What do you think?
Rate this book
Duck, Hunting: The Diary of Mallory Rathbone
Mallory Rathbone is just a girl.
She adores her brothers, who call her Duck.
She runs a bed & breakfast out of her childhood home.
She is secretly in love with her best friend.
She was raised as a cannibal.
It’s the summer of 1965, and twenty-year-old Mallory can’t imagine a life outside of the lakeside town where she was raised by her older brothers. She’s comfortable there and settled in routine. Plus, her family has been butchering and consuming people without suspicion for well over a decade, and she has no intention of stopping.
When a traveling carnival sets up at the edge of town, Mallory can’t help noticing what a perfect hunting ground it will make. But while she’s selecting and stalking her next victim, mutilated bodies start showing up in the surrounding forest. Though appalled by such mindless violence, she’s not truly worried until the bodies are identified, pointing much closer to home than expected.
Typically, Mallory Rathbone loves the hunt, but it’s never felt quite so important or personal as now.
She adores her brothers, who call her Duck.
She runs a bed & breakfast out of her childhood home.
She is secretly in love with her best friend.
She was raised as a cannibal.
It’s the summer of 1965, and twenty-year-old Mallory can’t imagine a life outside of the lakeside town where she was raised by her older brothers. She’s comfortable there and settled in routine. Plus, her family has been butchering and consuming people without suspicion for well over a decade, and she has no intention of stopping.
When a traveling carnival sets up at the edge of town, Mallory can’t help noticing what a perfect hunting ground it will make. But while she’s selecting and stalking her next victim, mutilated bodies start showing up in the surrounding forest. Though appalled by such mindless violence, she’s not truly worried until the bodies are identified, pointing much closer to home than expected.
Typically, Mallory Rathbone loves the hunt, but it’s never felt quite so important or personal as now.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2025
3 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 23, 2025
4.25 rounded up 💛
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this, which I was extremely grateful for as I loved To Hell You Ride by Carissa, and couldn't wait to jump back into the Carissa-verse, and what an experience it was!
Duck, Hunting is a what I would say a 'cosy-horror' diary entry styled book as well as an inner monologue filled with a loveable cast where we're following our FMC, Mallory Rathbone/Duck/Mallory-mallard, in the summer of 1965 in the town of Delight, Cali. We follow her and her four brothers (Tommy, Graham, Sid and Lyle) who are all active members of their community (rule three 👀), run a BnB and just so happen to eat humans!? Don't you just love it! I was interested to see how Carissa would play out their cann!b@lism, whether it was 'justified' or played on random urges, however I did think it was more acceptable that it was a vigilante style, think Dexter but he also decides he's hungry! And in the words of Mallory, 'There are rules. We aren't barbarians or miscreants', and girl, in this world I agree 😂. We seem them following rules such as 'no killing the innocent' and 'no killing the townsfolk', among other rules - however, are they always going to be followed by everyone?
During our time with Mallory, a carnival comes to town which brings joy, magic and chaos, which just so happens to be what Mallory thinks could be the perfect hunting ground. I loved reading and experiencing the carnival and found that although this was set in the 1960s, I did make me think that carnival vibes will transcend time with their style, especially when they're full of fried foods and thrill rides. Even Mallory herself thought 'a carnival is a place of magic'! We meet some of the carnies during Mallory's visits to the carnival, one in particular that Mallory sets her eye on..! There was some of Mallory's thoughts during her time spent with our carnie which I LOVED, our girl is unhinged and I love her!
We also follow Mallory with her best friend, Olive, who she just so happens to be in love with. And with us being in a 1960s America, where homosexuality was still classed as seen as a crime and (ridiculously) illegal, she does teeter around this and her feelings. Mallory is very headstrong in how she feels, but feels that she will be unable to act on these. I absolutely loved Mallory's inner monologue when she watches Olive dancing at a firepit, what a STUNNING quote!
I also loved Mallory's relationships with her brothers, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning the Rathbone history and how they got to the life they lead now. I've also loved the character art that Carissa has shared with us on her Instagram, by the wonderful @MiaArtsAlice, which really helped in my picturing of the Rathbone clan, and of course we love a red headed troop!
