Catching up on delinquent reviews--I finished this a couple months ago but neglected to review it.

The 5th book in the Huntress/FBI Thriller series takes up shortly after the last book (small spoilers if you have not read the previous books) and finds Roarke back at the FBI and making a proposal to lead a task force to address sexual predators when he is sent to Santa Barbara to investigate threats against a fraternity there. It isn't isolated, all across the country warnings targeting rapists have been appearing with the skeletal symbol of Santa Muerte that has become associated with vigilante Cara Lindstrom and her supporters and the online feminist organization "Bitch"--who want the rape climate prevalent in the country eradicated. The recent election of the new President and his actions and key appointments are only making things worse.

Meanwhile Cara has found a sanctuary of sorts in the desert, exchanging a hiding place for getting justice on men attacking Native American women in the area. Unfortunately an online Men's group, headed by an evil enemy of Cara's has put a bounty on her head and she is being hunted. Roarke wants to project her--still having his conflicted feelings for her opposing his job and need to uphold the law.

I liked this addition to the series. Sokoloff gets very, very political with her focus on the current President and administration and the effect on democracy, women's rights, democracy and laws and the prevailing rape culture. This is done with a hammer and is likely to piss many people off. Since I agree with her about most everything she uses this book to rail against, I didn't mind it--feeling it made for a compelling story. Like the previous books--this one is dark and graphically violent with lots of potential triggers so it isn't for the faint-of-heart. I needed a cozy mystery palette cleanser to lighten things up after reading it.

Things are left in interesting places for Cara, Roarke and Roarke's team--especially Agent Singh and I look forward to the next book to see how things play out.

If you have not been following the Cara Lindstrom “Huntress” books by Alexandra Sokoloff then you are missing out on some of the most powerful and important serial killer stories currently on release.

A pretty bold opening statement given the vast wealth of choice crime readers have. However in Cara Lindstrom we have a killer who is fighting back on behalf of the women who have fallen victim to men and suffered at their hands. She picks off the abusers and the rapists and she makes them pay on behalf of the silent victims. After years of working in silence she has become “famous” and now men are hunting her – not just the authorities (though FBI agent Roarke has been pursing her through 4 previous books) but men who would harm her and make an example of her are chasing Cara down.

Cara’s cause is taken up by a group calling themselves Bitch. They are also seeking justice against the men who have for so many years been able to get away with heinous crimes and assisted in covering for their counterparts.

The relationship (as it is) between Cara and Roarke has been tracked through Hunger Moon and the 4 books which precede it. It really does help to have read the earlier novels. Previous books have also seen the growth of Bitch and some associated characters to Bitch who will enforce their own justice in the way they feel Cara would. Now take a powder-keg of revenge and drop it into 2017 America – the America of Trump “Making America Great Again” and of sexual scandals and the recent #metoo declarations. Hunger Moon is going to rip off the cover of all the bad behaviours and expose the evil within and it is done exceedingly well.

In Hunger Moon Alexandra Sokoloff slams the worst of society and shows a few good souls trying to do right by the victims against an overwhelming wall of secrets, lies and covering up. Roarke and his team are trying to investigate a college frat house – victim of an act of vandalism – but they suspect the vandals were also delivering a warning. The fraternity will close ranks to protect their own but Roarke needs to know why they were a target and if there is any potential that the vandal may return with a bigger “message” in mind. Reading of Roarke’s frustration at not being able to do a full investigation as powerful men tried to play political games was thoroughly engrossing and wholly believable.

Not one to shy away from the realities of the crimes being committed, readers are left in no doubt that the author finds no sympathy for the victims of Lindstrom and Bitch – their crimes are cast back to them and they will pay. This is not a book for the mild mannered or faint of heart. Hunger Moon shows the anger of the author at today’s society and it is guaranteed to elicit an extremely emotive response – anger, frustration, horror, regret, sympathy…they all get drawn out over the course of the book.

Powerful and unmissable – Hunger Moon…a must read.

I was a late starter to the Huntress series and I could kick myself for missing out for so long but on the plus side, it means I’ve been able to have a bit of a Huntress binge over the last wee while! Every cloud and all that!

I’m going to start this review by saying DO NOT read this as a standalone; this is meant to be read as a series to have a full understanding. If you read as a standalone much of it will not make sense to you and you are missing out on something incredibly powerful!

This is a series where I just don’t want to say any more about the plot than is already in the blurb that goes with the book. There is enough there to let you know what the storyline is all about. This is a series that begs me to tell you how it made me feel and I hope this review gives you a small flavour of that.

Powerful, compelling, absorbing and absolutely 100% relevant in today’s world, Hunger Moon, takes rape culture and rips it apart at the seams and challenges the narrative of the powerful. Cara Lindstrom has gone from being the Huntress to the hunted while the world seems to have gone crazy and steps are being taken to shut down any form of protest against rape while the justice system continues to protect the rich and the powerful. I’d love to say that all of this is a figment of the author’s imagination, I really would love to say that she has made it all up. Sadly she hasn’t. While the characters of Cara, Agent Roarke, Jade and the Bitches movement may be exaggerated for the purpose of the book the rest of this is sadly very real and very much based on reality. Hunger Moon provides a voice to the victims of this culture and a platform for those views to be openly discussed and debated.

Alexandra Sokoloff has created a phenomenal cast of characters in this series from Cara, the fiercest warrior and protector of justice; Roarke, the Special Agent who is struggling with the institutional misogynistic culture he is being forced to perpetuate; Jade, Cara’s warrior in the waiting to the cast of bad guys who are seriously going to make your skin crawl and your hackles rise! Each and every character is drawn out perfectly and made me engage with them as a reader. I feel I have emotionally invested in these characters and when I am reading the series I am entirely engrossed in the experience.

As with each book in this series the settings have been described in such a way that you immediately feel as though you are right there in the book and this one was no different. As a point of interest, the description of Salton Sea in California was so realistic that I was compelled to visit it via Google and wow the pictures Alexandra Sokoloff painted with words matched the images and history of this area perfectly.

I’ve read reviews that criticise this book for being too political and including too much of the author’s personal views. Well, damn this is a book that IS political and THANK GOD the author holds the views that she does! I’ve seen the author accused of encouraging violent protests and murder through the actions taken in this book and I think to myself WTF! Seriously, you think a writer who uses murder and violence is advocating for that to happen?! No, the writer is using her craft to highlight the strength and the depth of feeling that exists in our current times and the violence are symbolic of this and not a call to arms! Hunger Moon (and the rest of the series) does provide a powerful and real social commentary on what is going on in our world today and rightly so. The shift of power has changed and we have seen a massive increase in the victimisation of the most vulnerable women, children and men across the world and what would appear to be a lack of political will to make any real changes to this. So, Alexandra Sokoloff, I salute you for being that writer who is not afraid to use the power of the pen to make people stop and think and take a real look around them about what is happening right here and right now!

I don't know if I can wait for the next book. Im sad I finished yhe entire series so quickly.

Two stories are intertwined. First, there’s the story of FBI Agents Roarke, Singh and Epps as they are sent to investigate threats against ‘fraternity’ boys in Santa Barbara. This rich student world was alien to me – full of privileged boys from wealthy families. The boys seem destined for high positions in commerce and government and they feel they can get away with anything during their student days – ie. drugs, rape, wild parties, gang rape etc. The local police are struggling with political hierarchies and all the boys have ‘friends in high places’.

Anyway, cue Roarke and his team – who’ve been called in to find out about threats made against the boys by a cyber-group called ‘Bitch’. Bitch want rapes to be prosecuted. They want the rich boys to pay for their crimes.

The second thread of the story involves Cara Lindstrom who is hiding out in the desert. There’s a price on her head and a group of men are out to hunt her down. I’m not up on all the backstory, but it seems Agent Roarke has fallen in love with serial killer Cara.

Agent Singh (woman) feels great sympathies with Bitch, and her loyalties are going to be tested. Agents Roarke and Epps will have their loyalties tested in other ways. 

There is a great deal of bloodshed and throats are cut. The big question is - Are these deaths due to Cara? Or is there a copycat killer? Or is it Bitch?

Cara is under threat and Roarke and his team will find their priorities turned around. Professional principles will vie with personal for all of the FBI team.

This is a great story and well written. I loved the characters and felt engrossed in the plot. Even better, I got the feeling this wasn’t the strongest of the series. This was my first book by Sokoloff and I look forward to going back and catching up on the others.

​Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. This is my honest review.

This is the 5th in the series and I would recommend reading the first four before attempting this one. I have loved the previous books in the series and naturally felt that I should read the latest one. The story was slightly different to the previous ones, a bit more political than what I usually read but still a very good read.

