The description of this books gave me higher hopes for what I read and this book did not exactly hold up to that. Though it’s only about 280 pages this book feels a bit drawn out and had too much extra “fluff” to fill the pages that wasn’t very interesting. The last quarter of the book made it all fall together, which was nice, but I still would’ve preferred more intrigue and a bit less drama throughout it. I feel like this book had the makings to be a “thriller” but sadly fell short. I don’t regret reading it, but glad I didn’t pay for it

I ran into a tiny problem when reading this one. You see Nell, our MC, felt so much like Jane in the author’s Real Bad Things, that I found myself getting confused. I kept feeing like I was reading a sequel to Jane’s book and I had to take a step back, refamiliarize myself with Jane’s story and then finally I was able to separate them. Still, though, Jane and Nell feel VERY much like the same character.

That being said, the book was very good! I liked Nell, loved her nephew and her friend Ada, and was thoroughly intrigued by the hunt. And the ‘who’ in this took me completely by surprise!

As usual, the author gives us a more layered view of Arkansas than we usually see. I’m still not sure I want to live there, but the author definitely kills a lot of the stereotypes associated with the state and I love that.

I’d really love another book with some of these characters. I think this could be turned into a fantastic series and I would be so here for it!

Another great and nuanced crime read from this author!

• ARC via Publisher

I was really drawn to the premise of this book. Who wouldn't want to participate in an Easter egg hunt for $50k? Unfortunately for the town of Presley, there is one really big drawback. There have been disappearances and lives have ended. They may, or may not be related to the hunt. I liked the mystery elements in this book, however really struggled not coming out the other side knowing all of the pieces. The ending was a little too stretched out as well to not the get the answers. I felt like at times the romantic aspirations really took away from the story, or maybe even just fleshed it out. The balance was a bit odd. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Review in progress and to come.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

So much detail into the characters! I loved this authors descriptions and pacing in this story. It was an extremely quick read for me and I do recommend it to people that like a little bit of thriller.

I really enjoyed this novel, and fully intend to read the author's other books as well. The character development, realism, and pacing in this book were superb. Would also like to applaud the author for representation of many kinds, done the right way. I've seen other authors attempt inclusion, but thoroughly botch it and come off as preachy or patronizing. This was so fun to read, and exactly the right balance of engaging and scary.

Just finished this book and it was so good. The pacing was perfect. So much detail and characterization of all of the characters. I found it a very quick read and was flying through the chapters. Loved it and will recommend it to others. And will keep reading the authors books. This was from a NetGalley copy.

Who wouldn’t want to join a community Easter egg hunt if the golden-egg find is worth a whopping fifty thousand dollars? Maybe everyone if each year’s hunt wasn’t accompanied by a strange death, one where the COD is based on guesses or paltry forensic support. Those who withhold are few, but persistent and vocal. Those who attend generally bring company just in case the alleged serial killer dubbed Hunter is real.

The golden egg hunt frames this story, but there isn’t much excitement on that front except as it relates to Hunter. There are no close-call moments with him or her to maintain tension, but it is fun reading about how the possibility of a serial killer plays out with the Eggheads. It falls to the well-developed and interesting characters to give this book its staying power. The thoughtful exploration of relationships and how one character deals with the death of her sibling, which is connected to the first annual hunt, gives this book its heft. If readers are seeking a thriller, the watery tension and pacing might be an issue for them. I didn’t feel the need to put this book down, but I also enjoy character-driven novels. This book’s strength is as a general fiction read, and the author does a wonderful job with characterization. It is certainly discussable and would be an option for book clubs.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Fast-paced, engaging, and atmospheric. A recommended purchase for collections where thrillers are popular.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this novel.
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New relationships, break-ups, and previous couplings all come into play (and are easily endangered,) when on the hunt for the golden egg!

An engaging romo of a mystery, I enjoyed this book.

The Hunt by Kelly J. Ford had me hooked from start to finish and I devoured every single page.
Ford’s writing is fast-paced and incredibly readable.
I was sucked into this story. I thought the entire book was so unique and compelling.
I was so enthralled with this one.
The build-up leading to the truth was well paced and engaging, and each turn of the page left me wanting more.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

An interesting premise -- a hunt for an easter egg that may or may not be connected to a serial killer! Firstly, I never knew small town Arkansas was so diverse. I think there were a dozen or more nationalities represented. I often think of small southern towns as being Black and white, and if it's anything like this book it's actually a smorgasbord of folks from all over the globe, sitting at a table in a factory.

The characters are pained, trying to do their best but usually just bumbling along like the rest of us, making mistakes and hurting people and trying to make up for it. They each tried to grow and change in their own way.

It kept me guessing until the end. If you enjoyed the author's first 2 books, you'll probably love this one too (and there's a little easter egg reference to Cottonmouths and Real Bad Things, although there's no cash prize for spotting it lol.)

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the copy of the book.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, and so many crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and had me glued to my Kindle! I will definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!