Lew Gale is a former Marine sniper, and now a sheriff's detective. It was believed that a mountain lion killed Bennett Tarlow the Third, a wealthy home builder, and Lew was sent to kill the lion. But before he could kill the lion (is this the right one?) the coroner called to say that there were 2 bullet holes in Tarlow's skull. Obviously Tarlow was killed and the lion dragged the corpse for dinner.

The story is indeed complex with several issues going on simultaneously. Lew has PTSD and Daniela (his partner in the sheriff's office) is a single parent, And there is the Native American viewpoint as well.

Personally I just felt there was too much going on - maybe leave out one of the issues to make the plot easier to follow - but then that's just my opinion and I'm not an author.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for permission to read this book.

Been a while since I have read his author. I do like his writing and the only downside of the book was a little too long and wordy in some places. It is very informative maybe a little too much. The substories kept me very interested.

While diving deep into the culture of the main character was interesting and insightful, I felt that the story would go off on a tangent when the reader wanted to get to the story. Maybe a little slow for my taste, but overall a good read.

This was a fairly interesting book, and especially rather a change from the book I'd just been reading before I started this one, Tolstoy's <cite>Anna Karennina</cite>. This book had lots more action and much less philosophical introspection. Not that philosophical introspection is a bad thing. It's just that change can provide spice to life, so to speak.

Anyway, we have an Orange County detective, Lew Gale, who is half Acjacheme Indian, a tribe unrecognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and who also came back from Afghanistan somewhat damaged in mind and body. But, he's an excellent hunter, so he is sent off to find a "killer cat", a mountain lion that was alleged to have killed and partially eaten Bennett Tarlow III, a real estate developer and the scion of a rather large and successful real estate group. But, before Gale manages to find and dispatch the killer cat, forensics determines that Tarlow was actually murdered before the cat moved in on him. He had been shot in the brain with a .22 pistol.

So, Gale is moved from finding the killer cat to trying to find the Tarlow's murderer. In this effort he is paired up with Daniela Mendez. Mendez is the single mother of a teenager, Jesse, who seems to be being lured into some unsavory gangland contacts via his girlfriend, Lulu Vega.

So, we have Gale and Mendez doing normal cop things like checking out suspects and also learning about their other issues, dealing with Jesse's problems, Gale's dealing with the enduring ravages from his time in Afghanistan as well as his "issues" with his absent father, and so forth. They identify a possible hit man, one Vernon Jeffs, but also have concerns because Jeffs appears to be involved in some way with others in the Tarlow family business as well as with local government functionaries. Lots to unpack.

Then, we get a lot of background on the origin stories of the Acjacheme people, in part through a book Gale reads to himself about one Luis Verdad's hunting for a killer cat, El Diablo, who has gone off with one rather dear to him, Magdalena.

So, I suppose one could say we have part cop thriller, part anthropological investigation, and part difficult personal and family situations. Lots of things going on. It was a pretty good read.

#WildInstinct #NetGalley

3.5 stars rated upwards for the review. The main character Gale I liked, he was a sniper that became a detective, who also has PTSD and this case brings it out to a degree. His new partner has her own personal problems that she brings to the job about her son. The murder investigation was interesting, but I wonder how the police department would appreciate how much the detectives drink on the job. The history of the area was interesting, and his memories of being a young boy in those same hills as part of the investigation were appreciated. However his partners obsession with what her son is doing every minute was overkill. If you're going to do tracking and such but do nothing about it, it's hard to feel anything for this person, either do something or stop stalking him. The story had repetitive things that could have been cut, the partners history was repeated too much and after 17 years get over it and move on. We are introduced to a whole gaggle of suspects then at the end everything is quickly tied up into a neat bow. Thank you to Netgalley for the invitation to read this novel for an honest opinion.

Ex-marine sniper Laguna Beach Detective Lew Gale of the Predator Tracking Unit is assigned to take out the mountain lion implicated in the death of notorious business leader. But the post mortem reveals that the big cat was framed as the victim was double tapped to the back of the head. Now the real police work begins and all the dirt it kicks up. The history geek in me really appreciated the history lesson about indigenous peoples of the area. Good read.
I requested and received a temporary electronic review galley from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Pub Date Nov 11, 2025 ****review @bookbub @goodreads #librarything #storygraph
#WildInstinct by T. Jefferson Parker @tjefferson2220 #NetGalley @stmartinspress @minotaur_books
#tense #suspense #psychologicalthriller #procedural #crimenovel @barnesandnoble @booksamillion @kobo #crimenovel #policeprocedural #action #unputdownable #flashbacks

First of all, thank you so much to NetGalley, and St. Martins Press, for the chance to read the ARC of this.

Wild Instinct follows along with Detective Lew Gale. As a former Marine, Lew has seen a lot of awful things and now finds himself working a brutal homicide case. Lew along with his new partner struggle to solve the case before another homicide occurs, while also dealing with their own history and problems.

The story was a bit slow at first and took me a while to get into it, but ended up being a very gripping tale. The only issue I personally had was that it was a VERY long story. I felt some parts could have been shortened, as it felt very drawn out.

Overall was a pleasant read and I will absolutely read more from the author!

Wild Instinct follows homicide detective Lew Gale. A former Marine sniper dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, he finds himself on the job working the death of business mogul Bennett Tarlow the Third. At first believing his death to be accidental at the "hands" of a mountain lion in a wildness park, they later learn that Bennett had actually been shot in the head prior to getting his paws on Bennett's body. Working together with his new partner, single mother Daniela Mendez, the two begin working out the case. Simultaneously, we see Lew's struggles with his background as a Marine sniper, the love he has for his mother and his Native culture while Daniela deals with the aftermath of a major lie she told her son and herself for 19 years.

In the end, the homicide detectives are successful in learning the truth behind Tarlow's murder, while Daniela is able to let go of the past in the best way and Lew begins to wonder if there is life outside of his PTSD.

While I enjoyed the story overall, unfortunately, this novel just wasn't for me. Lew Gale is an amazingly complex character. I found Daniela to be annoying, and oftentimes, I wondered if the author himself did background on what it's like to be a police officer or detective in general. I am not in law enforcement in any way, but it seems odd that a detective would share important information regarding the case to civilians, something he does often in naming the suspect in the case. HIs connection with wildlife, especially the old mountain lion initially accused in the businessman's death is admirable, though this should be a given with his Native nature.

Ultimately, as I mentioned, this story just didn't hit for me. I felt like it droned on for much longer than was necessary. I do appreciate being given the opportunity to read this novel. It broadened my horizon and knowledge of a previously unknown Native culture to me and it was interesting to read about. But otherwise, that was the only thing enjoyable about the nature of the novel for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for the invitation to read this novel, T. Jefferson Parker and St. Martin's Publishing Group for an ARC of Wild Instinct. This opinions mentioned above are that of my own.

A novel set in my own home town, I coudnt resist! This one fit home as I knew the familar landscape growing up in Laguna Beach adn hiking the trails behind my house. There are definitely mountain lions back there but the most I ever encountered was rattle snakes thank god. Imagine planting a body and the odds of a mountain lion actually finding it?! A little far fetched but I guess it could happen. I think other animals would get to it first. But i love a good thriller and this a solid read!

I enjoyed reading this book. The story kept you interested and the characters were well written. Overall, recommend reading this book.

This is an intense story that is full of surprises- with 2 story lines. There is some romance but mostly it is about murder for hire and the killers trying to prevent law enforcement from solving the case. The history lesson about native Indians adds interest.

Bennet Tarlow, super-wealthy real estate developer in Orange County, California, has just been found dead, attacked by a mountain lion. Main character Lew Gale, a former military sniper and now detective and member of the Predator Tracking Unit, will soon be making his way up the mountain to eliminate the big cat.

Detective Gale is haunted by ghosts from his time in Afghanistan. His scars, both physical and spiritual, run deep. Yet he seems so gentle and kind to those who need it. Gale knows what it is to suffer profound pain, and aims to alleviate it in others.

The mountain lion gets a reprieve when Gale learns that the murderer was a two-footed beast.

This is the first book I’ve read by T. Jefferson Parker. “Wild Instinct” is a standalone, as are most of Parker’s books. I enjoyed the story itself, as well as the details about Gale’s culture and his military service that seems to have left him torn up inside.

I recommend “Wild Instinct” and I’m looking forward to reading other books by T. Jefferson Parker.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.

Just as with T. Jefferson Parker’s previous novels, "Wild Instinct" quickly pulls the reader into the story at the beginning of the first chapter. In this case, a reluctant Sheriff’s Detective, Lew Gale, is tasked with finding and shooting a lion believed responsible for the death of a very wealthy land developer. However, when it’s discovered that the victim was actually murdered, the lion hunt is put to an end, as Gale and his partner, Daniela Mendez, set out to find the killer. Along with the significant personal issues that Gale and Mendez are grappling with in their own lives, the novel introduces a fascinating variety of suspects—not all of them particularly likeable— as the two detectives work their way towards solving the case.

Although I am a longtime fan of everything written by T. Jefferson Parker, I felt that he missed his mark a bit with this novel. While it was fascinating to see how Gale and Mendez slowly and meticulously solved their their murder case…I felt the story continually got bogged down and sidetracked by the ever-present passages concerning the history of the Acjacheme Indians. Even though their story would undoubtedly make for an interesting book on it own, I found that the continual references to these early tribal people weighed down the central plot of the novel.

While I would recommend this book to others, I have to admit that I don’t feel it is among Parker’s best works. For that matter, while I would have rated it as being a tad above 3 ½ starts, I’ve rounded it up to a 4-star rating. My thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for an eARC in exchange for honest feedback.

4.5 The start grabs us. The book's blurb already tells us this is no mountain lion kill, although the authorities still have to discover that. If it wasn't the mountain lion who killed the young developer, then who? So we keep turning the pages to uncover a gun for hire and more. I love that the author added the Acjacheme people as reference and inspiration for this book. It touches relevant social and economic issues/tropes with aknowlegement of mamy injusteced done against the Indigenous People, erasing their culture/colonialism actions, and some mental health too.
My favorite character was actually the mother who desperately guides her son out of trouble, giving depth to his path and story.
I found it a light thriller with good pacing between past and action.

