The Hunted

The Hunted is the upcoming bookish offering by one of my favourite Canadian authors - Roz Nay. This book publishes on July 6, 2021, and is a slow burn, escapist kind of read - perfect for summer readin'. 

Nay brings readers into the world of backpacking in foreign countries which I found fascinating and scary in equal measure. But what I noticed right off the bat was the pace. Sure, there is a fantastic edge-of-your-seat scene at the beginning but honestly, things don't start poppin' until around 60%. Until then, Nay builds her story, relays bits and bobs of her characters' pasts to the reader to set up a chilling story of obsession, lies and betrayal set in the beauty of the east African coastal region.

Oooo, right?

I liked the isolated feel of this small island off the eastern coast of Africa and how Nay used different POVs to keep readers on their toes, but I wasn't a fan of the main character, Stevie or her questionable decision-making skills. There was one character who stood out for me because he is an off-his-rocker-in-the-best-possible-way kind of character, and he increased the chill factor exponentially. Once the pacing picks up, things get tense and a bit tangled as the truth is revealed (rather quickly) to the reader. It's not quite a twist, but a solid reveal that made the wait for the meat of the story more understandable.

I enjoyed this chilling read for the uneasy feel it gave me and its far-away locale. Roz remains one of my go-to Canadian suspense authors and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for my advanced complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Roz Nay

Genre: Suspense, Canadian

Type and Source: eBook from publisher

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada

First Published: July 6, 2021

Opening Lines: A hand over my mouth wakes me, the skin of it tinny with 

metal and salt. I gasp awake and squirm.

Book Description from GoodReads: The Beach meets The Woman in Cabin 10 in this twisty new thriller about two couples who meet backpacking through Africa, but what begins as friendship quickly turns to obsession, with deadly consequences—from bestselling author Roz Nay.

Stevie Erickson is looking for a fresh start. The sudden loss of her grandmother has sent her life into a tailspin, dredging up old losses and putting a strain on her relationship with her boyfriend, Jacob. So when Jacob is offered a job as a diver for GoEco, a dive operation for ecotourists on Rafiki, a beautiful, secluded island off the coast of Tanzania, he thinks it’s just the adventure they need and Stevie reluctantly agrees to go with him.

Their trip gets off to a rough start with a nighttime scare at their first hostel. Already fragile, Stevie can’t shake the feeling that she’s being watched. Things improve when they meet seasoned backpackers Leo and Tamsin, a drop-dead gorgeous couple who instantly take a shine to Stevie and Jacob.

But on Rafiki Island, their new friendship is put to the test, as is Stevie and Jacob’s own relationship. And when innocent flirting goes too far, past truths surface, exposing a killer in their midst—a killer whose sights are set on Stevie.

A high dive into the dangers of obsession, this sinister and seductive thriller will leave you breathless.