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.

For such a short book, this should have been a quick read for me. Unfortunately, I gave up after about 25%. It's difficult to pin-point what didn't work for me besides the fact that I just don't think this author's writing is for me.