The Hunted - Mike Dellosso

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Title: The Hunted Author: Mike Dellosso Genre: Christian fiction, suspense Rating: 9/10 # pages: 310 Date read: May, 2008

Review: When Joe hears that his nephew Caleb has gone missing, he immediately sets off for the town where his sister-in-law and nephew live to help out with the searching. Through God's grace Caleb is found - horribly mauled by some strange animal, but alive.

Unfortunately, the next people to meet the beast weren't as lucky, and it soon becomes apparent that it's on a mission and that it will take extra-ordinary strength to stop it. But how, when they don't even know what it is? Those who've caught a glimpse of it claims it's a lion, and the remains would indicate the same thing, but whoever's ever heard of a loose lion in America? The first hunting trip goes terribly amiss and after that the local chief of police, Maggie Gill, suddenly clams up and will reveal nothing further about its whereabouts. It's therefore up to Joe to puzzle the pieces together: Maggie's silence, a retarded reclusive who knows more than he lets on about and the return of a mysterious beast that terrorized the woods 80 years ago.

Mike Dellosso has been named the next Frank Peretti and with good reason. He manages to build and hold a level of suspense I've yet to find in the writings of any other author. Also regarding plot The Hunted is very similar to The Oath, and if you liked one, you're bound to enjoy the other as well.

I'm among those who liked The Oath so I had very high hopes of The Hunted and fortunately I wasn't disappointed. This is a very impressive first book from a new author who shows great potential. The level of suspense he manages to sustain is unmatched by most other authors, and had my eyes racing ahead of me to see what would happen next. Mike's love for God is very obvious, and he manages to make these views a natural part of the book, instead of falling into the trap of having it seem tacked on and sermonizing.

Don't read this book if you're home alone after dark. But do read it in broad sunlight and enjoy this fascinating page-turner from a promising new author.

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