Hunted

by Alex Knight

You're woken early by banging on the door. It's a young girl, the daughter of the love of your life. She's scared, covered in blood, she says her mother is hurt.

You let her in, try to calm her down, tell her you're going to get help. You reach for your phone, but it lights up with a notification before you touch it.

It's an Amber alert, sent simultaneously to four million phones in the Bay Area. A child has been abducted by a dangerous suspect.

The child is the girl standing in front of you.

The suspect? You.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Adult

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 2020

About the author

Alex Knight was born in Glasgow and studied English at the University of Stirling. He works as a systems administrator by day, and writes thrillers by night. Alex lives near Glasgow with his wife and three children.

Hunted is published by Orion Books in the UK, March 4, 2021

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Knight writes a high octane, utterly addictive crime thriller set in San Francisco, featuring 41 year old SFPD cop of 15 years, Jake Ellis, in a solid relationship with 39 year old accountant, Rachel Donaldson, a mother with a 13 year old daughter, Molly. Jake's life is thrown into complete disarray when Molly turns up one morning on his doorstep covered in blood, in shock after witnessing the shooting of her mother. His nightmare begins when he receives a amber alert on his phone about the shooting, and he is the prime suspect, apparently having abducted Molly at the crime scene. With everyone in the Bay Area having a picture of him, and the police on his doorstep, Jake's first priority is to protect Molly from a killer. He and Molly escape by the skin of his teeth, acquiring a getaway vehicle.

Jake cannot rely on his police colleagues, and the only person he can think of who might offer a place to hide lives in a remote part of California some distance away. With little cash, unable to use his phone or credit cards, with the state mobilising its citizens to track him down, Jake has to avoid the main routes as the media pile on the pressure to find and save Molly from a violent and dangerous man. On their trail and leading the hunt is FBI Special Agent Catherine Lark, aided by a team that includes the able Kelly Pakon. Chrissie Chung runs the Untraceable podcast that focuses on missing children, she decides to cover in real time the search for Molly. She finds herself at the forefront of the story, picking up a huge number of subscribers as she picks up exclusives which make her and the podcast part of the story in the rest of the media. Jake is in constant danger of being caught as he tries to work out why someone is targeting and framing him.

Knight creates characters that you come to care for, Jake who loves Rachel and will do whatever it takes to ensure Molly's safety, and young Molly, feeling vulnerable, worried sick about her mom, yet feisty and determined, despite the doubts that creep into her mind and the likes of the wonderful Eleanor Grace. This is a terrifically entertaining, engaging, fast paced thrill ride which has you rooting for Jake and Molly, as they face almost insurmountable challenges and betrayal. A great crime thriller that will appeal to many crime and mystery readers. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to thrillers and suspense this book delivers at warp speed.

Jake’s girlfriend has been shot. Her daughter, Molly, who was with her escapes.

Molly, appears at Jake's door in a panic and covered in blood saying that her mother has been shot.

Before any of this actually has a chance to sink in an Amber Alert is issued for Molly.

Jake and Molly go on the run.

Why would Jake not immediately go to the police since Molly is witness to the shooting and can tell them that Jake did not shoot her mother? That is the question.

Molly’s mother is hanging on to life in a coma in the hospital not able to tell the police what really happened.

Jake suspects that the shooter intended to shoot Molly as well so he has to keep her safe until he can figure out what’s happening, and why.

Because Jake is a cop he is able to keep himself and Molly one step ahead of the police, until...

This is a fast paced thriller that I couldn’t wait to get to the end but also didn’t want it to end.

[Karly · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating System: 3.5 rounded down to 3⭐️⭐️⭐️ ticked some boxes and not others but was (to quote my good friend GirlWithThePinkSkiMask) HONDA CIVIC RELIABLE!!

Someone is banging furiously on your door…
You open it, it is the daughter of the woman you are dating…
She’s terrified, covered in blood and says her mum is hurt or dead.

You let her in and try and get the story straight - but as you’re speaking to her you get a text.

It is an Amber Alert for the young girl standing in front of you, the alert has been sent to four million phones in the Bay Area letting them know she has been abducted by a dangerous suspect… Who is the suspect… It’s You!!!

Wow what a catch line - this one got me and I have had it on my TBR list for AGES so I figured why not start the new year with a bang!!! It was definitely a page turner, filled with action (maybe not for everyone), its a standalone police/thriller type novel so no series to commit to… so why the 3 star rating you ask… wellllllll….

I will start with the positives - as mentioned it was high action and go go go from the start. I really liked the style of writing from the get go - it really reminded me of Mark Griffin and his Holly Wakefield series (which is awesome so check that out) but similar style. It was not an alternating POV mostly told from the first person of whoever was the MC at the time which happened to be Jake Ellis the suspect who also happens to be a SF Police Officer. The writing was catchy the sentences short and it hooked me in.

I really liked the premise and to be honest even though the red herrings were there I didn’t guess the killer. AND the really good bit was it linked back to a legit (for a criminal) reason to commit said crimes. The police work was solid…. Leads were followed up, there was a podcaster angle which I normally hate but this was done quite well, it was amaturish but that was the point and I liked that. Chrissie the Podcaster was actually quite likeable. The FBI were involved and they were following up on leads and tips and taking all the legitimate action required.

There wasn’t too much crash, bang action movie action until the end up lets be honest these books always have that kind of full on ending with a tied up neatly bow on it so you know exactly who did what and why… it wasn’t annoying this time and I was glad to find out all the details I had actually missed.

I hear you say… for the love of god Karly…. Why the 3 stars … weeellll… It was LONG too long. There was so much repetition in this one that I simply couldn’t rate it any higher. We were told a lot of information two, three or four times by the same or different people. Or through inner monologue, I find this irritating and I begin to skip sections of the book looking for new information not stuff I have already read… so for me thats stars off.

Along with being repetitive there was a huge emphasis on location, I get it we need to know this stuff… but not down to street names. I live no where in the world near San Francisco so the street names of every turn really aren’t relevant to me, it was a little much like someone was trying to prove they had done their research on the place. I dunno it was just a filler for me.

Don’t get me wrong… I liked this book, I will read more by this author loved the style and it definitely had me committed to the ending… I just think considering my above points for me it wasn’t a 4 or 5 star book. But to quote a good friend of mine (here’s looking at you Pink💖) it was what she calls Honda Civic Reliable!! Great Premise, action packed, worth the twists, good police work, fun podcaster and good wholesome characters. Definitely worth a go if that’s your jam.

Overall I would definitely recommend it (I wouldn’t personally call it a thriller but people did die in it so if thats what we are going with then crack on), but in my humble opinion it was a little long. It could have been 100 pages shorter and it would have been spot on for me.

I will be trying out the author’s other work so no doubt I will be back to let you know how I go with that.

As mentioned above if you haven’t tried out Mark Griffin then I suggest you give his books a go - so far there are 4 books in the Holly Wakefield series and they are AWESOME I never miss one it is an immediate buy on release day for me!!!

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

You're woken early by banging on the door. It's a young girl, the daughter of the love of your life. She's scared, covered in blood, she says her mother is hurt. You let her in, try to calm her down, tell her your going to get help. You reach for your phone, but oit lights up wih a notification before you touch it. It's an amber alert, sentsimultaneously to four million phones. A child has been has been abducted by a dangerous suspect. The child is the girl/standing in front of you.

It's clear from the beginning that someone is framing Jake Ellis but we don't know why. So Jale goess on the run and takes Molly with him. The FBI and the police are searching for them. Jake has to work out who is trying to frame him whilst trying taking care of Molly and keeping her safe. The gripping plotline will keep you turning the pages. This action packed read has plenty of twists to keep you guessing.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #OrionPublishingGroup and the author #AlexKnight for my ARC i#Hunted in exchange for an honest review.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunted is a twisty page-turning delight of a thriller which Knight fills with disturbing moments so tense you end up with palpitations, and despite the non-stop action, I am pleased to say that the character development was not neglected. This is a tightly plotted high-stakes game of cat and mouse with more than enough going on to keep you flipping pages.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake Ellis is a San Francisco police officer when he gets a knock on his door. When he opens it in comes his girlfriend’s daughter Molly and she is covered in blood. Her mother has been shot. Suddenly an amber alert goes off on his phone and it says that a young girl has been abducted and the person responsible is Jake Ellis.
Hunted by Jake Ellis is a fast-paced thriller and a great debut by author Alex Knight. The story with Jake Ellis being hunted by the Police and the FBI of the attempted murder of his girlfriend Rachel was an original and interesting plot and I like how the author kept it up to date with using social media and podcasts to tell the public what was going on minute by minute. But I felt that the second half of the story lost its tempo and became a bit predictable and the reason why it all happened in the first place was a bit of a let-down for me. 3.5 stars from me.

[Andy Wormald · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Jake Ellis opens the door to find his girlfriend’s daughter covered in blood, little does he realise how much trouble he is in. With little time to gather his thoughts, he soon realises that he is the number one suspect in the attempted murder of the girls mother and has only minutes before the police and FBI coming knocking at his door, so begins the chase to uncover the truth.

