This mystery/suspense follows Nell, a factory worker in the small town of Presley, Arkansas. A town known for their Annual Hunt for the Golden Egg - and the rumored serial killer who stalks the hunt. For the last seventeen years, someone has died during the Hunt and while the deaths have been overwhelmingly ruled as accidents, some members of the town aren't so sure. Nell's brother is rumored to be The Hunter's first kill. Now, another year of the Hunt is starting and Nell's focus is keeping her nephew safe and avoid the Hunt as much as she possibly can. But it isn't going to be easy to hide out this year and when the danger comes too close for comfort, Nell will have to face her past.

This is one of those books where, I think, if you go into it with certain expectations you will be disappointed. I'll admit, I went into this expecting some sort of slasher-type situation where Nell pieces it all together and finds the killer. That is not this book. This is a more quiet, character focused mystery with some good spooky moments. All the characters are a little on edge this time of year, because even if they say they don't believe the Hunter exists, there's still a chance. So I'd say go into this read with a more character-focused, small town tension expectations.

I really loved the way the past deaths were integrated into the story. We get these very brief chapters with a sort of investigative lens to the past deaths. The deaths do not go in order, but they do give the reader a nice mix of deaths that 100% sound like accidents and ones that sound more suspicious. This helps put the reader in the mindset of the town where no one is really quite 100% sure if the Hunter really exists. This is also a quick way to get info to the reader so we know what most of the residents of Presley know without having some heavy-handed dialogue or big flashback scenes. Since there have been so many deaths, the individual details don't matter as much as the overall picture they paint for both the characters and the reader.

The character work in this was far and away the star of the read. We're mostly following Nell, but we also have chapters from her friend Ada's POV. Both of these women could absolutely be categorized as unlikable and Nell is an entire hot mess who sometimes you just want to shake her because she just makes bad decision after bad decision. However, they are also extremely compelling and are fully fleshed out characters who, despite their questionable choices at times, are both trying to do the right thing for their situations. Getting Nell's POV as the Hunt brings up intense feelings of guilt and grief as well and Ada's POV shows us her balancing of Nell's feelings while also being an avid hunter of the Golden Egg every year. And as with any small town setting - we get a whole cast of side characters that help flesh out the world.

The tension didn't quite build up for me as much as I think it needed to in order to have a really great payoff at the resolution. While we do get moments throughout the book where a character acts a certain way or there are certain events that make the reader think that maybe the Hunter is real, those moments were so small and so spread out throughout the read that they didn't really build in my mind. So, then when we have a character who is suspected of being the Hunter's next victim, I didn't feel the amount of tension or worry that I think I should have.

The ending was a bit of a mess in all the best ways. We get so many plot points coming together but also get some unexpected points thrown in as well. It was a little messy but felt very realistic that a lot of characters and plot lines would come together around the Hunt. It would be interesting to see, upon re-read, if I could pick up on smaller point that would make the ending feel a little less haphazard or if that was Ford's intention all along. The main story does end a bit abruptly, but we get 2 flashforward scenes to help give more of a resolution to the reader.

Overall, while this was a more character-focused and less bloody read than I was initially expecting, I ended up really enjoying it. I think the last 25% or so wanted to be more of a thriller, but I didn't find the tension had built enough to really make me worry for these characters. The ending was a little wild and came together a bit more quickly and messily than I was expecting but overall I thought it was a good way to close the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.

Publication date is July 25, 2023

Maybe perfectly timed to end the recent debate about what small town America is really like, Kelly J. Ford’s The Hunt is a snapshot of Presley, Arkansas—a fictional locale that feels more real than anything depicted on country radio. With a writing voice that successfully straddles the line between traditionally comfortable and radically avant-garde, Kelly J, Ford lures her readers into a subtly subversive story that feels more mainstream with each turned page.


The Hunt focuses on an annual Easter tradition in Presley, Arkansas. In the weeks leading up to the official holiday, virtually the entire town participates in a search for the Golden Egg, hidden somewhere around town by the local radio station. Along with claiming victory by solving the same clues that are broadcast to every listener, the winner receives a cash prize. The only problem is that for seventeen years, it appears that a serial killer has used the guise of the event as a means to conduct a very different type of hunt—a hunt for their next victim.

