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182nd out of 185 books
—
114 voters
Killer Instinct (Charlie Fox #1)
by
Zoë Sharp (Goodreads Author)
KILLER INSTINCT is the first in Zoë Sharp’s highly acclaimed Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Fox crime thriller series, now available in e-format for the first time, complete with Foreword by Lee Child, two previously deleted scenes, Meet Charlie Fox and Meet Zoë Sharp extras, an excerpt from the next Charlie Fox novel – RIOT ACT – and a bonus excerpt from Brett Battles’ Jonathan Quin...more
Hardcover, UK
Published
August 2001
by Piatkus Books
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Count me in for this series. I like Zoe Sharp's heroine, Charlie Fox: she's skilled in the martial arts; she takes care of her friends; and she refuses to back down from an opponent. At the same time, she thinks about the consequences of beating someone down, and--at least in this, the opening installment of the series--she hesitates before using lethal force. This compassion is refreshing, as most protagonists who know a thing or two about bare-handed fighting go through a moral crisis along th...more
Puzzled? Yes I was puzzled when I saw that this novel was available. There are eight, count them eight, novels thus far in the Charlotte “Charlie” Fox series, Killer Instinct being the first. What took them so long to cross the ocean is anyone’s guess, but I am glad someone had the sense to bring it over here. Busted Flush Press has been nice enough to get them into our hands and I for one am very happy.
I read all the praise from Zoe Sharp’s fellow authors and many comparisons of everyone’s char...more
4 likes · like · see review
Recommendation from Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher series - one of my all time favorite hero's, is what prompted me to give this author a try. Her own publisher suggested reading her series on Charlie Fox in order, sho I followed that advice - which I now understand and concur.
Talk about fast paced! And a very likeable hero with some disturbing emotional wounds. Disfiguring in how unbelievably cruel people can be when that don't want difficult realities to shatter their comfortable littl...more
Talk about fast paced! And a very likeable hero with some disturbing emotional wounds. Disfiguring in how unbelievably cruel people can be when that don't want difficult realities to shatter their comfortable littl...more
Being interested in reading series mystery/detectives I ran across Zoe Sharp during my aimless wandering through book worlds online. I admit, reading the reviews I was skeptical as to whether or not I'd like this book for the simple reason that I'm interested in a particular type of hero (principled but tempted by physical violence, alone in the world by choice but always tempted to abandon this lifestyle). Female main characters usually do not fit this model if my previous reads are any indicat...more
Jul 31, 2012
Seeley James
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Seeley by:
the author
I accidentally followed some author I’d never heard of simply because her tweets tended toward humor. After reading a few of her clever observations, I picked up Killer Instinct, her first book. Wow. What a great book. And don’t I feel dim for not having heard of her before? Yes. (But I’m used to that feeling.)
The best part about discovering an established author is: No wait for the next book!
What makes an author like Ms. Sharp stand out from others is her skill. The writing is exceptional. Not...more
The best part about discovering an established author is: No wait for the next book!
What makes an author like Ms. Sharp stand out from others is her skill. The writing is exceptional. Not...more
7 likes · like · see review
I was fortunate to win a free download of Zoe Sharp's FOX FIVE short story collection on the Murderati blog a few months ago. I really enjoyed all of the stories and added KILLER INSTINCT to my To Be Read list then because I wanted to learn more about Charlie Fox. I admit however to not really loving short stories that much because they are well...short. They don't always give the chance to connect emotionally with a character. So I was lured away from KI by other shiny stories calling to be rea...more
Entertaining read, interesting main character, reasonably believable 'tough girl' type. The plot is fairly predictable, with the nightclub being the focal point for various illegalities, wrapped up with a serial killer, but moves along well.
