Big thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. If I'm being completely honest I can only give it a rating or 2.5 stars.

Cameron is a well educated woman, but I don't see that in the story due to the fact that she knows nothing of the wilderness yet is willing to take on the unknown. The book was a bit too unbelievable for me.

Cameron’s husband is killed by a bear in a freak accident while on a big game hunt. Afterward, while going through his stuff she finds evidence that he was the notorious “ Teacher Killer “ serial murderer.



The Final Hunt Wass a quick listen on audio and I imagine it would also be a quick read. The author's writing was easy to understand, yet it held your interest throughout. The story was pretty predictable and I figured it out fairly quickly. There also weren't any real big shocking revelations, but you know what? That didn’t even seem to matter in this story, I was entertained from the get-go, and stayed engrossed in the story until the very end.

I really enjoyed how the author dealt with the aftermath of finding out her husband was a serial killer and that information being made public on news networks and papers. The collapse of her dental practice as she loses patients and her trusty staff, some of who have been with her since the beginning, leave after learning the news to the devastating realization that she was left with nothing due to John's mishandling of their money.

The setting in the Alaska wilderness was very well written. I personally love a thriller that takes place in a dark barren frozen landscape, giving it a wee bit more of an eerie touch. The author threw in several good suspenseful moments that took place there, from some tense moments flying a small commuter plane to a hike through the woods that were full of wolves.

Most characters were likable, even being as morally gray as Cameron was, I liked her and her sheer determination. Of course, you can’t help but like Dane, and the connection between the two gives you a bit of a breather, making the story have some needed lighter moments

The Final Hunt was a great read, or for me listen. I enjoyed the narration and the story both, but I can see that some thriller fans, that like that BIG moment in the end or a story that has various twists might not be as thrilled with this as I was. It is a straightforward mystery that showcases some great storytelling and writing.

Possible small spoilers ahead.


This 3.5 stars.

The book starts out great. A woman grieving the death of her husband goes out to his hunting cabin to start cleaning out his hunting lodge, when she stumbles on a thumb drive. Thinking it’s pictures of them, she take it home only to discover it’s evidence that he has been leading a secret life.

What I loved.

Watching this woman’s life fall apart. How everyone judges and abandon her. How the media hounds her to level that should be harassment. The cop that may or may not be looking at her as an accomplice, and the levels to which this all pushes her toward.

What I didn’t like.

She goes on a vigilante trip, that is just not believable. Her little jaunt through Alaska alone in February was just not well thought out and was frankly unbelievable.

Now as for suspense.

I spent the book wanting answers. Most of them I guessed, but they were delivered in a way I still appreciated.

All in all, I would recommend this if you like a who done it kind of book.

This was an extremely fast read. It gave me My Perfect Marriage vibes.

While Cameron is morning the loss of her husband, she uncovers something she never expected. Photos of murdered women. Upon finding these photos she goes on the hunt for more information. But is she ready for the whole truth?

The narrator did an excellent job telling the story. Extremely easy to follow along.

I liked this story a lot! About a woman who finds out her late husband was a serial killer and her journey for vengeance. The narrator wasn't my favorite but there is a bit of different infliction given to different characters so that was a plus.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4*

Contemporary thrillers are definitely my guilty pleasure. I fully confess to choosing this one by its cover.

I was not only not disappointed but I found myself carving out moments to sneak away and listen to this one so much that I finished it in less than 2 days!!

The Final Hunt starts with a bang: John Prescott, a successful Seattle defense attorney disappears in the remote Alaskan wilderness while on a hunting exposition with his friend& partner. He is believed to have been killed by bears and is never seen again.

His wife, Cameron Prescott, a 30-something dentist, is deep in her mourning ritual, spending all of her time at her husband's hunting cabin, surrounding herself with his things and memories of him. She opens a book on his bookshelf and an SD card falls out. Thinking it will be full of photos of their life together, she pops it into her computer only to find graphic visual proof that her late husband is undoubtedly a serial killer.

Cameron goes to the police with the evidence without considering the consequences to her life or business and finds herself the object of media, police, and public scrutiny and suspicion. Of course, she HAD To have known she was married to the most prolific murderer of young women in the Pacific Northwest since Ted Bundy?

The story that follows was truly gripping. Parts were a little cheesy, and of course they HAD TO THROW IN A LOVE INTEREST, because a woman couldn't possibly survive happily without a strong, virile, masculine man to giver her purpose...but I digress.

