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HUNT PB
Escape and they’ll kill your family.
The cruellest game. The highest stakes. Only she can bring his family back alive …
Rose is the one that got away. She was the prey in a human trophy hunt organised by an elite secret organisation for super-rich clients seeking a unique thrill. She paid a terrible price. Every moment since she has been planning her revenge … And now her day has come.
Chris returns from his morning run to find his wife and children missing and a stranger in his kitchen.
He’s told to run.
If he’s caught and killed, his family go free. If he escapes, they die.
Rose is the only one who can help him, but Rose only has her sights on one conclusion. For her, Chris is bait. But The Trail have not forgotten the woman who tried to outwit them.
The Trail want Rose. The hunters want Chris’s corpse. Rose wants revenge, and Chris just wants his family back.
The hunt is on …
The cruellest game. The highest stakes. Only she can bring his family back alive …
Rose is the one that got away. She was the prey in a human trophy hunt organised by an elite secret organisation for super-rich clients seeking a unique thrill. She paid a terrible price. Every moment since she has been planning her revenge … And now her day has come.
Chris returns from his morning run to find his wife and children missing and a stranger in his kitchen.
He’s told to run.
If he’s caught and killed, his family go free. If he escapes, they die.
Rose is the only one who can help him, but Rose only has her sights on one conclusion. For her, Chris is bait. But The Trail have not forgotten the woman who tried to outwit them.
The Trail want Rose. The hunters want Chris’s corpse. Rose wants revenge, and Chris just wants his family back.
The hunt is on …
400 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2015
18 people are currently reading
1314 people want to read
About the author
Tim Lebbon
294 books1,535 followersI love writing, reading, triathlon, real ale, chocolate, good movies, occasional bad movies, and cake.
I was born in London in 1969, lived in Devon until I was eight, and the next twenty years were spent in Newport. My wife Tracey and I then did a Good Thing and moved back to the country, and we now live in the little village of Goytre in Monmouthshire with our kids Ellie and Daniel. And our dog, Blu, who is the size of a donkey.
I love the countryside ... I do a lot of running and cycling, and live in the best part of the world for that.
I've had loads of books published in the UK, USA, and around the world, including novels, novellas, and collections. I write horror, fantasy, and now thrillers, and I've been writing as a living for over 8 years. I've won quite a few awards for my original fiction, and I've also written tie-in projects for Star Wars, Alien, Hellboy, The Cabin in the Woods, and 30 Days of Night.
A movie's just been made of my short story Pay the Ghost, starring Nicolas Cage and Sarah Wayne Callies. There are other projects in development, too.
I'd love to hear from you!
I was born in London in 1969, lived in Devon until I was eight, and the next twenty years were spent in Newport. My wife Tracey and I then did a Good Thing and moved back to the country, and we now live in the little village of Goytre in Monmouthshire with our kids Ellie and Daniel. And our dog, Blu, who is the size of a donkey.
I love the countryside ... I do a lot of running and cycling, and live in the best part of the world for that.
I've had loads of books published in the UK, USA, and around the world, including novels, novellas, and collections. I write horror, fantasy, and now thrillers, and I've been writing as a living for over 8 years. I've won quite a few awards for my original fiction, and I've also written tie-in projects for Star Wars, Alien, Hellboy, The Cabin in the Woods, and 30 Days of Night.
A movie's just been made of my short story Pay the Ghost, starring Nicolas Cage and Sarah Wayne Callies. There are other projects in development, too.
I'd love to hear from you!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
June 28, 2015
Blimey that was a read and a half. Or more even. BAM starts off at a hell of a pace, never lets up and is utterly gripping. If EVER a novel should be made into a movie this one is it - but still as a written story it stands tall as a really really excellently addictive and breathtaking thriller.
So Chris comes home to find his family missing - and heads straight into a nightmare. On the run, but not able to attempt escape, his only hope is a woman who has her own agenda and may not necessarily be any help at all...
This really is a relentless read that unfolds at breakneck speed, no time to take a breath, really well written to keep you on the edge of your seat through the whole hectic glorious rush of it all. Really great bad guys (always a plus in a thriller), a family in peril (gulp) and a deliciously drawn anti-heroine in Rose who you may well end up caring about more than all the others put together.
I think this one was even better for me due to a lot of it being set around Snowden, an area I know well and which the author brings to vivid life in his eclectically descriptive way that made me feel I was right there. It just gave an added extra to the whole feel of it.
Overall then a superb read. Absolutely highly recommended especially if you like your thrillers served hot.
Happy Reading Folks!
So Chris comes home to find his family missing - and heads straight into a nightmare. On the run, but not able to attempt escape, his only hope is a woman who has her own agenda and may not necessarily be any help at all...
This really is a relentless read that unfolds at breakneck speed, no time to take a breath, really well written to keep you on the edge of your seat through the whole hectic glorious rush of it all. Really great bad guys (always a plus in a thriller), a family in peril (gulp) and a deliciously drawn anti-heroine in Rose who you may well end up caring about more than all the others put together.
I think this one was even better for me due to a lot of it being set around Snowden, an area I know well and which the author brings to vivid life in his eclectically descriptive way that made me feel I was right there. It just gave an added extra to the whole feel of it.
Overall then a superb read. Absolutely highly recommended especially if you like your thrillers served hot.
Happy Reading Folks!
November 5, 2015
It's certainly fast-paced, I'll give it that. Right from the beginning, it's running and kidnap and getting shot in face. This kind of fun holds pretty much all the way through and makes the book a very quick read- it only took me two hours.
The out of luck bloke whose family gets taken is a moderately annoying, immediate superman, but the other main character, Rose, is someone very interesting. Without her, I would have lost interest in this story very quickly. I'm hoping we get to see even more of her in the future. If so, count me in.
The out of luck bloke whose family gets taken is a moderately annoying, immediate superman, but the other main character, Rose, is someone very interesting. Without her, I would have lost interest in this story very quickly. I'm hoping we get to see even more of her in the future. If so, count me in.
August 29, 2015
THE HUNT is Tim Lebbon's first venture into the thriller genre. As I consider myself a fan of his previous work, I was thrilled to read his latest book. While any supernatural elements may have been absent here, there is no question about the human evil that permeates this story!
Chris Sheen is an average man, out for his early morning run before returning home to his wife and two daughters. When he gets back, he finds instead an infuriatingly calm, arrogant man in his kitchen. Chris is informed to stay and await further instructions--they have his family, and will kill them if he calls the police.
After this man leaves, Chris is confronted by Rose--the only one to survive and escape "The Hunt" that Chris is to be used in. A deadly game where rich "hunters" are to track him down for sport. Rose explained what was expected of him:
"If he escaped, his family would die." Chris mentally processes this information, and still can't believe what is happening: " 'I need to stay alive. But I can't escape.' "
For a man with Chris' gentle disposition, the situation is almost too much to process.
"Though he'd always regarded himself as a long-term optimist, he was also aware that in a society of millions there were bad eggs, twisted people with perverted desires."
Now, these "other" people had crossed over into his life.
The pacing of this novel was excellent! Interspersed between the action of the hunt, we learn about Rose's own past, and the backstory of Chris. I felt that this technique worked very well to build on the characterization, and give us the necessary details to understand what was happening and why.
The main characters were very well fleshed out, and I found them instantly believable in the roles they were playing. The only minor complaint I had was that at times there was a bit "too much" information regarding the detailed technicalities of running. I understood that this was something Chris knew all about, but didn't feel it was necessary for EVERYTHING to be written out in such painstaking detail for the reader.
Overall, I felt this was a fast, adrenaline-fueled read, and proof that Tim Lebbon can write fantastic thrillers, as well. I'm eagerly awaiting his next novel--whatever genre it may be.
Highly recommended!
*I received an advance e-copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Chris Sheen is an average man, out for his early morning run before returning home to his wife and two daughters. When he gets back, he finds instead an infuriatingly calm, arrogant man in his kitchen. Chris is informed to stay and await further instructions--they have his family, and will kill them if he calls the police.
After this man leaves, Chris is confronted by Rose--the only one to survive and escape "The Hunt" that Chris is to be used in. A deadly game where rich "hunters" are to track him down for sport. Rose explained what was expected of him:
"If he escaped, his family would die." Chris mentally processes this information, and still can't believe what is happening: " 'I need to stay alive. But I can't escape.' "
For a man with Chris' gentle disposition, the situation is almost too much to process.
"Though he'd always regarded himself as a long-term optimist, he was also aware that in a society of millions there were bad eggs, twisted people with perverted desires."
Now, these "other" people had crossed over into his life.
The pacing of this novel was excellent! Interspersed between the action of the hunt, we learn about Rose's own past, and the backstory of Chris. I felt that this technique worked very well to build on the characterization, and give us the necessary details to understand what was happening and why.
The main characters were very well fleshed out, and I found them instantly believable in the roles they were playing. The only minor complaint I had was that at times there was a bit "too much" information regarding the detailed technicalities of running. I understood that this was something Chris knew all about, but didn't feel it was necessary for EVERYTHING to be written out in such painstaking detail for the reader.
Overall, I felt this was a fast, adrenaline-fueled read, and proof that Tim Lebbon can write fantastic thrillers, as well. I'm eagerly awaiting his next novel--whatever genre it may be.
Highly recommended!
*I received an advance e-copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
July 9, 2015
The Hunt – A fast paced thriller
Tim Lebbon is a fantastic fantasy writer who has had over 30 books published, what he had never written was a crime thriller and with The Hunt he will blow you away. To call it a fast paced thriller would be to undersell this brilliant haunting page turning thriller. It would be possible to throw every cliché in this review to describe The Hunt and still not find the right words as it is so breath taking. Lebbon’s skill as a writer shines through on every page and like an angler he gets you hooked and then reels you in.
