The Night Hunter

by Natalie Moss

“A twisty, compulsive read - I couldn’t put it down.”
—Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author of The Sanatorium

In a remote corner of the South African bush, two sisters reunite to bury a family secret once and for all, but when they’re stranded among the wild animals, they find a predator far more dangerous waiting for them in the shadows. . . .

When their conservationist mother passes, Danielle and her estranged sister Grace must return to their isolated family house nestled within a wild-game reserve. While Grace, their mother’s favorite, clings to nostalgia, only Danielle carries the knowledge of her final “Find the storehouse . . . Burn everything inside.”

To ease the pain of their homecoming—and the tension between them—each sister invites two friends on the two-day journey into the bush. What starts as a safari adventure, turns into a nightmare when one of them is murdered the first morning at the campsite. In the chaos that follows, they crash their vehicle, stranding them, with no way to call for help.

Now, with dwindling supplies and only one rifle, Danielle must lead them on foot across miles of merciless savannah. They have days of walking ahead…if they survive that long. As the group navigates land where every rustle could mean death, a truth someone is sabotaging their escape.

Breathtaking and tense, The Night Hunter maps the treacherous terrain of family duty and loyalty as the two sisters confront what they’ve spent years trying to forget.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Africa, South Africa, Family

Audible Audio

Published July 28, 2026

About the author

Natalie Moss is the author of the adult psychological thriller, The Night Hunter, which is planned to debut in July 2026, and has sold in five territories. She is a Filipina-South African, born and raised in Manila, Philippines, and has gone on safaris since she was three years old. An Oxford graduate, Natalie has lived in seven countries, including the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, and Spain, and has now settled in London. She's an avid reader of thrillers and crime fiction, and is obsessed with solving the puzzle of a good mystery.

For more information about her books, check out her website.

Reviews

[♥ Sandi ❣]

4 stars Thank you to BookBrowse and Berkley for the ARC and NetGalley for the download in return for an unbiased opinion. Book publishes July 28, 2026

Wow! Great job for a debut author. This book grabbed me right from the start. Very few fiction books are written about game preserves. That subject is usually reserved for nonfiction. But Moss took it on and did a great job of story telling.

Sisters headed back to the house they grew up in - that sits in the middle of a wild game preserve. After their mothers death there are things to clear up. However each sister has her own idea of how that will happen. And that is to say nothing of the multiple deaths that occur along the way.

Great character development, good plot, a page turner. I will watch for Natalie Moss's name to come up again.

[Brea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Night Hunter by Natalie Moss is survival suspense at its most feral—claustrophobic, nerve-shredding, and relentlessly immersive. Moss drops the reader straight into the South African bush and never lets up, using the landscape as both setting and weapon. Sisters Danielle and Grace, still fractured by old trauma, return to their mother Elizabeth’s conservation reserve expecting closure and instead find themselves pulled into a nightmare where grief, secrets, and violence collide. Alongside Elliot, Naomi, and local guide Jacques, they’re forced to navigate not only an unforgiving wilderness but the far more dangerous predators hiding within it. The writing is sharp and cinematic, packed with sensory detail—you can feel the press of the forest, hear every snapped twig, sense the constant watchfulness just beyond the tree line. Moss excels at tension, letting dread seep in slowly before tightening the screws, and the themes of conservation, legacy, and human greed deepen the stakes without slowing the pace. While a few character choices felt more plot-driven than emotionally grounded for me, the overall experience is gripping, atmospheric, and compulsively readable. This is the kind of thriller that makes your pulse spike and your surroundings fade away—wild, brutal, and impossible to ignore.
Thank you to Natalie Moss, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the eARC

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book to be a pretty good thriller, though I somehow initially (very mistakenly) thought this would be a family drama - it was not!!! There were definitely parts where I could not put the book down because I wanted to see if my theories were correct - some were and some were not (haha). As a result, I read the book very quickly and felt it was a solid read overall. I enjoyed the setting: an animal reserve/protection zone - that was unique in my reading history. The plot was also pretty good, though the ending was far too bow-tied for my liking - everything just wrapped up so nicely and after the rest of the plot, it felt more forced or fake than usual. The twists and turns did keep me guessing and it sure ratcheted up the suspense factor! The characters, though, were rather flat and overall I found them all to be pretty intolerable. In summing up this feedback, I’d recommend this book; I did enjoy it and think others works enjoy it, as well.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

A chilling tale of survival in the South African bush. A touching sister story. A suspenseful closed circle mystery. A young woman trying to fulfill her mother's last wish, left in a mysterious note.

This debut novel is tense and filled with larger than life details about South African wildlife. Danielle, a London lawyer, heads to South Africa after the death of her mother. She, along with her boyfriend and best friend, team up with her sister, her sister's friend and a guide to head to her mother's isolated homestead. But an accident leaves them stranded and, as they attempt to reach the home by foot, they begin to die one by one.

Perfect for fans of Taylor Adams, this tense thriller is a thrilling survival story as well as a story of family reconciliation. Just a warning that the body count (animal and human) is high!

Thanks to Berkley for providing an advance copy for review!

[Katie | katieturnsthepage · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts! 💚 But oh WOW, I literally just finished this about a minute ago and had to start writing my review immediately because have such strong feelings about this one. I seriously considered DNFing it at 90%, and then again at 94%…that’s how annoyed I was. 😑 If you’re one of those people who don’t like negative reviews, just look away now! Lol

This was actually one of my most anticipated reads this year — when I first read the synopsis, I thought it would be great. I loved the sound of the African setting, and it seemed like a great backdrop for a thriller. But the characters and the storyline left a LOT to be desired. Our FMC, Danielle, is the cause of literally everything bad that happens in this book (seriously, who grabs at a steering wheel when someone else is driving?? Especially in the middle of nowhere in Africa??) She makes stupid decision after stupid decision, and then doesn’t have the balls to admit when she’s done something wrong. Her distrust of EVERYONE in the story was incredibly off-putting….she seems to distrust one character for no reason at all, other than the fact that he seems to have a crush on her sister? Speaking of which, she treats her sister like a child throughout the book, which is ironic because her sister is far more capable than she is! Arghhhh I hated Danielle so much. 😆

And then something happened at about 90% that made me firmly settle on 1⭐️ for this book….obviously I don’t want to give spoilers, but I actually went “Are you serious?” when I got to this part. 🤬 Then at 94%, Danielle YET AGAIN does something completely INEXPLICABLE which again made me want to DNF because I was so angry! And I sort of wish I had, because the ending was kind of….confusing?

Okay yes, I’ve complained enough….seriously though, I think there are a lot of people that would actually enjoy this book, so don’t necessarily go by my review if you like the synopsis! It was just one of those rare books that had me rage-reading. 😆

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.


This was such an immersive, atmospheric survival thriller and I was locked in for most of it.

Two estranged sisters reunite in the South African bush after their conservationist mother dies, and what starts as a tense, emotional homecoming turns into a literal nightmare when someone in their group is murdered and they end up stranded in the wild. The setting alone? Incredible. You can feel the heat, the isolation, the constant danger. I genuinely felt like I learned a lot about wildlife and conservation, which made everything feel even more real.

The first half had amazing pacing. It was tense, gripping, and I flew through it. Natalie Moss is such a strong writer when it comes to evoking emotion — the sister dynamic, the resentment, the grief, all of it felt layered and believable.

The second half slowed down a bit for me, pacing-wise. But there was one major twist/event that I absolutely did NOT see coming. It was crazy… but in a way that felt realistic. And I personally love that. Even though this is fiction, I appreciate when big moments feel grounded and plausible instead of over-the-top for shock value.

Overall, this is a beautifully written, emotionally charged survival thriller with a vivid setting and one seriously unexpected turn. Definitely recommend if you love wilderness settings and messy family dynamics mixed with danger.

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Received ARC from publisher*

2.5 stars (rounded up for interesting plot)

........MAJOR SPOILER.......

I don't normally go on rants about the author's choice to kill off characters but...

Elliot dies?! Are you kidding me?! I'm so pissed. This was not a short book, and I spent a lot of time in the head of someone I'd really rather not, only for the one truly innocent person in all this to die?! I might as well just watch the news; I could feel this let down but much faster. I'd really rather the MC died, along with all her complaining and martyrdom. I haven't been this pissed at a book in a long time. Though, I don't normally read straight thrillers, so maybe stringing the reader along and harpooning their heart at the end is just par for the course.

Also, I'm so sick of first person and being subjected to strings and strings of annoying thoughts. This book would have been so much better (and shorter) without having to read everything going through MC's mind.

I don't know if authors still make changes after ARCs go out, but if they do, I'm 100% team Save Elliot. The reader deserves as much.

Oh also, you can't say it's "only a flesh wound" without calling to mind Monty Python and immediately ruining the seriousness of the moment.

[callistoscalling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own.

📖 Book Review 📖 Darwin helped us understand so much about how the world works and it’s all about perspective. Whether you prefer to think of it in more scientific terms like natural selection or you just want to hum along to the tune of Disney’s “The Circle of Life”, the same rules apply whether it’s with the animals in the savannah or matters of a grieving family.

There is so much intrigue in the wild animals and rugged landscape of the African safari and The Night Hunter captures that magic right away, creating a suspenseful thriller to match the beautiful scenery. And when a murder occurs on the first night of a five-day safari intended to be a step in the healing process for two sisters left behind after their mother’s death, it’s clear that there’s more to fear than just The Big Five animals.

The Night Hunter is richly atmospheric and rife with the complex layers of human emotions. It’s emotional evocative balanced with so many twists and turns. And even though Natalie Moss’ writing was so stunning and so poignant that I genuinely felt uncomfortable at times, I still have an African safari on my bucket list after this book!

[Tyler Hancsak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay WOW this was very unexpected. The setting helped increase the anxiety the entire time, which I loved. The storyline and how all the characters connected was phenomenal. The twist was unexpected!

There were a lot of sad moments, but it was great to help increase the emotional depth of the storyline.

Really really great debut!

[McKenna (mckennalovescontent) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5???

[Louis (audiobookfanatic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLURB:
Danielle reunites with estranged sister Grace after their mother’s death, but a cryptic final message leads them into South Africa’s remote wilderness, turning their journey into a fight for survival.

