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Call Me Hunter
An elite secret society of killers has controlled the world’s treasures for hundreds of years…until one member tears himself free to salvage his soul and protect his daughter’s life in this electrifying and thrilling debut.
The single greatest work of art in the world is not in the Louvre or The Met, or in any private collection. In fact, its whereabouts are unknown.
Once in a long while, a child is born possessing the rarest of gifts, the innate ability to feel impossible beauty, to recognize priceless works of art. When such a child is discovered, a 250-year-old secret organization called Our World trains them to acquire the greatest works of art through theft, bribery, forgery, and even murder. Once found, the masterpiece will disappear again without anyone ever knowing it surfaced and sold for billions of dollars of profit at a secret auction attended by only the wealthiest of the art world’s patrons.
One of Our World’s rare geniuses is Zhivago. He is also a psychopathic killer. On his trail is Hunter, a man who will stop at nothing to destroy the organization and save his daughter from suffering the same fate her mother did at its hands.
The single greatest work of art in the world is not in the Louvre or The Met, or in any private collection. In fact, its whereabouts are unknown.
Once in a long while, a child is born possessing the rarest of gifts, the innate ability to feel impossible beauty, to recognize priceless works of art. When such a child is discovered, a 250-year-old secret organization called Our World trains them to acquire the greatest works of art through theft, bribery, forgery, and even murder. Once found, the masterpiece will disappear again without anyone ever knowing it surfaced and sold for billions of dollars of profit at a secret auction attended by only the wealthiest of the art world’s patrons.
One of Our World’s rare geniuses is Zhivago. He is also a psychopathic killer. On his trail is Hunter, a man who will stop at nothing to destroy the organization and save his daughter from suffering the same fate her mother did at its hands.
415 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2023
243 people are currently reading
6063 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
July 5, 2023
Whoa! What an unbelievable debut! Every now and then a child is born with innate gifts that have no explanation. And rarer still, a child will be born who can "feel" inconceivable beauty. A secret society, Our World (doesn't sound like an evil cabal), hundreds of years old controls the art market. They vacuum up the worlds most priceless artifacts then has a secret auction never to be seen again. If a special child is discovered, Our World takes the kid and trains them to find and procure priceless artifacts through any means necessary. Two of these former child trainees are tasked with finding the most beautiful piece of art the world has ever known. One a psychopath of biblical proportions and will do anything to acquire what he seeks. And there isn't anything the other won't do to keep it out of his hands and destroy Our World.
What an original, thought-provoking thriller that will make you question everything you thought you knew.. Shockey employs the premise a fact can be true if you can't disprove it. It's a unique way of looking at the truth and is a major player in Call Me Hunter. I've used Google less for research papers than I did for Call Me Hunter.
I do have a suggestion for the publisher. I would rewrite the blurb and leave out any mention of "daughter". Probably too late but I somehow missed that nugget and was legitimately a shocked . For me, it added a facet I might not have had had I known.
Anywho, Shockey wrote a helluva thriller you do not want to miss!
My sincere thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to an advanced copy of Call Me Hunter!
What an original, thought-provoking thriller that will make you question everything you thought you knew.. Shockey employs the premise a fact can be true if you can't disprove it. It's a unique way of looking at the truth and is a major player in Call Me Hunter. I've used Google less for research papers than I did for Call Me Hunter.
I do have a suggestion for the publisher. I would rewrite the blurb and leave out any mention of "daughter". Probably too late but I somehow missed that nugget and was legitimately a shocked . For me, it added a facet I might not have had had I known.
Anywho, Shockey wrote a helluva thriller you do not want to miss!
My sincere thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to an advanced copy of Call Me Hunter!
October 10, 2023
'Zhivago is dead. I hunted him down and I killed him. He will never hurt you.'
Such begins the story in a manuscript which was hand delivered to a mailbox in Pinehurst, North Carolina, where a young journalist named Nyala lives with her Ukrainian roommate, Luba. The writer of the papers signs himself Tsau-z, the Man of Sores, and he addresses Nyala by name. He's telling her his story and it seems somehow to involve her in a personal way. But how is that possible?
