3.5⭐️ rounded up

What is it about thrillers set in Alaska? I just can’t get enough of them. I went into this not having read the first, and while I was still able to follow it, I wish I had read the previous one! I think I would have felt more connected tit the characters. That said, this was a quick listen and it kept my interest throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 stars
I found the first book in this series/duology to be both utterly predictable and improbable. This second book was more of the same. I won’t go into detail as it would all be spoilers. If you don’t read many procedural, murder mystery books, this might keep your interest. Otherwise, you’ll be able to plot the entire series of events in these books from start to finish within the first couple of hours of the first book. Speaking of which— I’m not sure why the narrator change but I preferred Stacey G’s narration of the first book.
*Thanks to Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley for the audiobook review copy

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This was a fun thriller that if I didn't need to sleep, probably would've kept me up all night. I thought this book was fast-paced and I didn't see the ending coming. Overall, I thought that this was a very well-written thriller and I am going to be on the lookout for more books by Audrey in the future!

Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

********


If you are interested in seeing more of my reviews and other content feel free to connect with me here <3:

https://linktr.ee/bookreviewsbyjules (links to my Instagram, Goodreads, TikTok, Storygraph, My blog and Substack newsletter, etc)

If you are a publisher or author who has questions about my reviews (as well as questions about my stats, reach or engagement), please free to email me. I am also open to requests for book reviews from authors or publishers. Thank you again for taking time to read my review, and I hope you have a wonderful day!

I loved this book and look forward to more by this author. I'm a fan of Alaskan titles, in general, and this one did not disappoint. It was a great twisty-thriller and I really liked not only the reality of communication struggles, but the questioning of anyone and everyone. It kept me on my toes!

This thriller set in an Alaskan small town will keep the reader guessing until the end!

Cameron Prescott's late (?) husband was a serial killer, and even though he is presumed dead, murders with his signature are beginning to happen again. Is he alive and taunting Cameron? Or is someone close to her not who they appear to be?

Although this is book 2 in the Final Hunt series, I haven't read the previous book and was able to get through without any problems, so that's a good start!

The Alaskan wilderness plays an important role in this thriller, like most books set in the north, and Audrey Cole uses the setting nicely. The characters are interesting and fairly well constructed, and the story keeps you guessing whether or not her murderous husband John is still alive and terrorizing the tiny town of Tok .

Although I guessed the ending, it wasn't obvious and I kept bouncing back and forth between two theories. On the whole an engrossing book!

I received a free audiobook copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

The Last Hunt picks up right where it’s prequel, The Final Hunt, left off.
Cameron believes John, her serial killer ex-husband is dead, but when an eerily similar murder takes place, she wonders if John is actually dead…. Is the murderer John? Is it a copy cat killer? Or could it possibly be someone in law enforcement?
We accompany Cameron through the wild investigation to find out who is guilty.
The story takes place in rural Alaska and the setting compliments the elements of suspense and intrigue.
This is a new author to me and I can’t wait to discover more of her work! Overall a thrilling book!

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I have a little obsession with books set in Alaska. Usually I like the survival aspect of the Alaskan Bush but I enjoyed this one too. I will admit I didn't listen to the 1st book since I didn't realize this one was a series until I was already into this one too far to start at the beginning. I do feel like I missed a big part of the past/background of this story because I didn't start with The Final Hunt. I recommend starting at the beginning if you can but even with that said I still enjoyed this one without it.

This book was fast paced and action packed. I am not a huge listener of Thriller/Mysteries so I'm not great a picking out who did it yet and it was pretty far into this one before I figured it out. I thought I knew a few times but I was very wrong. I want to go back now and listen to book 1.

The narration was good. I think this was a new narrator for me and she was a good fit for this story and was great at giving everyone their own voice.

The Last Hunt is the second book in the Final Hunt series and in my opinion is better to be read in order to understand everything and know the characters. It was a fast paced, addictive and fun popcorn thriller. From the prologue you're thrown into the action and your pulse will be pounding.

I loved the storyline and how the author was able to make me doubt myself countless times on who I thought the true culprit was. At some point though I did figure it out, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment. It's full of twists and turns, the suspense continuously building in this race against the clock. This is truly a fun bingeable series.

🎧 The narration by Leslie Howard was great. She kept me hooked and engaged. She had the suspense building, the correct tone and you could sense the emotions through her voice.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @spotifyaudiobooks & @audreyjcole for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review

The Last Hunt is the sequel to The Final Hunt. Cameron is starting over with her new state trooper boyfriend after the death of her serial killer husband. But when a murder happens that’s eerily similar to her husband’s style she begins to wonder if she’s free of him after all or if she’s fallen for the wrong man once again. I had fun with this one. It kept me guessing & there were even some surprises I wasn’t expecting. Cameron is strong & fierce. She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty. The narrator did a great job portraying those emotions & the fierceness in Cameron’s voice. It’s a great listen & I recommend it for any thriller lovers.
Thank you NetGalley & Spotify Audiobooks for the advance copy.

Wow!!! This book had me at the edge of my seat.. It was absolutely thrilling in more ways than one!!! I was I had no idea this was book 2 of The Final Hunt series. But it can definitely be read as a standalone. This book had me trying to figure things out and had me in a chokehold! And the audiobook was totally on point!!! Make sure you add this one (and the first book) to your TBR! You will not be disappointed!!

