Questions to ponder....
What if you were married to a serial killer? Would you know it? Could he\she be so good at covering their double life that you would not have a clue? The Final Hunt by Audrey J Cole is about this exact situation.

Synopsis:
Cameron is grieving her husband John's death. John was recently killed in a hunting incident. Cameron goes to John's hunting cabin to feel close to him and mourn his death. While there, she finds gruesome "trophy" photographs John took posing with his deceased female victims. Cameron is devastated and turns the evidence over to the police. The community and media quickly become brutal to Cameron. They hint that Cameron could have been John's accomplice. How can one ever recover from this devastating situation? Your life would never be the same.

As crazy as it sounds, this scenario has actually happened. For example, BTK's family had no idea he was a serial killer. He was "THAT" good at living a duel lifestyle.

The Final Hunt is exceptionally interesting and well written. The ending had some tiny holes in it, but I still enjoyed the book. It is a solid 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ read. It will be published June 7th.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial, for allowing me to review this exciting new book. I appreciate your kindness. I look forward to reading more from Audrey J Cole.

Thanks to the publisher, author Audrey Cole, and NetGalley for the review copy. This was a pretty good book. The storyline was fairly predictable but it moved along quickly. I didn’t really like most of the characters, Valerie and Dane are the exceptions 😂. Definitely pick it up if you like quick thrillers with just a tent-tiny bit of romance.

Everybody has secrets. Cameron appears to have the ideal life; a reliable career as a dentist, a large house in Seattle, a cabin up in the mountains, and an impenetrable marriage to the love of her life. After the death of her husband, Cameron is faced with the terrifying reality that not all was as it seemed. With her late husband now being accused of having been involved in a string of murders, Cameron is forced to take a closer look at the man she thought she knew. In order to unearth his secrets, she may need to face some of her own.

What a gripping read! From start to finish I was so engrossed with not only the plot, but the characters themselves. As the story progressed I found the plot flowed well with strong, descriptive writing, which made the book an overall quick read. The chapters were short, which enhanced the feeling of a “fast paced” story. The Alaskan setting was mesmerizing, the characters intriguing and the overall premise of the book interesting. Though I did find some plot points to be predictable, it was a phenomenal read.

I would definitely recommend this story to readers who enjoy pyschological/mystery/thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this fantastic ARC! What would you do if you discovered your husband was a serial killer? Cameron’s life has been completely wrecked by her supposedly dead husband, John. She discovers that John wasn’t the man she thought he was, but a serial killer instead. The book is told by alternating points of view including the detective who is trying to solve the case. However, Cameron has an inkling that maybe John is still alive, and this sends her on a quest to find out who her husband really was and if he is really dead. I loved every minute of this book and didn’t want it to end. My only criticism is I thought the epilogue seemed like it was tacked on as an afterthought. In my opinion, it’s not needed as the book had an ending that brought closure to the story. 5 stars!

Fast paced cold thriller. I was rooting for the main character the whole time despite her dark background.
Thanks NetGalley for free kindle version!

The Final Hunt is the latest thriller from Audrey J. Cole. Cameron's husband was killed by bears while out hunting...or was he? In this fast paced story Ms Cole takes the reader on a small plane and a snowmobile in the middle of an Alaska wilderness. Excellent page turner. I want to thank NetGalley and Books Go Social for an early copy to review.

Gosh, I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, all that kept going through my head while reading was “gimme a break”.

What would you do if you discovered your spouse is a notorious serial killer?

After Cameron’s husband John disappears and is believed killed in a bear attack while on a hunting trip, she finds photos linking him to a crime. Soon it is discovered he was linked to multiple murders over many years, the notorious “Teacher Killer.” The author did an excellent job of showing the impact her husband’s crimes had on Cameron, who loses not only her home, but also her successful dental practice. The invasive pressure of the news media was unrelenting.

But as time goes by, Cameron begins to worry John may not really be dead. Worse, the investigators are turning on her, believing she may have helped him. For the sake of other women out there who could fall victim to him, she goes up to Alaska, where there have been two recent murders and where she believes he may own property, and looks for him.

This was a quick, easy read with great pacing and vivid descriptions. I LOVED the Alaskan setting, the action scenes flying a plane in the wilderness and hiking in the snow, and enjoyed the characters. This was a straightforward read without curveballs, however I found the book absolutely enjoyable for what it was, a sharp, well-paced thriller with a unique setting. 5/5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for review purposes.