My Thoughts: In a nutshell what you have here is a thrill a minute read, a plot that is cleverly constructed and a read that will have your heart pounding wanting to draw breath.

The author has created strong characters, it is easy to at once to like Jake Ellis and to root for him, even though he maybe a murderer a bit of a loner with not many places to turn, his overriding concern apart from discovering the truth is to protect the young girl Molly, there is a depth and strength to their relationship that comes across strongly on the pages, as for Molly a young person wise and mature at times vulnerable . FBI Agent Lark iawomen determined to get her man but not necessarily at any cost she will follow the evidence wherever that may lead. There is a great sense of depth to all the characters throughout and combine that with the locations and the way they are written, the author has constructed a book with plenty of feeling with a real sense of place

The book is set in and around San Francisco and the small towns and places visited were wonderfully described and brought to life, gives you a real feel and sense of place for small town America.

The plot itself is a masterpiece in construction you never quite know which direction the author is going to take you. The pace is relentless, at the beginning of the book Jake and Molly have only minutes to make good their escape and the book has that same feeling running throughout it never lets up, it doesn’t give the reader time to draw breath. From the opening pages you find yourself hooked and immersed into the story. Thanks to the writing you can feel yourself in Jakes shoes drawing his every breath

The way the chapters are constructed with that short pithy style, you need to keep reading you need to know what happens next, it’s almost as though the pages will turn themselves as you race to the end, as for the end not one I saw coming

The kind of book that should come with a warning to ensure you cancel all other plans because the book will get under your skin, you won’t want to put it down.

In essence a cat and mouse chase full of tension and dramatic scenes, it’s a high octane and ultimately one hell of a satisfying read. I read purely for entertainment and this is the kind of book that delivers that in spades.

2020 is turning into a cracking year for thrillers and Hunted is right up there with the very best. Definitely comes highly recommended

[maskedbookblogger · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Alex Knights neuem Thriller "Nur eine Chance" geht es um eine Verfolgungsjagd nach dem Polizisten Jake.

Als die Tochter von Jakes Freundin namens Molly blutüberströmt vor seiner Haustür steht, geht parallel ein Alarm auf Jakes Handy ein. Ein Mann habe angeblich eine Frau schwerverletzt, einen Passanten getötet sowie die Tochter der Frau entführt. Der Name des Täters: Jake Ellis. Jakes Leben wird somit direkt auf den Kopf gestellt. Wie soll er diese Tat begangen haben, wenn er die ganze Zeit zuhause war? Er ahnt, dass jemand ihm die Schuld anhängen möchte. Folglich nimmt er Molly mit und flieht. Schafft er seine Unschuld zu beweisen?

Dem Autor gelingt es von Beginn an ein hohes Erzähltempo zu entwerfen. Es gibt keine großen Ausschweifungen, sodass der Autor direkt mit dem Plot anfängt. An der Seite von Jake und Molly begibt man sich als Leser entlang der Westcoast von Amerika, indem man verfolgt, wie Jake versucht, seine Unschuld zu beweisen. Parallel dazu erfährt man anhand von Kapiteln aus der Sicht der Ermittler sowie einer Podcasterin, wie die Ermittlungen sich entwickeln und inwiefern die Ermittler auf der Spur nach Jake sind. Die parallelverlaufenden Handlungsstränge sind sehr übersichtlich gestaltet worden, sodass man keinerlei Probleme haben sollte, diese zu unterscheiden.

Spannungstechnisch ist das Buch auf einem hohen Niveau. Da der Autor schon von Beginn an ein hohes Tempo sowie eine große Spannung entwirft, habe ich schon vermutet, dass irgendwann im Buch die Spannung schwächer wird. So kam es auch dann irgendwann in der Hälfte des Buches. Doch dann ging es wieder bergauf, als man immer mehr der Lösung näher kam. Zudem waren einzelne Wendungen für mich ein bisschen vorhersehbar, da die Idee des Plots (jemanden ein Verbrechen anhängen; Unschuld; Flucht) in dem ein oder anderen Buch oder Film schon in einer anderen Weise thematisiert worden ist.

Figurentechnisch war das Buch gut gestaltet worden. Über Jake erfährt man viel und seine Gefühlswelt wurde meines Erachtens nach, authentisch entworfen worden. Lediglich hätte ich mir noch eine tiefere Auseinandersetzung mit Molly gewünscht. Dies ist jedoch wieder Kritik auf einem hohen Niveau.