The story tells about a secret organization called Our World which is over 250 years old whose mission is to seek out the world's greatest art treasures and bring them together to sell to private collectors at something called the Gathering. In order to do this, they search the world for 'idiot savants' who have the ability to recognize these art treasures and train them as operatives from a young age. Tsau-z was one of these children. Zhivago was another--as well as a psychopathic killer.
Nyala can't believe what she's reading but there are enough details included that she's able to do some fact checking to back it up. She decides to travel to the city where Tsau-z's story begins to dig deeper for more proof; she and Luba head off on a road trip.
This is a mind-boggling tale--what a debut! I smell a series developing here and can't wait to read what happens next. One caveat: I would recommend not reading the publisher's synopsis, which contains a spoiler, imho. It's one of the best twists of the novel so don't ruin it for yourself.
I received an arc from the author and publisher via NetGalley. I'm thrilled I took a chance on a new author--many thanks for the introduction. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Such begins the story in a manuscript which was hand delivered to a mailbox in Pinehurst, North Carolina, where a young journalist named Nyala lives with her Ukrainian roommate, Luba. The writer of the papers signs himself Tsau-z, the Man of Sores, and he addresses Nyala by name. He's telling her his story and it seems somehow to involve her in a personal way. But how is that possible?
The story tells about a secret organization called Our World which is over 250 years old whose mission is to seek out the world's greatest art treasures and bring them together to sell to private collectors at something called the Gathering. In order to do this, they search the world for 'idiot savants' who have the ability to recognize these art treasures and train them as operatives from a young age. Tsau-z was one of these children. Zhivago was another--as well as a psychopathic killer.
Nyala can't believe what she's reading but there are enough details included that she's able to do some fact checking to back it up. She decides to travel to the city where Tsau-z's story begins to dig deeper for more proof; she and Luba head off on a road trip.
This is a mind-boggling tale--what a debut! I smell a series developing here and can't wait to read what happens next. One caveat: I would recommend not reading the publisher's synopsis, which contains a spoiler, imho. It's one of the best twists of the novel so don't ruin it for yourself.
I received an arc from the author and publisher via NetGalley. I'm thrilled I took a chance on a new author--many thanks for the introduction. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
October 11, 2023
I’ve never felt so indifferent towards a book. This was just so bland and dull that I could not stay focused and it took me way too long to get through.
Not something that worked for me.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Not something that worked for me.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
June 18, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Call Me Hunter.
The premise was intriguing and hooked me from the start so I was excited my request was approved.
I imagined this would be somewhat of a globetrotting adventure, mixed with espionage-like tactics, sort of like Mission Impossible but with art, but it wasn't.
It wasn't like that AT ALL.
The narrative is written in the form of a manuscript delivered to a journalist who has a shocking connection to the protagonist.
The author of the manuscripts explains his humble origins and reveals a secret organization called Our World who acquires the greatest works of art through any means necessary.
There's a dangerous adversary named Zhivago, the members of the cabal are, naturally, Russian and ruthless, and there's an ally or two.
There is a ton of name dropping; celebs, patrons of the arts, industry giants, socialites, yet the narrative is dry, dull, and lacking suspense.
The narrative is nothing more than a recap, a summary of events of how the Hunter became the Hunter; his childhood, his teen years, what happened when he was recruited into the international cabal of art hunters.
When death and chaos do strike, it happens off-screen, especially when Hunter and Zhivago finally face off.
Readers don't see that; we're told that something happened and that's it.
The narrative is mostly info dumping, descriptions, passive telling.
The journalist spends all of her chapters just fact checking the names, dates, times, locations and works of art in the manuscript to verify the facts are truth and not fiction.
Her BFF Luba is a silly, narcissistic Eastern European princess who cares about nothing more than boys, shopping, drinking, and junk food. Lots of junk food.
The writing is okay, dry, wordy, almost purple-y, because Hunter is writing in a verbose, artsy kind of way because he can see beauty and art in a way no one else can.
The biggest issue is even though the manuscript is written by Hunter, we don't really know him.
His thoughts, his passions, his motivations, his fears.
Who is he?
What has he become after his years of service in this nefarious organization?
We know more about the journalist but I didn't identity with her, either.
I didn't dislike or like her, I was just indifferent to everyone as well as the story.
I really wanted to love this, even like it, but I just couldn't.
I love art and anti-heroes but the way the story was written, the format, and the lack of character development made this a very dull, uninspiring read.
