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Anna Koray #1
The Hunter's Daughter
A hypnotic, sinister debut mystery about a seemingly good cop who is secretly the daughter of a notorious serial killer.
Anna Koray escaped her father’s darkness long ago. When she was a girl, her childhood memories were sealed away from her conscious mind by a controversial hypnosis treatment. She’s now a decorated sheriff’s lieutenant serving a rural county, conducting an ordinary life far from her father’s shadow.
When Anna kills a man in the line of duty, her suppressed memories return. She dreams of her beloved father, his hands red with blood, surrounded by flower-decked corpses he had sacrificed to the god of the forest.
To Anna’s horror, a serial killer emerges who is copying her father – and who knows who she really is. Is her father still alive, or is this the work of another? Will the killer expose her, destroying everything she has built for herself? Does she want him to?
But as she haunts the forest, using her father’s tricks to the hunt the killer, will she find what she needs most…or lose herself in the gathering darkness?
Anna Koray escaped her father’s darkness long ago. When she was a girl, her childhood memories were sealed away from her conscious mind by a controversial hypnosis treatment. She’s now a decorated sheriff’s lieutenant serving a rural county, conducting an ordinary life far from her father’s shadow.
When Anna kills a man in the line of duty, her suppressed memories return. She dreams of her beloved father, his hands red with blood, surrounded by flower-decked corpses he had sacrificed to the god of the forest.
To Anna’s horror, a serial killer emerges who is copying her father – and who knows who she really is. Is her father still alive, or is this the work of another? Will the killer expose her, destroying everything she has built for herself? Does she want him to?
But as she haunts the forest, using her father’s tricks to the hunt the killer, will she find what she needs most…or lose herself in the gathering darkness?
384 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2024
163 people are currently reading
17303 people want to read
About the author
Nicola Solvinic
2 books106 followersNicola Solvinic has a master's degree in criminology and has worked in and around criminal justice for more than a decade. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and cats, where she is surrounded by a secret garden full of beehives.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 399 reviews
August 14, 2024
**Many thanks to Berkley and Nicola Solvinic for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley! Now available as of 5.14!!**
Anna Koray has done her best to step out of the shadows...her father's shadow, that is. After Anna finds out at a young age that her father was a serial killer, Anna's mother did her best to fill the void left by his absence. Eventually, Anna ended up becoming ward of the state and moving in with another family, where she spent the rest of her preteen and teen years before blossoming into a successful adult. She has used her background as fuel, and now works as a detective hoping to stop men just like her father in their tracks. Nestled in a small rural town, far away from the terrifying events of her past, she is working to build a new life and deal with her trauma with a hypnotherapist's help.
But when she accidentally kills a perp in self defense in the line of duty, a flood of memories she has been working so hard to suppress comes back...and visions of her father with blood covered hands return...as well as memories of the forest God, Veles, that he claimed to serve. Even more terrifying, it seems that a copycat killer has emerged in town...one who seems to know ALL of the tiny details of her father's killing patterns. When Anna gets a note revealing that someone knows her secret, the new life she's been fighting for seems like it is slipping away...and she feels HERSELF slowly start to spin out of control. Could the true crime podcaster who's been skulking around have a DEADLY fascination with her father's crimes? Or did Anna inherit something she can't control...a lust for blood?
As true crime and detective stories can be a bit off-putting for me, I was nervous coming into this read that the police/detective element would take over and minimize the impact of the overall read for me...but I'm happy to say that Solvinic managed to dance back and forth across the boundaries of the mystery, true crime, paranormal, AND psychological thriller genres with fluent, effortless ease!
At the center of everything is the main character of Anna, and if she doesn't 'work' as a character? The story itself doesn't work. With Anna as our only narrator, everything about her past, the complicated history with her father, and the revelations of her suppressed memories relies on her to be a force we feel we can both trust AND question (as she is most definitely an unreliable narrator of sorts) and Solvinic did an excellent job of giving her the emotional depth, intelligence, and complexity necessary to keep the reader guessing AND flesh out what could kindly be called a complicated past. Since the suspension of disbelief required to really enjoy this one also requires buy-in with some paranormal elements, it makes it even MORE important that Anna and her internal battles feel grounded in reality...and luckily for us, Solvinic NAILS this aspect.
Speaking of the paranormal elements...if making sacrifices to the forest gods as a general concept is a turn off to you in the genre, that IS a large portion of the narrative, so you'd probably be wise to pass on this one. There are a few gruesome moments in terms of animal sacrifice etc. (although much is left to the imagination) but if you don't want to read ANYthing about them, it might be hard to find a way to 'neatly' skip these sections. Since so much is uncovered throughout Anna's sessions with her doctor, we sort of dive in and out of the past...but let's just say Veles the forest god is VERY much in Anna's present. (How? I cannot say...you'll have to read to find out! 😉) If you can't stand the (at this point, basically expected) true crime podcaster's involvement, you may also find this character a bit grating at times, but he becomes central to the plot...so again, not much room for trimming the fat here.
While the 'big twist' was a touch predictable, I can't say it spoiled the enjoyment of watching everything play out in the end. The ethical and moral questions of memory repression, the role that genetics can play in the intrinsic 'good or evil' of a person, and of course the paranormal elements...THESE are the parts of the book I found most thought provoking and fulfilling. Even if the mystery felt a bit thin, it was more about the journey with Anna than the destination, and this book gave me just a sprinkling of the unreliable narrator 'buzz' I get during an A+ psychological thriller. I have every confidence that if this is only Solvinic's debut she has a BRIGHT and sparkling future in the genre ahead!
...And let's face it, there's always at least the POSSIBILITY of the Hunter's Granddaughter...👶
😈
4 stars
Anna Koray has done her best to step out of the shadows...her father's shadow, that is. After Anna finds out at a young age that her father was a serial killer, Anna's mother did her best to fill the void left by his absence. Eventually, Anna ended up becoming ward of the state and moving in with another family, where she spent the rest of her preteen and teen years before blossoming into a successful adult. She has used her background as fuel, and now works as a detective hoping to stop men just like her father in their tracks. Nestled in a small rural town, far away from the terrifying events of her past, she is working to build a new life and deal with her trauma with a hypnotherapist's help.
