By the time this is all over, she’ll know what it’s like to kill, or what it’s like to die.
Mia Morgan doesn’t let anything get to her. After freeing herself from an obsessive boss and saving loved ones from a serial killer, she feels like she can handle anything life throws at her. But now that killer – a deranged hunter who preys on women for sport – is coming for her. And if she runs, others will pay the price. As if that’s not enough, Ben Bowden, the brilliant detective who has made her life hell for the past four years, has some insane plan to protect her. If she collaborates with him, Mia might just have to acknowledge her true feelings. But if she keeps him out, will she let the hunter win?
Ben Bowden is sick of finding dead bodies. If being the lead detective on the biggest case in the country didn’t come with enough pressure, now the psychopath Ben is chasing has Mia Morgan in his sights. And Mia doesn’t want his help. She hasn’t forgiven him for the past, and is being less than cooperative with his investigation. Protecting her is a challenge, and the sparks that fly whenever they’re together aren’t helping. But he has to make her trust him – somehow – because she has a plan that terrifies him to the bone.
Can he convince her to work with him? Or will she risk everything to single-handedly turn the hunter into the hunted?
The threat to Mia Morgan by the evil serial killer who had plagued Hunters Ridge was such that Mia knew she had to be strong – be ready for when he came for her. She was determined not to be another of his victims; Mia’s obsessive preparation with keeping herself fit worried her friends and family.
Detective Ben Bowden had been on the case since the very beginning and he and his team were sickened by what was happening. Ben needed to catch the psychopath whose greatest thrill in life was to make women suffer. And he was terrified now he knew Mia was in his sights, because much as he fought against it, he had deep feelings for Mia. Of course, she hadn’t forgiven Ben for the past so he knew it was a lost cause – but the terrifying reality of losing her was threatening his sanity.
As Mia worked between Hunters Ridge and Sydney, she was constantly on alert. But the killer was taunting them; the bodies Ben continued to find haunted him. Could Ben and his team of dedicated detectives bring a detached and sadistic killer down before he got to Mia? Before he killed any more innocent people?
Wow! Absolutely brilliant! The intensity and rocking pace of Promise of Hunters Ridge, which is the third and last in the Hunters Ridge trilogy had me holding my breath while I sped through the terror and courage of this novel! What an amazing ride! Romantic suspense; heavy on the suspense – just the way I love it! Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.
"Promise of Hunters Ridge" is the final book in the Hunters Ridge Series by Sarah Barrie. Readers of "Promise of Hunters Ridge" will follow the investigation into finding Rob Littleton and the other hunters who were terrorising the community of Hunters Ridge. Intertwine with the investigation into finding Rob Littleton is the up and down relationship between Mia Morgan and Detective Sergeant Ben Bowden. Also, the readers of Promise of Hunters Ridge will be surprised with the conclusion to this book.
Sarah Barrie takes the readers of Promise of Hunters Ridge on a rollercoaster ride following the investigation into finding Rob Littleton and wondering what going to happen between Mia and Ben. I enjoy the way Sarah Barrie portrays her characters. Also, I enjoyed the way Sarah Barrie entwine her characters with each other. I am pleased that Sarah Barrie incorporated all the main characters from book 1 & 2.
I learnt while reading Promise of Hunters Ridge about how trauma can affect people differently. Readers of Promise of Hunters Ridge will learn about law enforcement office politics and procedures. While reading Promise of Hunters Ridge, you will learn about how rural communities come together during crises.
Promise of Hunters Ridge was a solid finale but it was definitely not the best book in the series. Ebony and Lee’s story in Shadows of Hunters Ridge set the bar pretty high for Mia and Ben and, unfortunately, it was not the fast-paced, emotional ending I hoped.
My biggest problem was that it was more romance than romantic suspense. I know the line between those two subgenres is fairly thin but Barrie has done a fantastic job at making her previous novels solidly thriller-y. Promise of Hunters Ridge has been the exception, which is fairly disappointing for the novel meant to wrap up the Hunter Ridge mystery. The twists were predictable. The ending was rushed. It was a tad unsatisfying. I liked that we got more of the police procedural side from Ben’s perspective but it did not make enough of a difference to distract me from the subpar thrills.