After seventeen years and just as many deaths, some townsfolk—especially those related to previous victims—try to get The Hunt shut down, even while new generations of seekers enter the fray each season. Nell Holcomb is the sister of Garrett Holcomb—the young man who is thought to be the first victim of the unknown killer. Circumstances led to her raising Garrett’s son, Elijah and every year her nephew has more and more questions about what happened to his father, why his mother abandoned him, and shows a growing desire to participate in The Hunt. All are things Nell can’t manage to confront for her own personal reasons.

Meanwhile, Nell’s friend, co-worker, and confidant—Ada—respects, and maybe even loves Nell, for her tenacity and her fearlessness in being an out lesbian raising a gay nephew in rural America, but the allure of The Hunt is too strong—and so when she needs a partner, Elijah is more than willing to step-up. A decision that puts everyone in the line of danger and starts the dominos for major revelations.

Kelly J. Ford populates Presley with a diverse cast of characters—all of whom will make their way into reader’s hearts. The Hunt is a portrait of small towns that proves how they can sometimes be microcosms of the bigger cities, facing the same problems and wanting the same things without losing their more quaint charm. Readers will long for the innocence of a town-wide Easter Egg Hunt—even as they understand how it can become cover for much darker deeds. With the Golden Egg as a not-so-subtle symbol of the American Dream, watching how citizens navigate their own personal hunt for betterment will no doubt spur readers to dream bigger and empathize with those who fall short—often because of outside forces, through no fault of their own.

The Hunt features chapters from the viewpoints of both Nell and Ada, with cleverly constructed asides that document the history of The Hunt victims, dispatches from the local news outlets, and personal accounts of events on the ground. Kelly J. Ford has written a book that holds readers in a vice grip, anxious to know how it will all end as quickly as possible. With just three books under her belt, Kelly J. Ford has proven herself to have a distinctive voice perfectly suited for her brand of Southern crime fiction. Readers looking for something unique should pick up a copy of The Hunt as soon as possible, they won’t regret it.

Every year, a local Arkansas radio station holds a hunt for the Golden Egg at Eastertime, Despite the fact that people involved with the hunt mysteriously die, one a year. Nell's brother was the first victim, and this year is the hardest yet for Nell, and now she's determined to figure out what happened to Garrett., and if the Hunter really exists.

This book was really interesting--it explores a lot of interfamilial relationships after someone in the family dies at a young age unexpectedly. Nell blames herself for Garrett's death, and feels like everyone around her does, as well, living with the guilt for 17 years. It also talks about loss in relation to the rest of the purported victims, all of whom die either accidentally (falling out of a tree and getting hoodie strings tangled on the way down, choking on a granola bar) or intentionally by their own hands. How easy it is to attribute those deaths to an outside force that may or may not exist. Is there really a serial killer haunting Pressly, Arkansas, or are Eggheads just a supremely unlucky bunch to the tune of one death a year?
It makes you think, is the money worth all of the deaths? Or would most of them happen anyway, so might as well keep having the hunt that is one of the few tourist draws this small town has?

I enjoyed the book a lot. It's fast paced and keeps you turning pages, because you need to know what is going to happen next to Nell, Ada, and Elijah. There are some great twists, and I can't wait to read more from Ford. Both of her books that I've read have been excellent reads.

Good things: I liked the tidbits in between the story that made it more "true crimey" reading.
Bad things: Some parts jarred me from the story. For instance, in the beginning when everyone that works at the local factory they are introduced and then their ethnicity is noted. Why did we need that?

The book is not horrible but it was not my favorite. I love a good serial killer storyline but this one kinda felt flat on that note. It is more of a coming to age story.

Hell I dunno. I'm giving it a generous 3 stars.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

For seventeen years there has been a serial killer lurking in the community of Presley Arkansas. Each year at the annual golden egg hunt, someone ends up being a target and murdered. For Nell, the egg hunt holds a horrible memory, her brother was the first victim. She’s been caring for her nephew ever since trying to keep him safe. But Nell harbors a dark secret, she had a part to play in her brother’s death. As the current egg hunt kicks off, Nell is forced to confront her past and face the danger that is lurking.