Chris Sheen is a middle aged architect that works from home but every morning loves to go for a run to blast the cobwebs away, something he has done since he turned 40 and discovered an overweight person staring back at him in the mirror. One morning he gets home and the house is silent the kids and his wife Terri are making no sound but he can smell coffee. He searches the house and becomes worried especially when he finds blood in the bathroom, when he reaches the kitchen his blood turns cold.
A strange man is drinking his coffee and telling him if he does everything he is told then his wife and children will live, he cannot call the police or they die. He is told to wait and in an hour he will be told what to do and where to go, but an interloper has other ideas, and we are introduced to Rose, the one that got away. As she explains what is about to happen and what will happen if he does not come with her the chances of seeing his family will be remote.
As she explains about that he is subject to a hunt and that she is trying to even up the odds in his favour and how she is the one that got away from The Trail and they murdered her family because of that.
It would be easy to give away the entire plot and ruin it for people so I will keep things brief with no spoilers, but to keep his family alive some very rich and connected people will hunt him Chris as if he were a wild animal and Rose will be his support. The only thing is Chris has to run and hope for the best and put his trust in Rose.
This is a brilliant book with chapters that flick between Rose, Chris and his captive family until they eventually merge. The way it is written will keep you on the edge of your seat as you hope just hope that Chris and Rose can actually survive when being hunted by a greater force. The pace is not just in Chris’ running but in the writing too, the imagery is vivid and there is always the feeling of hope and despair not far away from each other.
The Hunt is twisted and dark; fast paced and energetic it will leave you amazed and slightly addicted the characters, and like all thrillers it is twisted in such a way it will leave you wanting more. Simply a brilliant thriller that delivers on every level.
Tim Lebbon is a fantastic fantasy writer who has had over 30 books published, what he had never written was a crime thriller and with The Hunt he will blow you away. To call it a fast paced thriller would be to undersell this brilliant haunting page turning thriller. It would be possible to throw every cliché in this review to describe The Hunt and still not find the right words as it is so breath taking. Lebbon’s skill as a writer shines through on every page and like an angler he gets you hooked and then reels you in.
Chris Sheen is a middle aged architect that works from home but every morning loves to go for a run to blast the cobwebs away, something he has done since he turned 40 and discovered an overweight person staring back at him in the mirror. One morning he gets home and the house is silent the kids and his wife Terri are making no sound but he can smell coffee. He searches the house and becomes worried especially when he finds blood in the bathroom, when he reaches the kitchen his blood turns cold.
A strange man is drinking his coffee and telling him if he does everything he is told then his wife and children will live, he cannot call the police or they die. He is told to wait and in an hour he will be told what to do and where to go, but an interloper has other ideas, and we are introduced to Rose, the one that got away. As she explains what is about to happen and what will happen if he does not come with her the chances of seeing his family will be remote.
As she explains about that he is subject to a hunt and that she is trying to even up the odds in his favour and how she is the one that got away from The Trail and they murdered her family because of that.
It would be easy to give away the entire plot and ruin it for people so I will keep things brief with no spoilers, but to keep his family alive some very rich and connected people will hunt him Chris as if he were a wild animal and Rose will be his support. The only thing is Chris has to run and hope for the best and put his trust in Rose.
This is a brilliant book with chapters that flick between Rose, Chris and his captive family until they eventually merge. The way it is written will keep you on the edge of your seat as you hope just hope that Chris and Rose can actually survive when being hunted by a greater force. The pace is not just in Chris’ running but in the writing too, the imagery is vivid and there is always the feeling of hope and despair not far away from each other.
The Hunt is twisted and dark; fast paced and energetic it will leave you amazed and slightly addicted the characters, and like all thrillers it is twisted in such a way it will leave you wanting more. Simply a brilliant thriller that delivers on every level.
September 23, 2015
Wow. Exciting suspenseful excellent thriller.
The author T.J. Lebbon (also known as Tim Lebbon) previously wrote horror and fantasy novels. This is his first thriller and he’s working on another which may have a character or two from this one. This book is a stand alone and has a happy ending. I can’t wait for the next one.
Instead of going on a safari to kill animals, wealthy hunters pay to hunt a human. The Trail is the organization that arranges it. The Trail kidnapped Chris’ wife and two daughters and tells Chris he is the prey. They will take him to an area where he must run. They will release his family after the hunters kill him. If Chris escapes the area his family dies.
Four years earlier Rose was the prey. She escaped and the Trail killed her family. She has turned into something almost not human. She wants revenge. She helps Chris in order to kill as many Trail as she can. My feelings watching Rose were similar to what I felt watching Lisbeth (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). The characters are different but I loved their uniqueness and how and why they did things they did.
The author jumps among three settings: the current hunt with Chris, the current hunt with Rose, and Rose’s past. Normally I don’t like a lot of jumping around but this worked well because most of the time the author finished each scene before moving on. Too many authors create artificial suspense by stopping scenes in the middle of a conversation or an action, which annoys me. This entire story (the Hunt) is so suspenseful that the author does not need to do that.
The author personally does athletic endurance sports like triathlons and marathons - like the character Chris. So his writing included those experiences and feelings which was good.
When I purchased this (Sep 2015) it was not being sold in the U.S. (that I could find). I had to purchase a used copy from a seller in the U.K. Hopefully HarperCollins will start selling it in the U.S. I was fine with the British version. They spell an occasional word differently.
GOODREADS CONFUSION:
There are two author pages on Goodreads: Tim Lebbon and T.J. Lebbon. The Hunt is listed under both author pages/names. My paperback copy says T.J. Lebbon on the cover but Tim Lebbon with the inside copyright. I’m fine with different author pages, but putting the book in Goodreads twice messes with review statistics.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 355 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words, but not often used. Sexual content: a one sentence reference to a sex act. Setting: current day Wales with some Italy and England. Copyright: 2015. Genre: suspense thriller.
The author T.J. Lebbon (also known as Tim Lebbon) previously wrote horror and fantasy novels. This is his first thriller and he’s working on another which may have a character or two from this one. This book is a stand alone and has a happy ending. I can’t wait for the next one.
Instead of going on a safari to kill animals, wealthy hunters pay to hunt a human. The Trail is the organization that arranges it. The Trail kidnapped Chris’ wife and two daughters and tells Chris he is the prey. They will take him to an area where he must run. They will release his family after the hunters kill him. If Chris escapes the area his family dies.
Four years earlier Rose was the prey. She escaped and the Trail killed her family. She has turned into something almost not human. She wants revenge. She helps Chris in order to kill as many Trail as she can. My feelings watching Rose were similar to what I felt watching Lisbeth (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). The characters are different but I loved their uniqueness and how and why they did things they did.
The author jumps among three settings: the current hunt with Chris, the current hunt with Rose, and Rose’s past. Normally I don’t like a lot of jumping around but this worked well because most of the time the author finished each scene before moving on. Too many authors create artificial suspense by stopping scenes in the middle of a conversation or an action, which annoys me. This entire story (the Hunt) is so suspenseful that the author does not need to do that.
The author personally does athletic endurance sports like triathlons and marathons - like the character Chris. So his writing included those experiences and feelings which was good.
When I purchased this (Sep 2015) it was not being sold in the U.S. (that I could find). I had to purchase a used copy from a seller in the U.K. Hopefully HarperCollins will start selling it in the U.S. I was fine with the British version. They spell an occasional word differently.
GOODREADS CONFUSION:
There are two author pages on Goodreads: Tim Lebbon and T.J. Lebbon. The Hunt is listed under both author pages/names. My paperback copy says T.J. Lebbon on the cover but Tim Lebbon with the inside copyright. I’m fine with different author pages, but putting the book in Goodreads twice messes with review statistics.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 355 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words, but not often used. Sexual content: a one sentence reference to a sex act. Setting: current day Wales with some Italy and England. Copyright: 2015. Genre: suspense thriller.
September 28, 2015
The Hunt is an action packed ride from start to end.
Upon receiving a copy from NetGalley I procrastinated on starting as I feared I would be let down. The premise seemed too good to be true in so many ways. Were we really going to receive such an interesting story that would hold out throughout the entire book? It turns out that yes, we are. Once I finally managed to bring myself around to reading the book I was hooked, unable to put it down. Yet again a book has had a negative impact upon my sleeping pattern.
You know those books that you can imagine being made into a movie, well this is one such book. Whether the author had the big screen in mind from the get-go or whether it is simply a by-product I cannot say, all I know is that The Hunt would make a wonderful movie. So if you’re a lover of action packed movies go ahead and give The Hunt a read as it will keep you interested throughout.
I will admit that the book wasn’t quite perfect. For me I felt as though there could have been more added to certain points in the story, such as the chase. As interesting as it was to read about Chris being hunted I felt as though there were a number of situations that could have been added to make things even more interesting. This, however, could just be that I can never quite get enough action in any of my reads. I’m always wanting a little bit more and this time was no different. Similarly, I’m always wanting more when it comes to being able to connect to characters. With The Hunt I felt as though we were simply told what to think about characters rather than making our own choices about them, which stopped me from truly growing to love them to the degree that I would have liked.
Overall, a wonderful read.
Finally, I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the chance to read The Hunt.
Upon receiving a copy from NetGalley I procrastinated on starting as I feared I would be let down. The premise seemed too good to be true in so many ways. Were we really going to receive such an interesting story that would hold out throughout the entire book? It turns out that yes, we are. Once I finally managed to bring myself around to reading the book I was hooked, unable to put it down. Yet again a book has had a negative impact upon my sleeping pattern.
You know those books that you can imagine being made into a movie, well this is one such book. Whether the author had the big screen in mind from the get-go or whether it is simply a by-product I cannot say, all I know is that The Hunt would make a wonderful movie. So if you’re a lover of action packed movies go ahead and give The Hunt a read as it will keep you interested throughout.
I will admit that the book wasn’t quite perfect. For me I felt as though there could have been more added to certain points in the story, such as the chase. As interesting as it was to read about Chris being hunted I felt as though there were a number of situations that could have been added to make things even more interesting. This, however, could just be that I can never quite get enough action in any of my reads. I’m always wanting a little bit more and this time was no different. Similarly, I’m always wanting more when it comes to being able to connect to characters. With The Hunt I felt as though we were simply told what to think about characters rather than making our own choices about them, which stopped me from truly growing to love them to the degree that I would have liked.
Overall, a wonderful read.
Finally, I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the chance to read The Hunt.
April 2, 2017
Not bad. Review to follow shortly
June 15, 2015
Chris Sheen enjoys nothing more than the outdoors. An extreme athlete, he gets his kicks from running, biking and hiking. Triathlons and Iron-man races are his only addiction and the feel of the wind on his face, as he takes his daily run, is as much part of his life as breathing. Luckily his wife and two daughters give him the time and space to enjoy his pursuits, and working from home makes things even easier. One morning he returns from a twelve mile run and the house is all quiet. Too quiet. It's a school day, so his family should be buzzing around, eating breakfast and making lots of noise. When he realises that they are gone, and finds some blood in the shower, he knows something terrible has happened. Pretty soon it becomes apparent that his family's survival depends on him. In order to find them, he must partake in the most important race of his life, a deadly game of cat and mouse that leaves him stranded in the Welsh countryside with little more than a pair of trainers and a few energy bars. Can he run fast enough, long enough or even figure out who has his family? Will he survive the treacherous mountain terrain with a group of armed hunters hot in pursuit? The Hunt is on...
This is a novel of speed and adrenaline. Chris is the unwitting pawn in this deadly game of life and death. A group of wealthy customers have paid for the chance to hunt and kill a human being, and Chris is their target. The Hunt is a well organised unit, consisting of highly trained, unidentified members who have no moral code and will stop at nothing to get to their prey. However, one of their previous victims, Rose, managed to escape and has been watching them from a distance. She has revenge on her mind and has no problem using Chris to facilitate it. The novel focuses on Chris, but there are flashbacks to Rose and her traumatic experiences with The Hunt. She is determined to seek vengeance and has trained long and hard to do it right.
This is page after page of thrills. Capture, hunt, kill is the mantra of The Hunt. Fear, exhaustion, blood, sweat and tears are what that entails. Broken bones, gunshot wounds and subjection to extreme elements are the reality. The author has taken his love of outdoor pursuits and twisted them into a narrative that is explosive. The attention to detail is meticulous and the atmosphere is shadowy, damp and chilling, all at once.
"Chris had to tap into the endurance he had built over the years. He knew that he had a strong engine and a fit body, but as always he had to adapt. While his physical self drove forward, he had to remember at every moment that he and his family were in terrible danger. Endurance sport had a huge mental factor. Physical fitness was never enough, and now that had been complicated eben more. But he could do it. Anything was possible, and he had to believe that now. Drive on, keep moving forward, keep planning and save his family."
This is not my normal type of read, being a bit 'manly' for me, similar to 'man movies' like Taken and Die Hard, but I did race through it (excuse the pun). The writing is sharp, snappy and to the point. The author gets straight into the story, from page one, and doesn't slow down the tempo enough to even warrant popping a bookmark in, and taking break. It's fast, furious and fantastical. For anyone who enjoys endurance sports, this is the book for you. Tim Lebbon brings his sporting knowledge to the table and injects the adrenaline directly into the readers veins. A must-read for lovers of 'man movies' and should be handed out at boarding gates to all holiday makers this summer. The overall experience is like jumping off a cliff, while hoping someone is there to catch you...
This is a novel of speed and adrenaline. Chris is the unwitting pawn in this deadly game of life and death. A group of wealthy customers have paid for the chance to hunt and kill a human being, and Chris is their target. The Hunt is a well organised unit, consisting of highly trained, unidentified members who have no moral code and will stop at nothing to get to their prey. However, one of their previous victims, Rose, managed to escape and has been watching them from a distance. She has revenge on her mind and has no problem using Chris to facilitate it. The novel focuses on Chris, but there are flashbacks to Rose and her traumatic experiences with The Hunt. She is determined to seek vengeance and has trained long and hard to do it right.
This is page after page of thrills. Capture, hunt, kill is the mantra of The Hunt. Fear, exhaustion, blood, sweat and tears are what that entails. Broken bones, gunshot wounds and subjection to extreme elements are the reality. The author has taken his love of outdoor pursuits and twisted them into a narrative that is explosive. The attention to detail is meticulous and the atmosphere is shadowy, damp and chilling, all at once.
"Chris had to tap into the endurance he had built over the years. He knew that he had a strong engine and a fit body, but as always he had to adapt. While his physical self drove forward, he had to remember at every moment that he and his family were in terrible danger. Endurance sport had a huge mental factor. Physical fitness was never enough, and now that had been complicated eben more. But he could do it. Anything was possible, and he had to believe that now. Drive on, keep moving forward, keep planning and save his family."
This is not my normal type of read, being a bit 'manly' for me, similar to 'man movies' like Taken and Die Hard, but I did race through it (excuse the pun). The writing is sharp, snappy and to the point. The author gets straight into the story, from page one, and doesn't slow down the tempo enough to even warrant popping a bookmark in, and taking break. It's fast, furious and fantastical. For anyone who enjoys endurance sports, this is the book for you. Tim Lebbon brings his sporting knowledge to the table and injects the adrenaline directly into the readers veins. A must-read for lovers of 'man movies' and should be handed out at boarding gates to all holiday makers this summer. The overall experience is like jumping off a cliff, while hoping someone is there to catch you...
September 2, 2015
Nope...just did not do it for me...chase books always seem to follow the same structure not surprisingly...The good guys Chris and Rose must escape the bad guys "The Trail" who have paved the way for some rich clients to carry out a human hunt/kill. If Chris escapes his family the lovely Terri and his two beautiful kids will be murdered...however if Chris meets his demise at the hand of the rich clients then his family is set free....decisions....decisions.....Helping Chris is the disturbed Rose, whoose family was wiped out on a previous hunt and she is after retribution. So we spend 400 pages following our two heroes as they appear to run all over rural Wales dodging bullets and keeping the bad guys at bay....will Chris save the day? will Rose have revenge?....frankly who cares I only kept reading because I enjoy running and appreciated the momentum of the story if not it's actual content! Fun for a fast read but not a book I really enjoyed...
July 21, 2019
The hunt is such a gripping read and the characters really come to life on each page.
Chris Sheen is out running while it was still dark. He would be home in time to take his two daughters to school. As he opened the door he thought something was wrong with the unnatural silence.
A great sense of fear races along as Chris searches his house for his wife and two girls.
Chris finds a man in his kitchen who makes it clear that if Chris phones the police his wife and children will be executed. Terrified and shaking all sort of things run through his mind, is it a joke. A prank. A scam. Or a reality TV show.
Readers become aware that some weird stuff is going on. The Hunt offers a good mix of action making the book chilling and clever. I recommend The Hunt.
September 9, 2015
Originally reviewed on http://beccasbooooks.blogspot.co.uk/2...
Just lately, I'm finding that I cannot get enough of fast-paced, thrilling, 'send your heart into overdrive' reads, so I was delighted when I stumbled across The Hunt by T.J. Lebbon. After reading the blurb, I couldn't wait to get started on what sounded to me like the sort of book that could be described as a 'pulse-raiser', and a 'pulse-raiser' it most definitely turned out to be.
I have to admit, it took me a while to figure out what was going on. I was slightly confused at first as to what Chris had managed to find himself tangled up in on an average morning after returning home, sweaty from his usual morning run, and found myself feeling rather impatient as I waited for the author to reveal more to me. Slowly, as Chris took a turn around his empty family home, it began to transpire that something very bad had taken place during his morning run, something so bad, in fact, that there were bloodstains left in the bathroom and a deathly silence where once would have been chatter and laughter from his wife and two daughters. I really do think that the author got the atmosphere during this scene absolutely spot-on. I mean, I hadn't long began reading and suddenly, what had started as a man going for a jog had turned into a scene from a horror movie! It's safe to say that T.J. Lebbon had my attention completely, and I was waiting with baited breath to see what would happen next. It was so incredibly tense, quite disturbing really, and probably the most perfect, tantalising way to begin this novel.
As the story progressed, T.J. Lebbon made this tale even more super-twisty when he introduced Rose, a character who was utterly bad-ass and who I, as a bit of a wimp, was completely in awe of. As soon as Rose stepped into Chris's life, I was intrigued as to how these two characters had found each other, but as I continued to read, the author began to tie the ends together and it couldn't have been any more enthralling. I was on the edge of my seat as snippets of Rose's history were revealed to me, and it came to my attention that she and Chris had much more in common than I'd originally thought. T.J. Lebbon expertly allowed me an insight into both of these characters' narratives, even including small sections from his wife and daughters' circumstances here and there. Ultimately, it was a complete thrill-ride of a novel, one that had me wondering what on earth was going to happen next with every single chapter change.
At times, I felt that the constant talk of the physical exertion, while brilliantly descriptive, lessened my enjoyment of the story slightly. Not so much that I couldn't enjoy it, but more in the way of it holding me back from knowing exactly what was happening and when. It was evident that the author knew exactly what they were talking about when it came to anything physical, and while it certainly added the effect of the novel, I felt it getting it a bit too lengthy and descriptive at times. Besides that, T.J. Lebbon created such a fantastically gripping plot, I found it increasingly difficult to put down as I neared the end of the book. I couldn't wait to find out how it would end, if Chris would reach his family in time and whether they'd still be alive or dead when and if he did... I won't tell, I wouldn't want to ruin the reading of the book for any other readers out there, but I can promise you, it will keep you turning those pages right until the very end.
Becca's Books is awarding The Hunt by T.J. Lebbon with four cupcakes! A pacy, action-packed novel with a brilliant cast of characters and a man who is desperate for survival, but only to save the lives of those he loves dearest. Bravo, Mr Lebbon!
Just lately, I'm finding that I cannot get enough of fast-paced, thrilling, 'send your heart into overdrive' reads, so I was delighted when I stumbled across The Hunt by T.J. Lebbon. After reading the blurb, I couldn't wait to get started on what sounded to me like the sort of book that could be described as a 'pulse-raiser', and a 'pulse-raiser' it most definitely turned out to be.
I have to admit, it took me a while to figure out what was going on. I was slightly confused at first as to what Chris had managed to find himself tangled up in on an average morning after returning home, sweaty from his usual morning run, and found myself feeling rather impatient as I waited for the author to reveal more to me. Slowly, as Chris took a turn around his empty family home, it began to transpire that something very bad had taken place during his morning run, something so bad, in fact, that there were bloodstains left in the bathroom and a deathly silence where once would have been chatter and laughter from his wife and two daughters. I really do think that the author got the atmosphere during this scene absolutely spot-on. I mean, I hadn't long began reading and suddenly, what had started as a man going for a jog had turned into a scene from a horror movie! It's safe to say that T.J. Lebbon had my attention completely, and I was waiting with baited breath to see what would happen next. It was so incredibly tense, quite disturbing really, and probably the most perfect, tantalising way to begin this novel.
As the story progressed, T.J. Lebbon made this tale even more super-twisty when he introduced Rose, a character who was utterly bad-ass and who I, as a bit of a wimp, was completely in awe of. As soon as Rose stepped into Chris's life, I was intrigued as to how these two characters had found each other, but as I continued to read, the author began to tie the ends together and it couldn't have been any more enthralling. I was on the edge of my seat as snippets of Rose's history were revealed to me, and it came to my attention that she and Chris had much more in common than I'd originally thought. T.J. Lebbon expertly allowed me an insight into both of these characters' narratives, even including small sections from his wife and daughters' circumstances here and there. Ultimately, it was a complete thrill-ride of a novel, one that had me wondering what on earth was going to happen next with every single chapter change.
At times, I felt that the constant talk of the physical exertion, while brilliantly descriptive, lessened my enjoyment of the story slightly. Not so much that I couldn't enjoy it, but more in the way of it holding me back from knowing exactly what was happening and when. It was evident that the author knew exactly what they were talking about when it came to anything physical, and while it certainly added the effect of the novel, I felt it getting it a bit too lengthy and descriptive at times. Besides that, T.J. Lebbon created such a fantastically gripping plot, I found it increasingly difficult to put down as I neared the end of the book. I couldn't wait to find out how it would end, if Chris would reach his family in time and whether they'd still be alive or dead when and if he did... I won't tell, I wouldn't want to ruin the reading of the book for any other readers out there, but I can promise you, it will keep you turning those pages right until the very end.
Becca's Books is awarding The Hunt by T.J. Lebbon with four cupcakes! A pacy, action-packed novel with a brilliant cast of characters and a man who is desperate for survival, but only to save the lives of those he loves dearest. Bravo, Mr Lebbon!
September 23, 2015
Wow. Exciting suspenseful excellent thriller.
The author T.J. Lebbon (also known as Tim Lebbon) previously wrote horror and fantasy novels. This is his first thriller and he’s working on another which may have a character or two from this one. This book is a stand alone and has a happy ending. I can’t wait for the next one.
Instead of going on a safari to kill animals, wealthy hunters pay to hunt a human. The Trail is the organization that arranges it. The Trail kidnapped Chris’ wife and two daughters and tells Chris he is the prey. They will take him to an area where he must run. They will release his family after the hunters kill him. If Chris escapes the area his family dies.
Four years earlier Rose was the prey. She escaped and the Trail killed her family. She has turned into something almost not human. She wants revenge. She helps Chris in order to kill as many Trail as she can. My feelings watching Rose were similar to what I felt watching Lisbeth (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). The characters are different but I loved their uniqueness and how and why they did things they did.
The author jumps among three settings: the current hunt with Chris, the current hunt with Rose, and Rose’s past. Normally I don’t like a lot of jumping around but this worked well because most of the time the author finished each scene before moving on. Too many authors create artificial suspense by stopping scenes in the middle of a conversation or an action, which annoys me. This entire story (the Hunt) is so suspenseful that the author does not need to do that.
The author personally does athletic endurance sports like triathlons and marathons - like the character Chris. So his writing included those experiences and feelings which was good.
When I purchased this (Sep 2015) it was not being sold in the U.S. (that I could find). I had to purchase a used copy from a seller in the U.K. Hopefully HarperCollins will start selling it in the U.S. I was fine with the British version. They spell an occasional word differently.
GOODREADS CONFUSION:
There are two author pages on Goodreads: Tim Lebbon and T.J. Lebbon. The Hunt is listed under both author pages/names. My paperback copy says T.J. Lebbon on the cover but Tim Lebbon with the inside copyright. I’m fine with different author pages, but putting the book in Goodreads twice messes with review statistics.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 355 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words, but not often used. Sexual content: a one sentence reference to a sex act. Setting: current day Wales with some Italy and England. Copyright: 2015. Genre: suspense thriller.
The author T.J. Lebbon (also known as Tim Lebbon) previously wrote horror and fantasy novels. This is his first thriller and he’s working on another which may have a character or two from this one. This book is a stand alone and has a happy ending. I can’t wait for the next one.
Instead of going on a safari to kill animals, wealthy hunters pay to hunt a human. The Trail is the organization that arranges it. The Trail kidnapped Chris’ wife and two daughters and tells Chris he is the prey. They will take him to an area where he must run. They will release his family after the hunters kill him. If Chris escapes the area his family dies.
Four years earlier Rose was the prey. She escaped and the Trail killed her family. She has turned into something almost not human. She wants revenge. She helps Chris in order to kill as many Trail as she can. My feelings watching Rose were similar to what I felt watching Lisbeth (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). The characters are different but I loved their uniqueness and how and why they did things they did.
The author jumps among three settings: the current hunt with Chris, the current hunt with Rose, and Rose’s past. Normally I don’t like a lot of jumping around but this worked well because most of the time the author finished each scene before moving on. Too many authors create artificial suspense by stopping scenes in the middle of a conversation or an action, which annoys me. This entire story (the Hunt) is so suspenseful that the author does not need to do that.
The author personally does athletic endurance sports like triathlons and marathons - like the character Chris. So his writing included those experiences and feelings which was good.
When I purchased this (Sep 2015) it was not being sold in the U.S. (that I could find). I had to purchase a used copy from a seller in the U.K. Hopefully HarperCollins will start selling it in the U.S. I was fine with the British version. They spell an occasional word differently.
GOODREADS CONFUSION:
There are two author pages on Goodreads: Tim Lebbon and T.J. Lebbon. The Hunt is listed under both author pages/names. My paperback copy says T.J. Lebbon on the cover but Tim Lebbon with the inside copyright. I’m fine with different author pages, but putting the book in Goodreads twice messes with review statistics.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 355 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words, but not often used. Sexual content: a one sentence reference to a sex act. Setting: current day Wales with some Italy and England. Copyright: 2015. Genre: suspense thriller.
July 15, 2017
3.5/5
June 24, 2015
Review first published here: http://crooksonbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2...
I was involved in the cover reveal for this book way back in April and jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour. I loved the sound of the book and was very intrigued, even more so when AVON, Tim's publishers went full pelt with their marketing campaign.
Imagine opening a parcel to find a survival kit and a hostage letter asking me to take up a challenge, 48hrs to save my family! Intrigued and with the adrenalin already beginning to pump I opened a second parcel to reveal a personalised book - #TheHunt was on and I was preparing to run, egged on by AVON and Tim Lebbon. But, not before I headed to Amazon and downloaded a kindle copy for fear of creasing the pages of my personalised paperback.
The story begins as Chris returns from his early morning run, he's happy, he has beaten his personal best and is preparing to enter the usual morning chaos as his two daughters and wife prepare, respectively for school and work. On entering his home it was obvious straight away that something wasn't right - it was the deadly silence, no music, no tv, no bickering just nothing - then Chris encountered a stranger, drinking coffee, his coffee, in his kitchen!
To say Tim Lebbon dropped me straight into a story from a great height and made me pick up the baton and run with it would be a true understatement. Within the first few pages I was hooked - intrigued, yet apprehensive at the same time - my heart was in my mouth as Chris first discovered an empty house, blood in the bathroom and then not one but two complete strangers in his house. The first telling him to keep quiet, stay in the house and not to call the police if he wanted his family to live. The second, unseen, knocked him to the ground before giving him some instructions. She was on his side, she says. But, was she?
It seems Chris had to run to save his family! A no win situation - get caught - he dies, his family survives. Escape 'The Hunt' - he lives, his family dies. Rose survived, her family died - she's seeking revenge - she wants to kill each and every member of The Trail, the company that seeks out people to use as bait for their rich clients to hunt down - in effect a live computer game. She's now using Chris as a pawn, her bait as well as the Trail's bait - one slip up from Chris and it's over - his life and his family's life hung in the balance.
