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Instinct
New York Times
bestselling author Jason M. Hough dives headfirst into the world of thrillers with this “gripping…timely, and entertaining” (Kevin Hearne, New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Druid Chronicles) new tale.
Welcome to Silvertown, Washington. Population 602 (for now).
Despite its size, the small mountain town is home to more conspiracy theories than any other place in America. Officer Mary Whittaker is slowly acclimating to the daily weirdness of life here, but when the chief of police takes a leave of absence, she is left alone to confront a series of abnormal incidents—strange even by Silvertown standards.
An “indoor kid” who abhors nature dies on a random midnight walkabout with no explanation.
A hiker is found dead on a trail, smiling serenely after being mauled by a bear.
A woman known for being a helicopter parent abandons her toddler twins without a second thought.
It’s almost as if the townsfolk are losing their survival instinct, one by one…
As Whittaker digs deeper into her investigation, she uncovers a larger conspiracy with more twists and turns than a mountain road and danger around every corner. To save Silvertown, she must distinguish the truth from paranoia-fueled lies before she ends up losing her own instincts…and her life.
Welcome to Silvertown, Washington. Population 602 (for now).
Despite its size, the small mountain town is home to more conspiracy theories than any other place in America. Officer Mary Whittaker is slowly acclimating to the daily weirdness of life here, but when the chief of police takes a leave of absence, she is left alone to confront a series of abnormal incidents—strange even by Silvertown standards.
An “indoor kid” who abhors nature dies on a random midnight walkabout with no explanation.
A hiker is found dead on a trail, smiling serenely after being mauled by a bear.
A woman known for being a helicopter parent abandons her toddler twins without a second thought.
It’s almost as if the townsfolk are losing their survival instinct, one by one…
As Whittaker digs deeper into her investigation, she uncovers a larger conspiracy with more twists and turns than a mountain road and danger around every corner. To save Silvertown, she must distinguish the truth from paranoia-fueled lies before she ends up losing her own instincts…and her life.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2021
46 people are currently reading
5755 people want to read
About the author
Jason M. Hough
26 books563 followersJason M. Hough (pronounced 'Huff') is the New York Times bestselling author of The Dire Earth Cycle and the near-future spy thriller Zero World. In a former life he was a 3D artist, animator, and game designer (Metal Fatigue, Aliens vs. Predator: Extinction, and many others). He has also worked in the fields of high-performance cluster computing and machine learning.
The Darwin Elevator began life in 2008 as a project for National Novel Writing Month. The book released on July 30th, 2013 and reached the New York Times Bestseller list the following week. Darwin was Jason’s first published fiction. The subsequent books in that trilogy were released that same summer, along with a prequel novella, The Dire Earth, in 2014.
Jason's latest novel, Zero World, released on August 18th, 2015 from Del Rey Spectra (US) and Titan Books (AUS/NZ). Publishers Weekly called it “a thrilling action rampage that confirms Hough as an important new voice in genre fiction.”
He lives near Seattle, Washington with his wife, two young sons, and a dog named Missbuster.
The Darwin Elevator began life in 2008 as a project for National Novel Writing Month. The book released on July 30th, 2013 and reached the New York Times Bestseller list the following week. Darwin was Jason’s first published fiction. The subsequent books in that trilogy were released that same summer, along with a prequel novella, The Dire Earth, in 2014.
Jason's latest novel, Zero World, released on August 18th, 2015 from Del Rey Spectra (US) and Titan Books (AUS/NZ). Publishers Weekly called it “a thrilling action rampage that confirms Hough as an important new voice in genre fiction.”
He lives near Seattle, Washington with his wife, two young sons, and a dog named Missbuster.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
April 7, 2021
That was a blast! Silvertown - population 665, has a reputation for being, well...different. Sasquatch lives there and the people are a little weird. So when weird stuff stars happening in town, people behaving totally out of character, nobody thinks too much of it. Think Blake Crouch, X Files and a side serve of the Coen Brothers movie Fargo. I was inspired to grab this on the basis of an intriguing review by a friend. I can’t remember who but thank you whoever you are!
Officer Mary Whittaker joined the Silvertown police department a couple of months ago. The place doesn’t really need two cops but Chief Greg Gorman is getting older and maybe it’s a good idea to train up a replacement. The town has just buried teenager Johnny Rogers who fell down a cliff while out hiking. Only Johnny doesn’t hike. He hates the outdoors, spending his time reading and playing computer games. His idea of “outside” is sitting on the back step with a book. Then the Chief takes one to two weeks leave to visit his sick mother leaving Mary in charge. And that’s when things really ramp up.
