My first book by Lisa Unger sucked me in and wouldn’t let me go. I’ve had Ink and Bone on my TBR, even planning to read it earlier this month, but didn’t have the time to start it. I’m thrilled I was able to begin with The Red Hunter instead. This book will be sticking with me for a long time.

The story begins with two separate plots, seemingly unrelated, and two women (Zoey and Claudia) who have both faced their own horrors. One uses her past to fuel her drive for revenge and the other finds strength in sharing her history with the world through her blog. As the women work to come to terms with their traumas in their individual ways, simultaneously trying to uncover mysteries buried years ago, their paths diverge, forcing them to face the good and evil of the world head on.

From the get-go of this story, I was blown away with Unger’s writing. Her fingers type gold. There are writers and there are storytellers, and Lisa Unger is gifted in both facets. This story is layered with past perspectives, present moments, and alternating point of views, all seamlessly woven together to allow readers to feel thrilled, empathetic and maybe even worried for what the characters will face next. If the alternating perspectives seem confusing in the beginning, have no fear, it will all make sense in the end.

“When you plan revenge, you should dig two graves – one of them for yourself.”

Readers, be prepared for a kick-ass female perspective within this novel. There’s a darkness in me that was embraced while I read The Red Hunter: I love a female vigilante. Oftentimes our gender plays the victim role, and while that happens in this story, we get to see the tables turned as well. But Zoey comes to question whether revenge is all it is cracked up to be. Instead of finding herself in the vengeful acts, she might lose pieces of her soul along the way, forcing her to question if she should be the deciding factor of whether justice is enacted.

“You never do something to anyone without doing it to yourself.”

While Zoey is off kicking the crap out of people, Claudia is putting her demons to work for good through sharing her struggles in her writing. She discovers, however, that despite her “do-good” personality, she has made mistakes along the way, too. We are all flawed, doers of both good and bad. Lisa Unger shows us through this gritty novel that forgiveness and love can allow us to come to terms with the ugliness of humanity. These nuggets of wisdom are thrown in throughout the novel, making it something to savor and learn from, while being determined to figure out what will happen next.

I enjoyed this genre bending novel – a mix of crime, mystery, thriller, and even a hint of paranormal thrown into the fray. It was a different and welcome change from my normal reading experiences. I am officially a Lisa Unger fan and cannot wait to get my hands on more of her work. Be sure to pick up The Red Hunter, releasing tomorrow, April 25th!


Thank you to Touchstone: Simon and Schuster, along with the author, for providing 5171 Miles Book Blog an advanced copy to review for our readers.

Review will post week of release date. Link will be added when review posts.

I’ve been in the mood for mystery/suspense lately. Even a little bit of horror. When I read the blurb for The Red Hunter I was intrigued almost immediately:
'
What is the difference between justice and revenge? In this buzzworthy new thriller by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger, two wronged women on very different paths find themselves in the same dark place…

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 her future take place in the very same house. As Zoey seeks justice, and Claudia seeks peace, both will confront the monsters at the door that are the most frightening of all.

As you can see this is the story of two women who have lived through horrific trauma and the house that connects them. Having never read Lisa Unger before I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised that not only was this a suspenseful read, but a multi-layered story that easily flashes back and forth between past and present while giving many POVs.

I connected with each of these characters and understood their motivations. Zoey with her need for vengeance and answers who by day maintains a low key existence, only to morph into a hunter of bullies by night. Claudia who countered her terrible assault by openly talking about her feelings and is hoping the renovation of the rundown house left to her by her father will grant her and her daughter a measure of peace. Claudia’s daughter, Raven,  who isn’t sure of her paternity and needs to find out once and for all whether her father is the wonderful man who raised her or the monster who raped her mother. You might think being in the heads of so many different characters with such different ways of coping would be confusing, but it only led me to wonder what I would do in their situations.

Full of twists and turns, The Red Hunter kept me enthralled from the first page right up until the explosive conclusion. This was my first read by Lisa Unger, but it won’t be my last. Definitely recommend. Final grade-B

Favorite Quote:
'
I knew her from the blog, her name, her history, her hopes for this house. I could have told her it wasn’t going to work. Some places don’t want to be renovated, some things can’t be fixed. For this house, for this history, maybe fire was a good thing.

I stayed up way past my bedtime because I HAD to know what happens next and how Lisa Unger ended her latest, The Red Hunter.

The Red Hunter was masterfully written. I'm still in awe of how Unger was able to use a mixture of first and third person perspectives, into an amazing story of survival and healing. She was able to take four main characters and weave their experiences and knowledge together to show how what seems like two totally independent tragedies, ended up colliding. Then, if that wasn't enough to make Unger a superstar, she also mixed in vignettes and peeks into the past that none of the main characters would have insights to, giving hints and clues, but never giving away her end game.

The Red Hunter kept me guessing right up until the end, and even then, there were still a couple of items that still leave you trying to figure it out. Kinda like real-life. I have my theories, and I know what I want the answer to be.

With masterful storytelling, engaging characters, tight plot, and more twist and turns than a roller coaster, you need to The Red Hunter to your reading list!

What a fun read! The next time I travel, I'll definitely be bringing another one of Lisa Unger's books. On those long airline flights, it would be just the thing to keep me entertained and make the hours fly by.
This is the story of two women, both of whom have experienced a terrible traumatic event, and each of whom struggles to overcome the emotional scars in her own way. When their paths intersect, long buried secrets are unearthed, and mysteries begin to come to light.
These women, and the people they love, were so well portrayed that I was completely taken in by them. Each character was unique and interesting, and the interactions between the characters seemed believable to me. It was easy to visualize their appearance and sense their personality.
The plot kept me engrossed through the entire book. I was never confused about what was going on; it was easy to follow, but not simplistic. I won't say too much about it, but I can tell you that there is plenty of action and intrigue. Killers who got away with murder long ago are back to create more mayhem in the lives of these women. People are not who they seem to be, and the lines between good guys and bad guys are blurred. The question of justice and how it relates to revenge is woven throughout the story.
If you're looking for an engrossing book to keep you entertained from start to finish, you will be happy to discover this book.

I can’t decide whether to give this book 4 or 5 stars. It is a solidly written, excellent book with strong female characters. The story moves at a decent pace with action spread throughout the book. But, the story didn’t make me want to skip sleeping to finish it and that is a good indicator of a 5 star book. The main characters, Claudia and Zoey, do not know each other but are linked by a crime committed in the former’s house that ended up in the death of the later’s parents. The story follows the two of them as both women struggle with their own pasts in very different ways. Unlike many stories that flip back and forth between story lines, I found I didn’t have a favorite. I liked them both. I think either of them could have “starred” in their own book without the other. Bringing them together made for a very impactful story.

Red, the colour of anger and revenge, and the colour Zoey imagines inside herself as she prowls the streets of New York looking for people who need saving. It’s not all altruistic though, it’s her way of taking control of her life, something she doesn’t feel and hasn’t had since her parents were killed and she was left for dead 10 years previously. No one was ever arrested for the murders but Zoey knows who is guilty and, now, she feels strong enough to start making them pay.

On the outskirts of New York, Claudia is looking to start afresh, having left the city and moved into a run down farmhouse left to her by her father. Her plan is to rebuild and refinish the farm, creating a life away from the grind of the city for her and her daughter. Like Zoey, Claudia has a past touched by violence – her daughter, Raven, is possibly the result of rape. She has never wanted to know but it has coloured her and Raven’s lives.

As Zoey and Claudia’s stories unfold over alternating chapters it starts to become clear that violence isn’t the only thing that links them and that their lives are on a collision course, destined to intersect and putting them all in danger again. Just how this happens I won’t say (spoilers) but I will say Lisa Unger brings it all together very well, building the tension slowly and steadily until the final scenes.

At its core Red Hunter is a pretty simple story and, describing it recently I realised that I made it sound like there isn’t a lot to it. But there is. Unger makes it so much more because the characters she creates are so strong that there is a life to their stories that makes you want to keep reading.

Zoey, Claudia, Raven and the supporting case felt so real to me, I cared for them a lot by the end. I’ve seen some of these people before – the angry young woman out for revenge, the older woman looking for a new start and trying to run from her fears – but it didn’t feel that way. They felt fresh, fully formed, and I wanted things to work out for them.

The writing itself was clear, crisp, simple like the story but in a good way. I really enjoyed reading it, turning the pages, and didn’t find myself bored once, even when I realised what was coming (because I did, something which normally leaves me disappointed).

This is the first Lisa Unger book I’ve read, though a few are on my to read list, and it won’t be the last. The story, the style, the characters. It had everything I enjoy and look for in a book and, as a result, I found myself liking it a lot. Highly recommended.

