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The Hunted
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?
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2008
18 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
Mike Dellosso
30 books189 followersMike Dellosso is the author of numerous novels of suspense, including Kill Devil, Centralia, Darkness Follows, Darlington Woods, and Scream. Mike is a popular conference and workshop teacher and an adjunct professor of creative writing. He lives in Hanover, PA, with his wife and five daughters. Mike is also a healthcare worker and survivor of colon cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 14, 2015
While playing in the woods with his friends, eleven-year-old Caleb Saunders is viciously attacked by a large, snarling, mysterious animal. His uncle Joe, a man struggling with his newfound faith, sets out on a mission to find the creature. Along the way he rekindles a friendship, and maybe something more, with the local Chief of Police who's on a mission of her own. The two uncover things about themselves and the monster terrorizing their community they wish they hadn't.
As you read The Hunted you can't help but draw comparisons to another celebrated monster story--The Oath by Frank Peretti. Both feature heroes bent on finding a rogue animal (a bear in The Oath, a lion in The Hunted) who's either killed or hurt someone they love. Their female counterparts are law enforcement officers with pasts, and there's a spiritual battle raging behind what's happening in the physical realm. The Hunted has a little less gore and symbolism than The Oath but fits the horror/supernatural vein perfectly. I cut my Christian fiction teeth on Frank Peretti, so it was a pleasure to find a worthy counterpart in The Hunted.
It's refreshing to pick up a novel like this one which engages us right from the start and doesn't shy from Biblical truths. It's a dark world. We need more light in our books, and The Hunted lets it shine. It still delves into the gritty reality of its characters, but with a restraint that's appreciable.
A trend in Christian fiction is toward vague spiritual references and good stories that don't include swearing, sex or graphic violence but also don't include much in the way of Christian content, either. There's certainly a place for all types of novels, but it can be disappointing to pick up a book from a Christian publisher that really has no spiritual takeaway other than the characters believing in God. Dellosso's first novel doesn't disappoint. It's sure to earn him shelf space alongside the "greats" like Peretti and Dekker.
I was honored to have the chance to endorse The Hunted as follows:
From page one The Hunted grabbed me by the collar and wouldn't let go. It's full of intrigue, supernatural undertones, and true-to-life characters. I highly recommend this superb debut novel. Mike Dellosso could very well be the next Frank Peretti--if you liked The Oath and Monster, you are going to love The Hunted.
As you read The Hunted you can't help but draw comparisons to another celebrated monster story--The Oath by Frank Peretti. Both feature heroes bent on finding a rogue animal (a bear in The Oath, a lion in The Hunted) who's either killed or hurt someone they love. Their female counterparts are law enforcement officers with pasts, and there's a spiritual battle raging behind what's happening in the physical realm. The Hunted has a little less gore and symbolism than The Oath but fits the horror/supernatural vein perfectly. I cut my Christian fiction teeth on Frank Peretti, so it was a pleasure to find a worthy counterpart in The Hunted.
It's refreshing to pick up a novel like this one which engages us right from the start and doesn't shy from Biblical truths. It's a dark world. We need more light in our books, and The Hunted lets it shine. It still delves into the gritty reality of its characters, but with a restraint that's appreciable.
A trend in Christian fiction is toward vague spiritual references and good stories that don't include swearing, sex or graphic violence but also don't include much in the way of Christian content, either. There's certainly a place for all types of novels, but it can be disappointing to pick up a book from a Christian publisher that really has no spiritual takeaway other than the characters believing in God. Dellosso's first novel doesn't disappoint. It's sure to earn him shelf space alongside the "greats" like Peretti and Dekker.
I was honored to have the chance to endorse The Hunted as follows:
From page one The Hunted grabbed me by the collar and wouldn't let go. It's full of intrigue, supernatural undertones, and true-to-life characters. I highly recommend this superb debut novel. Mike Dellosso could very well be the next Frank Peretti--if you liked The Oath and Monster, you are going to love The Hunted.
June 5, 2008
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.
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.
February 22, 2021
I enjoyed this book quite a bit and imagine I will be looking for other books by this author. On the one hand, it really felt like an "East Coast version" of Frank Peretti's The Oath (which I loved and still love!) . On the other hand, it still felt like a "fresh, new" story. The character development was good; the characters themselves were believable. I liked how "natural" the Christian faith of some of the characters felt; I also liked how the "hero" returned to his faith in God as well.
The story does begin somewhat slow, at first, but the pace does quickly build. The end is pretty intense; I finished the last fifty pages or so rather quickly. I thought the author did a nice job of really ramping up the tension in the last few chapters. I liked the interactions between pretty much all of the characters. There were a couple of rough spots, I will not deny, but they did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.
The book had a nice element of horror-suspense to it, and I appreciated the author not feeling the need to get into excessive gore or violence or graphic descriptions that some authors seem to feel the need to include. I also felt like the author did a nice job of "less is more" in letting the reader's imagination "get the best of him/her" as opposed to dictating how something should look or "feel" to the reader. There were some moments that were "horrific enough" that they made me squirm, and I was reading the book in the middle of the afternoon. I also thought the author used various elements of the natural environment rather well to increase the level of suspense in certain parts of the story. He did a great job choosing the right words to describe the scenery and set the tone for those moments, and I felt like it really paid off in terms of the impact throughout the story.
The book also has humor scattered throughout its narrative. I do not know if the humor was intentional or not, or if those moments/comments just came across that way to me, but I thought it was well-done, natural, and not forced at all. I was surprised to discover humorous moments in the book, to be honest, but appreciated them all the same.
If I can think of anything else to say, I will add an updated comment accordingly. As it is, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I felt it was fresh and new and "refreshing." I enjoyed Frank Peretti's books quite a bit and I could see this author "taking Peretti's place" in Christian fiction (especially if he continues to have the "seamless blending" of the Christian message with "real-life situations" or keeps a person's Christian faith sounding "natural" rather than forced or tacked on as an afterthought). I liked Ted Deker's earlier books, too, and some of the initial elements in the story reminded me of him as well, but this book definitely has more of an overall "Peretti-vibe" to it (especially when compared to The Oath). I am glad I took a chance and picked up a copy to read.
The story does begin somewhat slow, at first, but the pace does quickly build. The end is pretty intense; I finished the last fifty pages or so rather quickly. I thought the author did a nice job of really ramping up the tension in the last few chapters. I liked the interactions between pretty much all of the characters. There were a couple of rough spots, I will not deny, but they did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.
The book had a nice element of horror-suspense to it, and I appreciated the author not feeling the need to get into excessive gore or violence or graphic descriptions that some authors seem to feel the need to include. I also felt like the author did a nice job of "less is more" in letting the reader's imagination "get the best of him/her" as opposed to dictating how something should look or "feel" to the reader. There were some moments that were "horrific enough" that they made me squirm, and I was reading the book in the middle of the afternoon. I also thought the author used various elements of the natural environment rather well to increase the level of suspense in certain parts of the story. He did a great job choosing the right words to describe the scenery and set the tone for those moments, and I felt like it really paid off in terms of the impact throughout the story.
The book also has humor scattered throughout its narrative. I do not know if the humor was intentional or not, or if those moments/comments just came across that way to me, but I thought it was well-done, natural, and not forced at all. I was surprised to discover humorous moments in the book, to be honest, but appreciated them all the same.
If I can think of anything else to say, I will add an updated comment accordingly. As it is, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I felt it was fresh and new and "refreshing." I enjoyed Frank Peretti's books quite a bit and I could see this author "taking Peretti's place" in Christian fiction (especially if he continues to have the "seamless blending" of the Christian message with "real-life situations" or keeps a person's Christian faith sounding "natural" rather than forced or tacked on as an afterthought). I liked Ted Deker's earlier books, too, and some of the initial elements in the story reminded me of him as well, but this book definitely has more of an overall "Peretti-vibe" to it (especially when compared to The Oath). I am glad I took a chance and picked up a copy to read.
September 8, 2014
This was the first book I have read by Mike Delosso, and I am hooked. I will be devouring every book he writes from now on. This book grabbed me right from the start and would not let go. I just couldn't put it down. The story is a thriller/horror but not gory. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't wait to find out how Mike was going to resolve everything in a satisfactory way, but he did an excellent job. The story included a very strange animal that was a very big part of the mystery and suspense. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers with intensity and heart-pounding action. And, if you don't want to be up all night, pick the book up early because you'll want to keep turning pages until the very end.
February 14, 2016
4.5 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed this! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because I felt it was a little repetitious in areas, so it could have been a bit shorter. Other than that it was quite good. Towards the end it was very exciting!
August 22, 2016
This was a really good book. The story line really kept my interest and made it hard to put the book down. I was sorry there was so much death in the book but it was still very good.
August 4, 2025
The action started as soon I opened the book and never eased up until the last page. The characters were well formed and completely believable. With all this came a message of hope if we just follow God. That message was clear, not like some other Christian books where you have to read their books over and over and try to find some parallel message in them. I highly recommend this author.
January 1, 2019
I don’t think this was the right timing for me to read this one. I had higher hopes... Kept my interest, but not like I expected. Maybe 3.5 star rating would be more accurate, I don’t know.
April 26, 2020
One word to describe Mike Dellosso's debut novel... Excellent. If I likened 'Hunted' to another novel, it would have to be Frank Peretti's 'The Oath'. 'Hunted' screams 'Peretti influence' in every chapter. It's not a bad thing at all. Many Christians love Peretti's style, but draw the line at Dekker. While I actually prefer Dekker, Mike Dellosso is a very pleasant surprise, and an author which I will eagerly look forward to reading more of (his next book 'Scream' is coming out March, 2009). As one reviewer said...
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)
If you love Christian suspense/thrillers with supernatural elements, get 'The Hunted' for your personal library as soon as you can!
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)
If you love Christian suspense/thrillers with supernatural elements, get 'The Hunted' for your personal library as soon as you can!
May 4, 2017
Overall well worth the wait. Been wanting to read this thriller for years, and got tired of waiting for the Kindle price to come down to earth. So I ordered a used paperback edition. Very suspenseful. Written by a Christian author it does at times have the characters express their belief in God. But the main focus of the story was the mystery and the secret behind all the killings from 1922 on. The last 25 or so pages seemed to fly by with excitement and suspense. I have a Kindle version of another Mike Dellosso thriller:
and I will have to check that one out soon.
and I will have to check that one out soon.
September 10, 2016
This was my first Mike Dellosso book and I am hooked. His writing is more in the vein of Peretti's Monster. Horror genre. How many books use prayer and faith to combat monsters and demons?! Ha ! Who says I can't have monsters and Christian fiction. I really wondered if 1 Peter 5:8 (our adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour) had anything to do with the writing of "The Hunted?"
September 14, 2008
It was good enough, and I enjoyed it, but I dont think that this author is close to the suspense of peretti or Dekker as critics have said.
October 22, 2009
Great book, I just finished reading.Very good story about faith, revenge, and the fact that God is always willing to welcome us back into his arms.
September 29, 2010
A little lame and a lot sappy.
November 30, 2011
Would compare to Frank Peretti's The Oath.
August 28, 2012
Glad to find Mike, he has a good read, sitting on the edge of your chair
December 10, 2013
Great suspense thriller. A writer very much in the Peretti style. Looking forward to more by Dellosso.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews