4.5 Stars from me
As a huge fan of the DI Barton series, I was excited to read a book from this author that focussed on a different cast.
In Hunter (previously published as Abel’s Revenge) a serial killer is at large – he makes it known who he is and some of the chapters are written by Abel, in which he shares his story.
Also featured and with their own chapters, are Dan and Olivia, an unhappy couple with two young children. There are lots of cracks in their relationship and Dan and Olivia don’t seem best suited with Olivia being glamourous, bubbly, and house proud and Dan who is unhappy most of the time and generally a bit of a slob around the house. The swapping of narration between the chapters is fab and has some absolute gems in it – especially in relation to Dan and Olivia’s relationship.
Unsurprisingly, Olivia receives a fair bit of attention from pretty much every man in her life, except Dan it seems! The man next door is very taken with her, as is her boss and not to mention the postman! Soon she starts getting deliveries of little gifts and notes and it is hard to narrow down the field to work out who is sending them, and what their intentions are. Is it manly Mike next door, the pervy postman, or her rich and powerful boss?
Olivia is quite attractive .. and unhappy. Just ask her neighbor, Mike. It’s kind of creepy the way he watches her… and seems to know which of her buttons to push. Dan isn’t exactly worried..but he definitely doesn’t like Mike. Then there’s Olivia’s boss .. a man who has it all …money, prestige, everything that Dan doesn’t. And let’s not forget the mailman. He loves peering into households through the letter slots on front doors.
Meanwhile, a serial killer is roaming the streets with no apparent MO and the pressure is on to catch him before he strikes again.
Much like the author’s other books, Hunter is cleverly put together with an engrossing storyline, peppered with grim and gruesome parts and an underlying clever humour. If you haven’t read any of his books yet, get involved, you are in for a treat!
Blurb: There’s a killer on the streets, and no one is safe…
First there was the drowned man, but maybe his death was an accident?
Then there were the decapitated bodies, the burnt girl, the women pursued in the dark. Finally the police have to admit there’s a serial killer on the loose and he seems set on revenge. His name is Abel and his crimes are escalating every day.
Dan Flood, Olivia Jones and their two young children are a family at breaking point. The mundane juggle of parenting and work means that the romance is draining away. Living in a community that is growing ever more fearful, just adds to the pressure in their lives.
But when Abel turns his attention on Olivia, only Dan can save her…
Read and Rated 