Hunting Fear

Hunting Fear
4 Stars

SCU member, Lucas Jordan, possesses the unique ability to sense a victim’s terror and uses it to find those who are missing. However, Lucas’s skill is put to the test when a seemingly routine case of kidnapping for ransom turns into something far more dangerous and personal.

Series Note: This is the first book in Hooper’s Fear trilogy but the seventh book in the Bishop Special Crimes Unit series. While this is the first time Lucas and his love interest, Samantha, are introduced, there are minor references to characters from previous installments.

As with the earlier books in Hooper’s SCU series, the twists and turns of the narrative and the diabolical nature of the crimes lead to a fast paced and engrossing show more read. The romance, however, takes a back seat to the action.

Most of the characters are fleshed out well, and it is easy to empathize and sympathize with their predicaments. Nevertheless, the hero is not as well-developed and the lack of characterization impacts the reader’s ability to follow the clues to the culprit’s identity. Likewise, Lucas's relationship with Samantha lacks foundation and background, so their conflict comes across as superficial and tiresome.

Consequently, readers expecting romance with their tension and suspense will be disappointed as this book, and the series as a whole, are firmly in the genre of paranormal mystery rather than romantic suspense. However, those interested in a solid thriller with excellent secondary characters and some gritty murders should pick it up. show less

A team of psychic special agents are pitted against a diabolical serial killer. The murderer has in mind a torturous ending for his victims and dares the lawmen to arrive in time to stop it. I really like Kay Hooper's "Bishop" series. Mystery, murder and special abilities all make for top-rate stories.

A serial kidnapper is playing a game of life and death with FBI Special Agent Lucas Jordan, and for 18 months, the kidnapper has been winning, killing his victims after the ransom is paid, after terrorizing them. Psyhic Jordan has a paranormal block that allows him to reach the kidnapped victims too late by feeling their fear. His ex-lover, seer Samantha Burke, is telling fortunes in a travelling circus until they are reunited in Golden, where the kidnapper has staged his battle of wits. The kidnapper makes it personal, by attacking the local sheriff's force, and Samantha has to push Lucas to his absolute limits to stop the madman.

A kidnapper is at work haunting Samantha who can sense some of what he's up to, Lucas Jordan is a profiler in Noah Bishop's Special Crimes Unit, who is supressing some of his ability. Lucas and Samantha have met before, this time there's a deadline as the bodies mount up from the very clever killer they have to learn to get on to make him stop.
Once you suspend a certain amount of disbelief it's an interesting and compelling story with several twists and turns. Kay Hooper seems to have found her metier in this area.

I am a big fan of Kay Hooper and this book does not disappoint. Hunting Fear is the first in what is sort of a series within a series. The broader series is about a special unit within the FBI, formed by Noah Bishop. All its members have some sort of psychic ability, including "seers" and "mediums". These agents use their abilities to hunt down the worst and most elusive criminals.

The Fear series follows agent Lucas Jordan, as he tries to find a serial killer who makes a game of murder. Lucas' psychic talent relies on his ability to tap into the fear of the victim. However, tapping into that fear comes at a great personal price.

The plot never has a dull moment. The characters are each well developed and their relationships are as much show more a part of the story as the murders. While Hunting Fear is part of a series, a reader could easily pick this one up and read it as a stand-alone. show less

This was an interesting psychological thriller with paranormal overtones. I found the book very enjoyable but was a bit confused by the author's use of paranormal moments to effectively hamstring the building tension in several spots towards the end of the novel.

This is an exciting crime thriller with detectives that have psychic abilities. The plot had some unexpected twists and left the killer's identity hidden until near the end of the book. The methods of killing are particularly gruesome and frightening, including a timed guillotine, drowning in a tank that fills slowly and being buried alive.