What do you think?
Rate this book
WHAT KILLS YOU: A Survival Thriller
Five strangers forced into a deadly game. But one of them is here by choice—and the hunters are about to become the real prey.
In the depths of the Panamanian jungle, the rich have created the ultimate blood sport—hunting humans for pleasure. When Professor Tyler Dawson is abducted and forced to participate, he believes his troubled past has finally caught up with him. But among his fellow prey are hardened criminals and an individual who may be playing both sides.
As the hunt unfolds, Dawson realizes this is more than just some twisted game for the ultra-rich. Someone has orchestrated his particular presence, and survival will require more than just outlasting the next 48 hours as he attempts to trek sixteen miles to freedom.
To escape this green hell, Dawson must evade trained killers, treacherous terrain, and his own demons, while deciding whether to trust the other participants, who may be as dangerous as the hunters themselves.
In the depths of the Panamanian jungle, the rich have created the ultimate blood sport—hunting humans for pleasure. When Professor Tyler Dawson is abducted and forced to participate, he believes his troubled past has finally caught up with him. But among his fellow prey are hardened criminals and an individual who may be playing both sides.
As the hunt unfolds, Dawson realizes this is more than just some twisted game for the ultra-rich. Someone has orchestrated his particular presence, and survival will require more than just outlasting the next 48 hours as he attempts to trek sixteen miles to freedom.
To escape this green hell, Dawson must evade trained killers, treacherous terrain, and his own demons, while deciding whether to trust the other participants, who may be as dangerous as the hunters themselves.
- GenresEbooks
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 19, 2025
addictive and shocking!
If you're looking for thrills, this is it, look no further! I'm sure many of us have thought about what would it be like to be on an island, isolated from others, and what would we want to have, and who would we want there with us. This is nothing like that! From the very beginning of their stay, lies are in place. We will see how far desperation pushes some of the people involved. A brother and sister who no longer have love between them. One man's twisted obsession! One woman who's trying to correct it all. Something must give! I can't wait to read the next book and the series.
If you're looking for thrills, this is it, look no further! I'm sure many of us have thought about what would it be like to be on an island, isolated from others, and what would we want to have, and who would we want there with us. This is nothing like that! From the very beginning of their stay, lies are in place. We will see how far desperation pushes some of the people involved. A brother and sister who no longer have love between them. One man's twisted obsession! One woman who's trying to correct it all. Something must give! I can't wait to read the next book and the series.
April 24, 2025
I received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The story follows a group of wealthy individuals who have paid money to hunt humans. The individual where it has been taking place has been running it for several years. The prey this time are a mixed group rather than criminals that normally are used. The rules give the hunters two days to make their kill and they must adhere or face consequences.
The individuals being hunted this time are comprised of a professor, a priest, a detective, a woman grifter and a teenage girl. The professor has been chosen by the person in charge because of something that he did which caused harm. There was one other in the group that different than described.
Read along and discover what they people being hunted had to overcome and what actions they took to try and stay out of harm's way. Read the exiting conclusion to discover how it all worked out in the end. It is completely unexpected!
The story follows a group of wealthy individuals who have paid money to hunt humans. The individual where it has been taking place has been running it for several years. The prey this time are a mixed group rather than criminals that normally are used. The rules give the hunters two days to make their kill and they must adhere or face consequences.
The individuals being hunted this time are comprised of a professor, a priest, a detective, a woman grifter and a teenage girl. The professor has been chosen by the person in charge because of something that he did which caused harm. There was one other in the group that different than described.
Read along and discover what they people being hunted had to overcome and what actions they took to try and stay out of harm's way. Read the exiting conclusion to discover how it all worked out in the end. It is completely unexpected!
May 24, 2025
4.5 STARS ROUNDED UP
Another hit by this author! This was easily 5 stars, but I wanted to know what happened to one of the hunters, D.F? I went back and did a search in the book, and no mention of his outcome.
The story has shades of survivor and in how they are pitted against each other or are they. Many surprises and twists that this author always delivers. This will keep you guessing who is assisting the prey and it was epic!
Story is filled with suspense, violence and for a rather short story the characters are written with such depth. As with this genre, crude words were used.
No cheating, no cliffhanger and a storyline that was engaging and set at a perfect pace. I can't improve on the blurb, just giving you extra tidbits to decide to purchase, which I do recommend. (ljb)
Another hit by this author! This was easily 5 stars, but I wanted to know what happened to one of the hunters, D.F? I went back and did a search in the book, and no mention of his outcome.
The story has shades of survivor and in how they are pitted against each other or are they. Many surprises and twists that this author always delivers. This will keep you guessing who is assisting the prey and it was epic!
Story is filled with suspense, violence and for a rather short story the characters are written with such depth. As with this genre, crude words were used.
