Hell yeah! Finally a precious gem hooked me from the beginning: unconventional relationship of two women : one of them is a serial killer of her ex husbands and the other one is obviously being gaslighted by her devious husband.

A prisoner and a charity worker find the solace at each other. As Clara still deals with her deep grief after losing her child, intentionally getting traumatized and stifled by her control freak husband who brought her home from asylum after she had a tremendous episode for losing her child, her path crosses with a dangerous criminal who is assumed murderer got convicted to kill all the men did her wrong.

Interestingly the charity work in the prison Clara accepted provides her more freedom than her time she spends at her own house because Henry-the devil’s incarnated form as a husband does anything to prove her improperness as a wife to send her back to the asylum.

From the beginning we start to form a strong bond with Clara. We cross our fingers for her to get rid of her scumbag husband who definitely needs to be punched a million times. Even though her obsession about Mary Ann Cotton looks unhealthy and questionable, I can easily empathize her loneliness, her traumatized feelings because of being trapped in an undesirable marriage with a madman, her grief for her child, her shaken feelings and broken heart.

On the other hand,Mary Ann Cotton was terrifying character but as you read more about her back story, you start to realize she is not the villain of the story. In this book the author preferred to leave the questions about her innocence open ended. ( in real life it seems like she committed all those crimes but the author objectively reflected her motives and the reasons behind those crimes) So the way of fictionalizing the real life story is a little bit different from the events that occurred.

But the story’s wrapping up and satisfying conclusion were perfectly crafted.

The strange women relationship, intense atmosphere, increasing tension, psychological analysis of traumatic woman who lost her child and a convicted husband killer’s portraits were well depicted.

Overall: it was thrilling page turner made me sit on the edge of my couch, bite my nails and suffer from nightmares all night long.

I’m giving four gaslighting, serial killer, historical thriller stars!

Special thanks to Netgalley and Inkshares for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

This is an excellent novel a la The Yellow Wallpaper, told in the first person by a woman whose husband
had her forcibly admitted to an insane asylum after she suffered a traumatic miscarriage. Leaving the asylum to return to her husband. she finds him much changed, and begins to understand that he has been after her inheritance the whole time. Relying on advice from women many others find mad or evil, she plots her escape. Author De Luca uses the real-life figure of Mary Ann Cotton, convicted of poisoning members of her own family, as one of the narrator's mentors, and the very ending is a fabulous twist. Readers who enjoy the Gothic will like this book, as will anyone with an interest in the rights and treatment of women in the 19th century.

I 100% loved this book!

Historical fiction centered about women attract me so much, and this one lived up to my expectations. Clara, a young woman who finally get out of the asylum, after having been sent there by her husband when she suffered a miscarriage a few months ago. Clara needs to build herself back, and figure out how to fit in the middle/upper class society again. Except she isn't sure she wants to. So when her life crosses the one of accused murderer Mary Ann Cotton, Clara find a strange fascination with that woman. Did she really kill her husbands and kids ? Why would she do that ? Between her husband's expectations and her visit to Mary Ann in prison, Clara tries to understand who she is and what she truly wants.

The atmosphere set in the book enchanted me. I really felt I was inside Clara's head, tortured, confused and trapped in a life that she has no control over. It's truly maddening to see how everyone around Clara treats her like she has a problem, as if she's sick and needs to be set apart until her ideas are better. The helplessness and sense of injustice is infuriating, and this is what makes the plot so gripping. The unraveling of the plot is so satisfying and liberating though. I just love novels highligting the empowerement of women. I even think this could qualify as a feminist book, even though in a certain way only, as it is a historical fiction, and we are far from the conditions the women in the 1800 had to live in!

Second, I loved the author's take on trauma. It explains very well how loss can affect people in ways that some can't understand, and that everyone tries to rebuild themselves in different ways. This is why Clara and Mary Ann's interactions are so interesting. They both suffered, and they both are/were desperate. It's almost a mentor/mentee relationship, and I liked seeing various visions of a same event.

The author has a great talent to make a story flow. The narration was flawless and captivated me until the very end. I would absolutely recommend "The Savage Instinct" to everyone who enjoys atmospheric historical fiction featuring strong women. This has just such a fascinating vibe!

