4.0 (1 rating)
Bad Blood
When Cassie Hobbes joined the FBI's Naturals program, she had one goal: uncover the truth about her mother's murder. But now, everything Cassie thought she knew about what happened that night has been called into question. Her mother is alive, and the people holding her captive are more powerful-and dangerous-than anything the Naturals have faced so far. As Cassie and the team work to uncover the secrets of a group that has been killing in secret for generations, they find themselves racing a ticking clock. New victims. New betrayals. New secrets.
When the bodies begin piling up, it soon becomes apparent that this time, the Naturals aren't just hunting serial killers.
They're being hunted.
Praise for Killer Instinct "A welcome addition to the teen-sleuth genre."
-Kirkus Reviews
"Barnes knows how to keep the reader hooked, and fans will be eagerly reaching for this title and clamoring for the next in the series."
-Booklist
"This is a definite purchase for libraries...."
-School Library Journal
"Intricately plotted, this novel will keep teens guessing and leave readers eagerly waiting the next installment in The Naturals series."
-VOYA Praise for The Naturals
* "[A] tightly paced suspense novel that will keep readers up until the wee hours to finish." -VOYA (starred review)
"This savvy thriller grabs readers right away." -Kirkus Reviews
"It's a stay-up-late-to-finish kind of book, and it doesn't disappoint." -Publishers Weekly
"In this high-adrenaline series opener...even a psychic won't anticipate all the twists and turns." -Booklist
When the bodies begin piling up, it soon becomes apparent that this time, the Naturals aren't just hunting serial killers.
They're being hunted.
Praise for Killer Instinct "A welcome addition to the teen-sleuth genre."
-Kirkus Reviews
"Barnes knows how to keep the reader hooked, and fans will be eagerly reaching for this title and clamoring for the next in the series."
-Booklist
"This is a definite purchase for libraries...."
-School Library Journal
"Intricately plotted, this novel will keep teens guessing and leave readers eagerly waiting the next installment in The Naturals series."
-VOYA Praise for The Naturals
- YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2014
- YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers, 2014
* "[A] tightly paced suspense novel that will keep readers up until the wee hours to finish." -VOYA (starred review)
"This savvy thriller grabs readers right away." -Kirkus Reviews
"It's a stay-up-late-to-finish kind of book, and it doesn't disappoint." -Publishers Weekly
"In this high-adrenaline series opener...even a psychic won't anticipate all the twists and turns." -Booklist
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9781484757321
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Available in: Hardcover, Ebook, Paperback
See all editions (11)Reader Reviews
4.0
1 rating
Liz M.
Apr 26, 2026
This installment seriously ups the stakes. Just when Cassie (and we) think we understand her past, the rug gets yanked out from under her — hard. The reveal about her mother completely shifts the emotional core of the story and adds a whole new level of urgency and danger.
I loved how dark and intense this one felt. The secrets run deeper, the betrayals hit closer to home, and the tension never really lets up. The idea of a powerful group operating in the shadows was genuinely chilling, and the body count climbing made everything feel personal and high-risk.
That said, parts of the plot felt a little heavy with twists, and a few moments required some suspension of disbelief — but honestly? The pacing, character dynamics, and nonstop suspense more than made up for it.
If you’re already invested in the Naturals crew, this is a must-read. Fast, dangerous, and emotionally charged — with a cliff-edge feeling that makes it impossible not to grab the next book immediately.
I loved how dark and intense this one felt. The secrets run deeper, the betrayals hit closer to home, and the tension never really lets up. The idea of a powerful group operating in the shadows was genuinely chilling, and the body count climbing made everything feel personal and high-risk.
That said, parts of the plot felt a little heavy with twists, and a few moments required some suspension of disbelief — but honestly? The pacing, character dynamics, and nonstop suspense more than made up for it.
If you’re already invested in the Naturals crew, this is a must-read. Fast, dangerous, and emotionally charged — with a cliff-edge feeling that makes it impossible not to grab the next book immediately.