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The Hunter's Daughter
A hypnotic, sinister debut mystery about a seemingly good cop who is secretly the daughter of a notorious serial killer.
Anna Koray escaped her father’s darkness long ago. When she was a girl, her childhood memories were sealed away from her conscious mind by a controversial hypnosis treatment. She’s now a decorated sheriff’s lieutenant serving a rural county, conducting an ordinary life far from her father’s shadow.
When Anna kills a man in the line of duty, her suppressed memories return. She dreams of her beloved father, his hands red with blood, surrounded by flower-decked corpses he had sacrificed to the god of the forest.
To Anna’s horror, a serial killer emerges who is copying her father – and who knows who she really is. Is her father still alive, or is this the work of another? Will the killer expose her, destroying everything she has built for herself? Does she want him to?
But as she haunts the forest, using her father’s tricks to the hunt the killer, will she find what she needs most…or lose herself in the gathering darkness?
Anna Koray escaped her father’s darkness long ago. When she was a girl, her childhood memories were sealed away from her conscious mind by a controversial hypnosis treatment. She’s now a decorated sheriff’s lieutenant serving a rural county, conducting an ordinary life far from her father’s shadow.
When Anna kills a man in the line of duty, her suppressed memories return. She dreams of her beloved father, his hands red with blood, surrounded by flower-decked corpses he had sacrificed to the god of the forest.
To Anna’s horror, a serial killer emerges who is copying her father – and who knows who she really is. Is her father still alive, or is this the work of another? Will the killer expose her, destroying everything she has built for herself? Does she want him to?
But as she haunts the forest, using her father’s tricks to the hunt the killer, will she find what she needs most…or lose herself in the gathering darkness?
384 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2024
About the author
Nicola Solvinic
1 book44 followersNicola Solvinic has a master's degree in criminology and has worked in and around criminal justice for more than a decade. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and cats, where she is surrounded by a secret garden full of beehives.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
June 2, 2024
**Many thanks to Berkley and Nicola Solvinic for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**
Anna Koray has done her best to step out of the shadows...her father's shadow, that is. After Anna finds out at a young age that her father was a serial killer, Anna's mother did her best to fill the void left by his absence. Eventually, Anna ended up becoming ward of the state and moving in with another family, where she spent the rest of her preteen and teen years before blossoming into a successful adult. She has used her background as fuel, and now works as a detective hoping to stop men just like her father in their tracks. Nestled in a small rural town, far away from the terrifying events of her past, she is working to build a new life and deal with her trauma with a hypnotherapist's help.
But when she accidentally kills a perp in self defense in the line of duty, a flood of memories she has been working so hard to suppress comes back...and visions of her father with blood covered hands return...as well as memories of the forest God, Veles, that he claimed to serve. Even more terrifying, it seems that a copycat killer has emerged in town...one who seems to know ALL of the tiny details of her father's killing patterns. When Anna gets a note revealing that someone knows her secret, the new life she's been fighting for seems like it is slipping away...and she feels HERSELF slowly start to spin out of control. Could the true crime podcaster who's been skulking around have a DEADLY fascination with her father's crimes? Or did Anna inherit something she can't control...a lust for blood?
As true crime and detective stories can be a bit off-putting for me, I was nervous coming into this read that the police/detective element would take over and minimize the impact of the overall read for me...but I'm happy to say that Solvinic managed to dance back and forth across the boundaries of the mystery, true crime, paranormal, AND psychological thriller genres with fluent, effortless ease!
At the center of everything is the main character of Anna, and if she doesn't 'work' as a character? The story itself doesn't work. With Anna as our only narrator, everything about her past, the complicated history with her father, and the revelations of her suppressed memories relies on her to be a force we feel we can both trust AND question (as she is most definitely an unreliable narrator of sorts) and Solvinic did an excellent job of giving her the emotional depth, intelligence, and complexity necessary to keep the reader guessing AND flesh out what could kindly be called a complicated past. Since the suspension of disbelief required to really enjoy this one also requires buy-in with some paranormal elements, it makes it even MORE important that Anna and her internal battles feel grounded in reality...and luckily for us, Solvinic NAILS this aspect.
Speaking of the paranormal elements...if making sacrifices to the forest gods as a general concept is a turn off to you in the genre, that IS a large portion of the narrative, so you'd probably be wise to pass on this one. There are a few gruesome moments in terms of animal sacrifice etc. (although much is left to the imagination) but if you don't want to read ANYthing about them, it might be hard to find a way to 'neatly' skip these sections. Since so much is uncovered throughout Anna's sessions with her doctor, we sort of dive in and out of the past...but let's just say Veles the forest god is VERY much in Anna's present. (How? I cannot say...you'll have to read to find out! 😉) If you can't stand the (at this point, basically expected) true crime podcaster's involvement, you may also find this character a bit grating at times, but he becomes central to the plot...so again, not much room for trimming the fat here.
While the 'big twist' was a touch predictable, I can't say it spoiled the enjoyment of watching everything play out in the end. The ethical and moral questions of memory repression, the role that genetics can play in the intrinsic 'good or evil' of a person, and of course the paranormal elements...THESE are the parts of the book I found most thought provoking and fulfilling. Even if the mystery felt a bit thin, it was more about the journey with Anna than the destination, and this book gave me just a sprinkling of the unreliable narrator 'buzz' I get during an A+ psychological thriller. I have every confidence that if this is only Solvinic's debut she has a BRIGHT and sparkling future in the genre ahead!