Fazit: Dem Autor Alex Knight gelingt es einen spannenden Thriller zu entwerfen in einem Konzept a la Katz-und Maus Jagd. An der Seite von Jake und Molly verfolgt man eine Flucht sowie die Aufklärung des Falls. Ich hatte spannende Lesestunden und kann somit das Buch mit guten vier Sternen bewerten!

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Knight lays out Hunted's fast-paced credentials in the opening pages of this addictive thriller; Jake Ellis is barely introduced to readers before Molly Donaldson turns up on his doorstep, distraught and covered in the blood of her mother, Rachel who she says has been shot. It would seem to be the most sensible place for her to run to - Jake is her mum's boyfriend and a San Francisco police officer - but then an Amber alert notification lights up his phone. Molly has been identified as an abducted child - and Jake is named as the suspect. It might seem obvious that the best course of action at this point would be to contact SFPD, explain that Molly is safe and is an eyewitness to what happened to Rachel. However, even before Molly arrived, Jake noticed something wasn't quite right with his laptop and as he realises he has been framed, he knows that to keep Molly safe until he can figure out who shot Rachel - and why - they have to run.
The tension is kept knife-edge sharp as we follow Jake and Molly's tense attempt to flee from a city where everybody has been alerted to look out for them, pursued by determined FBI agent, Catherine Lark. The narrative switches between hunter and hunted throughout and as the book progresses, more evidence appears to confirm Jake is a dangerous man. He is clearly a loner whose behaviour as a police officer has recently come under scrutiny and seeds of suspicion are cleverly planted as to whether Jake is quite as innocent as he so vociferously claims to the terrified Molly. Despite the doubts, I believed in him and thought Alex Knight negotiated the tricky balancing act of creating a character I wanted to root for, while understanding why others are so quick to condemn him, perfectly.
Meanwhile, although my natural instinct was to hope Ellis could evade capture, I couldn't help but warm to Agent Lark too. In a novel that hits the ground running like this one, there is no opportunity to get to know the characters first and it's through their responses to what occurs that gives us an insight into who they are. Lark is resolute but adaptable and I loved that this isn't a straightforward thriller which directs readers into hoping the innocent man escapes the obtuse detective. It's a more nuanced book that allows us to empathise with both protagonists. Molly is a beautifully drawn character too, her poignant vulnerability and guilt juxtaposing well with her bravery and determination.
The heart-pounding cat-and-mouse chapters are interspersed occasionally with transcripts from a true crime podcast. Chrissie Chung usually covers cases where the outcome is already known but when her phone pings with the amber alert about Molly, she immediately recognises it's an opportunity to capture the attention of the public. It would be easy to dislike Chrissie, she is after all, capitalising on an ongoing real-life tragedy but I thought these chapters were fascinating in the way they examine how people respond to crime. There is a clear appetite for true-crime shows, partly for the rubberneckers, of course but also because listeners genuinely want to feel they have solved a crime. Both the official and Chrissie's investigations attract time-wasters, and the podcast reveals information which should have been kept confidential. However, although Lark is understandably frustrated by what she sees as interference, she does have to acknowledge that perhaps any resource which encourages the public to come forward has a role to play in modern policing.
There's a cinematic feel to Hunted; the compelling action scenes are complemented by the excellent sense of place throughout which reflects the challenges not only of trying to evade identification but also just merely living in an increasingly gentrified - and thus more expensive - San Francisco. There is an atmospheric and interesting contrast between the densely populated city with its ever-present surveillance system and the smaller Californian communities too, exploring how they both present opportunities and pitfalls to Jake and Lark.
I listened to the audiobook of Hunted and thought the narration by Christopher Ragland captured the essence of the novel superbly. The pacing perfectly matched the rollercoaster storyline, ratcheting up the tension with each near-miss or new revelation, while each character's voice is clearly defined and suits their personalities. I suspect my walks to work were a better workout than usual as my pulse rate rocketed so often while listening to it! By the denouement, I could scarcely breathe; the compulsive, cleverly constructed storyline kept me guessing right up to the final page. Hunted is an exciting, terrifically entertaining thriller - I highly recommend it.

[Maloney Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book was all-action right from the word go! It sounds awful, but I kept expecting a plot-hole, just for something to not add up, but Knight pieced everything together perfectly.

Character development was interesting, even down to the secondary characters such as the woman who took Molly to hospital. I also enjoyed the angle of the blogger versus the police, certainly something I’ve not read about before.

I DID guess the perpetrator but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment; it was more of a ‘high-five, go me!’ moment!

Never read anything by this author before, but I would definitely be interested in his other work.

Thank you to NetGalley for my free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Stuff 'n' Things

Wow ... that was a fast-paced, non-stop, action-packed read from page 1 and I absolutely devoured it.

The pace is relentless, the characters are strong and likeable and whilst the twists didn't surprise me that much, they didn't take away any of the enjoyment for me.

This is what I would call a traditional cat-and-mouse story, however, it felt up to date and modern with the addition of podcasts which, I think, worked extremely well and introduced a different element and perspective to the story.

Alex Knight is definitely an author I will seek out in the future.

Thanks must go to The Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tense, dark, twisty, and gripping. The first I read in this series but not the last
Highly recommended
Many thanks to the publisher, all opinions are mine

[Suze Clarke-Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunted opens with a bang, hitting the ground running. Molly turns up at Jake's door - bloody, scared and upset. She doesn't know him that well, but he's her mum's boyfriend, her mum's hurt and she doesn't know where else to go. But Jake's just had a notification on his phone saying that Molly's been abducted. By him. What an opening!

Jake does the only thing he can - he runs. And the hunt for him truly begins. He is determined to find out what's really going on. But with a massive manhunt on for him, very little cash, nowhere to go and maybe only one friend that he might possibly be able to turn to for help, his chances aren't great. Oh, and there's also the small fact that everyone in the San Francisco area with a mobile phone now knows what he looks like and that he's wanted by the FBI. Phew!

Jake is a brilliant character, really well drawn. I didn't know about Amber alerts before reading this book, other than hearing them mentioned on the tv occasionally, so it was interesting to learn about them and such a great way of getting information out quickly. But I can't imagine what it would be like to be innocent, and have everyone look suspiciously at you. When it happened here I was reminded of the scenes in the John Wicks movies - if you've seen them you'll know what I'm going to say - where John Wick himself goes back on the books as a target, a notification goes out and suddenly every assassin in town (and there are a lot of them) is on the look out for him. There's a real conflict going on with Jake - he's clearly a good guy who wants do the right thing, but not without being able to prove his innocence. I felt for him, particularly his loneliness which is beautifully described. And he is wound so tight for much of the time that I was anxious for him! I could feel the tension coming off the page.

There are some fab, strong characters in Hunted. FBI Special Agent Catherine Lark is in charge of finding Jake. I liked her - she's no nonsense, firm but fair. And has one heck of a job. We follow her as, ably assisted by Kelly Paxon and the rest of the team, she starts to build a bigger picture and a convincing case. Outside of the emergency services there are more great characters - I was particularly fond of Eleanor Grace. You'll see why when you read the book - no spoilers here! And it would be remiss of me not to mention Molly. She is so well written - her fear, shock, anxiety and vulnerability all brilliantly described. She's an outstanding kid, mature beyond her years in many ways. And you can tell the author has experience of being around teenagers - there were plenty of details that rang true!

Knight has clearly done his research for this book around the technical details of the American police, FBI etc but the also the locations used. Everything feels authentic and he's found some small towns with brilliant names. I loved the descriptions, the imagery.

Hunted is a cat and mouse chase, a search for truth and justice. It grabs you, pulls you in and doesn't let go. The action doesn't let up at all and neither does the tension. The storyline is full of lies, betrayal and cover ups with twists, shocks and red herrings aplenty. If you're looking for a fast paced, action packed, intelligent and rewarding crime thriller then this is the book for you. I flipping loved it!

[Hela By Aura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunted By Alex Knight is a stunning thriller with the most captivating opening I've read in a long time and an epic on the go plotline.

I enjoyed this book so much so that I read it in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down till I found out who shot Molly and her mother Rachel Donaldson. This story is based in San Francisco, told from four important main characters, and such unique and well crafted short chapters that were so gripping and had all the information I needed before jumping to the next.

This book felt meticulous and gripping like I was watching a movie rolling scene after scene, from the brilliant beginning with bloodied Molly at the front door of Jake Ellis and the Amber alert and him finding out that he was the main suspect in the early morning shooting. To special Agent, Catherine Lark from the FBI, who was needed immediately for assistance in the scene of the double shooting. Chrissie Chung was interested in the case from the beginning reporting it through her podcast Untraceable, where she goes deep into missing person cases from disappearance, to resolution, and the very recent case was her latest focus.

The scene from Molly's point of view where she watched her mom get shot from the driver's seat window, gave me instant goosebumps and heart palpitations. So well carried, allowing me to invest and connect so deeply with the characters.

Such a well written and described book, the characters evolved greatly with every chapter.

When the full picture of the suspect emerged it was revealed in such a riveting way.

Thank you so much for providing me with a free ARC in return for an honest review.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

The action starts on page one and doesn’t stop until the last page.
Be ready for a fast paced read which follows Jake as he goes on the run from the police, trying to prove his innocence in the most terrible crimes, murder, attempted murder and kidnap.

This will keep you on your toes as FBI agent Lark chases Jake across country and back again. The story is very well written and the characters develop well throughout the book.
I really enjoyed this police procedural and would read more from this author. I would happily see this turn into a series.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and most importantly the author, for the chance to read this book, in exchange for an honest review.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this hit the ground running, held me slave for the duration, and spit me out at the end wholly satisfied. Knackered, but satisfied!
We start with a rude awakening. Jake is woken to someone banging on his door. He opens it to find Molly, the daughter of his partner Rachel, standing there shaken and covered in blood. She says her mother is hurt. At the same time, his phone pings an amber alert, for Molly, with him as the prime suspect. And so begins a cat and mouse game as Jake and Molly evade the police whilst trying to figure out who would want to hurt Rachel and frame him. They flee the city to try and get help from the one person Jake can trust but will they manage to keep far enough ahead of the authorities to figure it all out in time? With FBI Special Agent Catherine Lark hot on their trail and the evidence against Jake mounting up, he'll have to draw from deep down to succeed.
Oh my days. This book was brilliant. It delivered everything I need from a book of this genre. Great characters, good storyline, no superfluous waffle, powerful pacing, and twists and turns aplenty. Jake has to dig deep to just keep his head above water as Lark is getting ever closer as the book goes on. I read some parts with my heart in my mouth as I willed Jake and Molly on. It helped that the author created Jake as one of those characters that you really just take to from the off and I rooted for him every step of the way. But it isn't all plain sailing story wise, there are a couple of really neat shocks to be had along the way too. Some I caught early, others, well, one in particular completely floored me! Takes a bit to pull the wool over my eyes these days so hats off to the author for that!
All in all, a cracking read that I devoured in just a day. Really looking forward to seeing what the author serves up for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Praise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Premise: Jack, an SPFD officer, opens the door to see his girlfriend's daughter, Molly, having blood splatters and in complete shock. He quickly let her in and she told him, someone shot her mother and also tried to shoot her so she ran and came here. Suddenly, his phone beeps and its an Amber Alert notification (special notification for kidnapped children, sends message with image and details to every phone in the limited area) and discovers how he is the prime suspect in killing his girlfriend and kidnapping her daughter. And on top of that, 5 minutes earlier, he discovered someone has planted fake mails in his computer. Someone is trying to frame him, and kill Molly, so one thing is certain, they have to run. But how far can they run when everyone (the killer, the police and the FBI) is behind them?

Review:

I am a simple person, I saw Steve Cavanaugh on the cover, I immediately requested it.

Now, back to the review, it was intriguing right from the start. Straight up nightmare unfolding in front of you. The chapters were short enough to keep you hooked and third person point of view helps you to get insight of every proceeding and build an entire timeline in your mind.
The book was gripping, the mystery was well done, and characters were quite interesting. I liked Jack, he was a good person and one could see that throughout the course.
Molly was a smart teenager, she trusted her instinct and her conflicts, reactions, were so genuine and so well done, I loved her.
Other characters were good in their own regard.
Overall, I liked this book and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to read a good mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishers for providing me an ARC in exchange of an honest opinion

[Liz Mistry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunted is a fast paced FBI hunt thriller with a complex plot, fascinating characters and enough distractions to keep your interest piqued.
This was a proper mystery coupled with the adrenalin surge of a chase, which crescendos up by 300% in the last few chapters - Wow, I'm still breathless form those.
The mystery centres on finding out who ordered and committed the shootings of the fugitives (Jake) girlfriend and teenage daughter, Molly. With Jake fleeing the area with Molly who insitinctively ran to him when an assailant shot her mother and tried to shoot her at close range. we come to learn more about Jake's ingenuity and his care for a young girl he barely knows.
With the FBI hot on his tal, he protects Molly by fleeing the area, certain that her assailant will try again.
Meanwhile FBI Agent Lark is pushed to the end of her experience and capabilites to capture Jake. With a cat and mouse chase in ioperation Lark begins to wonder who she can trust.
I particularly liked the insertion of the podcast. It offered an alternate unofficial viewpoint on the manhunt while unearthing clues that the FBI weren't able to obtan.
This book is well plotted and held my attention from beginning to end. The characters became more well rounded as the conclusion drew near and for those adrenalin junkies out there you need look no further!
Solid 5* form me.

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake Ellis, a seasoned police officer with the San Francisco PD has for some time been in a relationship with Rachel, the single mother of 13-year-old Molly. Jake loves Rachel, and is horrified when Molly shows up on his doorstep early one morning, covered in blood, and informs him her mother's been shot.

Even as he is trying to absorb what the teenager is telling him, Jake spots the Amber Alert on his phone (along with the phones of 4 million others!) informing him that a child has been kidnapped by a dangerous suspect.

The child is Molly.

And the suspect is Jake.

Realising that he is being framed, and that Molly is the only witness to the shooting - since her mother is now in a coma - Jake goes on the run with the teenager. The only safe refuge he can think of is some distance away in a different part of the state.

But with a highly capable police team and a determined crime podcaster on his heels, can he and Molly make it to safety so that Jake even has a chance to figure out who is behind this?

In what is no small achievement, Alex Knight delivers a high-action thriller with a suspenseful plotline that not only stands up to logical scrutiny, but is likely to keep the reader guessing until the very end...

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review - 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that you start and it seems really exciting then it sort of stalls in the middle but has a decent ending.

I thought about not finishing it when I was about a quarter through.. the pace was slow, the point of the story seemed to be lost on me..Jake is going out with Rachel and she has a daughter. One night Molly, the daughter turns up covered in blood and asks for help as someone has shot her mother and tried to shoot her ( no spoilers there). Jake hears a bulletin suggesting that he has done this dreadful deed and immediately decides to run away from the police with Molly… all the way through this book I kept coming back to WHY?? Most folks would be down the police station protesting their innocence immediately especially as the daughter knows it wasn’t you.. but the whole book is about how Jake and Molly evade capture by the police and the FBI whilst Jake tries to figure out who has framed him for the crime.

Jake is a cop and Molly is a teenager. The frame up of Jake is a bit shaky if it was to be really challenged but is good enough for him to run thinking lives are at risk.

The middle bit of the book is repetitive and slow for me. The end picks up and finally tags the actual reason for the murder and attempted murder.

An ok read if you stick with it but really only a 3.5 star from me.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young Molly turns up at her mums boyfriend  Jake Ellis's door covered in blood, scared and upset, her mum has been shot. There's an amber alert out for her abduction, the suspect is Jake.

I really enjoy this book, I loved the storyline behind it, it was something I haven't read before. The story kept me wanting to read on and find out what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed the opening, it had me gripped right from the start. The characters were well formed in the book, at first I didn't like FBI agent Catherine Lark but in the end she really grew on me. I love when a book can change your mind on a character.

The book flips between 4 different perspectives, Jake the abductor, Molly the young girl, Catherine the FBI agent and Kelly the reporter. I loved the addition of the online reporter Kelly, it was so unexpected when she was introduced to the book but it made it feel more real, like I could genuinely see someone wanting to get to the front of the story like she wanted!

The only downfall I have with the book is that I guessed the plot of the book quite early on though, I'm usually never able to do that! I felt like it was quite obvious, which was quite disappointing.

In all I still enjoyed it, it was a good read, I would definitely recommend it if your looking for a new crime, whodunnit book!

[What Is Chelle Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jake is a police officer in San Francisco when one morning his girlfriend's daughter Molly appears at his door. Molly is covered in blood spatter and reveals that her mum has been shot. Jake receives an amber alert on his mobile phone that Molly is declared missing and he, Jake, is the prime suspect and the police are hunting him down.

Originally when I read the blurb I thought it sounded really interesting but the more I read I felt the concept was a bit lost on me! I kept thinking "why didn't he just go to the police when he received the amber alert?" If he just went with Molly, he and Molly could have backed each other up and then the whole thing about the police chasing him wouldn't have been an issue? The police then wouldn't have wasted time looking for Molly and Jake? Maybe the concept of the book was lost on me but the more I read the more frustrating it became. The authors writing is sound and very detailed. There is absolute nothing wrong with the writer's technique and went to great detail in describing each of the characters, giving you a connection to them, bringing them to life. The book just didn't hit the spot for me.

[Charlie Morris (Read, Watch & Drink Coffee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew that this was a book that I wanted to read. High-octane and action-packed, Hunted is the definition of an adrenaline-pumping thriller.

Incredibly fast-paced and entertaining, Alex Knight makes you feel like you're on the run with his characters with no time to stop and catch your breath. With a captivating opening, it's easy to read in one sitting and be thoroughly entertained by the chase.

It's one of those stories where you plead with the character to stay put and confess because you know that going on the run is going to end badly, so you're constantly on the edge of your seat hoping that Jake and Molly aren't going to get caught.

It loses a little momentum in the middle which is my only negative, but it's well constructed, the characters are easy to engage with, and the final chapters give a satisfying conclusion.