My personal issue with this book was the main character. Presented as a 'tough girl', well trained through the military and currently running her own business as a self-defense instructor, she made too many 'dumb' mistakes, things she would not have done if t...more
My personal issue with this book was the main character. Presented as a 'tough girl', well trained through the military and currently running her own business as a self-defense instructor, she made too many 'dumb' mistakes, things she would not have done if t...more
Great Book! I thought Charlie to be a fearless, intelligent and compassionate character. As the story develops charlie narrates about her harrowing personal experience in the army, and how her own parents didn't believe her or stood by her. Instead of "why me?" she refused to be beaten by the system/family/friends and rises right back up and lives her life assisting other abused women. One day she goes to a club with her friend where the friend was assaulted and Charlie steps in to assist. Someh...more
I was lent the 6th book in this series with the comment that it's about "the female Jack Reacher". Intrigued, I looked the series up and read enough reviews to realize I wanted to read them in order. Luckily I found the ebooks going cheap on amazon and snapped up the first 5. I've got various other paperbacks on the go but being able to read the iPad when I wake up too early (jet lag) without waking the hubby was a good excuse to start this, then of course I had to keep going.
I'm not sure about...more
I'm not sure about...more
Charlotte (Charlie) Fox has a history with Special Forces in the British Army which did not end well. As a direct result the relationship with her parents did not go any better. Charlie was not to blame and now she is living in Lancaster, in the North of England, with friends and a rewarding career passing on self-defense skills to (mainly) women. Life is peaceful until girls start dying in horrible ways at the hands of a crazed killer.
After saving her friend while on a girls-night-out, Charlie...more
After saving her friend while on a girls-night-out, Charlie...more
british mystery - 1st in series. This book was just published in the usa. She wrote other books in this series that have been published here. Heroine is a woman that is tough; teaches self defense to woman; has an interesting past that caused her to take up self defense, rides a motorcycle; estranged from her parents; got involved in a situation that ended up with a murder. I guessed the ending, but it was still good. Will read the next one in series if I can get it. The fourth book in the serie...more
Jul 12, 2012
Pinal County Library District
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
staff-picks,
mystery
Charlie lives in a quiet northern English city, but Charlie often ends up in situations that are anything but quiet! She doesn’t frequent clubs normally, but when a good friend asks her to go with her for a karaoke contest she agrees. This ends up with Charlie having to use her self-defense tactics to save her friend from an angry man at the club. She is then asked to work at the club which leads her into a murder and rape investigation. Charlie is a very troubled young woman who teaches self-de...more
Being somebody that buys more than I read, I have that nagging feeling that I am missing out when people get excited over authors I have never read. Yes I know, I have issues; don’t get me started! When I saw on my lovely Facebook page that people were excitedly chattering about Zoe Sharp I immediately Googled her and realised that she has been writing for the best part of ten years. How dare I not know about this crime author, especially being a British female author? I immediately ordered her...more
I devoured this book almost in one sitting while waiting for the rest of my family (those who haven't been sick over Christmas ;-) to prepare our Boxing Day blowout. I felt stuffed after the meal (as is proper after all): I felt nicely full after this book (as is equally proper).
I liked the way we gradually learned of Charlie's past: not in one huge infodump but as and when it was relevant to current happenings. I liked the way that her reactions to events seemed realistic, without preaching tha...more
I liked the way we gradually learned of Charlie's past: not in one huge infodump but as and when it was relevant to current happenings. I liked the way that her reactions to events seemed realistic, without preaching tha...more
I really enjoyed Killer Instinct, and loved Charlie Fox. She is tough and independent and is certainly not someone to mess with. As tough as she is, she is also a survivor who is compassionate and caring and comes across as somewhat vulnerable, so all in all a complex character. I think Zoë Sharp did an outstanding job in building up the character of Charlie to make her someone we can relate to.