But when she accidentally kills a perp in self defense in the line of duty, a flood of memories she has been working so hard to suppress comes back...and visions of her father with blood covered hands return...as well as memories of the forest God, Veles, that he claimed to serve. Even more terrifying, it seems that a copycat killer has emerged in town...one who seems to know ALL of the tiny details of her father's killing patterns. When Anna gets a note revealing that someone knows her secret, the new life she's been fighting for seems like it is slipping away...and she feels HERSELF slowly start to spin out of control. Could the true crime podcaster who's been skulking around have a DEADLY fascination with her father's crimes? Or did Anna inherit something she can't control...a lust for blood?
As true crime and detective stories can be a bit off-putting for me, I was nervous coming into this read that the police/detective element would take over and minimize the impact of the overall read for me...but I'm happy to say that Solvinic managed to dance back and forth across the boundaries of the mystery, true crime, paranormal, AND psychological thriller genres with fluent, effortless ease!
At the center of everything is the main character of Anna, and if she doesn't 'work' as a character? The story itself doesn't work. With Anna as our only narrator, everything about her past, the complicated history with her father, and the revelations of her suppressed memories relies on her to be a force we feel we can both trust AND question (as she is most definitely an unreliable narrator of sorts) and Solvinic did an excellent job of giving her the emotional depth, intelligence, and complexity necessary to keep the reader guessing AND flesh out what could kindly be called a complicated past. Since the suspension of disbelief required to really enjoy this one also requires buy-in with some paranormal elements, it makes it even MORE important that Anna and her internal battles feel grounded in reality...and luckily for us, Solvinic NAILS this aspect.
Speaking of the paranormal elements...if making sacrifices to the forest gods as a general concept is a turn off to you in the genre, that IS a large portion of the narrative, so you'd probably be wise to pass on this one. There are a few gruesome moments in terms of animal sacrifice etc. (although much is left to the imagination) but if you don't want to read ANYthing about them, it might be hard to find a way to 'neatly' skip these sections. Since so much is uncovered throughout Anna's sessions with her doctor, we sort of dive in and out of the past...but let's just say Veles the forest god is VERY much in Anna's present. (How? I cannot say...you'll have to read to find out! 😉) If you can't stand the (at this point, basically expected) true crime podcaster's involvement, you may also find this character a bit grating at times, but he becomes central to the plot...so again, not much room for trimming the fat here.
While the 'big twist' was a touch predictable, I can't say it spoiled the enjoyment of watching everything play out in the end. The ethical and moral questions of memory repression, the role that genetics can play in the intrinsic 'good or evil' of a person, and of course the paranormal elements...THESE are the parts of the book I found most thought provoking and fulfilling. Even if the mystery felt a bit thin, it was more about the journey with Anna than the destination, and this book gave me just a sprinkling of the unreliable narrator 'buzz' I get during an A+ psychological thriller. I have every confidence that if this is only Solvinic's debut she has a BRIGHT and sparkling future in the genre ahead!
...And let's face it, there's always at least the POSSIBILITY of the Hunter's Granddaughter...👶
😈
4 stars
February 10, 2024
Anna is the daughter of a serial killer, who’s childhood memories were sealed away via hypnosis. She’s now a detective lieutenant and has come a long way to overcome her father’s shadow.
When Anna kills a man in the line of duty, her suppressed memories return. To her horror, a serial killer emerges who is copying her father, and who knows her real identity which threatens everything she has built since.
Can Anna find the killer before she loses herself to the darkness?
This book! Oh, this book was so much fun!
Anna was a very well rounded, and complex character. We delved deep into the trauma that made her the way she was, and I appreciated it. I loved getting to know her from childhood to the detective lieutenant that she became. She really overcame a lot being the daughter of a serial killer and dealing with the fall out of that. I enjoyed it when her memories were coming back to her and getting to see flashes into her childhood.
While the twist at the end wasn’t entirely unpredictable, the why was what I was waiting for, and I was not disappointed with it. I also enjoyed the smaller reveals, and a few of them I didn’t see coming. I do wish that we would have gotten a little more backstory into why the big twist was the way it was, but for the sake of being a long book it did work.
This book was wonderfully well written and dives deep into what it takes to deal with trauma. There are some darker elements, as you can imagine being the daughter of a serial killer, but I would say there are also horror elements as well when the god of the forest was discussed.
I also particularly enjoyed the ethical limits explored with the memory erasing.
I can’t believe that this is a debut novel. It knocked my socks off and was a delicate balance of a thriller. If you are a darker themed thriller fan, then you’ll want to check this one out. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.
A Copy of this review will be featured on my blog during publication week.
When Anna kills a man in the line of duty, her suppressed memories return. To her horror, a serial killer emerges who is copying her father, and who knows her real identity which threatens everything she has built since.
Can Anna find the killer before she loses herself to the darkness?
This book! Oh, this book was so much fun!
Anna was a very well rounded, and complex character. We delved deep into the trauma that made her the way she was, and I appreciated it. I loved getting to know her from childhood to the detective lieutenant that she became. She really overcame a lot being the daughter of a serial killer and dealing with the fall out of that. I enjoyed it when her memories were coming back to her and getting to see flashes into her childhood.
While the twist at the end wasn’t entirely unpredictable, the why was what I was waiting for, and I was not disappointed with it. I also enjoyed the smaller reveals, and a few of them I didn’t see coming. I do wish that we would have gotten a little more backstory into why the big twist was the way it was, but for the sake of being a long book it did work.
This book was wonderfully well written and dives deep into what it takes to deal with trauma. There are some darker elements, as you can imagine being the daughter of a serial killer, but I would say there are also horror elements as well when the god of the forest was discussed.
I also particularly enjoyed the ethical limits explored with the memory erasing.
I can’t believe that this is a debut novel. It knocked my socks off and was a delicate balance of a thriller. If you are a darker themed thriller fan, then you’ll want to check this one out. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.
A Copy of this review will be featured on my blog during publication week.