...And let's face it, there's always at least the POSSIBILITY of the Hunter's Granddaughter...👶
😈
4 stars
Anna Koray has done her best to step out of the shadows...her father's shadow, that is. After Anna finds out at a young age that her father was a serial killer, Anna's mother did her best to fill the void left by his absence. Eventually, Anna ended up becoming ward of the state and moving in with another family, where she spent the rest of her preteen and teen years before blossoming into a successful adult. She has used her background as fuel, and now works as a detective hoping to stop men just like her father in their tracks. Nestled in a small rural town, far away from the terrifying events of her past, she is working to build a new life and deal with her trauma with a hypnotherapist's help.
But when she accidentally kills a perp in self defense in the line of duty, a flood of memories she has been working so hard to suppress comes back...and visions of her father with blood covered hands return...as well as memories of the forest God, Veles, that he claimed to serve. Even more terrifying, it seems that a copycat killer has emerged in town...one who seems to know ALL of the tiny details of her father's killing patterns. When Anna gets a note revealing that someone knows her secret, the new life she's been fighting for seems like it is slipping away...and she feels HERSELF slowly start to spin out of control. Could the true crime podcaster who's been skulking around have a DEADLY fascination with her father's crimes? Or did Anna inherit something she can't control...a lust for blood?
As true crime and detective stories can be a bit off-putting for me, I was nervous coming into this read that the police/detective element would take over and minimize the impact of the overall read for me...but I'm happy to say that Solvinic managed to dance back and forth across the boundaries of the mystery, true crime, paranormal, AND psychological thriller genres with fluent, effortless ease!
At the center of everything is the main character of Anna, and if she doesn't 'work' as a character? The story itself doesn't work. With Anna as our only narrator, everything about her past, the complicated history with her father, and the revelations of her suppressed memories relies on her to be a force we feel we can both trust AND question (as she is most definitely an unreliable narrator of sorts) and Solvinic did an excellent job of giving her the emotional depth, intelligence, and complexity necessary to keep the reader guessing AND flesh out what could kindly be called a complicated past. Since the suspension of disbelief required to really enjoy this one also requires buy-in with some paranormal elements, it makes it even MORE important that Anna and her internal battles feel grounded in reality...and luckily for us, Solvinic NAILS this aspect.
Speaking of the paranormal elements...if making sacrifices to the forest gods as a general concept is a turn off to you in the genre, that IS a large portion of the narrative, so you'd probably be wise to pass on this one. There are a few gruesome moments in terms of animal sacrifice etc. (although much is left to the imagination) but if you don't want to read ANYthing about them, it might be hard to find a way to 'neatly' skip these sections. Since so much is uncovered throughout Anna's sessions with her doctor, we sort of dive in and out of the past...but let's just say Veles the forest god is VERY much in Anna's present. (How? I cannot say...you'll have to read to find out! 😉) If you can't stand the (at this point, basically expected) true crime podcaster's involvement, you may also find this character a bit grating at times, but he becomes central to the plot...so again, not much room for trimming the fat here.
While the 'big twist' was a touch predictable, I can't say it spoiled the enjoyment of watching everything play out in the end. The ethical and moral questions of memory repression, the role that genetics can play in the intrinsic 'good or evil' of a person, and of course the paranormal elements...THESE are the parts of the book I found most thought provoking and fulfilling. Even if the mystery felt a bit thin, it was more about the journey with Anna than the destination, and this book gave me just a sprinkling of the unreliable narrator 'buzz' I get during an A+ psychological thriller. I have every confidence that if this is only Solvinic's debut she has a BRIGHT and sparkling future in the genre ahead!
...And let's face it, there's always at least the POSSIBILITY of the Hunter's Granddaughter...👶
😈
4 stars
February 10, 2024
Anna is the daughter of a serial killer, who’s childhood memories were sealed away via hypnosis. She’s now a detective lieutenant and has come a long way to overcome her father’s shadow.
When Anna kills a man in the line of duty, her suppressed memories return. To her horror, a serial killer emerges who is copying her father, and who knows her real identity which threatens everything she has built since.
Can Anna find the killer before she loses herself to the darkness?
This book! Oh, this book was so much fun!
Anna was a very well rounded, and complex character. We delved deep into the trauma that made her the way she was, and I appreciated it. I loved getting to know her from childhood to the detective lieutenant that she became. She really overcame a lot being the daughter of a serial killer and dealing with the fall out of that. I enjoyed it when her memories were coming back to her and getting to see flashes into her childhood.
While the twist at the end wasn’t entirely unpredictable, the why was what I was waiting for, and I was not disappointed with it. I also enjoyed the smaller reveals, and a few of them I didn’t see coming. I do wish that we would have gotten a little more backstory into why the big twist was the way it was, but for the sake of being a long book it did work.
This book was wonderfully well written and dives deep into what it takes to deal with trauma. There are some darker elements, as you can imagine being the daughter of a serial killer, but I would say there are also horror elements as well when the god of the forest was discussed.
I also particularly enjoyed the ethical limits explored with the memory erasing.
I can’t believe that this is a debut novel. It knocked my socks off and was a delicate balance of a thriller. If you are a darker themed thriller fan, then you’ll want to check this one out. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.
A Copy of this review will be featured on my blog during publication week.
When Anna kills a man in the line of duty, her suppressed memories return. To her horror, a serial killer emerges who is copying her father, and who knows her real identity which threatens everything she has built since.
Can Anna find the killer before she loses herself to the darkness?
This book! Oh, this book was so much fun!