I feel so bad giving this one star and let me just say I do think there's an audience for this book, but it's not me. I think readers who thought Karin Slaughters' <i>Pretty Girls</i> was too much gore would like this because the premise is so similar. The chapters are short and fast-paced, easily readable in one sitting.

This book delivers exactly what the synopsis promises. John disappears and is presumed dead after a bear attack. Months later, his wife Cameron finds damning images on an SD card that prove John to be a locally infamous serial killer. She's convinced he's still alive and sets off to hunt him down to make him pay for what hes done.

Not much happens outside of what we're already told in the synopsis. I found 0 elements in this book to be surprising. You can easily tell exactly how this is going to end after reading the first few chapters. I will say the only thing that threw me off guard was the incredibly fast insta-love thrown in.

The characters themselves felt underdeveloped which led to me not caring and the stakes not feeling that high. I don't feel like we got to know John or what his and Cameron's relationship was like before he disappeared. Some background on them as people and their relationship with each other would have made me more invested in Cameron's decisions and motives and actually understand where she was coming from. All the emotion felt surface level to me.

My favorite mystery thrillers are full of suspense, intrigue, and twists and turns. Overall, this didn't deliver what I was hoping for.

Thanks to @netgalley for this early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am honestly not even sure now to categorize this book- it’s part thriller, part mystery, part backwoods adventure, and almost part…romance? I really enjoyed it, however you’d categorize it. It was lighter than I anticipated and had short chapters, which made it utterly readable.

What would you do if you found out your (presumed dead by bear attack?!) spouse was actually a serial killer? This was fast-paced and even sort of fun, and definitely kept me engaged. Also, part of it took place in Alaska, and if you know me, you know I’m all about books set in Alaska.

Be sure to check this one out when it drops in June!

I like reading about smart and strong female main characters, but unfortunately this one isn't very smart. The plot is also weak, with a worn out beginning and a very unrealistic second half. This makes the book readable, but frustrating.

Wow! This was a refreshing, engrossing read.

First, it starts with a captivating bang. A woman's author husband died after being attacked by bears. I mean, whoa! Second, Cameron is a likeable and relatable character. She's a strong woman with a past. She's also smart and logical and emotionally strong. I really liked her. Third, another bang when poor Cameron learns her husband was the area's prolific serial killer. And that fact brings up questions of his death--is he even dead? Now, I had guessed very early on who the culprit was and what was really going on but that didn't diminish the story at all for me, especially when Cameron puts one of her skills forth--the woman is a pilot! She flies over the incredibly beautiful landscape of Washington state while tackling her thoughts and emotions. It was a fun spin of characterization and a dazzling addition to the story in setting. But it doesn't end there. Cameron's suspicions and determination lead her to the wilderness of Alaska. There she rides snowmobiles through the frozen forests, ice fishes atop an icy lake, nearly dies in a confrontation with a moose, and howls with a pack of wolves.

Breath taking. Alluring. Thrilling. I absolutely loved this book.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the copy of The Final Hunt. What a fast-moving book! I have read a lot of “serial killer” books, and liked the different take on the story in this one. Cameron was a good character and although I didn’t really relate to her, I understood her actions when she felt her life was falling apart. I liked how she learned how to do things from the other characters to meet her goal, because it really showed why the other characters existed, even though none were very likable or relatable for me. I have read other books by Ms. Cole and as usual, this book was very well-written without a wasted word or scene. If you want a fast, fun read, try this book!

Very much enjoyed this fast paced book ‘The final hunt’ by Audrey J Cole. I always enjoy twists and turns the book has to offer plus the suspense was there that kept me engaged in finishing.

I did like Cameron the main character, she could be a bit unpredictable and unliveable at times but I understood her as she’d lost her husband the man she loved but as well as found out stuff she never knew about him herself. She was realistic in that way and I felt the feelings with her.

Very engaging and fast paced with a good amount of suspense, a very good mystery thriller that I would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

What would you do if you find out the person you loved for the past ten years turns out to be a serial killer? At its root, this is the premise of 'The Final Hunt' by Audrey J. Cole. For three months, Cameron has been mourning the loss of her husband, John, who was mauled to death by bears while on a hunting trip in the remote wilderness with his closest friend, Simon. Struggling to move on, she goes weekly to a cabin John loved, reliving memories of their happy times. While looking at old photos, she comes across an SD card; hoping it holds more memories of her life with her husband. To her dismay, however, there is something way more sinister afoot: disturbing pictures with him and a dead girl. From here, Cameron makes increasingly disconcerting discoveries about the man she was married to.