Hunger Moon gives an eerie touch on current politics as white male privilege leads to a female revolution. Cara Lindstrom, serial killer/ vigilante, is still on the run while dealing out her brand of justice to abusers and rapists. Roarke, her ill-fated love interest, is no longer in charge of the FBI search for Cara. A missing frat boy case is dropped in Roarke's lap as protests and violence run rampant. A female hacker group begins a revolution against rapists in a country with only a two percent conviction rate, a call to arms and the complete change of American culture. Cara is held up as a hero to the cause as college frats are under attack across the country. Its a bad time to be a rapist in America as the women reclaim their power. Full of thrills and chills, the author leads you down a dark road of revenge that goes too far but whose motivation is clear and understandable. Sitting on the edge of my seat, as I simultaneously rooted Cara on and cringed at all the death. Heart-pounding and addicting, Hunger Moon is a fast-paced read with an author brave enough to take on the political maelstrom of today's world.

Disturbingly violent and highly political writing about very thought-provoking themes of rape culture and power. This needs to be read as part of the series because much previous knowledge of the main characters’ relationships is presumed. Far more plot-driven than character-driven than other episodes, it did not disappoint.

“It is loose in the country. Everywhere, now. In the very highest corridors of power. There will be a showdown.”
The series was leading to this from the start, but it couldn’t be any more timely. Cara tries to stay away from all men because there’s a price on her head, but in the meantime other women have taken up her just but gruesome cause. It all leads up to a confrontation with possibly the worst bad guy of them all.
“He’d even at one point suspected his own Agent Singh.” Been waiting the whole series for my girl Singh to make her mark, but I sure didn’t expect it to be like this, though I’ll bet Epps will like it, once he gets used to it.
Like Anne Franks’ diary, this is a painful read. Scarier than her earlier horror works, so difficult to read because it’s so plausible. But it’s brilliantly written, Ms. Sokoloff’s best work to date.
4.5 pushed up to 5/5

Hunger Moon by Alexandra Sokoloff, is book 5 in her ongoing series The Huntress/FBI Thrillers. In my Opinion this book needs to be read as part of the series and not as a standalone book. I also feel that the author’s afterword should have been placed at the beginning of the book as a forward. Not only do the events in this story build on what has happened in previous books, but they take place after our countries current election, and include many of the current women’s issues making headlines. The book is politically charged and some readers may be offended by this inclusion in the story.

I read for pleasure, but also to have my horizons broadened. Although previously exposed to most of the author’s political points (and in agreement with them), I did find it a bit distracting. I feel that this book may thin out the number of series followers based on their personal political views, as well some of the “ripped” from the headlines stories included in the book.

Cara has a more behind the scenes role in this story, and at times is actually credited for things she may have set into motion since we’ve met her, but is currently not involved in. Jade who we met in one of the earlier books (I believe book 3) has a focal role in the story. Additional female characters include Agent Singh (whose actions surprised me), Janovy and a new character named Chris. Roarke is the lead male character.

Although I don’t believe in vigilante justice, I had to remind myself that this has been a theme throughout the series. I also had to remind myself that OUR current legal system is not fair, nor does it dispense justice blindly (race, sex, politics, and money play a big part in the judicial outcome).

At this point my questions are:
• How will the author follow up this book?
• Where do Cara and Roarke go from here? I personally feel a bond between them, but do I want them together, or do I want them to continue to respect each other and live separate lives?

I wish to thank the Author, Netgalley and the publisher Thomas & Mercer, for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

The publication date was Oct. 24th, 2017.

HUNGER MOON by talented author Alexandra Sokoloff, is Book V in the Thriller Award-nominated Huntress/FBI series. Hunger Moon is the sequel to Bitter Moon. These books keep getting better and better! I am hooked on this series! So good!

It is highly recommended that you read these books in sequence as the storyline continues on from where book one leaves off.

The novels in this FBI thriller series include:
Huntress Moon (Book 1) Published 2012
Blood Moon (Book2) Published 2013
Cold Moon. (Book3) Published 2015
Bitter Moon (Book4) Published 2016
Hunger Moon. (Book5) Expected Publication 2017

This book is set in contemporary America, in the era of Trump’s Presidency under the political unrest, and is a political statement on rape culture during this administration. This background and context plays a huge role in the story. The President’s own attitude to women has allowed/encouraged hostility to women to grow and fester…The author is not afraid to take risks… to jolt the reader…and make you think. What is right and what is wrong!

In the previous four books in this series, the agents are after a serial killer who is seeking revenge against those who brutalized her as a child. But in Hunger Moon, women across America have become aware of the manhunt and the reasons behind the killings. Huntress Carla Lindstrom is a serial killer who only kills sexual predators, to kill the “IT” the Evil. Yes, Carla is a killer, is she evil? This is for the reader to decide.

