The Hunter - by Jennifer Herrera (Paperback)

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

An atmospheric thriller 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. 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, two children, and cat.