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The Hunted
“The most dangerous predators are those who were once prey.”
That’s the mantra Brian Summers lives by as he navigates life after his abduction as a nine-year-old child, taking the law and justice into his own hands when the justice system can’t… or won’t… do what needs to be done. But no one, not even the bearer, can know the impact of brandishing a grudge. When Brian’s life is ripped apart, he finds himself right back in the town from which he fled when his daughter disappeared and his wife died—the quiet, small retirement town of Brooksdale.
While the postcards show picturesque views and magazine worthy hiking trails, the locals and Brian know that the Hokey Forest holds secrets and a history far darker than the tourists can see in the light of day. For Brian, the trail is a circle, and the epicenter is far too familiar.
Everything ends right where it began.
That’s the mantra Brian Summers lives by as he navigates life after his abduction as a nine-year-old child, taking the law and justice into his own hands when the justice system can’t… or won’t… do what needs to be done. But no one, not even the bearer, can know the impact of brandishing a grudge. When Brian’s life is ripped apart, he finds himself right back in the town from which he fled when his daughter disappeared and his wife died—the quiet, small retirement town of Brooksdale.
While the postcards show picturesque views and magazine worthy hiking trails, the locals and Brian know that the Hokey Forest holds secrets and a history far darker than the tourists can see in the light of day. For Brian, the trail is a circle, and the epicenter is far too familiar.
Everything ends right where it began.
201 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2025
6 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 30, 2025
OMG—what did I just read?! My mind is completely blown. “The Hunted” by Tayler Vaughn, is a raw, intense, and twist-filled story packed with grief, trauma, and a burning need for revenge. Tayler Vaughn has done it again—just when I thought I had things figured out, she flipped the entire story on its head. Over and over. The twists were wild, and every page had me holding my breath. I couldn’t put it down. This book deserves way more than 5 stars—it’s that good. A psychological rollercoaster I never wanted to get off. I absolutely loved it!
September 30, 2025
When I tell you I could not put this book down I’m not exaggerating! This book was a wild ride when I got to the end of the book I literally stared at a wall for a few minutes. This book reminded me of shutter island, where Leonardo DiCaprio is at the ending and just standing there saying “what the f is going on”!!! I truly felt this way. I encourage you to run not walk to read this book, preorder it and thank me later. I promise you won’t guess anything that happens and you won’t be disappointed. Tayler hats off to you girly you knocked it outta the park again!!!
September 7, 2025
Y’all… 😳🔥 This book chewed me up, spit me out, and then whispered “check the shadows” while I was trying to sleep.
Brian Summers isn’t your clean-cut hero—he’s raw, broken, and terrifyingly human. Once a child abductee, now a vigilante who hunts predators like wolves stalk prey, Brian makes you root for him even while you wonder if you’d survive a single conversation with him. You can taste the metallic fear, feel the sting of every mistake, and hear the silence of the snow-covered streets closing in.
The plot? Full-body chills. Twisty, brutal, unrelenting. Vaughn peels back layers of horror and grief until you’re gasping and muttering “no way” while flipping pages like your life depends on it. The writing is sharp as broken glass, smooth as black ice—no filler, just storytelling that stalks you long after you close the book.
The Hunted doesn’t just tell a story—it haunts you. Violent, tragic, breathtakingly smart. Read it… but maybe leave the lights on. 💀🖤
Brian Summers isn’t your clean-cut hero—he’s raw, broken, and terrifyingly human. Once a child abductee, now a vigilante who hunts predators like wolves stalk prey, Brian makes you root for him even while you wonder if you’d survive a single conversation with him. You can taste the metallic fear, feel the sting of every mistake, and hear the silence of the snow-covered streets closing in.
The plot? Full-body chills. Twisty, brutal, unrelenting. Vaughn peels back layers of horror and grief until you’re gasping and muttering “no way” while flipping pages like your life depends on it. The writing is sharp as broken glass, smooth as black ice—no filler, just storytelling that stalks you long after you close the book.
The Hunted doesn’t just tell a story—it haunts you. Violent, tragic, breathtakingly smart. Read it… but maybe leave the lights on. 💀🖤
August 7, 2025
Tayler has once again knocked it out of the park with this psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end! Just when you think you have it all figured out there is another twist that you didn’t see coming.
September 9, 2025
A thrilling ride from start to finish-buckle up for unexpected twists and turns along the way.
July 5, 2025
The Hunted follows Brian Summers, a man with a past full of trauma. Kidnapped and abused when he was a boy (and the kidnapper getting away) Brian already had demons to fight when the worst happened. His daughter was kidnapped, but unlike him, was never found. Now years later, Brian hunts those who hunt the weak, and this may just be his biggest hunt yet.
Following a trail that seems to lead back to what happened to him and his daughter, Brian learns that not everyone is who they say they are, and everything he thought he knew isn’t what it seems. The Hunted deals with trauma, betrayal, and a twist that you won’t see coming!
