I had high hopes for this one. There are good creepy characters and then there are the truly mad.

This bad guy was bad and the oddest thing I have seen.

Just didn't come together for me.


NetGalley/ Severn House October 01, 2024

I’m in two minds with this one.

The first half of the book is based during the Second World War. The majority is told like a recap of major life points for each of the characters until you get to the point where they all come together. I actually quite liked this section, I was interested in the characters and the story and although there were no major surprises in this part, I felt there was enough drama to stay engaged.

The second half is based is modern times and this is where there is a slight let down for me. The characters were no longer believable, like a ham acted radio play. The narrative tried too hard to pin the suspicions on the other characters that ended up making it too easy to guess who the real perpetrator was. There was a little bit of shock value which I appreciated but the final scenes dragged on for a little too long.

It’s an easy and fairly short read so I think I would still recommend it if you’re short on time and want something that’s easy to digest.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

A murder mystery that straddles two timelines….
London 1941 Harriet is an artist and owns a large house which has been divided and rented out to an eclectic mix of people.
In the midst of the Blitz whilst walking her dog she goes missing, and so starts the mystery
Fast forward to the same house in 2019 owned now by Harriet’s grand daughter and still rented out to a mixture of people who all seem to get in despite their varied backgrounds
When a chimney falls off the house and exposes asbestos events soon spiral but how are they linked to the past?
All in all an engaging tale with enough twists to keep you guessing. Overall I enjoyed the read but found a few of the characters a bit one dimensional

This is one of those books that can fall into a variety of genres and sit comfortably in each one. It’s a thriller, full of suspense & mystery.
A strong, compelling storyline complemented by an in-depth cast of characters.
A good solid read, and one I’d be happy to recommend to others.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me this ARC.

I really wanted to love this one more than I did. I felt it was much longer and wordier than it needed to be and found myself skimming more often than not. With that said, it was still an entertaining read.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 this book had a great pace and kept my interest very well. I thought I had figured it out roughly halfway through but ended up being mostly wrong (the only thing I figured out was a small detail of the whole thing.) I wish we had more insight into the serial killer tho, we are basically just given the excuse of mommy issues but there’s not a lot of build around the character. Overall though this was a quick and enjoyable read, thank you to NetGalley and Severn Publishing for the eARC.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

What a great book!! Such a good thriller/mystery! Perfect writing style and that plot twist!! PERFECT!!

**Prey** is a chilling and atmospheric dual-timeline psychological thriller that seamlessly intertwines the harrowing experiences of wartime London with the haunting echoes of the present day. This gripping novel explores the convergence of past and present as two women find themselves entangled in a ruthless killer’s deadly game.

The narrative alternates between two distinct periods: London during the Blitz in 1941 and London in 2019. In the earlier timeline, Harriet Yorke is an artist managing Calla House, a sanctuary for people from various walks of life, united in their struggle to survive the bombings and chaos of wartime London. Harriet’s life takes a dark turn when, during a late-night walk with her Cairn Terrier, George, she encounters a killer. This encounter sets off a chain of events that will profoundly affect not just Harriet, but everyone connected to Calla House.

Fast forward to 2019, and Calla House is now home to Libby, Harriet’s granddaughter, who lives amidst the paintings that capture the grim realities of Harriet’s wartime experiences. When a crumbling chimney pot prompts Libby to call in builders, seemingly benign repairs unravel a series of disturbing events. Libby begins to question whether the lingering shadows of Harriet’s past are more than just memories and if the house's structural issues are a harbinger of darker things to come.

**Prey** excels in its atmospheric tension, seamlessly blending historical and contemporary elements to create a deeply immersive reading experience. The novel’s dual timelines are expertly handled, with each era vividly portrayed and intricately connected through the legacy of Calla House and its inhabitants. The sense of foreboding is palpable, as the past’s horrors begin to resurface and impact the present.

Harriet and Libby are both well-drawn protagonists, each facing their own set of fears and challenges. Harriet’s bravery and resilience in the face of wartime danger contrast sharply with Libby’s modern-day struggle to confront the haunting legacies of her grandmother’s past. The psychological depth of their characters adds a layer of emotional intensity to the thriller’s suspense.