It's a really good mystery. I'll look for more by Audrey J. Cole.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the Audio ARC in exchange for this honest review

Sometimes you get a book that has a great story but you hate the characters. Sometimes you get a bad story, but it is okay because you really like the characters. And then sometimes you get The Final Hunt.

What an awful book. The story itself was okay, not great, but passable. There was nothing really special about it. But the characters – every one of them should be in jail. There really are no good characters. You think you meet one, but then they turn around and act entirely out of character, doing things that make no sense, or completely destroy their credibility.

Despite being touted as such, this was not a psychological thriller, it wasn’t even a thriller. It plodded along through the majority of the story, was entirely predictable within the first few chapters (which are super short, so very early on), tried to create a full blown romance out of a five-minute encounter, and then felt like the author couldn’t settle on which “deep in the woods shock” to include, so she threw in every single one that crossed her mind and then was not able to execute the scene.

Avoid this book. It left me depressed and needing a shower to wash away the awfulness of the characters.

The chapters were short, so the audiobook was easy to get through, but not much happened throughout the book. It was obvious where the story was going from the beginning, and I didn't care about the story or characters.

The Final Hint was an engaging thriller. Throughout the book, it kept me wondering how it would end and who actually did it. The main character was engaging and I enjoyed learning more about her through her storyline in the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to honestly review.

After getting the news that Cameron's husband is presumably dead being attacked by a bear while away hunting, while going through some of his things, she chances upon some photos of him committing some gristly murders (with him in the pictures). Soon she realizes her husband was the famed serial murderer that had never be identified or caught, the "Teacher Killer".

As the police start to investigate the information she gives them, the information leaks about her husband to the public, and her own reputation now is involved. Did she know this about her husband? How did she NOT know that she was married to a serial killer? Did she have a part in some kind of cover-up? Next thing she knows, her dental practice is going downhill and has no clients, she is under suspicion by the lead investigator and being investigated herself, and her financials are all but ruined as her husband cashed out the life insurance policy without her knowing.

Having a pilot's license, she heads off to Alaska to find the answers she seeks. She has to solve one nagging question... if he was able to keep his life as a serial murderer secret, is there more secrets to be discovered? Might he still be alive?

Speaking of secrets, she does have a huge one herself. Her secret, did it die with him, or, if the secret is still alive and ready to be exposed, who will expose it?

Great storyline. Easy read and listen. Perfect pace. Satisfying ending. Clean mystery. No foul language or sex. That being said, it doesn't really have any unbelievable OMGosh moments, in fact, the reader might guess what might happen next. Still, a very enjoyable read! This was first time reading this author, and will be checking out more of her work now if this is indication of how she writes (I guess I don't always need a wow factor, I just need to enjoy the journey).

Narrator was Stacey Glemboski, she carried the narration and character voices well. Pleasant, easy to listen to voice.

4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommended
My thanks to NetGalley, OrangeSkyAudio, and Audrey J. Cole for an AAC in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this book. Kept me guessing. It was suspenseful to the end and moved right along. The lead character was flawed, but strong. Narration was spot on and easy to listen to. Would definitely recommend this book.

A really enjoyable book and I loved how you knew right from the start who the killer was.

Some of the scenarios were a bit far-fetched but it certainly didn’t detract from the story and I was desperate to know how it was going to end - although there was one part of the ending I did guess early on.

I finished this audiobook in just 2 days which is unusual for me.

Narrator 5 stars
I loved this narrator and I really appreciated that she wasn't over the top (no offence but I find American narrators in particular can be quite over the top most of the time)

Story 4 stars
First time trying this author and Im promptly heading over to the Kindle store and seeing if there are any more available.

This book had a fantastic opening and it just got better from there. I loved the pace of this book. It was fast and captivating.

Also... This would make a good mini series

Thank you Netgalley and Orangesky Audio for this advanced audio book in exchange for my honest review.

Cameron just found some horrific pictures in her basement that prove her husband to be the Teacher Serial Killer.. She has just buried him but believes he may possibly he is alive and hiding somewhere. She is determined to find him as the police now believe she is an Accomplice in the murders.
This was not full of surprises but the story was fun and easy to listen to.

