Did Lydia commit suicide, and leave her husband and daughter by choice – or is something more sinister afoot?
Meet Lydia, John, and Diana Hunter. Lydia is a loving mother and wife, who wants nothing more than the best for her family. John is her husband. He is an over-protective homicide detective who loves his wife and teenage daughter with everything he has. Their daughter, Diana, is a genius, … daughter, Diana, is a genius, with an IQ level far higher than most. This is a family that adores one another. A family, however, that is torn apart by tragedy.
When Lydia is found dead at her workplace, John loses the love of his life. His heart breaks for himself and his little girl as Diana spirals out of control. The authorities rule the death a suicide, but when events don’t start to add up, the family that is left behind begins to suspect something isn’t right.
Interview with the Author of the Series
Q – So, what makes the Diana Hunter series special?
A – When I set out to write these books, I wanted to create something that mirrored exactly the kind of books I like to read. My top picks are always mystery novels, especially featuring female protagonists with attitude. Diana is badass and I can’t tell you how many readers tell me she reminds them of themselves. She makes you feel you can do anything!
The Diana Hunter books are a great mix of genres. There is nothing graphic or gratuitous in these books. Your Aunt Martha could definitely read them. But they are not “roses around the cottage door” –type mysteries. They are more hard-boiled with some romantic tension, suspense and thriller action to keep things interesting!
Overall, the Diana Hunter series is designed to keep you turning the pages – and I’ve made sure there’s never a dull moment.
Q – In what order should I read the books?
A – The Diana Hunter mysteries can be read and enjoyed in any order, however, Hunted is a prequel to the other books in the series. Unlike the other books, it is not a complete mystery. It relates the events that create the backdrop to the series and fills in some of Diana’s personality and motivations. You don’t have to have read the prequel to make sense of the later books but it helps.
I’ve made sure not to include any spoilers for those who are new to the characters and any existing fans of Diana’s adventures will still find plenty of fresh action and mystery as well as perhaps a few answers. All in all, there is something for everyone. The events in this prequel take place a few years before Snatched, the first book in the Diana Hunter series of mysteries.
If you do want to read them in order, I’d suggest the following sequence:
– Hunted (prequel)
– Snatched
– Stolen
– Chopped
Q – So, why should readers give these books a try?
A – Because the Diana Hunter series is a fast, fun, thrill-ride that takes no prisoners! Our heroine is kicks butt but has a soft center. We want her to win out even when she’s making poor decisions and alienating those who can, and want, to help her. I think most women will see a little, or a lot, of themselves in Diana Hunter.
Ultimately, readers who enjoy lightning-fast pacing with a plot that twists and turns all the way to the end will get a kick out of this series.
Thanks for reading!
Diana Hunter Book Categories:
– Mystery Series
– Crime Thrillers
– Cozy Mysteries
– Women Sleuths
– Hard-Boiled Mysteries
– International Mystery and Crime
more
What a great start to a wonderful series. I loved this book. I was kept on edge and wondering what could possibly happen next? I loved the character’s and want to know more of what will be happening in this series. I am going to be following this author and reading more of course from her, too!
Incredibly well written prequel, but one of the saddest stories I’ve read in a very long time.
I’d started Alison Golden’s book ‘Chopped’ and enjoyed the first several chapters enough that I pulled down the kindle edition of ‘Hunted’ to learn more about the main character. Hunted is a prequel that sets the stage for the subsequent novels. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and recommend this book as your first read in starting this series.
This is a really good layout for the stories to follow. It gives you an idea of where Diana is coming from and what has happened in her life & to the people she loved. Diana is going off to school at the age of 16. Three years later Lydia her mother is found dead, she committed suicide. John learns Lydia has been cremated in error and no one can answer why. A few months later John realizes Lydia didn’t commit suicide and he and Liam start to investigate. Diana is going off the deep end over her mother’s death until her dad tells her what he suspects and she and Teddy get involved. Teddy finds a lead John & Liam go to investigate she’s notified they are both dead.
Hunted. Allison Golden. Diana Hunter book
A very hard hitting background info piece that fills in what happened to lead to the death of both of Diana’s parents, as well as her honorary Uncle Liam, her father’s homicide detective partner and CO.
She also devastatingly separates herself from Teddy, her gay best friend, in a probably misguided attempt to keep him safe from whomever left her a note and photos , threatening to hunt down Teddy like the rest of her slain family.
Diane turning to the CSIS seemed like a logical use of resources left to her.
Confusing were the included excerpts from the next book in the series, wherein she describes herself as a Magazine Editor. Odd non sequitur.
She is an intriguing, strong female character with allegedly genius level intelligence.
Just not sure how this Di fits in with the rest of the series.
Staying tuned for book two, which I had downloaded before book 1 but not yet read.
All my reviews are voluntary. I own both advanced read and purchased copies of books in this series. I also own several Alison Golden cozy mysteries – a very different type of mystery fun, not like the complicated action packed storyline of the Diana Hunter mysteries, which seem to have a darker, more biting edge.
Both stories describe violence, but dwell more on the import and impact of events and people- not about the blood or gore that a murder might involve. More about what and who is left behind, and how the survivors deal with tragedy, what next and each other.
I just pulled up Snatched for the next Diana Hunter story. Hope you enjoy it too!