Sometimes cross genre books are simply perfection, and other times they leave a lot to be desired. This one was unfortunately the later. I was never quite sure if it was a mystery/thriller or a family drama, and it wasn’t really both. The ending of this one was really a letdown; we spent the entire book building up to the reveal…and it just didn’t land for me. In this case the blub alluded to an entirely different book, and it just wasn’t what I was expecting. The writing was utterly immersive though and it did suck you in. The character study was entertaining, and I loved getting to know the characters. There was just so much potential with this book, it did just fall flat for me.

Thank you to the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, and Netgalley, @netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. \

The Hunt has a killer premise. A small town holds an annual easter egg hunt where people search for a golden egg somewhere in the town. The winner gets a lot of cash. However, there are a lot of deaths related to and around the event. Is it the work of a serial killer known as The Hunter?

Unfortunately, this premise is all smoke and mirrors. What we have is a character study of two women broken by life in their own ways. One by the death of her brother, who many consider to be the first victim of the Hunter, and the other by crushed dreams, a domineering father, and just life in general. We read as they navigate the time around The Hunt. Secrets, things left unsaid, small town gossip and politics are all on display. Ford fills in this small town life with an authentic feel and you can feel the blue collar-ness of it all. It may be spring but it's bleak.

Ford plays with keeping the reader in the dark the whole time on if there is or isn't a killer. If the deaths are sinister or just random/coincidence, This didn't work for me. The end was underwhelming and it felt like I was hoodwinked but not in a fun way. I was hoping for something like Shirley Jackson's The Lottery or a slasher type story. But instead it's slice of life small town existing. Underwhelming for me.

Yaaassssss! I throughly enjoyed The Hunt by Kelly J. Ford and plan to pick up her two earlier novels based on this one. I enjoyed the telling, how the victims of the alleged hunter were revealed slowly, making the reader alternately doubt whether there was a serial killer and be convinced that the killer was the most devious/intelligent person on the planet. Loved the characters as well.

First and foremost, I think it bears mentioning that Kelly J Ford states in her Author’s Note (in the beginning of the book) that the story is based on real events, people, and places from and near her hometown, yet the book is a work of fiction. Ok, so based on a real story with considerable liberty taken with facts and truth??? Ok, if this is the case, that’s fine, I guess. I am of the opinion that this disclaimer attempts to manage a reader’s expectations, for all those readers out there whose enjoyment of a story depends on the story’s level of believability. Nothing wrong with that. Fortunately for me, a story doesn’t have to be believable for me to enjoy it, which explains my love and fascination with urban-fantasy, paranormal and time travel stories. That being said, it doesn’t make me easy to please when it comes to the stories, I choose to read. Just wanted to throw that out there😊

The book summary lays out the primary storyline of the annual hunt that is orchestrated by a local radio station. The station offers clues and the “Eggheads” search for small prizes and the winner receives the ultimate prize: $50,000 from the radio station. What the book summary doesn’t mention is that most of the story chapters are set up to read like a draft of some research paper. The draft outlines the three groups that the citizens are split into: a) those that think the deaths are accidental and unrelated, b) those that think the Hunt is cursed, and c) those that think there is something more sinister – like a serial killer at work, who the townspeople have dubbed the Hunter. The drafts also outline the number of deaths, modes and methods of the deaths and select details of the victims associated around the time of the Hunt.

Additionally, the book chapters are made up of news reports and radio transcripts along with social media (FB, TT, Twitter, etc) posts. Lastly, there are also chapters on the POV’s from Nell, who is from group C of the residents and her best friend, Ada, who is a big Egghead and who is probably from group B of the residents. The story flips back and forth (every chapter) between either Nell or Ada and either the drafts, news reports, radio transcripts and social media posts. There is also a couple of secondary storylines: one regarding Ada’s feeling (romantic/sexual) for Nell (who is gay) and another regarding Nell and her secret relationship (romantic/sexual) between her and Elijah’s mother, Tessa, who Nell has been in love with for decades. For the record, Elijah, Nell’s nephew, despises his mother for abandoning him when he was five; Nell has been raising him ever since.

Now, I am NOT a fan of true crime stories (that’s a whole other story!!!), which is how a lot of this story reads like because of all of the drafts, news reports, social media posts and radio transcripts. However, from pretty early in the story, I found myself getting oddly intrigued with Ada and Nell’s POV’s of events that have been going on in Presley every year around the Hunt.

There was an early scene with Ada and Elijah where they are out in a field looking for Hunt clues when Ada realizes that she can no longer see or hear Elijah. She is all alone and she starts hearing noises around her. She starts thinking of the Hunt curse and the Hunter and she kind of freaks out and starts running like the proverbial “bat outta #%!!”. Ok, based on scene that Ford created for that passage, I too was a little freaked out. It was late at night and hubby was asleep and I immediately closed the book and went to bed. I have to be honest; it took several minutes to get the scene out of my head. It’s not like it was gory or gruesome (it wasn’t at all), it was just CREEPY!!!

I’m well into the second half of the story when it has become obvious that I really have no idea what this story is supposed to be about or where it’s going. I also find that all the news reports, social media posts and radio transcripts are a bit distracting; their frequency (every other chapter) kind of interrupts the flow of the primary story between Ada and Nell. Furthermore, neither Nell nor Ada are very likeable characters. Nell is a hot mess and Ada isn’t much better. At this point, all I’m really interested in is seeing how Elijah’s story ends. Poor kid!!! He’s a mess too!

The ending was a bit messy for my liking, but we do find out what the research paper was for and where it came from. For me, a good ending can be the difference between a 2star or 3star rating, hence the 2star rating. I guess, if I could, I would give it a 2.5star rating, but I’m not feeling compelled to round up. I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #Thomas&Mercer #TheHunt

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

The Hunt is the third novel by award-winning American author, Kelly J Ford. The approach of Easter 2022 sees the town of Presley, Arkansas and surrounds in a fever about the Hunt for the Golden Egg. This lucrative competition (a $50k prize), put on by Rod Halstrom, the owner of radio KCLS 103.9FM, is supported by local business, the city council and the chamber of commerce, as well as the many enthusiastic participants.

But it has its detractors, who are vocal in their protests and want the Hunt stopped. In the seventeen years that it has run, there has been a suspicious or unexplained death or mysterious disappearance each year within a week of Easter, most of them Hunt participants, and, while many believe they can be ruled as accident, murder by a known killer, or suicide, and that association doesn’t equal causation, some maintain that the Hunt is cursed, while family and friends of some of the victims are certain their loved ones are the victim of a serial killer.

Nell Holcomb just wishes it was all over. Back in 2005, she, her best friend Tessa and her older brother Garrett had been hunting for the Golden Egg when Garrett went missing, then was found dead, the first victim. While she still feels guilty about the circumstances, she always accepted that his death was an accident, but this talk of a serial killer has her wondering. Then, after a relapse into self-destructive behaviour, a drunken encounter with a woman at the casino has her convinced she has met his killer.

The annual focus on the Hunt prompts Garrett’s son, Elijah, in Nell’s care since he was five, to ask about his father, a topic she would rather avoid. This year, there’s also the complication of his estranged mother reappearing on the scene, something Nell welcomes, but getting Elijah to share this view will be a challenge.

While trying to keep it under the radar so as not to upset her, Nell’s friend and coworker at the Mayflower Plastics plant, Ada Johnson wants to join in the Hunt, but her eighteen-year-old son no longer wants to help out. Her one foray into the woods alone has freaked her out, she’s afraid to hunt alone, but really wants to find that egg and claim the cash. But her conflicted feelings about Nell are distracting…

The story is told through the dual narratives of Nell and Ada, supplemented by Shared Google Docs describing each victim and the details of their death, Radio Commercial Transcripts, Facebook Posts, News Reports, Twitter News Updates, text messages, group texts, TikTok transcripts, and News Clips.