Cara and Roarke are back on separate paths both still fighting in their own ways against the predators of this world.

Special Agent Matthew Roarke has abandoned his rogue search for serial killer Cara Lindstrom. He’s returned to the FBI to head a task force with one mission: to rid society of its worst predators. But as the skeletal symbols of Santa Muerte, “Lady Death,” mysteriously appear at universities nationwide, threatening death to rapists, Roarke’s team is pressured to investigate. When a frat boy goes missing in Santa Barbara, Roarke realizes a bloodbath is coming—desperate teenagers are about to mete out personal, cold-blooded justice.

Hiding from the law, avenging angel Cara Lindstrom is on her own ruthless quest. She plans to stay as far away from Roarke as possible—until an old enemy comes after both her and the FBI, forcing her back into Roarke’s orbit. This time, the huntress has become the hunted . . .

I highly recommend reading this whole series, in sequence, and you will see the talent this author has to offer. This novel offers a scary honest commentary on modern society…and our future.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this wonderful 5th book in The Huntress series.

Hunger Moon is a fast faced, edge of your seat, FBI thriller by Alexandra Sokoloff. Long ago I read FBI thrillers and spy novels but quit cold turkey after Ruby Ridge and the War on Terror. I realized that these books were nothing more than glorified propaganda and I wasn't that stupid. Now comes Sokoloff with FBI agents that are as conflicted about the current state of world affairs as most of us. They believe in the law, they believe in doing right but how does one do that when the people in charge are re-writing the laws and the Constitution that they swore to uphold. It's a dilemma many Americans are facing every day.

In each of the books in this series, this is book number 5, the agents are after a serial killer who is seeking revenge against those who brutalized her as a child/young teen. In Hunger Moon, however, the theme has shifted as women across America have become aware of the manhunt and the reasons behind the killings. They are enraged at the ever growing rape climate, misogyny and general crimes against women occurring since the last election and the increasing realization that the courts are being stacked against these women who ultimately will have no recourse. Agents Roarke and Epps are tasked with finding the perpetrators who are threatening frat boys - because that's what the FBI does these days. Meanwhile these frat boys are planning a hunting party for pussy- yes, that's right. Because that's what frat boys do these days. In case you think this is liberal bias, do what I did, what I'm sure Sokoloff did - go to Twitter, Instagram, Google and check it out for yourself! It's there for all to see in sickening full color detail.

There is so much going on in this book. New crimes, loose ends from old crimes, cyber crimes, political fall out, and I was literally on the edge of my seat through the entire book! I finished in one sitting, turned around and read it again!! It is book 5 and I was scrambling to catch up in places but it isn't difficult to do. I now go back and read the first four in order.

Yes, the book is political. Find me one that isn't. Even Shakespeare's plays were political commentary. The difference is that Americans have been lulled to sleep by white, male authors who write pro-American white male drivel that is pro- military, pro- government regardless of what that government does. Those who are intelligent have asked for something better, most of us have turned to foreign authors. (Nordic Noir anyone?) Finally, we have a series that addresses current themes, is intelligent and incredibly thrilling to read. I simply cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Appreciation given to Alexandra Sokoloff, Thomas and Mercer Publishing and Netgalley for my copy to read and review when I was scrambling to find it quickly!

*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Mystery
*Rating* 2.0

*Thoughts*

At this point, I am finished with this series and this author. This author chose to put her libertard leanings for all the world to see. Apparently, instead of entertaining the main stream readers, she thought that we would all just stand by and say nothing. I can no longer stand by while domestic terrorists like ANTIFA/BITCH are being hailed as heroes. I can no longer stand by while there are those who believe that certain folks are guilty without any chance of proving their innocence. If we, as a society and a nation really want to have a discussion, we need to stop screaming, and point the fingers at anyone who doesn't have the same skin color, or same political party, or what have you. This book crossed the line into encouraging folks to assassinate those who they believe are standing in their way. Including a sitting POTUS. I do not support this method, and therefore I will no longer support this series. If I wanted to hear more about that garbage I would watch any news channel or read any news website... not read a novel. Unfortunately you have lost a fan and a reader

OMFG! #AllTheFreakinStars for Hunger Moon! This is one of my favourite series and I will tell you why! Alexandra Sokoloff grabs the reader by the throat from the opening chapter and does not let go until the very end! Passionate, emotive, and absolutely kickass reading - once you start, you will not be able to out this book down. The plot is tense and tight, characters are believeable and REAL and the storylines superbly written!! I cannot praise this book enough, If you have not read this series, you have NO IDEA what brilliance you are missing!

