The Hunted (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: library lady, devil lion, Dark Hills, Chief Gill, Joe Saunders (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

After learning of the disappearance of his nephew, Joe Saunders returns to his childhood home of Dark Hills to aid in the search effort. When Caleb is found, badly mauled and clinging to life, Joe embarks on a mission to find the beast responsible. But the more Joe delves into the fabric of his old hometown, the more he realizes Dark Hills has a dark secret, shrouded for three generations in a deadly code of silence. As Joe unravels the truth behind a series of unexplained animal attacks, murder, and corruption at the highest level of law enforcement, he is led to a final showdown where he must entrust his very life into God's hands.

From the Back Cover

A town's deadly secret will drive one man to the edge of his faith...

After learning of the disappearance of his nephew, Joe Saunders returns to his childhood home of Dark Hills. With rumors spreading of a rogue lion roaming the woods, he embarks on a mission to learn the truth. As he peels away the layers of Dark Hills, he discovers a secret that has been shrouded for three generations in a deadly code of silence. Will his young faith be strong enough to battle the demonic forces behind it?

Mike Dellosso could very well be the next Frank Peretti-if you liked The Oath and Monster, you are going to love The Hunted.
--C.J. Darlington, Cofounder and book editor, Titletrakk.com

A spine-tingling tale of hidden secrets, buried hopes, and second chances. A story best read with all the lights on and an extra flashlight--just in case!
--Amy Wallace, author of Ransomed Dreams

Mike Dellosso's pins-and-needles thriller hurtles the reader down a dark and twisted path. I dare you to take this one home!
--Jill Elizabeth Nelson, author of the To Catch a Thief suspense series

With hints of Frank Peretti and Stephen King, The Hunted is a chilling debut."
--Creston Mapes, author of Nobody

A vicious enemy, a family secret, a thirst for revenge, and a need for reconciliation all drive The Hunted from intriguing beginning to thrilling conclusion."
--Kathryn Mackel, author of Vanished

Read this someplace safe as you experience the incredibly descriptive world of The Hunted. And sleep with the lights on.
--Austin Boyd, author of Mars Hill Classified trilogy

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 309 pages
• Publisher: Realms (June 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599792966
• ISBN-13: 978-1599792965
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #352,277 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Riveting Supernatural Thriller, May 27, 2008

By	Adam D. Blumer "BookBug" (Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Debut novel true thriller!, June 19, 2008

By	Christina Lockstein "http://christysbookblog.... (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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!

3 of 3 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

By	Eric Wilson "novelist" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

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.