loved the characters and the storyline. I look forward to more from this author
This was an awesome and creepy read. I loved the characters and the storyline. I look forward to more from this author
January 29, 2024
A Nail Biter!
Boom one in a new series. It definitely had me on the edge of my seat! A quick read filled with terror and suspense.
Boom one in a new series. It definitely had me on the edge of my seat! A quick read filled with terror and suspense.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews