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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Riveting Supernatural Thriller, May 27, 2008
This review is from: The Hunted: A Novel (Paperback)
If you like Frank Peretti (The Oath, Monster), you'll love this Christian novel by Mike Dellosso. This powerful, edge-of-your-seat suspense tale has everything you'd expect from a good Peretti: scary scenes, a supernatural battle between the forces of good and evil, flawed Christian characters who struggle with their faith, spiritual warfare, a town with a dark secret, a touch of romance, a freakish monster on the prowl for his next victim, nail-biting suspense, and lots of well-crafted action.
This novel has everything going for it. The mysterious plot is fresh and original, and Mike does an excellent job of dangling the mystery over the head of the reader and very slowly revealing it bit by bit. He kept me guessing and the pages turning. The novel also offers several powerful spiritual themes about prayer and about returning to the God we sometimes turn our back on. The story's message has stayed with me long after I finished the last page.
This is an amazing debut novel that kept me hooked from the first chapter. I had a hard time putting this book down, and I'm eager to see what Mike does next. Check out this novel. You won't be disappointed. It's better than most Ted Dekker I've read. Deeper. More complex. More spiritually satisfying. I especially enjoyed the ending. Just when I thought the story was over, culminating in a creepy hunt in the fog, more was yet to come. Don't miss it. This novel delivers. Just be sure to keep the light on.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
4 1/2 Stars...The Thrill of a First Date, July 3, 2008
This review is from: The Hunted: A Novel (Paperback)
Reading a debut novel can be like going on a first date. There's a sense of mystery, thrill, wonder, and the fear that this might not go well. Or, if it does go well, you ask yourself if it's a long-term deal. In the case of Mike Dellosso, I think I've found an author I'll stand by for years to come.
"The Hunted" establishes a new voice in the suspense market. We find ourselves in small-town Pennsylvania, where grisly scenarios are being discovered as a new threat unveils old secrets. Joe Saunders is pulled into the mystery by his relationship to a victim, and his former feelings for the local female police chief.
Dellosso writes with a keen eye to detail, in much the same way Stephen King captures small-town life and personal histories. At times, these details seem a bit ponderous for their place in the story, but most often they add realism that nicely balances the plot's horrific aspects. Dellosso doesn't wallow in the horrors, but he makes them seem truly dangerous and threatening to any and all.
Nicely paced, "The Hunted" wanders through the landscape of both modern and traditional horror writers. I was reminded at times of some Nathaniel Hawthorne short stories, at others of Scott Nicholson's rural scares. Through it all, Dellosso weaves a spiritual thread that reminds us of the power of prayer and God's place in the midst of tragedy.
I can't wait to see what Dellosso has coming up next. I'm already anxious for a second date.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Debut novel true thriller!, June 19, 2008
This review is from: The Hunted: A Novel (Paperback)
The Hunted by Mike Dellosso is a powerful thriller in the vein of Frank Peretti with a hint of Stephen King. Joe Saunders has to return to his hometown when his young nephew, Caleb, is mysteriously attacked by a strange animal. Joe hasn't been home in 15 years, because he's been avoiding facing up to the mistakes he's made in his past. His former girlfriend, Maggie Gill, is now the Chief of Police who is in charge of investigating the incident. But soon, Joe finds that Maggie seems more interested in covering up or denying the increasing attacks, and when he starts to investigate for himself, he discovers that his hometown is filled with generations of secrets and lies, and only the truth will save them all. Dellosso's debut novel definitely reminded me of Peretti's The Oath. I was impressed that through the darkness of his writing, he's able to portray a visible hope and deep faith. He keeps the tension going by writing like great horror films: he keeps the truth behind the monster under wraps until the last possible moment, drawing nerves to the breaking point: well done! And Dellosso throws in a twist at the end: I thought the end was rather anticlimactic until I turned the page and discovered the story was far from over. A stellar work by a first time author!
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