Anna was a very well rounded, and complex character. We delved deep into the trauma that made her the way she was, and I appreciated it. I loved getting to know her from childhood to the detective lieutenant that she became. She really overcame a lot being the daughter of a serial killer and dealing with the fall out of that. I enjoyed it when her memories were coming back to her and getting to see flashes into her childhood.
While the twist at the end wasn’t entirely unpredictable, the why was what I was waiting for, and I was not disappointed with it. I also enjoyed the smaller reveals, and a few of them I didn’t see coming. I do wish that we would have gotten a little more backstory into why the big twist was the way it was, but for the sake of being a long book it did work.
This book was wonderfully well written and dives deep into what it takes to deal with trauma. There are some darker elements, as you can imagine being the daughter of a serial killer, but I would say there are also horror elements as well when the god of the forest was discussed.
I also particularly enjoyed the ethical limits explored with the memory erasing.
I can’t believe that this is a debut novel. It knocked my socks off and was a delicate balance of a thriller. If you are a darker themed thriller fan, then you’ll want to check this one out. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.
A Copy of this review will be featured on my blog during publication week.
May 6, 2024
THE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER by Author Nicola Solvinic is a chilling, highly addictive debut that gave me serious goose bumps. There's a supernatural element with an air of malice lurking that saturates the pages of this story, leaving readers jumping at night sounds. I burned through this book with trepidation over what would happen next, afraid to continue but unable to stop. You'll want to settle in with the lights on to read this one!
As a young child, Elena loves nothing more than spending long days meandering through the forest with her beloved father Steven Theron, listening to him speak of spirits, fairies and the Forest God. Despite her mother's disapproval, her days are idyllic until the day she ventures out alone and stumbles across a horrific discovery. Severely traumatized, Elena’s memories are repressed, and she grows up to be Anna Koray, a respected police officer where no one knows she's the daughter of the notorious Forest Strangler.
Lt. Anna Koray is off duty when she arrives at the scene of a domestic dispute. Things quickly go south when she inadvertently comes in contact with PCP and is forced to shoot the domestic perpetrator in the line of duty. Awakening in the hospital, Anna is disoriented and suffering hallucinations. She's assured it's her exposure to the PCP, but as more of her dark memories surface, Anna's left fearing the unknown. When a young woman's body is discovered in the same manner as her father's victims, rumors of a copycat serial killer arise. Anna panics when she starts getting cryptic notes claiming to "know who she really is", leaving her to wonder what she does during periods of blackouts. One thing is clear. Someone is killing young, blonde women again. Is it a copycat serial killer? Did her father somehow escape execution? Or has the darkness brewing inside her surfaced? Anna needs answers and to get them, she must unmask a killer. Even if it destroys her world.
Author Nicola Solvinic has rendered a mesmerizing tale that's impossible to put down in THE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER. Anna is a unique, conflicted character that struggles to separate fact from myth. As a respected police officer, she strives to do the right thing, but as the traumatized daughter with the genes of a serial killer father in her veins, she's lost in a world of smoke and mirrors. Slovinic does an amazing job of drawing attention to the long-term psychological effects of trauma on fragile minds as she explores the issue of nature vs. nurture. She flawlessly weaves the supernatural aspects of this story with forensic science. The imagery is brilliant creating a highly visual, tingle all the senses setting. Characters are as real as they are illusive, charging readers with sifting through all the hidden clues and red herrings to follow the breadcrumbs through twists and turns before arriving at the epic climax. While I had an inkling about what was happening that proved to be true in the end, it in no way lessened the dramatic impact of experiencing this stunning story.
THE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER is a raw, gritty, all-consuming psychological thriller that is masterfully rendered - a unique jewel in the genre. Author Nicola Slovinic's skill is evident as she expertly manipulates characters and readers and monsters through a tunnel of darkness to emerge at the end. Themes of good vs. evil, nature vs. nurture and the aftereffects of trauma are managed with skill and grace. Highly recommended to fans of mysteries, suspense and thrillers.
I'm so excited to finally post my review of THE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER! I've held it per publisher's guidelines, but now I'm happy to sing the praises of this debut author. Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for an arc and to the author for an interview. My review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and my interview is also available here in Nicola Solvinic in Mystery & Suspense Magazine. Review also available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. This title will be released on May 14, 2024.
As a young child, Elena loves nothing more than spending long days meandering through the forest with her beloved father Steven Theron, listening to him speak of spirits, fairies and the Forest God. Despite her mother's disapproval, her days are idyllic until the day she ventures out alone and stumbles across a horrific discovery. Severely traumatized, Elena’s memories are repressed, and she grows up to be Anna Koray, a respected police officer where no one knows she's the daughter of the notorious Forest Strangler.
Lt. Anna Koray is off duty when she arrives at the scene of a domestic dispute. Things quickly go south when she inadvertently comes in contact with PCP and is forced to shoot the domestic perpetrator in the line of duty. Awakening in the hospital, Anna is disoriented and suffering hallucinations. She's assured it's her exposure to the PCP, but as more of her dark memories surface, Anna's left fearing the unknown. When a young woman's body is discovered in the same manner as her father's victims, rumors of a copycat serial killer arise. Anna panics when she starts getting cryptic notes claiming to "know who she really is", leaving her to wonder what she does during periods of blackouts. One thing is clear. Someone is killing young, blonde women again. Is it a copycat serial killer? Did her father somehow escape execution? Or has the darkness brewing inside her surfaced? Anna needs answers and to get them, she must unmask a killer. Even if it destroys her world.