The story alternates between Rose's story and Chris's story - both on the run, both for different reasons. This truly was a heart stopping book that was impossible to put down as both physical and mental agility were put to the test. Tim dragged me into a game of endurance where mental strength was stronger and more important than physical fitness. Knowing when to run and when to stay hidden to keep in the game was physically exhausting and mentally draining for me as a reader. I held my breathe, and bit back tears as Chris and his family faced death
Tim Lebbon has written a story that thrives on primal fear, yet it was a book that I couldn't put down. There didn't seem to be a way out, I just had to keep turning the pages. He has created characters that evoke strong emotions, I was part of #TeamChris from page one but see-sawed with Rose. I spent more time thinking about her psyche and that of the Hunters than I did about Chris. On the surface Rose was cold, calculating and manipulative but the more I read, I understood her and actually warmed to her, if that's possible? I loved how outwardly she was one person, yet underneath someone else. She was a contradiction to life itself, outwardly alive yet dead inside.
Tim Lebbon's knowledge and attention to detail in The Hunt was brilliant. I know the area reasonably well and each page turned was like looking at a series of snapshots so vivid and accurate were his descriptions. Anyone who has spent time in the welsh hills surrounding Snowdonia will recognise the area easily. This is a brilliant, addictive read, not everyone's cup of tea I have to say but, it will get you thinking. What makes people tick and which is better physical or mental strength. The Hunt demonstrates and brings survival instincts to the fore.
I genuinely thought I'd have trouble sleeping whilst reading this book but it had the opposite effect - I was so psyched up and involved, I really was running to save my family, I was so mentally drained when I finished it I just shut down and slept the sleep of the dead. I highly recommend this dark, twisted story - you don't want to be the only one not in the race - so join all of the triathletes and ultra runners out there - get your trainers on and run!
I was involved in the cover reveal for this book way back in April and jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour. I loved the sound of the book and was very intrigued, even more so when AVON, Tim's publishers went full pelt with their marketing campaign.
Imagine opening a parcel to find a survival kit and a hostage letter asking me to take up a challenge, 48hrs to save my family! Intrigued and with the adrenalin already beginning to pump I opened a second parcel to reveal a personalised book - #TheHunt was on and I was preparing to run, egged on by AVON and Tim Lebbon. But, not before I headed to Amazon and downloaded a kindle copy for fear of creasing the pages of my personalised paperback.
The story begins as Chris returns from his early morning run, he's happy, he has beaten his personal best and is preparing to enter the usual morning chaos as his two daughters and wife prepare, respectively for school and work. On entering his home it was obvious straight away that something wasn't right - it was the deadly silence, no music, no tv, no bickering just nothing - then Chris encountered a stranger, drinking coffee, his coffee, in his kitchen!
To say Tim Lebbon dropped me straight into a story from a great height and made me pick up the baton and run with it would be a true understatement. Within the first few pages I was hooked - intrigued, yet apprehensive at the same time - my heart was in my mouth as Chris first discovered an empty house, blood in the bathroom and then not one but two complete strangers in his house. The first telling him to keep quiet, stay in the house and not to call the police if he wanted his family to live. The second, unseen, knocked him to the ground before giving him some instructions. She was on his side, she says. But, was she?
It seems Chris had to run to save his family! A no win situation - get caught - he dies, his family survives. Escape 'The Hunt' - he lives, his family dies. Rose survived, her family died - she's seeking revenge - she wants to kill each and every member of The Trail, the company that seeks out people to use as bait for their rich clients to hunt down - in effect a live computer game. She's now using Chris as a pawn, her bait as well as the Trail's bait - one slip up from Chris and it's over - his life and his family's life hung in the balance.
The story alternates between Rose's story and Chris's story - both on the run, both for different reasons. This truly was a heart stopping book that was impossible to put down as both physical and mental agility were put to the test. Tim dragged me into a game of endurance where mental strength was stronger and more important than physical fitness. Knowing when to run and when to stay hidden to keep in the game was physically exhausting and mentally draining for me as a reader. I held my breathe, and bit back tears as Chris and his family faced death
Tim Lebbon has written a story that thrives on primal fear, yet it was a book that I couldn't put down. There didn't seem to be a way out, I just had to keep turning the pages. He has created characters that evoke strong emotions, I was part of #TeamChris from page one but see-sawed with Rose. I spent more time thinking about her psyche and that of the Hunters than I did about Chris. On the surface Rose was cold, calculating and manipulative but the more I read, I understood her and actually warmed to her, if that's possible? I loved how outwardly she was one person, yet underneath someone else. She was a contradiction to life itself, outwardly alive yet dead inside.
Tim Lebbon's knowledge and attention to detail in The Hunt was brilliant. I know the area reasonably well and each page turned was like looking at a series of snapshots so vivid and accurate were his descriptions. Anyone who has spent time in the welsh hills surrounding Snowdonia will recognise the area easily. This is a brilliant, addictive read, not everyone's cup of tea I have to say but, it will get you thinking. What makes people tick and which is better physical or mental strength. The Hunt demonstrates and brings survival instincts to the fore.
I genuinely thought I'd have trouble sleeping whilst reading this book but it had the opposite effect - I was so psyched up and involved, I really was running to save my family, I was so mentally drained when I finished it I just shut down and slept the sleep of the dead. I highly recommend this dark, twisted story - you don't want to be the only one not in the race - so join all of the triathletes and ultra runners out there - get your trainers on and run!
July 21, 2015
I loved The Hunt. It was such an easy yet nail-biting read and the plot flowed brilliantly from start to finish. You are literally thrown in at the deep end and there's no stopping for breath along the way.
Chris comes home from his routine daily run to discover that his wife and daughters have vanished - and there's a trail of blood in the bathroom. A stranger in his kitchen tells him to stay put and wait for further instructions. When Chris tries to call his friends and family for help, they cut him off. Then a second stranger (Rose) appears, telling him that she can save him, as long as he is prepared to keep running to stay alive.
Chris soon learns that the hunt is on and he is the prey… Clients of the shadowy organisation The Trail pay to hunt humans down like wild animals. If he stops running, the clients and members of The Trail will kill him. If he escapes, his family will die instead. So he has no choice but to run for his life - no mean feat when you are a middle-aged architect who has taken up distance running as a hobby.
The fast-paced action takes place among vivid descriptions of the Welsh mountains. It's clear that the author has a personal understanding of the physical and emotional impact of long-distance running, which adds to the authenticity of the plot. This is about Chris' fight for survival - and the horrific actions of others with more money than humanity. You also learn more about Rose's past - she is the one who escaped rather than played the game - and why she is determined to stop The Trail for good.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Chris comes home from his routine daily run to discover that his wife and daughters have vanished - and there's a trail of blood in the bathroom. A stranger in his kitchen tells him to stay put and wait for further instructions. When Chris tries to call his friends and family for help, they cut him off. Then a second stranger (Rose) appears, telling him that she can save him, as long as he is prepared to keep running to stay alive.
Chris soon learns that the hunt is on and he is the prey… Clients of the shadowy organisation The Trail pay to hunt humans down like wild animals. If he stops running, the clients and members of The Trail will kill him. If he escapes, his family will die instead. So he has no choice but to run for his life - no mean feat when you are a middle-aged architect who has taken up distance running as a hobby.
The fast-paced action takes place among vivid descriptions of the Welsh mountains. It's clear that the author has a personal understanding of the physical and emotional impact of long-distance running, which adds to the authenticity of the plot. This is about Chris' fight for survival - and the horrific actions of others with more money than humanity. You also learn more about Rose's past - she is the one who escaped rather than played the game - and why she is determined to stop The Trail for good.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2020
This was so disappointing.
I bought this book because the description at the back caught my attention. The part that got me was (as written on the book):
"Chris returns from his morning run to find his wife and children missing and a stranger in his kitchen.
He's told to run.
If he's caught and killed, his family go free. If he escapes, they die."
It had so much potential, but the whole thing was a little too Hunger Games for my liking.
There were several repititions in terms of describing the landmarks, and several grammatical and sentence structure errors that I had to re-read twice before understanding.
I took a few months off from reading this book because I just had no interest in it whatsoever, but didn't want to chuck it aside (just a habit/trait I have) if I could help it. Thankfully, more than halfway through, the story managed to catch my attention enough for me to actually finish it.
And then the ending...
It was almost.. meh. All that supposed buildup only for it to end just like that. If I hadn't known, I wouldn't have guessed that that was it; and thought that there had to be more than this.
Bottom line, not my cup of tea at all.
I bought this book because the description at the back caught my attention. The part that got me was (as written on the book):
"Chris returns from his morning run to find his wife and children missing and a stranger in his kitchen.
He's told to run.
If he's caught and killed, his family go free. If he escapes, they die."
It had so much potential, but the whole thing was a little too Hunger Games for my liking.
There were several repititions in terms of describing the landmarks, and several grammatical and sentence structure errors that I had to re-read twice before understanding.
I took a few months off from reading this book because I just had no interest in it whatsoever, but didn't want to chuck it aside (just a habit/trait I have) if I could help it. Thankfully, more than halfway through, the story managed to catch my attention enough for me to actually finish it.
And then the ending...
It was almost.. meh. All that supposed buildup only for it to end just like that. If I hadn't known, I wouldn't have guessed that that was it; and thought that there had to be more than this.
Bottom line, not my cup of tea at all.
July 27, 2015
Wow this book was so much better than I was expecting it to be! It is a total adrenaline rush of a read that makes you feel as those you have been competing in some sort of endurance sport from the comfort of your sofa! It would make a wonderfully atmospheric and exciting screenplay. It reminded me of a Simon Kernick book so if you are a fan of his then you will also love the hunt. It has that rush of excitement where you are totally lost in the chase.
Chris comes home from his morning run to find his family missing and blood in the house. A strange man in the kitchen tells him to run or his family will be killed. Chris has an ally though, someone who has experienced this nightmare before, but will Rose be able to help him?
I loved Rose and really felt her pain. I am hoping she will return in future books by this author as I think she has a lot more to give!
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Chris comes home from his morning run to find his family missing and blood in the house. A strange man in the kitchen tells him to run or his family will be killed. Chris has an ally though, someone who has experienced this nightmare before, but will Rose be able to help him?
I loved Rose and really felt her pain. I am hoping she will return in future books by this author as I think she has a lot more to give!
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
July 12, 2016
Review of THE HUNT by T. J. Lebbon
The first venture into thriller for this accomplished and proclaimed author of fantasy and horror, THE HUNT is a stomach-churning, gut-wrenching adventure tale. I use those adjectives for the shock value included, but also because the sheer unrelenting terror, danger, and implacability is heartstopping. THE HUNT is a tale of Man vs. Man, Man vs. Himself, and Man vs. Man (in the latter case, there are multiple instances of individuals pitted against individuals, against individuals as representatives of a group, and of individuals against a very implacable, high-powered, highly-funded group). Of course, bottom line is the excesses, frailities, and traits of human nature (in some cases here, inhuman nature housed in a human physiology).
The first venture into thriller for this accomplished and proclaimed author of fantasy and horror, THE HUNT is a stomach-churning, gut-wrenching adventure tale. I use those adjectives for the shock value included, but also because the sheer unrelenting terror, danger, and implacability is heartstopping. THE HUNT is a tale of Man vs. Man, Man vs. Himself, and Man vs. Man (in the latter case, there are multiple instances of individuals pitted against individuals, against individuals as representatives of a group, and of individuals against a very implacable, high-powered, highly-funded group). Of course, bottom line is the excesses, frailities, and traits of human nature (in some cases here, inhuman nature housed in a human physiology).
January 16, 2016
THE HUNT is nonstop action. A British family is thrown into the most bizarre circumstances and only their father can rescue them. The reader doesn't get a clue of the why or how until 17% into the book.
This is horror author Tim Lebbon's first foray into the thriller market. He does a fine job of keeping the suspense rolling and the action shotgunning along as Chris runs from Cardiff to Wales in an attempt to save his wife and daughters from being murdered.
I highly recommend it to all readers of thrillers and suspense.
Avon Books gave me an electronic copy of THE HUNT in exchange for my review.
This is horror author Tim Lebbon's first foray into the thriller market. He does a fine job of keeping the suspense rolling and the action shotgunning along as Chris runs from Cardiff to Wales in an attempt to save his wife and daughters from being murdered.
I highly recommend it to all readers of thrillers and suspense.
Avon Books gave me an electronic copy of THE HUNT in exchange for my review.
January 3, 2018
Entertaining, tense thriller with some standout moments. Fast fun read.
May 3, 2021
Well this was a quick but action packed read. The story follows Chris, an ordinary but athletic guy forced into being the prey of some rich hunters in a hunt organised by a mysterious organisation known as The Trail. If these hunters catch him it's game over - literally! Trouble is, if he does manage to escape then his family, who are being held hostage by Trail members, will be killed - not exactly a win-win situation!
But help is at hand in the form of Rose......or is it? Rose was once the hunted & knows too well that The Trail mean what they say as they executed her family when she escaped. Unsurprisingly Rose has her own agenda....revenge on those that murdered her family. Trained by the enigmatic Holt she's on a mission... & using Chris as bait would appear to be the way to achieve her goal.
It's a fast paced story that pretty much maintains it's momentum throughout. It covers how the three parties - Rose, Chris & his captive family - are dealing with the predicament & it's both interesting, & convincing, in how the characters find the strength & determination to survive the situation. Needless to say, Chris is wary of Rose but has no option but to believe in what she tells him & gathers all his energy to run, run, run! There were occasions where the technicalities about running went on a bit but overall the atmosphere of the bleak countryside & the tension of the hunt came over really well.
The only flaw for me was that one or two of the scenarios stretched credibility a bit - how the heck did Chris keep running with all the pains, bruises, & even possible broken bones! But I suppose it does emphasise his determination to rescue his family....
Overall a good gripping read that's a tad violent at times - but that's the way I like 'em! ;o)
Finally, I liked particularly liked this quote:
"Time would wear away the whole mountain, but it was an order of time that did not affect a human lifespan."
But help is at hand in the form of Rose......or is it? Rose was once the hunted & knows too well that The Trail mean what they say as they executed her family when she escaped. Unsurprisingly Rose has her own agenda....revenge on those that murdered her family. Trained by the enigmatic Holt she's on a mission... & using Chris as bait would appear to be the way to achieve her goal.
It's a fast paced story that pretty much maintains it's momentum throughout. It covers how the three parties - Rose, Chris & his captive family - are dealing with the predicament & it's both interesting, & convincing, in how the characters find the strength & determination to survive the situation. Needless to say, Chris is wary of Rose but has no option but to believe in what she tells him & gathers all his energy to run, run, run! There were occasions where the technicalities about running went on a bit but overall the atmosphere of the bleak countryside & the tension of the hunt came over really well.
The only flaw for me was that one or two of the scenarios stretched credibility a bit - how the heck did Chris keep running with all the pains, bruises, & even possible broken bones! But I suppose it does emphasise his determination to rescue his family....
Overall a good gripping read that's a tad violent at times - but that's the way I like 'em! ;o)
Finally, I liked particularly liked this quote:
"Time would wear away the whole mountain, but it was an order of time that did not affect a human lifespan."
February 18, 2025
Solid thriller - from a horror writer who sneakily altered the way his name is presented for this book - that does not break any new ground, but which was easy to read.
The character of Rose was far more interesting than that of Chris, and those who aren’t a fan of endurance running may struggle through certain chapters, but otherwise The Hunt will entertain without wowing most.
3 Scores to Settle for The Hunt.
The character of Rose was far more interesting than that of Chris, and those who aren’t a fan of endurance running may struggle through certain chapters, but otherwise The Hunt will entertain without wowing most.
3 Scores to Settle for The Hunt.
November 14, 2017
Couldn't put this book down - action packed and fast paced.
October 30, 2024
Honestly I found this quite boring! Amazing concept but just poorly executed in my opinion. Took me so long to finish
November 5, 2023
A nice, simple, relentless chase thriller. Brutal but pacey.
June 21, 2015
I stupidly forgot to reply to the email offering me a copy of this book and so consequently missed out on this brilliant marketing campaign. Never fear, a NetGalley copy appeared and I eagerly downloaded it. The very same night I sent a tweet saying 'There's fast-paced, and then there's The Hunt' and that statement is so true. For pure excitement and adrenaline rushes, The Hunt is probably one of the best books you could read this year for them.
The Hunt is one of those books you can't say too much about, but in typical me fashion I'll probably end up saying anyway... Chris returns home from his run to find that his family have disappeared and there's a stranger in his kitchen who delivers a cryptic message. Chris discovers that his family have been kidnapped, and he's told to run. If he's caught and killed then his family can go free but if he escapes, they die. It has all been organised by The Trail, an organisation that provides rich people with somebody to hunt.
The Trail are a pretty scary and organised group of people. Even pressing 9 on his home phone alerts them to the fact that Chris is attempting to call the police. And they have even managed to get to his family and friends. Chris has nobody to turn to, until help (I use the term quite loosely) comes in the form of Rose. A woman who managed to escape from The Trail, but lost her family in the process. Rose has revenge in mind, and will not rest until she has killed those responsible for killing her family. All the while I wanted to scream at Chris to not only run from The Trail but also Rose, but at the same time my heart was pounding with excitement as I read on. I actually found the idea for the story quite inventive in a genre where most things have been done, and when you actually think about it, it is actually quite plausible - there's people out there that would set up something like this, and there's rich egomaniacs who would happily pay to take part.
In terms of the setting I do think something like this might be slightly more believable on a grander scale, say America, but the fact that Tim set it in the UK, and in an area he knows perhaps does give it more of an authentic feeling. Plus I think the idea of The Trail operating around the world is a pretty scary idea, and probably highlighted the scale of which these people work. Tim Lebbon clearly knows what he's talking about when it comes to all things running and the outdoors and he uses that knowledge to great effect in writing this story and it never comes across as know-all, it all adds to the overall story. It's one of those books where it feels like you are part of the story yourself, witnessing the action from afar, even feeling like you should be looking over your shoulder at times.
The character development in The Hunt was probably one of my favourite things about the book. I think in this genre some authors tend to focus too much on the action, resulting in at times some pretty one dimensional characters but despite this book very rarely letting up on the action, the characters don't suffer because of it. Rose in particular was one of my favourites, despite never fully knowing what I thought about her. A character such as her fills you with excitement but also a little bit of fear, she literally has nothing to live for, and is driven solely by revenge which makes her quite unpredictable. I wondered just how the story would end, after all to save his family Chris must sacrifice himself and so it does add some real excitement to the read. My heart was pounding right up until the very end of the story.
The Hunt is a book that would be perfect for reading by the pool for those lucky enough to be jetting off to sunnier climes over the coming weeks, but it's also a book that would be perfect for reading right now! So don't even hesitate to go ahead and download it to your Kindle. At 99p how can you say no?! I really hope we will be reading more from Tim Lebbon very soon.
The Hunt is one of those books you can't say too much about, but in typical me fashion I'll probably end up saying anyway... Chris returns home from his run to find that his family have disappeared and there's a stranger in his kitchen who delivers a cryptic message. Chris discovers that his family have been kidnapped, and he's told to run. If he's caught and killed then his family can go free but if he escapes, they die. It has all been organised by The Trail, an organisation that provides rich people with somebody to hunt.