It also did not help that I struggle to connect with Mia compared to Ally and Ebony. I love how she remained an unflinchingly driven, independent career woman no matter what was thrown her way (something Barrie does very well) but Mia was also impulsive, reckless, and downright stupid at times. Her decisions were often completely illogical. Ben seemed to find it admirable that Mia kept pushing the boundaries, but I got frustrated with how much needless danger she put herself in. This had a lot to do with her mental state, I know. I appreciated that her PTSD played such a significant role in her characterisation, but I can only tolerate a certain level of stupidity. This book pushed my limits and that made for a difficult read.
I appreciated the rest of the characters. It was nice to see Ally and Cam play again and Mia bond with Chloe. It was refreshing to see an independent career woman also being portrayed as maternal. Those two characteristics rarely overlap in these sorts of stories. My Ally and Cam cameo needs were met but the lack of Ebony and Lee made me want to weep. Why did we spend such a significant portion of the mystery following Ebony (in the previous book) for her to be cast aside so quickly? She and Lee would have been present for a total of three or four pages in the entire book. It was so disappointing!
Overall? I did enjoy this story. The Hunters Ridge world is addictive and I have fallen in love with the setting and cast throughout the series. While I did struggle to connect with Mia in this finale, I found her character well-written. I liked Ben but their romance was a little… meh. The plotline was well-paced and engaging, just not quite as thrilling as the previous books. The ending was also rushed and predictable for a finale. Although I am satisfied with the series as a whole. I just wish we had more Ebony and Lee moments! I would also welcome a novella of Ebony and Lee’s wedding. Hint, hint, Sarah Barrie.
OMG this is a brilliant finish to this fabulous series MS Barrie had me on the edge of my seat through this one it is fast paced action filled as Mia gets her HEA after everything that Mia has been through this heroine is one tough girl I cried and smiled the powerful emotions that are bought to life on the pages will honestly have you biting your nails. Sit back make yourself comfortable you will not want to put this one down until you see what happens to an evil serial killer.
“By the time this is all over, she’ll know what it’s like to kill, or what it’s like to die” Mia has lived with this thought for some time now since a serial killer went after her sister Ally then her friend Ebony and to have what happened to her at the last hunt she knows her time is running out and Mia is doing everything she can to be prepared. But falling for Detective Ben Bowden is not in her plans they have had a rough relationship from the start and Mia is one feisty strong but vulnerable heroine and Ben is getting to her in lots of ways.
Ben is a tough detective he has been on this case from the start and is getting closer to catching the killer but new clues and more information keep coming up and with it his need to protect Mia at all costs if she will let him that is. He knows their past doesn’t help but he must find a way to get her to trust him and the spark is getting stronger and this helps to start a stronger friendship as they start to work together to get Rob.
I feel at bit speechless with this one it truly is absolutely fabulous the strength and courage that Mia shows had me cheering her on and crying for her as well and Ben what a hero to die for he goes to such painful lengths to keep her safe that pull them apart but when they eventually get closer again with the help of friends and family there will be tears again. I loved the depth of these characters in this story getting to know them and feeling like they are close friends is amazing. The end of this book is amazing it will knock your socks off. I loved, loved this story and this series thank you MS Barrie for another keeper way to go. I would really love to see Indy get her own story
Wow! This fast-paced book from Sarah Barrie was certainly a page turner - and one that had my heart racing. Gritty and suspenseful, the story highlights Mia's strength and determination to hunt the killer who for an unknown reason, had caught her once and then let her go. For bait? She wasn't sure. Ben Bowden, local Detective has his own challenges, one being attracted to Mia while in charge of the frightening case of locating and locking up the members of the terrifying "Hunter" gang - before anyone else is killed. I haven't read all Sarah Barrie's books but those I have are all fantastic, and this one was no exception.
'Promise of Hunters Ridge' closes this suspense series and probably doesn't function too well as a standalone, despite the bite-sized recounts of the sinister forces at work in Hunters Ridge. But it does however, finally give a resolution between the always-bickering Mia Morgan and Ben Bowden, the former of which typically allowing an almighty grudge to colour every frustrating interaction between them.
I picked up this book with a huge sense of anticipation and found that there were parts that I really like (the suspense, the action that really picked up after the first half) and parts that I didn't. The pacing is slow at first, detailing the separate aspects of Mia's and Ben's lives before drawing their paths together, but the build-up is rewarding - especially when the actions scenes finally kicked in. Even if I found it more implausible that an entire force couldn't nab a wanted killer whose M.O. was too obvious, Barrie writes a stunning mob-like finish that somehow made me think of democracy-rallies in classical France.
Having been kidnapped by a psychopath before, Mia's obsession to 'train' herself for this killer's return has shaped her to become a rather unpleasant, untrusting person; throw in the stalwart detective who is determined to solve this complicated case while keeping the people around him safe and the difficult, unyielding woman comes out full force. She makes deals with unsavoury characters, refuses to give into law enforcement because of her past, and pretty much does the exact opposite of what she shouldn't - which does paint her with a TSTL broad brush from the beginning - and finds herself a coward when it comes to emotional issues.
But Sarah Barrie peppers these bits of Mia's character with instances of her determination and courage, which does make Mia a more multifaceted character than I expected. And all this in contrast to Ben Bowden, whom I loved for his utter dedication to justice and to her. Despite his lack of sensitivity in several places, there wasn't ever a time when I thought him any less capable of doing whatever he needed to do...and only wished that Mia matched that same fervour he had for her.
It's a series that had gotten me nostalgic by the time I finished and while I thought Ally/Cam's book the best of the lot, Mia/Ben's story might actually come a close second.
Book blurb… By the time this is all over, she’ll know what it’s like to kill, or what it’s like to die. Mia Morgan doesn’t let anything get to her. After freeing herself from an obsessive boss and saving loved ones from a serial killer, she feels like she can handle anything life throws at her. But now that killer – a deranged hunter who preys on women for sport – is coming for her. And if she runs, others will pay the price. As if that’s not enough, Ben Bowden, the brilliant detective who has made her life hell for the past four years, has some insane plan to protect her. If she collaborates with him, Mia might just have to acknowledge her true feelings. But if she keeps him out, will she let the hunter win? Ben Bowden is sick of finding dead bodies. If being the lead detective on the biggest case in the country didn’t come with enough pressure, now the psychopath Ben is chasing has Mia Morgan in his sights. And Mia doesn’t want his help. She hasn’t forgiven him for the past, and is being less than cooperative with his investigation. Protecting her is a challenge, and the sparks that fly whenever they’re together aren’t helping. But he has to make her trust him – somehow – because she has a plan that terrifies him to the bone. Can he convince her to work with him? Or will she risk everything to single-handedly turn the hunter into the hunted? My thoughts… I always want to congratulate an author when I find myself reading a book midway through in a series and their careful and considerate writing has let me catch up on storylines (without having read any previous titles). Promise of Hunters Ridge is as much a standalone read as it is book 3 in a series. Based on my enjoyment, I have no hesitation in recommending the earlier books in the series. The characters are fabulous and I am confident the stories will be equally as good as Promise of Hunters Ridge, which hooked me from the beginning. It had me awake and reading through the night. Even though I was tired, I had to get to the end. Sarah Barrie, you have done an excellent job and I love all the characters (except, of course, the bad guy!)
I was eagerly awaiting this third and very sadly, final book in this series - and it didn't disappoint. The suspense was so well done with twists and turns to leave you guessing almost to the very end, that I couldn't put it down. Good Cops, bad cops, a tough heroine, a sadistic psychopath out to get them, all with a touch of romance thrown in for good measure. A gripping read.
This book continues the 'wow' factor in the 'Hunters Ridge Series, although I'd say that 'Shadows of Hunters Ridge' (number 2) still remains my favourite. I was very excited when I realised that I wouldn't have too long to wait for the third book.
'Promise of Hunters Ridge' is Mia's story and at the end of the second book we knew that she would be the next target. It's not long into the book that Mia receives a phone call from a woman who says 'Your running out of time'. This mysterious woman is killed soon after and a number 5 is etched into her back. With what Mia thought was just a knife marking on her back when she was previously held captive, it now becomes obvious this mark was a '0'.......and so the count down begins. There are twists and turns galore in this book. Detective Ben Bowden is back and trying his hardest to protect a prickly Mia and a new understanding is reached between them. This is where the book fell a little for me as I was totally frustrated with them both around the 80% mark. But as true followers of the series are aware, we all know where it's going.
I thorough enjoyed this series and I really would love to see everyone again. I think what I really missed in this book is not having much to do with Lee and Ebony. There were very few mentions of them both but they still had regular pizza nights, so they were always there but not.
I believe this series is best read in order to get a good understanding of all the interactions between the characters and continuing story line. I think it would lose some of it's impact if the dynamics are not understood but don't let that stop anyone from jumping in at number 2 or 3, I'm sure it would still be a fantastic read if your looking for a good romantic suspense story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review.
After reading Secrets of Whitewater Creek I picked up this 'Hunters Ridge' novel. The mystery, deadly nature of the attacks on women and the sincerity of characters keeps you engaged in the novel. I found it really hard to put down. Mia desperate for answers and the nightmare to end finds herself at the mercy of Detective Ben. Suspended romance for an almost Sarah Connor type lead female and the brilliant detective seeking closure.
Great suspense drama and yet some gentle parts to this wonderful trilogy by Sarah Barrie. I would recommend these books to readers who enjoy a little romance, a fair amount of mystery and a whole lot of suspense.
Promise of hunters ridge. And this trilogy in general gets 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 from me! Sarah Barrie had me hooked on this series from the get go! I fell in love with each and every one of her characters (except for Rob, Martin and Stuart Perkins!) haha. I just want to keep reading this story, I wish we got to experience Eb and Lees wedding, Mia and Bens romance and more! This series is so good I hope it hits the big screen!
Wow, absolutely loved this book. A very fitting ending to the trilogy. Suspense, action, romance & a couple of unexpected plot twists. Very well written. I found it very hard to put down. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.
Promise of Hunter's Ridge is the third and final book in Sarah Barrie's Hunter's Ridge series. This time around it's the story of Mia (Ally's sister, and guest star of the previous 2 books) and Detective Ben Bowden. Mia and Ben have clashed since he was investigating the fire that killed Ally's first husband, yet he's been a constant fixture in their lives since. Is it his desire to bring down Rob Littleton that keeps him around, or a certain sassy photographer?
As with the previous installments, it's an absolute pleasure to be sucked into this story. The characters are interesting, the banter between them entertaining, and I love how prominently they feature in the other books. It really is like revisiting with old friends (although I now feel the need to reread Bloodtree River).
Prior to discovering Barrie's books I hadn't encounter an Australian romantic suspense author, and I love how she takes one of my favourite genres and just makes it, I dunno, Aussie. There's a different feel to them to what I get from romantic suspense by American authors. I can't pinpoint exactly what it is, but I love it.
The problem now is that I've read all of Barrie's books, what am I going to read next?
A fabulous read, Mia Morgan has been through hell & back with a serial killer - who is killing women 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, until it's Mia's turn at 0 that has been carved into her during previous kidnapping, she tries to get on with her life, training hard to booster her fitness and strength, but once No 5 is located dead, Ben Bowden, Detective is back chasing down the psychopath with sparks flying between him and Mia.
The Hunters Ridge Trilogy What a wonderful read. Sarah Barrie has delivered a strong sense of community spirit, love and support for all the characters. Ally,Ebony and Mia are all wonderful characters, I am sad that this trilogy has ended, I would love to read the next chapter without death and destruction. It would be nice to read a follow-up of the characters .... Ally and Cam Ebony and Lee Mia and Ben Say in a year's time
I couldn't put this book down. The suspense of what was going to happen next with Mia as she awaited a serial killer to come after her as he had promised. the developing relationship with the detective on the case just kept me turning the next page to see what happened. A really good thriller with good cops,not so good cops and a serial killer.
Just finished the series. I have truly loved all 3 books, but have to admit this one was by far my favourite. I really didn't want it to end. I did work out one part of it though back at the end of book 2. Thank You Sarah for a fantastic series. If you haven't read them then you need to do so, you will not be disappointed.
Loved it after reading Hunters Ridge books 1 and 2 had to read Promise of Hunters Ridge. This book did not disappoint I loved it. This is the first series from Sarah Barrie that I have read. Will now read more as I am sure I will enjoy these as well.
I didn't actually read this. I guess the ending is good and I wanted to get to that, but I found it too violent and the first two books in the series were bad enough. Just to remind myself not to follow up with this one again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
It was good but not quite as good as the second book. Mia made some frankly stupid decsions rather than trusting Ben. Ebony and Lee barely get a mention which was disappointing. A little predictable at times but enjoyable all the same
This was a thrilling instalment to the Hunter’s Ridge trilogy, that really got the heart racing. Highly recommend if you’re a fan of romantic suspense.