What an amazing book! I can't come up with a single reason for anyone who loves a mystery, thriller, or just a plain good novel NOT to read The Red Hunter. Lisa Unger pours on the drama and you will be hard pressed to put this one down once you pick it up.

Unger's incredible writing style really shines. Her character development, attention to detail and ability to weave an amazing story make this a fast paced and incredible read.

My ONLY complaint was the ending. It was just so tied up and neatly packaged - I like a little mess left behind. Overall this was another fantastic offering from Lisa Unger and you'll not be disappointed.

4.5 Stars.
When someone destroys your life in the blink of an eye and takes away your own humanity, what avenue do you take? Do you make a choice to try and heal and move on, or do you channel all of your energy in the other direction and seek retribution? This is not an easy question to answer. And this is the crux of Lisa Unger's new Psychological Thriller and phenomenal standalone, The Red Hunter.

The main characters lives in this novel were completely destroyed by separate events. And both Claudia Bishop and Zoey Drake, choose differently.

Claudia tries to heal and move on. For the sake of her daughter, Raven. She writes a blog about her life, her pain and her triumphs. And she tries to build a life for herself and for Raven in the country; working to rebuild the house her father left for her.

Zoey on the other hand becomes strong. She trains her mind and her body. And she watches and she listens. For strong is what happens when you run out of weak. And once she is ready? She seeks revenge for what has happened to her.

Neither women know each other. Yet their lives are on a collision course. And both women and their families are in danger. For as we all know, the past doesn't like to stay in the past.

In The Red Hunter, Lisa Unger makes you question your choices and your options. When everything is either taken from you and/or when someone wrongs you, how should you cope? Is Revenge the best medicine? Is healing possible? After experiencing trauma, can you ever truly let others in?

The Red Hunter by Lisa Unger is in fact her best standalone since Black Out (which I have read though my GR list doesn't reflect it (I have in fact read all of her books - I guess I should fix that!)). My interest was peaked from the first page. The story line was crazy suspenseful and wild. I was consumed by Zoey's story, her need for justice and retribution. I felt like I could see into her mind. And I loved every minute of it. Further, I truly enjoyed Claudia's relationship with her daughter Raven and their struggles. About halfway through I had an idea as to where the storyline was going (hence the reason for the 4.5 v. 5 star rating) yet that didn't detract from my enjoyment of it.

This is a Psychological Thriller that is a must read and I am extremely lucky to have received a copy of it. If you love a good thriller that will knock your socks off, read it.

This is Lisa Unger at her best and I thank NetGalley, Touchstone and Lisa Unger for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 4.22.17.

**Will be Published on Amazon on 4.25.17.

Zoey Drake witnessed the murder of her parents in a bungled robbery when she returned home early one night. She was brutally attacked, hospitalised and spent time in convalescence where she made the decision that she would never be caught out again. She took self defence lessons until she was a skilled and fierce fighter, despite her diminutive stature, and made a vow to avenge the death of her parents. She went to live with her Uncle Paul, her named guardian, and despite her counselling she found trust issues a huge issue in her daily life. Injustice burned in her heart, red and angry. She was the Red Hunter, someone who didn’t want justice but revenge.
Claudia Bishop also had issues with trust. She was raped in a brutal attack and despite a happy marriage; this alone caused her marriage to fail, leaving her a single parent of a spiky but plucky daughter. She was also determined; determined to build a safe and happy life for her daughter, filling it with love and security. She inherited a deserted, remote countryside property near thick woodland and with outbuildings. She decided to take time out of her work and renovate the property as a family home, blogging her triumphs and disasters with the renovation as she went along. The house had stood empty for over a decade so she had her hands well and truly full.
These two women are linked in ways other than their violent experiences in the past, but they do not know each other and they have never met. Their lives are set to collide. One decision, just one solitary decision, is set to change their lives forever. The fuse is set, the minutes tick away, the domino effect has started and the enemy is almost set ready to wreak havoc in their lives. What happens next is inevitable, fuelled by avarice, hatred and desire. This is their story.
'The Red Hunter' is an intriguing story of psychological suspense and unimaginable brutality and savagery. The book is like a runaway train that cannot be stopped or put down, building momentum with skilled and precise storytelling, fiery and diverse characters and many, many thrills and spills. It’s a masterpiece of the unexpected: a real nail biter of a story. This is the first novel that I have read by Lisa Unger, but it certainly will not be the last. Her characterisation is awesome, from those in the vile criminal fraternity to the two wronged women at the very heart of the story. They are both so different, one raging and on a mission: the other seeking peace and order in her life. Black and White, but strangely united by their circumstances and their past, the thin thread fragile yet threatening. I loved it.
I would like to thank NetGalley and publisher Simon and Schuster for my copy of this novel, sent to me in return for an honest review. It’s a well deserved 4.5* review from me and a recommendation that this novel is a very good, well plotted read that is absolutely bound to keep you guessing almost to the very last page.

