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There are currently 13 member reviews
for The Night Hunter
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Linda V. (Independence, KY)
Safari sensational!
From the very beginning, the stage is set for adventure and realism. Dani and Grace are two sisters who are as different as night and day. The reader is strung along with each event that shocks and confuses. The realism is amazing and it was interesting to note from the author's bio that her background made all her descriptions accurate. Enough background is revealed to understand the politics of poaching and hunting, but not too much to take away from each characters' motivations. This is a thrilling read that keeps you guessing and reading on to the end. Exciting read!
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Donna J. (Norwalk, CT)
Nightly Nail-Biting
This novel grabs hold from the opening scene and never really lets go. The tension is immediate, and the sense of danger comes from both the harsh environment and the people in it, which made the story feel especially unsettling. I was pulled in by the suspense and kept guessing about who was responsible for what was happening and what their motives were. One element that felt a little unclear tome was the stockpiling and how it connected to the conservation effort. it seemed somewhat counterintuitive, so I would have liked a bit more clarity there. Even so, that confusion did not take away from the how compelling the story was overall. What stayed with me most was the combination of high-stakes suspense, long-buried secrets, and the shifting, emotionally layered relationship between the sisters. Their dynamic gave the story added depth and made the twists feel more meaningful. Overall, this was a gripping, nail-biting read that kept me engaged all the way through.
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Deborah G. (Black Mountain, NC)
Sisters in South Africa
Natalie Moss's debut novel The Night Hunter is the gripping tale of two sisters returning to South Africa to determine the fate of their childhood home following their mother's death. That the sisters are not on the best of terms, their mother was a wildlife conservationist, and the home is in a remote location on a private game reserve means the trip requires a multi-day safari with a guide and a few friends. What follows is the harrowing story of navigating the Reserve by car and on foot and the people and wildlife encountered. Moss's vivid descriptions draw the reader into the story—I imagined the surroundings and felt the emotions the characters were experiencing—and was anxious to learn the outcome! The plot takes many surprising yet believable twists and turns as the author educates as well as entertains her readers during her exploration of this South African wilderness.
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Karen P. (Silver Spring, MD)
Taut wilderness thriller
The book is set in South Africa on a private nature preserve. A family journeys to the remote home of their recently deceased mother, who ran the foundation for the preserve. This journey is cloaked in palpable danger from the wildlife, the remoteness, and murderous humans. I could almost feel the dry heat and prickly flora. It is both a thriller and a whodunit where the true identity of the killer(s) are unknown and a network of betrayals revealed at the end..
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Linda M. (Ocala, FL)
A Dangerous Walk in the Bush
Natalie Moss's debut novel, The Night Hunter, will surely keep you on the edge of your seat for hours on end. The setting in the bush of South Africa is both realistic and atmospheric. I've been on wild animal safaris in Africa and the fear and anxiety I felt then returned full force as I read this book. Every once in a while, I had to close the book and walk around just to break the unrelenting tension. You, the reader, are there and filled with dread as the dangerous, wild animals stalk the characters who are on foot after their vehicle crashes. You are there when the dangerous, mysterious people engage in some of the same behavior. This book is a suspenseful thriller that will stay with you long after you have read the last page. I look forward to reading anything else that Natalie Moss writes.
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Helen B. (WINTHROP, ME)
The Night Hunter?
This debut novel begins on a strong note, sweeping the reader off to the wilds of South Africa, where the humans are much more dangerous than any type of wildlife this small safari might encounter. Filled with secrets, family drama, romance issues, greed and violence Natalie Moss has everything it takes to be a top-notch thriller. However, while Moss's writing is excellent there are a few things that kept the novel from being great. First only one character is someone, I was rooting for and it was not the main character. All the characters were self absorbed and it was really hard to care what happened to them. Some of the action, at least for me, was confusing. I will say some things that I got hung up on, were explained at the end, but it kept me from enjoying the book as I kept saying, that doesn't even make sense! I also found the 'secrets' confusing. Quite a bit happens in the last few chapters and at times it was difficult to figure it all out. I also wasn't happy with how it ended for some of the characters and the reaction of the survivors at the end. Finally, I have no idea where the title The Night Hunter comes from, as it has nothing to do with this book. All and all the writing clearly shows Moss can write and her use of the wilderness of South Africa made this book unique and interesting. I would absolutely try her next book. Many thanks to Bookbrowse.com, Netgalley.com, and Berkley Press for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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Lisa R. (Murfreesboro, TN)
Slow Start, Strong Finish
"Night Hunter" takes a little time to find its footing, but once it does, it becomes a gripping and immersive read. As a wilderness survival thriller, it delivers exactly the kind of tension and danger the premise promises, with strong pacing that keeps the story moving and character development that gives the stakes real emotional weight. What impressed me most, though, was the atmosphere. The author's raw, visceral writing makes the setting feel almost alive—the heat, the discomfort, and the constant sense of threat come through so vividly that I felt completely pulled into the story's world. It is quite impressive for a debut novel. I received this book from BookBrowse in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any discounts, cash, or any other type of compensation for my assessment.
