The Meat Hunter

by Megan Allen

A serial killer is on the loose... Molly Bishop grew up on a farm and was horrified by her father's indifference towards the animals they raised, viewed only as slabs of flesh to be consumed by a ravenous society. Now a seductive and cunning young woman, she seeks out the cruelest members of the meat industry and offers up her own brand of redemption, with a thesis that says those who raise animals for meat should understand what it feels like to become meat. But the FBI is on to her— they've sent in Michael Lair, a whip-smart agent with his own set of demons. And as a deadly game of cat-and-mouse ensues in the nation's heartland, they must rely on their instincts and intellect to determine who survives.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Horror, Mystery, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

300 pages, Hardcover

First published March 20, 2020

About the author

Megan Allen is a 27 year old California native who received her Bachelor's from UC Berkeley and her Master's in creative writing from the University of Edinburgh. After graduating she spent long periods of time in the deep south visiting her father. And it was there she found inspiration for her debut novel, The Slave Players. She writes, "I grew up naively, and had no idea that racism still prevailed with such intensity in my own country. Then I met Alabama."

Reviews

[Roxane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the premise here, of a woman who brings justice to cruel pig farmers but the inciting incident that sets her on this path is not believable and makes no sense. Still, this was a fun read. I liked the protagonist. Her foil, the FBI agent, was under developed and boring. The BFF was great. You might enjoy this one.

[karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a like-not-love book for me—i appreciated it more than i enjoyed it. it conveys its message effectively, it elicits a reaction from the reader, and the various storylines meld harmoniously, but i wasn't crazy about the MC, and it’s not for those made squeamish by animal or grammatical violence.

for the gentles: even though it is a book about a lady-turnt-vigilante going around killing people because meat is murder, there is a lot of on-page animal cruelty, including some by the vigilante’s own hands, which means many readers who ordinarily would cheer for this kind of heroine either won’t be able to read it because of the animal-stuff or will be conflicted about her whole deal.

the writing has some iffy spots—there's that tendency of people who are either over- or under-confident to choose the pompous “utilize” over the humble workhorse “use” and it clunks up what they're trying to say. i don't remember if she specifically uses "utilize;" that example is just my personal bugbear, and the foible isn't rampant here, but whenever she tries for the fancy word, it’s slightly off.

those were just PSAs—neither of those things bothered me; my problem was with molly as a character. i need this space to work through my issues with her, and it’s probably going to come across as hypercritical and a little boring, so you don’t need to read it, but i do need to write it, for my own karen reasons. i did not hate the book at all, but the problems i did have with it really got under my skin. feel free to stop reading NOW, if you’re even still here.

hi. okay, so you know how to humbert humbert, Lolita is boinkable but to most readers, there's nothing sexxy in nabokov's descriptions of some sticky kid with dirty feet playing with her gum? the same kind of filter applies here. we’re sold this character as an irresistibly seductive femme fatale; and in physical appearance she fits the conventional bill—beautiful, blonde, and aloof; cutting a dramatic figure in her all-white outfits, using flirtation to get what she wants while remaining inscrutable and cold, hypnotizing every single man with her sexparts; none able to look away from her legs, her breasts, her lips...

but as far as what’s on the page, she comes across more like a parody of sensuality with this pathologically frenzied male-arm-stroking and male-collar adjusting and male-chest caressing and pouting and cooing and lip biting and constant touch touch touching, but there’s no finesse to any of it. it’s compulsive rather than controlled so it reads more like a tic than a tactic; a nicholas cage fembot on ecstasy.

*dawning realization has entered the chat*

oh, wait. her name's molly. if intentional, that's actually very funny.

*dawning realization has left the chat*

molly half-asses her own psychological landscape:

She had learned long ago how easy it was to disarm a man, leaving him dazed and babbling and giving Molly time to formulate a plan that would lead to his ultimate demise. She supposed it was because life had damaged her enough to closet her own feelings, tuck them away, allowing her to focus on wit and irresistible external features which could subdue nearly every man she encountered.

before this:

Women she had met over the years were not as taken, not as captivated and not as kind, often apt to assess her as cold, even calculating, with more than one elevating that assessment to exalt, “What a bitch,” whenever Molly walked away.

but the thing is, they’re not wrong, and that’s what makes molly such a difficult character to root for. she’s not likable, and it’s not because she’s a murderess, and it’s not even because she kills or endangers more than a few animals which seems counterintuitive and hypocritical but reasons. it’s because she’s just…shitty to people. unprovoked low-key shittiness. to men and women, to people suspicious of and investigating her (where a little of that sugar she lays all over her victims would be strategically advisable), even to people she should consider allies, like carl—her only friend. as a gay man, he’s immune to her charms, but their relationship is basically a hate crime—she hits him in the balls, yanks on his hair, showers him with verbal abuse etc etc, while he comes across like he’s got stockholm syndrome.

…he had come to love Molly, and need her, like no one he had ever allowed into his life before. It wasn’t so much that he allowed her there, as that she had inserted herself without regard for his opinion on the matter.

we’re assured she’s got people and their motivations all figured out, including her ownself, but she’s a person lacking in compassion and empathy murdering people for…lacking compassion and empathy. case in point: the end result of what she considers to be a compassionate act is that a little boy is going to wake up beside the corpse of an animal he loves. this is exactly the kind of misguided tenderness that inspired my babysitter serve me my favorite of her "pet" rabbits for lunch when i was four. read the room, molly!

she’s unsympathetic and inconsistent, every interaction is a power play, no matter how minuscule the stakes, she's a frankenstein's monster of conflicting personas who's self-deluded even by serial killer standards and if she heard me saying any of this she would think i was just jelly like allllll women are of her, but she is smug and rude, so there.

this is the scene that made me blow my top a little:

It was Tuesday night at Lola’s. Ladies night. Molly especially enjoyed Tuesdays, not because she felt more secure strolling into an environment where an abundance of women would offer her some anonymity, but because she enjoyed the sexual tension brought about by an excess of women in a bar usually filled with men. Walking up to the bar, she knew a hundred pairs of male eyes were feasting on her, pining for her attention, while at the same time a hundred pairs of female eyes shined bright with the hope that she would trip and fall on her face. This amused her. Carl often referred to her as an attention whore, and she supposed that was as close to a fitting description as one could get.

The barroom was crowded, as it usually was on Tuesdays. She squeezed her way in between two men at the bar, then turned to the one on her left. “My seat,” she said, reaching out with one hand to remove the Stetson from the man’s head, while the other brushed its way affectionately through his hair. The man surrendered his seat without protest, also happily surrendering his hat which Molly placed on her own head, tilting it back to showcase the mass of blonde curls that swept out from beneath the brim. She turned to the second man, who swung himself around enough so their knees interlocked, with one of Molly’s legs reaching out to caress the man’s thigh. “Vodka, rocks,” she said to the man, whose hand went immediately into the air as a signal to the bartender.

then she drags them both onto the dance floor, where other men flock to grind and caress her (another thing she finds “amusing,” which is such an asshole of a word) and she encourages them all, “feed(ing) their hunger,” and then:

Sometime after midnight Molly broke away. She walked over to a young man who had been assigned to guard her purse, kissing him lightly on the lips in thanks. The man blushed, his mundane night composed of standing on the sidelines watching her dance having just become a spectacular one.

this is the first we are hearing of the purse-guarding gentleman, but the whole scene, the whole night in the bar—does anything like that ever happen outside of a madonna video? this faux-empowerment gained by flirtation, instantly turning men into drooling servants, no competition between them, no expectations of her, content to have orbited her for a time and certainly not following her out of the bar, hoping for more, cuz that would have gotten in the way of the thing that needed to happen in the parking lot, but this sudden abandonment of the pursuit of her apparently irresistible bod makes it seem like these men are part of chuck e cheese’s animatronic band unable to cross the threshold.

that scene pissed me off for its sheer silliness and i could not get it out of my mind for the rest of the book so i had to write about it here to get it out of me. and now i am free.

except for hating molly immensely, i liked a lot of the book, especially the john grimm storyline.

in any case, three months of quarantine has broken my brain, so don't listen to me, booknerds! tend your own reading paths!

*******************************

BOOK SCHWAG!!



as much as i love my hypodermic needle/blood droplet bookmark:



this little piggie paperclip's the real hero:



and this secret shiny bloodstain under the dust jacket!



thanks, burn house!!!

review to come!!

come to my blog!

[PamG · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE MEAT HUNTER by Megan Allen is a well-written novel that explores a darker side of the meat industry in a fictional context. Molly Bishop grew up on a hog farm, and as an adult, she sells medicines and other supplies to animal farmers in the Midwest for McMillan Pharmaceuticals. Michael Lair is an FBI agent called in to help the local office after multiple deaths have occurred among those in the meat industry. During the course of the investigation, they meet and Michael learns about animal farming and processing from Molly.

This is not a comfortable read. It deals with strong and vivid descriptions of the meat industry, animal cruelty, vigilantism, sexual assault, murder and much more. I believe it is a provocative book that is deliberately written in such a way as to get a powerful reaction from the reader. It seems to be wanting the reader to reflect on society and things that we take for granted.

The main characters have depth and felt three-dimensional. The prose is well-written, compelling and descriptive. The plot is shocking, moving, powerful, thought-provoking, suspenseful, absorbing and gripping. The ending was dramatic, but did not give me total closure. This book is definitely one I am glad I read despite several disturbing and graphic scenes and discussions. Overall, this is a book that I will not soon forget and I look forward to reading more from this author. Will there be a sequel? I would also like to read Ms. Allen’s debut novel which is undoubtedly going to be just as controversial.

Thanks to Burn House Publishing for a complimentary copy of this novel and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

[Jeffrey Keeten · Rating 5 out of 5]

”The scope paused, and retraced slightly. And there it was. A man, laying out among the rocks of the gorge, blending in almost perfectly. This man also had a rifle, and it pointed directly at the deer in the meadow. Molly smiled again, but this time not as warmly, the crosshairs moving in to focus on the man’s face. There was nothing distinctive about him. He was just a man. His lips curled upwards slightly and began to twitch, and there was something eager and evil about them. As she watched, the man’s eyes widened and filled with a bloodlust as he visualized the kill. Her finger again found the trigger and began a slow, steady compression. One second later the valley reverberated with the sound of a blast and the man’s face imploded, his nose crushed inward by the force of a bullet smashing its way deeply into his brain. The body lay there quivering for a moment, then slipped into a niche among the rocks where it disappeared from sight. Molly rose, and stood there for a time. She glanced back at the meadow where the two deer had been. They were gone. ‘Run, my babies,’ she whispered.”

Wouldn’t hunting be more sporting if we gave the deers AR-15s, gave the pheasants napalm bombs to drop from the air, and wrapped the bears in kevlar? Let’s just look at the sport of deer hunting: “Wayne Van Zwoll on Long Range Shots. Mostly, whitetails are killed at 100 yards or less and mule deer at 200 and under, but every once in a while, you will want to take a shot at truly long range--300 and 400 yards.” So a typical hunter wearing camouflage (#cosplay) is hiding 100 yards or further away, and he drops a feeding, unaware deer. He then celebrates, while the deer twitches and bleeds out on the ground, like he just caught the Superbowl winning touchdown from Patrick Mahomes. He thinks of himself as a man among men. He doesn’t hunt to eat. He hunts for entertainment.

I think these types of men are pathetic and cowardly. (Remember the dentist, referred to as a recreational big game hunter, who killed Cecil the Lion for sport?) These men need an attitude adjustment and a new hobby.

Now Molly Bishop isn’t a coward. She gets right up and personal with her prey. Molly is the right gal to serve up some attitude adjustments. ”’Every now and then I like to find a man and just beat the shit out of him.’ She shook her head and frowned. ‘I can’t help it. It’s hard to explain, really. Some men get their rocks off torturing animals. I get mine off torturing men. It’s probably a matter of perspective,’ She laughed suddenly. ‘I’m gonna have to look into it. It’s quite possible I need therapy.’” Most serial killers kill women, usually women who are not much more than girls, but if they weren’t cowards, they’d be hunting the top of the food chain, no not lions, tigers, and bears, but...men.

Molly doesn’t just hunt random men. She hunts men who abuse animals. Men who take pleasure out of inflicting pain on animals. Men who like to use piglets as baseballs or men who consider the squeals of animals more soothing to their ears than listening to Bach’s Air on a G String. We are talking about broken men. Men who have quit seeing animals as living, breathing, feeling creatures. Men who have lost their souls.

Molly leaves a wobbling wake of weak-kneed admirers wherever she goes. She has that universal appeal of long legs, long blonde hair, and blue eyes that men, and a fair number of women, find irresistible. She knows how to handle men. She knows how to flirt with them just enough to make them tingle, and for some of these old men she might even create a movement in places that they left for dead decades ago. The author, Megan Allen, looks like one of those California girls that The Beach Boys were always crooning to me about on the radio. Is she Molly Bishop? Are animal abusers being found dead in mysterious circumstances all across the Midwest? Can we root for her like people did in the 1930s for John Dillinger?

Molly has two men chasing her. Special Agent Michael Lair is trying to figure out a series of murdered farmers. He believes that Molly is the murderer, but every time he gets around her, she acts like she wants to wrap her legs around him or bust his balls or maybe both at the same time. The other man is John Grimm, a stone cold killer, who believes, because Molly smiled at him, that she is the love of his life. The question is, can Molly escape the clutches of the law and the clutches of a serial killer and somehow ride off into the sunset to save more animals?

As I was reading this book, I kept thinking of The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. ”His primary purpose in describing the meat industry and its working conditions was to advance socialism in the United States. However, most readers were more concerned with several passages exposing health violations and unsanitary practices in the American meat packing industry during the early 20th century, which greatly contributed to a public outcry which led to reforms including the Meat Inspection Act. Sinclair famously said of the public reaction, ‘I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach.’” --Wikipedia. It might seem odd to equate a classic of American literature with a hardboiled mystery novel, but just as Sinclair’s book was calling for reform, so is Megan Allen.

I’m a carnivore. I was raised on a farm, but our animals were raised free range. Our chickens had room to roam; our cattle were range fed, and our pigs were kept in large pens with plenty of room to root and frolic to their hearts’ content. Most of us are cellophane hunters. We go to a supermarket and pick up our meat in carefully wrapped packages that look nothing like something that once wore a face. People buy veal and have no idea the horrors that baby calves are subjected to so that their meat is like butter. (Don’t eat veal. Don’t support that industry.) The Europeans like their animals to be happy before they eat them. They believe that a happy pig makes for better tasting pork. We raise chickens and pigs in the United States in abominable conditions. They are raised in cramped, unhealthy environments by men who are desensitized and malicious. It is immoral. I understand that cattle, pigs, and chickens are now dependent on men for their survival. It is a hard bargain as most of them will be slaughtered for our food, but right now there are more cattle on the planet than have ever existed before, so as a survival tactic it has worked. As consumers, we can demand that laws are changed and that animals must be treated with respect and proper consideration before they land in our supermarket as tidy, unalarming, cellophane wrapped packages.

If you eat meat, but even if you don’t eat meat, you should read this book. It certainly will give everyone who reads it a different view of the food industry. We, as consumers, are part of the problem, and we need to start demanding that the animals who make the ultimate sacrifice for us have a reasonably enjoyable life for the short time they are allowed to live. We shouldn’t let profit override our morality. This book is as beguiling as it is chilling. It is gritty and unflinching. Molly will seduce you even as she sends a shiver of revulsion up your back. Don’t flinch away. Support this controversial and provocative novel because the more people who read a book like this the more likely our modern injustices will become a part of the past.

I want to thank Burn House Publishing for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten and an Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/jeffreykeeten/

[Brittany Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

[02/10/20, Edited Review]
The writing has adrenaline rushes like Breaking Bad, and bloody gore like Dexter, but FEMALE!

Dedication: "Dedicated to the second pig in line. The one who must watch, and wait, and know."

"She was more than just pretty, having a quality that allowed her to put a man in his place without him feeling too badly about it."

Tell me these two quotes don't scream BOLD in every way. This is one you are going to WANT on your shelves! Netflix special is right... You will probably see them pick this up.

Megan Allen is going after the meat industry in her latest and it's sure to turn me vegan. It's a tough read at times because of the animal cruelty but holy cows, all of them, is it GOOD.

Female - Highly Intelligent - Too Pretty - Smart Mouth - Seeks Justice - Kills People; always makes for a good plotline. My heart was pounding at the anticipation!

Not only is the book jacket stunning, underneath; the pristine white hardcover of the first editions is a beautiful metallic, red blood splatter. It looks SO COOL, this book is awesome from the outside in.

I had the opportunity of winning the author's first controversial book (that was condemned by the KKK) "The Slave Players", and I LOVED it. I knew this author was going to be good, dang good! When Megan Allen speaks up for the weak and the defenseless, she goes straight for the jugular of the abusers! She plays the abusers' game, always being one step ahead of them.

Being young doesn't mean you don't have life experience. When you've been out there all alone for some time, boy do you get experience, and probably not the good kind.

I eagerly anticipate this author's next works. She's an instant-read for me, straight to the top of the TBR. I'm from the Midwest where the controversial topics she writes about resonates deeply with me because I have seen the horrors of racism and animal abuse. It's about time the darkness becomes illuminated, where these things are still actively happening.

