Killer Instinct by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Summary
Overview of Killer Instinct
Teenage FBI profilers face a chilling copycat killer in this psychological thriller by psychology professor Jennifer Lynn Barnes. With unpredictable twists that stump even seasoned readers, "Killer Instinct" explores the haunting question: what happens when you dive too deeply into a killer's mind?
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Key takeaways
The Shadow of a Killer's Legacy
Dean Redding carries a burden few can imagine. As the son of infamous serial killer Daniel Redding, his life is defined by four haunting words: bind them, brand them, cut them, hang them. These weren't just his father's signature-they were a ritual Dean was forced to witness. Now part of the Naturals program, a secret FBI initiative recruiting teenagers with exceptional profiling abilities, Dean uses his dark inheritance to catch killers rather than become one. His careful emotional boundaries keep everyone at arm's length, especially fellow Natural Cassie Hobbes, despite their growing connection. When a murder at Colonial University perfectly mimics his father's methodology, Dean's carefully constructed walls begin to crumble. The victim-a young woman named Emerson Cole-was found displayed exactly as his father's victims once were. The implications are devastating: either his father's influence extends beyond prison walls, or something of his darkness lives within Dean himself. During a moment of vulnerability in the garage, bloodying his knuckles on a punching bag, Dean makes a devastating confession to Cassie: "My father made me watch." This traumatic history explains his hypervigilance, his need for control, and his fear that he'll never escape his father's shadow.
A New Handler Changes Everything
The Complex Web of Teenage Profilers
Following the Killer's Trail
A Deadly Game in the Woods
Finding Home in Darkness
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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