May 6, 2024
THE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER by Author Nicola Solvinic is a chilling, highly addictive debut that gave me serious goose bumps. There's a supernatural element with an air of malice lurking that saturates the pages of this story, leaving readers jumping at night sounds. I burned through this book with trepidation over what would happen next, afraid to continue but unable to stop. You'll want to settle in with the lights on to read this one!
As a young child, Elena loves nothing more than spending long days meandering through the forest with her beloved father Steven Theron, listening to him speak of spirits, fairies and the Forest God. Despite her mother's disapproval, her days are idyllic until the day she ventures out alone and stumbles across a horrific discovery. Severely traumatized, Elena’s memories are repressed, and she grows up to be Anna Koray, a respected police officer where no one knows she's the daughter of the notorious Forest Strangler.
Lt. Anna Koray is off duty when she arrives at the scene of a domestic dispute. Things quickly go south when she inadvertently comes in contact with PCP and is forced to shoot the domestic perpetrator in the line of duty. Awakening in the hospital, Anna is disoriented and suffering hallucinations. She's assured it's her exposure to the PCP, but as more of her dark memories surface, Anna's left fearing the unknown. When a young woman's body is discovered in the same manner as her father's victims, rumors of a copycat serial killer arise. Anna panics when she starts getting cryptic notes claiming to "know who she really is", leaving her to wonder what she does during periods of blackouts. One thing is clear. Someone is killing young, blonde women again. Is it a copycat serial killer? Did her father somehow escape execution? Or has the darkness brewing inside her surfaced? Anna needs answers and to get them, she must unmask a killer. Even if it destroys her world.
Author Nicola Solvinic has rendered a mesmerizing tale that's impossible to put down in THE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER. Anna is a unique, conflicted character that struggles to separate fact from myth. As a respected police officer, she strives to do the right thing, but as the traumatized daughter with the genes of a serial killer father in her veins, she's lost in a world of smoke and mirrors. Slovinic does an amazing job of drawing attention to the long-term psychological effects of trauma on fragile minds as she explores the issue of nature vs. nurture. She flawlessly weaves the supernatural aspects of this story with forensic science. The imagery is brilliant creating a highly visual, tingle all the senses setting. Characters are as real as they are illusive, charging readers with sifting through all the hidden clues and red herrings to follow the breadcrumbs through twists and turns before arriving at the epic climax. While I had an inkling about what was happening that proved to be true in the end, it in no way lessened the dramatic impact of experiencing this stunning story.
THE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER is a raw, gritty, all-consuming psychological thriller that is masterfully rendered - a unique jewel in the genre. Author Nicola Slovinic's skill is evident as she expertly manipulates characters and readers and monsters through a tunnel of darkness to emerge at the end. Themes of good vs. evil, nature vs. nurture and the aftereffects of trauma are managed with skill and grace. Highly recommended to fans of mysteries, suspense and thrillers.
I'm so excited to finally post my review of THE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER! I've held it per publisher's guidelines, but now I'm happy to sing the praises of this debut author. Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for an arc and to the author for an interview. My review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and my interview is also available here in Nicola Solvinic in Mystery & Suspense Magazine. Review also available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. This title will be released on May 14, 2024.
As a young child, Elena loves nothing more than spending long days meandering through the forest with her beloved father Steven Theron, listening to him speak of spirits, fairies and the Forest God. Despite her mother's disapproval, her days are idyllic until the day she ventures out alone and stumbles across a horrific discovery. Severely traumatized, Elena’s memories are repressed, and she grows up to be Anna Koray, a respected police officer where no one knows she's the daughter of the notorious Forest Strangler.
Lt. Anna Koray is off duty when she arrives at the scene of a domestic dispute. Things quickly go south when she inadvertently comes in contact with PCP and is forced to shoot the domestic perpetrator in the line of duty. Awakening in the hospital, Anna is disoriented and suffering hallucinations. She's assured it's her exposure to the PCP, but as more of her dark memories surface, Anna's left fearing the unknown. When a young woman's body is discovered in the same manner as her father's victims, rumors of a copycat serial killer arise. Anna panics when she starts getting cryptic notes claiming to "know who she really is", leaving her to wonder what she does during periods of blackouts. One thing is clear. Someone is killing young, blonde women again. Is it a copycat serial killer? Did her father somehow escape execution? Or has the darkness brewing inside her surfaced? Anna needs answers and to get them, she must unmask a killer. Even if it destroys her world.
Author Nicola Solvinic has rendered a mesmerizing tale that's impossible to put down in THE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER. Anna is a unique, conflicted character that struggles to separate fact from myth. As a respected police officer, she strives to do the right thing, but as the traumatized daughter with the genes of a serial killer father in her veins, she's lost in a world of smoke and mirrors. Slovinic does an amazing job of drawing attention to the long-term psychological effects of trauma on fragile minds as she explores the issue of nature vs. nurture. She flawlessly weaves the supernatural aspects of this story with forensic science. The imagery is brilliant creating a highly visual, tingle all the senses setting. Characters are as real as they are illusive, charging readers with sifting through all the hidden clues and red herrings to follow the breadcrumbs through twists and turns before arriving at the epic climax. While I had an inkling about what was happening that proved to be true in the end, it in no way lessened the dramatic impact of experiencing this stunning story.
THE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER is a raw, gritty, all-consuming psychological thriller that is masterfully rendered - a unique jewel in the genre. Author Nicola Slovinic's skill is evident as she expertly manipulates characters and readers and monsters through a tunnel of darkness to emerge at the end. Themes of good vs. evil, nature vs. nurture and the aftereffects of trauma are managed with skill and grace. Highly recommended to fans of mysteries, suspense and thrillers.
I'm so excited to finally post my review of THE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER! I've held it per publisher's guidelines, but now I'm happy to sing the praises of this debut author. Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for an arc and to the author for an interview. My review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and my interview is also available here in Nicola Solvinic in Mystery & Suspense Magazine. Review also available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. This title will be released on May 14, 2024.
June 2, 2024
3.0 Stars
Video Review https://youtu.be/KiqjtujWMfE
Given the premise, I was expecting a different novel. Perhaps my assumptions were unfair but I thought this would be a grittier story.