This book played out so well in my mind I could really picture everything I was reading, Carissa has brought such a great fleshed out (pun intended) story with Mallory and her life, I thoroughly enjoyed spending my time in this world and can definitely see me re-reading it! I loved that there were mystery and horror elements, sprinkled with some summer fun, heartbreak and love which made it such a fun experience and an incredible read.
Thank you, Carissa!
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this, which I was extremely grateful for as I loved To Hell You Ride by Carissa, and couldn't wait to jump back into the Carissa-verse, and what an experience it was!
Duck, Hunting is a what I would say a 'cosy-horror' diary entry styled book as well as an inner monologue filled with a loveable cast where we're following our FMC, Mallory Rathbone/Duck/Mallory-mallard, in the summer of 1965 in the town of Delight, Cali. We follow her and her four brothers (Tommy, Graham, Sid and Lyle) who are all active members of their community (rule three 👀), run a BnB and just so happen to eat humans!? Don't you just love it! I was interested to see how Carissa would play out their cann!b@lism, whether it was 'justified' or played on random urges, however I did think it was more acceptable that it was a vigilante style, think Dexter but he also decides he's hungry! And in the words of Mallory, 'There are rules. We aren't barbarians or miscreants', and girl, in this world I agree 😂. We seem them following rules such as 'no killing the innocent' and 'no killing the townsfolk', among other rules - however, are they always going to be followed by everyone?
During our time with Mallory, a carnival comes to town which brings joy, magic and chaos, which just so happens to be what Mallory thinks could be the perfect hunting ground. I loved reading and experiencing the carnival and found that although this was set in the 1960s, I did make me think that carnival vibes will transcend time with their style, especially when they're full of fried foods and thrill rides. Even Mallory herself thought 'a carnival is a place of magic'! We meet some of the carnies during Mallory's visits to the carnival, one in particular that Mallory sets her eye on..! There was some of Mallory's thoughts during her time spent with our carnie which I LOVED, our girl is unhinged and I love her!
We also follow Mallory with her best friend, Olive, who she just so happens to be in love with. And with us being in a 1960s America, where homosexuality was still classed as seen as a crime and (ridiculously) illegal, she does teeter around this and her feelings. Mallory is very headstrong in how she feels, but feels that she will be unable to act on these. I absolutely loved Mallory's inner monologue when she watches Olive dancing at a firepit, what a STUNNING quote!
I also loved Mallory's relationships with her brothers, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning the Rathbone history and how they got to the life they lead now. I've also loved the character art that Carissa has shared with us on her Instagram, by the wonderful @MiaArtsAlice, which really helped in my picturing of the Rathbone clan, and of course we love a red headed troop!
This book played out so well in my mind I could really picture everything I was reading, Carissa has brought such a great fleshed out (pun intended) story with Mallory and her life, I thoroughly enjoyed spending my time in this world and can definitely see me re-reading it! I loved that there were mystery and horror elements, sprinkled with some summer fun, heartbreak and love which made it such a fun experience and an incredible read.
Thank you, Carissa!
May 24, 2025
Where do I begin? This book about a loveable family of cannibals was gorey and violent yes but also so heartwarming.
The whole thing is told in diary entries, which I absolutely loved because we get to see Mallory's thoughts and sense of humor. The little fourth wall breaks when she talks to the "reader who will never be" were super relatable and also adorable and funny. Current events were broken up with stories from the past when Mal was like "wait actually you should know this too" so we get backstory in a way that is relevant and suspenseful. One flashback in particular I was really waiting for 🫣
Mal's relationships with her brothers were portrayed so well, and they were all different. The protectiveness and love even when they were arguing, the teasing, the bits of betrayal and forgiveness, it was all so good. The pining for her best friend?? The "I should just tell her but no I can't but no what if she feels the same but what if she doesn't and I ruin everything" Car please stop making this cannibal so relatable PLEASE I BEG YOU
Mallory and her brothers are supportive and loyal and yes they hunt and eat people but hey nobody's perfect. If you like unhinged girly pop and cannibal-related food euphemisms then this book is for you.