Kelly’s characters show plenty of depth and her twisty plot has enough intrigue to keep the reader engrossed and the pages turning right up to the dramatic climax. As an Arkansas native, Kelly’s familiarity with her setting gives the tale an undeniable authenticity, supported by her note that this work of fiction is based on real life events in her hometown. Gripping crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

Nell hates the annual Hunt, which has the whole town searching for a golden Easter egg. Her animosity is not because the associated cash prize inspires obsession in the searchers, but rather because of the mysterious deaths linked to the hunt—the first victim being her older brother Garrett. She does her best to hold it together while caring for her teenaged nephew, battling her attraction to her coworker Ada, and engaging in a forbidden affair.

The book primarily is told through the perspectives of Nell and Ada with epistolary interludes. Both women are relatable characters with plenty of secrets. The dynamics of the downtrodden town, addiction, grief, and the women’s dead-end factory jobs are on point. I really enjoyed the LGBT themes.

The number of characters, including potential Hunt victims, felt overwhelming at times, but the tight focus on Nell and Ada helped. I have mixed feelings about the ending, as it feels both brilliant and manipulative. Not all the threads are tied up neatly, which is frustratingly realistic.

For me this is a 3.5 star book rounded up to 4.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.

To be honest, I wondered from the outset why Presley (or any town for that matter) would continue to hold an event where a serial killer termed the Hunter takes one life every year. Sure it's the golden egg thing but really? Nell's brother was the first to die and she's been struggling ever since. And now sh'e's got to figure out the identity of the villain asap. This blends her trauma with the mystery which worked for me but I understand why others might not like it. Know that there's a surprise twist. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

this book was confused about its identity. It had a great premise though!

thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for this review copy.

In a small town in Arkansas, there is a yearly hunt around Easter for a golden egg. Each year it’s been held, there has also been a mysterious death, creating stories of a serial killer named The Hunter. While many people advocate it should be shut down, many others are eager to participate to try to win money. This time of year is always difficult for Nell, one of the main characters, as her brother was the first victim of the Hunter (if he exists). The other protagonist is Ada, Nell’s best friend and coworker, who hunts every year, desperate to make a better life for her son.

I think this one had a lot of potential. I think the problem really came from not deciding if it wanted to be a thriller/mystery or if it wanted to be a family drama/dealing with trauma. It kept flipping back and forth and I wish it had just committed to being a thriller. *Spoiler ahead* I found it a little disappointing that at the end, all the deaths were just accidental or coincidence. Like Ford spent so much time building it up for readers, and then there was no big reveal or twist besides it was just coincidence all along. I also don’t know why the victims from the Shared Doc weren’t in order? That just felt strange. Overall, it was fine, but if you’re looking for a super suspenseful book, look elsewhere.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a surprise this book was! I honestly loved so much about it. I went in completely blind, having picked it as a potential book to read on NetGalley. I would recommend going in blind because I think it made the the book that much more fun.

*Some Spoilers Ahead*

The most unique aspect of this book was the plot: an annual Easter Egg Hunt for a golden egg with prize money that has caused the town to speculate the presence of a serial killer called the “Hunter” due to the suspicious deaths that occur during the hunt. Having Easter as the main topic for a thriller seemed a little odd to me at first, but it felt completely right while reading the book.

The main character, Nel, is a complete mess, but in a relatable way. If you’ve ever had a loved one pass unexpectedly, the grief that comes with the experience is unlike any other. Nel’s character portrays this grief believably and really tugs at the reader’s heart strings. The other characters in the book are all built up well and I don’t have any critiques for their character arcs.

I loved the suspenseful spooky vibes paired with some lighthearted moments. I feel like one of the biggest strengths of the book are the added sections. These contain text from the document explaining the deaths linked to the hunt, social media posts, text message conversations, and much more. They make sense in the context of the book while also giving it the book some needed humor.

The best thing about this book, in my opinion, is that I didn’t expect the ending. I feel like there weren’t obvious giveaways within the book but the ending was believable. I wasn’t let down and enjoyed the added suspense at the end.

The LGBTQIA representation really worked for me. I was Team Ada + Nel through the entire book. Seeing their relationship grow was one of the biggest highlights for me.