The novel’s suspense is heightened by unexpected twists and a plot that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The integration of historical details with the present-day narrative enriches the story, offering a layered and engaging experience. The eerie and unsettling atmosphere is effectively built up through evocative descriptions and a mounting sense of dread.

**Prey** is a compelling read for fans of psychological thrillers and historical suspense. Its ability to merge historical trauma with contemporary tension, coupled with well-developed characters and a gripping plot, makes it a standout in the genre. If you enjoyed Charlie Donlea’s *The Girl Who Was Taken* or Riley Sager’s *The Only One Left*, this novel promises to deliver the same level of suspense and intrigue, with a story that will linger long after the final page.

A dual timeline crime mystery set during the London blitz and then in 2019. The premise was interesting but the characters bland and I wanted more from the story.

Dual time lines kept me invested in this thriller. Origin story begins in 1941 London. I was pulled into the suspense with Harriet, the prey. Key details on the serial killer's backstory intrigued me, turning the page late into the evening hours. I liked the flow of the story development into 2019. Good character development, intriguing plotline.
Thank you Severn House for the ARC and NetGalley for making it possible.

Truth be told, I really wanted to like this book, but I just honestly wanted to stop reading it. The 1st part was placed in 1941, which basically tells what made ashcroft into the horrific serial killer. I think there was so much potential but just executed poorly. There was a ton, and I mean a ton of information that it just got overwhelming. It also switched character points of view after 2 sentences, which made it very hard to follow. I think also the point of it being about a serial killer who only targets women with red hair, and that's it was just weird. The 2nd part is placed in 2019 following the granddaughter. It felt very rushed and not a ton of detail of the killer in the 2nd half. All in all, I feel like the bones were there to make a great thriller.

Thank you severn house publishing and Hilary Norman and Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

3.5 ⭐️
I had really high hopes for this book and overall it was a decent read. I just had a hard time with the serial killer killing women for their hair???? it was just such an odd thing. I enjoyed the overall premise of the book I just feel some of the minor details could have been executed better.

thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
Unfortunately this book was not for me. It's set in 2 time lines, the War and 2019. The time set during the War started ok, but it soon became too drawn out and the same with the 22nd part. I found myself skipping ahead many times, then I gave up. Sorry!

This thriller set in two different times was sounding really good. I’m sad to say that I didn’t like it that much. There were too many characters and the first half was pretty predictable. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love books with dual timelines and for the first half of this book, the writing was suspenseful and addictive. However, the second half lost all the suspense and compelling elements. It felt like the author got bored with what she was writing and let it all just fall apart. It's disappointing as the book showed a lot of promise at first.

This was not a successful read for me. The first half was really good - suspenseful, a little creepy, and kept me interested. Once the story fast-forwarded to 2019, the story began to feel rushed and the plot just sort of thrown together. Not a favorite….

Two mysteries merge into one with mixed results in Prey, Hilary Norman’s gothic mystery.

In the first part of the book, the reader is introduced to Harriet Yorke. Harriet is an artist living in London during the Blitz in 1941. However, she soon finds herself in additional danger when she becomes the target of a serial killer.

This section starts strong; the background on what led to the serial killer’s origin adds depth to the character, and the plot is intriguing. The writer does a good job of building tension throughout this section, and when the reader is transported to 2019, it is clear the past will come up again.

Unfortunately, things fall apart in the second part. The second half feels like a less well-done version of the first half, and I felt like I was waiting to see how everything connected without being fully invested. The other part that lets it down is the second villain’s story is not explored like in the first part; while this is done to build suspense, it makes it less compelling.

Overall, this was a good gothic mystery and would be an enjoyable read for a rainy day. I only wish the author had spent time only focusing on the first half or written it with flashbacks, as the 2019 setting lets the rest of it down.

I do not feel that I was the target audience for this book. It was somewhat difficult to keep up with the dual timeline to really understand this book. The cover and title really spoke to me, however, the plot confused me.

A short Gothic novel that serves up the usual tropes. I liked the idea and can see it making a good movie. Thanks for the chance to review.

Prey is a gripping thriller that fans of Riley Sager should enjoy. I enjoyed the story in which London is plagued by a serial killer. This book was a good read.