This author is always up to something, and it's usually like watching a bad accident in the best way (from afar, safe out of harm's reach). I just can't help but watch and stare in amazement while she blazes the way setting everything on fire and causing much upheaval. Gotta love the movers and the shakers! If you like people like that, you are sure to enjoy this storytelling.

This is amongst my favorite books of all time.

The quotes in this review may not reflect the actual quotes in the final edition. I'd like to thank Burn House Books for the hardback, print ARC I received. All reviews by me are voluntary and of my own opinion.

[Lisa Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had previously read The Slave Players by this author, such a good book about racial strife in America. This new novel is so different from anything I have ever read. It is a thriller where the main character is out to protect defenseless animals from cruel farmers. I don't want to spoil what happens but she is called in the story an "avenger", and that is a great definition. An absolutely great story that will make you cringe, yet you won't be able to put down.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t believe this book has received one star reviews from people who don’t want to read about hurting animals. They’ve missed the point. And apparently don’t want to read the truth. Of course reading about the parts of our society that are appalling and immoral is HARD. Nobody is debating that. But I would argue it’s incredibly IMPORTANT. And thank you to Megan Allen for doing this. You write beautifully, your characters are extraordinary, and I commend your talent, wit and moral integrity. Excellent book. 5 stars from me despite how harrowing some of the wonderfully written passages are in The Meat Hunter.

[Eric Svenningson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in the bag for the ever-talented, Miss Megan Allen. I was VERY impressed with her debut book "The Slave Players" (which if you haven't read, you need to get on it now!), and immediately began reading "The Meat Hunter" with such excitement and expectation...and she managed to outdo herself and dropkick my expectation bar right out of the sky. One of the most prominent aspects of Allen's writing is her ability to tell such fascinating stories with such unique and easily understood characters, that have EXTREMELY meaningful messages within them.

I swear Megan Allen almost turned me vegan by the middle of this book! She makes it impossible for anyone with any sliver of empathy to enjoy eating meat anymore...But all joking aside, her message is a very powerful, and a very real one, told in a way that is easier to digest than any sort of pig based product after reading it. The main character is such a loveable person that no matter what she does, and no matter how heinous her crimes are, you can't help but justify it all in your head and be like, "yeah, that guy totally deserved to have his guts smeared everywhere and eaten alive slowly!"

I would highly recommend reading this book to ANYONE and EVERYONE. It really will touch every emotion possible, and have you questioning your own life choices (in a good way!) through the actions and thought processes of the characters in this book.

I haven't felt so attached to a little pig since the movie Babe...Great work as always Miss Allen. I can't wait to see what you have in store for the world next. If anyone is going to convince people to start making big changes, it's you.

[Dee Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading The Slave Players by Megan Allen, I was happily surprised to receive a copy of her latest book, The Meat Hunter. I found the storyline profound and interesting as I was unaware of some of the practices that took place in the meat industry. Good background information on the main character Molly as her upbringing explained her reasoning. Suspenseful and mysterious scenes kept me reading to see how this story would end. While the ending was a bit shocking, it was appropriate and I thought this was a great read

[Hillary B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this gripping novel in one sitting. Just had to see what happens. You will not be disappointed. No way. No spoilers here, but what an eye popping read .

[Csimplot Simplot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This needs to be picked up and turned into mini-series ASAP. Cool story. Loved Molly. Kinda like a female Dexter.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy hell.
Just asked my wife how to review this holy sh*t novel I just read. Because holy sh*t. I never review things. Don’t even know what my amazon or google username is. But this book is...brilliant? Phenomenal? A mind f**k? I’ve never read anything like it. It should be read. Do it. Read it. You’ll love it or hate it but let me tell you it’ll inspire some deep feels in you. And thoughts that won’t leave. Just felt like I had to shout it from the rooftops because my wife wants me to shut up about it.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story.

[Paula Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been involved in politics much of my life, and have seen all the ups and downs of our country. This novel is an eye opener. First of all it’s beautifully written, unlike any other novel of its type. But it’s the story that will tear you apart. I think the author Megan Allen must have have lived this life to describe it in such blistering detail. I’ve never left a review before on any book or product, but this story needs to be read. It needs to be. And one way or another it will leave a deep impact on your soul. Hated it! Loved it! I don’t know what else to say. Thank you.

[John Wimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

We recieved the "Meat Hunter", from a Good reads giveaway, and we were impressed with the subject matter. The author, Megan Allen does a good job supporting the protagonist Molly, who was raised on a farm. For a horror/thriller type book, "Meat Hunter" really packs a punch for animal rights activists. Good reading, recommended for adults only!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allen is a more skilled writer than almost anyone in the genre. Should be a film or series.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely not your typical crime or thriller novel. I found it profound. Molly is every animal lover’s vigilante fantasy. She’s stunning, from the way she talks to men to the way she destroys them, to the way she moves and thinks. I couldn’t put it down and read it in only two sittings. Recommend absolutely.

[Ashley Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

No spoilers here! This is a ridiculously good book. From start to finish, it was intriguing, insightful and heart pounding. Molly, Allen’s protagonist, is one hell of a woman. Can’t wait to pick up a copy of Allen’s other book, The Slave Players, which I hear is equally thrilling. Really though, this blew me away.

[Benji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allen’s writing is reminiscent of Steinbeck or Vonnegut. Modern American thrillers rely on story, not writing ability (Patterson should read Allen’s work for a lesson). This was unexpected and riveting. It also doesn’t hold your hand or tell you how to feel. Didn’t think I could like her second work as much as The Slave Players but here I am.

[Cliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monster good story. Allen writes like one of the great classics authors. The scenes and characters just jump off the page. Awfully graphic tho. Definitely not for the squeamish or kids but a great great book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it so wrong that I am team Molly? A twisted sort of right is happening to all these men. Not a hero nor the devil. Hoping this is not the end...

Thank you Goodreads Giveaways.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be picked up by Netflix.

[Linda Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molly Bishop spend her childhood living on a farm where the animals ..especially the pigs ... were her friends. But the day always came when the pigs were readied for the slaughter house.

Now fully grown up and still crying for those slaughtered pigs, she has become the ultimate in making those who raise animals for meat understand what it feels like to become meat. She seeks out the cruelest members of the meat industry and exacts her own brand of justice and redemption .

When bodies of hunters, farmers, breeding businesses, slaughterhouses are found, the FBI is called in to investigate.

This is a novel unlike any I've ever read. However, it is not for everyone. There are graphic descriptions of animals being tortured before being killed. Animal activists ...beware! It's disturbing and dark. As the main character, she is deftly drawn as a woman who grew up with a father's indifference and an industry with no protection against the worst of the worst.

Many thanks to the author / Burn House Publishing for the digital copy of this most interesting take on the meat industry. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Blondie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a dark & disturbing novel with graphic violence against animals by cruel animal industry insiders and subsequent retribution by our protagonist. The main character grew up on a pig farm and was out for revenge after being powerless as a child to stop the savagery against her beloved pet pigs. (There is a high possibility that you may resort to veganism upon the conclusion of this book.)

[Hotbookgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book. Loved it.

[Steve T · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when a little girl raised on a livestock farm grows up and gets a job selling pharmaceuticals to farmers? You get a PETA-style avenger who mistreats the farmers as bad as they treat their animals. The Meat Hunter is a "Dexter" for vegans, with some pretty violent murder scenes. Megan Allen does a great job exposing the worst aspects of the meat industry while telling a gripping cat-and-mouse tale that involves an FBI agent investigating a string of murders. Hey, Agent Lair, I think I know whodunnit!

[Karen (kmo.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Dedicated to the second pig in line. The one who must watch, and wait, and know."

First, let me preface this by saying I love controversial books and this horror/thriller did not disappoint!

The premise of this book towed the line of animal rights activists verses that of the meat industry. I have never read anything like it as this was not your typical thriller. It was fast paced, descriptive and eye opening. It needed to be written! The meat industry was exposed for its immoral practices. Kudos to you Megan Allen!

Molly Bishop grew up on a hog farm and later in life becomes a pharmaceutical representative for a company that sells drugs to the meat industry to help increase their profit, but it doesn't stop there. Megan wants to bring the hog farmers to justice any way she sees fit.

Trigger warning - If you can't handle graphic death of animals this book is not for you. Rape was also mentioned.

I received an Advanced Reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Edwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible, complex characters and extraordinary story. The relationship between Molly and Carl, and Molly and Lair, are full of layers and complexities and I found the whole thing to be a fascinating playground for my mind to wander! Loved it.

[❀ Minesha ❀]

I really want to read this, sounds fascinating, this plot sounds like something I had dreamed of many years ago, so very excited to see how the story turns out!