No cheating, no cliffhanger and a storyline that was engaging and set at a perfect pace. I can't improve on the blurb, just giving you extra tidbits to decide to purchase, which I do recommend. (ljb)
April 24, 2025
A prime example of Sawyer's uniquely intense brand of storytelling
WHAT KILLS YOU is a standalone novel about 5 strangers, brought together in a remote area of South America to be hunted for sport. Until the very end, you never know who to trust and who is waiting to stab you in the back. The characters are well developed for a book of this length, and, as one should expect from anything Sawyer writes, the plot, pace, setting, dialog and every aspect of the writing is supremely well crafted. Recommended for fans of Sawyer and fans of books like The Most Dangerous Game and The Manhattan Hunt Club, and and fans of tightly written thrillers! 5/5 stars!
WHAT KILLS YOU is a standalone novel about 5 strangers, brought together in a remote area of South America to be hunted for sport. Until the very end, you never know who to trust and who is waiting to stab you in the back. The characters are well developed for a book of this length, and, as one should expect from anything Sawyer writes, the plot, pace, setting, dialog and every aspect of the writing is supremely well crafted. Recommended for fans of Sawyer and fans of books like The Most Dangerous Game and The Manhattan Hunt Club, and and fans of tightly written thrillers! 5/5 stars!
August 4, 2025
There is lots of good and bad action.
There is lots of good and bad action just like good and bad people in the book. The author does a good job of explaining the background for the characters, so you understand the people and what makes them do what they do in the story. The bad people have control through most of the book, but they had a change coming they couldn’t control. The author has a good story line and does a good job of following it. The book makes the think of the wrong man does to man and how messed up some people’s mind is. A good book to read.
There is lots of good and bad action just like good and bad people in the book. The author does a good job of explaining the background for the characters, so you understand the people and what makes them do what they do in the story. The bad people have control through most of the book, but they had a change coming they couldn’t control. The author has a good story line and does a good job of following it. The book makes the think of the wrong man does to man and how messed up some people’s mind is. A good book to read.
April 7, 2025
An adventure in the jungle with survival the hopeful outcome. A well written thriller with a good storyline and outstanding characters. Contains plenty of action, lots of suspense, and an unexpected ending. A page turning read that I enjoyed and highly recommend. Read it to see who survives the hunters.
May 30, 2025
2.75 stars (?)
was debating on 2.5 but everyone seemed to love this book so i felt bad. it was like mid. nothing too crazy yk.
the character development was eh. but also i’ve never rly read thrillers before so i actually dunno what i was supposed to expect😭😭😭 it was giving hunger games except the game masters are more involved. idk what else to say😭
was debating on 2.5 but everyone seemed to love this book so i felt bad. it was like mid. nothing too crazy yk.
the character development was eh. but also i’ve never rly read thrillers before so i actually dunno what i was supposed to expect😭😭😭 it was giving hunger games except the game masters are more involved. idk what else to say😭
April 23, 2025
II found this story interesting with good plot, and characters was well done, from the beginning to the end of the book I recommend this book by the author as well as all the other ones the author has written.
April 24, 2025
An academic is lured to the dense rain forest, supposedly to do research, but really to be the prey in a human hunt. The plot is nothing we haven't seen before, but the execution is well done, and there is a good twist toward the end.
Sawyer keeps churning out good reading material.
Sawyer keeps churning out good reading material.
May 26, 2025
Almost
This story starts out fine. Good characters, interesting albeit dated storyline, and relatively believable. Unfortunately, the end was too unrealistic, too much of a stretch.
This story starts out fine. Good characters, interesting albeit dated storyline, and relatively believable. Unfortunately, the end was too unrealistic, too much of a stretch.
March 16, 2026
A good thriller
From the beginning to the end, this book is a good thriller. With just enough left unsaid to keep you guessing, and clues scattered along the way it makes for a great read! Enjoy!
From the beginning to the end, this book is a good thriller. With just enough left unsaid to keep you guessing, and clues scattered along the way it makes for a great read! Enjoy!
April 30, 2025
Great book
I have read all of the books that author has published and they are all great and this book is no exception
I have read all of the books that author has published and they are all great and this book is no exception
May 16, 2025
3.5 stars
May 22, 2025
What kills you
Very good read. I couldn't stop, don't want to stop reading. I would love to read a sequel to this
Very good read. I couldn't stop, don't want to stop reading. I would love to read a sequel to this
May 22, 2025
Good Book
This was a good book about survival. The good people in this book were amazing. JT Sawyer is a good author.
This was a good book about survival. The good people in this book were amazing. JT Sawyer is a good author.
May 31, 2025
Thrilling
Never would have guessed at the ending
I found I was rooting for the wrong people, and the one's I loved, well....
I'll be back for more of his books
Never would have guessed at the ending
I found I was rooting for the wrong people, and the one's I loved, well....
I'll be back for more of his books
April 20, 2026
wasn't super into the writing but it was like squid games in the jungle so that was pretty interesting
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews