Claudia is a woman haunted by her past--she was once assaulted, and she's not completely certain if her daughter is the result of the assault. When a family member dies, she inherits an old house, and decides to refurbish it. They move to the small town to start on it.

Zoey is also haunted by her past. She witnessed the murder of her parents and also endured an assault--in the very house that Claudia has just moved into. She's trying to put things right with her parents' murder--even if it means doing things that could land her in jail for a long time.

An interesting thriller about two people whose past and future intertwine. Entertaining.

I highly recommend the RED HUNTER by Lisa Unger. It starts off a bit slowly, but then turns in to a thrill ride of murder, revenge and justice. The Red Hunter emerges as the star of the story.

The book tells the story of two women who initially seem very different but actually have intertwined stories. Both are the victims of violence and have lived at the same country home. Zoey's parents were murdered when she was a teenager in a savage crime at the country home. She came home while the crime was transpiring and was literally dragged into the bedlam, being left for dead. The other woman, Claudia, was brutally attacked and moved into the country home with her teenage daughter a decade after Zoey's attack.

Unger unravels the linkage between these two women's stories and the reason for the original savagery at the home. She also delves into the question of when does revenge cross the line.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

Loving this one crept up on me, but once it got me in its clutches, it didn't let go till the end. I say that because for the first half-dozen chapters or so, I had to go slowly and reread parts because I just couldn't keep the characters and time frames straight. I attribute much of that to the aging process - I've transitioned from a multi-tasking whiz to one who must make a to-do list each day and then forgets where I put it. The chapters here shift back and forth, and on top of that focus on the past and present lives of two women (with plenty of other characters, both relatives and friends, thrown in). So until I got them all straight, it was a bit of a struggle (hence my actual rating of 4.5 stars).

But the book also is a great example of why it's important to keep plodding away. The story was intriguing (and well written) from the beginning, and once I was comfortable with the who's who, I was totally hooked. Had anyone interrupted me during the last quarter of the book, in fact, he or she would have incurred wrath comparable only to what happens when someone tries to make conversation before I've had my morning coffee.

The two women are Claudia Bishop and Zoey Drake, who are total strangers but share dark pasts. Claudia was brutally attacked, after which she became pregnant. For the most part unable to come to grips with what happened, her marriage falls apart, leaving her with daughter Raven, who is torn between wanting, or not, to know the identity of her birth father. As Claudia tries to build an audience for her blog, she inherits a crumbling old house and begins to renovate it in hopes of creating a fresh start for her and Raven.

Zoey, meanwhile, is trying to deal with a tragedy of her own; during a home invasion, she was severely injured and her parents were murdered by men who were looking for something valuable they believed her father, a homicide detective, had hidden. With help from her late father's step-brother, who took over her care, and down-and-dirty martial arts training, she survived the physical injuries. But the psychological trauma never went away, and now, bolstered by her physical prowess, she looks to quell the "red hunter" in her - the rage that's been building up ever since she lost her parents.

What neither woman knows, however, is that the house Claudia and her daughter Raven now occupy is the same house in which Zoey and her family were living on the fateful night of her parents' murder. Slowly, as secrets of the past are revealed (some surprising to me, others not so much), their lives come together and the tension builds.

The ending is filled with suspense and action, and all the loose ends are tied (or at least wrapped up so tightly that it's unlikely they'll unravel again anytime soon. This is a suspense novel not to be missed - I thank the publisher (via NetGalley) for the opportunity to read an advance review copy.

Thanks to Netgalley, Simon and Schuster, and Lisa Unger for the ARC. I loved this book ! A 5 star review to goodreads, and Amazon, and other sites I'm on. ! Loved all the characters, the intertwining plots were awesome. And the writing was flawless.
In my opinion, of course. :-)
Can't wait to read the rest of Lisa Ungers fabulous works !

I am a huge Lisa Unger fan so I was thrilled to get a chance to read this new novel and it didn't disappoint! Full of all of the mystery and action that makes a good story, this book grabbed me from the beginning and kept my attention through the end. The story is told in alternating view points and time periods (which is a little confusing at first) but actually really makes the story gripping as each layer is unraveled. Claudia, a single mother who has faced a horrible physical assault, and Zoey, a young woman who watched her parents murder are at the center of the story. They have intersecting stories due to the home that they have both lived in at different periods in time. The circumstances that have brought their lives together come to an explosive head and the novel was difficult to put down! There is an additional plot involving Claudia's daughter Raven who is searching for where she belongs, just like her mother and Zoey are. Unger has done it again and I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a great thriller!