I felt for Charlie when she was interacting with her parents who had let her down so badly when she ne...more
I felt for Charlie when she was interacting with her parents who had let her down so badly when she ne...more
This book grabbed hold of me in the first few pages and I could've fought off an attack by a Doberman and still not let it go. I haven't been so blown away by a character for many,many years and certainly not in this genre. Charlie is both vulnerable and vicious,the product of a violent past. When they say "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" that line could've been written for Charlie,who having suffered comes out fighting. Fantastically refreshing,a genuine character analysis who I immedia...more
Killer Instinct introduces the reader to Charlie (Charlotte) Fox, a PI with a history. Discharged from the army Charlie is managing to earn a living by giving instruction on self-defense. Taking on extra work as a nightclub 'bouncer'leads her into a world of drugs, danger and violent murder. Charlie is the kind of hero I like, flawed by her past and impetuous, unable to fully trust others doesn't help and leaves her in danger. The first well written start of a series, the narrative flows, making...more
Wonder Woman, Modesty Blaise, and now Charlie Fox. As Lee Child notes in his introduction, female action heroes are few and far between, and Charlie Fox is a welcome addition. Sharp has created a character with a strong backstory, a clear and solid presence, and plenty of room for emotional growth. She is far from perfect, but she has a good heart; she is someone I can like as a person as well as a kick-ass heroine. I have added the second book in the series to my TBR list and am eager to check...more
Sep 20, 2010
Bert Edens
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
martial-arts-fiction,
thriller-adventure
I actually completely stumbled onto this book online by accident, with Charlie being a self-defense instructor catching my eye. So I reserved it at my library.
I really enjoyed this, and can't wait to read others in the series! It's nice to see a strong female character who knows how to take care of herself, but at the same time isn't some super-psycho machine with no faults or failures.
As a martial artist, I found almost all (but not all) of the techniques and the situations believable, includi...more
I really enjoyed this, and can't wait to read others in the series! It's nice to see a strong female character who knows how to take care of herself, but at the same time isn't some super-psycho machine with no faults or failures.
As a martial artist, I found almost all (but not all) of the techniques and the situations believable, includi...more
If it hadn’t been for Lee Child’s glowing recommendation, I might not have picked up Zoe Sharp’s debut novel at all. While the action doesn’t paint the page the way a Jack Reacher novel does, it still managed to hold my attention, although it did take me more than a quarter of the novel to become fully invested in the story. But once I did, I was more than curious to see where Charlie Fox took me next.
Charlotte “Charlie” Fox rivals most men in her strength of character, love of motorcycles, and...more
Charlotte “Charlie” Fox rivals most men in her strength of character, love of motorcycles, and...more
3 likes · like · see review
I read book something-or-other in this series as a review copy some time ago. It was perfectly readable out-of-order, but it intrigued me enough to look out the rest of the series and try to read them in the correct order - not an easy feat as the books are confusingly named. However the author later explained to me the different UK and US markets and it all made a sort of sense.
This is book 1 in a crime series featuring Charlotte (Charlie) Fox, who was kicked out of the army for reasons which b...more
This is book 1 in a crime series featuring Charlotte (Charlie) Fox, who was kicked out of the army for reasons which b...more
I started the Charlie Fox series with Riot Act/Hard Knocks a few years ago now, and was unsuccessful finding ‘Killer Instinct’ through the library, as it was out of print at the time. With the reissue a while back I was finally able to read it (completely absorbed for an afternoon), and fill in some of the gaps alluded to in the later books.
I like details and back story so it’s really satisfying to read about Clare and Jacob, as well as background about where Charlie came from as a person. I do...more
I like details and back story so it’s really satisfying to read about Clare and Jacob, as well as background about where Charlie came from as a person. I do...more
(Series)
A patron came in looking for Charlie Fox books, a 1974 Daniel Boone type hero. While someone was helping him, I found these ones on amazon and, intrigued, thought I'd give them a try.
Motorcycle gals - you might really dig these. The heroine is a rider, and not an unrealistic, difficult-to-relate-to super-heroine Lara Croft type on a Supersport motorcyle. She rides an RGV 250 (comparable to the Ninjette) & is wise to her limitations. She's realistically flawed and vulnerable - her hi...more
A patron came in looking for Charlie Fox books, a 1974 Daniel Boone type hero. While someone was helping him, I found these ones on amazon and, intrigued, thought I'd give them a try.