When Cameron’s husband is presumed dead from a bear attack, she heads to his cabin and discovers disturbing photographs revealing him to be a serial killer. She decides he is actually still alive and in hiding, Cameron is losing everything. Her husband. Her home. Her dental practice. She sets out to “hunt” him down herself and take revenge. This book was a quick, easy and entertains read. I always enjoy books with descriptive scenery and the Alaskan setting in this did not disappoint. While many parts were quite unbelievable, The Final Hunt was, overall, a page turner that had me glued.
***Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Audio book review.
Flying into the Alaskan frozen tundra, especially for the ending, qualifies The Final Hunt as a wilderness thriller. No surprises, but still thrilling to know that the wildlife and terrain will play a part in the story.
The narration by Stacey Glemboski is concise and easy to follow. She is able to build up the tension within our main character, Cameron. This book plays out well in audio format.
The story is based on Cameron finding photos in her husband's cabin of murdered women. John, the missing husband who has been declared dead, is also a serial killer. Everything moves quickly from that point. We also learn that Cameron was married previously and let it be said she is a terrible judge of character!
The Final Hunt is a quick story, not filled with twists and surprises. The enjoyment comes from learning how Cameron is going to react and take care of business. In a short period of time, she must evade one detective while being attracted to another (deputy). Yeah, I know, it all moves too quickly but that's the fun of it.
I'd give this 3.5 stars but will round up to 4.
Thank you to Netgalley and OrangeSky Audio for early access to the audiobook. All opinions are mine.

This is a great story for anyone who likes mysteries. It wasn't surprised by the ending, but it didn't make me enjoy it any less. I instantly was drawn into the story. The characters are all interesting and kept me wanting to know what was going to happen. It reminded me of Pretty Little Wife as well as Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter (without as much gore.)


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4690599717

Audrey J. Cole's The Final Hunt takes you on a wild ride, literally, as her protagonist is a pilot. I read that Ms. Cole's father is a pilot and she put that knowledge to very good use in the book, because the flight scene ring with authenticity. This audiobook literally kept me awake at night! I couldn't stop listening. Credit to the narrator as well! She did a great job. (You don't really appreciate a good narrator until you listen to a bad one, which I experienced recently).

The book opens with excitement, as two men on a hunting trip are attacked by a bear, and one doesn't survive. Widowed Cameron is grieving the death of her husband, eaten by a bear in Alaska, and she goes to their cabin to feel near him and recover. While there she makes a discovery that will rock her world and lead to her losing virtually everything.

I don't want to give away the plot details because it was fun to discover them as I listened. At some point in the story, Cameron decides to fight back, and this is when the story really picks up steam. She reminded me of the mother in the original Terminator movie, relentless to achiever he goal. I loved the scenes in Alaska, which also rang very true as if the author has experienced this first hand. I recommend this as a fairly quick and fun adventure read for lovers of that genre.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Audrey J. Cole, and Orange Sky Audio for allowing me to listen to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley and OrangeSky Audio for the opportunity to listen to this arc audiobook.

Cameron discovers her husband, John, is the Teacher Serial Killer. She makes some horrific discoveries about his crimes and is convinced he is hiding out in Alaska. She travels to Alaska to confront him, after she also become a suspect as an accomplice to her husbands murderous ways.

This book has a good storyline and a well written plot line. The narrator was excellent and kept a good pace while still keeping you interested.

Definitely an Author to watch!

BOOK REVIEW

The Final Hunt by Audrey J. Cole

Conflicted. I’m freakin’ conflicted. This book had such an interesting description, I had to read it and while I loved the story and it kept my attention, I’m still disappointed. Let’s break it down, shall we?

Yes, we shall.
Cuz I make the rules here.
Duh

The good: Moved quickly. Well written. Questions answered. Resolution but still enough of a cliffhanger to leave me smirking at the “what if?” Fun. Reminded me a bit of the movie Gothika but without the supernatural elements.

Mild spoilers ahead. Skip to QOTD if you plan on reading this book.


The bad: The characters were completely unlikeable. Every single one. The hero was darn near as wretched as the bad guy though I guess her crimes were justified, sort of. I figured out the accomplice, the love interest, the plot, the subplot, the EVERYTHING long before I was supposed to. Some of the story was sooo convenient and implausible that I could barely stand it. No one, no matter how angry or determined, is going to survive the Alaskan wilderness alone in the dead of winter. Especially when they’ve never even driven a snowmobile before this “hunting trip.” It’s just not gonna happen. That was RIDICULOUS.

What’s got me most messed up is I enjoyed the read, despite all the flaws and still plan to read more by the author. It was fun but so dang cheesy and predictable. Kinda like the monster movies on the sci-fi channel. You know you’re gonna see the strings and the masks or whatever but you just can’t turn away.