Thank you NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for the advanced copy for my honest review..

I love a good Alaskan thriller, and this one did not disappoint! There's something so fascinating about Alaska – it's a world many of us will never experience, making it the perfect backdrop for a gripping story. Audrey, the author, is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Her books are always compelling and grab my attention from page one.

Set in Tok, Alaska, the story follows Cameron Prescott, a fierce survivor who hopes her troubled past is finally behind her. She believes her murderous husband is dead and is eager to start fresh with her state trooper boyfriend. But just when she thinks she's found peace, a new murder pops up with a chilling resemblance to her late husband's style.

Cameron is horrified to learn that the evidence points to someone within law enforcement. This revelation makes her question how well she truly knows her new man. As the lies and bodies pile up, she's convinced she's being stalked by a killer. The big question is: can she trust anyone, or is she just walking towards her doom?

There's a lot of "whodunit" in this book. My perspective kept shifting, and I was never quite sure who the real killer was. Maybe it was the fantastic writing, or perhaps I was just having one of those moments, but I did not see the ending coming at all.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for giving me the chance to read and review this audiobook ARC. If you're looking for a thrilling read set in the intriguing Alaskan wilderness, this book is definitely for you!

This was a fun audiobook to listen to! The narrator did a great job keeping the narration engaging! She had great inflection on her voice.

I throughly enjoyed the second book in the Final Hunt series. It can be read as a stand alone, but I would definitely read the first book first! It will help the second book make a lot more sense! This one had me guessing the entire time. Just when I was sure I knew who it was, the author would throw a little twist in and have me se one guessing myself.

I love the Alaska setting. The rural, small town feel, where everyone knows everyone else and their business.

I definitely recommend reading this quick, engaging read that will have you guessing until the end! Looking forward to more books from Audrey J. Cole in the future!

3/5
This book had so much potential and was so quickly paced and nerve racking. But the ending fell flat and I was underwhelmed

One word review: unputdownable! This was an incredibly thrilling audiobook and I was on the edge of my seat for a good portion of it. The twists and turns kept me guessing and I loved it. It was so scary because it all seemed believable. Crime fiction has become a favorite for me and this book was exceptionally exciting. The narrator did a wonderful job of sharing this fabulous story.

Cameron Prescott believes her murderous husband, John, is finally dead. She starts a new life for herself in Tok, Alaska as the local dentist. She even starts dating a state trooper. However, the peaceful life she has built for herself is quickly shattered when a murder occurs matching her late husband’s signature. Is her husband still alive and out for revenge or did a member of the Tok law enforcement commit this murder? Cameron is determined to find out.

This is the second book in The Final Hunt series. The first book is a must-read as this second installment builds on the first. I’ve come to really enjoy Audrey J. Cole’s writing. She does not disappoint with this second installment. I found myself on the edge of my seat with every jaw-dropping twist. I continued to enjoy Cameron as a character and the setting of the small town of Tok, Alaska was perfect. Leslie Howard did an excellent job narrating! I highly recommend this series to anyone that enjoys thrillers! I give it 4/5 stars.

This book was really good. and I quite enjoyed it. I'm not really sure how much of the plot I can reveal since getting into this book I wasn't aware that it was a sequel and I don't want to actualy spoil something.
Now I must adress that having not read book one in this case didn't change my enjoyement at all. At no point did I feel like I was missing something, so I guess they can be read as standalones.
Now, about this book... the mystery is there, the main characters are interesting to follow and the atmosphere is quite good. The only issue I had with it was that the final reveal was a bit.. unexpected I guess.. it might be just my personal taste in mysteries/thrillers and me liking to search for hints to the final reveal instead of just letting the story unwrap as it is. I guess this would work better for other people and they would really like the ending.

I listened to the audiobook and I have got no issues with it. The narrator is easy to follow to and their narration perfectly fits the story. The only remark I have is that maybe having a male and female narrator would have helped to distinguish whose point of view are we reading from, but that would have just been an added plus, it is good the way it is now.

THE LAST HUNT is a nonstop action-packed thriller. I didn't realize that it was the second book in a series, but it can also be read as a stand-alone. The story kept me on my toes as I tried to guess who was committing these murders. The author did a good job of keeping me guessing until the very end. The writing was really outstanding and I loved every minute of it. It was a quick and easy read, perfect for a day trip. I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes next from Audrey J. Cole!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Rainier Publishing for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

The Last Hunt (audio)
4⭐️

I listened to this immediately after The Final Hunt. The Last Hunt is Book 2 in the series. Attempting to read as a standalone would literally feel like starting in the middle of a book. And since I read them back to back, I enjoyed this extended story. The two books flowed flawlessly. Lots and lots of drama and suspense. Again, I found the major twist to be predictable, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment because I enjoyed the writing and storytelling.

Setting: Alaska in August

Thank you NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for this audio ARC.

Pub Date Jun 25 2024

A tense thriller in a small village in Alaska. The location gives a deeper level to the threats characters face, especially during the winter storm that frames the extremely suspenseful climax. Keeps you guessing until the very end.

After the VERY EXCITING ending of The Last Hunt, I was dying to find out what happens next with Cameron & Dane & Detective Tanner. This got off to a bit of a slow start, and the big reveal was super obvious, but the last 20% was nonstop action and craziness and so much fun to listen to. Definitely read or listen to the first book before you read this one!


(3.5 rounded up)