I love a good prologue, especially one that immediately reels me in!

THE HUNTED by ROZ NAY is a dark, chilling, suspenseful, twisty slow-burn thriller that has quite the detailed and vividly written exotic setting. I don’t think I have ever read a thriller set in Africa before. That was quite refreshing and definitely held my interest.

For me, the book started off extremely strong, but as it progressed I found myself not as gripped and my attention wavered from it a little bit. I was always intrigued enough though to finish the story and I was pleasantly surprised with the shocking final reveal.

I really enjoyed the dual narrative but found myself a little more attracted to Leo’s point of view. I thought he was quite the character and didn’t really know if he was to be trusted or not. This read well and kept me interested. I really enjoy Roz Nay’s storytelling.

Expected Publication Date: July 6, 2021

Thank you so much to NetGalley for my digital ARC and to Simon and Schuster Canada and Roz Nay for my gifted copy.

This book didn't do it for me.
I didn't find it creepy at all, I thought the main characters were a bit annoying and I could predict most of the twists. I was disappointed, to say the least.
The book had an interesting premise. I gave it two stars because it read well.
I may still check out other books by this author, hopefully, they'll captivate me more!

Roz Nay has done it again! The Hunted is an absolute delight to read and brings thrills, chills and messes with your mind in the best way possible. It’s a thriller that lets you escape into its world and forget everything else around you.

Stevie is looking for a fresh start after her grandmother dies. When her boyfriend Jacob is offered a job as a diver on Rafiki Island in Africa, he thinks this is just what they need. Backpacking before the job starts, they quickly make friends with the charming Leo and Tamsin who end up joining them on the island. But Stevie can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. Everyone’s hiding something and as secrets are revealed, relationships are tested and the hunt is on to find a killer.

I loved the book’s structure. The dual POVs of Stevie and Leo are so well done and make the reader really question everything that’s taking place. Who is telling the truth and who can you trust? The characters and reader are always on edge trying to figure this out. The setting also really adds to the story and helps build an ominous feeling throughout the entire book.

Leo and Tasmin are such fascinating characters and I could read an entire book just about their pasts. I am glad Jacob is not my boyfriend.

Throughout the book, I got a serious vibe of a true crime case I find so fascinating (not naming due to potential spoilers!). Whether intentional or coincidence, it totally worked for me and amped up the creep factor.

This is the perfect thriller to escape in to this summer. 10/10 recommendation. And how perfect is the book sleeve Roz designed with @readinginthecountryshop !?

Thank you to @simonschusterca and @roznay for the gifted copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Ah …. Traveling … it’s been a long time since we have been able to fly to an exotic locale so in the meantime, I have been living vicariously through books that can transport me instead. 🏝

The Hunted takes place on a remote island off the coast of Africa. The backdrop of the story - the heat, the tropical beaches, the hostels - is a great character in this story. When Stevie and Jacob decide to travel to Africa to join an eco-diving company on a remote island - they are looking for a change of pace and a way to escape recent tragedies. When they meet up with Leo and Tasmin - two mysterious backpackers who conveniently decide to go to the same island - you just know something isn’t right. What starts as a game turns into something much more sinister. 🤔

First off, I started this book and within the first few pages, I was so intrigued. The story builds up as the couples travel to the island and during that time, you start to learn more about each person but especially the creepy Leo and Tasmin. It does start to plod along a little in the middle as you learn more about each character - but it picks up close to the end in a finish that I didn’t see coming. I definitely enjoyed the eerie factor as this story unravels in such a remote location - giving it those locked room vibes. Overall, it’s a good thriller and an enjoyable, fast read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to @simonschusterca and @netgalley for this copy for my review. This book publishes on July 6th. If you are a thriller lover, pick this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley, Roz Nay and Simon & Schuster Canada for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

This one is a wild ride and I enjoyed every single second of it. I loved the exotic locale where this one takes place and I enjoyed that I haven't ever read a book about backpackers! I really didn't like any of the characters for various but vastly different reasons, but that really worked for me in this novel. I didn't want to put it down because I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. This one builds up quickly and I enjoyed so much the big finale! Definitely recommend!

.Remote island setting, creepy villain and lots of twists and turns. Started off a bit slowly but had a very tense atmospheric feeling throughout. Told from two perspectives, one of which is the villain’s, this is a tale of deceit, lies, buried secrets and obsession, Roz Nay does crazy characters very well! A good escapist thriller read!