A huge thank you to Carissa Hardcastle not only for the ARC but also the opportunity to be an alpha reader. I'm so honored I got to be involved in your writing process and seeing this book grow was such a cool experience <3
The whole thing is told in diary entries, which I absolutely loved because we get to see Mallory's thoughts and sense of humor. The little fourth wall breaks when she talks to the "reader who will never be" were super relatable and also adorable and funny. Current events were broken up with stories from the past when Mal was like "wait actually you should know this too" so we get backstory in a way that is relevant and suspenseful. One flashback in particular I was really waiting for 🫣
Mal's relationships with her brothers were portrayed so well, and they were all different. The protectiveness and love even when they were arguing, the teasing, the bits of betrayal and forgiveness, it was all so good. The pining for her best friend?? The "I should just tell her but no I can't but no what if she feels the same but what if she doesn't and I ruin everything" Car please stop making this cannibal so relatable PLEASE I BEG YOU
Mallory and her brothers are supportive and loyal and yes they hunt and eat people but hey nobody's perfect. If you like unhinged girly pop and cannibal-related food euphemisms then this book is for you.
A huge thank you to Carissa Hardcastle not only for the ARC but also the opportunity to be an alpha reader. I'm so honored I got to be involved in your writing process and seeing this book grow was such a cool experience <3
June 2, 2025
I think Carissa Hardcastle may be the queen of "cozy horror!"
I can safely say that I didn't expect a book about cannibals to be so sweet, wholesome, emotional, and heartwarming while also being perfectly gory and suspenseful!
Carissa writes in a way that sucks you in immediately and holds you in her world until the very last word.
If you like the unhinged vibes of The Ruinous Love Trilogy and enjoyed how cozy and sweet Someone You Can Build A Nest In was, then you will LOVE Duck, Hunting.
I can safely say that I didn't expect a book about cannibals to be so sweet, wholesome, emotional, and heartwarming while also being perfectly gory and suspenseful!
Carissa writes in a way that sucks you in immediately and holds you in her world until the very last word.
If you like the unhinged vibes of The Ruinous Love Trilogy and enjoyed how cozy and sweet Someone You Can Build A Nest In was, then you will LOVE Duck, Hunting.
June 3, 2025
I did not expect a gory book about cannibals to be so cozy and charming. This is such a testament to her writing style to so effortlessly blend such things.
This book being told through diary entries from Duck makes her so relatable and funny and the pacing was immaculate. I literally devoured the ARC for this in just a few hours because of how engaging it was.
This book being told through diary entries from Duck makes her so relatable and funny and the pacing was immaculate. I literally devoured the ARC for this in just a few hours because of how engaging it was.
September 4, 2025
Malloy and her brothers escaped a tragic childhood by resorting to cannibalism to survive. Years later, Hunting and eating humans is just a way of life. Until one day, a traveling carnival comes to town and brutal murders start happening in the woods. Their hunting rules and lives start to crumble when the town starts asking too many questions.
I enjoyed the style this was written in. It made for a quick read. At a certain point, I couldn't put it down and our book club chat was going a little wild with speculation. Most of the characters were fairly complex. Tommy is the protector and provider, while also still being a big brother who will troll and embarrass his siblings. Mallory is a complete sociopath so it's hard to ever really like her or root for her. Sid was the real hero and Makoto was a saint for not running away from the next level family drama immediately.
However, some choices that were made kind of ruined things at the end... spoilers from here on.
1) Sid, you had one job! Sid is the only sane one in the family. He's the "vegetarian" who doesn't consent to their cannibalistic murder lifestyle when it is no longer necessary for their survival. He calls Mallory out for the brainwashing their older brothers did to them and insists that things need to change because none of this is healthy, normal, or needed. I can understand allowing Malloy the grace to ween herself off the murder and man meat. But the fact that he at all consented to Lyle being allowed to be taught how to murder and butcher people if he wanted to defeated the entire point of his objections. That would be grooming and brainwashing Lyle. That would be pulling Lyle, the least messed up one of them, into the toxic and crazy. Your one job was to save Lyle and you failed in the end.
2) Twists require enough hints and foreshadowing so that when the twist is revealed, the reader goes, "omg I see it now!" not, "but that doesn't even make sense."
That's what happened here. MASSIVE SPOILER, the new murders are being done by the entire carnival crew. Which is shocking because, they are dismissed as a suspect IN the book because it would be highly suspicious for there to be several murders in every town the carnival goes to. Fastest way to get caught, right? When we first meet RJ, he is painted as a bad person because she sees him grab a random girl's butt. That's also Mallory's entire justification for planning to murder and eat him. However, every scene after that, he is a perfect gentleman who keeps his hands to himself and let's Mallory lead the natural slow progression of their physical relationship. The same goes for every member of the carnival. The ONLY hint we ever get that any one of them is less than a nice person is RJ touching the girl's butt and then looking at the clown right after. That's it. No other suspicion behavior. It just made it all feel like a lazy cop-out. Especially when the logic issues brought up in the book were never addressed.
I enjoyed the style this was written in. It made for a quick read. At a certain point, I couldn't put it down and our book club chat was going a little wild with speculation. Most of the characters were fairly complex. Tommy is the protector and provider, while also still being a big brother who will troll and embarrass his siblings. Mallory is a complete sociopath so it's hard to ever really like her or root for her. Sid was the real hero and Makoto was a saint for not running away from the next level family drama immediately.
However, some choices that were made kind of ruined things at the end... spoilers from here on.
1) Sid, you had one job! Sid is the only sane one in the family. He's the "vegetarian" who doesn't consent to their cannibalistic murder lifestyle when it is no longer necessary for their survival. He calls Mallory out for the brainwashing their older brothers did to them and insists that things need to change because none of this is healthy, normal, or needed. I can understand allowing Malloy the grace to ween herself off the murder and man meat. But the fact that he at all consented to Lyle being allowed to be taught how to murder and butcher people if he wanted to defeated the entire point of his objections. That would be grooming and brainwashing Lyle. That would be pulling Lyle, the least messed up one of them, into the toxic and crazy. Your one job was to save Lyle and you failed in the end.
2) Twists require enough hints and foreshadowing so that when the twist is revealed, the reader goes, "omg I see it now!" not, "but that doesn't even make sense."
That's what happened here. MASSIVE SPOILER, the new murders are being done by the entire carnival crew. Which is shocking because, they are dismissed as a suspect IN the book because it would be highly suspicious for there to be several murders in every town the carnival goes to. Fastest way to get caught, right? When we first meet RJ, he is painted as a bad person because she sees him grab a random girl's butt. That's also Mallory's entire justification for planning to murder and eat him. However, every scene after that, he is a perfect gentleman who keeps his hands to himself and let's Mallory lead the natural slow progression of their physical relationship. The same goes for every member of the carnival. The ONLY hint we ever get that any one of them is less than a nice person is RJ touching the girl's butt and then looking at the clown right after. That's it. No other suspicion behavior. It just made it all feel like a lazy cop-out. Especially when the logic issues brought up in the book were never addressed.
July 10, 2025
I never thought I would hear the words "cozy" and "horror" in the same sentence, but here we are. The family dynamic between the siblings was so wonderfully wholesome. Couple that with gore and just a general messed up'ness, and you've got this work of grisly art.
It's written in a diary entry format, which took a minute to get used to, but ultimately worked well for this story.
There's a sweet, sapphic romance, cute dogs, and a carnival. What's not to love? Thank you so much to Carissa for the ARC. This is the fourth book of hers I've read, and I've adored each of them.
It's written in a diary entry format, which took a minute to get used to, but ultimately worked well for this story.
There's a sweet, sapphic romance, cute dogs, and a carnival. What's not to love? Thank you so much to Carissa for the ARC. This is the fourth book of hers I've read, and I've adored each of them.
September 6, 2025
Well this was............interesting.
Overall, this novel was interesting and unique and kept me wanting to read. It was the ending that was such a let down. Without giving things away, this had a WEIRD happily ever after kind of ending that does NOT add up. The author tries to convince us that these visitors were not committing the crimes and yet....they were. Then, one brother is like we will never again, then agrees to keep it up. Doesn't really add up in the end.... was good though. Would recommend, with the realization that the ending seems to show the author lost her steam.