Claudia Bishop had the perfect life and the perfect marriage until one night it was all shattered when an intruder in their home raped Claudia. Now years later Claudia’s marriage has ended and she’s moved to the country to start a renovation project on some land she’d inherited with her daughter. While Claudia’s ex-husband is still in their lives and Claudia’s daughter is now at the age that she’s beginning to question who her real father was knowing she was conceived at the time of the rape.

Zoey Drake is a young woman who has lived her life training for the day she will be able to get revenge on those that were responsible for a terrible tragedy years ago. Zoey had been in hiding one night when men broke into her parents home and stole both of their lives leaving young Zoey alone and desperate to find out the cause and who was to blame. Now, years later Zoey and Claudia’s lives are on a collision course when it’s found that Claudia’s home is the one that Zoey’s tragedy had taken place.

The Red Hunter is a thriller that has a bit of a slow build in the beginning as Lisa Unger sets the stage to introduce readers to a wide variety of characters in her story. The point of view changes as you are dropped into the lives of various people not knowing what and who they are to the story but once the story begins to come together it really becomes an intense page turner giving the reader the “ah-ha” moment and really digging into the mystery that had developed.

Even with the slow start while getting to know the characters I immediately was taken with Claudia’s story with her traumatic past. I would warn readers of the rape involved in case this is something to bother them though but while it is described it wasn’t drawn out. The other characters took a bit longer to learn about but in the end it was all worth the wait bringing everything together for a really interesting story overall.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this great book!

Claudia is a single mom who survived a brutal assault but which threatened her marriage as well as her sanity. She escaped by moving with her daughter to a remote farmhouse that has been in her family for years. To soothe her soul, she decides to embark on a mission to redo the house and blog about it.

Unbeknownst to Claudia, the house was the scene of another horrible assault - a police officer and his wife were killed and their young daughter left to die. Now a young woman, Zoey is filled with rage that she tries to channel with martial art training.

Told in different timeframes and voices, this suspenseful story will keep you glued to the pages. Lisa Unger has another winner on her hands

I've long ago become a fan of Lisa Unger's. She writes thrillers that keep you reading long into the night. This one took me a little to get into but that is only because I didn't know where she was going with the story. You have a couple people that are connected by a house. One that lived there previously and the current occupant. The chapters alternate between the two women. I will say that LU did a great job with bringing everything together that made a great thriller. I honestly didn't think things were going to come together like they did. This will keep you on the edge of your seat! I hate to say anything specifically about the story because I worry about spoilers. I personally don't want to know too much, keeps things interesting. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a wild ride.

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One of Lisa Unger's best and most original storyline. Very interesting premise. I am a big fan of this author most of the time. Highly recommend.

Lisa Unger has been one of the (many) authors on my need-to-read-soon list for a long time, so it wasn't just the breathtakingly beautiful cover that made me want to read The Red Hunter. It's always great to get to know the work of authors who belong to one of my favorite genres, and now I've had a sample I'm definitely planning to pick up more of Lisa Unger's novels. The start of The Red Hunter was a bit slow and it took me some time to connect the different storylines, but as soon as the pace picked up: BAM! Instant pageturner. Each storyline adds something different to the story, and there is no doubt it's a fascinating one. Trigger warnings for rape and violence, but nothing 'too' graphic. The Red Hunter basically focuses on the lives of two different completely different women. Confession: I wasn't a big fan of Claudia Bishop, although it was interesting to see how she tried to deal with her rape trauma and I liked the whole house renovation subplot. Her daughter Raven is without doubt a very interesting character as well... But I found Zoey Drake's chapters to be the most intriguing ones. She had without doubt a very traumatic childhood experience that scarred her for life, and her messed up character was fascinating. And once the pace picks up, the many many MANY plot twists will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page. I had my suspicions about certain things, but I didn't guess the complete truth until the very end. And trust me, after reading so many psychological thrillers, that doesn't happen often. Recommended for fans of the genre!