Instead this one was more an emotional character story. The novel was an easy read but without some "bite". The crimes committed in this novel are dark and perhaps I am a bit discentized but I wanted darker.
It took a while to hook me in but eventually I found myself caring about the copycat and wanted to see the criminal get caught.
I have read a lot of books about the "daughter of a serial killer" and it strangely is becoming a tired trope. I like when it's done well but this was just a safer story and I wanted more. For readers who are newer to this kind of storyline, I imagine the story will feel fresher.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Video Review https://youtu.be/KiqjtujWMfE
Given the premise, I was expecting a different novel. Perhaps my assumptions were unfair but I thought this would be a grittier story.
Instead this one was more an emotional character story. The novel was an easy read but without some "bite". The crimes committed in this novel are dark and perhaps I am a bit discentized but I wanted darker.
It took a while to hook me in but eventually I found myself caring about the copycat and wanted to see the criminal get caught.
I have read a lot of books about the "daughter of a serial killer" and it strangely is becoming a tired trope. I like when it's done well but this was just a safer story and I wanted more. For readers who are newer to this kind of storyline, I imagine the story will feel fresher.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 29, 2024
This was an interesting thriller with a unique premise. Anna works for the sheriff’s department and her life changes the first day she kills a man. What Anna doesn’t know yet is her father was a serial killer and when she was a small child her psychiatrist locked away all of her memories of him and her childhood. But her own trauma and a mix of other factors has memories trickling in. I thought this gritty thriller was a wild ride and I didn’t see ever element of every twist so there were some surprises which I always love. I will admit as a person who studied psychology the premise of this book was fascinating. How much of a role does our DNA have and how much is nurture? What if we could lock away the worst things we’ve seen and how would that change the trajectory of our lives? This book was well written and an interesting ride. Definitely will be keeping an eye out for more books by this author.
May 31, 2025
Se me ha hecho lento, tedioso y pesado.
Más que un thriller, parece el estudio psicológico de la protagonista, Anna Koray.
Así que desde la óptica del análisis psicológico me ha gustado, pero como thriller ha sido aburrido con ganas. Sentía que no se acababa nunca: estaba al 90% y me veía tan cerca de terminarlo... Pero nunca llegaba el 100%.
Los personajes son planos y aburridos. Nick podría haber dado más de sí pero se pierde en unos fármacos que salen de la nada no sé con qué objetivo. En resumen, se salva Anna y sólo en los aspectos psicológicos relativos al análisis del trauma que arrastra desde su infancia. Es un trauma bien gordo, por triplicado: hija de, caja fuerte de recuerdos, adopción/abandono. En los demás aspectos me ha resultado pesada. La narración en primera persona no me ha cuadrado nada. No sé cómo será la versión original, pero la traducción no me ha acabado de convencer en general y, además, me ha quedado la sensación de que, mientras que hay partes bien adaptadas a expresiones que podríamos usar en España, otras son literales y chirrían.
En cuanto al aspecto sobrenatural del Dios Forestal / Veles, pues ni fu ni fa. La historia y la idea están guay, pero para mí no ha sido lo suficientemente potente, quizá porque hay demasiados hilos en la historia y eso le hace perder fuelle (Cas Russo, la red de narcotráfico, la psiquiatra...). Tampoco ayuda que bastante pronto haya sabido quién era el estrangulador 🤷🏻♀️.
La idea de analizar qué pesa más, si la naturaleza y los genes o el ambiente en que uno se desarrolla, siempre me ha parecido fascinante y es un punto clave de esta novela. Lástima, y siento decirlo tan secamente, que no me interese ninguno de los personajes. No creo que siga con la saga.
Más que un thriller, parece el estudio psicológico de la protagonista, Anna Koray.
Así que desde la óptica del análisis psicológico me ha gustado, pero como thriller ha sido aburrido con ganas. Sentía que no se acababa nunca: estaba al 90% y me veía tan cerca de terminarlo... Pero nunca llegaba el 100%.
Los personajes son planos y aburridos. Nick podría haber dado más de sí pero se pierde en unos fármacos que salen de la nada no sé con qué objetivo. En resumen, se salva Anna y sólo en los aspectos psicológicos relativos al análisis del trauma que arrastra desde su infancia. Es un trauma bien gordo, por triplicado: hija de, caja fuerte de recuerdos, adopción/abandono. En los demás aspectos me ha resultado pesada. La narración en primera persona no me ha cuadrado nada. No sé cómo será la versión original, pero la traducción no me ha acabado de convencer en general y, además, me ha quedado la sensación de que, mientras que hay partes bien adaptadas a expresiones que podríamos usar en España, otras son literales y chirrían.
En cuanto al aspecto sobrenatural del Dios Forestal / Veles, pues ni fu ni fa. La historia y la idea están guay, pero para mí no ha sido lo suficientemente potente, quizá porque hay demasiados hilos en la historia y eso le hace perder fuelle (Cas Russo, la red de narcotráfico, la psiquiatra...). Tampoco ayuda que bastante pronto haya sabido quién era el estrangulador 🤷🏻♀️.
La idea de analizar qué pesa más, si la naturaleza y los genes o el ambiente en que uno se desarrolla, siempre me ha parecido fascinante y es un punto clave de esta novela. Lástima, y siento decirlo tan secamente, que no me interese ninguno de los personajes. No creo que siga con la saga.
June 23, 2024
I cannot handle any sort of supernatural activity plot line in a realistic thriller. It also wrapped up too cleanly & quickly for the amount of information discussed throughout the book
May 8, 2024
When I was pitched this book for review, it sounded like everything I could have wanted and I’m thrilled to report that it really was.
I loved Anna. She’s so sure of herself, until she’s not and it was fascinating to read her inner monologue while she spirals into an unreliable narrator. There are several characters here, but this story is firmly Anna’s and it really works.
Plot wise, it was fantastic. The slow unfolding of the now events coupled with the slow barrage of memories helped to show how chaotic Anna’s headspace was. It was easy to root for Anna as we were pulled along on this rollercoaster of childlike hurt to adult confusion.