Next we have the hiker, a real hiker this time, who just stands there and smiles while a bear walks up to him and mauls him. Other strange things occur. An old man, usually fastidiously careful about his safety, steps off the kerb right into the path of Mary’s police cruiser. A mother of toddler twins abandons them for hours while she entertains a stranger in town. Mary thinks all this adds up to...what exactly? But she is certain there is something fishy going on. Then something Kyle says hits home. Kyle is the bartender at the only pub in town and Mary’s lover. He notices that she’s going off alone to check out all these weird happenings when she would normally favour a team approach. Against her instincts. Aha, and that is the title of the book! But when a deranged biker breaks into her house and tries to kill her while apologising about it she realises, after defending herself, that she too is afflicted with this strange phenomenon. But what exactly is it?
Determined to discover what is going on before more people die or get injured she investigates every strange occurrence she finds. To keep her mind focussed she has written on her left hand, in permanent marker “you need help.” This actually is probably what saves her. Soon Mary is caught in a deadly conspiracy, in a town already full of “conspiritards” and when she finds the Chief and Doc Ryan have been kind of brainwashed she realises it’s all down to her to save the town from...what? I’m being purposely cryptic because it was such fun unravelling this plot I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. But I do want to whet your appetite. This was - not funny exactly, but very left field and I ripped through it very quickly, I had to know. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing a copy to review. My opinions are my own.
Officer Mary Whittaker joined the Silvertown police department a couple of months ago. The place doesn’t really need two cops but Chief Greg Gorman is getting older and maybe it’s a good idea to train up a replacement. The town has just buried teenager Johnny Rogers who fell down a cliff while out hiking. Only Johnny doesn’t hike. He hates the outdoors, spending his time reading and playing computer games. His idea of “outside” is sitting on the back step with a book. Then the Chief takes one to two weeks leave to visit his sick mother leaving Mary in charge. And that’s when things really ramp up.
Next we have the hiker, a real hiker this time, who just stands there and smiles while a bear walks up to him and mauls him. Other strange things occur. An old man, usually fastidiously careful about his safety, steps off the kerb right into the path of Mary’s police cruiser. A mother of toddler twins abandons them for hours while she entertains a stranger in town. Mary thinks all this adds up to...what exactly? But she is certain there is something fishy going on. Then something Kyle says hits home. Kyle is the bartender at the only pub in town and Mary’s lover. He notices that she’s going off alone to check out all these weird happenings when she would normally favour a team approach. Against her instincts. Aha, and that is the title of the book! But when a deranged biker breaks into her house and tries to kill her while apologising about it she realises, after defending herself, that she too is afflicted with this strange phenomenon. But what exactly is it?
Determined to discover what is going on before more people die or get injured she investigates every strange occurrence she finds. To keep her mind focussed she has written on her left hand, in permanent marker “you need help.” This actually is probably what saves her. Soon Mary is caught in a deadly conspiracy, in a town already full of “conspiritards” and when she finds the Chief and Doc Ryan have been kind of brainwashed she realises it’s all down to her to save the town from...what? I’m being purposely cryptic because it was such fun unravelling this plot I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. But I do want to whet your appetite. This was - not funny exactly, but very left field and I ripped through it very quickly, I had to know. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing a copy to review. My opinions are my own.
February 22, 2021
Welcome to Silvertown, Washington. Population 602 (for now).
Mary Whitaker, police officer and new to Silvertown, is finding the local residents acting oddly. A tourist smiles in the face of a bear mauling him alive, a local teen and gamer that rarely ventures outdoors falls from a cliff while hiking, a helicopter mom abandons her twin toddlers to show a stranger around town. What is going on in this godforsaken place?
What an intriguing premise and I thought Mary was a delightful character, however, this book I found was a slow burn and a bit boring. I skimmed a great deal of the middle of the book and the last third is when all hell breaks loose and it's non-stop action. This is a case of a book not being the right one for me. Part of my problem is my own preconceived notion that this was going to be creepy and it wasn't. The entire time I was reading this I kept thinking to myself "This is not what I was expecting" and I just could not shake that feeling. It took me 5 days to get through this book if that is any indicator of my interest level.
Let it be said that Mr. Hough is a talented author and I think many people are going to love this. It just wasn't for me. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the digital ARC.
Mary Whitaker, police officer and new to Silvertown, is finding the local residents acting oddly. A tourist smiles in the face of a bear mauling him alive, a local teen and gamer that rarely ventures outdoors falls from a cliff while hiking, a helicopter mom abandons her twin toddlers to show a stranger around town. What is going on in this godforsaken place?
What an intriguing premise and I thought Mary was a delightful character, however, this book I found was a slow burn and a bit boring. I skimmed a great deal of the middle of the book and the last third is when all hell breaks loose and it's non-stop action. This is a case of a book not being the right one for me. Part of my problem is my own preconceived notion that this was going to be creepy and it wasn't. The entire time I was reading this I kept thinking to myself "This is not what I was expecting" and I just could not shake that feeling. It took me 5 days to get through this book if that is any indicator of my interest level.
Let it be said that Mr. Hough is a talented author and I think many people are going to love this. It just wasn't for me. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the digital ARC.