This certainly kept me on the edge of my seat!! I highly recommend if you are looking for a suspenseful thriller that you can’t put down. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy.

The Red Hunter = Rage

Two lives, both touched by evil in different but devastating ways. Both on a collision course to a broken- down house. A home where one victim is tied to its horrors from the past and the other about to experience them first hand. Zoey's life was jolted as a young teenager. Greed and desperation left a black hole in her heart and one laser-focused goal in life...revenge. On the other end of the spectrum, Claudia, a young wife with the world seemingly at her fingertips. Suddenly her world collapses after a break-in leaves her devastated, forced to make the toughest of choices.

The Red Hunter = Revenge

The book cover and title are eye-popping. Worked for me! I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. The story-line itself, while tension-filled from start to end, it felt like so many other thrillers I’ve read in the past. Not terribly original and fairly predictable. Pretty much had it figured out. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this one. It's an easy, quick read. Great strong characters. I always enjoy when two seemingly separate stories weave their way together.

The Red Hunter = Redemption

Highly recommend to all Lisa Unger fans! She stays true to her style.

Thank you to NetGalley, Touchstone and Lisa Unger for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To be posted on Goodreads 4/19-4/20

Claudia Bishop decide to renovate an old farmhouse left to her by her father. It was an investment property but had been vacant for the past decade. She sees this as therapeutic since many years ago she was raped in her NYC apartment. She gave birth to her daughter, Rachel and her marriage fell apart. Is Rachel the child of that rapist? Rachel wants to know herself. Meanwhile, Claudia is unaware of the history of the house and is curious as to way the previous tenants left most of their belongings behind.

Ten years prior a policeman Chad Drake and his family lived there and he and his wife was brutally murdered in an attempt to locate missing money from a robbery. His daughter, Zoey survived and vowed to locate and kill the assailants. But when she murders the first know assailant it sets off a chain of events that can’t be stopped.

Wow, you have these two stories that intertwine to make a suspenseful thriller. The author has me guessing and I was quite satisfied with the outcome and the whole novel.

Zoey Drake was a young teenager when her parents were brutally murdered in front of her, while she was tortured and left for dead. Over the years, the rage continued to fuel her; her anger at what had happened that night never left her, even after counsellors worked their hardest with her. Her dad’s stepbrother, Paul had been a lifeline, caring for her and keeping her life as stable as possible.

Claudia Bishop returned home one night after dinner out with her husband – he didn’t come upstairs straight away; Claudia was attacked, assaulted and raped in the bedroom of their home by a person waiting for her. Nine months later, Raven was born – but was she Ayers’ daughter; or the rapist’s? Claudia’s marriage gradually fell apart until eventually she and sixteen year old Raven moved to an old farmhouse which had been left to her by her father. Her plan was to renovate the rundown old house and blog about it as she went. But Raven wasn’t happy changing schools; leaving her friends…

As the two women, who didn’t know each other, headed on an intersecting path – the home Claudia had moved into was the home of Zoey’s childhood and where she had lost her parents – Claudia’s dreams of peace and Zoey’s dreams of revenge were set to collide. What would happen to both these damaged women; women who through no fault of their own had had their lives changed at the hands of evil?

The Red Hunter is another breathtaking psychological thriller by Lisa Unger which kept me on the edge of my seat! Twists and turns; people who were monsters; evil in many forms – all made for an incredible ride that kept me enthralled until the very last page! But there was hope too; hope for a future that relegated the past where it belonged. The Red Hunter is one I have no hesitation in recommending highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.

The Red Hunter by Lisa Unger was suspenseful. Different threads of the story finally begin to weave itself together to reveal a more thorough picture. The ending left me surprised. I didn't suspect a subsidiary character. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC on a good book.

Another very good novel by the consistently good Lisa Unger.

This thriller features two wronged women whose compelling stories are told.
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 that may hide buried secrets.

The other women Zoey Drake had a defining moment in her childhood when her parents were murdered when their home was invaded. 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.

These two women are strangers walking different paths in the wake of trauma. But these two women are on a collision course, because Zoey’s past nightmare and Claudia’s dreams for her future take place in the very same house. As Zoey seeks justice, and Claudia seeks peace, both will confront the monsters at the door that are the most frightening of all.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Touchstone for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.