The First Hunt lures you into the chilling inner workings of a killer's mind—right before it snaps the trap shut, leaving you breathless, desperate to uncover the fate of a boy who must hunt or be hunted.
Title: The First Hunt
Author: Audrey J. Cole
Page Count: 288
MY RATINGS:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Serial Killer, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Thriller Suspense, True Crime, Fiction
What's more terrifying than a serial killer? Living under the same roof as one. Seattle, 1984—while the city is gripped by the terror of the Green River Killer, young John is grappling with a horror that's far more personal. As adolescence falls upon John, so does the stark reality of his father's secret nocturnal life. The line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, and John's inner conflict intensifies.
Threads of trust unravel, alliances form in unlikely places, and the chilling realization dawns that sometimes the most perilous beast lurks uncomfortably close to home.
The First Hunt lures you into the chilling inner workings of a killer's mind—right before it snaps the trap shut, leaving you breathless, desperate to uncover the fate of a boy who must hunt or be hunted. How will John face his primal initiation when the blood he fears may run through his own veins?
That prologue grabbed my attention immediately. I have to admit, it was a TOUGH START for me personally. I mean, I actually had to put it down a few times before I could keep going. The initial scenes (I’m talking about John’s early experiences) brought back some old memories from my own childhood. Nothing as extreme as what happens in the book of course. But it reminded me of a strange family friend who once gave me a big headset to wear so I couldn’t hear what “they were doing.” It was a weird, unsettling feeling… and this book just coincidentally tapped into that same kind of discomfort for me. Don’t get me wrong. Definitely not a flaw in the writing at all! It was just a “personal connection” that made the story even more intense.
Audrey J. Cole does an incredible job of building suspense, especially with the backdrop of the Green River Killer in 1984 Seattle. The way John’s ordinary life slowly gets twisted by the terrifying secret of his father’s “uncomfortable” activities is truly chilling. You can feel John’s growing fear and confusion as he starts to realize THE MONSTER isn’t just “out there,”… but much closer to him.
TROPES:
– intelligent psychopath
– the monster next door
– psychological manipulation
– mind games
– family conflict
What I love about this book?
1. This book is great at showing how a dark secret CAN MESS with someone’s mind.
2. You’ll really feel John’s trust break down and his STRONG NEED to understand what’s happening.
3. You’ll keep wondering who he can ask for help, and who else might already know the secret.
4. Last but not least, I absolutely loved following Holly’s story in this book! I was totally hooked on her search for answers about her sister’s murder. Her investigation takes a shocking turn when she starts to suspect there are two dangerous people out there. This book is a thrilling ride that will keep you guessing right up to the end! You’ll be cheering for Holly through every twist and turn.
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NOTE: This is my personal opinion about the book. My goal is to share my experience, not to change anyone’s perspective. Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.