** spoiler alert ** Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for giving me access to this book.

I consider Savage Instinct to be a slow burn. At first, I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish it, because it truly was slow to start, but by the end it was nearly impossible to put down. Initially I started with a great deal of concern for Clara and whether she would be a reliable enough narrator. There were a few moments when my concerns were realized, but the author quickly led us back to the truth of it.

This was a story of the fight for sanity as well as womanhood. My favorite quote, in which I immediately highlighted was "I would never understand the terrible brutality that those in authority inflict on women." Though this book was set in the Victorian era, this line still rings true today and i'm sure many of us can see the truth of it.

The ending leaves you wanting answers. What will Clara now do with that brown little bottle? Was Mary Ann innocent or was she the greatest murderess of her time?

I think those who truly love this era of writing, the fight of women, and a little bit of mystery will eat this up.

(Also I hope the Buckley's end up in the poor house.)

Clara is released from the mental asylum after an episode following a tragic child loss. As she tried to cope with new life, she becomes stifled by her controlling husband. She finds some comfort in prison charity work where she creates a bond with the first female serial killer, Mary Ann Cotton.

Wow, what a story. I stayed up late reading this one and had a difficult time sleeping after because the events kept swirling in my head. I’ll be thinking of this one for a while. The author sure knows how to build the excitement. It was driving me crazy! Every time the main character became safe, something would happen and she’d be imprisoned again. Her escape was a long process of back and forth, which really build the anticipation. This story made me glad to be a woman born in today’s world. It was very hard to read about the lack of rights women had and the terrible conditions they were exposed to, often times just because their husband wanted rid of them. I loved reading of Mary Ann Cotton, and of course had to go to a wiki bend afterwards. This was such an exciting and important read.

“If freedom means rebelling against all constraints, I felt the first stirrings of it when I met Mary Ann Cotton.”

“Never show your fear, for you know in all the fairy tales the fierce wolves always sniff out the gentle ladies”

The Savage Instinct comes out 3/16.

Thank you NetGalley, Inkshares, and Marjorie DeLuca for the opportunity to review this book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In this story, we follow Clara Blackstone whose loss of her pregnancies and her ensuing grief resulted in her being committed to Hoxton mental institution. There she was tortured under the false pretenses of curing her hysteria until her husband “granted” her freedom. When Clara arrives home, she soon realizes she is one act of perceived hysteria away from being locked away again forever by her controlling husband and his entourage from the university where he works.

To keep herself busy, she soon finds herself visiting the women’s prison to keep the convicted company. Clara is drawn to Mary Ann Cotton, a woman accused of committing up to 20 murders of her husbands and children. They soon share the graphic details of their respective lives and a bond quickly forms between them.

This book was a strong 3.5 stars. As I majored in psychology, I was already familiar with some of the treatments of patients in mental institutions but reading it in first person made it so visceral. The distance that people were willing to go to get people committed simply to dispose of them was quite disturbing. This gave me strong Margaret Atwood and Sarah Waters vibes. If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially set in Victorian times with a defiant female lead, you will definitely enjoy this book. I finished it in two days - it was that good.

Clara Blackstone is like many wives of 1870's England. She is under the complete control of the whims of her husband. Especially, after complications of pregnancy and delivery. She finds herself being released from an asylum and not being able to fit back into normal society. This, and the fact that she is an heiress has her under threat from her husband of going back to the asylum.
Meanwhile Mary Ann Cotton is being held in the local prison. Mary Ann is a real woman from history that was accused of poisoning as many as 20 people with arsenic, including her children and husbands. Marjorie DeLuca weaves both fact and fiction together for an enchanting story. There are passages of different timelines and dreams that sometimes don't flow smoothly. Honestly, I could have done without the dream passages but that's my own personal issue. Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me to give my honest opinion on #TheSavageInstinct.

wow, i really didn't know about this book but when i saw the title and the book cover i was so entranced! and somehow the content didn't fail me, i enjoyed it, and maybe i found things that were rather slow for my liking, but it was a solid read and i had fun and highly recommend!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: March 16, 2021
It is 1873, in London, England and Clara Blackstone has just been released from a mental asylum, placed there after an aggressive outburst brought on by the tragic death of her infant. Now that she is free, Clara is eager to begin her life again, and returns to the care of her husband, Henry. Clara quickly becomes obsessed with a local woman, Mary Ann Cotton (England’s first female serial killer), who is in jail on charges of killing all of her previous husbands, as well as all of her children. Clara begins to visit Mary Ann in jail, despite the protestations of her husband and society friends, and soon the two have formed a unique friendship. As Mary Ann’s execution date grows closer, Clara begins to see her husband’s true nature and she, too, starts to see herself as trapped in a prison of her own making.
“The Savage Instinct” is one of Marjorie Deluca (or M.M Deluca)’s first historical fiction novels, having mostly focused her writing attentions on young adult science fiction novels. I can honestly say after reading “Savage”, she has some definite writing chops in this new genre!
Right from the beginning, Clara generates sympathy from the reader. After being institutionalized merely for not grieving properly over the death of her infant, and having to start over again with a husband who wishes to rob her of her wealth and commit her once again for acts “unbecoming of a proper wife”, she is someone I immediately rooted for. Her husband, Henry, is an evil and heartless monster of a man, and the only joy I found in his character was when he received his comeuppance! Constantly demoralized at every turn, the only hope and brevity Clara finds is in the company of an assumed murderess.
Mary Ann Cotton is based on a real person, so of course, my interest is piqued, and I want to continue to research her. Not only does this novel do her justice (in leaving it open ended as to whether or not Cotton actually committed the crimes she was charged with), it paints a grim picture of “insanity” in that era, and the role of a woman in both marriage, and society.
Although some parts of the ending in this novel were a bit wide open, leaving some unanswered questions, the proper justice was served. I thoroughly enjoyed Clara’s rise to independence, and even felt a little bit of sympathy for Mary Ann.
“The Savage Instinct” is a realistic and emotional portrayal of mental illness in Victorian England, and the struggles of being a woman. To quote Clara; “I would never understand the terrible brutality that those in authority inflict on women”.

The Savage Instinct is a fascinating glimpse into the treatment of women in Victorian England and how the relatively new psychiatric world was often used to harm and silence women rather than help them.

Clara, our MC, is certainly a fascinating character. I loved watching her progression throughout the book and her struggle to maintain herself despite her abusive/manipulative husband’s attempts to silence her.

This book takes place in the historical context of the notorious serial murderer Mary Ann Cotton which parallels (to a degree) Clara’s story. While we know Clara’s state of mind and actions, we examine the ambiguity and uncertainty of Mary Ann’s guilt throughout the book.

From a mental health perspective, this book was particularly hard, but important to read. Psychology and psychiatry were built on a foundation of pain and oppression for anyone who was not a white, upper class male and the science was not as certain nor objective as the doctors pretended it was. Knowing the history of my field is sobering, but important and it’s good to view the history of its impact through the lens of the people affected by it.

For the most part I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The only thing that detracted from it in my opinion was literally the last two chapters. The build until then was so well done but I did not feel as if the ending was deserved based on how the rest of the book had been built. While the actual ending was hinted at throughout, I still wish it had been as heavily established or at least part of the main character’s choice that had been so deeply explored. In comparison to the rest of the book, it just did not feel nearly as thoughtful or well-executed.

However, despite the fact that I did not like the ending, I would still recommend this book and say it is a good, thoughtful, intense, and fast paced historical read. However, there is a caveat for extreme triggers for domestic abuse/violence, medical malpractice/trauma, sexual assault, and attempted gaslighting throughout the book.

It seems to be the year of the female-driven historical thriller!! This book was fun, twisted, and all over a fascinating read. I definitely would recommend it to anyone looking for a strong female lead and a whole lot of crime.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkshares for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

After a traumatic stillbirth and a short asylum stay due to ‘hysteria’, Clara Blackstone is sequestered to her new home in Durham by her overbearing husband. Bored with her new domestic life, Clara starts volunteering at the local women’s prison. While there she meets Mary Ann Cotton, a local woman who is rumored to have poisoned countless husbands and lovers, and the two form an instant and inseparable bond. The Savage Instinct is a wonderful work of historical fiction that gives us an accurate portrayal of the treatment of women and views on their mental health in the 1800s.

I love when authors and their books go through a rebranding. Sometimes a little cover make-over can do wonders for a story that gets re-released. And even though this was originally published five years ago, the story feels new and relevant.

Fans of ‘Alias Grace’ by Margaret Atwood and ‘Burial Rites’ by Hannah Kent will find theirselves right at home with this story. While this doesn't quite focus on the woman on trial like those books do, I still found the narrative to be an eye-opening (albeit massively frustrating) demonstration on how women were treated by society during that time.

While I personally would have liked Mary Ann Cotton to have had more page time, this is a good story about the time period and the struggles of women, particularly their treatment by men and medical professionals.

The Savage Instinct is a really good book. I had trouble putting it down. Following the life Clara Blackstone, from a happily married "lady" and following the stillbirth of her child, her fall down into the mental assylums of England in the 1850"s.
Mental illness in those days left the patients sometimes worse off than they were before any treatments were administered. Effective ways of dealing with depression were not readily known at the time and many patients were guinea pigs for treatments that many doctors hoped would help, but many times didn't.
People facing mental illness were also not considered worthy of "human existence" in those days, rather they were seen as possessed and less than human.
Women in this state were at the mercy of their husband's decisions with regard to their surroundings, medical help and even their day to day circumstances.
Following her release from the asylum, Clara needs to re-integrate herself into English Society. After all her husband has a reputation to uphold.
He is a nasty character whose only care for his wife is that he controls her money. In those days, that's what a husband did and their marriage, while she thought it was great in the beginning, soon showed signs of trouble. Her mental breakdown was the point where he could start to do what he needed to do. He wanted total control of her assets. While Clara is trying hard to regain her sense of self, he is thwarting her every step. With the help of some friends who agree women are inferior to men, he starts planning her further downfall into mental illness. He wants her committed for life!
The Savage Instinct should be read by anyone who loves suspense in their reading material. Like I said, I had a hard time putting it down.
I would tell you more, but I really don't want to spoil the book for you. It's for you to get into and see what is happening and then make some conclusions of your own.
Thank you #netgalley for allowing me to read this book pre-publication! Look forward to it March 16,2021.

Thi Dracula retelling, set in Victorian England and featuring a woman who is recently released from an asylum is so good. The ambiance is dark and enthralling, the writing is exceptionally evocative, and the descriptions are superb. I appreciate how the author ties history in to fiction and threading feminist undertones in to a book set in an era when women were generally treated poorly.

The Savage Instinct is a tense peek into abusive relationships and the myth of female hysteria. Anyone who enjoys Victorian murderesses and madness should find something to enjoy in this novel, written in the vein of Sarah Waters, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Margaret Atwood, Laura Purcell, and Hannah Kent.

Young Clara Blackstone stumbles back into English society from a temporary asylum sentence. Deemed hysterical after a traumatic miscarriage, her husband forces her into confinement. Upon her release and arrival at her new home in Durham, she finds herself drawn to a local prisoner, the infamous Mary Ann Cotton, said to have poisoned scores of husbands, lovers, and even her own children. Clara finds her new domestic life suffocating, with her husband particularly suspicious and patronizing. Seeking solace from the claustrophobic confines of her new household, she visits Mary Ann at the women’s prison. The two women share an instant connection, and an unspeakable bond begins to form between them.

4/5: Great work of high/late Victorian historical fiction with a thrilling Gothic and almost feminist kick. Fans of novels like Fingersmith and Alias Grace should enjoy Marjorie DeLuca’s take on deviant, dangerous, and defiant Victorian women.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Awesome book. If I didn't have to parent I would have locked myself away to read this one. I felt so strongly for Clara, the main character and what she dealt with. The treatment of patients in mental institutions back in the late 1800s...wow....just heartbreaking. And her husband...gahhh....drove me crazy. I also thoroughly enjoyed reading about Mary Ann Cotton, definitely went and researched her after to learn more.
If you love to read books about the late 1800s, especially about women and how they were treated if they dared to show any type of emotion that was deemed more extreme...then please read this one.
Thanks Netgalley for this one, what a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to review!
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 5
Pace: 4
Plot development: 4
Characters: 4
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of Reading: 5

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

I don't always love historical fiction, and I'm always a little nervous about a *delicate* Victorian-era heroine, but this book won me over. While it was slightly overwritten and a little unbelievable towards the end, I found it utterly engaging, and the inclusion of the character of Mary Ann Cotton made it pretty unputdownable for me. I liked it a lot!

This one will keep you up late to turn the next page! Excellent story and likely rather true as to how well-connected men could dominate women and treat them worse than slaves and as disposable when they wanted something new. Very true that asylums were barbaric back in the day and women were sent their or prison at the whim of men - I wanted to throttle the men and some of the women as well!. Almost a combination of "Handmaid's Tale" and "Enough" in Victorian times. A definite good read - highly recommended!