I do not want to give out too many spoilers for this, but can I just say that Cameron...is who I aspire to be when I grow up! (Yes, I'm in my thirties, but don't judge). Where many women in her situation would have been all "Oh, woe is me," she kept her convictions throughout the novel, and made boss lady moves and decisions. This positive portrayal of a heroine was the best part of this book for me.

What I enjoyed least in this novel was the lack of mystery. The plotline was fairly predictable, and I guessed the 'whodunit' pretty early on. In my opinion, the best part of anything touting itself as a thriller and mystery should have a little more...thrill and mystery. I also did not appreciate the 'insta-love' connection between the heroine and Dane; it felt slightly rushed and implausible in a book that already stretched the imagination. Otherwise, I had no major issues.

While yes, I can acknowledge there were some parts of the novel with unbelievable scenarios, these did not affect me- leading me to give 'The Final Hunt' a rating of 4 stars. It was a fast-paced and action-packed read, with nary a dull moment. Even though I wished there was more of a problem to guess or solve, the absence of these did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. There were no instances of foul language, making this suitable for older teenagers and upwards. Trigger warnings include: rape, murder, loss of a loved one, and attacks by wild animals- so if any of these will disturb you, this may not be the book for you. There were no sexual scenes or acts, so again, appropriate for teens 16 and older. There were some minor punctuation errors, but nothing to deter me from reading.

If you are looking for something fun to pass a few hours or days, which will not tax your brain much, this is definitely one you should pick up!

*A great many thanks to Netgalley, Audrey J. Cole, and BooksGoSocial for this ARC. It is important to note that I was under no commitment to provide a review, and all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*

I enjoyed this fast paced crime thriller. The twists and turns were not the most surprising but there was still a lot of suspense built in to the storyline and there was also lots of action packed scenes.

I’d recommend this if you are in the mood for a short (272 pages) but pacey crime thriller that’s low angst but entertaining.

What would you do, when you’re grieving your husband’s death and learn that he was a serial-killer?

I enjoyed reading this book. The concept was very interesting and intriguing and after the initial introduction it got intense pretty fast. The book was suspenseful throughout the whole story. I even enjoyed the romance element in this book.

I think the twist was clever and the foreshadowing barely enough that one could guess the twist but wasn’t too sure that it would turn out the way one thought it would.

I liked Cameron as a main character, she acted irrational at times but that seemed to be realistic. She just lost her husband, the man she loved, and she found out some horrible truth about him. Now she has to live with his actions and the consequences.

This was one of the better mystery-thrillers I read in the last time. I recommend you check it out, if you think the plot sounds interesting.

Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for an eARC to review! The Final Hunt is my first book by Audrey J. Cole. It is a standalone thriller. It will be published June 7, 2022.

Cameron's world is completely turned upside down when she finds evidence that her late husband John is actually the Teacher Killer, a serial killer responsible for eleven deaths of young teachers in the Seattle area. Her house won't sell for what it's worth, and her dental practice has to close. After uncovering more evidence, Cameron begins to believe John did not die in that hunting accident after all. Cameron decides to try to find John, and the hunt begins, taking Cameron up into the Alaskan wilderness.

I loved the pace of this book. The shorter chapters helped me devour this book in a few hours. I could not put it down! This book was plot driven, and it kept me hooked until the very end! I also really loved the setting of this book. Because of the extreme weather and animal activity, the setting became its own character in the story. This book was also very predictable, and I was able to guess the plotline long before the end. I still loved seeing how everything turned out, but it lacked the twists and turn I've come to expect in thrillers. I feel like the book could've been longer and explored John's backstory. I thought the love interest was thrown in as an afterthought and could've been explored more as well. I also had an issue with Cameron's choices in this book. I felt like they required a suspension of disbelief. All in all, I liked the book, but I feel like it had the potential to be better.

Great story, gripping and kept me turning the pages well into the night. Highly recommend! Will definitely read more by this author.

The Final Hunt is Audrey Cole's latest page-turner set in Seattle and the Great Northwest. As a fan of that region, this novel kept me reading, almost without a stop.
Cole adds some twists and turns in this plot, and the heroine's character evolves in turn to these discoveries. This is one for a fan of Cole's writing or anyone who loves a good crime/mystery.