Hunter's Way [Kindle Edition]

Well Done Gerri, this book is so beautifully written, its got all, suspense, serious, funny, romantic...all in one novel.When i started reading this book, i just couldnt put it down before i finished it. The love scenes are so real,you can just feel them..and it really touches your heart.I suggest you to buy this book cause its worth reading!

"Hunter's Way" was the first foray into crime fiction for US lesbian romance author Gerri Hill. In fact, the lesbian romance aspect remains firmly front and centre, with the police department setting of this novel providing more of a backdrop than a plot. The focus here is on the developing relationship between outwardly tough (yet emotionally tortured, you know the drill) lesbian cop Tori Hunter (of the title) and her new work partner, Samantha Kennedy, who is supposedly straight when the story begins (again, you may know the drill).

The first thing to note, then, is that this not really a book for crime fans who don't also want to read about a developing love story, in particular one between two women. "Hunter's Way" is not really a thriller; for one thing, the central mystery is unengaging and largely sidelined in favour of descriptions of the way in which Tori and Samantha look at, and feel about, each other. In addition, the description of action scenes is particularly lacking and feels a little as if Hill is writing a television script more than a novel, with it being very difficult to work out what is going on from the detail the reader is given. Tori and Sam also choose to exchange flirtatious moments in the middle of hostile situations and so on, which grates after a while. We're constantly told, not shown, that these women are determined to get to the top of their careers in catching bad guys (and girls). Surely, then, they could manage to control themselves when they're on duty tracking a serial killer!

However, judging this book by the lesbian romance aspect, I was very much enjoying this novel until the mid-way point. OK, so the characters were somewhat stereotyped, the plot was predictable and some of the dialogue frankly appalling, but I was entertained. I wanted to see what happened to these characters and the frission between them was engaging.

Unfortunately, Hill misjudges one key event in the novel. She uses a highly unpleasant experience that one of the women has as a trigger for bringing Tori and Samantha together. This is not well-handled. From this point on, I could no longer forgive the fanfiction-level writing its lack of subtlety and depth, and the whole reading experience became somewhat infuriating.

There are other easy holes to pick in this book. Characters frequently tell other characters things they would be unlikely to disclose in real life, so that the plot can move along. The serial killer actually has a list of names of victims that he is crossing out. His room is filled with pictures of the victims on the walls. I mean, come on! Try a bit harder...

I read a lot of lesbian fiction, and I read a lot of crime fiction, and even a lot of lesbian crime fiction (yes, there is enough of it for it to be a whole category of its own!) and "Hunter's Way" is not up-to-standard. I'm not going to give it more stars just because it's about a lesbian relationship, because there is far better (and more enjoyable and believable) writing on this subject out there.

I managed to ready this book in the matter of hours - couldn't put it down!!

Will defo be purchasing some more from Gerri!