Overall, this novel was interesting and unique and kept me wanting to read. It was the ending that was such a let down. Without giving things away, this had a WEIRD happily ever after kind of ending that does NOT add up. The author tries to convince us that these visitors were not committing the crimes and yet....they were. Then, one brother is like we will never again, then agrees to keep it up. Doesn't really add up in the end.... was good though. Would recommend, with the realization that the ending seems to show the author lost her steam.
July 21, 2025
(keep in mind I read an ARC of this book and HAVE NOT READ THE FINISHED COPY YET)
I loved this book, I loved the premise and I loved the characters so much! I just wish Olive was a more prominent character. I also felt that the ending was a tad rushed but like I said I read an UNFINISHED COPY which was about 100 pages shorter than this one so im sure things changed. I highly recommend this book for all who are fans of the dark dark parts of humanity!
I loved this book, I loved the premise and I loved the characters so much! I just wish Olive was a more prominent character. I also felt that the ending was a tad rushed but like I said I read an UNFINISHED COPY which was about 100 pages shorter than this one so im sure things changed. I highly recommend this book for all who are fans of the dark dark parts of humanity!
December 24, 2025
“Anything can happen with just a little bit of know-how and intention.”
I was lucky enough to beta read this book. Carissa is an auto-buy author for me and this vintage horror was a very fun read. The book is written in diary entries from the FMC. There are carnivals and cannibals, sibling drama, and a delightful best friends to lovers sapphic subplot. My personal favorite aspect was the feminine rage. I can’t wait for Carissa’s next book!
Favorite Character: Mallory & Sid
I was lucky enough to beta read this book. Carissa is an auto-buy author for me and this vintage horror was a very fun read. The book is written in diary entries from the FMC. There are carnivals and cannibals, sibling drama, and a delightful best friends to lovers sapphic subplot. My personal favorite aspect was the feminine rage. I can’t wait for Carissa’s next book!
Favorite Character: Mallory & Sid
July 27, 2025
This book was amazing! All of the characters had such good development and I felt like I knew them through the pages. The storyline was unique in a way you were reading about cannibalism, but somehow still sympathetic and supportive of the protagonist.
I totally enjoyed this book, and will definitely be reading more by this author!!!
I totally enjoyed this book, and will definitely be reading more by this author!!!
September 1, 2025
I hoped there was more to the storyline than just cannibalism and I was not disappointed. Definitely check the trigger warnings but I enjoyed the story and how it resolved. There were some very entertaining lines and descriptions.
June 8, 2025
If you like carnivals and cannibals and cute sibling dynamics with a dash of sapphic yearning, you’ll love this. Trust me 🙂↕️
May 31, 2025
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒔. 𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏'𝒕 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅, 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈.
Carissa strikes again for another banger of a story. The Rathbone family is shockingly wholesome for a group of cannibals. Taking place in the 1960s, this book oozes with that aesthetic. The carnival especially stood out to me as well written, and the descriptions really transport you into the little town of Delight. The story is told through diary entries written by the FMC, Mallory, or Duck to her brothers. (I am actually embarrassed how long it took me to realize why that's her nickname). Through Mallory's words, we get the history of the Rathbone siblings, how they came to be who they are, and why they are the way they are now.
When a carnival rolls into town, the life Mallory loves comes crashing down around her when bodies start turning up with connections to the family's bed and breakfast. Mallory is steadfast in her belief the accusations against two of her brothers are false, but maybe everyone isn't as convinced...
Carissa strikes again for another banger of a story. The Rathbone family is shockingly wholesome for a group of cannibals. Taking place in the 1960s, this book oozes with that aesthetic. The carnival especially stood out to me as well written, and the descriptions really transport you into the little town of Delight. The story is told through diary entries written by the FMC, Mallory, or Duck to her brothers. (I am actually embarrassed how long it took me to realize why that's her nickname). Through Mallory's words, we get the history of the Rathbone siblings, how they came to be who they are, and why they are the way they are now.
When a carnival rolls into town, the life Mallory loves comes crashing down around her when bodies start turning up with connections to the family's bed and breakfast. Mallory is steadfast in her belief the accusations against two of her brothers are false, but maybe everyone isn't as convinced...
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews