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