The premise was intriguing and hooked me from the start so I was excited my request was approved.
I imagined this would be somewhat of a globetrotting adventure, mixed with espionage-like tactics, sort of like Mission Impossible but with art, but it wasn't.
It wasn't like that AT ALL.
The narrative is written in the form of a manuscript delivered to a journalist who has a shocking connection to the protagonist.
The author of the manuscripts explains his humble origins and reveals a secret organization called Our World who acquires the greatest works of art through any means necessary.
There's a dangerous adversary named Zhivago, the members of the cabal are, naturally, Russian and ruthless, and there's an ally or two.
There is a ton of name dropping; celebs, patrons of the arts, industry giants, socialites, yet the narrative is dry, dull, and lacking suspense.
The narrative is nothing more than a recap, a summary of events of how the Hunter became the Hunter; his childhood, his teen years, what happened when he was recruited into the international cabal of art hunters.
When death and chaos do strike, it happens off-screen, especially when Hunter and Zhivago finally face off.
Readers don't see that; we're told that something happened and that's it.
The narrative is mostly info dumping, descriptions, passive telling.
The journalist spends all of her chapters just fact checking the names, dates, times, locations and works of art in the manuscript to verify the facts are truth and not fiction.
Her BFF Luba is a silly, narcissistic Eastern European princess who cares about nothing more than boys, shopping, drinking, and junk food. Lots of junk food.
The writing is okay, dry, wordy, almost purple-y, because Hunter is writing in a verbose, artsy kind of way because he can see beauty and art in a way no one else can.
The biggest issue is even though the manuscript is written by Hunter, we don't really know him.
His thoughts, his passions, his motivations, his fears.
Who is he?
What has he become after his years of service in this nefarious organization?
We know more about the journalist but I didn't identity with her, either.
I didn't dislike or like her, I was just indifferent to everyone as well as the story.
I really wanted to love this, even like it, but I just couldn't.
I love art and anti-heroes but the way the story was written, the format, and the lack of character development made this a very dull, uninspiring read.
October 17, 2023
While not typically the type of thriller I reach for, when I learned Jim Shockey had written a novel, I knew I was reading it no matter what. And boy, am I glad I did! Thank you NetGalley for giving me an early copy, my very first ARC in fact. I will absolutely be adding a physical copy of this book to my shelf!
Jim is clearly a skilled story teller and the level of thought and research put into this novel is truly exceptional. In the foreword, Jim encourages readers to Google facts, people, names and even situations; and out of pure curiosity, I did. I was pleasantly surprised to learn just how much truth is woven into this incredibly well-written piece of fiction!
The story begins with Nyala, a journalist, when she receives a mysterious manuscript in her mailbox. Nyala hasn’t the slightest idea who its from but the author seems to know her well. He goes by many names throughout the manuscript but it’s clear he has lived a very unique life and possesses a very rare gift. Readers follow along with Nyala as she reads the manuscript in an attempt to discover how it’s all connected to her. The manuscript will tie in 250 years of people, art, places and events…all of them real. This book sucked me in from the very beginning, I HAD to figure it all out. You will not be able to put this book down, it will keep you guessing until the very end!
Well done Mr. Shockey, I truly hope to see more from you in the future!
Jim is clearly a skilled story teller and the level of thought and research put into this novel is truly exceptional. In the foreword, Jim encourages readers to Google facts, people, names and even situations; and out of pure curiosity, I did. I was pleasantly surprised to learn just how much truth is woven into this incredibly well-written piece of fiction!
The story begins with Nyala, a journalist, when she receives a mysterious manuscript in her mailbox. Nyala hasn’t the slightest idea who its from but the author seems to know her well. He goes by many names throughout the manuscript but it’s clear he has lived a very unique life and possesses a very rare gift. Readers follow along with Nyala as she reads the manuscript in an attempt to discover how it’s all connected to her. The manuscript will tie in 250 years of people, art, places and events…all of them real. This book sucked me in from the very beginning, I HAD to figure it all out. You will not be able to put this book down, it will keep you guessing until the very end!
Well done Mr. Shockey, I truly hope to see more from you in the future!
July 21, 2023
Due for release on October 17th, 2023, I received an advance copy of CALL ME HUNTER, the debut novel from Jim Shockey to potentially review for The Strand magazine.
