Hunted

Evelyn Baine is the type of character that is so easy to pity, which may or may not be Ms. Heiter’s point. Evelyn uses the traumatic loss of her childhood best friend as well as her elfin stature and feminine gender in a masculine world to create a massive barrier around her; in her mind, it is she versus the world, something readers quickly realize are only hampering her rather than helping her. She has so many issues with accepting help from others, with proving herself to her peers and superiors, to beating the bigger and stronger men that one almost wishes someone would profile her so that she can start getting the help she so desperately needs. It is all just a bit too much at times, still enjoyable but just a bit eye-roll worthy show more for comfort.

The story itself, as well as Evelyn’s job, is truly fascinating. The culprit and his motivations behind his job are horrifying in their depravity and yet surprisingly sympathetic. The idea of looking at all of the evidence and being able to fairly accurately hypothesis on key identifying attitudes and habits of the suspect is mesmerizing. Simultaneously, Ms. Heiter does a fantastic job balancing the psychology with the more realistic disdain and distrust such profiling can create in the lead investigators. The challenges Evelyn faces not in creating her profile but selling it to the investigators and getting them to actually use it are realistic and go far to preventing the story from becoming too idealistic.

Hunted is really nothing more and nothing less than an episode of Criminal Minds with a little bit of Silence of the Lambs thrown into the mix. However, for the right audience, this is a good thing. Evelyn is young, talented, and determined with a chip on her shoulder that prevents her from getting close to anyone. The action is taut, and the tension is thick. The story has its fill of plot twists that keep the story interesting and allow readers to learn a few more clues. If some elements of the story are slightly unbelievable or slightly predictable, that is more a flaw in the design of the character than of the story, as Ms. Heiter tries to make her heroine a bit too talented and capable. Still, fans of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries will enjoy this closer look into profiling and the various FBI units devoted to it, just as they will look forward to seeing which crime Evelyn will tackle next. show less

Fantastically written and well-paced, Hunted was a delight. It was refreshing to read about a character like Evelyn Baine. Evelyn is one of the best portrayals of a strong female character that I've read in a long time. I appreciate that she can be tough as nails, but still struggle with her own insecurities and fears that make her feel more realistic and relatable.

The story as a whole was a fascinating mystery that kept me interested from cover to cover.

After meeting the author during an event in my local bookstore, I decided to read this first book in her Profiler series-- especially when my husband bought all three books and enjoyed each and every one. At first I found Evelyn Baine to be a bit too abrasive, a bit too driven, a bit too distrustful, to be sympathetic, but when Heiter began filling in the character's backstory that all began to change.

Although I did find certain scenes to be a bit predictable (such as a love interest drawn to unapproachable women as well as some of the plot twists), Evelyn's character did grab me and didn't want to let go. Her stubbornness, her resourcefulness, the way she pieces clues together, and the way she treats her grandmother won me over. show more Heiter also touches on how some men still view women agents in the FBI, which added depth to the story-- and she certainly has a sure hand with action sequences.

Now that I've learned to like this prickly FBI profiler, I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series. Heiter seems to have an instinctive knowledge of just the right mix of mystery, action, and characterization. show less

Hunted by Elizabeth Heiter
Profiler series Book #1
4 stars

From The Book:
Terror stalks a small Virginia town. FBI rising star, criminal profiler Evelyn Baine, knows how to think like a serial killer. But she's never chased anyone like the Bakersville Burier, who hunts young women and displays them, half-buried, deep in the woods. As the body count climbs, Evelyn's relentless pursuit of the killer puts her career—and her life—at risk. And the evil lurking in the Burier's mind may be more than even she can unravel.

Terror is closer than she thinks. The Bakersville Burier knows he's got an FBI profiler on his trail. He knows who she is and where to find her. And he's biding his time, because he's planned a special punishment for Evelyn. show more She may have tracked other killers, but he vows to make this her last chase. This time it's her turn to be hunted.

My Views:
You can tell that the author either had law enforcement experience or else did a great deal of excellent research. She has produced a clear and crisply written tale of a hunt for a serial killer that abducts, kills and buries the bodies with the heads above ground so that he can visit them.

The character of Evelyn Baine, the FBI profiler...the new gal in what has always been primarily a man's world...intelligent and professional...and being very careful to keep her guard up and not give in to her attraction to fellow agent, Kyle McKenzie, is a breath of fresh air in the world of Mystery & Suspense. I usually don't care for romance being mixed into this genre but in this case it's not overpowering the main plot and actually adds to it. This is the first book and I already have the second. show less

The first in a promising new series about a smart and savvy young FBI profiler named Evelyn Baine who must try to ubcover the murderer of two young ladies who are buried with only their heads sticking out of the ground. Through her hard work she is able to find links to several other women who have been murdered in the past. This is fast passed, easy to read and kept my rapt attention till the very last page. As the plot develops even Baine becomes the focus of the sick killer. This is a very well written book and I eagerly look forward to the second in the series.

Elizabeth Heiter's debut novel Hunted is an intriguing and fast paced mystery. Lead protagonist's Evelyn Baine's job as an FBI profiler is unique which makes it stand out from the typical police procedural.

Evelyn Baine is on the career fast track when she is assigned to profile a killer who brutally murders his victims and displays them in a grotesque fashion. She is dedicated to her job (to the point of obsession) and she has a remarkable ability to get inside the minds of the criminals she profiles. When the search for the "Bakersville Burier" becomes personal, Evelyn is in danger losing her objectivity, her career and ultimately, her life.

Evelyn is a strong but deeply flawed heroine. She is closed off from just about everyone show more around her, defensive and reluctant to accept anyone's help. Socially awkward and unable to make small talk, Evelyn keeps to herself except for her monthly get-togethers with her two college friends. She is dedicated to the grandmother who essentially raised her and the vulnerability she hides from everyone becomes apparent during their visits. A traumatic incident from Evelyn's childhood haunts her, guides her career decisions and motivates her to sharpen her investigative skills.

Among the vast cast of secondary characters, there are a few worth noting. Her trainer and partner Greg Ibsen is the perfect sounding board for Evelyn and as a profiler, he can read some of the things she tries to keep hidden. Greg is genuinely concerned for her safety and her career when she makes some iffy decisions. Greg's cousin Gabe is not quite as serious as the other characters and he brings some levity to the story. Gabe's friend Kyle "Mac" McKenzie brings the possibility of a future romance between him and Evelyn in future works.

The mystery aspect of Hunted is quite riveting and the profiling process is fascinating. The resistance Evelyn encounters from fellow law enforcement officials adds realism to the storyline. The investigation is well-plotted and for the most part, believable. There were a few events that stretched the bounds of credibility but overall, were easy to overlook. Multiple points of view provide insight into the various characters and the shifts in perspective were easy to follow. All in all, it is an exciting introduction to Elizabeth Heiter's Profiler series and I am looking forward to the next installment. show less

Haunted, hunted, completed.

The Bakersville Burier definitely gave Evelyn Baine, an FBI profiler, a run for the money. The BAKBURY case as it was called and as he was called was a master at abducting his victims as well as avoiding the police. The Bakersville Burier had a grudge against women and a background that made him dangerous along with a background that fed his horrible desire to hurt.

HUNTED will keep you turning the pages as the "hunted" and the "hunter" keep eluding each other. HUNTED is an excellent thriller and a great debut novel for Ms. Heiter.

HUNTED kept me awake reading to find out what happened and also kept me awake with every light on because of the fright factor.

You will love Evelyn but want to tell her to lighten up show more and take care of her personal life as well as her professional life. Evelyn had a piece of herself in every murderer she profiled because of something that happened in her own life when she was younger.

I haven't read a thriller for a while and enjoyed the chase and the tension of HUNTED. You will be tempted to leave the lights on as you read and look behind you and around you when you are out. There is also a sweet romance hidden in all of this terror.

HUNTED is a book you will want to read if you like to delve into a criminal's past and try to figure out what caused him to want to murder and harm others.

Don't miss reading HUNTED. 4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review. show less