But all that will change one evening when Jason meets Kurt Semko, a former Special Forces officer just back from Iraq. Looking for a decent pitcher for the company softball team, Jason gets Kurt, who was once drafted by the majors, a job in Corporate Security. Soon, good things start to happen for Jason, and bad things start to happen to Jason's rivals. His career suddenly takes off. He's an overnight success. Only too late does Jason discover that his friend Kurt has been secretly paving his path to the top by the most "efficient", and ruthless, means available. After all, as Kurt says, "Business is war, right?"
But when Jason tries to put a stop to it, he finds that his new best friend has become the most dangerous enemy imaginable. And now it's far more than just his career that lies in the balance. A riveting tale of ambition, intrigue, and the price of success, Killer Instinct is Joseph Finder at his best.
©2006 Joseph Finder; (P)2006 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC.
"[A] masterful business thriller....Readers who enjoy movies where you have to fight the urge to shout 'Stop! Don't open that door!' will love this one." (Publishers Weekly)
"Steadman's 10-month ride from complacency to terror is filled with...thrills and chills." (Booklist)
"Mediocre at best"
I love mystery and suspense novels as much as the next person, but found nothing endearing about the book. Every character and relationship was an absolute steriotype. The sports-driven salesman married to a formerly-wealthy indy-film-watching abstract-art-dealing wife was enough to make me roll my eyes. Worse was the ridiculously obvious plot that a four-year-old could have written, and dull, predictable ending. Nothing in this book was surprising or suspenseful, and I'm sorry to have wasted my time.
Hopelessly addicted to Audio Books! I started listening as a distraction to the aggravation of driving, now I listen all the time :)
"One of my favorites in a while"
While a little far fetched at times, the story is great!
The character is likeable and I got seriously entwined with his plight throughout the story - definitely a potential recurring character.
You may be put off if you can't bring yourself to believe some of the far fetched coorporate espionage antics, but in the end, it's all well worth it.
"Dilbert-Like"
I really enjoyed this. Joseph Finder does his homework, and sometimes you get the eerie feeling that he's been in your workplace, similar to the feeling you get reading a Dilbert comic!
Look forward to many more of Finder's works.
"Killer Instinct"
A "page-turner" . Very good story, well told.
Born to read
"great book"
great book, kept me listening all day. I like all of Finders books.
"DISAPPOINTING"
First I will say that I loved Joseph Finder's first book "Paranoia." It was one of my favorite audiobooks. I liked "Company Man." It was interesting but not as much fun, nor as fast moving as Paranoia.
This third book was just passable. I was never bored, but never really involved, either. And I often felt the lead character was too slow on the uptake.
Overall, I was disappointed, and do not recommend the book. (Though it's not terrible.)
By the way, I'm listening to "The Faithful Spy" right now, and it's fantastic.
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.
"great thriller!"
the way it kept my interest every minute.
that good guys don't always finish last.
he does a great job in all his readings! top notch reader!
tension. especially near the end. finder made sure the last part of the book was good and tense.
i have found i like finder books and brick reading.
"Follow your Instinct..."
Killer Instinct is another great title by Joseph finder. It follows a lead character who has been getting slightly pushed around until he meets a new friend. Not exactly plausible, this story does a good job at building up the inevitable destruction of a friendship being built on lies and deceit. That being said, it is still a nice ride to watch a young man go from relative obscurity to top of the company. Wouldn't we all like someone working behind the scenes, gathering intelligence and helping us climb the corporate ladder. But once at the top, the person holding the ladder often wants to shake you from it and watch you fall all the way down!!!!! Nice book..unrealistic...but solid
"Great Finder story!"
Typical Finder corporate intrigue plot, except that this time I liked the protagonist. A bit predictable, but still enjoyable. Scott Brick makes his books a good listen.
"Actually better than I first expected"
When first selecting this book, I thought it might not be a good selection for me but couldn't find something I thought looked better. I was surprised to find that I enjoyed the book.
Some of the characters were a little preditable but it was still well narratored and enjoyable.