But since I can't say that I liked the book all that much, I had to pass on reviewing it for that outlet since they don't publish negative reviews.
Since I'm not doing a full review for them, I'm going to keep it short here as well.
Let me just say that the synopsis really drew me in and I was looking forward to what I thought the book was going to be. Sadly, that first impression of mine was wrong and I found the book's structure a bit annoying. It seemed to lean towards the metaphysical as the plot went headlong towards the resolution. But it felt to me as if the story finished somewhere in the middle of the story instead of any kind of FINAL ending.
I'm not saying others won't find the story enjoyable but it just didn't work for me. I find this unfortunate because I was definitely drawn in initially.
But since I can't say that I liked the book all that much, I had to pass on reviewing it for that outlet since they don't publish negative reviews.
Since I'm not doing a full review for them, I'm going to keep it short here as well.
Let me just say that the synopsis really drew me in and I was looking forward to what I thought the book was going to be. Sadly, that first impression of mine was wrong and I found the book's structure a bit annoying. It seemed to lean towards the metaphysical as the plot went headlong towards the resolution. But it felt to me as if the story finished somewhere in the middle of the story instead of any kind of FINAL ending.
I'm not saying others won't find the story enjoyable but it just didn't work for me. I find this unfortunate because I was definitely drawn in initially.
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June 13, 2023Call Me Hunter by Jim Shockey
Rating: Epic 5 stars
Summary: A manuscript arrives in the mail of a very inquisitive investigative journalist. When she begins to read the story her instincts kick into high gear. Meanwhile we turn back to the early 60’s and a young boy who his parents find out is a rare gifted genius with an eye for finding extremely rare art at garage sales with his father. When people around this boy begin to die, the manuscript will decode why.
Comments: An epic thriller unlike any story I have read in quite some time. Certainly the most original. We get deep state, conspiracy, and a chase across Canada to unravel this quite original novel. Fans of Brad Thor, Jack Carr, and Brad Meltzer will devour this action filled thriller. Highly recommended.
Rating: Epic 5 stars
Summary: A manuscript arrives in the mail of a very inquisitive investigative journalist. When she begins to read the story her instincts kick into high gear. Meanwhile we turn back to the early 60’s and a young boy who his parents find out is a rare gifted genius with an eye for finding extremely rare art at garage sales with his father. When people around this boy begin to die, the manuscript will decode why.
Comments: An epic thriller unlike any story I have read in quite some time. Certainly the most original. We get deep state, conspiracy, and a chase across Canada to unravel this quite original novel. Fans of Brad Thor, Jack Carr, and Brad Meltzer will devour this action filled thriller. Highly recommended.
November 2, 2023
Cannot believe these 4 and 5 star reviews....
June 21, 2024
Отдавна не ми се беше случвало чак толкова трудно да ми върви четенето 😞 Като замисъл на сюжета е добра,но не ми беше никак четивна. Имах големи очаквания,но останах разочарована. Давам 3 ⭐️ заради сюжета,иначе за моя вкус си е за 2
January 6, 2024
I truly loved the tie in of hunting and the ways hunters think, but was definitely thrown off by the amount of art history and back and forth, and the our world stuff. Hard to understand without googling ALOT, which I didn’t do. At times it was suspenseful and interesting, and other times it was just hard to read, which made it difficult to understand what was going on.
April 11, 2024
I wanted to DNF this so badly, but I just don’t have it in my as I have never DNF a book. I always tell myself to read through it as it might change or grab my attention and this did not at all. Took longer than normal for me to get through.
There are a lot of characters & locations to keep up with and it’s very back and forth. I felt like there were a lot of useless facts and dragging on of sentences.
I feel like the book ended abruptly, perhaps there will be another, I don’t know, if there is I wouldn’t waste my time with it.
There are a lot of characters & locations to keep up with and it’s very back and forth. I felt like there were a lot of useless facts and dragging on of sentences.
I feel like the book ended abruptly, perhaps there will be another, I don’t know, if there is I wouldn’t waste my time with it.
August 20, 2024
It's a 4.3 rating by my odd standards but, better than others rate it.
Interesting and strange. A few stories within a story, a different type narrative and a good listen.
Action, suspense, weird things, and overall a long strange trip.
Characters quite well done.
