This riveting epic psychological thriller causes high adrenaline and fuels the super-human powers of Rachel Blackstone.
After 30 years of marriage, Rachel observes herself amid a matrimonial nightmare. At first, she sought to write off Seth's nighttime escapades and drinking as a midlife crisis.
The local sheriff hands her a foreclosure notice because her mortgage has become delinquent. Rachel perceives that something is awry.
Devastated and needing space to reflect, Rachel accepts a respite from her best friend Lauren to hang around at her cabin in the Allegheny Mountains for Thanksgiving, where she reconnects with Lauren and her family.
When Rachel tries to understand her husband's change of heart, her husband, mother-in-law, and the Blackstone crew's schemes unravel. The family she married into became an illusion. As her 30-year marriage dissolves, Rachel realizes that getting into the Blackstone family is one thing, but getting out alive is another.
The Hunt by Jacqueline Terrill is a gripping piece of fiction. This action-packed story follows Rachel from the moment her life starts rapidly falling apart. Her husband has changed and seems to have many secrets. After a brief fight, Rachel and her husband Seth part ways. While Rachel believes the separation would be brief, Seth has other plans. In a sequence of unfortunate events, Rachel's life is turned upside down. She is constantly in danger and is forced to toughen up and stand up for herself. This experience reconnects her with an estranged friend.
This is a fast-paced roller coaster of a story. There is little room for you to start losing focus since there is constantly something going down. It's a true page-turner. However, as much as this is a positive, it is also a negative. All the ups and downs seemed forced sometimes. For example, it seemed unbelievable for this woman to have four car accidents in a span of a few days (even though there was foul play). At first, I wasn't sure I would be finishing this book. I was iffy until I passed the twenty percent mark. It wasn't boring or badly written. I just couldn't get into the story and bond with the characters immediately.
I think the characters were created quite well. I would've liked to see more depth to them, and since the plot was so focused on Rachel, I would have liked to learn more about her. She seemed focused only on Seth and her misfortune. I understand this might have been a way of showing that due to the way she lived the past thirty years, she didn't have much happening in her life besides Seth. Speaking of characters and their relationships. I found it a bit weird how Rachel's daughter was rarely present. She was used almost as a plot device. She was very undeveloped. On the other hand, I liked the way Rachel's relationship with Cole developed. It wasn't forced at all and it was quite enjoyable to read about. The plot-twist was expected but done well. I would have like to have s bit more than a slight glimpse into the whole conspiracy situation since we did have multiple points of view situation. In the end, everything had a bit of a fairytale happy ever after which was, in my opinion, a bit cheap. I believe a more elaborate ending would have leveled up the whole book. This seemed simply too easy to be realistic. I must speak of one more thing that rubbed me the wrong way about this book. I didn't like the whole guns-are-your-friend thing thrown in there. I disliked that a lot! To conclude, I think this novel isn't getting enough attention! I would recommend it if you are searching for an easy and gripping domestic thriller.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rachel Blackstone finds her world suddenly rocked when her husband of 30 years suddenly changes. Their once happy and financial stable life suddenly comes crumbling down around her and all she wants is to get out. A trip to a friend’s cabin offers a chance to recharge but Rachel’s in-laws aren’t willing to exit Rachel’s life quietly.
This story has some good twists and turns toward the middle, after a slow build. I found the editing distracting, which is unfortunate because this story has great potential. The dialogue is forced with an unnatural formality. With a good professional polish, this could be a really good book.
This isn't a book I would normally pick up but the author connected me for an honest review. I am glad they did because it was a good read. By the end of chapter one I was hooked and I could barely put it down so I could sleep. This book shows how things can change in the blink of the eye. It also makes you ask yourself, do you really truly know the person you marry or those close to you? I love the twist and turns this book took me on and the emotions it had me feeling. The characters were good but they did feel a little rushed. With that being said I still felt a connection to them and their lives. I would recommend this book to both my friends and family cause I know they would enjoy this just like I did. I will be checking out Jacqueline Terrill other books now.
*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
I found The Hunt a little bit slow-going at first.
The opening chapters felt crammed with detail, and the characters and dialogue seemed stilted and unnatural. I am so glad that I persevered though, as once the plot really got underway, the author settled into her flow and then I found myself hooked on the mystery of Rachel’s marriage and her sudden persecution by menacing strangers unknown!
Pretty much as soon as Rachel makes the decision to take a break from her beloved husband Seth, who has been behaving strangely for the last few months, chaos breaks loose across her life and she is thrown into a world of car chases, burglary, assault and even attempted murder.
Luckily she has friends and family she can turn to for help and support, including the rather lovely, strong and sympathetic, Cole. This is pretty much a 50/50 split between mystery thriller and sweet romance, as Rachel attempts to survive her current husband, whilst simultaneously finding something – someone – to live for.