The Trail are a pretty scary and organised group of people. Even pressing 9 on his home phone alerts them to the fact that Chris is attempting to call the police. And they have even managed to get to his family and friends. Chris has nobody to turn to, until help (I use the term quite loosely) comes in the form of Rose. A woman who managed to escape from The Trail, but lost her family in the process. Rose has revenge in mind, and will not rest until she has killed those responsible for killing her family. All the while I wanted to scream at Chris to not only run from The Trail but also Rose, but at the same time my heart was pounding with excitement as I read on. I actually found the idea for the story quite inventive in a genre where most things have been done, and when you actually think about it, it is actually quite plausible - there's people out there that would set up something like this, and there's rich egomaniacs who would happily pay to take part.
In terms of the setting I do think something like this might be slightly more believable on a grander scale, say America, but the fact that Tim set it in the UK, and in an area he knows perhaps does give it more of an authentic feeling. Plus I think the idea of The Trail operating around the world is a pretty scary idea, and probably highlighted the scale of which these people work. Tim Lebbon clearly knows what he's talking about when it comes to all things running and the outdoors and he uses that knowledge to great effect in writing this story and it never comes across as know-all, it all adds to the overall story. It's one of those books where it feels like you are part of the story yourself, witnessing the action from afar, even feeling like you should be looking over your shoulder at times.
The character development in The Hunt was probably one of my favourite things about the book. I think in this genre some authors tend to focus too much on the action, resulting in at times some pretty one dimensional characters but despite this book very rarely letting up on the action, the characters don't suffer because of it. Rose in particular was one of my favourites, despite never fully knowing what I thought about her. A character such as her fills you with excitement but also a little bit of fear, she literally has nothing to live for, and is driven solely by revenge which makes her quite unpredictable. I wondered just how the story would end, after all to save his family Chris must sacrifice himself and so it does add some real excitement to the read. My heart was pounding right up until the very end of the story.
The Hunt is a book that would be perfect for reading by the pool for those lucky enough to be jetting off to sunnier climes over the coming weeks, but it's also a book that would be perfect for reading right now! So don't even hesitate to go ahead and download it to your Kindle. At 99p how can you say no?! I really hope we will be reading more from Tim Lebbon very soon.
September 2, 2015
I took Tim J. Lebbon's The Hunt on a canal boat family holiday for a bit of a read at bedtime after a hard days work on the river banks.
I had good intentions of thoroughly pulling my weight along with the rest of the family; hubby, daughter (age 14), son (16) & Buffer the dog (age 2). However I failed at the outset, I was glued to the book from the first page. I could not be prised away from it. Poor old hubby was left to skipper the boat the whole time as I was engrossed in The Hunt. It was that good, truly I do not exaggerate. I ignored the desperate pleas of 'everyone quick, I need help' shouts as we neared locks and any other hazardous encounter. Did they not understand that Chris and Rose were all I cared about ?
Due to circumstances beyond my control, my family needing sustenance and vital fluids, I had to do the right thing and provide for them. So I pulled out the ration packs and advised them to boil the bags in water before consuming to ensure they were ready to continue their marathon steering of the boat and leave me to resume my endurance of The Hunt.
Finally after being held captive for two days, The Hunt came to its explosive finale and I was free to rejoin my family and enjoy our holiday.
Told from the viewpoints of Chris, Gemma his daughter and Rose, The Hunt was a pure 'edge of your seat', 'roller coaster ride'. I loved that it was set predominanly in the rugged wilds of Snowdonia in Wales, and had a totally believable female 'kick ass' protagonist.
This doesn't mean that it was without its flaws, chiefly the lack of real depth of character development of Chris' family, but this was such a minor issue and was outweighed by the more fuller bodied characterisations of Chris and Rose, and Rose's relationship with Holt, that I forgave them.
The character depiction of Rose is outstanding. Rose is the force to be reckoned with and will take no prisoners whilst implementing her murderous plan of action to wreak vengeance on The Trail. She is strong, she has to be. She has prepared herself mentally and physically for a long time and will let nothing get in her way to achieve her goal. Totally unpredictable, she is surviving on pure hatred and driven in her sole purpose of avenging the slaughter of her family.
We really get to know Rose through flashbacks and feel her agonising despair at the discovery of her family's fate after she managed to escape being hunted. It is Chris who questions the necessity for such extreme violence making him the weaker of the two in their race to ... what, survive ? ... and what will be the consequences ... to lose his family ?
Rose is someone you'd feel desperately for but because she has lost everything meaningful to her she has absolutely nothing to lose making her unpredictable and highly dangerous. As much as I was on her side and wanted her to kill the members of The Trail I did have some concerns whether she could be trusted to help Chris outrun the hunters and escape The Trail. Also what if she did kill The Trail members who had come to be her driving force for living. What would be left for her to live for ?
At times I felt there were similarities to Richard Bachman's The Running Man, and Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. The Hunt was far superior to the former and definitely The Hunger Games for Gown ups!
Never a dull moment, I was exhausted just reading it.
The Hunt is Tim J. Lebbon's first thriller, please don't let it be the last !
Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of The Hunt by Tim J. Lebbon was provided by Harper Collins UK Avon via Netgalley in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
I had good intentions of thoroughly pulling my weight along with the rest of the family; hubby, daughter (age 14), son (16) & Buffer the dog (age 2). However I failed at the outset, I was glued to the book from the first page. I could not be prised away from it. Poor old hubby was left to skipper the boat the whole time as I was engrossed in The Hunt. It was that good, truly I do not exaggerate. I ignored the desperate pleas of 'everyone quick, I need help' shouts as we neared locks and any other hazardous encounter. Did they not understand that Chris and Rose were all I cared about ?
Due to circumstances beyond my control, my family needing sustenance and vital fluids, I had to do the right thing and provide for them. So I pulled out the ration packs and advised them to boil the bags in water before consuming to ensure they were ready to continue their marathon steering of the boat and leave me to resume my endurance of The Hunt.
Finally after being held captive for two days, The Hunt came to its explosive finale and I was free to rejoin my family and enjoy our holiday.
Told from the viewpoints of Chris, Gemma his daughter and Rose, The Hunt was a pure 'edge of your seat', 'roller coaster ride'. I loved that it was set predominanly in the rugged wilds of Snowdonia in Wales, and had a totally believable female 'kick ass' protagonist.
This doesn't mean that it was without its flaws, chiefly the lack of real depth of character development of Chris' family, but this was such a minor issue and was outweighed by the more fuller bodied characterisations of Chris and Rose, and Rose's relationship with Holt, that I forgave them.
The character depiction of Rose is outstanding. Rose is the force to be reckoned with and will take no prisoners whilst implementing her murderous plan of action to wreak vengeance on The Trail. She is strong, she has to be. She has prepared herself mentally and physically for a long time and will let nothing get in her way to achieve her goal. Totally unpredictable, she is surviving on pure hatred and driven in her sole purpose of avenging the slaughter of her family.
We really get to know Rose through flashbacks and feel her agonising despair at the discovery of her family's fate after she managed to escape being hunted. It is Chris who questions the necessity for such extreme violence making him the weaker of the two in their race to ... what, survive ? ... and what will be the consequences ... to lose his family ?
Rose is someone you'd feel desperately for but because she has lost everything meaningful to her she has absolutely nothing to lose making her unpredictable and highly dangerous. As much as I was on her side and wanted her to kill the members of The Trail I did have some concerns whether she could be trusted to help Chris outrun the hunters and escape The Trail. Also what if she did kill The Trail members who had come to be her driving force for living. What would be left for her to live for ?
At times I felt there were similarities to Richard Bachman's The Running Man, and Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. The Hunt was far superior to the former and definitely The Hunger Games for Gown ups!
Never a dull moment, I was exhausted just reading it.
The Hunt is Tim J. Lebbon's first thriller, please don't let it be the last !
Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of The Hunt by Tim J. Lebbon was provided by Harper Collins UK Avon via Netgalley in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
July 6, 2018
Chris Sheen returns home after an early morning run to discover that his family - wife Terri and girls Gemma and Megs - are missing and a stranger is standing in his kitchen drinking coffee. He’s told by a shadowy operation called The Trail to run and that if he’s caught and killed, his family will go free - if he escapes, they will die. Into this maelstrom comes Rose, who was once hunted by The Trail herself but lost her family when she beat the chase. Now Chris needs help, she wants revenge and he’s the perfect bait.
Riffing on “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, Tim wastes no time in setting up the situation and it’s beautifully simple. The Trail takes a person who can, in theory, handle themselves (Chris is a good distance runner), pits them against rich idiots who’ve paid for the pleasure of hunting a human, puts them into a games arena (in this case, it was supoosed to be downtown Cardiff until Rose stepped in) and monitors the situation so the rich never lose. The Trail members that we meet are well trained and vicious, though we only tend to see them moments before Rose kills them, except for Vey - she was the one who killed Rose’s family and is now standing guard over Chris’. Without any semblence of emotion, we see her through the eyes of Gemma, who is old enough and sharp enough to try and understand why she, her Mum and sister have been kidnapped. With Rose’s intervention, the hunt is moved to the Welsh mountains (somewhere around Snowdonia, though it’s never specified) where Chris has a slight advantage and she has enough space to figure out how to reduce the odds.