Overall, I would say to go into this one with as little information as possible to let the story be told as the author intended. I can’t wait to read what’s next from Nicola.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved Anna. She’s so sure of herself, until she’s not and it was fascinating to read her inner monologue while she spirals into an unreliable narrator. There are several characters here, but this story is firmly Anna’s and it really works.
Plot wise, it was fantastic. The slow unfolding of the now events coupled with the slow barrage of memories helped to show how chaotic Anna’s headspace was. It was easy to root for Anna as we were pulled along on this rollercoaster of childlike hurt to adult confusion.
Overall, I would say to go into this one with as little information as possible to let the story be told as the author intended. I can’t wait to read what’s next from Nicola.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
December 6, 2023
First off, huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I read this in a day so there is that… It’s a debut novel about a female police lieutenant who is secretly the daughter of a notorious serial killer. That’s not a spoiler FYI. After decades, bodies start turning up again with crime scenes frighteningly similar to her father’s MO. Copycat? Coincidence? Lots of intriguing characters and twists and turns. My biggest complaint would be a spoiler so I’ll leave it out but all and all this was an entertaining read.
July 19, 2024
It's time for another edition of #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt courtesy of The Hunter's Daughter by Nicola Solvinic! I was seeing this debut all over IG and I knew I had to read it. It has a paranormal aspect that I found incredibly interesting, and the suspense was the perfect amount! Anna made for a bit of an unreliable narrator, so I was never quite sure what was going on until we got to the very end. The murders she has to investigate are disturbing and having her be a serial killer's daughter on top of that was pretty wild.
Samantha Desz is the narrator for the audiobook, and I thought she did a wonderful job with the audio. Her pacing was spot on the entire time, and she was easy to listen to on a 3x speed. I also felt as though she brought the horrors of the book to life perfectly. The ending was a little out of the ordinary, so if you are looking for something that could happen IRL, this probably isn't it. However, The Hunter's Daughter is a thrilling ride that I was glued to, and I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy some paranormal with their serial killer thrillers!
Samantha Desz is the narrator for the audiobook, and I thought she did a wonderful job with the audio. Her pacing was spot on the entire time, and she was easy to listen to on a 3x speed. I also felt as though she brought the horrors of the book to life perfectly. The ending was a little out of the ordinary, so if you are looking for something that could happen IRL, this probably isn't it. However, The Hunter's Daughter is a thrilling ride that I was glued to, and I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy some paranormal with their serial killer thrillers!
February 1, 2025
2,5 estrellas. De 0 a 10: 5,5.
La novela está correctamente escrita y estructurada, sigue los pasos habituales en el género y llega a una conclusión más o menos previsible y satisfactoria.
Sin embargo... quizá es el toque sobrenatural, o que ni la protagonista, que es la única con algo de personalidad, seguramente porque narra en primera persona, ni el resto de los personajes, muy desdibujados y vistos desde el punto de vista de Anna, resultan agradables.
Los mejores capítulos son los que Anna pasa en el bosque, y el el la caja fuerte, intensos y visuales.
El desenlace resulta algo precipitado, acumulando los supuestos giros en pocas páginas y, dadas las circunstancias, bastante previsible.
Entretiene, se lee fácil.
La novela está correctamente escrita y estructurada, sigue los pasos habituales en el género y llega a una conclusión más o menos previsible y satisfactoria.
Sin embargo... quizá es el toque sobrenatural, o que ni la protagonista, que es la única con algo de personalidad, seguramente porque narra en primera persona, ni el resto de los personajes, muy desdibujados y vistos desde el punto de vista de Anna, resultan agradables.
Los mejores capítulos son los que Anna pasa en el bosque, y el el la caja fuerte, intensos y visuales.
El desenlace resulta algo precipitado, acumulando los supuestos giros en pocas páginas y, dadas las circunstancias, bastante previsible.
Entretiene, se lee fácil.
May 31, 2024
I’m struggling with how to rate this. On the one hand, I devoured this book! On that alone, it should earn four stars. On the other hand, it was supernatural but not listed as supernatural so I didnt like that aspect. I COULD have liked it if I had known that going in. But instead I thought she was losing her mind, which would have been a GREAT plot point. Instead, I got a god/s. Because of that I want it to have only two stars. And yet, three stars doesnt quite fit it either.
Really interesting book with some red herrings. I was for sure thrown off the scent. But the actual murderer made ZERO sense. So now I’m back to two stars. There have to be some ways of finding our way to who actually did it. This was a man who loved and cared for a dog. And they point out multiple times in the story how she had empathy and loved animals. SO DID HE. Yeah, two stars.
There were some things that slipped through the cracks. She’s taking a bath. Says she falls asleep. The next thing we know she’s in a nightmare, where I assumed, she was having from the bathtub. But no, somehow she’d gotten to her own bed. I worried about her leaving the necklace in the bathroom for her boyfriend to see but there’s no mention of it.
We find out shortly that she’s wearing it every day. She’s a cop who stole the necklace from a crime scene and yet she’s wearing it every day? Huge plot hole. There’s no way she’d do that.
Towards the end it began to feel like she was trying to wrap the story up and was bored with writing it. The very last thing that got under my skin was the 3:00 AM phone call from the auto shop. Seriously? No one is calling anyone at that time of the morning, especially automotive shops.
I guess I’m right to give this two stars.
I’m very hopeful the future books will be better and better. I’m a fan for now!
Really interesting book with some red herrings. I was for sure thrown off the scent. But the actual murderer made ZERO sense. So now I’m back to two stars. There have to be some ways of finding our way to who actually did it. This was a man who loved and cared for a dog. And they point out multiple times in the story how she had empathy and loved animals. SO DID HE. Yeah, two stars.
There were some things that slipped through the cracks. She’s taking a bath. Says she falls asleep. The next thing we know she’s in a nightmare, where I assumed, she was having from the bathtub. But no, somehow she’d gotten to her own bed. I worried about her leaving the necklace in the bathroom for her boyfriend to see but there’s no mention of it.
