Thanks to NetGalley and Touchstone for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: Available Now
368 Pages
Synopsis: Claudia Bishop’s perfect life fell apart when the aftermath of a brutal assault left her with a crumbling marriage, a newborn daughter, and a constant sense of anxiety about the world around her. Now, looking for a fresh start with a home restoration project and growing blog, Claudia takes on a crumbling old house–one that unbeknownst to her has an ugly history and may hide long buried secrets.
For Zoey Drake the defining moment of her childhood was the horrific home invasion murder of her parents. Years later, she has embraced the rage that fuels her. Training in the martial arts has made her strong and ready to face the demons from the past–and within.
Strangers to each other, and walking very different paths in the wake of trauma, these two women are on a collision course–because Zoey’s past nightmare and Claudia’s dreams for the future take place in the very same house. As Zoey seeks justice, and Claudia seeks peace, both will confront the mondters at the door that are the most frightening of all.
The Red Hunter is another solid psychological thriller by bestselling author, Lisa Unger. It starts out a little slowly, but steadily gathers steam with its multi-layered plot and interesting characters. One word of caution: there is a rape scene at the beginning of the story and it comes up throughout the rest of the book.
I was immediately drawn to both Claudia and Zoey who have both suffered trauma in their past, yet handle it very differently. Claudia seeks peace and solitude for her and her daughter, while Zoey hungers for revenge and retribution. The contrasts between them were so fascinating. While neither one of them always make the best decisions, they’re extremely likable and you can’t help but emphasize with what they’ve both gone through.
Unger perfectly converges the lives of these two women, and slowly ratchets up the tension, which makes this a page-turner in every way. It’s 368 pages long but I finished it in one day because I just could not tear myself away. The ending wasn’t a huge surprise, but it was satisfying nonetheless.
Lisa Unger has become one of the most well known authors in the genres of psychological thrillers and suspense, and The Red Hunter is another perfect example of why. I guarantee that longtime fans of hers will love this, and if you haven’t read any of her books yet, this is a good one to start with.
