Thank you for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
You’ve got a new fan in me and have regained my trust in ARCs and the process!
At first I wasn’t sure where the story was going and felt lost on the timeline, but then I caught up and loved the twists and journeys Audrey took us on.
Even more exciting to learn that this is book 0 with 2 more books to follow! 😍

I listened to this audiobook in one day. I could not put it down. This is a prequel to the series, even though it’s published after.
The action starts quickly and doesn’t stop. It’s told from two different perspectives and both are interesting. I was wondering when they would join and they eventually did, but not in the way I thought they would. I figured out part of a twist but even after all the true crime I’ve watched and read, my mind didn’t get depraved enough to go there. But Ms Cole did.
I received this book free from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The audiobook was phenomenal! The narrator brought so much energy and emotion to the story—I was instantly pulled in and couldn’t stop listening. Every chapter had me completely engaged, and I found myself constantly needing to know what would happen next. Now I’m hooked and can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series. This was such an addictive listen!

This is a prequel to The Final Hunt.

We go back to 1985, when the Green River Killer is active. Holly believes her sister was one of his victims- she became a crime reporter as a way to help investigate. But as she digs in- she wonders if there are actually two serial killers on the loose. Over the next several years, Holly is determined to find answers about her sister.

This was told in two parts. The beginning, set in 1985, I loved. 5 star worthy. Maybe the nostalgia and truth sprinkled in with Gary Ridgway and all of that had something to do with it. I was enraptured.

Then part two came along, and it just didn't hold my interest as well. It is a more pivotal part in regards to The Final Hunt, but enjoyment wise, I enjoyed it less. Maybe if this was read before The Final Hunt, it'd be more suspenseful.

Pete Cross and Adelaide Fernport narrate the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 🌟

I normally kick myself when I realise I’ve requested part of a series that I haven’t read from yet, fortunately for me this title is actually a prequel to the rest, I’m keen to read more.

I really enjoyed The First Hunt, I’m not sure how to describe the story without spoiling, I have a good idea where the series goes after this, but just incase I’ll try to stick to the synopsis, Holly is a true crime author, inspired by her fixation on solving her sisters murder, Holly is convinced that there is more than one serial killer out there, and she fears she’s been in a relationship with one of them, all of the way through the story Holly sits far closer to the truth than even she realises.

There is loads of nostalgia in the pages, set in the mid 1990’s and flashing back to 1985 I usually love little snippets of the times, but it often felt like the author was trying a bit too hard to remind us when the story was set. I’m a bit uneasy with the book being based on an actual case, but appreciated the authors note at the end acknowledging the victims, that being said I guess that’s my own issue, and technically it makes sense given the content. I’m keen to read the others in the series to see where we go and who with…..

I really enjoyed the narration on this title.

Huge thanks to Spotify Audiobooks via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

• I've been waiting for the latest book in this series and I'm happy to finally get my hands on it!
• Holly's sister was brutally murdered and years later, she seems to be one of the only people still looking for answers. She's convinced the Green River Killer is the culprit, but others are not convinced. Then, when Holly's violent ex-fiance gets out of prison, the killings begin again. Holly then has to wonder if she was actually engaged to her sister's murderer...
• As always, this book was gripping and kept me wanting more and more. There were even times I audibly gasped. The First Hunt was the perfect prequel.
•Thank you to NetGalley, Audrey J. Cole and Rainier Publishing for this ARC. It will become available on June 17, 2025.

I didn’t know this was going to be a series, but I remember reading The Final Hunt and thinking it was a fun thriller, so when I saw this one, I knew I had to listen to it!!

I love that this gave us the background of characters that were in the previous book. It gave me a lot of insight on the questions I had when I read it. The author did an amazing job at writing both POVs. John’s POV starts from his teenage years, and Holly’s is current.

The story had me at the edge of my seat. I’m one of those junkies that get obsessed with serial unalivers documentaries and follow along with what’s happening. The Green River Killer was one I dove into years ago, so reading a story with that in mind was so fun!

This book had a lot of plot twists, if you read the first book by Audrey Cole, some aren’t as surprising, but the way she wrote it was amazing. I think she’s well crafted in writing suspenseful thrillers and I always enjoy the ride she takes me on.

The narrators in this book were great at bringing the characters to life. I felt a lot more anxiety while listening along with reading than I would have by just reading it. I think audiobooks just give you an extra edge to the reading experience that I love so much.

If you’re a thriller reader who loves suspense and build up, a serial unaliver that hasn’t been caught, and getting the thought process of multiple characters, I highly recommend this one.

The First Hunt absolutely blew me away and easily earned a spot among my Don't Miss Reads —five stars without question. Even as a prequel to The Last Hunt series (which I haven’t read yet), it holds up perfectly as a standalone. The dual perspectives of John and Holly created a layered, chilling, and addictively paced story, with fun time-period references throughout. Using the real-life Green River Killer added a disturbing but fascinating edge that made the whole thing feel hauntingly real. John’s twisted relationship with his father was as compelling as it was unsettling. It felt more like binge-watching a gripping true crime drama than reading a book—and I’m already reaching for the next one.

The First Hunt by Audrey J. Cole kicks off in 1985 Seattle, where crime reporter Holly Sparks is haunted by her sister's unsolved murder—one she believes is the work of the Green River Killer. As Holly digs deeper, she starts to suspect there may be two killers at large—one possibly hiding behind a badge. Fast forward five years, and her bestselling book hasn’t brought closure. When her violent ex is released from prison and new murders begin, Holly is forced to confront whether he’s been behind it all. I thought this was a great prequel to The Final Hunt, which I haven’t read yet, but already downloaded the audio. The story was well done with twists I didn't see coming. I am glad there was such a strong focus on the victims. Holly was such a fierce lead—relentless in her fight for justice, no matter what. The audio narrator did a great job as well.

Reading Journal Details
Book: The First Hunt by Audrey J. Cole
Format Read: Audiobook (~7 hours, 12 minutes long)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

My Quick Take Review
Chilling, compelling, and absolutely binge-worthy, The First Hunt delivers a gripping origin story with layered characters and an unforgettable premise. You don't need to read the rest of the series to be hooked, this one stands strong on its own!

Some Key Features/Vibes
👻 Ghost (the movie)
☎️ Landlines
🔪 Green River Killer
📚 Novelist
🩸 Murderer's Origin story
😲 Utterly gripping vibes

My Full Review
The First Hunt completely blew me away, and easily earned top tier in my favorites list. A five-star read without question. Though it's a prequel to The Last Hunt series—and I haven't read any of those books yet—I can confidently say this holds up perfectly as a standalone.

Told through alternating perspectives between John and Holly, the story was layered, haunting, and incredibly well-paced. I deeply appreciated the subtle time period mentions, such as To Kill A Mockingbird, Ghost, and Ender's Game. The depth of the recurring characters added to the immersion, making it feel more like I was watching a gripping crime drama than reading a book, it was that compelling.

There are two truly major standouts that elevated this novel for me. First and foremost, using a real-life serial killer, the Green River Killer, as the center of the investigation gave the story a chilling and grounded intensity.

Secondly, watching John's origin unfold, especially his twisted relationship with his father (also a killer), made for an unsettling but fascinating exploration of inherited darkness. Seeing the early cracks in John's psyche form was both disturbing and utterly mesmerizing.

This book was addictive in the best way possible, engrossing, eerie, and absolutely compelling from start to finish. I'm diving headfirst straight into the next book in the series and cannot wait to see what's next!

This one didn't quite meet my expectations. It was good, but not amazing. There were some really surprising twists, and one in particular I wish hadn't occurred. The pace was quick, making it easy to flip through the pages. I really enjoyed the character of Holly; she put in so much effort over the years to uncover the truth about her missing sister. This story had me on the edge of my seat. I think I'll go back and read the other two books in the series.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Spotify Audiobooks for approval to read one of my favorite author's upcoming thriller!

WOW AUDREY.