April 2, 2021
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley,Jason M. Hough, Gallery Books, and Skybound Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Always one to try something a little different, I excitedly grabbed for this novel by Jason M. Hough, which mixes the intensity of a thriller with the mystery of small-town America. When a police officer in a small Washington community is thrust into a leadership role, she begins to notice that the locals are not acting as they should, or at least how she expects they would. Is there a reason or is this all something wonky about small town life? Hough keeps the reader guessing throughout and makes quite the impact in doing so.
After leaving Oakland PD, Mary Whittaker is still trying to acclimate to life in Silvertown, Washington. It’s small—population 602, small—and the locals seem happy to keep to themselves, but also come up with some typical issues. Learning all she can from the local chief, Whittaker is determined to make her impression on the town and its citizenry. It won’t be easy, but it’s one challenge that Whittaker is bound and determined to overcome.
When the chief takes an unexpected leave of absence, Whittaker is left to run things on her own. She takes a call out of town when a hiker is attacked by a bear, unable to understand why he did not react. After interviewing his companion, it would seem that the man who had little love of nature simply gave up and waited for fate to take its course.
There are other oddities around town, like the introverted teenager who loves gaming but chose to wander out into the woods and died. Or the woman who loves her twins and yet left them at home while frolicking in town. Some call it a reaction to the new cell tower that was erected, but Whittaker thinks that there is more to it. This is one mystery for which she’ll not let the gossips create a narrative.
As she tries to piece things together, Whittaker discovers what might be involved in all the shenanigans, but she is not yet ready to commit to that response. She probes a little deeper, only to see that losing one’s instinct is the least of the town’s concerns, though she might not live long enough to report it to others. A chilling piece that keeps the reader thinking until the very last page flip.
I have never read anything by Jason M. Hough and I am kicking myself for that. In a piece that is full of action and intrigue, I found myself fully committed throughout the process and could not wait to see what was coming next. Hough keeps things on the mysterious side, without venturing too far out of reality. Still, there’s something a little eerie in the story and how things play out.
Mary Whittaker is a strong protagonist in this piece, keeping the reader informed of both her back story and how she develops throughout. Still trying to get used to country or small town life, Whittaker must tackle policing on an entirely new level. While she struggles at times, the reader can see some wonderful development throughout, which enriches the story as well as advancing the narrative.
Hough offers up some wonderful supporting characters in this piece, all of whom do their own thing to make the story all the better. While small town life is not always full of excitement, there is something about the various characters in this piece that flavour the narrative effectively and keep the story moving. Those the reader thinks they know are soon showing another side, which only adds depth to the piece and keeps the reader wanting to discover a little more.
The story itself sounds typical small town, something is going on and the townsfolk are acting oddly. However, Jason M. Hough takes it a step further and delves into some interesting discussions, both on a character level and with the psychology of a person. What makes someone do something and can override those instincts or inhibitions? He tackles this with a strong narrative that progresses throughout, easily taking the reader on many a journey. Additionally, there are some wonderful ‘aha’ moments, as the reader tries to make sense of things with the numerous reveals throughout. The plot stays intense and there are no lack of twists as the piece progresses. A mix of chapter lengths has the reader begging for more, as they read well into the night. I cannot wait to see what else Hough has penned, so that I can compare and enjoy things in the future.
Kudos, Mr. Hough, for a great piece that has me curious. You are definitely on my radar.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Always one to try something a little different, I excitedly grabbed for this novel by Jason M. Hough, which mixes the intensity of a thriller with the mystery of small-town America. When a police officer in a small Washington community is thrust into a leadership role, she begins to notice that the locals are not acting as they should, or at least how she expects they would. Is there a reason or is this all something wonky about small town life? Hough keeps the reader guessing throughout and makes quite the impact in doing so.
After leaving Oakland PD, Mary Whittaker is still trying to acclimate to life in Silvertown, Washington. It’s small—population 602, small—and the locals seem happy to keep to themselves, but also come up with some typical issues. Learning all she can from the local chief, Whittaker is determined to make her impression on the town and its citizenry. It won’t be easy, but it’s one challenge that Whittaker is bound and determined to overcome.
When the chief takes an unexpected leave of absence, Whittaker is left to run things on her own. She takes a call out of town when a hiker is attacked by a bear, unable to understand why he did not react. After interviewing his companion, it would seem that the man who had little love of nature simply gave up and waited for fate to take its course.
There are other oddities around town, like the introverted teenager who loves gaming but chose to wander out into the woods and died. Or the woman who loves her twins and yet left them at home while frolicking in town. Some call it a reaction to the new cell tower that was erected, but Whittaker thinks that there is more to it. This is one mystery for which she’ll not let the gossips create a narrative.
As she tries to piece things together, Whittaker discovers what might be involved in all the shenanigans, but she is not yet ready to commit to that response. She probes a little deeper, only to see that losing one’s instinct is the least of the town’s concerns, though she might not live long enough to report it to others. A chilling piece that keeps the reader thinking until the very last page flip.
