As a huge fan of the DI Barton series, I was excited to read a book from this author that focussed on a different cast.

In Hunter (previously published as Abel's Revenge) a serial killer is at large - he makes it known who he is and some of the chapters are written by Abel, in which he shares his story.

Also featured and with their own chapters, are Dan and Olivia, an unhappy couple with two young children. There are lots of cracks in their relationship and Dan and Olivia don't seem best suited with Olivia being glamourous, bubbly, and house proud and Dan who is unhappy most of the time and generally a bit of a slob around the house. The swapping of narration between the chapters is fab and has some absolute gems in it - especially in relation to Dan and Olivia's relationship.

Unsurprisingly, Olivia receives a fair bit of attention from pretty much every man in her life, except Dan it seems! The man next door is very taken with her, as is her boss and not to mention the postman! Soon she starts getting deliveries of little gifts and notes and it is hard to narrow down the field to work out who is sending them, and what their intentions are. Is it manly Mike next door, the pervy postman, or her rich and powerful boss?

Olivia is quite attractive .. and unhappy. Just ask her neighbor, Mike. It's kind of creepy the way he watches her... and seems to know which of her buttons to push. Dan isn't exactly worried..but he definitely doesn't like Mike. Then there's Olivia's boss .. a man who has it all ...money, prestige, everything that Dan doesn't. And let's not forget the mailman. He loves peering into households through the letter slots on front doors.

Meanwhile, a serial killer is roaming the streets with no apparent MO and the pressure is on to catch him before he strikes again.

Much like the author's other books, Hunter is cleverly put together with an engrossing storyline, peppered with grim and gruesome parts and an underlying clever humour. If you haven't read any of his books yet, get involved, you are in for a treat!

An amazing book from start to finish, didn’t know were it was going at the start but wow when you get into it I couldn’t leave it down. It was a dark chilling thriller with lots of twists and very well written. Would highly recommend this as a great read .

It is a well written novel, with punchy dialogue that rings true, and the descriptive writing brings the scenes to life.

Hunter by Ross Greenwood is a slow-burn suspense novel. I wouldn't call it a psychological thriller. The focus is on Dan and Olivia's personal lives. Abel makes an appearance now and then; his violent attacks are described in detail. But the spotlight is on the couple's domestic scenario.

Dan and Olivia's side of the story was nothing but a melancholy. It felt repetitive at times. Dan has no idea what Olivia is up to. He's in his own world. The house looks like a dump yard and Olivia is tired of cleaning up after Dan and their son Charlie. He has no interest in sex or anything else - he's changed since they moved to city. He isn't adjusting well.

Another interesting angle to this domestic scenario was the neighbor, Mike. He's stalking Olivia - stealing her laundry and following her every move. But Olivia is loving the attention - after all, her partner (Dan and Olivia aren't married) isn't interested in her.

Peppered along the domestic scenario is Abel's vicious crimes. Since his attacks began, crime rate has gone down in the city. Even the bad guys are afraid of Abel. This means Abel gets to rein and attack whomever he wants.

To be honest, this was a tad boring. I was expecting a gripping psychological thriller. Instead, it was a slow-burn domestic suspense with hardly any edge-of-the-seat moments.

Overall, this was an okay read. Not up to my expectations but not bad either.

This book was such a good read! It was a gripping thriller with some interesting characters. The plot was very unique and I liked the way the author created the creepy atmosphere. The story is told mainly in the perspective of Dan and Olivia with the occasional chapter in the perspective of Abel. I enjoyed being able to read from multiple perspectives and I felt like I got to know these characters.

This wasn’t a generic serial killer story because we had the main story of the struggling couple with the odd chapters of Abel. I did wonder how it was all going to come together and I thought we got the answers in the second to last chapter but then the last chapter completely turned it all around. I honestly couldn’t believe what I had read and I wasn’t expecting it. I thought the ending was very well planned out and it tied everything together. I wish I could say more about the ending but I obviously don’t want to spoil it.

I thought the couple, Dan and Olivia, were interesting characters and I could sense a lot of character development throughout the book. Their lives are very interesting and it became very dramatic when certain things happened with them. I thought Abel’s character was very creepy and the author made him such a complex character.

This was such a great book, I really enjoyed it. It was definitely a unique story with a gripping plot. I highly recommend this author and I am looking forward to reading the next book by this author.

Hunter by Ross Greenwood

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

This is a story about a city. As with all others, it’s a place of violence. There are murderers, and they live among us.

This is also a tale about a couple — sometimes friends, occasionally lovers, but always partners. Dan and Olivia are fighting modern battles; the ones parents have over a lack of money, time or peace.