Author Nicola Solvinic has rendered a mesmerizing tale that's impossible to put down in THE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER. Anna is a unique, conflicted character that struggles to separate fact from myth. As a respected police officer, she strives to do the right thing, but as the traumatized daughter with the genes of a serial killer father in her veins, she's lost in a world of smoke and mirrors. Slovinic does an amazing job of drawing attention to the long-term psychological effects of trauma on fragile minds as she explores the issue of nature vs. nurture. She flawlessly weaves the supernatural aspects of this story with forensic science. The imagery is brilliant creating a highly visual, tingle all the senses setting. Characters are as real as they are illusive, charging readers with sifting through all the hidden clues and red herrings to follow the breadcrumbs through twists and turns before arriving at the epic climax. While I had an inkling about what was happening that proved to be true in the end, it in no way lessened the dramatic impact of experiencing this stunning story.
THE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER is a raw, gritty, all-consuming psychological thriller that is masterfully rendered - a unique jewel in the genre. Author Nicola Slovinic's skill is evident as she expertly manipulates characters and readers and monsters through a tunnel of darkness to emerge at the end. Themes of good vs. evil, nature vs. nurture and the aftereffects of trauma are managed with skill and grace. Highly recommended to fans of mysteries, suspense and thrillers.
I'm so excited to finally post my review of THE HUNTER'S DAUGHTER! I've held it per publisher's guidelines, but now I'm happy to sing the praises of this debut author. Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for an arc and to the author for an interview. My review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and my interview is also available here in Nicola Solvinic in Mystery & Suspense Magazine. Review also available on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews. This title will be released on May 14, 2024.
May 29, 2024
This was an interesting thriller with a unique premise. Anna works for the sheriff’s department and her life changes the first day she kills a man. What Anna doesn’t know yet is her father was a serial killer and when she was a small child her psychiatrist locked away all of her memories of him and her childhood. But her own trauma and a mix of other factors has memories trickling in. I thought this gritty thriller was a wild ride and I didn’t see ever element of every twist so there were some surprises which I always love. I will admit as a person who studied psychology the premise of this book was fascinating. How much of a role does our DNA have and how much is nurture? What if we could lock away the worst things we’ve seen and how would that change the trajectory of our lives? This book was well written and an interesting ride. Definitely will be keeping an eye out for more books by this author.
June 2, 2024
3.0 Stars
Video Review https://youtu.be/KiqjtujWMfE
Given the premise, I was expecting a different novel. Perhaps my assumptions were unfair but I thought this would be a grittier story.
Instead this one was more an emotional character story. The novel was an easy read but without some "bite". The crimes committed in this novel are dark and perhaps I am a bit discentized but I wanted darker.
It took a while to hook me in but eventually I found myself caring about the copycat and wanted to see the criminal get caught.
I have read a lot of books about the "daughter of a serial killer" and it strangely is becoming a tired trope. I like when it's done well but this was just a safer story and I wanted more. For readers who are newer to this kind of storyline, I imagine the story will feel fresher.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Video Review https://youtu.be/KiqjtujWMfE
Given the premise, I was expecting a different novel. Perhaps my assumptions were unfair but I thought this would be a grittier story.
Instead this one was more an emotional character story. The novel was an easy read but without some "bite". The crimes committed in this novel are dark and perhaps I am a bit discentized but I wanted darker.
It took a while to hook me in but eventually I found myself caring about the copycat and wanted to see the criminal get caught.
I have read a lot of books about the "daughter of a serial killer" and it strangely is becoming a tired trope. I like when it's done well but this was just a safer story and I wanted more. For readers who are newer to this kind of storyline, I imagine the story will feel fresher.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Shelved as 'wishlist'
May 22, 2024HOLY FUCK THIS SOUNDS AWESOME
May 8, 2024
When I was pitched this book for review, it sounded like everything I could have wanted and I’m thrilled to report that it really was.
I loved Anna. She’s so sure of herself, until she’s not and it was fascinating to read her inner monologue while she spirals into an unreliable narrator. There are several characters here, but this story is firmly Anna’s and it really works.
Plot wise, it was fantastic. The slow unfolding of the now events coupled with the slow barrage of memories helped to show how chaotic Anna’s headspace was. It was easy to root for Anna as we were pulled along on this rollercoaster of childlike hurt to adult confusion.
Overall, I would say to go into this one with as little information as possible to let the story be told as the author intended. I can’t wait to read what’s next from Nicola.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved Anna. She’s so sure of herself, until she’s not and it was fascinating to read her inner monologue while she spirals into an unreliable narrator. There are several characters here, but this story is firmly Anna’s and it really works.
Plot wise, it was fantastic. The slow unfolding of the now events coupled with the slow barrage of memories helped to show how chaotic Anna’s headspace was. It was easy to root for Anna as we were pulled along on this rollercoaster of childlike hurt to adult confusion.
Overall, I would say to go into this one with as little information as possible to let the story be told as the author intended. I can’t wait to read what’s next from Nicola.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
December 6, 2023
First off, huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I read this in a day so there is that… It’s a debut novel about a female police lieutenant who is secretly the daughter of a notorious serial killer. That’s not a spoiler FYI. After decades, bodies start turning up again with crime scenes frighteningly similar to her father’s MO. Copycat? Coincidence? Lots of intriguing characters and twists and turns. My biggest complaint would be a spoiler so I’ll leave it out but all and all this was an entertaining read.
