Killer Instinct

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Have you read other works by the same author, including others in The Naturals series? If so, how would you compare this novel? If not, did it remind you of any stories you have encountered?

2. How would you describe the tone of the story? Did you find its use of elements like suspense and humor effective? Why or why not?

3. Reflecting on Cassie’s ability to understand people’s emotions and motivations, did you find yourself empathizing with her point of view? Or did you disagree with her interpretations?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Which of the Naturals did you most empathize with, and why?

2. The Naturals find a kind of family with one another and with the FBI agents who supervise them. How does their understanding of family compare to your own?

3. Cassie, like many of the Naturals, has a tendency to throw herself into dangerous situations. How do you balance personal safety against the desire to help others?  

4. Cassie comes to understand that Sterling’s apparent severity reflects her concern for the Naturals and her awareness of her own past mistakes. Consider a time when your initial impression of someone was incorrect: How did you come to a more accurate understanding of their motivations or personality?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Given that many of the Naturals have biological ties to people who have committed terrible crimes, how does the novel intervene in ongoing psychiatric and sociological debates about nature versus nurture?

2. All of the Naturals have unusual skills that enable them to succeed in their role. What commentary might the series be offering on the idea of neurodiversity?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How do the chapters narrated by the killer(s) fit into the rest of the narrative? How do they impact the novel’s mood, suspense, etc.?

2. How does the novel frame Dean and Michael as opposites? How does this impact the love triangle between Cassie and the two boys?

3. Despite their expert profiling abilities, Cassie and the other Naturals sometimes fail to understand the people they’re interacting with—e.g., Sterling. What might the novel be saying with this paradox? 

4. What sort of imagery does the novel use to describe the house in which the Naturals live? How does this relate to the theme of Biological Heritage Versus Found Family?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Reimagine one of the novel’s scenes from the perspective of a different Natural. How does their perspective differ, and what techniques could you use to communicate that?

2. Create a playlist of songs that could accompany a film adaptation of the novel. How do your choices reflect the novel’s ideas, atmosphere, etc.?

3. Which natural ability (e.g. profiling, reading emotions, truth-telling, analyzing statistics, etc.) would you like to have, and why?

Need more conversation starters? Inspire your group with our Discussion Questions tool.