I have never read anything by Jason M. Hough and I am kicking myself for that. In a piece that is full of action and intrigue, I found myself fully committed throughout the process and could not wait to see what was coming next. Hough keeps things on the mysterious side, without venturing too far out of reality. Still, there’s something a little eerie in the story and how things play out.
Mary Whittaker is a strong protagonist in this piece, keeping the reader informed of both her back story and how she develops throughout. Still trying to get used to country or small town life, Whittaker must tackle policing on an entirely new level. While she struggles at times, the reader can see some wonderful development throughout, which enriches the story as well as advancing the narrative.
Hough offers up some wonderful supporting characters in this piece, all of whom do their own thing to make the story all the better. While small town life is not always full of excitement, there is something about the various characters in this piece that flavour the narrative effectively and keep the story moving. Those the reader thinks they know are soon showing another side, which only adds depth to the piece and keeps the reader wanting to discover a little more.
The story itself sounds typical small town, something is going on and the townsfolk are acting oddly. However, Jason M. Hough takes it a step further and delves into some interesting discussions, both on a character level and with the psychology of a person. What makes someone do something and can override those instincts or inhibitions? He tackles this with a strong narrative that progresses throughout, easily taking the reader on many a journey. Additionally, there are some wonderful ‘aha’ moments, as the reader tries to make sense of things with the numerous reveals throughout. The plot stays intense and there are no lack of twists as the piece progresses. A mix of chapter lengths has the reader begging for more, as they read well into the night. I cannot wait to see what else Hough has penned, so that I can compare and enjoy things in the future.
Kudos, Mr. Hough, for a great piece that has me curious. You are definitely on my radar.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
October 15, 2020
Police Officer Mary Whittaker constitutes the entire police force of Silvertown, a small, isolated mountain town, while her boss takes a brief personal leave. She gradually grows suspicious of a string of strange incidents. They are out of the ordinary, even for this town that already has more than its share of weird elements - Big Foot is a tourist attraction, and the town boasts an abandoned military base, a toxic mine site and a ghost town.
I liked the build up of this story as Mary put the clues together. The last 20 to 25% of the book is basically an action sequence. Many people enjoy all that action, but I thought it dragged on too long. I was expecting a horror or sci fi story, and that is not what I got. This is a thriller. I also thought that the premise behind the strange events was shaky at best. Really, the goals could have been, and are being, accomplished with so much less effort. The book did hold my interest though. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I liked the build up of this story as Mary put the clues together. The last 20 to 25% of the book is basically an action sequence. Many people enjoy all that action, but I thought it dragged on too long. I was expecting a horror or sci fi story, and that is not what I got. This is a thriller. I also thought that the premise behind the strange events was shaky at best. Really, the goals could have been, and are being, accomplished with so much less effort. The book did hold my interest though. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
April 12, 2021
Expect the unexpected in this creative, wild, and enjoyable sci fi thriller by Jason Hough.
I picked up this book about a small town because it was described to me as “Twin Peaks meets Blake Crouch,” and it did not disappoint! Police Officer Mary Whittaker is the only cop in her town of just over 600 when her boss takes an extended leave, and wouldn’t you know that as soon as he departs, suddenly everyone in town, one by one, starts acting pretty strange. And violent. Did I mention that Silvertown, Washington is also known for conspiracy theories? Mary is unsure what she’s battling at first, but she’s definitely battling something.
The first half or so of the book moves a little slowly, but Hough is an entertaining writer with a knack for interesting characters, so I didn’t mind. Then all of a sudden the last third of the book is straight up gonzo, like a David Lynch movie, which, if you know me, is a high compliment. Lovers of weird conspiracy theory, secret government agent sci fi will love the last third of this book. Though that is not so much my regular bag, I LOVED it here and was incredibly entertained.
Jason Hough is a great writer and this book is unlike anything else I’ve read this year. If you like sci fi, Twin Peaks, X Files, Blake Crouch kinda crazy, you really need to pick this one up. Well done and thrilling, Mr. Hough!
Thanks to Gallery Books, NetGalley and the author for the ARC of this totally unique and crazy thrill ride, which thoroughly entertained me.
I picked up this book about a small town because it was described to me as “Twin Peaks meets Blake Crouch,” and it did not disappoint! Police Officer Mary Whittaker is the only cop in her town of just over 600 when her boss takes an extended leave, and wouldn’t you know that as soon as he departs, suddenly everyone in town, one by one, starts acting pretty strange. And violent. Did I mention that Silvertown, Washington is also known for conspiracy theories? Mary is unsure what she’s battling at first, but she’s definitely battling something.
The first half or so of the book moves a little slowly, but Hough is an entertaining writer with a knack for interesting characters, so I didn’t mind. Then all of a sudden the last third of the book is straight up gonzo, like a David Lynch movie, which, if you know me, is a high compliment. Lovers of weird conspiracy theory, secret government agent sci fi will love the last third of this book. Though that is not so much my regular bag, I LOVED it here and was incredibly entertained.
