New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger “brings her trademark of intense suspense, believable characters and sharp plotting” (Sun-Sentinel) to this heart-stopping new psychological thriller, and proves once again why she is regarded as “one of today’s best thriller writers, period.” (Literary Hub)What is the difference between justice and revenge?Claudia Bishop’s perfect life fell apart when … revenge?
Claudia Bishop’s perfect life fell apart when the aftermath of a brutal assault left her with a crumbling marriage, a newborn daughter, and a constant sense of anxiety about the world around her. Now, looking for a fresh start with a home restoration project and growing blog, Claudia takes on a crumbling old house–one that unbeknownst to her has an ugly history and may hide long buried secrets.
For Zoey Drake the defining moment of her childhood was the horrific murder of her parents. Years later, she has embraced the rage that fuels her. Training in the martial arts has made her strong and ready to face the demons from the past–and within.
Strangers to each other, and walking very different paths in the wake of trauma, these two women are on a collision course–because Zoey’s past nightmare and Claudia’s dreams for her future take place in the same house. As Zoey seeks justice, and Claudia seeks peace, both will confront the terrifying monsters at the door.
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“There are certain dark doorways in this life, and when you open one and step inside, you can’t come back out. The door locks behind you and you have to stay. No one ever tells you that. Or if they do, you don’t listen.”
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I really like Lisa Unger – she writes great action, strong female characters who are never quite as broken as they seem, and complex stories that revel in human frailty. The Red Hunter is a stellar example. Zoey and Claudia are both survivors – but they survived in very different ways. One wants revenge; the other to move on and past – but both are equally driven to prove they will not be victims again. As the book unfolds, the two women’s stories travel on seemingly unrelated, parallel, paths. As the paths begin to converge, secrets are gradually revealed – as is the meaning behind what once seemed random.The intersection points are fantastically rendered, as are the striking comparisons – and unexpected commonalities – between the women’s situations and (interestingly enough, given the different ways they played out) responses, most notably with regard to the revelations that come in the closing pages.
There are some difficult scenes to read; Lisa Unger doesn’t write sunshine and ponies, after all… But the violent interactions and the darkness of greed and self-righteous entitlement are (as usual) handled with a surprising delicacy of feeling. Ugliness may be inevitable in a world populated by all-too human humans, but by teasing out subtle elements of peace and beauty, even in the darkness, Ms. Unger manages to keep me turning pages even when covering topics (like rape and torture of children) that under less talented hands normally see me slamming covers and walking away… She has a way with dark imagery – she doesn’t shy away from violence or evil, rather she presents it in all its glaring banality and then shines enough light into the corners to reveal the shadows for what they are. In doing so, she doesn’t mitigate or lessen the impact of the darkness – she opens it to the eye, forcing the reader to confront it, deal with it, and then, slowly, to realize there are lessons to be learned. Then we, like her characters, can move past it. It’s a style that requires a deft hand, and one that she manages to replicate book after book – without ever feeling derivative. I’d pick up any new book of hers for that reason alone.
My review copy was provided by NetGalley.
I love all her books she my favorite author I can’t wait for the next book alot of shocking surprises
I enjoyed the intertwining stories in The Red Hunter. While the story line wasn’t quite as twisted as I might have liked, the characters made up for it. Each of them fully developed and interesting in their own right, not just there to serve a purpose. I loved the way Unger explored of rage and revenge through her characters in this novel. Her ability to pull us in and keep us thinking never ceases to amaze me.
Loved it!
“What is the difference between justice and revenge? Justice is a concept, one agreed upon by a civilized society. Revenge is wild and raw, it’s a balancing of scales of the universe.”
Ten years ago at a farmhouse in northern New Jersey a horrific crime occurs. Police officer Chad Drake
and his wife, Heather, are killed and their daughter, Zoey, is tortured and left for dead.
The three men responsible were there looking for something they believed to be hidden there.
They didn’t find it.
Zoey Drake spends the next ten years working through the trauma making herself emotionally, physically and spiritually stronger. She has a plan.
She becomes “The Red Hunter”…
Some years back Claudia Bishop endures a brutal attack. Rather than becoming a victim, she talks openly about what she’s going through. She gives birth to a daughter.
Even though her marriage falls apart, it’s amicable and loving and they raise Raven together, separately.
Claudia writes a blog about being a single mom.
Her latest project is a renovation of a house and to blog about the ups-and-downs of that.
The house she inherited from her father is in the country.
It’s a farmhouse in northern New Jersey! You guessed it, the same one that Zoey suffered the most terrifying night of her life.
Oh, and that thing that was supposed be hidden at the house, it still is. and those dangerous men, there still out there, too.
All these paths cross into an explosive thriller!
Real attention-getter. Clear to the end! Excellent – Lisa Unger a favorite and this is one of her best!
Very entertaining unpredictable and well written. Bad cops murder Kung fu instructors psychopath older brother it had everything but it flowed very well!
This was an awesome audio book. Fast paced, edge of your seat read. I actually downloaded the book to read when I couldn’t listen to the audio. Would definitely recommend!
The Red Hunter by Lisa Unger is an awesome read. Ms. Unger has delivered a book that is well-written with lots of tangents. She weaves those tangents together in the most remarkable way. The characters in this book are phenomenal. There is lots of drama, action and suspense, with a little humor tossed in that lightens the read. This is a bit of a dark read, but once you start reading it, you won’t want to put it down. I enjoyed reading The Red Hunter, but I have to admit, there toward the end, Ms. Unger had me on the edge of my seat once more. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I won a copy of this book from Goodreads.