I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Allison has a wonderful life. She’s married to the man of her dreams, has a wonderful 9 year old son, and she’s a great schoolteacher, adored by her students. On her son’s 9th birthday, as his gift, he gets to choose their vacation. To Allison’s dismay, Jimmy chooses to go to a fishing camp. Allison, being a city girl, finds this a gross and dirty endeavor but decides to consider it an adventure. They all get more than they bargain for when four criminals invade the camp. Will she be brave enough to save her family?

This was an amazing novel! When I read the synopsis, I was skeptical. I mean, how could someone, who wrote a fun series like Punky Brewster be able to write a good crime thriller? Well, D. A. Serra delightfully surprised me. The harshness of the criminals is perfectly described. I felt like I was one of the hostages in the lodge watching everything happening. This was an awesome edge of your seat page turner, one that you cannot put down. It is definitely one of my favorite reads this year!
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Cover – The cover was good. It looked desolate and spooky. It fit the story.

Top 3 things I liked about the whole book – Fast and interesting read. Full of suspense and heroism. The justice that Alison was able to execute for the sake of her family made the book even more worthwhile.

Top 3 things I liked about the main character – Strong, resilient, never giving in

Top 3 things I liked about the setting in this book – The prison setting was very detailed. The fishing camp was desolate. The hospital, where Dr. Kim was to performs the surgery.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author. ( )

Alison is just an ordinary Mum, an elementary school teacher in fact, who isn't much of an outdoors person, who would rather sit in an easy chair while her husband and son enjoy boating and fishing. But the Burne family put an end to those plans when they invade the fishing camp where Alison and her family are meant to be spending a few days.

The real tension in PRIMAL begins where most novels would wind the story up. Even so what happens initially to Alison and her family is horrifying enough to evoke Alison's primal instincts to protect her family. But then, perhaps a bit predictably, the horror isn't over, and Alison's primal instincts remain at the surface. Alison's husband and son are making a good recovery from their ordeal, but, just as clearly, Alison is not.

Perhaps, like me, your mind will come up with a scenario for the second half of the novel, but you'll have to keep reading to see if you are right.

I'm not sure whether "enjoy" is the right word for reading a novel like PRIMAL. One review site I saw had it rated as "R". That seems a rather extreme reaction to me, but it certainly is a novel that requires the reader to make a personal response, to question whether their own primal instincts would surface in the same way under similar provocation. ( )

Primal is One of those stories that grabs you from the very beginning and doesn't let go. A happy family who ask their son what he most wants to do for his birthday..he says he wants to go camping. Alison, Hank and Jimmy set off on their camping trip and arrive at the camp which consists of some old cabins and a lodge on an island. They have to get there by boat and there is no cell phone coverage. A parallel story is about three brothers who break their fourth brother out of prison and head to Canada. The motor on their boat stops and they find themselves on the same island as the happy campers. From that point on there are no more happy people. Instead they have to fend for their lives against these evil men.
Alison is the only one who was not in the lodge when the brothers enter. She sees what happens in the lodge and must use her wits and cunning to save her husband and child and the other campers.
This book is a very well written, scary story of a when a mother's fierce instincts take over, like a mother bear, she will not stop until her cub is safe. I love a good scary story with a strong female character and I was not disappointed. ( )

Original post here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/10/primal-blog-tour-review-giveaway-pri...

Brilliant! That is really the only word I have to describe this book. Primal just takes you to a place that is fast paced, aggressive, emotional, and well...primal (couldn't help it). This is a story I will be telling everyone to read because I think it is essential for people to. This may not be based on a real story, but it felt that way. You get an instant connection these characters and the situation that has been forced on to them. One of my favorite reads this year and I can guarantee that it will most likely be one of yours as well.

I love our characters. It feels so real. I couldn't help but just imagine myself and people I know as these characters. It is hard not to place yourself in this book. Our main character Alison is a school teacher, a wife, and a mother. She is a sweet and loving woman who likes to bury herself in books. To treat her son for his birthday, they go on a fishing trip at an old cabin. Sadly, they were not aware of the prisoner (who is on death row) who escaped with his equally psychotic brothers heading at the same lodge. Alison finds herself outside looking in while her son and husband are trapped inside with the murderers. Alison starts off scared, but something quickly takes over her and she will fight to the death to save her family. And all of this happens in the first half of the book. There is not just one climax and then it is over. There is so much more.

I love how we dive into her family and how their lives are after what happened as well. Her husband Hank loves her so much and like at the lodge, he feels helpless to help Alison. There is so much disconnect between them. Hank was a great supporting husband and seeing him struggle with himself and with trying to connect with his wife was heartbreaking. I was most proud of their son Jimmy. Being a kid, he is able to look at the situation in a different way. The more he shares it with his friends, the more he feels like he was part of a game and it doesn't scare him. Then we have Ben, the main criminal. He was nothing like his brothers, he knew the right things to say, how to be calm and had great instincts and it made him more terrifying. All the brothers put you on edge, but Ben was just too calculating.

This book started off as a screenplay which has been purchased by James Cameron himself and for good reason. This book would make a fantastic film. The plot in Primal will have your face buried in it. The suspense and the intensity is almost staggering. You will have a hard time taking your eyes away from it. The story is just incredible because it shows things from both sides. We have Alison trying to save everyone in the cabin and we have the new her adjusting to life after the chaos. Just reading this, you feel all the emotions they are going through and with Alison, it is the toughest. She is lost, full of fear, anxiety, and anger. I won't give too much away, but I couldn't blame her.

Primal is a book that will be stuck in your head for a very long time. It forces you to ask yourself, “What would you do? How far are you willing to go to save those you love?” This is one hell of a debut. Serra has quite honestly written a classic. She even even takes it all a step further by showing us the aftermath. I mean how do you adjust to life after something like this? Can you ever find balance? Can you ever get back to what is normal? Primal definitely strikes a chord especially if you are a mother. This is an intense, psychological thriller that will leave a mark. It holds no punches and it will leave you breathless. If you are looking for a thriller to add to your bookshelf, look no further. Primal is an absolute must read. ( )