I couldn’t put this story down until I found out why Seth’s behaviour had suddenly changed the way it had, and until I found out whether Rachel managed to escape her dangerous pursuers and find happiness either back with her long-loved husband, in the arms of her loyal new friend, or even solo and stronger than before.
I would definitely stick with this one, because once you get past the editing issues (the strangely formal dialogue and over-detailed descriptions) there is a gripping plot and a cast of interesting and endearing characters.
I tried to smirk, responding as if her news became no astonishment. “Thanks for letting me know, Suzanne, I’ll look into whether someone has compromised your identity.” I hesitated then decided. “You know, could I cash that check instead of making the deposit it?”
Her full eyes told me she uncovered something was up, but she was too diplomatic to ask. She bent. “How do you want your cash back, Rachel? Tens, twenties, or fifties?”
“Twenties will be perfect.”
She counted out five hundred dollars in twenties and stuffed the currency in a white pouch. “There you go, Rachel. You have a good day.” Her eyes moved onto the next client.
I saluted at her and moved away from the counter, slithering the envelope into my purse.
The knot in my stomach tightened. This latest development in our family’s finances was the most serious by far, and it meant another confrontation with Seth. Was he hoodwinking me?
I found this story very interesting though the end felt a little rushed, but everything was wrapped up. Rachel was so blindsided by what was happening. She wanted to believe the best of people but got kicked in the teeth. She had so many people on her side, and I loved how they bolstered her optimism. Cole also had his marital problems, but the spark between him and Rachel would bring them together and help each other move forward. I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook for this story, and Becky Brabham did a wonderful job. Each character was given their own voice, giving me a peek at their personalities. I recommend this story.
I received a copy of this audiobook through CBR Services, and this is my unsolicited review.
I don’t usually read/listen to this type of book but I figured what the hay might as well try it. The story starts slow, I almost gave up. I decided to keep going to see what happened. There are twists and turns that will surprise you, seems almost like a mafia family. I love snow storms! The narration was good. In the end most of them got what they deserved. I received a copy of this book from StoryOrigin for an honest review.
Story full of people. People who get married. People who change and stay married to the same person. This is what the story is about. People changing surrounded by people who change. Well written and a page turner as we observe what happens to all the people and all the other people.
I had the impression this book was going to be a cozy mystery but it was a mix of romance and thriller. It tells Rachels’s story, a 50-year-old woman who one day discovers that his 30-year-old marriage has been a lie. There are some criminal elements to the story to make it more interesting. It was an easy and quick listen.
I found Rachel to be very naive, as things were happening almost before her eyes and she never suspected anything. It is also true that the victim is sometimes the last one to know. I have known a similar case (minus the illegal activities but a similar timeframe) and I could see the parallel facts in both situations. Apart from naive, Rachel was also just reckless, not seeing the imminent danger that was looming over her. Also, who takes a car trip through the snow with just purchased used tires?
The story was okay but I think the subject was not one of my favorites, as I have witnessed a similar situation and I find them messy, ugly, and just not desirable material to read. It might be personal, so please disregard if this is something you may be interested in.
The book is written in first person, most of the time from Rachel’s point of view, but there are some chapters from other’s characters in the book’s POV. These changes were preceded by the character’s name, so it was easy to know who was talking. Somehow this way of telling things did not completely convince me, as I find a lot better to show things to the reader instead of delivering unnatural and long monologues to transmit information. I found Rachel’s mother in law’s monologue especially cringy.
There was a sentence that got me thinking, as it felt strange. It happened just after Rachel had a car accident and it was “most people would have died in the same situation”. What situation? A car accident? A wound to the foot? Did this mean that Rachel was lucky or that she was especially resilient compared to the rest of people? Somehow I think the use of words was less than fortunate here. And talking about this event, I found it weird that Rachel didn’t get an X-ray at the hospital. Maybe the wound was superficial but I didn’t get that impression from the story.
Becky Brabham did a good job portraying Rachel and transmitting her emotions. Her male voices needed more work, though, to sound credible, as they were overdone. I found her narration speed a bit higher than most narrators’ but it was not something that disturbed me. I am not a fan of special effects in books, and there were some in this one. It is not that they should not be used, but if they are, they should at least sound more natural. I just prefer a narrator saying ‘knock knock’ rather than having canned sounds. I find it less distracting.
I almost never comment on the cover of books, as I think it’s something less important than the story or narration themselves, but I just couldn’t skip it this time. First of all, the cover is completely misleading, showing a woman in the forest and hunting gear. Not only that, but the audiobook cover is almost the same as the paper version with the aspect ratio completely wrong, to account for a square format instead of a rectangular one. Most audiobooks have the same cover as their counterparts, but they are usually cropped and adapted to fit the new format. Altering the aspect ratio is a sin for any graphic designer.
