I could not get into this book at all. The plot was all over the place and I felt like I was reading a story about Bigfoot/Friday the 13th/serial killer all rolled into one. It didn’t hold my attention at all, I didn’t find it suspenseful or thrilling and the one character I did actually like ended up being killed off. I like a lot of this author’s work but she really missed the boat on this one.

A woman on a hike in the woods goes missing. It has the makings of a super creepy story but it just didn’t go there. There were moments of creepy, but it was missing something. Some parts were predictable. I didn’t not like it, I just didn’t love it.

A young woman taking an innocent hike in the forest leads to a disastrous rescue attempt. Who or what is hiding in Ashlough forest? Or is this a prank by some kids looking for internet fame?

If you have ever taken a walk in the woods by yourself I bet you are familiar with that eerie feeling that someone (or something) is watching you. How the quiet can shift into something ominous. This book perfectly encapsulates those feelings. Read the first chapter with Eileen's hike alone in the forest and you probably won't be able to stop. I know I couldn't. Devoured this in 2 sittings!

At first I did have a hard time connecting with some of the characters but as I got to know them most grew on me. Some of the characters lack dimension to their personalities. There is a little bit of cheesiness to some of their interactions but does not deter from the book for me. (Side note: Todd is possibly the biggest creep, ever.)

This was the first book by Darcy Coates I read and is what got me hooked on her style. This author has a unique way of pulling you in and making even small events interesting and tense. If you like thrilling page turners (without all the violence and gore found in some) I highly recommend not only this book but her others as well.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC copy so I could write this review. I can not wait to grab a hard copy of this book!

My thanks to Poisened Pen Press, Darcy Coates and Netgalley.
This was a very quick book for me. I'm between some zombie apocalypse stuff that I would usually enjoy the poop out of, and short stories.
I've found that I enjoy this author. She manages to creep me out! I'm talking about the willies! I'm not saying this story is original. But, sometimes the old song and dance hits an off note. It in this case a Not -Off note! 😒 Hmm. "I liked it. I liked it!"
just one thing about Darcy Coates that keeps me from going "all in." What that is, I haven't yet figured out.
For or against! I'll figure it out. For now! I'm down with this!

Not my favorite book. But that's my personal feelings about the book and I'm willing to check out other titles by this author!

An entertaining and gripping story that kept me hooked till the end.
I liked the plot that flows, the cast of characters and the atmosphere.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This is my first Darcy Coates book and I really love her pattern of writing. Hunted is a mystery thriller novel, but the author has added a good amount of horror to it. The story plot revolves around friends, Chris, Anna, Hailey and Flint who go into a forest in search of Chris’s sister Eileen who goes missing after a hiking trip. The suspense and chills is packed into the story and it kept me intrigued till the end. It was like seeing a horror movie, where the actors make mistakes that actually adds up as the story for the movie! The ending was a little predictable for me, but it did not ruin the journey to the end. Definitely gonna read more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley, Darcy Coates and Poisoned Pen Press

This was a great first read from this author and I really enjoyed it.

It follows around 4 friends through the woods as they try to find Chris' sister Eileen after the police do not take them seriously and refuse to help. It doesn't help that they think there is a monster in the woods, silly kids just pulling a stupid prank, right?

Wrong. This entire book kept me intrigued. You would think they were going to survive or to be unharmed, but they kept making stupid mistakes in the typical horror novel fashion. It reminded me of the Geico commercial where the kids don't get in the getaway car to get away from the serial killer, but if they didn't make stupid mistakes, there wouldn't be a great story line.

I was kind of disappointed for how the book ended, but I will not ruin it for anyone. It's one of those that has closure, but it lacks a sense of finality. It was rather easy to put the pieces together as to who done it; I figured it out long before it got to that part of the book, so it was a little predictable for my taste, but overall, a great book and a fast enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley for another great free sample.

What would you do if your sister went on a hiking trip and never returned? Would you leave it up to the police to find her or would you take matters into your own hands? Chris is faced with this dilemma in Hunted by Darcy Coates, a thriller/horror novel that you won’t want to put down. What is happening to these hikers? Is it a monster or is it a human? All of these questions can be answered by taking a step into Ashlough Forest, but make sure you pack plenty of water, you might be here a while.

The Plot:
Eileen entered Ashlough Forest on a day of hiking fun. That day of fun quickly goes south when Eileen doesn’t return home. Around 5 days later her camera is found washed up in the river. The pictures reveal something of nightmares. The police force is pushing the case aside as if it is nothing so those close to Eileen must take matters into their own hands. With Eileen officially missing, her brother Chris, along with his friends Anna, Hailey, and Flint, set off on a journey into Ashlough Forest to find her, hopefully alive. As they venture farther into the forest they are quick to find out that they are not as safe as they originally believed. Lurking behind every corner, the monster of Ashlough Forest waits to collect its next victims.