An escalating serial killer terrifies the streets and homes. The body count rises as their relationship crumbles. Society reveals its dark side, and no one is safe. Dan and Olivia experience this first-hand as danger closes in.

Will Abel’s reign of terror ever end?

Who will live, and who will die?

My Opinion

I caught on quite early who Abel was but I still managed to enjoy this book and personally thought that the ending was brilliant. This is a brilliantly written thriller with parallel storylines. There are many twists and turns as the story switches between Dan and Olivia's life, and Abel who is wreaking havoc. A very clever plot from Ross Greenwood.

Rating 4/5

I've found a new author to delve into their backlog. HUNTER is the first Ross Greenwood book I've read. I really enjoyed it during the Christmas break.

The story focused on Dan and Olivia - a couple with two kids who are on the brink of splitting up. HUNTER also included several subplots wrapped around a serial killer determined to rile up the city.

There are a few red herrings which left the reader constantly guessing wrong who the killer actually was.

HUNTER is labeled general fiction and mystery, but I would place it more as general fiction. Olivia and Dan's story and their attempts to stay together were the main focus.

There were a couple of things regarding the serial killer that didn't add up for me. The story was also a tad too long.

This would be perfect for a reader of odd mysteries who also like the drama of a struggling couple.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an e-copy of HUNTER to review.

I rate HUNTER four out of five stars.

This is an unusual thriller as it's a story of a serial killer crime spress but also the story of a couple and their everyday struggle.
A multiple POVs story that kept me on the edge and hooked since the first pages. Fast paced, growing tensions, and a lot going on.
An excellent story, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Hunter by Ross Greenwood was a great book that was fast paced with lots of twists and turns which made it an excellent book. i was hooked from the beginning like I am with all Ross's book.

First there was the drowned man.......Maybe his death was an accident?

A Serial Killer is terrifying people in the streets and homes. No one is safe. He is only known as Abel and he is terrorising London. But London is a big place and the body count. He is attacking and killing young women particularly those out jogging.

Abel is clever and leaves No clues ....... Sadly the Police do not seem to have any way of catching him.

Was the man found drowned one of Abels first victims?

.Will Abel’s reign of terror ever end?

Who will live, and who will die?

This book was So good I could not put it down. I have loved all of Ross Greenwood's books but this one had me reading till the early hours of the morning! So glad I did not have anything planned the next day!

I highly recommend this latest book - Just brilliant!

This book has chapters for the different characters which took me a little while to really get into the story. Once I did I started to understand the characters. Dan and his partner Olivia are the main characters. There is also Abel a killer on the loose. Dan I felt needed a good shake but when he explained how he was feeling living and working in London you could understand him a bit more. I give this book 4 stars and as for the ending wow I didn’t see that coming

I found this book a compelling read and very well written. A serial killer called Abel is terrorising the city with a series of horrific attacks and killings. The multiple narrators include the killer and a married couple, Olivia and her husband Dan. The reader is presented with a host of suspects including the milkman and a creepy postman. As the body count rises, the whole city goes into panic mode. At the same time, Olivia must decide whether to take a job abroad and whether she wants her husband to come with her. As the tension built, I really enjoyed .trying to guess the killer. The writer plays fair and I was a able to spot a significant clue which led me to find the murderer. Having said that, there were other clues that could lead readers to come to different conclusions so the final reveal could still be a surprise.

There’s a killer on the streets, and no one is safe…
First there was the drowned man, but maybe his death was an accident?
Then there were the decapitated bodies, the burnt girl, the women pursued in the dark. Finally the police have to admit there’s a serial killer on the loose and he seems set on revenge. His name is Abel and his crimes are escalating every day. 
Dan Flood, Olivia Jones and their two young children are a family at breaking point. The mundane juggle of parenting and work means that the romance is draining away. Living in a community that is growing ever more fearful, just adds to the pressure in their lives.
But when Abel turns his attention on Olivia, only Dan can save her… 

What a thrilling read this was!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

I found this author’s DI Barton series through NetGalley and really enjoyed each one of them, so now this author is definitely one of my favourites.

This book has two main themes: domestic drama and a serial killer, and they’re seamlessly joined. Abel is an evil psychopath who is terrorising young women in London, but the police are finding it very difficult to track him down. Dan and Olivia live with their two young children but their relationship is floundering, and their neighbourhood is living in fear of the serial killer.

A brilliant storyline that’s very well-written with plenty of twists and turns. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

This is a very different read/genre to those I’ve previously read by this author but none the less just as enjoyable. The book revolves around the lives of three people. Olivia, now in her forties with two young children and a successful career with a dot.com company. She lives with her boyfriend Dan who is a harassed and over worked manager of a telesales company. Then there is Abel who is a complete psychopath/sociopath. Each chapter is told from the three protagonists point of view. Brilliantly written this was an addictive read, surprisingly full of humour, I just didn’t want to put it down until the end.

Briefly, Dan feels he needs to escape his humdrum life whilst Olivia is offered a job in California so there looks like a parting of the ways is on the cards. Abel just wants to be famous so keeps killing and mutilating his victims. There are a number of suspects as to his identity but he seems to be uncatchable.

The tension between Olivia and Dan builds chapter by chapter whilst their relationships with their neighbour Mike become really complicated. Brilliantly written dark and at times disturbing psychological thriller exploring the classic nature or nurture debate. The relationship between Olivia and Dan is like watching a kettle boil until it all explodes in a most surprising and startling climax which I just did not see coming.

I have read a couple of this authors other books and really enjoyed them so was excited to read this one. It was a total page turner which I couldn’t put down. I loved the domestic drama part of it and the characters Tom and Olivia were brilliant. There was so much humour and one liners that had me laughing out loud which was unexpected! Highly recommend this book!

Hunter Ross Greenwood

5 stars

I recently read The Santa Killer by Ross Greenwood and stated in the review that I would like to read more books by this author. When I saw this book which apparently has been re-issued I immediately requested it and I am glad I did. I really enjoyed this book and was completely blown away by the ending, what a twist, I had no idea it was coming.

A serial killer, known only as Abel, is terrorising London, attacking and killing young women particularly those out jogging. The police do not seem to have any way of catching him and Abel leaves no clues.

The story revolves around a young married couple, Dan and Olivia and their struggles. Olivia is successful in her work and has been offered a job in California but has decided not to take her husband Dan with her. He is fast becoming an alcoholic and has started to neglect his children often forgetting to pick them up from nursery when Olivia is working.

Olivia and the children move in with her parents leaving Dan alone and trying to make friends with the local postman, milkman or anyone who can keep him company but he desperately wants Olivia back. She however is trying to move on and even accepts a date with the next door neighbour Michael even though she has misgivings about him.

The difference in this book to others of a similar genre is that the detectives involved in the case of Abel are almost incidental, the story is more about how a relationship can fall apart. We are told how Dan and Olivia got together in the first place and how their relationship had gradually fallen apart. Ross Green wood is very good at exploring people’s emotions and you can see both sides of the argument.

You will have to read the book to discover whether the couple get back together and whether the killer is captured but, believe me, it is worth reading. Ross Greenwood has now become one of my favourite authors.



Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net Galley

A man calling himself ape is terrorizing London. At the same time Olivia gets an opportunity to move to the United States in California the only problem is she wants to leave her husband Dan behind. It seems whatever problems she could excuse before or getting bigger and more monumental. He’s missed picking up the kids from nursery Anne on more than one occasion she has found him asleep in a sea of empty beer cans and she’s had enough. This is why she moves in with her parents and leaves Dan on his own. Dan is lonely and start hanging out with Malcolm the Miltman Joseph the postman and he eventually goes out with his friend Ian Olivia isn’t sitting home collecting dust either she goes out with her friend and this is how she find herself on a date with skeezy Michael their next-door neighbor. Abe is still on the loose though and he will be the catalyst for Olivia and Dan even having a hope of a prayer that they maybe could get back together! I think this is what they call a genre bending plot because it is a thriller wrapped in a detective mystery wrapped in love reunited in the role executed perfectly and I absolutely love this book I wish I could nominated for awards it was that good. It made me laugh it made me swoon it made my heart palpitate due to fear it wasn’t until this book that I realized what a great author Ross Greenwood is. He is absolutely at the top of his game and I am definitely going to read more by him and soon. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I found Hunter to be just an OK read for me. I found it to be quite hard going and it did not grip me as I had hoped it would.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

Thanks to netgalley for this arc, it was ok but didnt really hold my attention, and i kept having to re read.

Hunter by Ross Greenwood.
First there was the drowned man, but maybe his death was an accident?
Then there were the decapitated bodies, the burnt girl, the women pursued in the dark. Finally the police have to admit there’s a serial killer on the loose and he seems set on revenge. His name is Abel and his crimes are escalating every day. 
Dan Flood, Olivia Jones and their two young children are a family at breaking point. The mundane juggle of parenting and work means that the romance is draining away. Living in a community that is growing ever more fearful, just adds to the pressure in their lives.
But when Abel turns his attention on Olivia, only Dan can save her… 
I did enjoy this book. I do enjoy this author books. I love the cover. 5*.