The Hunt

The Hunt
4 Stars

The only survivor of a brutal serial killer, Miranda Moore has dedicated her life to the search for the man who slaughtered her best friend and continues to terrorize her small town. Quinn Peterson, the FBI agent originally assigned to case and Miranda’s former lover, is determined not only to catch the monster but to rekindle his romance with the only woman he has ever loved. Can he and Miranda overcome their differences before it is too late?

An intense and suspenseful thriller but the romance is rather tepid.

Although it is easy to guess the culprit, the crimes and motivations are quite compelling. While not as gruesome as Karin Slaughter or Karen Rose’s books, there are descriptions that some readers may find show more disturbing. Nevertheless, the mystery is action-packed with an exciting climax and resolution.

In terms of the characters, Miranda’s strength, fortitude and resilience make her an admirable heroine, but, Quinn is another matter altogether. Yes, he is handsome and heroic, however, there is nothing particularly noteworthy about his character or his investigative skills. In fact, Nick Thomas, the local Sheriff, is far more interesting.

Miranda and Quinn’s relationship lacks chemistry and their reconciliation feels forced. Moreover, the love triangle trope (which also appears in the first book) is annoying and unnecessary. Thankfully, it does not distract from the tension and suspense as it does in The Prey.

In sum, good writing and good pacing make this a worthwhile read but don’t expect too much from the romance. show less

This is Allison Brennan's second in her debut series, her first being, The Prey.

I found this one being better than The Prey. It held my attention more, than the first book did, it had less mushy romance, more mystery and was a page turner for me.

I enjoyed the way she developed the characters. Even after finding out who "the Butcher" was and having stopped him from killing more women, the story continued. Allison Brennan wrapped up the story with a satisfied ending.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Kill.

I liked this romantic suspense but I didn't buy into the romance conflict which dragged the plot some. Ten years is a bit much to attribute to stubbornness. Twelve years ago Miranda escaped torture by a serial killer still at loose and FBI agent Quinn, her former lover, is on the case.

12 years is a long time for a serial killer but the Butcher has had a long track record. Miranda was one of his victims but now she is determined to find the monster and destroy him. A really good book but I found out that I was not reading them in order. I think the trilogy would make a better story if they were read in order.

Touched by a killer, she feels the fire of revenge.

Twelve years ago, Miranda Moore miraculously survived the torture of a serial killer who was never caught. Since then, Miranda, a former FBI trainee and now a member of a local search-and-rescue squad, has witnessed with horror the recovery of the mutilated bodies of seven young women, all victims of her tormentor, known as The Butcher. When another beautiful Montana college student goes missing, the Feds get involved, and an agent, a man Miranda once trusted with her heart, arrives to take over the investigation - forcing her toward a painful choice.

Now, while Miranda battles her demons, while friends, lovers, and traitors are caught up in a frantic race against time, a killer hides in show more plain sight - waiting to finish the one hunt he has left undone. show less

Suspenseful, good character development. I glossed over the romancey parts lol.
Can't wait to read Allison's next book, The Kill.

Overall Rating: 4.75 // Action: 4.5 / Emotion: 4.0 / Romance: 4.0 / Sensuous: 2.5 / Suspense: 5.0 // Laughter: 0 / Teary: 4

The Hunt: 4.75:
Brennan is gifted with the ability to spin a tale that grabs you from the first page and never lets your interest falter, even after turning that last page. The Hunt is a prime example of Brennan's skill at emotionally engaging, graphically detailed storytelling.

Hero: 3.0:
Special Agent Quincy "Quinn" Peterson: a tough, strong, dedicated, patient, determined hero who fights for right and justice. Quinn is the kind of hero that a romance reader loves. Not only is he a handsome, very alpha, macho, hunky FBI Agent, but he revealed amazing sensitivity and patience as he became Miranda's bedrock. Even show more though it was obvious that Quinn was anything but a wimp, his quite strength was occasionally overpowered by Miranda's 'bull in the china shop,' characterization.

Heroine: 4.0:
Miranda "Randy" Moore: a stubborn, strong-willed, driven Search and Rescue expert who was obsessed with stopping the villain who tortured her and killed her best friend. Miranda's ability to resume a life of normalcy after her ordeal at the hands of a serial killer spoke of her tenacity, strong spirit and having the aid and support of family and friends. However, her obtuseness and unwillingness to listen to Quinn's explanation for his actions at the Academy, while realistic, became irritating.

Story Line: 4.75:
A fascinating, gripping, thrilling story. A sole survivor of a serial killer, Miranda is so obsessed with catching The Bozeman Butcher that she tends to ostracize the people who care for her. When Quinn arrives in Gallatin County, Montana, to re-open the investigation after another victim is found, the love that had developed between Quinn and Miranda ten years ago is resurrected as they join forces to stop a truly heinous villain.

Action: 4.5:
Plenty of police procedural events, crime scene investigations, and adventurous action scenes moved the story along at a quick, page-turning pace.

Emotion: 4.0:
It was easy to empathize with the three main characters, Nick, Quinn, and Miranda so that a strong emotional connection developed between the reader and the characters. Although there were several times when it was easy to become choked up, Bennan never actually brought forth tears during the telling of Quinn and Miranda's story.

Romance: 4.0:
A renewing of the attraction between Quinn and Miranda was interwoven seamlessly into the fabric of the story. Brennan never allowed the romantic aspect of the story to disappear behind the strong aura of suspense.

Sensuous: 2.5:
An emotional, slightly spicy love scene was added to enhance the romance factor.

Suspense: 5.0:
The most powerful aspect of the story. The suspense rose steadily chapter by chapter to very intense, spine-tingling degrees.

Secondary Characters: 4.5:
The most memorable and vibrant secondary character was the conflicted Sheriff Nick Thomas. Several other memorable secondary characters added depth and a rich flavor to the book: {1} Bill Moore, {2} Ben "Gray" Grayhawk, {3} Ryan Parker, {4} Elijah "Eli" Banks, and {5} Sam Harris. Not to be forgotten, were the chilling and complex characterizations presented of the two villains featured in the book.

See Wolf Bear Does Books (http://goo.gl/GYqmx6) for a more in-depth, detailed review of The Hunt. show less