Name: The Hunted Girls
Rating: 4.50 (2 reviews)

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour. I really loved the first book in this series so I was excited about the next book. While this is the second book in the series you can read it as a standalone.

Nadine has had a complicated life and she really struggles to let people in. She is so fearful that her family legacy is going to catch up to her that she keeps people at arm's length. Some might see her as cold but she is just trying to protect others. She is an excellent profiler. She is determined, hard-working and very caring. She has already grown so much from the first book and I can't wait for her to get stronger and more confident in her abilities.

I loved Nadine's little team that she has created. This very much reminded me of the BAU team in Criminal Minds. I love seeing the psychological aspects of the profile and this team clearly trust each other. I can't wait to see them become an official FBI team as the series continues.

This book is definitely not for the faint-hearted. The killer is psychologically disturbed and there are a few graphic scenes. There was one scene in particular that really made me cringe with the pain this victim must have been going through. Jenna's descriptions are so easy to imagine.

Jenna's writing style makes it very easy to read this book. I thought this story was addictive and fascinating. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Hunted Girls by Jenna Kernan is the second novel in the Agent Nadine Finch series. Dark and suspenseful The Hunted Girls will leave you breathless as you join the hunt for a diabolical serial killer. It works well as a stand-alone. However, up on experiencing this dark, gritty and suspenseful journey into Kernan's world I plan to go back to where it all began.

Plot

I like the idea behind the plot. I expected the story to be dark, but the darkness I encountered went beyond my expectations. Suspenseful, chilling and fast paced The Hunted Girls is not meant for the faint of heart. To lighten things the author infused romance in between the moments spent tracking the killer. I enjoyed the romance, which came with its share of challenges and triumphs.

Characters

Dr. Nadine Finch's uncanny ability to delve into the mind of a killer as made her a well sought after profiler. As the the daughter and niece of serial killers, a sister to a rapist and grandparents with a criminal past, Nadine can relate to how the mind of a criminal works. She fears she may have inherited her family's criminal disposition, as such she keeps everyone at a distance.

Her team members were interesting individuals. Similar to Nadine they had their share of struggles. This common bond and the need to prove they had nothing in common with their relatives fueled their skills in tracking down psychopaths.

The villain featured in the story was diabolical. The manner in which he chose his prey and the reason for choosing his current location to carry out his evil acts demonstrated the depravity of his mind.

World Building

The author transported the reader to the city of Ocala in the northern region of Florida. The location chosen provided the perfect hunting ground for the villain. The area in question played an important role in the story and as events unfold we learn the reason for choosing this location.

Writing Style

I thought the story was well written. It began on a chilling note and I could not look away. The author's graphic descriptions had me feeling I was in the story especially when I found myself cringing on two occasions. The fact I learnt the identity of the villain at the same as the members of Nadine's team demonstrated the author's craftiness in wielding her pen.

Ending

The moments leading up to the end made me edgy. I was on pins and needles hoping for a favorable outcome. The story ended on a good note, is spite of the outcome as it relates to the villain not being the one I wanted.

Enjoyment

The Hunted Girls satiated my need for a dark and gritty thriller. Fans of the genre will want to pick up a copy.

This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

The Hunted Girls: A totally gripping crime thriller (Agent Nadine Finch)

by Jenna Kernan