Stevie Erickson and her boyfriend Jacob Jones are glad to leave their small Maine town and the USA for the first time ever for an adventure in Africa. Jacob has taken a job at GoEco, a dive operation for ecotourists on Rafiki, a beautiful, secluded island off the coast of Tanzania. But the trip gets off to a rough start with a nighttime scare at their hostel, and Stevie feels like she’s being watched. They are then befriended by Leo and Tamsin, a drop-dead gorgeous couple who also are going to Rafiki. But once they settle in at Rafiki, the innocent flirting goes too far, and an obsessive interest in Stevie is heading towards a violent end.

This was a creepy thriller in an idyllic setting with plenty of secrets, twists and surprises.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Simon & Schuster with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

I flew through this fast-paced book and found it very hard to put down. I was immediately drawn to Stevie's character and curious about her background. I have to admit that none of the others really grew on me, which was , of course, the point. This book felt creepy in many places and gave me a bit of a chill as I turned the pages but that was what made it good too! It was really well written and will make a perfect summer vacation read for many this year!! :) Did NOT see that ending coming!

3.5 STARS - The Hunted is the upcoming bookish offering by one of my favourite Canadian authors - Roz Nay. This book publishes on July 6, 2021, and is a slow burn, escapist kind of read - perfect for summer readin'.

Nay brings readers into the world of backpacking in foreign countries which I found fascinating and scary in equal measure. But what I noticed right off the bat was the pace. Sure, there is a fantastic edge-of-your-seat scene at the beginning but honestly, things don't start poppin' until around 60%. Until then, Nay builds her story, relays bits and bobs of her characters' pasts to the reader to set up a chilling story of obsession, lies and betrayal set in the beauty of the east African coastal region.

Oooo, right?

I liked the isolated feel of this small island off the eastern coast of Africa and how Nay used different POVs to keep readers on their toes, but I wasn't a fan of the main character, Stevie or her questionable decision-making skills. There was one character who stood out for me because he is an off-his-rocker-in-the-best-possible-way kind of character, and he increased the chill factor exponentially. Once the pacing picks up, things get tense and a bit tangled as the truth is revealed (rather quickly) to the reader. It's not quite a twist, but a solid reveal that made the wait for the meat of the story more understandable.

I enjoyed this chilling read for the uneasy feel it gave me and its far-away locale. Roz remains one of my go-to Canadian suspense authors and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for my advanced complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this dual narrative about two backpacking couples who coincidentally (not) end up going to a few of the same exotic locales. As the narratives peeled back, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering, worrying how it would unfold.

Told in spare language with layered revelations, the thrill holds on to the very last page.

A well-crafted and propulsive thriller that will keep you guessing to the end about who is the hunter and who is the hunted.

#netgalley #simonandshuster #roznay

Stevie hasn't had the easiest life but the loss of her grandmother really sent her over the edge. Her boyfriend Jacob decided they needed a fresh start, so he takes a job at GoEco on an isolated island off the coast of Tanzania. They leave a few days early so they can do some backpacking and have a few more adventures before their final stop.
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Stevie is a little wary but knows she needs this trip in order to move on. Lets be honest this is a thriller, we all know this is not going to be a fresh start and it is proved with their first night in the hostel. This is told through two POVs; Stevie's and Leo's. You may be asking who's Leo? Well, you don't want to know. This book is creepy in the stalker kind of way, but reading both their POVs had me guessing who I could trust right up until the last page. This is definitely a SLOW burn, so slow that I wasn't sure if I was enjoying it or not. Until I realized I finished it in two sittings because I couldn't put it down and it's been days since I finished and I cannot stop thinking about it. Everyone has secrets, but just how dark are they? In the case of Stevie and Leo, they're very very dark

Stevie and Jacob leave their small town after a death in the family and go to Africa. Jacob has a dive job and Stevie is coming along. While on route they meet another couple from the UK. But the couple have a past especially Leo, who becomes obsessed with Stevie. Stevie also has a past that she can't forget. Together all this leads to events that become very deadly.

Stevie and her longtime boyfriend Jacob decide to move to Rafiki Island, both for Jacob’s new diving job and to start fresh after Stevie’s grandmother has passed away. On the way there, Stevie catches the eye of Leo, and the chase begins. Will Leo get his way?