This book immediately grabs your attention with a truly unique hook: a former Marine sniper, now a detective, tasked with hunting a mountain lion that supposedly killed a man. The setting in the rugged Orange County wilderness near Laguna Beach also provides a compelling backdrop for what promises to be a gritty procedural. When Deputy Gale discovers the victim was dead before the lion's involvement, the real mystery kicks into gear, and the initial twist certainly sets up high expectations.

Lew Gale, with his sniper background, is an interesting protagonist, and his initial assignment provides a fresh entry point into the crime. The early chapters deliver on the suspense, building a sense of unease as the investigation moves from a wildlife incident to a homicide. The idea that this wealthy developer's death is just the beginning of a larger, more dangerous chain of events is genuinely intriguing and kept me turning pages.

However, despite this strong start, the narrative loses some of its momentum as it progresses. The "chilling turn" and the promise of more victims felt somewhat diluted by a pacing that, at times, felt more methodical than thrilling. I also found that the prose sometimes had an odd syntax, which occasionally pulled me out of the story and required a re-read of certain sentences to fully grasp their meaning. While the mystery itself is solid, some of the revelations didn't land with the punch I was hoping for, and I found myself anticipating certain twists a bit too easily. The characters, while likable enough, didn't always feel fully fleshed out, making it harder to truly invest in their personal stakes amidst the unfolding danger.

Overall, it's a perfectly *fine* read for those looking for a California-set crime novel with a unique opening. It has its moments of tension and cleverness, but the occasionally awkward phrasing and somewhat predictable plot points kept it from achieving the gripping, unpredictable heights that the synopsis promised. A decent effort, but I was left wishing for a bit more roar from this mountain lion of a mystery.

Wild Instinct by T. Jefferson Parker While I enjoy a mystery and good police procedural this one left me wanting better. I did not understand some of the conversations but that could be because I have never been to that area. I guessed who did it pretty early. I did not the references to the lead detectives military nor the other detectives romantic(?) life. Thumbs down for me. Thanks NetGalley for the early read.

As a reader who typically enjoys a good mystery, I was intrigued by the premise of T. Jefferson Parker's Wild Instinct. The blurb promised a gripping thriller centered around a mountain lion attack that quickly unravels into a complex murder investigation, and I was eager to dive in.

Unfortunately, I found myself struggling significantly to connect with this story. While the initial setup of detective Lew Gale investigating the death of Bennet Tarlow was compelling, I had difficulty staying engaged throughout the novel, ultimately finding it hard to want to pick the book back up.

My primary challenge lay with the writing style and narrative choices. The book is told from a third-person point of view, and I found that it didn't fully succeed in drawing me into the story. For a third-person narrative to truly resonate, it needs to be executed exceptionally well to immerse the reader, and in this instance, I found it difficult to feel like I was truly in the story or connected to the characters' experiences.

Further contributing to this disconnect was the frequent mention of Lew Gale's Acjacheme lineage and the various sporadic stories delving into the history of the Acjacheme people. While intended to add depth to the protagonist, these digressions consistently pulled me out of the main mystery. Instead of enhancing the narrative, they felt like interruptions that fractured the pacing and made it challenging to maintain focus on the central murder investigation.

Consequently, I also found it hard to feel connected to either of the main characters. Without that immersive feeling or a strong emotional anchor, the stakes of the mystery felt diminished for me.

While the underlying concept of the mystery had potential, the execution of the narrative style and character development didn't resonate with my reading preferences. Finishing the book felt more like a chore than an enjoyable reading experience.

This was a free ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, and I am hugely appreciative of the opportunity to read and review it. While Wild Instinct wasn't the right fit for my reading preferences, I'm sure it will appeal to readers who enjoy very detailed police procedurals, narratives that delve deeply into a character's cultural background, or authors who favor a more detached third-person perspective.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Lew is a former Marine sniper, and now a sheriff's detective. His current assignment is to track and kill a mountain lion that had killed a man in the countryside of California. The man killed happened to be Bennet, a wealthy man involved in development. However, during Lew's investigation, he discovers that Bennet was killed well before the mountain lion came into the picture.

This was an excellent book for many reasons: there was suspense and a good mystery, which kept the pages turning for me. But I also really liked how the author incorporated serious and relevant topics, such as the indigenous community and single parenthood. There was also a lot of character introspection, making this a very well-rounded and entertaining book. I have never read anything by this author before, but note he has won many awards.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lew Gale, a former Marine sniper and now a California deputy is sent to track and kill a
mountain lion who mauled and killed a local resident in a park. Only it turns out that the
man was dead before the lion mailed his corpse and that he was actually shot.
Suddenly the case is now a murder investigation going in more directions than
the elusive mountain lion.
Intrigue and mystery abound in the victim's somewhat cloudy reputation but too much
extra content for me which made the reading move more slowly than I prefer.
Goid characters.

It was interesting enough that I finished the book, it was okay, not great. A little too fantasy for me with the old timers tales.