The Hunter - by Jennifer Herrera (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A riveting atmospheric suspense debut that explores the dark side of a small town and asks: How can we uncover the truth when we are lying to ourselves?"--

Book Synopsis

A riveting atmospheric suspense debut that explores the dark side of a small town and asks: How can we uncover the truth when we keep lying to ourselves?

"Herrera has a gift for drawing vivid characters and rich settings. A voicey and compelling debut that is not to be missed."--Karin Slaughter

After reckless behavior costs NYPD detective Leigh O'Donnell her job and her marriage, she returns with her four-year-old daughter to her beautiful hometown of Copper Falls, Ohio. Leigh had stayed away for more than a decade--even though her brother and a trio of loving uncles still call it home--because, while the town may seem idyllic, something rotten lies at its core. Three men in town have drowned in what Leigh suspects to be a triple homicide. She hopes that by finding out who killed them, she just might get her life back on course.

Headstrong and intuitive, Leigh isn't afraid to face a killer, but she has to do more than that to discover the truth about what happened to those men. She must unravel a web of secrets going back generations, and, in doing so, plumb the darkness within herself.

Perfect for fans of Mare of Easttown, this taut debut is a haunting look at how the search for truth often leads back to the most unlikely of places.

Review Quotes

A Reader's Digest October Book Club Pick
A South Floria Sun Sentinel Best Mysteries of 2023 Pick

"[A] complex plot, which is matched by thoroughly realized characters whose actions are anything but predictable. Herrera is a writer to watch."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The Hunter will bring thriller fans the immersive read they're looking for."--"Good Morning America" (online)

"Literary agent Herrera delves deep to sculpt believable, multi-layered characters. The Hunter launches a new, most-welcomed series."--South Florida Sun-Sentinel

"[A] generational mystery that'll keep readers on their toes...Herrera's debut threads uneasiness and mistrust through a pulse-pounding mystery."--PopSugar

"A thriller with depth." --Booklist

"An absorbing, twisty read" --Criminal Element

"With its language and momentum, the book propels the reader to the last page."--New York Journal of Books

"There are twists and turns in every moment . . . the suspense is palpable. This book is impossible to put down." --The Southern Bookseller Review

"The Hunter announces Jennifer Herrera as a remarkable new voice in suspense. Her debut is expertly paced and plotted, richly atmospheric, and filled with nuanced, beautifully developed characters with whom readers are sure to connect. I loved this book, and can't wait to read whatever Herrera writes next."--Cristina Alger, New York Times bestselling author of Girls Like Us

"This book is a bonfire on a dark night. Searing hot and enthralling. I want to live in Herrera's language, where the ordinary becomes magical and strange. Fans of Tana French and Marisha Pessl, take note."--Melissa Larsen, author of Shutter

"Herrera introduces readers to the dauntless Leigh O'Donnell, who emerges as the embodiment of the many hats modern women wear...With quick-hitting chapters and pageturning cliffhangers, Herrera keeps readers guessing...Readers will find this engaging mystery entwined with family drama hard to put down."--Ohioana Quarterly

"Smart, taut, and atmospheric. The Hunter had me reading into the night as I followed Leigh from New York back to her hometown. She must find and confront a killer as well as make peace with her past. I finished the book in one sitting and can't wait to read the next page-turner in the series!"--Janet Skeslien Charles, author of The Paris Library

"I would recommend it to all who love a good character study and themes of how and why we lie to ourselves. A great debut"--Portland Book Review

About the Author

Jennifer Herrera is a former philosophy grad student turned literary agent, who is fascinated by the stories we tell ourselves to live and the lies we cling to that sabotage our chances at a good life. She has lived in six states and five countries (so far) and now resides in Philadelphia with her husband, daughter, and cat.