I am a big fan of Lisa Unger's work. With most of her book I want to hurry and read so I get to the "punch line" and yet at the same time I want to take it slow so I can really savor the story. This book was no exception. The writing gripped and held on to me from the first. All of the characters were fascinating. The way the author weaved the story and the connections between the characters was exceptional. I ended up re reading the last chapters 3 times.

When I pick up a Lisa Unger book I fully expect certain things: solid, well rounded characters; a good plot; plenty of action, tension and humour plus a sense of well being and satisfaction after the book closes. I believe I've read everything she's written to date and can honestly say this novel feels as fresh and engaging as her first novel. She is a sure thing, for me, and I continue to grab everything she writes. Brilliant stuff!

The Red Hunter follows two main story lines - one is Claudia, a single mom whose daughter may/may not be the result of a rape that occurred years ago. The second tracks Zoey, a young woman who witnessed her family murdered when she was a teen. Each has a different story, background, perspective and motivation yet their stories converge and all becomes clear as the tale unfolds.

There is a lot of heart in a Lisa Unger book and this book is no different. Claudia, especially, seems the zen, turn the other cheek sort. She has an enlightened view of life, adulthood and parenting and comes across rather inspirational. All that therapy, I'm guessing? If she were a real person, I would make a fast friend of her. She's just positive and delightful, even when she isn't feeling it.

The Red Hunter carries a fair number of subplots and supporting characters which help to bring the story to ground. I like the ease of reading this sort of story to distract me from a hectic life and make me feel brighter as a result. As I said before, this is brilliant stuff!

One house-two women both with tragic pasts. Zoe, who as a teenager watched her parents murdered and herself tortured and left for dead now is seeking revenge. Claudia upon returning home from dinner with her husband was attacked and raped in her own bedroom and ultimately finds out she is pregnant. She gives birth to a daughter, Raven-but the not knowing who Raven's father is eventually causes her marriage to fall apart. Claudia takes Raven and moves to the farmhouse left to her by her father to find peace and also to renovate the house. Little did she know this had been Zoe's childhood hom. What happens when these two women, both deeply injured both physically and psychologically meet? How do they ever get over their individual traumas to find peace? This is a very powerful book that will keep you engrossed from beginning to end. Terrific character portrayals, a few surprises and an ending you won't forget. This is one of Lisa Unger's best.

I absolutely fell in love with that eye-catching book cover and title of this book and because of that I couldn’t wait to read this one. This was my very first introduction to a LISA UNGER novel.

"What is the difference between justice and revenge?" - Lisa Unger

THE RED HUNTER by LISA UNGER is an action-packed, steady-paced, tense, and suspenseful Psychological Thriller with a few twists and turns to keep you reading and guessing right to the very end.  Although, this book was a little predictable and I had a good idea of how it was all going to playout there were still some surprising aspects to this story that did keep me intrigued right to the very end.  

What made this such an intriguing read for me was the layered plot-line and the strong characters as sometimes it just doesn’t matter if I know whodunit (there was one surprise for me though) as I was so wrapped up in the characters lives and the issues that were going on within this story.

LISA UNGER delivers a vivid and easy read here with several enjoyable writing styles which is told in multiple points of view and timelines bringing together two separate stories that come together in the end.  I did find it a little confusing at the start but once I figured out how the story was being delivered I found it easy to follow along with the storyline and all the characters involved.  

Trigger Alert:  There is a rape scene early on in the novel and is discussed throughout.

To sum it all up it was an entertaining, enjoyable, suspenseful, steady-paced, quick and easy read with a satisfying ending.  Would recommend!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Lisa Unger, and Touchstone for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book for a fair and honest review.

This was another gripping novel of suspense by Lisa Unger. I have enjoyed many of her books and would highly recommend them to thrill seekers. I had a little trouble keeping the characters straight as I kept confusing the two story lines. But still, an enjoyable read.

Honestly, this book was a fast-paced, action-packed, intense thriller that was highly enjoyable from beginning to end! There are two stories happening, the first is about Zoey, she witnessed the murder of her parents in a home invasion and has been preparing for her own vigilante justice towards the men who were involved but never charged. The other story focuses on Claudia and her teenage daughter who are starting over in the house where Zoey had lived with her parents. This house will be at the center of an epic showdown. Highly recommend!