Motorcycle gals - you might really dig these. The heroine is a rider, and not an unrealistic, difficult-to-relate-to super-heroine Lara Croft type on a Supersport motorcyle. She rides an RGV 250 (comparable to the Ninjette) & is wise to her limitations. She's realistically flawed and vulnerable - her hi...more
[NOTE: My computer has, well, died. As a result, I am many, many books into the 'future' and my reviews for the books are going to be unfortunately sparse or very general. Don't expect detailed analysis, I will be giving you more lasting impressions than piece by piece dissection]
This was a good, but not great book. It was original in many aspects, generic in others. Charlie is a unique female character, and the plot line is also unique enough to set it apart - but in the end it still feels like...more
This was a good, but not great book. It was original in many aspects, generic in others. Charlie is a unique female character, and the plot line is also unique enough to set it apart - but in the end it still feels like...more
KILLER INSTINCT (Amateur Sleuth-London-Cont) – G-
Sharp, Zoe – 1st in series
Piatkus, 2001- Hardcover
Self-defense instructor, Charlie Fox, takes a job as security in at the hot new nightclub, The New Adelphi after one of the clubbers has been raped and murdered. A friend of hers brings her a laptop computer given to him by an employee of the club in exchange for adult videos, but didn't give him the password. It soon becomes clear someone wants the laptop back and there's more than music going on...more
Sharp, Zoe – 1st in series
Piatkus, 2001- Hardcover
Self-defense instructor, Charlie Fox, takes a job as security in at the hot new nightclub, The New Adelphi after one of the clubbers has been raped and murdered. A friend of hers brings her a laptop computer given to him by an employee of the club in exchange for adult videos, but didn't give him the password. It soon becomes clear someone wants the laptop back and there's more than music going on...more
Charlie Fox is an independent woman who teaches self-defense at women's shelters and clubs. The story starts out as Charlie agrees to go to the New Adelphia club with her good friend Clair for a nite of Karoke. Clair defeats the champ, Susie Hollins who becomes instantly angry and attacks Clair. Charlie intervenes impressively and is offered a job at the club in security. Susie Hollins is soon raped and murdered and found dead outside the Adelphia- she has become the newest victim of a serial ra...more
I love books with heroines that are strong, but vulnerable, capable, but not indestructible, intelligent, but not infallible. Charlie Fox hits the mark every time. Zoe gives us a taste of Charlie's past, building it slowly, filling in the blanks, making us wonder and guess so that Charlie's past becomes part of the mystery of the book. And the rest of the story is an excellent mystery as well with interwoven plots and great 3 dimensional characters. The next book in the series is definitely on m...more
I listened to Zoe on a panel at Bouchercon2012 and was so entertained and interested in the tidbits she told of Charlie, that I had to put her on my TBR list. (And I got to meet her in person, too.)
This was a great intro to Charlie Fox. She is an extremely strong character, but with an ugly past that has to be overcome and dealt with throughout this story and into the future. It is also interesting to compare how things are done in an English setting compared to an American setting.
Great writing...more
This was a great intro to Charlie Fox. She is an extremely strong character, but with an ugly past that has to be overcome and dealt with throughout this story and into the future. It is also interesting to compare how things are done in an English setting compared to an American setting.
Great writing...more
With not only a nice blurb, but a forward written by Lee Child, I was expecting a lot from Ms. Sharp. Unfortunately, I was less than impressed. I found her writing clumsy and amateurish at times, and the pace often way too slow as the heroine got bogged down internalizing or going off on unnecessary tangents. I'm going to chalk this up to freshman inexperience and give another of her novels a chance. But based on this book, Zoe Sharp is no Lee Child.
Loved this book. It is very rare when I read a book and have no desire to change the main character's dialogue and actions. Charlie Fox is completely kickass with an independence and strength I wish more contemporary female characters had. I have no complaints what so ever. Zoë Sharp knows her stuff and writes it well. I have read it three times since this summer and look forward to get getting the other Charlie Fox novels from my library.
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Zoë Sharp spent most of her formative years living aboard a catamaran on the northwest coast of England. She opted out of mainstream education at the age of twelve and wrote her first novel at fifteen. She became a freelance photojournalist in 1988 and started writing her Charlie Fox crime thriller series after receiving death-threats in the course of her work.
More about Zoë Sharp...
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Aug 11, 2010 10:23pm