May 8, 2024
**Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for the digital and physical ARCs of this trippy title!**
The Hunter’s Daughter is amazing and feels like a book I can easily recommend across a handful of genres. This one is thrilling and twisty, while also presenting as a police procedural during a string of grisly murders. True crime fans will also enjoy this one as it dives a bit into copy-cat killers, and has a really yucky podcaster as well.
Anna Koray is the daughter of the notorious serial killer known as The Forest Strangler. Her memories have been locked away under hypnosis and an entirely new identity created for her. Once these memories start coming back following a shooting in the line of duty - nobody can stop them.
With supernatural elements mixed in, this one has a bit to offer for all sorts of readers. Check this one out if you like thrillers, police procedurals, true crime, and crazy twists!
The Hunter’s Daughter is amazing and feels like a book I can easily recommend across a handful of genres. This one is thrilling and twisty, while also presenting as a police procedural during a string of grisly murders. True crime fans will also enjoy this one as it dives a bit into copy-cat killers, and has a really yucky podcaster as well.
Anna Koray is the daughter of the notorious serial killer known as The Forest Strangler. Her memories have been locked away under hypnosis and an entirely new identity created for her. Once these memories start coming back following a shooting in the line of duty - nobody can stop them.
With supernatural elements mixed in, this one has a bit to offer for all sorts of readers. Check this one out if you like thrillers, police procedurals, true crime, and crazy twists!
May 13, 2024
Thank you to @prhaudio for the gifted ALC.
This was a realistic feeling suspense/thriller that follows the history of a prolific serial killer who was finally caught. Now his daughter has repercussions to deal with.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book and perhaps that's what made it fun. This was a smart and interesting audiobook.
This was a realistic feeling suspense/thriller that follows the history of a prolific serial killer who was finally caught. Now his daughter has repercussions to deal with.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book and perhaps that's what made it fun. This was a smart and interesting audiobook.
February 7, 2024
This is a respectable debut mystery about the daughter of a serial killer who becomes a cop. It delivers and it doesn’t. The magical realism (or not) is dark and takes the form of the Slavic god, Veles, in this instance as god of the forest. While the narrative is taut for the most part, I found the ending to be a bit flabby.
May 29, 2024
3.5 rounded up! This was a riveting read but be aware there are supernatural elements, something I didn’t realize going in. This has a very unreliable narrator so as the reader you question everything and it makes for a great time. I ended up feeling that some of the more interesting ideas ended up half baked - the memory vault was a big one. It had such a cool premise of locking away her memories and having to unravel them but it ended up not playing a role at all in the investigation.
Anna Koray is a sheriff’s lieutenant and the daughter of a serial killer. When someone starts murdering people in her area in a similar manner to her father, she starts to wonder if she’s the reason it’s happening.
The best part of this is the exploration of the impact of childhood trauma. Seeing Anna question her genes and her childhood and watching how it affects her adult life is fascinating and heart breaking. The actual mystery almost feels secondary to this character study. There’s a lot of logical leaps that happen - no one realizing who she is for the entire investigation, the whole reveal with Nick, and the motive behind the crimes. It needed a stronger structure upon which to hang the excellent writing.
Anna Koray is a sheriff’s lieutenant and the daughter of a serial killer. When someone starts murdering people in her area in a similar manner to her father, she starts to wonder if she’s the reason it’s happening.
The best part of this is the exploration of the impact of childhood trauma. Seeing Anna question her genes and her childhood and watching how it affects her adult life is fascinating and heart breaking. The actual mystery almost feels secondary to this character study. There’s a lot of logical leaps that happen - no one realizing who she is for the entire investigation, the whole reveal with Nick, and the motive behind the crimes. It needed a stronger structure upon which to hang the excellent writing.
June 19, 2024
Holy shit. From the very first chapter, Solvinic sucked me in and then by the last three chapters she spit out what was left of me. The undertone of “is Anna insane too or is the Forest God real?” added so much more to the story. Was her father alive? Was a loved one messing with her? Was she in a psychotic episode? So many things going through my brain with that story. She wove the love they both had for the forest so lovingly into it all too it just felt so deep. I loved it. Wow.
June 23, 2024
I cannot handle any sort of supernatural activity plot line in a realistic thriller. It also wrapped up too cleanly & quickly for the amount of information discussed throughout the book
May 19, 2024
4.5🌟 Can’t believe this was the author’s debut. What a great read!
April 7, 2024
huge thank you to netgalley for the copy of the book! after initially reading the description i was super intrigued and it did not disappoint. the plot was well thought out and had a lot of twists and turns that keep you interested the whole time. my only complaint would be that the ending felt a little rushed-would have loved a little more explanation. but for a debut novel this was great and i can’t wait to see what nicola solvinic does next!
January 18, 2024
This book is both haunting and equal parts thrilling! Anna Koray was jettisoned out of her family years ago when her father was arrested as a serial killer. Adopted, she moved through the world unscathed and became a police office. It is not until she suffers a trauma at work and a series of copycat-like murders occur that she is truly forced to deal with her past.
Solvinic has created a complex character in Anna -someone who is so desperate to return to her childhood and yet so strongly avoiding it. Add in a slew of great characters and you are in for a perfectly tempoed thriller of who is the killer now! Highly Recommend.
#thehuntersdaughter #nicolasolvinic #berkley
Solvinic has created a complex character in Anna -someone who is so desperate to return to her childhood and yet so strongly avoiding it. Add in a slew of great characters and you are in for a perfectly tempoed thriller of who is the killer now! Highly Recommend.