No really, I literally screamed "STOP WHY AUDREY"
She really went there with this story!

If you've read any of the others in this series then you know how good, mysterious and heart-pounding these stories are! It was such a shock for me when the twisty twist came (mostly because I didn't WANT to believe it) even when I figured what direction this would go.

I binged this story because it was so easy to feel for the characters, specifically Holly. It's easy to read because you're drawn into the story. I could not get enough and SO wanted for Holly to succeed in finding her sister's killer.

I guess with knowing this is John's book I should known where this story would go and how it'd end up but I didn't want it (insert crying emoji @ the author). There were two last twists that I found jaw dropping and made me want to reread The Final Hunt immediately!

I really enjoyed the audio production of this story! Both narrators were pleasant to listen to and brought a great amount of personality to the reading. I loved the emotions that came through which really helped put me right in the story!

I read Missing In Flight by Audrey Cole and loved it, so I jumped at an opportunity to read and review The First Hunt. It didn't disappoint!

The First Hunt follows Holly, a true crime writer who is on the hunt for the identity of the Green River Killer. Holly can't shake the feeling that this killer was involved in her sisters disappearance years ago.The First Hunt is fast-paced, full of twists, and delivers a shocking ending. The narration on the audio was great.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC.

Loved this one.
The dual POVs were easy to follow and kept the story flowing forward nicely.
The twist was mind blowing, for once I didn’t see it coming.
Loved that it was kind of a play on a real life serial killer.
Fast paced, twisty and thrilling!

I'm usually not a huge fan of prequels, but I knew I had to read this one! The villain origin story for the rest of the series - yes, please! I love knowing the how and why behind why serial killers do what they do! And what a ride it was! I loathe spoilers, so that's all I'm going to say, but it all makes perfect sense now!

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Audey J. Cole for the ALC!

“The First Hunt” is a prequel to the Final Hunt series so I feel you would need to read them in order to fully appreciate the series/characters - plus, they're all just really good!

While his hometown is gripped with terror of a serial killer in 1984, John is wrestling with inner turmoil himself. His father’s secret double life has an even bigger risk of being exposed when crime writer Holly moves in next door.

I loved the previous books in this series so it was fascinating to me to see how John came to be. At first he seemed to struggle with right and wrong, but when it’s either hunt or be hunted, survival instinct takes over…or is it something else entirely? It was truly chilling to spend time in the mind of a serial killer, and I almost found myself rooting for the little boy to survive unspeakable horrors he grew up witnessing, up to a point. It begs the question: is it nature or is it nurture? With several jaw-dropping twists, this story leaves right at the point where the Final Hunt begins.

“The First Hunt” releases June 17, 2025. This review will be shared to my instagam blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

Thanks to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Crime reporter Holly Sparks is motivated to solve her sister's murder and believes it is tied to the prolific Green River Killer. There is also John, a young boy who knows his father is a killer.

This is a prequel to the Last Hunt series. The ending really tied together a lot for me.

I enjoyed narration by Pete Cross and Adelaide Fernport.

#ad much love for my advance copy @audreyjcole 😘 #partner
& @tlcbooktours @netgalley @spotify #partner for the ALC

GUYSSSSSS!!! AHHHHHHHH!!! Seriously, the best book I’ve ever read by this author! And I loveeeeee her books!

Roses are red, Violets are blue…

The First Hunt by Audrey J Cole will hook you from the start and not let go until the very last page. This is a fast-paced thriller/mystery that I absolutely couldn’t put down. Expertly written and totally gripping, it’s an easy five-star read.

Holly’s sister Meg was brutally murdered, and now Holly’s on a mission to catch her killer - she just needs to find him/her first. Her boyfriend Jared, who is a cop, is on the Green River Serial Killer task force, and Holly thinks the GRK killed her sister, but of course, he’s not taking Holly’s opinions or thoughts seriously. Typical man.

And then there’s John, a little boy who watched his own dad kill a woman named Sally - someone they had just picked up off the side of the road. With his mom gone, it’s just John and his dad now… but John’s terrified he’s about to lose the only parent he has left. It’s only a matter of time before he’s caught.

Meanwhile, bodies are turning up all over Seattle - mostly sex workers who were strangled. There’s only one thing that’s certain - a killer is on the loose, and no woman is safe.

Memorable:
1980’s setting: means of communication, movies, music, etc
The Golden Girls
1990’s happenings
The water 😱

Oof. Honestly, I think this might just be the most comprehensive and expertly-layered story Audrey J. Cole has written so far. And I LOVEEE her books!

Couldn’t recommend this book more. I listened to the audiobook while following along and loved the dual narration. It’s the kind of audio you can actually follow - the narrators bring the story to life without it just sounding like noise. You can follow the story.

THAT ENDING! PHENOMENAL!! ALL THE STARS!

#audreyjcole #TLCbooktours #spotify

Title: The First Hunt
Series: The Final Hunt #5
Author: Audrey J. Cole
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Peter Cross and Adelaide Fernport
Publisher: Spotify Audiobooks
Genre: Mystery Thriller, Serial KIller
Pub Date: June 17, 2025
My Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 290

I read and enjoyed loved "The Final Hunt "and "The Last Hunt" so I was looking forward to reading to this prequel . Not sure why this is listed as Book #5 – since it is the third book hmmm my guess it there are two surprised out there waiting for us!)

The novel takes place in 1984 Seattle during the reign of the Green River Killer crimes. (It loosely follows the real Green River Killer crimes. am sure many of you – like me Googled “Green River Killer’ and found a lot of information!

Story starts when young John is out with his father when he stops and picks up a woman who young John immediately questions as her occupation is obvious. Then something happens and he realizes his dad’s purpose in picking her up (No not what you think!)
John discovers that his father wants to rid the community of sin.

Then there is Holly Sparks, a journalist, true crime author, and her sister Meg was murdered and her killer never found.
Holly’s fiancé is Jared Parettia a police officer (Jared is an awful foul mouth person – every time he came into the story I knew there would be a profanity rant!) I was confused as to what Holly sees in him – perhaps because he is a police officer?)
He is usually verbally abusive to Holly but when he was release from working on a case, he is irate. In fact, he gets in a disagreement with Holly and hits her. She tells him they are threw and gives back his ring. This sends him into a higher level of rage. Holly knows her life is in danger and is able to take his gun and shoots him just as he is about to hit her with a heavy skillet.
He survives and is sentenced to prison for assault and attempted murder.
However we known this won’t be the last of him!

Holly finishes her latest crime book while working as a journalist. As well as looking to solve the murder of her sister. She suspects the Green River Killer but believe there are two killers.

As we suspected Jared has been released from prison and Holly knows her life is in danger. And fears he knows where she lives.

With help she is able to find a temp place where she can hide from Jared as well as continue to write.
She has a new neighbor named Clint who lives next door who has a teenage son John and are aware of her situation and plan to keep an eye out to protect her.
But, as Holly continues to investigation into her sister's cold case she finds that her ex might not be the only person she needs to be fearful of.
Story has more surprised than I expected.
Since this is a series ~ I am already looking forward to the next one!!!!!

This is my tenth : Audrey J. Cole!]. I have been a fan since my first read which was [book: Only One Lie|62013721] a 5 star read!

This story kept me curious and non-stop reading!
The narrators were both excellent!

Want to thank NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for granted me this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 17, 2025

This takes place in Seattle in the 80's and I loved all the 80's references. It talks about the Green River Killer and the fear that gripped the area as women were being murdered and police were trying to track them down. Holly is a thriller writer and she lost her sister and she believes she was murdered by the Green River Killer. She is doing her own investigation and tracking clues trying to find the truth of what happened to her sister.

John is shocked to learn of his fathers dark secrets and fears that he will end up in jail. He witnessed something and must keep his fathers secret. After all it is hunt or be hunted.

I liked the multiple POVS, the fast pace and a twist that I didn't see coming. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will be looking for more.