Tough to describe but, I wanted to see what happened next.
Interesting and strange. A few stories within a story, a different type narrative and a good listen.
Action, suspense, weird things, and overall a long strange trip.
Characters quite well done.
Tough to describe but, I wanted to see what happened next.
January 24, 2026
Е, няма такава липса изобщо на смисъл и логика.
October 2, 2023
I received an ARC of "Call Me Hunter" from Goodreads Giveaways! Thank you Atria Books!
I found this book to be unique and very interesting. In the preface, author Jim Shockey, challenges readers to Google facts found in the book as they read to verify the authenticity of it all. At first, I found this a bit strange, it is a work of fiction after all! Nyala, a journalist who lacks a family of her own but has one amazing friend/roommate, has received a mysterious manuscript. Reading along with her to discover its significance, I began to understand just what he was getting at. There is so much truth woven into the story, famous people, places, and events that you might find it possible the entire concept of an elite organization of all-powerful art-collecting extremists actually might exist. The manuscript is written by a man who has lived an odd life, he has a unique gift and has many stories to tell. An epic discovery ensues and through each new bit of information, Nyala begins to see that somehow she is connected to it all. Along with her best friend Luba, she hits the road to connect the dots. I may have had my own ideas of how the manuscript writer and Nyala may be connected but for the most part, this book had me guessing until the end.
About halfway through the book I actually decided to Google the author, I mean he told me to! I was interested to learn about his background and to find this was his first novel. His writing style reminded me of James Patterson, short page-turner chapters that kept me reading and wanting more. Funny enough, Patterson is actually referenced a bit later in the book which I found ironic. There is still a lot I would like answered after finishing "Call Me Hunter", perhaps like Patterson's many successful series we shall see a sequel!
If you enjoy the beauty of self-discovery, the collection of fine art, or are looking for a unique quick read, I highly recommend giving this a try when it hits bookstore shelves later this month.
I found this book to be unique and very interesting. In the preface, author Jim Shockey, challenges readers to Google facts found in the book as they read to verify the authenticity of it all. At first, I found this a bit strange, it is a work of fiction after all! Nyala, a journalist who lacks a family of her own but has one amazing friend/roommate, has received a mysterious manuscript. Reading along with her to discover its significance, I began to understand just what he was getting at. There is so much truth woven into the story, famous people, places, and events that you might find it possible the entire concept of an elite organization of all-powerful art-collecting extremists actually might exist. The manuscript is written by a man who has lived an odd life, he has a unique gift and has many stories to tell. An epic discovery ensues and through each new bit of information, Nyala begins to see that somehow she is connected to it all. Along with her best friend Luba, she hits the road to connect the dots. I may have had my own ideas of how the manuscript writer and Nyala may be connected but for the most part, this book had me guessing until the end.
About halfway through the book I actually decided to Google the author, I mean he told me to! I was interested to learn about his background and to find this was his first novel. His writing style reminded me of James Patterson, short page-turner chapters that kept me reading and wanting more. Funny enough, Patterson is actually referenced a bit later in the book which I found ironic. There is still a lot I would like answered after finishing "Call Me Hunter", perhaps like Patterson's many successful series we shall see a sequel!
If you enjoy the beauty of self-discovery, the collection of fine art, or are looking for a unique quick read, I highly recommend giving this a try when it hits bookstore shelves later this month.
September 14, 2023
Autism, check. Celebrities, check. A monster, check. An indigenous theme, check. An identity theme, check.
How did the book make me feel/think?
I am giving “Call Me Hunter” by Jim Shockey five stars. I have a personal policy of granting every book I read the highest rating because who am I to pass judgment on whether others will enjoy a book or not?
There is one exception to my star-giving rule: books filled with hatred, misogyny, or racism.
The story introduced an autistic character with a unique talent for identifying art at garage sales - and a few unsolved murders. It was overwhelming. The narrative then took another turn, with a monster who paradoxically loved animals but was also a twisted deviant murderer (close to my exception).
As I delved further into the pages of “Call Me Hunter,” my mind began to wander to my worries of the day, and then, Shockey helped me to momentarily escape my worries when “Saskatoon,” graced the pages, the city I grew up in. Yet, my interest in a recognizable location was short-lived.
My mind struggled to keep up.