REVIEW:
I love reading debut novels & this one is really good! It’s an intense survival thriller with a closed-circle mystery & lots of family secrets. It follows estranged sisters Danielle & Grace forced together after their mother’s death to deal with their childhood home. I loved the South African bush setting—even though there’s a killer, the wildlife is just as threatening. I was terrified reading about all threats they faced. I also loved that the book included a map of the Game Reserve where everything unfolds—I pictured everything & felt immersed!

The novel opens with a dramatic prologue detailing a traumatic event from Danielle & Grace’s childhood, setting up how the sisters became estranged. From there, it’s told in Danielle’s 1st-person POV, & I was invested in her efforts to honour her mother’s cryptic dying wish, but she’s complex!

In South Africa, the sisters ease tensions by bringing companions & there’s an immediate sense something bad’s going to happen—& I felt almost everyone was unlikeable & suspicious. After one of them is murdered, the pacing becomes relentless, with red herrings & twists that kept me guessing!

I loved how the threats came from different directions—dangerous terrain, wildlife, & more. A few supporting characters could’ve been more developed to make a few plot points more believable, but the unraveling of the family secrets and reveals is well done.

By the end, Danielle & Grace are forced to confront their trauma & secrets are exposed. I was on edge during the final scenes with unexpected twists & surprised/entertained by how the survivors acted. If you love action-packed, unguessable, relentless survival thrillers with family secrets, grab this one ASAP. I’ll be eager to see what Natalie writes next!

[Helen Beesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut novel begins on a strong note, sweeping the reader off to the wilds of South Africa, where the humans are much more dangerous than any type of wildlife this small safari might encounter. Filled with secrets, family drama, romance issues, greed and violence Natalie Moss has everything it takes to be a top-notch thriller. However, while Moss’s writing is excellent there are a few things that kept the novel from being great. First only one character is someone, I was rooting for and it was not the main character. All the characters were self absorbed and it was really hard to care what happened to them. Some of the action, at least for me, was confusing. I will say some things that I got hung up on, were explained at the end, but it kept me from enjoying the book as I kept saying, that doesn’t even make sense!  I also found the ‘secrets’ confusing. Quite a bit happens in the last few chapters and at times it was difficult to figure it all out. I also wasn’t happy with how it ended for some of the characters and the reaction of the survivors at the end. Finally, I have no idea where the title The Night Hunter comes from, as it has nothing to do with this book. All and all the writing clearly shows Moss can write and her use of the wilderness of South Africa made this book unique and interesting. I would absolutely try her next book. Many thanks to Bookbrowse.com, Netgalley.com, and Berkley Press for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Karen Bullock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action and adventure keeps the suspenseful thriller hopping as sisters, Danielle and Grace agree to a much needed holiday, several months after their mother’s untimely passing.

Set in the lush yet dangerous land of an African bush reserve, founded by their mother, the sisters invite friends along to hopefully ease the thick tension between themselves and to share in the beautiful landscape of their youth.

Anything but quaint and quiet-the group run into disagreements between friends, a shady tour guide, trail mishaps, a murder most grisly and now on the run from an unknown killer and the backdrop of dangerous wildlife.

A Great first story that creates intrigue and mystery, forgiveness of past mistakes, and hopefully making it out, even as a smaller group. Described scenery is both lush and exotic, yet equally fearful.

Thanks to Berkley for this arc, what a blast!

[Robin | BookAdoration Marchadour · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Night Hunter by Natalie Moss is a gripping survival suspense that takes readers deep into the African wilderness, where dangerous animals lurk around every corner. There’s a mission to accomplish, a killer on the loose, secrets waiting to be uncovered, and a race against time. As if that weren’t enough, someone is determined to sabotage their efforts. The thriller aspect of this novel had me sitting on the edge of my seat!

One of my favourite parts of this book was the incredible setting. Natalie Moss grew up spending time in the African wilderness with her family and even worked at a conservation centre. Her knowledge and love of the African wild truly shone through on every page. The vivid descriptions made me feel completely immersed.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and Berkley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Olive Fellows (abookolive)]

If early reviewers are calling something "immersive" and "nerve-shredding," my ears will perk up, guaranteed.

Two estranged sisters return to their childhood home after their mother’s death, but what’s supposed to be a short trip spirals into chaos when someone in their group is murdered and they’re left stranded out in the wilderness.

I dare you to tell me you're not intrigued. I sure am.

Click here to hear more about this book and my other anticipated releases of the upcoming quarter over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!

[suspenseisthrillingme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hold on just a sec while I catch my breath! A wild ride of complicated relationships, action-packed scenes, and thought-provoking topics, The Night Hunter had me on tenterhooks from beginning to end of this page-turning read. You see, thanks to Moss’s personal experience in the African bush, she created a setting that wasn’t just immersive—it had that character-like feel that you rarely find, especially in a debut. Immersive, claustrophobic, and also downright menacing, it—and the danger it represented—felt oh so very real. At the same time, the story was like a love letter to nature. Bolstered by themes such as conservation, guilt, legacy, and family, as much as this fast-paced game of cat-and-mouse spiked my adrenaline, it also left me thinking long after I flipped the last page. After all, just as much as the electrically charged plot felt deliciously unhinged at times, it also touched on some real world problems that gave this book depth.

So what else did I love about this atmospheric read? Well, in addition to being a fresh take on a survival thriller thanks to the vivid setting, ultra-high stakes, and mounting sense of dread coming from all sides, the fact that it was a locked-room mystery set in the middle of African wilds definitely set it apart. Packed to the brim with nonstop suspense, escalating tension, and razor-sharp life-or-death battles, I flew through this book in no time at all as I raced to find out what was going on. Yup. This was another one-sitting read. Thanks to a strained dynamic between the two sisters, secrets bubbling up between the others, and a lack of help for miles, the plot set me up perfectly to suspect everyone in turn, giving it a very Lucy Foley-meets-Sarah Pearse feel. So if you love edge-of-your-seat tension or gripping adventures, grab this one now. I’ll just be waiting over here impatiently for whatever Moss comes up with next. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Read if you love:
- Books set in the African bush
- Survival thrillers
- Complicated relationships
- Family drama
- Cat-and-mouse games
- Dark secrets
- Evocative descriptions
- A cinematic feel
- Immersive storytelling
- Sharp writing
- A sense of claustrophobia
- Nonstop suspense
- Small casts of characters
- High stakes
- An atmospheric setting
- Red herrings
- Locked-room mysteries

SYNOPSIS:

When their conservationist mother passes, Danielle and her estranged sister Grace must return to their isolated family house nestled within a wild-game reserve. While Grace, their mother’s favorite, clings to nostalgia, only Danielle carries the knowledge of her final request: “Find the storehouse…Burn everything inside.”

To ease the pain of their homecoming—and the tension between them—each sister invites two friends on the two-day journey into the bush. What starts as a safari adventure, turns into a nightmare when one of them is murdered the first morning at the campsite. In the chaos that follows, they crash their vehicle, stranding them, with no way to call for help.

Now, with dwindling supplies and only one rifle, Danielle must lead them on foot across miles of merciless savannah. They have days of walking ahead…if they survive that long. As the group navigates land where every rustle could mean death, a truth emerges: someone is sabotaging their escape.

Thank you Natalie Moss and Berkley Publishing for my complimentary copy. So opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: July 28, 2026

Content warning: animal cruelty/death (off page poaching and nature being nature), car accident, murder/death, gun and knife violence, violence, death of a parent, medical content, mention of: drug use, addiction

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Natalie Moss, and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

New to Natalie Moss’s work, I selected this ARC as an introduction to her writing. The premise immediately caught my attention: a remote South African setting, family secrets, a murder, and a desperate fight for survival on the open savannah. On paper, it had all the ingredients of a gripping thriller. Unfortunately, the execution never lived up to the promise.

Following their mother’s death, sisters Danielle and Grace travel to an isolated family property in rural South Africa. While Grace seeks closure and reconciliation with the past, Danielle carries a final request from their mother—to destroy everything and burn the place to the ground. Accompanied by friends, they embark on a safari adventure that quickly turns deadly when a murder occurs at their camp. Soon after, a car crash leaves them stranded without communication, forcing Danielle to venture out alone in search of help. As suspicion and paranoia grow, she begins to wonder whether someone is deliberately hunting her.

Moss succeeds in creating a vivid sense of place. The South African wilderness is atmospheric and often feels like the novel’s strongest character. There are moments when the isolation and vulnerability of the setting hint at the tense survival thriller this story could have been. However, those moments were not enough to sustain my interest.

The biggest issue was a lack of connection. Despite the danger surrounding them, I never became invested in the characters or their fates. Danielle, Grace, and the supporting cast felt underdeveloped, making it difficult to care about their struggles or the revelations that followed. Without that emotional anchor, much of the suspense fell flat.

Likewise, the pacing often worked against the story. The chapters move quickly, but rather than building momentum, they left me feeling detached. Key developments arrived without the emotional weight needed to make them impactful, and the tension Moss seemed to be aiming for rarely materialized. I kept waiting for the narrative to find its footing and pull me into the mystery, but that moment never came.

What makes the disappointment greater is that the foundation is genuinely strong. The premise is intriguing, the setting is unique, and there are flashes of real potential throughout the novel. Yet for me, the characters, suspense, and emotional engagement never came together in a satisfying way.

There will undoubtedly be readers who connect with this story more than I did, particularly those who enjoy survival thrillers set in harsh and unforgiving landscapes. Sadly, despite my enthusiasm going in, this was a novel that never delivered on its considerable promise.

Kudos, Madam Moss, for an excellent premise and an evocative setting, even if the story itself ultimately failed to capture me.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[J Kromrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the Berkely Publishing group and Netgalley for this outstanding eARC.

I was surprised this was Natalie Moss's debut novel, as it read like it was written by a seasoned professional.

The Night Hunter - in this novel Natalie Moss doesn’t write a mere thriller; she constructs a pressure cooker and slowly turns up the heat until the reader is as breathless as the protagonists. In The Night Hunter, Moss delivers a chilling, atmospheric masterclass in suspense and rich environment.

This story follows Danielle, her sister Grace and their small group of friends as they return to their childhood home and navigate a world few of us will ever be lucky enough to experience.

Natalie Moss brings this rarified world into crystal sharp vision for her readers.

Having been raised in the African outback, the two sisters revisit their newly deceased mother's home as they decide what to do with her house and her sanctuary. However, there there is something—or someone—out in the dense timber, and it isn't just watching; it’s harvesting.
​
​Moss uses the environment as a secondary antagonist in The Night Hunter. . The "Great Green Wall" of the forest feels claustrophobic despite its vastness. You can almost smell the damp earth and feel the cold mist on your skin.
​
While "survival horror" is a well-worn path, Moss avoids the predictable. Danielle, Grace and their friends aren't helpless victims, they are knowledgeable trackers and conservationists who are scrap-metal tough, making choices that feel grounded in raw human instinct, in a world of animals who merely want to be allowed to thrive peacefully. The threat to the endangered wild animals from poachers and other villains mirrors the threat to the young women's very existence.

The narrative structure is lean, it crackles with tension, mystery, suspicion, betrayal and intrigue. . There is very little "fat" in this story; every crack of a twig and every silent shadow serves to tighten the metaphorical noose around the reader’s neck.

​The brilliance of The Night Hunter lies in its restraint. Moss understands that what we don't see is often more terrifying than what we do. The antagonist is handled with a ghostly touch, appearing more as a force of nature than a mere villain, which makes the eventual confrontation feel visceral and earned.

​"A haunting exploration of the thin line between the hunter and the hunted, Moss proves that the most dangerous predators aren't always the ones with claws.

​If you are a fan of psychological tension paired with survivalist grit—think The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon meets Silence of the Lambs—this is an essential addition to your shelf.

Also highly recommended for those who are curious about the amazing animals that most of us will never get to experience unless we visit the amazing South African bush; this story is reflective, suspenseful and educational.

A resounding 5 stars from this grateful reader, this author is definitely one to watch and follow.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A debut novel I’ve been eagerly anticipating this year just came out: The Night Hunter by Natalie Moss. Two sisters, Danielle and Grace, grew up partially on a reserve in South Africa, but the family has become divided over the years. When their mother dies, Danielle and Grace meet up on the reserve, ready to see the family house left to them. It’s a party of six, including the guide, two friends, and Danielle’s boyfriend. But what starts as a simple safari trek through the South African bush quickly turns into a fight for their lives. Danger lurks around every corner, and a murderer is on the reserve, hunting them down.

What I Liked:
- Safari dream turned murderous nightmare. Ever since I saw The Lion King as a kid, I’ve wanted to go on a safari in Africa. Reading a book like The Night Hunter starts off as that escapist dream, but it takes some severe turns along the way. First someone kills the guide, and no, it wasn’t the leopard that was found munching on his body. Then the car crashes and they’re stranded in the bush, at risk of dehydration and exhaustion if they can’t find safety fast enough. And on top of everything, there might be poachers after them too? All in all, this is one of those vacations where everything goes seriously wrong.
- Wild animals. In addition to the dangers of murderers and the unrelenting sun, the group also has another major threat to watch out for: all the wild animals. I love how this book offers such a rich array of African animals, from elephants and rhinos to baboons and hyenas. There are leopards, buffalo, and a wide variety of birds. We get a feel for the diverse plant life, too. It’s an immersive read that feels like a love letter to the wildlife we should aim to protect.
- Complicated family. Danielle and Grace grew up in an unconventional way, largely owing to their mother and her life’s work of protecting South Africa’s animals. But her devotion to her foundation may have left wedges in the family, and Danielle, for one, hasn’t recovered. She and Grace aren’t as close as they could be; Danielle also keeps her boyfriend, Elliot, at arm’s length. The family issues only grow more tangled as the book progresses, making for quite the web by the end.

What Didn’t Work For Me:
- Fate of one character. It’s a spoiler, so that’s all I’ll say.

Final Thoughts
The Night Hunter is a propulsive survival thriller that will have your heart racing even as you marvel at South Africa’s wildlife. It kept me at the edge of my seat, and it kept me guessing, until the shocking reveals at the end. This was an exciting debut, and I look forward to more from Natalie Moss.

Special thanks to the publicists at Penguin Random House, Berkley, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

* Please read my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *

[Carole Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the wild you can't forget where you are...if you want to survive

Danielle, a lawyer living in London, has gone to great lengths to distance herself from her childhood raised in a home on a remote game reserve in South Africa. A near tragedy there almost claimed the life of her younger sister Grace years earlier, though their mother Elizabeth was still living there at the time of her (recen)t death. Now Danielle and Grace, who is working on a degree in environmental studies in Cape Town, must return to the Impala Ridge Private Game Reserve to figure out what to do with the property now that their mother has passed, which given the strained relations between the sisters as well as the emotional nature of the circumstances will not be an easy visit. Each sister brings friends along to help ease the tension, including Danielle's fiancé, but the trip soon enters nightmare territory when one of the group is murdered and their transport is sabotaged. forcing them to make their way to their destination on foot with little in the way of food and water and only one rifle to defend themselves. There are all manner of deadly predators roaming the savannah....and perhaps the most dangerous one of all is human. Can the sisters sort through their issues all while fighting to survive? And is danger closer than they realize?
The Night Hunter is a debut psychological thriller that offers a new spin on survival in a closed group. The remote South African savannah isn't a locked room, but similar rules to that genre of mystery apply....there are a finite number of possible suspects, oodles of motives, with family drams and long-buried secrets interwoven throughout the narrative. The most notable element in the novel is definitely the setting, which author Natalie Moss (whose experiences with safaris and the African bush have helped her to great effect) has conjured into a vivid sense of place). The tale starts out slowly but the tension and suspense ramp up as the narrative unfolds, and the complex dynamic between Danielle and Grace gives the story emotional depth. It at times has a bit too much angst, but I found it a solid thriller with plenty of atmosphere, a great summer read (unless you're planning on taking a safari anytime soon). Readers of Lucy Foley, Andrea Bartz and Jane Harper might find this of appeal, as might fans of thrillers set in remote settings. My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.

[Pamela Shrewsbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚 BOOK REVIEW
THE NIGHT HUNTER
Natalie Moss
⭐️⭐️⭐️

After their conservationist mother dies, estranged sisters Danielle and Grace return to their isolated childhood home deep inside a South African game reserve. Danielle carries one final request from their mother. But before they can uncover the truth, one member of their group is murdered. Then their vehicle crashes, leaving them stranded in dangerous terrain filled with predators, dwindling supplies, and growing suspicion that the killer is still among them. Now the sisters must survive both the wilderness—and each other—if they hope to make it out alive.

———
Thank you to @NetGalley, @berkleypub, and @natmossauthor for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

———
I was immediately drawn in by the premise and the unique South African setting. Natalie Moss does a fantastic job bringing the bush to life. You can almost feel the heat, the isolation, and the constant awareness that danger could be hiding just beyond the next tree.

Unfortunately, the story itself didn’t quite deliver the payoff I was hoping for. The mystery revolves around family secrets, guilt, and betrayal, but many of the reveals felt less impactful than I expected. Once the group is on the run, the story settles into a repetitive pattern of walking, arguing, and constantly looking over their shoulders, which caused the momentum to fade.

Even with the survival elements and frequent danger, I never felt fully immersed in the suspense, and I struggled to connect with the characters, especially Danielle. When the final reveal about who was sabotaging the group and why finally came, it felt more far-fetched than surprising.

The South African setting is easily the standout feature of the novel and gives it a fresh backdrop. I just wish the mystery and emotional payoff had been as memorable as the location itself.

What worked:

* Stunning South African setting
* Unique survival premise

What didn’t quite work for me:

* Limited emotional connection to the characters
* The characters make classic horror-movie decisions that feel more convenient than believable.
* Uneven pacing, especially through the middle.
* Underdeveloped supporting cast.
* Several reveals felt predictable or underwhelming.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

After her mom passes away, corporate lawyer and Londoner Danielle reunites with Grace, her younger sister, whom she’s no longer very close with, to deal with their mom’s home on a South African wildlife reserve. Danielle arrives with her boyfriend, Elliot, and her best friend, Naomi, while Grace brings her childhood friend and field guide, Jacques, along with her friend Lachlan. Having spent so much time away from the traumas of growing up there, Danielle hopes to quickly sort out the house and get along with her sister. Things are immediately thrown off course when she receives a note from her late mother instructing her to burn everything inside the storehouse. From there, nothing goes according to plan. Someone dies, there’s a car wreck, they run out of water, they get lost, and the list goes on. They must work together to make it across the reserve and reach their mom’s house so they can call for help. Meanwhile, no one can trust anyone.

Author Natalie Moss does an excellent job of immersing readers in the setting. She provides vivid details about life on a South African wildlife reserve, which was especially helpful since it’s a setting I, and likely many readers, have never experienced. The descriptions never felt forced or unnecessary. She also expertly builds a suspenseful, tense atmosphere throughout the novel. Experiencing the story through Danielle’s perspective was very effective because, while she grew up visiting the reserve, she had been away for a long time. Danielle’s mix of familiarity and wonder made the setting feel both recognizable and fascinating, allowing readers to experience it alongside her while naturally learning more about the landscape and wildlife.

Where I feel the book fell a little short was in the storyline, particularly toward the end. It kept me guessing, which is exactly what I want in a suspense novel, but some aspects ultimately felt incomplete. The constant twists and shifting directions became a little confusing, and the ending felt rushed. I thought the pacing was excellent through the first two thirds of the book, but everything suddenly accelerated in the final stretch, and I had a hard time adjusting to that change in speed.

I recommend this to thriller, suspense, and mystery lovers, especially if you're looking for a unique setting. I personally haven't read anything quite like it. The premise feels realistic, and the immersive setting is easily one of the book's greatest strengths.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced reader copy!

[Karla K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Their journey through the South African wild-game reserve to visit their remote family home was supposed to bring estranged sisters Dani and Grace back together after their mother’s death. However, when one of their group is murdered and their only vehicle crashed in the chaos, a nostalgic trip quickly becomes a fight for survival in the wild filled with countless predators, both animal and human.

From the beginning, author Natalie Moss fully immersed me in the African bush. The way she described the animals had me simultaneously in awe of their natural beauty and grace but also fearful of exactly how dangerous they could be. An early scene with a leopard was especially chilling in this way, creating the perfect atmosphere for a thriller. The pacing of the story was great too—there was never a “good spot” to put the book down. I was disappointed by one of the central secrets of the book—what happened in Grace and Dani’s childhood—because I felt it had already been revealed to the reader in the prologue. However, Moss taught a master class in the idea that nothing is what it seems, and I was thoroughly impressed by the end of the story. However, I think I would have been more intrigued if I’d known from the beginning that there was more to the story. Instead of thinking I had the full picture. Additionally, I struggled with the death of one character in particular, which made the ending of the book slightly less satisfying. While I don’t want to spoil it, I do think there was a creative way this character could have been spared, and I feel the story and central character development would have been stronger for it. But, the perk of being the author is that they get to make such decisions! Nonetheless, this was the fast-paced, psychological read I was looking for, and I’ll absolutely be watching to see what Moss writes next, as this was only their debut.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for granting me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan Poer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serene wildlife reserve is transformed into a landscape of physical and psychological danger, where predators lurk on two legs as well as four.

We first meet sisters Danielle and Grace as they return to their isolated childhood home following their conservationist mother's death. Their mother's cryptic final instruction was to locate a hidden storehouse and destroy its contents, which sets the story in motion. What begins as a reluctant reunion quickly turns deadly after a murder occurs during a safari excursion, leaving the group stranded in the wilderness with dwindling supplies and a growing suspicion that one of them is a killer.

Moss's greatest strength lies in her setting. Drawing on her extensive experience with African safaris, she creates a vivid and immersive landscape where the environment itself becomes a character. The relentless savannah, dangerous wildlife, and isolation amplify the novel's tension, producing an atmosphere that feels both breathtaking and claustrophobic. The wilderness is not merely a backdrop but an active force shaping every decision and escalating every threat.

The relationship between Danielle and Grace provides the emotional core of the novel. Their fractured bond, shaped by childhood trauma and parental favoritism, adds depth to the thriller elements. As secrets emerge, themes of loyalty, guilt, and the lingering impact of family wounds are highlighted. The mystery unfolds alongside these emotional revelations, giving the story more substance than a conventional survival thriller.

The pacing is relentless. Once the murder occurs, the narrative rarely pauses for breath, balancing survival challenges with a steadily escalating whodunit. The author is good at scattering clues throughout the story while maintaining enough uncertainty to keep the identity of the culprit hidden until the final act. Great twists, atmosphere, and a satisfying conclusion.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great setting is one of the most important things in a book to me, so I got extremely lick when I was gifted a copy of Natalie Moss’s upcoming thriller The Night Hunter from @berkleypub . Set on a wild game preserve in South Africa, sisters with a fractured relationship, Danielle and Grace, return to their home after the death of their mother to carry out her final wish to find the storehouse (located deep in the bush) and to burn everything inside including a family secret. Each sister selects two friends to go with them on their journey on their mission turning it into a safari. But there is more lurking in the bush than wild animals and soon the group realizes that they are game being hunted as a killer stalking them.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Give me a unique and atmospheric setting every day! A thriller with a mystery that crosses generations, where crimes of the past are resurfacing is one of my favorite thriller tropes. This book opens with a bang and the prologue is one I doubt I’ll ever forget- it is shocking and surprising. And what follows is a tense and propulsive thriller where the suspense doesn’t let up. The setting and wild animals added a unique element to the story that I loved. The isolation gave the book a claustrophobic feeling that enhanced the suspense and made the terror palpable. I also really liked the family dynamic as the sisters try to work their way through grief and a terrifying situation.

……. But this was the problem I had. I did not buy that two sisters on a mission to destroy something their mother wanted no one to discover would invite four other people to go with them. This felt like such a manipulation device to make for a more dramatic hunt through the bush and it really bothered me. And in the end it affected my enjoyment of the book. Not bad, but I think it could have been better if this one element had been handled differently. So a little of a mixed bag for me.

[Stephanie Coniff · Rating 4 out of 5]

🐆⛺️🦏 The Night Hunter by Natalie Moss
Genre: Thriller
Length: 352 pages
Pub Date: July 28, 2026
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Summary:
Sisters Dani and Grace come back together after their mother, a conservationist in South Africa, passes away from a scorpion sting. Dani, the eldest, has carried guilt about something that happened to Grace back when they were children living on the conservation land, and has major reservations about going back to their mother's house there. Upon their mother's death, each sister received a final letter, but the cryptic words of Dani's lead her into a trip into the conservation land with her boyfriend Elliot, best friend, Naomi, Grace, and two of Grace's male friends. Something is off about both of these men, and when one of their party gets murdered in the middle of the night, Dani is forced to revert to her survival instinct before she is the next to be hunted...

What is more dangerous: the South African animals in their natural habitat, or the humans who lurk on their home turf?

Review:
Eek! This was a really adventurous and engaging debut novel by Natalie Moss! I loved the setting of the South African wild and the way Dani and Grace had grown up there with their parents. This book makes some serious points about how we treat these animals and how we should respect them in their own environment. I loved how that very warning was built into the motive for the murders in the story and how it was able to connect the two sisters as they tried to survive predators, both animal and human. Every chapter was short, and most left on a cliffhanger, so if you're looking for a fast-paced thriller with a very unique setting, family drama, and one where people just keep getting picked off one by one until its crazy reveal, pick this one up!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @prhaudio for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝!

PLOT OVERVIEW: In a remote corner of the South African bush, two sisters reunite to bury a family secret once and for all, but when they’re stranded among the wild animals, they find a predator far more dangerous waiting for them in the shadows. . . .