Following a trail that seems to lead back to what happened to him and his daughter, Brian learns that not everyone is who they say they are, and everything he thought he knew isn’t what it seems. The Hunted deals with trauma, betrayal, and a twist that you won’t see coming!
July 9, 2025
After all the trauma and turmoil Brian Summers has faced through his life, the hunted becomes the hunter.
From surviving an abduction as a child to losing his daughter to a serial killer, Brian turns the tables, and the prey becomes the predator taking you along for the ride and what a wild ride it is!
Buckle your seat belts and hang on as the twists and turns are liable to give you whiplash.
This book will grab you from the first page and keep you on the edge of your seat with anticipation.
From surviving an abduction as a child to losing his daughter to a serial killer, Brian turns the tables, and the prey becomes the predator taking you along for the ride and what a wild ride it is!
Buckle your seat belts and hang on as the twists and turns are liable to give you whiplash.
This book will grab you from the first page and keep you on the edge of your seat with anticipation.
July 4, 2025
The ability Tayler has to wrap me up in every book she writes is astounding! After reading this I don’t know black from white or up from down. I thought I had it all figured out, well I was wrong….. like big time wrong. This had me gripping the edge of my seating hoping there were just a few more pages so I could make it all make sense. Add it to your TBR for sure!
June 27, 2025
I HAVE NO WORDS.
It was easy to get into because it was giving ‘Dexter’ vibes right from the jump. Everytime I thought I knew what was going on, BAM- a twist that left me like WHAT!
It was such a crazy ride that I could not put down! Such a good quick thriller!
It was easy to get into because it was giving ‘Dexter’ vibes right from the jump. Everytime I thought I knew what was going on, BAM- a twist that left me like WHAT!
It was such a crazy ride that I could not put down! Such a good quick thriller!
June 29, 2025
Brian is haunted by his childhood abduction and uses this as motivation to hunt those that hurt others. After his daughter Dee is abducted at 8 years old and never recovered, his life spirals and he hunts those serials killers that took his him as well as his daughter. This book was difficult for me to get into as I found it slow and lacking emotion in the beginning but about 1/3 the way through, it picked up and then the ending really through me for a loop! What a twist…excellent writing. But the very last chapter confused the heck out of me and now I don’t know what really happened at all! It was definitely a cliffhanger! An entertaining read. I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 9, 2025
OH...MY...What did I just read?!?!?!?!?!?
While I felt this started out a little slow, it certainly didn't end that way! About halfway through, I had 2 definitely AUDIBLE gasps! Then, the twists came. And boy did they hit!!!! WOWZA!!! I thought I had figured out "who dunnit." I was partly right, but not completely! This was an INCREDIBLE book!!! So good that at about 50% in, I couldn't stop reading and had to stay up to finish it! It was definitely worth it!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!! This was the first book I've read from this author, but I can tell you that this will not be my last! Tayler Vaughn is forever added to my "favorite author" list!
While I felt this started out a little slow, it certainly didn't end that way! About halfway through, I had 2 definitely AUDIBLE gasps! Then, the twists came. And boy did they hit!!!! WOWZA!!! I thought I had figured out "who dunnit." I was partly right, but not completely! This was an INCREDIBLE book!!! So good that at about 50% in, I couldn't stop reading and had to stay up to finish it! It was definitely worth it!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!! This was the first book I've read from this author, but I can tell you that this will not be my last! Tayler Vaughn is forever added to my "favorite author" list!
September 30, 2025
I’m a huge fan of thrillers, especially the kind that keep you guessing the whole way through. I always try to figure out the twists early—and I’m usually wrong—and The Hunted totally got me. I did not see that ending coming at all.
This book had just the right amount of suspense. It kept me hooked from the start, and I honestly couldn’t stop thinking about it during the day. I just wanted to get home, curl up, and finish it. The pacing was great, the mystery kept me guessing, and the payoff was completely worth it.
If you’re into thrillers that mess with your head a little and keep you turning pages late into the night, definitely check this one out.
This book had just the right amount of suspense. It kept me hooked from the start, and I honestly couldn’t stop thinking about it during the day. I just wanted to get home, curl up, and finish it. The pacing was great, the mystery kept me guessing, and the payoff was completely worth it.
If you’re into thrillers that mess with your head a little and keep you turning pages late into the night, definitely check this one out.
October 29, 2025
Review Time.
The Hunted by Tayler Vaughn-Author
It has been a long time since a novel has brought tears to my eyes. I regret not sitting down and reading this sooner.
The Hunted is a suspense/thriller that grabs your attention from the first page and doesn't let go. Vaughn has a way with tugging on my heart strings, there were times I felt Brian's anger and mourned alongside him.
Just when I thought I had a lead, she tossed me off her trail at every turn.
Plot twist that Frieda McFadden would be proud of.
The Hunted by Tayler Vaughn-Author
It has been a long time since a novel has brought tears to my eyes. I regret not sitting down and reading this sooner.
The Hunted is a suspense/thriller that grabs your attention from the first page and doesn't let go. Vaughn has a way with tugging on my heart strings, there were times I felt Brian's anger and mourned alongside him.
Just when I thought I had a lead, she tossed me off her trail at every turn.
Plot twist that Frieda McFadden would be proud of.
October 29, 2025
rounding up from 4.5 stars
This book was so much more than I expected! I love vigilante characters so I figured I'd enjoy the plot, but as new characters were introduced, my suspect list grew. Even including the main character himself. I didn't know what to think. Then as the story comes to a conclusion, twist! At that point I thought it was all over, but oh no! Jaw dropping moment! Then the last sentence! Is there going to be another book? By the time I finished binging this book, I'd had such a range of emotions with my final one being, "well what the hell does that mean?!?".
This book was so much more than I expected! I love vigilante characters so I figured I'd enjoy the plot, but as new characters were introduced, my suspect list grew. Even including the main character himself. I didn't know what to think. Then as the story comes to a conclusion, twist! At that point I thought it was all over, but oh no! Jaw dropping moment! Then the last sentence! Is there going to be another book? By the time I finished binging this book, I'd had such a range of emotions with my final one being, "well what the hell does that mean?!?".
June 30, 2025
Ok people, stop what you’re doing and add this book to cart/list/whatever you do! Tayler has done it again with this spine-chilling murder mystery novel. Just when you think you figure out who is what, or what happened where, you’re hit with a ginormous tornado of a twist. Her writing is a descriptive delight! Buy this book, you won’t regret it! I can say I’ll definitely never read a murder mystery the same way again…
October 8, 2025
What an experience!! I am still recovering! The author's talent for crafting sharp twists and turns is evident on every page. This book makes you seriously question everything! It is a mind-warping puzzle box of perception. If you’re looking for a book that will absolutely cut you to the edge of your seat, stop what you are doing and buy this now.
October 14, 2025
Twisted Thriller
If you are looking for a thriller that is completely twisted and will keep you on the edge of your seat turning pages, then this book is for you.
The author has a way of telling the story to make you feel like you are right there going through exactly what the character is and all the emotions they feel.
Oh and the ending I didn't see that coming at all.
If you are looking for a thriller that is completely twisted and will keep you on the edge of your seat turning pages, then this book is for you.
The author has a way of telling the story to make you feel like you are right there going through exactly what the character is and all the emotions they feel.
Oh and the ending I didn't see that coming at all.
July 5, 2025
From the very first page, this book grabs you and refuses to let go. Tayler Vaughn weaves a chilling tale of murder, redemption, and an ending so shocking it will leave you absolutely speechless.
September 3, 2025
“The Hunted” is intense, and twist-filled story packed with grief, trauma, and pay back. The twists were wild, and every page kept you on your toes. I absolutely loved it! This book was AMAZING and deserves an award! All of her books are amazing. I can't wait to see what comes out next!
October 11, 2025
wow! what a great twist and fast paced book. Couldn't putt it down! first book by this author and will be reading more.
October 25, 2025
Amazing read!!! Thrilling, couldn’t put it down! Loved the ending! The skills of the author shine, I will definitely be reading more of their work! 🔥
October 24, 2025
Thought I had it figured out-wrong! Absolutely amazing read!!
September 15, 2025
A roller coaster ride that will leave you staring at the wall wondering ‘WTF’ and searching for answers.
If this type of book is what you’re looking for, then buckle up Buttercup.
The Hunted features Brian Summers, a divorced father of two. His son is in med school and his daughter was abducted at age 8 from his front yard. Brian never really recovered from this tragedy. And it defines his life.
His basement is what certain nightmares are made of, only to individuals who are special enough to make it on his murder board. Those people get special attention they weren’t looking for. You see, they thought they were the predator but they were wrong. Unfortunately, they learn this too late.
Similarity, Brian is still learning and what he learns, he finds out the hard way.
Or
Does
He?
If this type of book is what you’re looking for, then buckle up Buttercup.
The Hunted features Brian Summers, a divorced father of two. His son is in med school and his daughter was abducted at age 8 from his front yard. Brian never really recovered from this tragedy. And it defines his life.
His basement is what certain nightmares are made of, only to individuals who are special enough to make it on his murder board. Those people get special attention they weren’t looking for. You see, they thought they were the predator but they were wrong. Unfortunately, they learn this too late.
Similarity, Brian is still learning and what he learns, he finds out the hard way.
Or
Does
He?
November 12, 2025
This book had me on the edge of my seat with anticipation from the first page!
It takes you on a wild ride of unexpected twists and turns through out the life of Brian Summers as he turns from prey to predator.
It takes you on a wild ride of unexpected twists and turns through out the life of Brian Summers as he turns from prey to predator.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews