Wild Instinct - by T Jefferson Parker

About the Book

"The hunt for the truth is the deadliest game. Lew Gale, a former Marine sniper, now an Orange County California Sheriff's detective, is assigned to track and shoot a mountain lion that has killed a man in Caspers Park, located in the rugged country east of Laguna Beach, California. The victim is Bennet Tarlow, a rich developer and man-about-town in upscale coastal Orange County. The investigation takes a chilling turn when Lew and his new partner, Daniela Mendez, discover that Bennet was dead long before the lion got to him. And while Bennet might have been the first to die, he certainly will not be the last"--

Book Synopsis

INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

A gripping high-stakes thriller by three-time Edgar Award winner and New York Times bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker ("A marvel...hits the high-water mark for crime fiction every time out." --Gregg Hurwitz)

The hunt for the truth is the deadliest game.

Former Marine sniper Lew Gale, now a detective with the Orange County California Sheriff's Department, is assigned to track and shoot a mountain lion that has killed a man in the rugged country east of Laguna Beach, California. The victim is Bennet Tarlow, a rich developer and man-about-town in upscale coastal Orange County.

The investigation takes a chilling turn when Lew and his new partner, Daniela Mendez, discover that Bennet was dead long before the lion got to him. And while he might have been the first to die, he certainly will not be the last.

Review Quotes

"Parker is no slouch at plotting, but he particularly excels at creating flawed but sympathetic characters who are doing their best in a complex world. Gale and Mendez each have complicated lives but strive for justice even so." --Library Journal (starred review)

"With effective surprises, memorable characters, and simmering SoCal atmosphere, this goes down smooth." --Publishers Weekly

"The novel is a potent mixture of plot and character...it's a gift to his many fans. Expect high demand for this title." --Booklist

"[Wild Instinct] is a thoughtful and character-rich police procedural." --Wall Street Journal

"Outstanding in every respect, one hopes Wild Instinct is the first of many investigations for this engaging detective duo." --LA Times

"Parker makes each novel fresh and energetic....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. Lew and Daniela emerge immediately as three-dimensional characters. And the Southern California atmosphere seeps through each aspect of the book." --Sun Sentinel

About the Author

T. Jefferson Parker is the author of numerous novels and short stories, the winner of three Edgar Awards (for Silent Joe, California Girl, and the short story "Skinhead Central"), and the recipient of a Los Angeles Times Book Prize for best mystery (Silent Joe). Before becoming a full-time novelist, he was an award-winning reporter. He lives in Fallbrook, California.