We find out shortly that she’s wearing it every day. She’s a cop who stole the necklace from a crime scene and yet she’s wearing it every day? Huge plot hole. There’s no way she’d do that.
Towards the end it began to feel like she was trying to wrap the story up and was bored with writing it. The very last thing that got under my skin was the 3:00 AM phone call from the auto shop. Seriously? No one is calling anyone at that time of the morning, especially automotive shops.
I guess I’m right to give this two stars.
I’m very hopeful the future books will be better and better. I’m a fan for now!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2024
This book was so good!! The premise sounded amazing, but I kept my expectations low since I had not heard much about this one. I was pleasantly surprised. I flew through the audio and I was so immersed in the story that it felt like no time passed. Anna felt fully fleshed out as a character. I thought the author did a great job with mixing the supernatural component into a police procedural. Thinking back on it, there were actually quite a few subplots, but it did not feel like too much. A great debut!
November 22, 2024
Anna baby you got me believing you and not believing you at the same time!! This started out with a bang (figuratively and literally) and it didn’t slow down. I liked following Anna’s journey and figuring out her past together.
May 8, 2024
**Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for the digital and physical ARCs of this trippy title!**
The Hunter’s Daughter is amazing and feels like a book I can easily recommend across a handful of genres. This one is thrilling and twisty, while also presenting as a police procedural during a string of grisly murders. True crime fans will also enjoy this one as it dives a bit into copy-cat killers, and has a really yucky podcaster as well.
Anna Koray is the daughter of the notorious serial killer known as The Forest Strangler. Her memories have been locked away under hypnosis and an entirely new identity created for her. Once these memories start coming back following a shooting in the line of duty - nobody can stop them.
With supernatural elements mixed in, this one has a bit to offer for all sorts of readers. Check this one out if you like thrillers, police procedurals, true crime, and crazy twists!
The Hunter’s Daughter is amazing and feels like a book I can easily recommend across a handful of genres. This one is thrilling and twisty, while also presenting as a police procedural during a string of grisly murders. True crime fans will also enjoy this one as it dives a bit into copy-cat killers, and has a really yucky podcaster as well.
Anna Koray is the daughter of the notorious serial killer known as The Forest Strangler. Her memories have been locked away under hypnosis and an entirely new identity created for her. Once these memories start coming back following a shooting in the line of duty - nobody can stop them.
With supernatural elements mixed in, this one has a bit to offer for all sorts of readers. Check this one out if you like thrillers, police procedurals, true crime, and crazy twists!
August 3, 2024
I was scared
February 7, 2024
This is a respectable debut mystery about the daughter of a serial killer who becomes a cop. It delivers and it doesn’t. The magical realism (or not) is dark and takes the form of the Slavic god, Veles, in this instance as god of the forest. While the narrative is taut for the most part, I found the ending to be a bit flabby.
March 26, 2025
Cuando me llegó esta novela por sorpresa, la sinopsis llamó poderosamente mi atención.
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La protagonista es Anna Koray, una joven que se ha construido una vida desde cero tras los traumáticos hechos vividos en su infancia.
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Con un trabajo en la policía y una relación sentimental un poco extraña por su miedo al compromiso. Su vida dará un vuelco cuando comiencen una serie de asesinatos que copian el modus operandi de El estrangulador del bosque, padre biológico de Anna.
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¿ Su padre no falleció ejecutado en el corredor de la muerte o los lapsus de memoria que está empezando a padecer están relacionados con los crímenes?
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Es una novela bastante entretenida. Hay algún tramo que se hace un pelín pesado, bajo mi punto de vista, en concreto las partes que Anna se encuentra en el bosque pidiendo algún tipo de señal a Veles el dios de los bosques.
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Por lo demás, me ha gustado bastante. Los capítulos son cortos y eso es algo que siempre da agilidad a las historias. Los personajes secundarios están muy bien construidos y las escenas en las que toman protagonismo, saben hacerlo bien y en ocasiones son harán dudar de ellos. Una novela muy recomendable
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La protagonista es Anna Koray, una joven que se ha construido una vida desde cero tras los traumáticos hechos vividos en su infancia.
.
Con un trabajo en la policía y una relación sentimental un poco extraña por su miedo al compromiso. Su vida dará un vuelco cuando comiencen una serie de asesinatos que copian el modus operandi de El estrangulador del bosque, padre biológico de Anna.
.
¿ Su padre no falleció ejecutado en el corredor de la muerte o los lapsus de memoria que está empezando a padecer están relacionados con los crímenes?
.
Es una novela bastante entretenida. Hay algún tramo que se hace un pelín pesado, bajo mi punto de vista, en concreto las partes que Anna se encuentra en el bosque pidiendo algún tipo de señal a Veles el dios de los bosques.
.
Por lo demás, me ha gustado bastante. Los capítulos son cortos y eso es algo que siempre da agilidad a las historias. Los personajes secundarios están muy bien construidos y las escenas en las que toman protagonismo, saben hacerlo bien y en ocasiones son harán dudar de ellos. Una novela muy recomendable
May 13, 2024
Thank you to @prhaudio for the gifted ALC.
This was a realistic feeling suspense/thriller that follows the history of a prolific serial killer who was finally caught. Now his daughter has repercussions to deal with.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book and perhaps that's what made it fun. This was a smart and interesting audiobook.
This was a realistic feeling suspense/thriller that follows the history of a prolific serial killer who was finally caught. Now his daughter has repercussions to deal with.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book and perhaps that's what made it fun. This was a smart and interesting audiobook.
June 19, 2024
Holy shit. From the very first chapter, Solvinic sucked me in and then by the last three chapters she spit out what was left of me. The undertone of “is Anna insane too or is the Forest God real?” added so much more to the story. Was her father alive? Was a loved one messing with her? Was she in a psychotic episode? So many things going through my brain with that story. She wove the love they both had for the forest so lovingly into it all too it just felt so deep. I loved it. Wow.
May 29, 2024
3.5 rounded up! This was a riveting read but be aware there are supernatural elements, something I didn’t realize going in. This has a very unreliable narrator so as the reader you question everything and it makes for a great time. I ended up feeling that some of the more interesting ideas ended up half baked - the memory vault was a big one. It had such a cool premise of locking away her memories and having to unravel them but it ended up not playing a role at all in the investigation.
Anna Koray is a sheriff’s lieutenant and the daughter of a serial killer. When someone starts murdering people in her area in a similar manner to her father, she starts to wonder if she’s the reason it’s happening.
The best part of this is the exploration of the impact of childhood trauma. Seeing Anna question her genes and her childhood and watching how it affects her adult life is fascinating and heart breaking. The actual mystery almost feels secondary to this character study. There’s a lot of logical leaps that happen - no one realizing who she is for the entire investigation, the whole reveal with Nick, and the motive behind the crimes. It needed a stronger structure upon which to hang the excellent writing.
Anna Koray is a sheriff’s lieutenant and the daughter of a serial killer. When someone starts murdering people in her area in a similar manner to her father, she starts to wonder if she’s the reason it’s happening.
The best part of this is the exploration of the impact of childhood trauma. Seeing Anna question her genes and her childhood and watching how it affects her adult life is fascinating and heart breaking. The actual mystery almost feels secondary to this character study. There’s a lot of logical leaps that happen - no one realizing who she is for the entire investigation, the whole reveal with Nick, and the motive behind the crimes. It needed a stronger structure upon which to hang the excellent writing.
July 7, 2024
4.75 ⭐️
Ok ok, I know 4.75 is such a dumb amount to give but I only hesitate to give 5 because I’ve been very stingy with them lately. I usually reserve those for a book that I cannot stop thinking about for months and while this book was AMAZING, I think everything was wrapped up so nicely that I’m going to easily get over it.
That being said, I finished this book in a single day, which hasn’t happened in years. So you know that it’s amazing. It keeps you guessing until the very end. The mystical element to it was absolutely necessary because it kept you guessing about Anna’s mental state. Was she really seeing these things or was she hallucinating? I think I suspected almost every single character at least once. Nick was so sus the entire time 👀
This book also had a great creepy element- the random forest things showing up on Anna’s doorstep…literally. The thought of someone putting them there without her knowing….consider me creeped the hell out. So good and I definitely recommend, especially since this is the authors debut book!
Ok ok, I know 4.75 is such a dumb amount to give but I only hesitate to give 5 because I’ve been very stingy with them lately. I usually reserve those for a book that I cannot stop thinking about for months and while this book was AMAZING, I think everything was wrapped up so nicely that I’m going to easily get over it.
That being said, I finished this book in a single day, which hasn’t happened in years. So you know that it’s amazing. It keeps you guessing until the very end. The mystical element to it was absolutely necessary because it kept you guessing about Anna’s mental state. Was she really seeing these things or was she hallucinating? I think I suspected almost every single character at least once. Nick was so sus the entire time 👀
This book also had a great creepy element- the random forest things showing up on Anna’s doorstep…literally. The thought of someone putting them there without her knowing….consider me creeped the hell out. So good and I definitely recommend, especially since this is the authors debut book!
May 19, 2024
4.5🌟 Can’t believe this was the author’s debut. What a great read!
April 7, 2024
huge thank you to netgalley for the copy of the book! after initially reading the description i was super intrigued and it did not disappoint. the plot was well thought out and had a lot of twists and turns that keep you interested the whole time. my only complaint would be that the ending felt a little rushed-would have loved a little more explanation. but for a debut novel this was great and i can’t wait to see what nicola solvinic does next!
January 18, 2024
This book is both haunting and equal parts thrilling! Anna Koray was jettisoned out of her family years ago when her father was arrested as a serial killer. Adopted, she moved through the world unscathed and became a police office. It is not until she suffers a trauma at work and a series of copycat-like murders occur that she is truly forced to deal with her past.
Solvinic has created a complex character in Anna -someone who is so desperate to return to her childhood and yet so strongly avoiding it. Add in a slew of great characters and you are in for a perfectly tempoed thriller of who is the killer now! Highly Recommend.
#thehuntersdaughter #nicolasolvinic #berkley
Solvinic has created a complex character in Anna -someone who is so desperate to return to her childhood and yet so strongly avoiding it. Add in a slew of great characters and you are in for a perfectly tempoed thriller of who is the killer now! Highly Recommend.
#thehuntersdaughter #nicolasolvinic #berkley
September 6, 2024
Well this book took me forever to read, and not because it wasn't good. The pacing got me. It would be moving and super interesting to almost putting me to sleep. I'm not joking about the last part. But when it was good, man was it good. This is also a debut novel. I would have never guessed that given her writing is so good. She really gives you a glimps into the mind of the FMC and honestly her dad too, even though he's not really a main character. He's like a mix between MC and side character. I don't think I've ever felt that way about a character in any other book. It's kinda cool. Speaking of side characters, they're great! Honestly, she understood the assignment. The author goes into such great details about the 🩸 scenes, that for once I'm a little jealous of those who can picture stuff. I'd love to see a drawing of it, but they don't exist. Now, just when you're on a roll and into the book, it comes to a screeching hault. Then picks back up again, and slows back down again..you get the picture. I had a bit of whiplash. Was it worth it? 1,000% yes. There is an audiobook, but it's on audible, so I couldn't listen to it. I think I would have enjoyed that more being able to speed up the slow parts. Did I like the characters? Yes. She gave them life, which is everything. I hate it when characters are 2D, hers are anything but that. She just did an amazing job. The plot is interesting too, it's not something I've read before which is nice. I didnt feel like I was reading the same book, just by a different author. But again..the pacing. I can't stress that enough. The book isn't even repetitive. It's literally everything I ask for in a book. I went into this blind, so at one point I was a little like "what is this?". I eventually got over it, but I needed more information. It was just kind of thrown in at that moment. I literally had to google it. I think if I had more information earlier, then I wouldn't have been so irritated. Overall, I'm super happy with the book. What a fantastic debut novel.
May 2, 2024
It’s hard to believe this is a debut book, it is that well done. Full of twists and turns, heart-pounding investigations, and the feeling of being watching, this book is perfect for horror/ psychological thriller lovers but is also perfect for readers who may want to get into the genre. It’s not too gory but plays tricks on your mind in just the right way.