#thehuntersdaughter #nicolasolvinic #berkley
May 2, 2024
It’s hard to believe this is a debut book, it is that well done. Full of twists and turns, heart-pounding investigations, and the feeling of being watching, this book is perfect for horror/ psychological thriller lovers but is also perfect for readers who may want to get into the genre. It’s not too gory but plays tricks on your mind in just the right way.
This story was truly unputdownable, I would’ve read it in one sitting if I didn’t have to be a productive adult and work. I’ve always been a huge fan of the serial killer v cop trope and this one is just done so well. Anna Koray is a Lieutenant at the local sheriff’s department. When bodies of girls start appearing in the same MO as The Forest Strangler decades earlier, Anna must figure out who is responsible. After all, who better to investigate the case than a cop who is secretly the daughter of a serial killer.
A rollercoaster ride of mind-boggling proportions, this book is everything I needed it to be and more. What a way to start off the month. I can definitely see readers staying up til 1 am with a flashlight to finish this book it is that good. I walked around my house biting my fingernails as I tried to figure out what was going to happen next.
As a person who predicts the endings to thriller often, I had my suspicions as to who was responsible but when we reached the ending I knew I was very wrong. I found out the author has a degree in criminology and it shows in this book. The reader is taken through the intricate ins and outs of police investigations and I think it really allows the reader to become a part of the story.
If you need a bingeable read be sure to pick this up May 14th!
This story was truly unputdownable, I would’ve read it in one sitting if I didn’t have to be a productive adult and work. I’ve always been a huge fan of the serial killer v cop trope and this one is just done so well. Anna Koray is a Lieutenant at the local sheriff’s department. When bodies of girls start appearing in the same MO as The Forest Strangler decades earlier, Anna must figure out who is responsible. After all, who better to investigate the case than a cop who is secretly the daughter of a serial killer.
A rollercoaster ride of mind-boggling proportions, this book is everything I needed it to be and more. What a way to start off the month. I can definitely see readers staying up til 1 am with a flashlight to finish this book it is that good. I walked around my house biting my fingernails as I tried to figure out what was going to happen next.
As a person who predicts the endings to thriller often, I had my suspicions as to who was responsible but when we reached the ending I knew I was very wrong. I found out the author has a degree in criminology and it shows in this book. The reader is taken through the intricate ins and outs of police investigations and I think it really allows the reader to become a part of the story.
If you need a bingeable read be sure to pick this up May 14th!
April 18, 2024
Anna is a sheriff's lieutenant and - unbeknownst to her colleagues - she is also the daughter of a notorious serial killer. Most of her childhood memories have been blocked by a therapist using a controversial and unlicensed hypnosis technique, but Anna starts remembering things after a traumatic incident at work. And then the bodies start showing up, adorned with flowers and displayed in a ceremonial fashion, just like her father's victims.
This is becoming one of my favorite serial killer sub-genres: the daughter of a serial killer has to solve a copycat case and deal with all sorts of terrible memories from her past. SO GOOD! (Another one I really enjoyed recently was The Killer's Daughter (Detective Margot Phalen Series)) This one had some super disturbing imagery, and I loved all of the creepy forest god business. I will say that I did not love the way the story ended/the explanation of the copycat, but I'm not sure how else it could have ended, and I loved everything else, so whatever.
Solvinic has written a VERY impressive debut, and I'm so excited to see what she writes next -- highly recommend!
* Thanks to Berkley Pub for the NetGalley review copy. The Hunter's Daughter publishes May 14, 2024.
This is becoming one of my favorite serial killer sub-genres: the daughter of a serial killer has to solve a copycat case and deal with all sorts of terrible memories from her past. SO GOOD! (Another one I really enjoyed recently was The Killer's Daughter (Detective Margot Phalen Series)) This one had some super disturbing imagery, and I loved all of the creepy forest god business. I will say that I did not love the way the story ended/the explanation of the copycat, but I'm not sure how else it could have ended, and I loved everything else, so whatever.
Solvinic has written a VERY impressive debut, and I'm so excited to see what she writes next -- highly recommend!
* Thanks to Berkley Pub for the NetGalley review copy. The Hunter's Daughter publishes May 14, 2024.
May 25, 2024
I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley and the Berkley Besties program, all opinions are my own.
This follows Anna, a detective with a secretive backstory that not even she completely remembers. When Anna shoots a perpetrator in the line of duty and is dosed with PCP suppressed memories from her childhood begin to surface. She thought she buried the person she used to be, but with the help of her therapist she is able to piece together her past with what she is experiencing now. This is especially helpful when she finds herself tangled up in a murder investigation that appears to be a copycat of her serial killer father. Unable to detach herself from the case, Anna is determined to use her knowledge of her father's case, and the outdoor skills he taught her to figure out the current case or if her father has returned from the dead to haunt her once more.
I found it hard to believe that Anna was able to hide her identity from so many people for so long. It is one of those plot points where you have to suspend your disbelief for the storyline to work. No one recognizes her and she makes really poor decisions throughout the investigation, yet no one picks up on it. As for the thriller aspect, this has plenty of red herrings to keep the reader on their toes and adds in a nice bit of police procedural.
Overall, this was an interesting thriller and a solid debut.
