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I knew this book was going to be good when I saw the cover and read the blurb. It’s one of the first books I went out to buy myself in an actual bookstore in a long time, and I’m so happy I did. When I flipped through the pages, I noted that the chapters seemed to be in alternating POVs, and once I started reading, that was it. I was hooked. Roz is a master at differentiating the voices of the two main characters. As a fan of books told in dual or multiple points of view, I can say that The Hunted was extremely well executed in every way it needs to be.
There was so much tension and suspense throughout, and I love books like that. Roz is skilled at storytelling, voicey-ness, artfully weaving in backstory and clues, and maintaining suspense throughout. I love her writing style. And if you like plot twists, let me tell you—this is the book for you!
Two main couples are the main focus of the story that takes you from Smalltown, USA to the city streets of Africa and a tiny remote island off the African coast. Soft winds, sandy beaches, mangroves, and palm trees abound. Sounds like paradise, right? But the protagonist’s troubled past, as well as that of other characters set the stage for what’s to come. A stalker hides amongst the couples, and you’ll never guess what it’s all leading up to!
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Taken from the inside flap of the book:
A holiday turns into a nightmare when a chance friendship leads to a deadly obsession.
Stevie Erickson is looking for a fresh start. The sudden loss of her grandmother has sent her life into a tailspin, dredging up old losses and putting a strain on her relationship with her boyfriend, Jacob. So when Jacob is offered a job as a diver for GoEco, a dive operation for ecotourists on Rafiki, a beautiful, secluded island off the coast of Tanzania, he thinks it’s just the adventure they need and Stevie reluctantly agrees to go with him.
Their trip gets off to a rough start with a nighttime scare at their first hostel. Already fragile, Stevie can’t shake the feeling that she’s being watched. Things improve when they meet seasoned backpackers Leo and Tamsin, a drop-dead gorgeous couple who instantly take a shine to Stevie and Jacob.
But on Rafiki Island, their new friendship is put to the test, as is Stevie and Jacob’s own relationship. And when innocent flirting goes too far, past truths surface, exposing a killer in their midst—a killer whose sights are set on Stevie.
A high dive into the dangers of obsession, this sinister and seductive thriller will leave you breathless.
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With Roz’s beautiful and realistic descriptions, you’ll easily picture the locations and what’s happening in them. The alternating POVs will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. I love being able to go deep inside the mind of the antagonist. Not only does it give you an inside peek into the creepiness factor, but it also makes you fear for and root for the protagonist. And the inner conflicts that the protagonist is struggling with are issues that any one of us could relate to. I really enjoyed the intricacies of the relationships between the characters and the secrets they keep from each other just add to the thrill!
This was a new author for me, and I enjoyed The Hunted so much that I can’t wait to read her previous books and whatever she has cooking next. Roz Nay’s books are definitely on my auto-buy list from now on!
You can find out more about Roz Nay and her previous bestselling novels by visiting her website at www.roznay.com, and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
And for something super cool, you can catch a reading of the first chapter of The Hunted by joining @FirstChapterFun on Facebook and Instagram on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021! First Chapter Fun is hosted by the lovely Hannah Mary McKinnon and the fabulous Hank P. Ryan. They read the first chapter of an upcoming or recently released book every Tuesday and Wednesday at 12:30pm Eastern Time. They are a hoot to hang out with!
Have you read The Hunted? How about her other books, Hurry home or Our Little Secret? What did you think? Share your comments below! Please feel free to share this post to your social media! 😊
Kathleen Foxx || Author || Editor || Podcast Host 