Killer Instinct - Hardcover

Green, S.E.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1481402854 ISBN 13: 9781481402859

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2014

Synopsis

A teen girl version of Dexter meets the high stakes danger and mystery of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in this riveting debut.

Lane is a typical teenager. Loving family. Good grades. After-school job at the local animal hospital. Martial arts enthusiast. But her secret obsession is studying serial killers. She understands them, knows what makes them tick.

Why?

Because she might be one herself.

Lane channels her dark impulses by hunting criminals and delivering justice when the law fails. The vigilantism stops shy of murder, but with each visceral rush, the line of self-control blurs. And when a young preschool teacher goes missing—and returns in pieces—Lane gets a little too excited about tracking down “the Decapitator,” the vicious serial murderer who has come to her hometown.

As she gets dangerously caught up in a web of lies about her own past, Lane realizes she is no longer invisible or safe. Especially after the Decapitator contacts her directly. Now she needs to use her unique talents to find the true killer’s identity before she—or someone she loves—becomes the next victim...

About this title

Review:

Amazon Exclusive: A Q&A with Crimespree Magazine and S. E. Green, Author of Killer Instinct

Q: What was the inspiration for your protagonist, Lane?

A: Believe it or not, I am my own inspiration for Lane. Though I don’t act like Lane, I do tend to think like her. Very black and white. Right and wrong. Wanting justice for those who deserve it. Eye for an eye. I guess you can say I live vicariously through Lane. Everyone does have a dark side.

Q: Lane has been compared to a young Dexter. How would you respond to this?

A: I am big fan of shows like Hannibal, The Following, and Dexter. So when I decided to write a new series, the serial killer theme was a natural fit for me. Yes, many people are calling my series Dexter for teens, and I can totally understand that. Lane does share similarities with Hannibal, Dexter, and Joe from The Following.

Q: Lane is a complicated character. Was it hard to write a person who is so emotionless?

A: Through no fault of her own, Lane is most definitely a complicated character. I found her a very easy one to write, though. As a writer it is important to know your strengths and your weaknesses. Lane is all about my strengths. The true challenge for me is to one day write a book that tests all my weaknesses. I cringe just thinking about it.

Q: Are there any plans for this to become a series?

A: Yes! The sequel, Killer Within, comes out in May 2015.

Q: What made you decide to take Lane down the vigilante route instead of killing the “bad guys” she stalks?

A: Lane does walk a fine line. She wants to right the wrongs, but her conscience won’t let her take it beyond a certain point. She can’t and won’t justify making someone pay for anything other than what they have done. For example, she targets a rapist, has every chance to kill him, but decides to handle him in a different manner. . . .

About the Author:

S.E. Green was raised in Tennessee but now calls North Florida home. Killer Instinct is her debut young adult thriller series. Find her at SEGreen.net or on Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram under SEGreenAuthor.

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1481402854
• ISBN 13: 9781481402859
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272