Suddenly, the autistic man was playing water polo, and movie stars were casually mentioned. They even dined at the first café I visited when I moved to Vancouver, which momentarily captured my attention. But my mind wandered again. An indigenous theme was inserted, leaving me feeling confused.
Nevertheless, I persisted in reading every single word. And then, with only 40 pages remaining, the story took another twist, drawing me in once more.
I read the rest of the book diligently, hoping the mentioned celebrities were faring well in their lives. After this experience, I have decided never to read advanced praise. I found it surprising one of the individuals who provided advanced praise for the book deemed it “astoundingly original” - since “astoundingly” implies surprise.
WRITTEN: 13 September 2023
How did the book make me feel/think?
I am giving “Call Me Hunter” by Jim Shockey five stars. I have a personal policy of granting every book I read the highest rating because who am I to pass judgment on whether others will enjoy a book or not?
There is one exception to my star-giving rule: books filled with hatred, misogyny, or racism.
The story introduced an autistic character with a unique talent for identifying art at garage sales - and a few unsolved murders. It was overwhelming. The narrative then took another turn, with a monster who paradoxically loved animals but was also a twisted deviant murderer (close to my exception).
As I delved further into the pages of “Call Me Hunter,” my mind began to wander to my worries of the day, and then, Shockey helped me to momentarily escape my worries when “Saskatoon,” graced the pages, the city I grew up in. Yet, my interest in a recognizable location was short-lived.
My mind struggled to keep up.
Suddenly, the autistic man was playing water polo, and movie stars were casually mentioned. They even dined at the first café I visited when I moved to Vancouver, which momentarily captured my attention. But my mind wandered again. An indigenous theme was inserted, leaving me feeling confused.
Nevertheless, I persisted in reading every single word. And then, with only 40 pages remaining, the story took another twist, drawing me in once more.
I read the rest of the book diligently, hoping the mentioned celebrities were faring well in their lives. After this experience, I have decided never to read advanced praise. I found it surprising one of the individuals who provided advanced praise for the book deemed it “astoundingly original” - since “astoundingly” implies surprise.
WRITTEN: 13 September 2023
November 21, 2023
The beginning grabbed my attention, but I lost my focus along the way. There’s a lot of characters introduced, lots of jumping throughout years, & a lot of fact checking. I just got lost. If you like art history, you may like this. I learned that Robert De Niro Sr. (actor Robert De Niro’s dad) was an abstract expressionist painter.
January 19, 2024
Have you ever read a book and put it down forever with only 40 pages left?
I was very excited while reading this book up until the half way mark. Then it died for me. It repeats itself so incredibly much I wound up being very irritated. After 360 pages of a 394 page book, you still don’t know what the role of the main character, Nyala, is. I don’t care anymore. Done!
I was very excited while reading this book up until the half way mark. Then it died for me. It repeats itself so incredibly much I wound up being very irritated. After 360 pages of a 394 page book, you still don’t know what the role of the main character, Nyala, is. I don’t care anymore. Done!
November 7, 2023
A DNF at about 50%. I kept waiting for it to get better, and just ended up annoyed. The structure of one character reading another character's boring manuscript was rough. Then the main character looking things up on Wikipedia? Nope. Had to quit.
December 22, 2023
3.5⭐️
Audiobook version
I had been anticipating Jim Shockey's debut, as I follow him on social media. I loved the story. It was intriguing and fascinating. I wanted to follow Nyala and learn what she was learning, through the manuscript. The writing was lacking a bit for me, though. It was a bit repetitive, too much telling instead of showing. Luba and her relationship to Nyala was a little flat.
I thought the Audiobook version was going to be more of Jim Shockey's narrating, but it wasn't. Since the manuscript was from Tsau-z, I did find it a tad confusing having the narrator change, even though it was still the same character telling the story.
Audiobook version
I had been anticipating Jim Shockey's debut, as I follow him on social media. I loved the story. It was intriguing and fascinating. I wanted to follow Nyala and learn what she was learning, through the manuscript. The writing was lacking a bit for me, though. It was a bit repetitive, too much telling instead of showing. Luba and her relationship to Nyala was a little flat.
I thought the Audiobook version was going to be more of Jim Shockey's narrating, but it wasn't. Since the manuscript was from Tsau-z, I did find it a tad confusing having the narrator change, even though it was still the same character telling the story.
January 1, 2025
A strange but compelling book! A 250 year old global clandestine organization wants to own/control the world's art masterpieces. Nothing stands in their way.... well except a man named Hunter. My brain had to be fully engaged reading this book. It's not a piece of fluff.
November 12, 2025
This is a very misleading book. Found that the description did not share what the book really is. Maybe I missed the point but felt that this whole book missed its goal.
January 5, 2024
Will surely be in the top 5 reads of 2024 for me. Very different, but it pulled me in.
February 12, 2025
Its great!! I loved it! Although hard to follow at moments it really keeps you on your toes!! Made me want to solve the mystery and really dig into the narrative for answers!
August 14, 2023
I knew when I saw that Jim Shockey had written a book, that I would have to read it. And luckily I got an early copy through NetGalley. I definitely did not expect this novel. The title deceives you a little, assuming you are going to read a completely different style of book. But. This is a great book. The level of thought that he puts into his writing is almost unmatched. The amount of research that must have been done is Dan Brown-esque. It It could reasonably be compared to Da Vince Code or Angels and Demons with the thought and effort put into the artwork throughout the book.
There is not a lot of detail on the settings, or even the characters. You are given enough to know about them, but beyond the basics, the writing focuses on the story.
You are able to figure out where the story will end up fairly early in the book, but the way Shockey ties it all together is great. The ending is a little open-ended, but closed enough that you can tell what will happen next. I was not disappointed in the ending as I feared I would be as it approached.
Shockey ties in enough real-life events, people, items to make you want to do your own research to verify.
Despite not being what I thought when I opened this book, I found I could not put it down and raced to finish as soon as possible. I hope for more to come from Jim Shockey.
There is not a lot of detail on the settings, or even the characters. You are given enough to know about them, but beyond the basics, the writing focuses on the story.
You are able to figure out where the story will end up fairly early in the book, but the way Shockey ties it all together is great. The ending is a little open-ended, but closed enough that you can tell what will happen next. I was not disappointed in the ending as I feared I would be as it approached.
Shockey ties in enough real-life events, people, items to make you want to do your own research to verify.
Despite not being what I thought when I opened this book, I found I could not put it down and raced to finish as soon as possible. I hope for more to come from Jim Shockey.
August 20, 2023
A very good debut novel. Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and Goodreads for the chance to read it.
August 5, 2023
Haunting from the preface, Jim Shockey's first novel is his first of many, I beg of him.
The chilling concept of Our World, and proving it's non-existence, had me talking about it immediately and throughout. While long and filled with trails that never seemed to be revisited, the main concept of the existence of evil in our everyday life kept me riveted.
The story of a young woman, an orphan as far as she knew, receiving a mysterious later that dared her to travel, dig and uncover mysteries of her past to reveal her future, Shockey had me engrossed.
A story of friendship, family and murder, Nyala discovers the shocking truth and the power of tradition in this novel by award-winning outdoor writer, photographer, guide and more. His talents in nature help shape this dark tale of secrets, death and art.
I definitely want to read the sequel that must be written soon.
*Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for the advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
The chilling concept of Our World, and proving it's non-existence, had me talking about it immediately and throughout. While long and filled with trails that never seemed to be revisited, the main concept of the existence of evil in our everyday life kept me riveted.
The story of a young woman, an orphan as far as she knew, receiving a mysterious later that dared her to travel, dig and uncover mysteries of her past to reveal her future, Shockey had me engrossed.
A story of friendship, family and murder, Nyala discovers the shocking truth and the power of tradition in this novel by award-winning outdoor writer, photographer, guide and more. His talents in nature help shape this dark tale of secrets, death and art.
I definitely want to read the sequel that must be written soon.
*Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for the advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2023
This was not what I was expecting from Jim Shockey and I loved it. The two paths the story follows keeps you interested and on the edge.
Putting the hook down left me wanting more and yet I didn’t want to finish it! Really enjoyed this book.
Putting the hook down left me wanting more and yet I didn’t want to finish it! Really enjoyed this book.
July 10, 2024
I'm glad I borrowed this book from the library, rather than wasting my money on purchasing it. I'm sad the book ended up being as poorly written as it was because it had an intriguing premise.