Jason Hough is a great writer and this book is unlike anything else I’ve read this year. If you like sci fi, Twin Peaks, X Files, Blake Crouch kinda crazy, you really need to pick this one up. Well done and thrilling, Mr. Hough!
Thanks to Gallery Books, NetGalley and the author for the ARC of this totally unique and crazy thrill ride, which thoroughly entertained me.
April 10, 2021
Who can you trust when even your own mind has been turned against you? Mary Whittaker is going to have to find out, in the latest pulse-raising thriller from Jason Hough.
Small-town America has never looked as appealing as it has done with Silvertown, Mary’s new home and police beat. Life in the former company town may not have been easy since the company packed up and left them to it, but the pleasingly off-beat citizenry have built the kind of community that can take those knocks and keep on running. They’re one of the many high points of the book – everyone introduced in the book is an individual, someone with character and personality. Mary may be our protagonist, but the people who surround her charmed me completely. Jason Hough takes his time in introducing both people and town with the beginning of Instinct, and it’s time very well spent; the pacing is perfect, and it builds a foundation to give the later action very real stakes.
Because, of course, quiet country life can’t stay that way for too long. A series of unusual – and downright eerie – incidents soon place the town and it’s residents in jeopardy, and it’s going to be down to Mary to get to the bottom of the mystery. Again, the tempo is absolutely spot on; what looks like an isolated incident is soon linked to another matter, and then another. The tension ratchets slowly but surely, picking up speed and intensity, until I was left absolutely glued to the page and completely unable to read fast enough to satisfy my need to know just what was going on.
Without spoiling anything, I just have to mention that the central thread of this mystery is one of the most completely unsettling concepts I’ve had the pleasure of running across. The slow build-up, characters I could genuinely enjoy getting to know, and, of course, an incredibly intriguing and creepy mystery, all play their part in making this one of the most entertaining and enjoyable thrillers I’ve read in a long time.
Happily, too, there’s clearly room for a continuation by the end of Instinct, though it does form a completely stand-alone novel should it need to – none of the dreaded cliffhangers here. No tricks needed; should this become a series I’ll be continuing it in a heartbeat, because it’s just that good.
Small-town America has never looked as appealing as it has done with Silvertown, Mary’s new home and police beat. Life in the former company town may not have been easy since the company packed up and left them to it, but the pleasingly off-beat citizenry have built the kind of community that can take those knocks and keep on running. They’re one of the many high points of the book – everyone introduced in the book is an individual, someone with character and personality. Mary may be our protagonist, but the people who surround her charmed me completely. Jason Hough takes his time in introducing both people and town with the beginning of Instinct, and it’s time very well spent; the pacing is perfect, and it builds a foundation to give the later action very real stakes.
Because, of course, quiet country life can’t stay that way for too long. A series of unusual – and downright eerie – incidents soon place the town and it’s residents in jeopardy, and it’s going to be down to Mary to get to the bottom of the mystery. Again, the tempo is absolutely spot on; what looks like an isolated incident is soon linked to another matter, and then another. The tension ratchets slowly but surely, picking up speed and intensity, until I was left absolutely glued to the page and completely unable to read fast enough to satisfy my need to know just what was going on.
Without spoiling anything, I just have to mention that the central thread of this mystery is one of the most completely unsettling concepts I’ve had the pleasure of running across. The slow build-up, characters I could genuinely enjoy getting to know, and, of course, an incredibly intriguing and creepy mystery, all play their part in making this one of the most entertaining and enjoyable thrillers I’ve read in a long time.
Happily, too, there’s clearly room for a continuation by the end of Instinct, though it does form a completely stand-alone novel should it need to – none of the dreaded cliffhangers here. No tricks needed; should this become a series I’ll be continuing it in a heartbeat, because it’s just that good.
April 29, 2021
I don’t usually rate books before I read them but some a$$hole rated it with one star and that’s some bogus bs right there because the book isn’t out until April 2021
* ETA: finished the book since it’s actually out now, and my rating still stands.
* ETA: finished the book since it’s actually out now, and my rating still stands.
March 9, 2021
This book was intriguing and somewhat mysterious as to what was going on with the residents of Silvertown. When Mary Whittaker has to take over for the police chief when he takes a leave of absence and she gets some really strange calls that has her wondering what is going. First, she finds a man that wrecked his motorcycle sitting in the middle of the road. He later disappears, only to break into her house later that night and tries to kill her. She also finds a hiker killed by a bear after making no attempt to get away from it. Everyone's instincts are off kilter and Mary has to get to the bottom of it.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
Want to read
November 17, 2020This sounds so good! I've been trying to find some good 2021 releases, and this will definitely be on my list.
April 12, 2021
Mr. Hough is definitely going to be on my radar after reading Instinct. This book kept me enthralled. For me, it was reminiscent of X-Files and Twin Peaks.