This follows Anna, a detective with a secretive backstory that not even she completely remembers. When Anna shoots a perpetrator in the line of duty and is dosed with PCP suppressed memories from her childhood begin to surface. She thought she buried the person she used to be, but with the help of her therapist she is able to piece together her past with what she is experiencing now. This is especially helpful when she finds herself tangled up in a murder investigation that appears to be a copycat of her serial killer father. Unable to detach herself from the case, Anna is determined to use her knowledge of her father's case, and the outdoor skills he taught her to figure out the current case or if her father has returned from the dead to haunt her once more.
I found it hard to believe that Anna was able to hide her identity from so many people for so long. It is one of those plot points where you have to suspend your disbelief for the storyline to work. No one recognizes her and she makes really poor decisions throughout the investigation, yet no one picks up on it. As for the thriller aspect, this has plenty of red herrings to keep the reader on their toes and adds in a nice bit of police procedural.
Overall, this was an interesting thriller and a solid debut.
June 27, 2024
Thank you #berkleypartner @berkleypub for my finished copy. Thank you #prhaudiopartner @prhaudio for my free audiobook copy!
This debut mystery thriller novel snuck up on me! It was atmospherically good! If a mystery thriller does not give me that eerie feeling, I don’t want it. Nicola S. put me there along with Anna and in her mind as she’s trying to figure out who is the possible copycat killer. This is all triggering for her because it all mimics her deceased serial killer father.
I myself don’t like to have or know too much going into these types of books for the element of surprise, so I’ll just say that this one has twists throughout. I loved listening to this audiobook. The narrator nailed Anna. I felt connected to her from the start and with this one that made for an enjoyable time! I highly recommend listening to this one! You’ll get the feel of every moment as we follow Anna as she figures out the who, but also about herself and what happened in the past.
Sign me up for the next Nicola Solvinic book, please! I’m here for it all!
This debut mystery thriller novel snuck up on me! It was atmospherically good! If a mystery thriller does not give me that eerie feeling, I don’t want it. Nicola S. put me there along with Anna and in her mind as she’s trying to figure out who is the possible copycat killer. This is all triggering for her because it all mimics her deceased serial killer father.
I myself don’t like to have or know too much going into these types of books for the element of surprise, so I’ll just say that this one has twists throughout. I loved listening to this audiobook. The narrator nailed Anna. I felt connected to her from the start and with this one that made for an enjoyable time! I highly recommend listening to this one! You’ll get the feel of every moment as we follow Anna as she figures out the who, but also about herself and what happened in the past.
Sign me up for the next Nicola Solvinic book, please! I’m here for it all!
June 27, 2024
Oh my god, Veles!!
Nice and creepy and kept it going to the very end!
Nice and creepy and kept it going to the very end!
May 16, 2024
I loved this book! It was really hard for me to put this down. The storyline was so intriguing to me, and it had me wondering the entire time if our main character Anna was unreliable or were things just really this coincidental or was it something paranormal going on. Towards the middle to end of the book I thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong this time around and the end twist I did not see coming. I think this was an amazing debut and can’t wait to read more from the author. I think fans of police procedurals or psychological thrillers will enjoy this one. Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for my eARC. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 is out now.
June 18, 2024
This was a debut novel that I really loved. There was a lot you could sink your teeth into. Anna is a complex main character with a lot of flaws. As a child, she witnessed much brutality at the hands of her father, a notorious serial killer. With the help of a psychiatrist, Anna has been able to hide away the gruesome memories. Until another girl is killed, posed just like her father used to do. Is it a copycat killer or could her father still be alive? This book had its fair share of the supernatural and some things didn’t ring true. I found it was easier to just let credulity go at times and just enjoy the ride.
June 15, 2024
Awesome book about a serial killer and his daughter. She forms a new identity and attempts to discover the horror of her father. Many twists and turns
June 14, 2024
I am in shock that this is a debut, it blew my mind! Nicola Solvinic is able to create an atmosphere that made the hair on the back of my neck rise, my heartbeat quickened, my stomach churn, and my mind go to the deep dark crevasses that you never want to think about. When I hear the word serial killer, I know that someone out there is hunting people. Can you imagine if that person was your father? How would that make you look at life, think about yourself, and wonder if you are like him in any way?
Anna is a cop that is determined to play by the rules, and she wants to be a good, no, the best cop she can possibly be. She grew up in the most disturbed environment you could ever dream up. She was close to her father; never thought he could do anything wrong. Until the day the FBI came knocking on their door. Anna's father had disappeared days before, but she knew she could find him. He had shared all the secrets of the forest with her. When she stumbles into a situation that no child, let alone adult, should witness. She is left with confusion, hurt, and not knowing where she truly stands as the floor of her life drops from beneath her. When a copycat killer begins leaving a trail of bodies in the same way her father did. All bets are off. Anna needs to work on this case, to find out who is behind it, and if it will give her closure with her past. She quickly becomes lost in her mind, losing time, spending more time in the forest, and has the feeling she is being watched. She knows she must find the killer before he exposes her past.
This book is all about the ultimate power. The killer needing to know that they have control of the situation and the only way they can do that is through controlling every situation. The characters in this book are phenomenally written. They draw you into the story and never let you go. The twists will leave you with your mouth dangling open. I was shocked so many times, that I lost count. Do yourself a favor and read this book! Thank you to Nicola Solvinic and Berkley Publishing for this terrifying read.