This book was super creepy, but in that good creepy, can’t-stop-reading-even-though-I-may-have-nightmares kind of way! The Hunted is super fast paced right from the get go and told from the perspective of Stevie and Leo, so there’s an alternating back and forth of personal dialogue. It drew me in from the start and I finished it in a few days.

If you are looking for a psychological thriller set on a remote island off the coast of Tanzania, look no further. You will be sure to have chills.

Thank you @simonschusterca and @netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Hunted is a fast turning page read that will captivate your attention from page one to the final page.

What an ending it is , I did not guess.

Jacob and Stevie are backpackers that meet up with Leo and Tamsin off the coast of Tanzania .

So many secrets, so many lies.

The tension mounts with every page.

Roz Nay never disappoints and The Hunted is a great read that will keep you holding your breath .

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada, Simon and Schuster for an atmospheric read.

WOW! I could not get enough of this book! The fast paced story kept me wanting more and constantly guessing and just when I thought I had it figured out Roz tossed in another twist! Pure brilliance, you’ve outdone yourself and left me eager for more! I highly recommend picking this one up if you need a good Thriller, this is going to satisfy you!!

I held off on reading The Hunted as long as I could. Because once started, the sooner it would be done and then the waiting game for another Roz Nay book begins again!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for my eARC for review!
Jacob and Stevie are headed to Rafiki, a secluded island off the coast of Tanzania, for Jacob to work as a dive instructor. Stevie has issues from the past that come to the surface with an off-putting series of events the first night at their hostal.
During their travels, they meet seasoned backpackers Leo and Tamsin.
And in true thriller (and Roz) fashion, it's apparent not everyone is as they seem. And can even the past be trusted?
This story is built on a foundation of exotic locales and it's apparent our well-travelled author knows of what she writes. Dual POVs from Stevie and Leo blur the lines of reliability and who - if anyone - can be trusted.
This dark, slow-burn thriller was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I absolutely wasn't disappointed.
This is a must-add to summer reading lists (as are her first two books, if you haven't already read them!) - recommended!
For release on July 6.

Well it was probably never going to happen at my age but it’s final-I will not go backpacking.

This is my first book by Roz Nay, a fellow British Columbian, and I am looking forward to reading her previous books, one of which I have already purchased.

When Jacob and Stevie go on a backpacking trip on their way to Tanzania where an ecotourism job awaits Jacob as a diver, they meet and make friends with another couple, Leo and Tamsin, who are travelling the same way. Stevie has been trying to shake off a scare earlier on in their trip so having this gregarious couple to hang out with seems good for Stevie’s anxiety. Spending time with Tamsin, in particular, reminds her of her best friend from high school. Stevie begins to appraise her relationship with Jacob the more she spends time with Tamsin. Once they arrive on Rafiki Island off the coast of Tanzania, relationships will be tested and histories will be exposed.

Told in alternating POVs between Stevie and Leo the reader is given the opportunity to assess the reliability of each character. The settings were well executed and an ominous atmosphere permeated throughout the story.

There were several minor reveals that lead up to a big one at the end that was quite satisfying.

Thank you to @simonschusterca and @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. The Hunted publishes July 6, 2021.

such a quick, compulsive read. I was completely engrossed and devoured it in a few sittings. I could visualize all of the locations and loved the twist. This was well crafted, propulsive and deceptive. As an avid thriller reader, I do not typically expect to be surprised but when I am, it’s great. Highly recommend this book for summer reading lists.

Thrillers are my favourite genre but I find it rare that they transport me somewhere new, like to remote parts of Africa. I loved the dark and sinister version of the continent that Nay presented in this novel. The dual narrator was brilliantly done, infusing the story with suspense. The plot was suspenseful and the setting ominous and atmospheric and the entire thing kept me guessing and engaged right up until the very end.

This one was hit and miss for me.

Pros:
-interesting concept to have the story told by both Stevie and Leo
-while not exactly thrilling, the whole story had a creepy atmosphere

Cons:
-the twist wasn’t entirely unexpected and the explanation at the end a little unbelievable
-I didn’t really like any of the characters except for Jacob
-a lot of build up for not a lot of action

3.5 stars

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