MY THOUGHTS: I absolutely loved the intriguing premise of this book set in the African bush. Danielle and her sister, Grace, inherit their deceased conservationist mother’s house and invite two friends each to join them on a journey through various African campsites, traveling by jeep to reach the house situated in the heart of a conservation area. Danielle is surprised when she is handed a private note from her mother warning her to destroy a building on the property and not to say a word to anyone. Things take a dark turn when a shocking murder occurs, and in their panic as they try to escape they become stranded without transportation. With no choice but to travel through the treacherous African terrain on foot, they quickly realize that danger lurks not only in the wild animals but also within their own group.

The narrative is packed with both breathtaking and terrifying animal encounters. I was completely engrossed in the struggle for survival as tensions escalated among the characters. The twists kept me guessing, and despite my suspicions, I found myself completely surprised by the outcome.

Readers who enjoy survivalist thrillers will be captivated by this fascinating story, which unfolds through dual timelines filled with suspense and drama. It’s a thrilling ride that you won’t want to miss!

I listened to this audiobook, and Saskia Maarleveld truly excels at bringing each character to life. Her distinctive voices and the perfect infusion of emotion and drama elevate the storytelling, making every moment feel vivid and engaging!

[Amber Boos · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!! That opening Prologue is absolutely jaw-dropping!!! And the story never loses that momentum! This is by far and away one of the best, if not THE best, debuts I have ever read. After that Prologue, we go to present day where the story starts off pretty typical for these sorts of adventures gone way wrong type stories. I was already picking out who was going to be the first body to drop, and which ones would be the next most expendable. But then the first body dropped. I was quickly reminded that I was reading one of the most exciting, suspenseful, fast-pasted, character driven thrillers that I have ever had the pleasure of reading! Good Gosh, where to start!? Dani and Grace are estranged sisters who partially grew up living on an African game preserve run by their mother. Mom and Grace were still close. Mom and Dani, not so much. Well, Mom has died and the girls go back to close up the house on the preserve and get it ready for sale. As the girls and friends are prepping to hit the Safari trail, Dani is handed a note from their late Mom. It says "Burn everything in the storeroom. Tell no one." Storeroom? Dani has no clue about a storeroom or where it could be and why shouldn't she tell her sister? That's just the beginning. The group takes off across the days long trail. Of course, mayhem ensues. LOTS of mayhem. Dani ends up leading the group in a battle for survival. I don't want to spoil anything plot point wise. Let's just say, I had no idea who to trust. The story is told both in the past and present and both timelines are fascinating. And that setting!! I actually felt as if I were out on the African plains trying to survive! I am already so excited to read more from this author.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Natalie Moss and Berkley Publishing Group for this much appreciated ARC.

[Caitlin Barnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a copy of The Night Hunter by Natalie Moss.

After the death of their mother, two estranged sisters reconnect in South Africa. However, their reunion takes a major turn leaving their party trapped in a living nightmare as their group starts dying off one by one. What begins as a family drama with all of its secrets becomes a chilling experience of survival.

This story had me hooked from the beginning, it takes no time diving in and starting at a sprint right out of the gate. Moss uses the setting as a character unto itself that is unrelenting and ferocious. Every sight and sound the bush evokes is used to create a place that is both seemingly endless and intensely claustrophobic at the same time.

I was surprised that I had a hard time connecting to the characters, especially because the stakes were obviously high. They seemed a little self-centered, which would be understandable when trying to stay alive, but feels like they’re sort of like that all the time. I can’t say that I was really invested in any of them.

I also found the pacing to be a little tough. With the first half starting out at breakneck speed, it took some adjusting when the second half sort of pumped the brakes and slowed down quite a bit. This is definitely a book that you have to read to the end if you want to get your head around the story. There are times along the way when I felt a little lost, but my curiosity kept me going and I’m glad it did. Also, I love when I don’t see a twist coming and Moss delivered that on a grand scale.

I think this was a really solid debut novel and will have me looking for what Moss gives us next.

I would say for me this was a definite 3.5, but I’ll round up to a 4 based on the plot and setting.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the gifted ebook.

Summary

After their mother's death, sisters Danielle and Grace return to their childhood home deep within a South African game reserve. What begins as a trip to honor her final wishes quickly turns into a fight for survival when a murder leaves them stranded in the wilderness with danger surrounding them from every direction.

My Review

I had a hard time deciding how I felt about this one. The premise immediately grabbed my attention because I loved the idea of being stranded in the South African bush while trying to uncover family secrets. It definitely had plenty of suspense, and the setting itself was one of the strongest parts of the book. Being surrounded by wild animals added an extra layer of tension, and there were moments where I genuinely wondered what was going to happen next.

For me, though, this one just didn't completely click. I never found myself fully connecting with the characters, and because of that I wasn't as emotionally invested as I wanted to be. The story kept me interested enough to keep reading, but it never reached the point where I couldn't put it down. That being said, I can absolutely see why other readers will enjoy this one because the survival aspect, family secrets, and isolated setting make for a unique thriller.

Even though it wasn't a perfect fit for me, I'm still glad I read it. Not every book is going to be a favorite, and that's okay. If you enjoy survival thrillers, remote settings, and stories where nature can be just as dangerous as the people, I think you'll probably have a better experience with this one than I did.

Would I Recommend?

Yes. While it wasn't completely my kind of thriller, I think readers who enjoy wilderness survival stories, family mysteries, and slower building suspense will find a lot to like here.