This is my first Lisa Unger book although I do have Ink and Bone on my kindle which I really need to get to after reading and enjoying this suspense thriller. I really liked how the author explored the idea of justice and revenge with Zoe's character verses taking an alternate an alternate way to healing with Claudia. These 2 characters were well developed and while I liked both I found I was more drawn to Zoe, her training and her desire for retribution. the structure of the narrative worked well in terms of the plot having a layered feeling although I did find the beginning somewhat confusing and there were several times throughout I'd have to go back and re-read because of things feeling slightly scattered at times. Overall, I enjoyed the story and how the characters lives collided.

I won't summarize the plot of the book since whoever is stumbling on this, likely read the 50 reviews before and after this and those reviewers all laid out the plot already.

I just couldn't get into this book, I tried, I really tried, and it still took a week. I wanted to give it up more than once, but I had to know how it finished and couldn't find a review that spoiled what I wanted spoiled, so I finished it. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Lisa Unger's books, she's amazingly talented with suspense writing. I just don't enjoy books told from two narrators and having them interwoven. I had a hard time keeping all the characters straight and sometimes I thought it was Claudia's story, when it was Zoey's. And Zoey, I COULD. NOT. STAND. HER.

Super good plot and very well written. It was just a bit like wanting that slice of chocolate cake ALL day, sitting down with it at the end of a long day, taking that first bite, and discovering it was stale.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1999496614

An entertaining read with great characters, mystery, and suspense. I thoroughly enjoy Lisa Unger's books and this was no exception. I did have the mystery figured out but that didn't take too much away from the enjoyment of the book. I gave this 4 stars on goodreads.

Two women, two crimes, one house, and they are strangely linked together. Claudia Bishop was happily married, when she was raped in her home. She tries to rise above the horrible crime that victimized her. She has a beautiful daughter, Raven. When her marriage falls apart, she moves to Hidden Valley, a small town outside New York. Her father had purchased the property with a house and barn years before and when he died, he left it to her. Zoey Drake witnessed the murder of her parents and was herself tortured inside that house ten years earlier. She did not try to rise above the crime, she became "The Red Hunter" with the goal of revenge.

All three of the female characters are strong women, although sometimes doubt their decisions. The relationship between Raven and Claudia is amazing. They have their normal mother/daughter issues, but they are honest and share information with one another that perhaps should not have been shared. Claudia never wants to know if Raven was the result of the rape and raises her to believe that her father is her father. Raven grows in this story and learns to become a more self-confident person. Zoey, is small but mighty. She tries to help others find their strength and tries to protect those being hurt, but she has such anger inside that nothing seems to help. She and her Uncle Paul have a loving father/daughter relationship and she takes care of him as he has emphysema, but she is very much a wanderer and is searching for whatever can bring her peace, if anything can.

This book is a mystery, who killed Zoey's parents as well as a psychological thriller. It kept me on the edge of my seat as I wanted to know what would happen next. This is not a neat and tidy story, there is some violence and still some mystery left at the end, but it is a good book that I recommend any thriller or mystery lover to read. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book to read, and I thank them as Lisa Unger is one author that I read all of her books.

Full review can also be found on my blog LairOfBooks
https://lairofbooksblog.wordpress.com...

THOUGHTS:

The majority of this year has been dedicated to my YA titles but a change of pace was needed. Typically I turn to the thriller/Suspense genre whenever I’m in need of a good palette cleanser. Sometime last year I read Lisa Unger’s Ink and Bone & was hooked from page 1 to the very last. When I started seeing The Red Hunter’s beautiful splash of red all over my Bookstagram feed, I sent a little prayer to the Book Gods & went to see if Netgalley was offering it for review & the rest is history lol. I read the majority of this book in 1 day (60%), Lisa Unger once again delivered a immersive page turner. We get introduced to these two women who have been through traumatic experiences & somehow the reader knows their paths are fated to cross in some way.

Claudia is a rape survivor & we get to see her aftermath, she has a teenage daughter who may or may not be from her attacker. Her life has been turned upside down but she has chosen to re-build away from all of that by moving away from the city. I really enjoyed Claudia’s character, she has battle scars & yet she perseveres to find her peace. She has this love for places that have that lived in feel & so picking up and going to the country side to try & renovate her dads old house fit her personality so well. The parts where we see her blogging (some entries from her blog included) about her trauma & the home renovation were some of my fave parts. It did seems at times like she couldn’t catch a break with some of the decisions she made lol but that just added to her charm. We also get to follow her Daughter Raven’s POV. Raven knows all about her mom’s rape since they’ve chosen to be very honest, we get to see her search for more answers.

Zoey survived the murder of her parents when she was just a kid. Through a home invasion, both of her parents are tied up & asked to divulge the location of 1 million dollars (lots of backstory here but spoilers lol). Her parents are parents are ultimately killed and Zoey herself is hurt & tortured. Fast Forward to the present & now we have someone who is searching for justice. She has taken up martial arts classes & excelled in training. You get the feeling that Zoey is traveling with a “dark passenger” (for fans of Dexter lol). Although she has re-built her life with the help of her uncle Paul (retired detective), she hasn’t been able to put her demons to rest. I LOVE morally ambiguous characters & I got that with Zoey who has taken so many hits that I found myself rooting for her to strike back!

The cast of characters in Red Hunter is bigger than these two leading ladies. We get to meet a lot of the people who have formed their support system as well. From Claudia, we have her daughter Raven & her ex husband. Zoey who comes from a cop family, has her uncle Paul, her martial arts teacher who is also a retired cop, and other cops as well who are still in her life. Unger manages to keep all players on the chess board while she weaves their story lines together. Once again she’s left me with fictional characters I love & will always remember.

The Red Hunter is up there for top faves of 2017 & cements my love for Lisa Unger. She is now an auto-buy author for me & I will be keeping an eye out for anything & everything she puts out. I don’t want to get into the plot too much because that would lead to spoilers & take away the fun. The Goodreads blurb does a good job of summing it up w/out ruining anything. There’s so much story in these 359 pages & seeing her skills with weaving the lives in this story together leaves you in awe…FLAWLESS! Perhaps what I love the most about her writing style is her ability to deliver characters I can’t help getting invested in. I genuinely end up caring about where their roads lead which leads to my want for a series from this author *silent prayer to the book Gods* Lastly, the mark of every Unger book would have to be her settings. This time the story took place mostly in the country in that house Claudia is renovating. Yet just like the Hollows in Ink and Bone, you can’t help but see the house as its own character. It has a soul & holds a dark & violent past making for a very atmospheric read. I hands down highly recommend The Red Hunter to all readers & please can we get more Lisa ;)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced, thrilling and kept my interest. I kept turning pages to get to the end because I NEEDED to know how it ended! I would recommend this book to older high school students who like a thriller that keeps you guessing.

This book did get off to a good start. Unfortunately, it doesn't last. I found my attention wandering and just wanted to be done with this book. Not a fan of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Touchstone for allowing me the opportunity to read this e-book in exchange for an honest review. The Red Hunter by Lisa Unger is a psychological thriller that I couldn't put down. I was honestly hooked from the first chapter! There are actually two stories in this novel as you follow Zoey and Claudia's lives. Both girls were destroyed by heart wrenching tragedies. Zoey lost her family at a young age and seeks answers. Claudia is the victim of a brutal rape. Neither Claudia or Zoey know each other but the story weaves their lives together in such an intriguing way. One is seeking revenge, one is seeking tranquility. A must read, you won't be disappointed.

"There are certain dark doorways in this life, and when you open one and step inside, you can't come back out. The door locks behind you and you have to stay. No one ever tells you that. Or if they do, you don't listen."

I really like Lisa Unger - she writes great action, strong female characters who are never quite as broken as they seem, and complex stories that revel in human frailty. The Red Hunter is a stellar example. Zoey and Claudia are both survivors - but they survived in very different ways. One wants revenge; the other to move on and past - but both are equally driven to prove they will not be victims again. As the book unfolds, the two women's stories travel on seemingly unrelated, parallel, paths. As the paths begin to converge, secrets are gradually revealed - as is the meaning behind what once seemed random.The intersection points are fantastically rendered, as are the striking comparisons - and unexpected commonalities - between the women's situations and (interestingly enough, given the different ways they played out) responses, most notably with regard to the revelations that come in the closing pages.

There are some difficult scenes to read; Lisa Unger doesn't write sunshine and ponies, after all... But the violent interactions and the darkness of greed and self-righteous entitlement are (as usual) handled with a surprising delicacy of feeling. Ugliness may be inevitable in a world populated by all-too human humans, but by teasing out subtle elements of peace and beauty, even in the darkness, Ms. Unger manages to keep me turning pages even when covering topics (like rape and torture of children) that under less talented hands normally see me slamming covers and walking away... She has a way with dark imagery - she doesn't shy away from violence or evil, rather she presents it in all its glaring banality and then shines enough light into the corners to reveal the shadows for what they are. In doing so, she doesn't mitigate or lessen the impact of the darkness - she opens it to the eye, forcing the reader to confront it, deal with it, and then, slowly, to realize there are lessons to be learned. Then we, like her characters, can move past it. It's a style that requires a deft hand, and one that she manages to replicate book after book - without ever feeling derivative. I'd pick up any new book of hers for that reason alone.