This is a great debut by Alex Knight and I will certainly be keeping an eye out for his future releases. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw more from these characters, either, which I would definitely be interested in.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is an incredibly fast paved thriller. A detective is awoken in the middle of the night by his girlfriends daughter who states that they've both been shot at. His phone then beeps and he discovers he is the main suspect. Believing he has been framed he goes on the run with the daughter.

The story is told from various points of view, there is Jake, Molly, the lead investigating detective Lark and a journalist Chrissie. The characters are easy to distinguish, well written and you become emotionally invested in what happens to them.

Although Jake attempts to find out who is behind the frame job the book is more a cat and mouse chase with fugitives on the run and I enjoyed this take on a mystery. The book was very descriptive and atmospheric throughout.

The ending had a very interesting twist which I did not see coming. Aside from a few very minor unrealistic plot points this was a brilliant read and I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Gordon Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb debut novel that starts strongly and moves at breakneck pace all the way through.

It begins with a shooting. San Francisco police officer Jake Ellis finds a series of strange documents on his computer and then learns of the attack on his girlfriend when her daughter turns up at his apartment covered in blood. It soon becomes clear - he is being set up and is now the prime suspect. So when the FBI knock at the door he and Molly have already run.

The story arc plays out with multiple points of view, so we see the FBI hunt for what they think is a kidnapping alongside Jake's attempts to evade capture, keep Milly safe and figure out who is behind this.

The characters are all well developed and the plot twists several times as Jake and Molly head north before returning to the city for the big conclusion. Well written and compelling, Hunted is a fresh and thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

‘Hunted’ is the debut novel from Alex Knight and it looks as the Scottish crime writers fraternity, have a new member. The story is set in contemporary San Francisco and is clearly well researched as Knight is familiar with both FBI and police procedures. Within the opening pages, his girlfriend is shot and seriously injured, and her young daughter turns up on his doorstep, scared and seeking refugee. We then jump back several minutes in time to learn what has happened to Molly and her mother. And, just why Jake is the prime suspect in a double homicide and abduction.

From there, the place does not let up and the reader is taken on a wild journey with Molly and Jake as he attempts to prove his innocence – it certainly appears to the reader that Jake is innocent, but why is his past coming back to haunt him? Who could possibly want to hurt him badly enough to frame him for multiple murders? These questions drive the storyline as Jake struggles to hide and investigate at the same time.

This is book for someone who likes a thriller where the villain is not immediately obvious but takes time to determine. Action packed and with plenty of twists.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review

[Fay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunted starts off with a bang. Officer Jake Ellis gets a knock at the door from his girlfriend’s 13 year old daughter Molly. She is shaken up and has escaped some one who shot at her in the car, and gunned down her mother. The police suspect Jake. We follow an intense cat and mouse chase as the police close in on Jake, and try to save Molly.

This is a fact paced thriller that will keep you turning the pages to get to the truth. The pacing was good, and the attention to the small details added to the story which made it gripping and atmospheric. It’s not a unique premise by any means, and I did guess the big reveal early on but Alex Knight has delivered a hard to put down good thriller.

With thanks to Orion Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is exactly my kind of book but unfortunately and as much as I hate to say it it really was a chore to get through. The opening couple of chapters started off so strong and was building momentum but then it just dulled and turned into a slow paced, long winded man-hunt with not much going on and then all of a sudden it all needs to come together but the conclusion takes far to long to get to and it’s like trudging through mud to get there. The authors style of writing is one I like but this particular read just didn’t live up to expectations.

Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this ARC that was published on the 4th of March 2021.

2.5/5 🌟🌟/🌟

[Johnna Whetstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowza, this was one of those gripping books that opens in a way that absolutely captivates you! Absolutely unputdownable, full of tension, twists and turns, thrills, chills, and shocks! I could hardly set this book down, because it was very gripping, original, and the character development amazing, allowing me to connect with the characters more than normal! This book was very well written, had such a unique way of doing things within the story, and riveting! I highly, highly recommend this one, but must warn that it’s one you will be finishing in one sitting!

Will buzz around and use lower amazon reviewer number on release date!

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great beginning to the book, kept you turning pages thought the story does slow down in the middle.

Jake is a police officer in San Francisco when his girlfriend`s daughter Molly turns up on the doorstep covered in blood as someone tried to kill her and her mam, then his phone has a red alert of Molly`s kidnapping and his girlfriends attempted murder with him being the suspect.

Someone is setting him up, so they disappear until they find out who is setting him up.
Even though it slows down in the middle it is definitely a page turner and will read more of this author.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.