I liked this a great deal. I immediately identified with Chris (not the running part, but certainly getting fitter) and his fear for his family and because the book wastes no time in ‘cutting to the chase’ (sorry), you’re immediately thrown into the middle of things. His progression over the book - fearful, resilient, resourceful and, above all, determined - is well handled. Rose is equally good, at first a killer like the Trail until her character is revealed through flashbacks and we get a better understanding of what set her up in this way. The hunters are mostly seen from the distance, generally overweight and sloppy people who just want to get their jollies but when the tables are turned, it’s nice to see their arrogant facades melt quickly (especially when one is recognised and smiles at the attention, completely forgetting his situation). Tim uses the wild locations well, making us feel the elements and see the barren mountains and valleys that Chris has to traverse, where the ground is as liable to hurt you as those high-calibered rifles are (and the swim in the mountain lake is truly terrifying). Having spent time in Snowdonia, he not only captured the atmosphere of the place well but made the bleakness of the area - and the lack of other people - almost another character. The pace is relentless, barely pausing for breath as you’re dragged through lean and sharp scenes, whilst the set-pieces are superbly handled and thoroughly gripping. The book doesn’t shy away from the terror of the situation either, from Chris’ terrifying ordeal on a cliff-face to the sudden bursts of shocking, brutal violence, but it’s all the better for that.
Marking a tangent for Tim, who before now was better known as an award-winning horror/fantasy writer, this is an assured thriller debut, well written, told at a breakneck pace and engrossing from the first page. I highly recommend it.
Riffing on “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, Tim wastes no time in setting up the situation and it’s beautifully simple. The Trail takes a person who can, in theory, handle themselves (Chris is a good distance runner), pits them against rich idiots who’ve paid for the pleasure of hunting a human, puts them into a games arena (in this case, it was supoosed to be downtown Cardiff until Rose stepped in) and monitors the situation so the rich never lose. The Trail members that we meet are well trained and vicious, though we only tend to see them moments before Rose kills them, except for Vey - she was the one who killed Rose’s family and is now standing guard over Chris’. Without any semblence of emotion, we see her through the eyes of Gemma, who is old enough and sharp enough to try and understand why she, her Mum and sister have been kidnapped. With Rose’s intervention, the hunt is moved to the Welsh mountains (somewhere around Snowdonia, though it’s never specified) where Chris has a slight advantage and she has enough space to figure out how to reduce the odds.
I liked this a great deal. I immediately identified with Chris (not the running part, but certainly getting fitter) and his fear for his family and because the book wastes no time in ‘cutting to the chase’ (sorry), you’re immediately thrown into the middle of things. His progression over the book - fearful, resilient, resourceful and, above all, determined - is well handled. Rose is equally good, at first a killer like the Trail until her character is revealed through flashbacks and we get a better understanding of what set her up in this way. The hunters are mostly seen from the distance, generally overweight and sloppy people who just want to get their jollies but when the tables are turned, it’s nice to see their arrogant facades melt quickly (especially when one is recognised and smiles at the attention, completely forgetting his situation). Tim uses the wild locations well, making us feel the elements and see the barren mountains and valleys that Chris has to traverse, where the ground is as liable to hurt you as those high-calibered rifles are (and the swim in the mountain lake is truly terrifying). Having spent time in Snowdonia, he not only captured the atmosphere of the place well but made the bleakness of the area - and the lack of other people - almost another character. The pace is relentless, barely pausing for breath as you’re dragged through lean and sharp scenes, whilst the set-pieces are superbly handled and thoroughly gripping. The book doesn’t shy away from the terror of the situation either, from Chris’ terrifying ordeal on a cliff-face to the sudden bursts of shocking, brutal violence, but it’s all the better for that.
Marking a tangent for Tim, who before now was better known as an award-winning horror/fantasy writer, this is an assured thriller debut, well written, told at a breakneck pace and engrossing from the first page. I highly recommend it.
August 31, 2015
Spectacularly intense. That’s the only way to describe Chris’s day in The Hunt.
And that day started pretty well for this ordinary architect fellow when he set off on his early morning run, only to return to find things have escalated rather quickly in his absence.
His family are missing, with no clue to their whereabouts…cue the appearance of a strange brute in his kitchen, who advises Chris to sit tight and await a phone call.
Following said call, bring on a frantic quest where he may save or lose his family, and possibly himself, while a higher power orchestrates a dangerous game with civilian’s lives as the prize.
It turns out that ‘The Trail’, as they are known, hunt game. But they like a challenge, preferring their prize to walk and talk – they like to track people, and bizarrely they’ve found a market for it. To ensure their chosen ‘game’ plays ball and gives them their money’s worth, they secure their loved ones in a remote location until the game is over, one way or another.
Chris is alone and confused. He’s been told in no uncertain terms not to contact the police. All he can do is follow the instructions of a stranger he met only moments ago and try to run for his life.
Luckily, unexpected assistance presents itself with the arrival of Rose. Her knowledge shouldn’t be underestimated, as she knows exactly what he’s going through having experienced it herself with disastrous consequences. She offers her invaluable aid to the shell-shocked father of two by putting into practice her unexpected skills she’s honed over time. But as the day progresses it seems that Rose holds her very own agenda of contempt for ‘The Trail’ and may throw a spanner in the works for all of them. Rose is a gutsy gal, I liked her. Although her backstory does stretch the imagination to the limit it’s quite forgivable. This is thrilling fiction after all, so anything goes!
Expect plenty of action, thrills and chases over rugged Welsh terrain, the isolation of which is depicted quite brilliantly. With the appearance of a helicopter and various weaponry, the heat is well and truly cranked up with this one!
Without a doubt, at the heart of The Hunt lies seriously extreme suspense. The end result ensures pure escapism pulses throughout the book, for both the main character and the reader alike. There’s no denying that it’s highly entertaining and I’d have no hesitation recommending it to anyone who loves a pacey killer of a read.
And that day started pretty well for this ordinary architect fellow when he set off on his early morning run, only to return to find things have escalated rather quickly in his absence.
His family are missing, with no clue to their whereabouts…cue the appearance of a strange brute in his kitchen, who advises Chris to sit tight and await a phone call.
Following said call, bring on a frantic quest where he may save or lose his family, and possibly himself, while a higher power orchestrates a dangerous game with civilian’s lives as the prize.
It turns out that ‘The Trail’, as they are known, hunt game. But they like a challenge, preferring their prize to walk and talk – they like to track people, and bizarrely they’ve found a market for it. To ensure their chosen ‘game’ plays ball and gives them their money’s worth, they secure their loved ones in a remote location until the game is over, one way or another.
Chris is alone and confused. He’s been told in no uncertain terms not to contact the police. All he can do is follow the instructions of a stranger he met only moments ago and try to run for his life.
Luckily, unexpected assistance presents itself with the arrival of Rose. Her knowledge shouldn’t be underestimated, as she knows exactly what he’s going through having experienced it herself with disastrous consequences. She offers her invaluable aid to the shell-shocked father of two by putting into practice her unexpected skills she’s honed over time. But as the day progresses it seems that Rose holds her very own agenda of contempt for ‘The Trail’ and may throw a spanner in the works for all of them. Rose is a gutsy gal, I liked her. Although her backstory does stretch the imagination to the limit it’s quite forgivable. This is thrilling fiction after all, so anything goes!
Expect plenty of action, thrills and chases over rugged Welsh terrain, the isolation of which is depicted quite brilliantly. With the appearance of a helicopter and various weaponry, the heat is well and truly cranked up with this one!
Without a doubt, at the heart of The Hunt lies seriously extreme suspense. The end result ensures pure escapism pulses throughout the book, for both the main character and the reader alike. There’s no denying that it’s highly entertaining and I’d have no hesitation recommending it to anyone who loves a pacey killer of a read.
July 14, 2015
With an opening that could have emerged straight from the pen of Linwood Barclay, The Hunt is difficult to assess as it so closely draws on books that have gone before. There are obvious similarities to Richard Bachman‘s The Running Man, Suzanne Collins‘ The Hunger Games and to the excellent Trophy by Steffen Jacobsen. With the tropes of these books so much in evidence it all feels incredibly familiar. Sheen is a bland character who thinks about the nature and act of running a lot. To paraphrase Haruki Murakami, we get a great deal of insight into what he talks about when he talks about running. In addition, the depictions of Sheen’s wooly wife, mewling younger child, and slightly feisty teenage daughter, are a little one-dimensional. It sounds harsh, but many readers will probably root for Sheen to outrun his pursuers to seal their fate.
On the other hand, Rose is a beautifully developed character and Lebbon carefully reveals the depth of despair and the near fatal consequences of her previous experiences. She is an utterly empathetic character, imbued with a steely determination. Without dwelling too heavily on her back story, she and her sensei Holt are easily the most interesting characters and what could have been a strictly average thriller is lifted greatly by their presence. Reading chapters featuring Sheen’s linear narrative of running and yet more running, although contributing to the breathless pace of the plot, will leave you impatient to get back to Rose wreaking her revenge on some very nasty characters indeed.
The Hunt offers a fairly balanced mix as a crime thriller. The pace of plotting and the well-realised location of the rugged and hostile terrain of Snowdonia add to the feel of a tension fuelled thriller. However, some of the slack characterisation and too much superfluous emphasis on the tao of running are a little annoying when pitted against the superior depiction of Rose, who really holds this book together. As a pacey thriller, it’s worth a read on the summer holiday.
On the other hand, Rose is a beautifully developed character and Lebbon carefully reveals the depth of despair and the near fatal consequences of her previous experiences. She is an utterly empathetic character, imbued with a steely determination. Without dwelling too heavily on her back story, she and her sensei Holt are easily the most interesting characters and what could have been a strictly average thriller is lifted greatly by their presence. Reading chapters featuring Sheen’s linear narrative of running and yet more running, although contributing to the breathless pace of the plot, will leave you impatient to get back to Rose wreaking her revenge on some very nasty characters indeed.
The Hunt offers a fairly balanced mix as a crime thriller. The pace of plotting and the well-realised location of the rugged and hostile terrain of Snowdonia add to the feel of a tension fuelled thriller. However, some of the slack characterisation and too much superfluous emphasis on the tao of running are a little annoying when pitted against the superior depiction of Rose, who really holds this book together. As a pacey thriller, it’s worth a read on the summer holiday.
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