My full review will be posted on my blog for publication day! Thank you so much for letting me read this! I LOVED IT!!

Hunger Moon is the fifth book in the series and it was great. Different from the others. More political not what I am used to by this author. If you are a fan of this series you should not miss this one.

Fantastic read! This is book 5 in the series, and thanks to a NetGalley ARC, the first one that I've had the opportunity to read. It speaks to the author's talent that I didn't feel at all lost for not being familiar with the characters. Hunger Moon is timely, relevant, and illustrative of the current political climate. The unique idea of a female serial killer on a mission to rid the world of the toxic male makes this story fast paced and thrilling. Looking forward to reading more of this series.

The rape culture seems to be ascendant. A self-proclaimed sexual predator has just been elected President of the United States. In other circumstances where he didn't have white money and power behind him he would be on sex offender lists.
But women are starting to fight back. When the Cheeto-in Chief makes his nomination to the Supreme Court, Bitch decides to retaliate, and they ain't happy. In fact you could say they are "mad as hell" and "aren't going to take it anymore.” A group of women who self-styled themselves 'Bitch' is set up as a loose confederation similar to Anonymous. This time around some Bitch members are in a killing mood.
FBI agent Mathew Roarke has returned to the FBI determined to make a difference in fighting the rape culture. He has been promised his way in setting up a special squad to investigate sex trafficking, child exploitation, and other aspects of rape culture.
First, however, he is told he has to go to Santa Barbara to investigate what seems to him to be a non-crime. Later two fraternity boys disappear and he is forced into investigations where he has zero interest in the victims or in finding the perpetrators, even though this isn’t a Lindstrom crime.
He no longer has an interest in arresting the much damaged serial killer, Cara Lindstrom. From previous books he understands the why of her, plus she has saved his life. He still wants her, but not to arrest her.
Cara has been on an Indian reservation to heal and hide. She realizes Ortiz, the deputy sheriff who has been chasing her for years, has put a bounty on her head, but not to kill. Oh no, he has much darker plans in store for Cara. Roarke and one of his co-workers are horrified to discover the bounty too. Cara and Roarke both decide this man must be stopped, but both have very different plans on how to accomplish this.
Hunger Moon is a tough book to read, on so many levels, with themes of rape, torture, and breath-taking stories of official neglect of these terrible crimes against women. Writing, plot, and characters aren't included in that previous statement as they shine as usual. S/A Epps is his wonderful self and S/A Singh comes into her own in very surprising ways. Both are having problems envisioning their places in this new scary America, where color, gender or religion can invite a death sentence.
However, content rules and Sokoloff paints a scary distopic world based on our new political reality. She doesn’t pull punches and has no problem forcing us to contemplate our personal realities, and how we might react to certain scenarios.
Yeah, I'm giving this one five stars. So sue me. I love this series. (I've been reading too much about Bitch) Although I think I should take off a half star because of lack of face time between Roark and Cara. I miss him wondering if he will survive being in her vicinity.
I suggest the whole series, but Hunger Moon can definitely stand on its own mostly because of the strong political bent it has taken.
Speaking of which, do NOT skip the Afterword. Ms Sokoloff reminds us of what is fiction and what is not. She also gives us valuable links to organizations that are out there to combat rape culture, exploitation of missing children and the trafficking of children and adults. It is frustrating to realize how many crimes including murder-which has no statute of limitations-would be solved if the backlog of rape kits would be run and if more police departments would become involved in the VICAP program.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A story right out of todays headlines. with lots of added twists and a scary serial killer in the mix. Two stories in one that come together in a strange and scary ending.

A fictional political statement on rape culture. This is a series that is worth following from the beginning. The main character is a survivor/ vigilante who is on the run but never very far from the FBI agent who hunts her. Fans will not be disappointed.

Copy provided by publisher and NetGalley

This is a complex and all-encompassing read that pulls you in and never lets go, not even at the conclusion. Darkness abounds throughout the telling of this story where the narrative is pitch-perfect striking a cord that had me intensely rooted in all that was happening with a take on societal woes that is prevalent with only one thing left to do. . .put an end to it. And in this hard-hitting drama, a group is determined to rid this behavior and it is that action that propels this drama in the manner that I could not put this book down until I knew how this ended and the author did not disappoint me as I knew that she would leave it in such a way. More power to her.