Hunter's Way

this was a bad ass story for bad ass chicks period

I literally stayed up way too late the night I got this book. I could not put out it down. I had to take the book to work the next day and read more at lunch. I finished it in about 24 hours. What a story, it had me guessing and re-guessing who was involved in the murder mystery. The main characters were well developed. This book brought me to tears, I laughed at times, and was scared for the main characters, all at different points in this book. I could not put it down. If I could rate this book higher than 5, it would be a 10. I need to buy another Gerri Hill book.

When I first picked up this book and realized the main character is named "Tori Hunter," I was a little concerned. You see, I live in Minnesota and one of my favorite players on the Minnesota Twins baseball team is outfielder Torii Hunter. Let me put your fears to rest... Tori in the book is NOTHING like Torii on the field... She's much, much more intriguing. Tori is a homicide detective who has had six male partners in as many years. Her partners either threaten to quit or they are injured on the job, so she gets assigned to someone else. Known as cold and heartless, many of her peers shun the idea of being assigned as her partner. In walks Samantha Kennedy. Samantha has recently been reassigned to Homicide per her request and is Tori's new partner. Samantha's boyfriend doesn't support this career choice because he envisions their marriage, children and grandchildren. (Note: Her boyfriend is more of a frightening comic relief than a part of the real story. He seems almost seemed like an afterthought on the author's part. Hill builds the tension between Sam and her boyfriend, almost turning it violent when she tells him it's over. However, even that tension doesn't play a pivotal part in the story.) As Sam begins to break down Tori's rigid exterior, she begins to have feelings for a woman for the first time in her life. Confused, but intrigued, she doesn't resist. Tori can't deny the growing magnetism she feels for Sam and struggles with allowing the other woman in. Hill is undeniably one of my favorite authors. Her characters seem to spring to life. Admittedly, they are a little "more" than real, but that's what makes her books so fantastic. `Hunter's Way' is a welcome addition to my personal, permanent collection. Highly recommended.

Gerri Hill time after time creates fresh powerful thrilling stories intertwined with heart-pounding romances and Hunter's Way is no exception. Tori Hunter is an arrogant, abrasive Homicide detective who alienates every partner she has ever had. In the middle of a series of murders, Samantha Kennedy transfers from the Assault division and is paired with Tori after she blows through another partner. Even though Tori is considered a nightmarish partner, Samantha stands up to her. While Samantha challenges her attitude, she respects Tori's strong instincts as an effective detective. This bodes well for their relationship as they pursue a serial killer who may be targeting the gay and lesbian community. As their professional partnership develops, their strong attraction for one another is undeniable. Their only obstacles are Sam's boyfriend and Tori' very tragic past. Hill is a master at building her characters' professional and personal relationships slowly, effectively absorbing them into the main storyline. We get to know Sam and Tori well as the plot progresses. We understand Tori's total immersion into her career as her horrific past unfolds. We see Sam struggle with her lack of passion for her boyfriend while she is discovering new and powerful feelings for her partner that cross the line of professionalism. Tori`s and Sam's characters grow as their partnership intensifies. They learn to trust each other as they encounter dangerous situations, and this aspect of the partnership is very different for Tori. For the first time in Tori's career she has a real partner, and for the first time in her life, she has a friend who cares about her. Tori also wrestles with inappropriate feelings, especially because she believes Sam is straight. But as the violence in their daily lives continues, they are forced to face their attraction to one another. Hill weaves a romance that leaves this reader breathless while crafting a police procedural that is thorough and easy to follow. The stages of tracking down a serial killer are interspersed in the story, moving it along smoothly. The dialogue throughout is on fire with passion. The tenderness in the story embraces the reader and is overpowering. Hill's pacing is even with no abrupt starts or endings. Even though we learn the killer's identity two thirds of the way through the story, the ending is a surprise. There is more to Hunter's Way than we suspect.

Great read! This book flows smoothly and is a page turner. As a proven romance writer, this author's first attempt at a murder mystery is right on. The romance mixes well with the suspense, neither over-shadowing the other. As much as I love Hill's romances, I wouldn't mind her mixing in an occasional "cop" story. This one was very enjoyable!