It was an okay audiobook but be sure of the genres before listening to it. I am not into romance, so take my review with a pinch of salt.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hermitage. The Sheriff hands Rachel Blackstone (wife/mother, professional hairdresser) a foreclosure notice. $72,000 to pay the delinquent fee. Officer Steel & Officer Cooper were taking Rachel’s statement & examining the safe that had been broken into somehow. Allegheny Mts. Thanksgiving. Lauren (BFF) insists Rachel hang out here. Seth Blackstone (husband/father, identical twin son/brother) greeted Rachel at the door when she came to pick Jamie Blackstone (daughter) up. Rachel had gotten a PFA against Seth. Gary Collins (lawyer) had the legal divorce/property papers drawn up. Rachel was quite pleased with Cole McCullough (brother-in-law, mechanic) got her car up/running.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written cozy suspense book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a large set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great suspense movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author (s); Books2Read; BookSweeps; BookFunnel; PDF book Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
This is a great little story about maturity, realisation, love, betrayal, crime, friendship and family. There was suspense and drama and awkward moments, which I loved - I feel Authors don't often capture the awkward moments of dating well and Jacqueline did! My only niggle with this book is it felt a little rushed. I wanted more... I liked the characters and enjoyed them and would have liked more time with them. I loved that the characters weren't 20 or 30. I recommend this book. Thanks Jacqueline for letting me read and review it for you!
One day, you’re a wife of 30 years and you realize that lately your husband isn’t acting like himself anymore. He’s drinking more than he should, he’s short tempered….all of a sudden money is tight. What’s going on with him? Where is the money going and why does he have such a short fuse? Talking to him doesn’t work, it seems everything makes him mad.
Rachel is so confused! She can’t figure out what is happening with her and Seth. To get her mind off things, she meets their daughter for dinner. On the way home things start to change…are they being followed?
So many strange things start happening, and Rachel is blindsided. The Sheriff is at their door with a foreclosure notice, stating their mortgage hasn’t been paid for months. Rachel can’t believe that they are in this situation. Seth is angry and rude to her.
Rachel needs a break and is invited to her friend Lauren’s cabin for Thanksgiving. She needs the time to think about what is happening with her marriage.
Rachel feels her safety is being threatened and she knows who is behind the threats. Seth has changed more than she thought and she begins to realize the Blackstone family she married into to, is nothing like she thought. Is she safe anywhere she goes? Is she being watched? Can she ever have a normal life again?
I truly enjoyed this book, until the flashback in the middle. I was disappointed to have the tone change so quickly to past sexual encounters between two of the characters. Up to this point there had been nothing to lead me to think this might be coming. These encounters do lead to the characters involved taking certain actions which drive the storyline, but they did not need to be described to have them play their part in the book. Luckily this is a very short section of the book and I was able skip over what seemed to be blatant description and get on with the story. I liked the main character, Rachel. She is down to earth and wants the best for everyone, even those that don’t deserve it. She wants to save her marriage and truly tries until she realizes there is no way to do so. She is also willing to keep on living and loving rather than getting caught up in a miserable state of second guessing her every action that seems to follow many after such a discovery of betrayal. The narrator has a fun accent and I enjoyed listening to her. She does a pretty good job of using different tones and voice inflections to designate different characters.
The Hunt is about Rachel's journey in discovering that life isn't always what it seems. Rachel and Seth have been married for 30 years and she starts getting these glimpses into a life that doesn't make sense to her. Things aren't what they seem at all. This is a suspenseful and slow burn book. But well worth the read.
Rachel finds out Seth isn't the man she thought she married, she's learning that he has a secret that will change her world forever. Rachel takes some time away from her home with Seth and visits their daughter, and things start to pick up there, they're being followed but Rachel isn't sure by who. Things take another turn when she keeps getting unexpected problems through out her journey.
Rachel, finds comfort in a friend that's going through his own turmoil. Friendships and bonds form more through this. Will Rachel be able to pick up the pieces in her now loveless marriage or will she be able to move on and form a new life with Cole?
Title: The Hunt Author: Jacqueline Terrill Reviewer: Lorraine Leatham - Rainey Day Book Reviews Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Hunt starts off slow but build in suspense about midway through the story. There are some surprising twists and turns to the storyline. I think finding our "soulmate" to share our lives with is what we all yearn for in the end.
I found this book rather interesting and it was a nice change of pace from what I have been reading recently. A marriage crumbling around her, infidelity, suspense and betrayal just to name a few things. I used to live in Pennsylvania and I am pretty familiar with the Pittsburgh area. The snow storms mentioned made me recall being snowed in with a four month old baby at the time.
If you are looking for a suspenseful story that has twists, turns and obstacles to overcome then this is definately the book for you. I have to admit this book did start out a little slow for me as it built up to the suspense, but didnt take away from the rest of the book. I listened to this book as an audiobook and found the narrator did a great job and kept me listening and engaged.
I received an audio copy of “The Hunt” from Jacqueline Terrill in exchange for my honest review, and here it is. This is the first book I read/listen from Jacqueline Terrill and it is a nice story. Warning: theirs a section were theirs a rape attempt. It is a very different take from your stories out there. The Hunt is like two stories in one, with lots of twist, the one you read about how one marriage is falling apart, but at the same time you see her falling for a man that is going throw a similar situation. You can really feel what the main female character Rachel goes throw. At times I was frustrated and how the females just did not fight back or were ok to be treated bad. Overall, I recommend you reading this book. The narrator does a great job, with some sound effects.
Wow and I was thinking this book was a open shut case just from reading the summary. Nope not in the least. With all it's twists and turns. You will love this fast paced book. It has it all. Rachel thought her marriage was going good. That is until her husband of 30 years starts acting strange and stand offish. What is going on with him and why? Only she learns too soon. That once your part of the Blackstone family. You may really never leave it. No matter how much you want too.
Rachel has been married for years when her husband starts acting very strange, and it just gets worse, every time you think you have this book figured out, you don’t, what a roller coaster ride. Hang on and just enjoy the ride.
Life becomes a rollercoaster for Racheal when, after 30 years of marriage, her marriages, her life, goes awry. So many lies and deceptions, The Hunt kept me in suspense, wanting to know what happens next. Will Racheal survive this upheaval and is there hope in finding love again? Find out by giving this a read.... A scene near the very end brought on some flashbacks; attempt to avoid adding spoilers but as a trigger warning, there is a sexual assault scene near the end. Great narration.
Rachel lived a life for thirty years that she wasn't even aware she was living. But once she finds out, how does she extricate herself and find her life and possibly love when everyone around her is crazy wicked. Read this story and find out how love saves lives
There is romance & betrayal in this book. There is also suspense which is what I enjoy most in a book. There’s a twist I wasn’t expecting towards the end.
This book was not at all what I expected it to be based upon the cover and blurb. In fact, the cover has nothing whatsoever to do with the story. After finishing the book, I went back and re-read the blurb and found that it is accurate. I just had completely different expectations based on the cover. That being said, I found the story to be mostly enjoyable and well-written. I always round up to give the benefit of the doubt but would have probably landed closer to 3.5. LIGHT SPOILERS: I felt like the main character should have noticed more clues or red flags concerning the husband's behavior before the book just jumped into "he changed suddenly six months ago." Based on the rest of the story, she should have noticed other odd behaviors throughout their marriage that then all made sense as she discovered the truth. It just felt a little too abrupt diving into the thrills. Don't get me wrong, more action is always better than too much explanation, but this felt a little too abrupt. Also, as a former LEO, there was another odd plot point. The husband committed a crime, for which they had proof in terms of the weapon, physical evidence, and statements, yet they never arrested or charged him with that crime. Instead, it was just used in a protective order hearing. In real life, he would have been arrested and the arrest and subsequent trial result would have been used in the other hearing, not the initial evidence. END SPOILERS I'm being picky, I realize, but that sort of thing stands out to me.
The narrator did a fine job. She used a few sound effects throughout the production, which was odd to me. First of all, it is not standard in current audiobook productions. Second, they inserted sound effects for some things but not others with no rhyme or reason as to why. If you are going to do effects, you should commit to it and use them for every reasonable sound. In other words, why use an effect for an alarm but not a gunshot?
This is a riveting psychological thriller that plunges readers into the unraveling life of Rachel Blackstone. After 30 years of marriage, Rachel is blindsided by the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface of her seemingly stable relationship. What begins as suspicions about her husband Seth’s late-night escapades and drinking quickly spirals into something far more sinister when she receives a foreclosure notice on their home.
Seeking solace, Rachel escapes to the Allegheny Mountains for Thanksgiving with her best friend Lauren, hoping to gain clarity. However, as she digs deeper into Seth’s sudden change of heart, she stumbles upon a tangled web of deceit, manipulation, and deadly secrets within the Blackstone family. What was once a marriage built on trust turns into a fight for survival, proving that while getting into the Blackstone family was easy, getting out alive is another story.
Terrill masterfully builds suspense, keeping readers on edge as Rachel pieces together the shocking truth. The pacing is gripping, with each revelation heightening the stakes. Rachel is a strong, relatable protagonist whose resilience and determination shine through, making her journey both thrilling and emotionally compelling. The atmospheric setting of the Allegheny Mountains adds a layer of isolation and tension, enhancing the novel’s intensity.
For fans of psychological thrillers filled with deception, betrayal, and high-stakes drama, The Hunt delivers an adrenaline-fueled ride that will keep you turning pages until the very end.