This story was truly unputdownable, I would’ve read it in one sitting if I didn’t have to be a productive adult and work. I’ve always been a huge fan of the serial killer v cop trope and this one is just done so well. Anna Koray is a Lieutenant at the local sheriff’s department. When bodies of girls start appearing in the same MO as The Forest Strangler decades earlier, Anna must figure out who is responsible. After all, who better to investigate the case than a cop who is secretly the daughter of a serial killer.
A rollercoaster ride of mind-boggling proportions, this book is everything I needed it to be and more. What a way to start off the month. I can definitely see readers staying up til 1 am with a flashlight to finish this book it is that good. I walked around my house biting my fingernails as I tried to figure out what was going to happen next.
As a person who predicts the endings to thriller often, I had my suspicions as to who was responsible but when we reached the ending I knew I was very wrong. I found out the author has a degree in criminology and it shows in this book. The reader is taken through the intricate ins and outs of police investigations and I think it really allows the reader to become a part of the story.
If you need a bingeable read be sure to pick this up May 14th!
This story was truly unputdownable, I would’ve read it in one sitting if I didn’t have to be a productive adult and work. I’ve always been a huge fan of the serial killer v cop trope and this one is just done so well. Anna Koray is a Lieutenant at the local sheriff’s department. When bodies of girls start appearing in the same MO as The Forest Strangler decades earlier, Anna must figure out who is responsible. After all, who better to investigate the case than a cop who is secretly the daughter of a serial killer.
A rollercoaster ride of mind-boggling proportions, this book is everything I needed it to be and more. What a way to start off the month. I can definitely see readers staying up til 1 am with a flashlight to finish this book it is that good. I walked around my house biting my fingernails as I tried to figure out what was going to happen next.
As a person who predicts the endings to thriller often, I had my suspicions as to who was responsible but when we reached the ending I knew I was very wrong. I found out the author has a degree in criminology and it shows in this book. The reader is taken through the intricate ins and outs of police investigations and I think it really allows the reader to become a part of the story.
If you need a bingeable read be sure to pick this up May 14th!
April 18, 2024
Anna is a sheriff's lieutenant and - unbeknownst to her colleagues - she is also the daughter of a notorious serial killer. Most of her childhood memories have been blocked by a therapist using a controversial and unlicensed hypnosis technique, but Anna starts remembering things after a traumatic incident at work. And then the bodies start showing up, adorned with flowers and displayed in a ceremonial fashion, just like her father's victims.
This is becoming one of my favorite serial killer sub-genres: the daughter of a serial killer has to solve a copycat case and deal with all sorts of terrible memories from her past. SO GOOD! (Another one I really enjoyed recently was The Killer's Daughter (Detective Margot Phalen Series)) This one had some super disturbing imagery, and I loved all of the creepy forest god business. I will say that I did not love the way the story ended/the explanation of the copycat, but I'm not sure how else it could have ended, and I loved everything else, so whatever.
Solvinic has written a VERY impressive debut, and I'm so excited to see what she writes next -- highly recommend!
* Thanks to Berkley Pub for the NetGalley review copy. The Hunter's Daughter publishes May 14, 2024.
This is becoming one of my favorite serial killer sub-genres: the daughter of a serial killer has to solve a copycat case and deal with all sorts of terrible memories from her past. SO GOOD! (Another one I really enjoyed recently was The Killer's Daughter (Detective Margot Phalen Series)) This one had some super disturbing imagery, and I loved all of the creepy forest god business. I will say that I did not love the way the story ended/the explanation of the copycat, but I'm not sure how else it could have ended, and I loved everything else, so whatever.
Solvinic has written a VERY impressive debut, and I'm so excited to see what she writes next -- highly recommend!
* Thanks to Berkley Pub for the NetGalley review copy. The Hunter's Daughter publishes May 14, 2024.
February 6, 2025
Esta historia nos presenta a su protagonista Anna, ahora mismo es sheriff y lleva una vida tranquila. Todo se desmorona cuando en acto de servicio acaba matando a un hombre. Desde ese momento sus recuerdos la persiguen y la figura de su padre vuelve a ella junto a la pesadilla que fue su pasado.
Su padre fue un asesino en serie y ahora ella está investigando una serie de asesinatos que presentan este mismo modus operandi y esto la lleva a hacerse muchas preguntas.
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La verdad que al comenzar esta historia no sabia que encontrarme, nos adentramos en un thriller con tintes paranormales.
En él encontraremos como punto fuerte una ambientación que te atrapa y en ocasiones conseguia ponerme los pelos de punta.
La historia me pareció muy original, los elementos paranormales en ocasiones no me los esperaba pero no me llegaron a incomodar. La investigación de la protagonista me mantuvo atrapada y sin duda consigue ese punto de misterio y tensión que siempre busco en este tipo de historias.
Los capítulos no son demasiado extensos y está contado de mano de la protagonista.
Ana es una protagonista que trata de luchar contra sus fantasmas del pasado y que intenta hacer lo correcto.
Una historia con una premisa muy interesante, que nos dará que pensar y que me ha absorbido desde el minuto uno.
Su padre fue un asesino en serie y ahora ella está investigando una serie de asesinatos que presentan este mismo modus operandi y esto la lleva a hacerse muchas preguntas.
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La verdad que al comenzar esta historia no sabia que encontrarme, nos adentramos en un thriller con tintes paranormales.
En él encontraremos como punto fuerte una ambientación que te atrapa y en ocasiones conseguia ponerme los pelos de punta.
La historia me pareció muy original, los elementos paranormales en ocasiones no me los esperaba pero no me llegaron a incomodar. La investigación de la protagonista me mantuvo atrapada y sin duda consigue ese punto de misterio y tensión que siempre busco en este tipo de historias.
Los capítulos no son demasiado extensos y está contado de mano de la protagonista.
Ana es una protagonista que trata de luchar contra sus fantasmas del pasado y que intenta hacer lo correcto.
Una historia con una premisa muy interesante, que nos dará que pensar y que me ha absorbido desde el minuto uno.
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