My Thoughts:
I am now officially obsessed with Darcy Coates! Wow! I did not see that ending coming! This book had everything that I have ever wanted in a book—mystery, thrills, and horror. I love the horror aspect of this book, which is something that I haven’t typically read, even though I love the genre. I could watch horror movies all day long, so stepping into a book with some horror really caught my interest. I will point out, some of the scenes in this story are a bit gory, so fair warning if you are someone who doesn’t typically enjoy those things. Coates writes a story that is so rich with imagery that I felt like I was truly there. The scenes in the forest are so vivid that I could picture the atmosphere perfectly. This book would be great as a film adaptation because it paints the world so perfectly.
At the beginning of the story the only character I was invested in was Eileen, and we only get one chapter with her. After that I struggled at first to feel attached to the characters, but slowly I started to like them more and more. Todd always gave me creeper vibes, and I kept expecting him to have a dark side. (Maybe he does, you will just have to read the book to find out!) Of course, I was rooting for Chris and his friends as they entered Ashlough Forest on the hunt for his sister. That being said, I kept myself guarded from getting too attached to characters considering the fact that they were entering into a dangerous, secluded forest where a monster was picking off hikers left and right. Carla was a character that I HATED in the beginning. I could not stand how this woman threw aside this case like it was no big deal thinking that it would eventually resolve itself. My blood was boiling, and I wanted to reach through the page and shake her around a bit. However, as the story progresses, she did finally redeem herself (took her long enough). In the end I had a completely different attitude towards Carla.
I truly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good suspenseful horror novel. This book stuck with me so much that I was having dreams about it, and that’s when I know that it was a good book! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my ARC!

After the first few chapters I wanted to give 3 stars to Hunted. When I actually finished this book I asked myself: Are you crazy? 3 stars only? 5 is not enough.

Reasons? Character development, suspense, and because it gave me the chills.

Eileen goes on a hiking trip, alone, into the woods. ( Who does that? I would never in a million years) And guess what, she goes missing. Her family and friends are desperate to find out what happened to her, to find her. They don’t believe the police officer when she tells them Eileen is probably dead. Eileen’s brother and 3 best friends are determined to find Eileen. Especially after her camera is found and they saw the pictures she took. Because there is something in some of the pictures, something that shouldn’t be real. So they go into the woods, follow in Eileen’s tracks. But what they find is so much more than they bargained for. Fear, isolation, death.

So characters… It’s not unusual that I don’t like the characters at first. Chris (Eileen’s brother) seems like a jerk. The friends, Anna is bossy, Hailey is whiney and naive, Flint is shallow. The police officer Carla is callous and indifferent. These were my first impression of them. BUT I kept reading because the story was entertaining. Am I glad I did? Oh yes. Because these unlikable characters turned out to be just the opposite. Caring, brave, loyal and kind.
Chris turns out to be a protective brother, loyal friend, someone you can trust with your life. Anna is such a smart, caring soul. Hailey can handle the worst, even if she panics, she does her best. And Flint is strong, determined, a true friend.
Carla turns out to be a fierce and unstoppable force, willing to do anything to protect the innocent.

Darcy Coates is able to keep up the suspense the whole time, from the first chapter until the last. I loved this book, LOVED it. The whole story gave me the creeps, and sure strengthened my firm belief not to into the woods. Okay, I’m kidding, but still...creepy.
After the first half of the book, I just couldn’t stop, I needed to know what happens next.

The ending? Not what I expected. I know I say that a lot but it’s a good thing (most of the time it is). It is satisfying because it is believable.

Read this book if you love creepy horror stories. If you don’t...well read it anyway. Definitely worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my ARC.

My thoughts

Would I recommend it? yes

Would I read more by this author ? Yes

This was the first time I've ever read anything by this author and I'm glad that I requested it, one because of the cover and two because of how it had me setting at the edge of mt set the inter time I was reading it . Not only does it gives off the really creepy vibes but it also has a touch of the supernatural undertones that helps with set the tone the author wants the story to have. Because as your reading you have no idea what or who is felling the group of friends or if their even find Chris's sister alive or not. And the more you read the more the suspenseful it gets. With that said I want to thank Netgalley for letting me read and review it .

For me I usually love Darcy Coates books but I was disappointed when I read this book. The characters were all horrible and the plot seemed forced.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a review!

Hunted is one of the few books by Darcy Coates that I've managed to read and it is as good as I could wish it to be.
Besides the fact that it is so very hard to put it down, it is also truly haunting, if I can say that. There is a constant creepy factor that gives an unsettling feeling to the action - shortly said, the horror is good.

"She would be trapped in the darkness, surrounded by spiky branches and sharp rocks she couldn’t see… and alone with it."

Thankyou to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author, Darcy Coates, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Hunted in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
What an intriguing read. I was hooked.
The storyline was well thought out and written with well drawn characters and a rollercoaster plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Well worth a read.

Hunted pretty much had all of the things I love in a book...mystery, suspense, a twist and surprise at the end. When his sister doesn't come back home after a trip Chris and his friends set out to find out what happened to her themselves . I had several theories of my own of what was happening and couldn't wait to reach the end to find out. I definitely enjoyed this book.

I really enjoyed the story and the mystery. It was fast paced and kept me engaged and when it comes to thrillers that's what keeps me reading. It also had plenty of twists which I love, it was a well rounded mystery thriller and I really enjoyed reading it.