The Hunt is run by the shadow group “Trail”. The members have many names, live invisibly from society, and are free from persecution as they provide the ultimate game for the super-rich, famous, and thrill-seeking.

The story begins when Chris Sheen returns home from a great run, breaking his own record, to find his wife and two daughters missing. A man warns him not to call the police; if he does, they’ll be butchered.

Meanwhile, Rose has been training to avenge the murders of her husband and children, as she is the lone survivor of the hunt.  Her mission options: escape the hunters and live while her family dies, or sacrifice herself to keep them alive.

Rose attempts to track down and eliminate the group, while Chris fights to avoid the hunters and stay alive long enough to save his family. Both work with separate motivations as they run, hike, and climb through Snowdonia.

To say The Hunt is fast-paced is like saying a Ferrari can break the speed limit. Lebbon’s writing has always been lean and tight; here, it moves and twists through a violent, exciting story with rarely a wasted word.

Avon has already signed him for a second thriller. Here’s to hoping there’s many more. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by David Simms