The small town of Silvertown, Washington is ground zero for strange occurrences. People seem to have lost their basic survival instincts and people can't explain why. Office Mary Whittaker has been left in charge of the town while the chief of police takes a sudden leave of absence. Of course that is when everything falls apart in dramatic fashion. This was a fun and creative storyline.
I really enjoyed this author's writing style and look forward to reading more of his work.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
The small town of Silvertown, Washington is ground zero for strange occurrences. People seem to have lost their basic survival instincts and people can't explain why. Office Mary Whittaker has been left in charge of the town while the chief of police takes a sudden leave of absence. Of course that is when everything falls apart in dramatic fashion. This was a fun and creative storyline.
I really enjoyed this author's writing style and look forward to reading more of his work.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
April 28, 2021
Strong beginning of a story of a small town where people start behaving out of their usual norm. The second half goes more or less down conventional roads, so in the end I wasn't as invested in the book as I could have been.
Yet a good mystery thriller read, recommended for readers who liked Blake Crouch's Wayward Pines series.
Yet a good mystery thriller read, recommended for readers who liked Blake Crouch's Wayward Pines series.
October 26, 2020
INSTINCT is in the categories of both psychological thriller and Horror. Authored by Jason Hough, who is also noted for his excellent Science Fiction, INSTINCT is set in a tiny mountain community in the Cascades of Washington State. Silvertown once boasted an active Silver mine (resulting in tons of toxic outflow into the nearby stream) but a decade ago the Police Chief uncovered corruption and shamed out the ruling family corporation. No longer a company town, Silvertown relies on tourism. Mary, a rural California native and former Oakland patrol officer, was hired two months ago. When Chief Greg takes a sudden leave of absence to visit his ailing mother in Virginia, Mary is literally the only law enforcement in the quiet town. But then, folks begin acting strangely, behaving wildly out of character; and even Mary discovers in rare lucid moments that she herself is changing. People are no longer acting according to their own instinct. In a community where "Conspiracy Theories" are a way of life, it's not easy to recognize; it's even more difficult to seek out the source.
What a strong character is Mary! Imagine the Terminator in terms of determination to succeed, to help the townspeople, to stop what is really wrong: that's Mary.
What a strong character is Mary! Imagine the Terminator in terms of determination to succeed, to help the townspeople, to stop what is really wrong: that's Mary.
January 20, 2022
that was a very different kind of book i usuakky read but i am not complaining
January 13, 2024
alright book. a little overboard with the description and plot twist was a little out there but pretty quick and easy
October 19, 2020
Edge of your seat ride! The twists and turns grabbed me and did not let go. I absolutely loved this book. The best part is that as I was reading the story, I was imagining the movie. I saw every character as a real movie actor playing the part. Simply amazing! I can’t wait to read another of Mr. Hough’s books.
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June 7, 2021I was hoping for something more creepy and interesting. This wasn't it. The writing was okay, but the random interludes of italicized conversations felt lazy. The ending-- while filled with action-- drags across over 100 pages. Some of the dialogue felt forced and even cheesy, and the final line was ridiculous.
July 10, 2022
This book reads like parody of a Blake Crouch novel. Disappointing.
June 5, 2022
This book was disappointing. The plot was interesting, there are definitely ideas and tropes here that are fun and could make for a really good story.
The problem is that I just could not give two shits (hah) about Mary, the protagonist, and the character telling the story. She's a flat character. There's not much to know about her or to make her compelling as she unravels the mysteries of this town. You learn at one point that she was partly responsible for her partner's death in her previous life, but it's just like... a footnote. It's not interesting at all, even from her perspective.
Then you have the victims of Silvertown. At moments I DO feel bad for them because they're obviously confused and scared by their turn of behavior. But because we're looking at this story from Mary's lens, we don't get to explore that much. I was waiting for more follow up at the end of the story to unpack the other characters and how they're recovering, but nope. It ends on a dumb one-liner and not a moment of time with the victims of this story. The poor guy who shot himself was never mentioned again. Wonder how his loved ones are holding up, wonder how Mary feels about it? Wonder how Chief Greg is doing? Honestly, every character in this is so one-dimensional that I don't know why I care. It feels like a wasted opportunity as a narrative.
This book was entertaining at best, but ultimately shallow. Not the best execution of what was a fun idea.
The problem is that I just could not give two shits (hah) about Mary, the protagonist, and the character telling the story. She's a flat character. There's not much to know about her or to make her compelling as she unravels the mysteries of this town. You learn at one point that she was partly responsible for her partner's death in her previous life, but it's just like... a footnote. It's not interesting at all, even from her perspective.
Then you have the victims of Silvertown. At moments I DO feel bad for them because they're obviously confused and scared by their turn of behavior. But because we're looking at this story from Mary's lens, we don't get to explore that much. I was waiting for more follow up at the end of the story to unpack the other characters and how they're recovering, but nope. It ends on a dumb one-liner and not a moment of time with the victims of this story. The poor guy who shot himself was never mentioned again. Wonder how his loved ones are holding up, wonder how Mary feels about it? Wonder how Chief Greg is doing? Honestly, every character in this is so one-dimensional that I don't know why I care. It feels like a wasted opportunity as a narrative.