As a whole, I would definitely recommend this book. I had very little to critique about it and enjoyed it as a thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free and give my honest feedback and review.

I'll add this to my list of books where the blurb sells the book, and then the book doesn't deliver. At least not to what I expected from the blurb. I can be forgiven for thinking this story would throw the protagonist, Nell, into the midst of some possibly terrifying cat and mouse type scenario. That Nell would be in the centre of the action, either hunting for the "golden egg" or being tormented by a serial killer who's still on the loose in the town.

If you plan to read this because you expect that to happen, then this is not the book for you. In fact, a lot of the more tense scenes in the book don't involve Nell at all, but other characters. I'm not sure how I feel when support characters feel more engaging than the main character. Ada is the character I needed Nell to be in this book. Ada is badass and she's engaging. But even then, this character doesn't feel focused in the story.

Honestly, this feels more like a coming-of-age love story, even though the two characters involved in that part of the story are adults and not teenagers. And I felt this lacked impact. Even in the big reveal it lacked impact. The biggest reason for that is because the slow sections are too long. There's no atmospheric build up. Sorry, but reading about two characters sitting on their work break and chatting for pages and pages isn't exciting, especially when the discussion has no bearing on the plot.

There are a few good moments in this story that are gripping, and when I read those moments, I was thinking, finally! I thought this was the moment when the worm turned and the story would become the thriller I'd hoped. It really didn't.

And I honestly don't like saying I didn't enjoy this story, because the concept had me hooked. It really sounded right in my wheelhouse. Maybe it's one of those books that just isn't for me. I hope other readers out there find something more in this book than I did.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for provided a copy of this book to read for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This wasn’t the book I thought I was getting. It’s basically a queer romance with some social commentary. However the social commentary is wrapped in a mystery and a lot of it’s unclear what the point of the commentary is. Everyone is identified by race and I wasn’t sure if this was about a serial killer who was racist but in the end, none of those details played a role?

Also, while I’m happy for queer romance and good POC characters, sometimes it felt a bit like they were written this way to garner interest rather than being authentic.

It’s hard to say if it’s good or bad because it’s not why I expected, and honestly if the summary had been accurate, I wouldn’t have read it. It should really get a new summary.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

Kelly J. Ford delivers a captivating and atmospheric tale of suspense in "The Hunt." Set in the small town of Presley, Arkansas, the annual Hunt for the Golden Egg becomes the backdrop for a dark secret and a series of mysterious deaths. The author skillfully weaves together the town's divided beliefs regarding a serial killer's presence, creating a sense of unease that permeates the narrative.

At the center of the story is Nell Holcomb, haunted by her brother's death, which she believes was the work of the notorious "Hunter." As she cares for her nephew and tries to shield him from the town's dark underbelly, Nell is forced to confront her own past and the dangerous secrets that lie within Presley.

Ford's writing is immersive, drawing readers into the heart of the community and its conflicting perspectives. The characters are deeply human and relatable, each with their own motivations and hidden depths. The slow burn plot steadily builds tension, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Easter approaches.

"The Hunt" is a masterful blend of mystery, suspense, and emotional depth. Ford's keen attention to detail and evocative prose create a vivid sense of place, allowing readers to experience the town's fear and fascination firsthand. Gripping and thought-provoking, this book is sure to captivate fans of dramatic suspense.

Kelly J Ford, author of the Los Angeles Review Best Book of the Year Cottonmouths and Anthony Award finalist of Really Bad Things returns with The Hunt. Ford’s signature rural south suspense is on full display as The Hunt centers around Presley, Arkansas’ annual Easter hunt for The Golden Egg. “The Hunter,” a suspected serial killer, has used the family event to hunt prey. Nell, who lost her brother to The Hunter as his suspected inaugural kill, has since been caring for her nephew to keep him safe. As the town becomes frenzied to find the golden egg, Nell avoids everything related to the event, but there’s no outrunning her past.
I loved this book!

An interesting concept told in an interesting way. The characters were presented well. I could picture them as I was reading. It was told from an unique perspective that I don't think I really grasped until the end.