Lew Gale, the 43-year old detective at the center of T. Jefferson Parker’s Wild Instinct is well acquainted with the mountain lions that prowl his semirural Sheriff’s Department beat near San Juan Capistrano in Southern California ... When a half-eaten human corpse is found in a nearby wilderness park, Lew is sent to find the 'killer cat' thought responsible ... Paired with Lew is his new partner, 38-year-old Det. Sgt. Daniela Mendez, a single mother and a crack pistol shot ... Their styles prove surprisingly complementary in this thoughtful and character-rich police procedural.
A potent mixture of plot and character ... Lew Gale, marksman turned detective, a man we suspect has a complicated history, is one of Parker’s most compelling creations ... Whether this is a stand-alone novel (some of Parker’s best works are his one-shots) or the first in a series, it’s a gift to his many fans. Expect high demand for this title.
Sharply plotted ... Ancestral land being co-opted by developers has become a common theme, but Parker handles it with aplomb, bringing a sophisticated approach to Wild Instinct that readers have come to expect from him ... Parker has another solid series with Wild Instinct.
Edgar winner Parker (Desperation Reef) excels in this shrewd police procedural that introduces Lew Gale, a 'post-traumatic Marine with a taste for liquor and no desire to talk about what he’[s] been through.' ... With effective surprises, memorable characters, and simmering SoCal atmosphere, this goes down smooth. Parker has done it again.