This book was entertaining at best, but ultimately shallow. Not the best execution of what was a fun idea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2021
I'm a big Jason M. Hough fan, I've read all his books and enjoyed them all. I knew he was working on this story and that it was due out soon. So, I was overjoyed when this came up on NetGalley. I loved this book, it's a bit different of a type of story than Jason usually writes, but it's great. This is that type of book that pleases almost every sort of reader out there. It satisfies many different needs a reader has. From time to time you need that short, quick read, that is fun and hard to put down. That's what kind of story this book is. The story is good, very good, maybe not exactly groundbreaking or great, but strong. There's action and intrigue and cliffhangers abound. This reminded me a lot of Cold Storage by David Koepp from 2019. I hope people will like this as much as I did, and there was a fun shout out to Sykes and Wendig, so that's fun.
April 13, 2021
Instinct by Jason M. Hough is small town thriller. Where small town folks start to suddenly lose their survival instinct, like a person that never goes outside will go on a massive hike, and the guy scared of animals will face down a bear. It reminded me of Blake Crouch's Dark Matter where in the last 25 % of the book goes to a crazy place. The finale is good but it is one slow build up to that point. The character's are quirky with conspiracy theories running deep until the town is in one. Instinct is a good idea, but the execution is lacking. The end is fun but I don't know if everyone will get there with every beat of action and odd occurrence nothing happens in between; we don't spend enough time with these characters to see them acting out of place. Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books - Skybound Books for the opportunity to read Instinct. Instinct by Jason M. Hough was published on April 6th 2021.
The Plot: Mary is has been an officer to the town of Silvertown, Washington for two months now. She's still getting her bearings coming from a larger town than Silvertown's population of 610. The town is reeling from the first death that wasn't old age. But the next day another death happens the towns people thank it's the new radio tour with 5G that's doing it. Mary thinks the town is crazy then she herself starts acting different. The town's people are starting to lose there survival instinct. How did they lose it and how can they get it back.
What I Liked: A town of conspiracy theorist trapped in a conspiracy was fun too watch. I liked all the bar banter with Kyle. The last 25% of this book was pretty crazy and a lot of fun. I like the missile Silo party. The home invasion was a tense scene. The premise of the book is why I put in to read it is still a really good clever idea.
What I Disliked: The first 3/4 of Instinct is pretty slow paced, there's burst of excitement then the narrative slows to a crawl. Interesting things happen but it was not enough to keep my interest.
Recommendations: I can not recommend this book. Interesting things happen but not enough to keep my interest through out. The ending is crazy and fun, but it takes a lot to get there. I rated Instinct by Jason M. Hough 3 out of 5 stars. I think Hough has talent was highly entertained by Kyle's bar banter, it was quirky and funny and the best part of the book.
The Plot: Mary is has been an officer to the town of Silvertown, Washington for two months now. She's still getting her bearings coming from a larger town than Silvertown's population of 610. The town is reeling from the first death that wasn't old age. But the next day another death happens the towns people thank it's the new radio tour with 5G that's doing it. Mary thinks the town is crazy then she herself starts acting different. The town's people are starting to lose there survival instinct. How did they lose it and how can they get it back.
What I Liked: A town of conspiracy theorist trapped in a conspiracy was fun too watch. I liked all the bar banter with Kyle. The last 25% of this book was pretty crazy and a lot of fun. I like the missile Silo party. The home invasion was a tense scene. The premise of the book is why I put in to read it is still a really good clever idea.
What I Disliked: The first 3/4 of Instinct is pretty slow paced, there's burst of excitement then the narrative slows to a crawl. Interesting things happen but it was not enough to keep my interest.
Recommendations: I can not recommend this book. Interesting things happen but not enough to keep my interest through out. The ending is crazy and fun, but it takes a lot to get there. I rated Instinct by Jason M. Hough 3 out of 5 stars. I think Hough has talent was highly entertained by Kyle's bar banter, it was quirky and funny and the best part of the book.
November 10, 2021
Mary Whittaker is a cop on her own who desperately wants to prove she can handle it. She stumbles into a serious conspiracy in her remote mountain town, and quickly learns that striving to be on your own isn’t necessarily a good thing. In fact, it can be dangerous.
There’s lots going on with instinct, or lack thereof, and that was a strong part of this story. I liked this book and its subtly tender ending. However, what was billed as a quirky kind of read turned out to be more action-movie oriented. Quirky is my sweet spot and action movies, not so much. The writing is skillful but I felt some character development would have benefited this story. A good, not great read for me.
There’s lots going on with instinct, or lack thereof, and that was a strong part of this story. I liked this book and its subtly tender ending. However, what was billed as a quirky kind of read turned out to be more action-movie oriented. Quirky is my sweet spot and action movies, not so much. The writing is skillful but I felt some character development would have benefited this story. A good, not great read for me.