Anna is a cop that is determined to play by the rules, and she wants to be a good, no, the best cop she can possibly be. She grew up in the most disturbed environment you could ever dream up. She was close to her father; never thought he could do anything wrong. Until the day the FBI came knocking on their door. Anna's father had disappeared days before, but she knew she could find him. He had shared all the secrets of the forest with her. When she stumbles into a situation that no child, let alone adult, should witness. She is left with confusion, hurt, and not knowing where she truly stands as the floor of her life drops from beneath her. When a copycat killer begins leaving a trail of bodies in the same way her father did. All bets are off. Anna needs to work on this case, to find out who is behind it, and if it will give her closure with her past. She quickly becomes lost in her mind, losing time, spending more time in the forest, and has the feeling she is being watched. She knows she must find the killer before he exposes her past.
This book is all about the ultimate power. The killer needing to know that they have control of the situation and the only way they can do that is through controlling every situation. The characters in this book are phenomenally written. They draw you into the story and never let you go. The twists will leave you with your mouth dangling open. I was shocked so many times, that I lost count. Do yourself a favor and read this book! Thank you to Nicola Solvinic and Berkley Publishing for this terrifying read.
June 9, 2024
Wow, this book took me by surprise. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book but I definitely wasn't expecting to be as enthralled as I was. This book gripped me from the very beginning with all of its mystery and intrigue and especially the mystery surrounding Anna's dad. I was not expecting the touch of fantastical fiction thrown in with the forest but I didn't mind it one bit, it added a lot to the story and I really enjoyed it. I loved the character Detective Anna and everything she went through trying to solve the murder cases and trying to determine if it's her dad or not. There were so many great twists that I honestly didn't see coming and the ending blew me away. It was so well done and concluded everything perfectly. I'm blown away that this was the author's debut novel and I am so excited to read whatever she comes up with next!
Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for my review copy!
Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for my review copy!
February 10, 2024
Can evil be inherited? This debut tackles that hard issue and looks at an intimate struggled of a young woman whose father did unspeakable things. Perfect for fans who like a little supernatural in their books.
April 28, 2024
⭐4.25/5⭐
"We might have been monsters, but maybe everyone had a monster within them. Our job was to be sure those monsters slept."
The Hunter's Daughter is a story about Anna (Elena) who is the daughter of the infamous serial killer, The Forest Strangler. Now an adult, and with no memory of her childhood or who her real father is thanks to therapy, Anna works as a lieutenant detective who is battling with her own inner struggles and turmoils while investigating horrific crimes. When a string of murders begin unfolding in her jurisdiction that are eerily similar to those of the Forest Strangler, Anna finds herself uncovering more clues than just those surrounding the murders. Is the Forest Strangler back and again carrying out his dark ritualistic killings? Or is there a new monster who has now decided to copy the Strangler's horrific MO in a new series of killings? Anna must race to uncover who the killer is, while also working to re ember her own past and the monsters that haunted it.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were likeable, the writing kept me up way too late most nights, and there were a good number of twists I didn't see coming. I'd give The Hunter's Daughter 4.25/5 because I was able to figure out a few of the twists before they were revealed, but overall it was a great time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Nicola Solvenic for providing me this ARC of The Hunter's Daughter to read and review.
"We might have been monsters, but maybe everyone had a monster within them. Our job was to be sure those monsters slept."
The Hunter's Daughter is a story about Anna (Elena) who is the daughter of the infamous serial killer, The Forest Strangler. Now an adult, and with no memory of her childhood or who her real father is thanks to therapy, Anna works as a lieutenant detective who is battling with her own inner struggles and turmoils while investigating horrific crimes. When a string of murders begin unfolding in her jurisdiction that are eerily similar to those of the Forest Strangler, Anna finds herself uncovering more clues than just those surrounding the murders. Is the Forest Strangler back and again carrying out his dark ritualistic killings? Or is there a new monster who has now decided to copy the Strangler's horrific MO in a new series of killings? Anna must race to uncover who the killer is, while also working to re ember her own past and the monsters that haunted it.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were likeable, the writing kept me up way too late most nights, and there were a good number of twists I didn't see coming. I'd give The Hunter's Daughter 4.25/5 because I was able to figure out a few of the twists before they were revealed, but overall it was a great time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Nicola Solvenic for providing me this ARC of The Hunter's Daughter to read and review.
June 27, 2024
Anna Koray is a detective in the rural Midwest when she kills a perp in the line of duty. This event unlocks a trove of suppressed memories from her childhood. It turns out Anna was the daughter of a notorious serial killer known as the Forest Strangler. Now a copycat killer has emerged, staging the same type of elaborate crime scenes the Forest Strangler was famous for, forcing Anna to deal with the darkness of her past that threatens to consume her.
I was absolutely blown away by Nicola Solvinic’s debut novel! It has so many of my favorite thriller elements but woven together in a way that is completely fresh and captivating. It’s a stellar combination of twisty thriller, police procedural, supernatural spookiness, psychological trauma, and mental health rep. Anna is such an intriguing character, with her childhood memories surfacing and her complex feelings toward her once-beloved father. The prose is compelling and an homage to nature; even the crime scenes are eerily beautiful. I highly recommend this tense and atmospheric thriller and can’t wait to see what this author writes in the future!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me an advance copy of this book.
I was absolutely blown away by Nicola Solvinic’s debut novel! It has so many of my favorite thriller elements but woven together in a way that is completely fresh and captivating. It’s a stellar combination of twisty thriller, police procedural, supernatural spookiness, psychological trauma, and mental health rep. Anna is such an intriguing character, with her childhood memories surfacing and her complex feelings toward her once-beloved father. The prose is compelling and an homage to nature; even the crime scenes are eerily beautiful. I highly recommend this tense and atmospheric thriller and can’t wait to see what this author writes in the future!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me an advance copy of this book.
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