Unfortunately, though, the author had two main problems:
1) he forgot one of the first rules of writing (especially action or thriller stories): SHOW the action; don't tell it. The main character spent 2/3 of the book researching or checking up on the information she received in a manuscript and driving around in a car in the middle of Canada. We rarely witnessed the action that was supposed to be happening, which made for very boring reading.
2) the other main problem is the author's obsession with his political viewpoint. I kept being pulled from the (very minimal) action because of the author's repeated references to socialism, socialists, leftifts, snowflakes, politically correct garbage, etc. It went on and on and on. I tried to ignore it, but eventually I started using the Kindle highlight feature just to make sure I wasn't imagining the obsession. I wasn't. Here's a sample: "they were idiots, out of touch with economic realities – but he endured their unfocused and utopic philosophies as necessary evils." Or this: "It would have been an uphill battle, she imagined, especially if the government in power was weak and left-leaning with a socialist platform." Or this: "... technically her generation, was way over the top on the politically correct garbage that was pervading society like a cancerous tumor metastasizing out of control." If the author believes those things, that's his right; but if he's going to write fiction, perhaps he'd do better to leave the political philosophizing to books written on that topic.
With this example before me, I won't be reading anything else this author publishes.
Unfortunately, though, the author had two main problems:
1) he forgot one of the first rules of writing (especially action or thriller stories): SHOW the action; don't tell it. The main character spent 2/3 of the book researching or checking up on the information she received in a manuscript and driving around in a car in the middle of Canada. We rarely witnessed the action that was supposed to be happening, which made for very boring reading.
2) the other main problem is the author's obsession with his political viewpoint. I kept being pulled from the (very minimal) action because of the author's repeated references to socialism, socialists, leftifts, snowflakes, politically correct garbage, etc. It went on and on and on. I tried to ignore it, but eventually I started using the Kindle highlight feature just to make sure I wasn't imagining the obsession. I wasn't. Here's a sample: "they were idiots, out of touch with economic realities – but he endured their unfocused and utopic philosophies as necessary evils." Or this: "It would have been an uphill battle, she imagined, especially if the government in power was weak and left-leaning with a socialist platform." Or this: "... technically her generation, was way over the top on the politically correct garbage that was pervading society like a cancerous tumor metastasizing out of control." If the author believes those things, that's his right; but if he's going to write fiction, perhaps he'd do better to leave the political philosophizing to books written on that topic.
With this example before me, I won't be reading anything else this author publishes.
November 5, 2023
While reading Jim Shockey's book "Call me Hunter", there were moments of intense engagement, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages. The concept of a secret society of art thieves and the hunt for priceless treasures had me intrigued. However, as I delved deeper into the story, I couldn't help but feel that the suspense and excitement gradually dissipated in the second half of the book.
Unfortunately, this is not a book that will leave a lasting impression on me. Throughout the narrative, I noticed instances of repetition and summaries, which were occasionally helpful but occasionally excessive. While the premise held promise, I ultimately found the execution to be somewhat lacking. Jim Shockey's debut work showed potential, but it left me wanting more in terms of a satisfying and consistently gripping narrative.
I appreciate the opportunity to have received an Advanced Reader Copy. Thank you!
Unfortunately, this is not a book that will leave a lasting impression on me. Throughout the narrative, I noticed instances of repetition and summaries, which were occasionally helpful but occasionally excessive. While the premise held promise, I ultimately found the execution to be somewhat lacking. Jim Shockey's debut work showed potential, but it left me wanting more in terms of a satisfying and consistently gripping narrative.
I appreciate the opportunity to have received an Advanced Reader Copy. Thank you!
January 20, 2024
I started this book with some trepidation as I know that Jim Shockey is a videographer who happens to be a well-known hunter in Canada. What drew me to it was his loving tribute to his wife Louise who passed away in 2023. The book started out fairly well, and it kept my interest, but then the story shifted to depraved acts and unbelievable and convoluted coincidences. I persevered, but it was very difficult. The conspiracy and overseeing group called Our World is an interesting concept. The fact that this group was responsible for hiding and hoarding unimaginably valuable works of art, is believable in this dissolute world of ours today. It was the twisted and convoluted plot that made me lose interest. I continued to read, but when the ending left everything in the air, it turned me off of this book and why I gave it one star. I cannot recommend this book.
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