September 17, 2025
I really enjoyed the small mountain town and weird conspiracy vibes of this book. A new, lone police officer trying to gain respect in a Washington State town where strange things keep happening (no sci-fi, which I was glad about). It kept you in the dark trying to figure it out for 70% of the book, with so much happening at once to keep track of (or not) that it was very thought-provoking. Although I thought the ending almost came a bit TOO climatically and dramatic like a movie. Otherwise, the characters were very relatable and the author did a good job explaining lingering questions I had in conversations between them. Overall good read though, I’d recommend.
Side note: A male author writing a book seeing through the eyes of the female main-character with a male love interest was wack. Bro has some explaining to do
Side note: A male author writing a book seeing through the eyes of the female main-character with a male love interest was wack. Bro has some explaining to do
May 30, 2021
2.5 because it was okay but just okay
March 17, 2022
What in the ever-loving-hell did I just read?!?!?
The creep factor in this book is HIGH, which on the surface, is a huge compliment. The first half(ish) of the book, I was riveted. Small, creepy town in the backwoods of a mountain with two cops and a psychiatrist who serves as the town’s only doctor. Lots of creep factor with a shuttered mine and some other weird things in the woods (I’ll leave the reader to discover).
This one held a lot of promise. I couldn’t read this damn book at nignt because it was screwing with my dreams. Strange happenings and conspiracy theories abound. And, until we started learning what is ACTUALLY happening, I was in.
And then it fell super flat. Against a floor. (If you’ve read it, you get it).
I just…no. I wanted it to be different. I got done reading and ugly stared at it. The stink eye did not change the ending. I was supremely disappointed in the turn that it took and where it ended.
Listen, I implore you to read it and form your own opinion if you like a creepy, conspiracy novel as much as I do. And then message me, because…. What. The. Hell.
The creep factor in this book is HIGH, which on the surface, is a huge compliment. The first half(ish) of the book, I was riveted. Small, creepy town in the backwoods of a mountain with two cops and a psychiatrist who serves as the town’s only doctor. Lots of creep factor with a shuttered mine and some other weird things in the woods (I’ll leave the reader to discover).
This one held a lot of promise. I couldn’t read this damn book at nignt because it was screwing with my dreams. Strange happenings and conspiracy theories abound. And, until we started learning what is ACTUALLY happening, I was in.
And then it fell super flat. Against a floor. (If you’ve read it, you get it).
I just…no. I wanted it to be different. I got done reading and ugly stared at it. The stink eye did not change the ending. I was supremely disappointed in the turn that it took and where it ended.
Listen, I implore you to read it and form your own opinion if you like a creepy, conspiracy novel as much as I do. And then message me, because…. What. The. Hell.
April 19, 2021
Review in the April 15, 2021 issue of Booklist and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2021/04...
Three Words That Describe This Book: steadily increasing pace, deeply unsettling, strong protagonist
Three Words That Describe This Book: steadily increasing pace, deeply unsettling, strong protagonist
October 29, 2022
A surprisingly interesting and entertaining novel with a great main character! This novel has a great sense of place—the strange but endearing little town of Silvertown. Thematically there’s some great parallels to what’s Really Going On In The World and that is what drew me into this one.
Prose was swift, the ‘plot’ (god I hate that word)had me furiously turning the pages and overall this one deserves a Read!!!
Prose was swift, the ‘plot’ (god I hate that word)had me furiously turning the pages and overall this one deserves a Read!!!
September 7, 2021
Disappointed!
I should have believed the reviews that said "the narrator was not believable." Generally I don't care if a male author is writing for a female lead or vice versa but this was awful. Most all of her thoughts or dialogue didn't sound like anything a female presenting would say... and I am sorry that is generalizing but it was bad enough I couldn't finish
I should have believed the reviews that said "the narrator was not believable." Generally I don't care if a male author is writing for a female lead or vice versa but this was awful. Most all of her thoughts or dialogue didn't sound like anything a female presenting would say... and I am sorry that is generalizing but it was bad enough I couldn't finish
January 24, 2022
I truly enjoyed the first half, and then it was just ridiculous. I’m not sure how it could have wrapped up and NOT be ridiculous, but this was the worst. It was torture to finish. Giving 2 stars because I did enjoy the beginning. This one isn’t even going on my bookshelf, off to the donate box at the library!
October 23, 2020
3.5 stars
Loved MC Mary Whitaker. Great idea for a story and good setting. It took me a while to really get into this book. Once I did, it grabbed me and was hard to put down, but then it started to drag on and on.
Loved MC Mary Whitaker. Great idea for a story and good setting. It took me a while to really get into this book. Once I did, it grabbed me and was hard to put down, but then it started to drag on and on.
June 26, 2021
I liked the main character, but the story was too far-fetched for me. She kills someone and goes to work the next morning?!?! Huh? I didn’t complete the book and stopped as soon as I read: “welcome to the broken-nose gang”. Ugh!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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