Thank you PRH Audio for the ALC and Berkley, #partner, for the advanced copy of The Night Hunter in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Berkley / Penguin Audio
Published: July 28, 2026
Summary:
In a remote corner of the South African bush, two sisters reunite to bury a family secret once and for all, but when they’re stranded among the wild animals, they find a predator far more dangerous waiting for them in the shadows. . . .
When their conservationist mother passes, Danielle and her sister, Grace, reunite to return to their isolated family house nestled within a wild-game reserve. While Grace clings to nostalgia as their mother’s favorite, only Danielle carries the weight of their enigmatic mother’s final “Find the storehouse . . . Burn everything inside.”
What begins as a reluctant homecoming disguised as a safari adventure—each sister inviting two friends to ease the journey—turns into a nightmare when a murder rocks their first morning in the bush. In the chaos that follows, they crash their vehicle, stranding them, with no way to call for help.
Now Danielle must lead them on foot across miles of merciless savannah, with dwindling supplies and only one rifle. As the group navigates land where every rustle could mean death, a truth someone is sabotaging their escape.
Breathtaking and tense, The Night Hunter maps the treacherous terrain of family duty and loyalty as the two sisters confront what they’ve spent years trying to forget.
My thoughts:
As soon as I heard about this, I knew I had to read it…but to find out it was a debut was just icing on the cake!
This book had my adrenaline running and kept me breathless and on edge throughout! I’ve never been on a safari before, and as much as I thought I wanted to go on one, after reading this, I’m now rethinking that decision. The author does such a great job making you feel as if you are right there with the two sisters as they navigate the African bush, along with all the dangers that come their way. It’s claustrophobic, incredibly tense and downright menacing.
Reminiscent of a Jane Harper novel, this slow-burn thriller is incredibly atmospheric and the setting is just as important as to what is going on with the characters. Danger is everywhere, from the heat and isolation to the wildlife and more.
This is one of those books where you need to pay attention to everything because nothing the author gives us is wasted. I loved every second of it, more so now that I can finally catch my breath and will definitely be keeping an eye out for what this author writes next!
Audio thoughts:
Saskia Maarleveld nails this audiobook performance. She infuses just the right tension and emotion into her voice as needed and her pacing is spot on!
Purchasing from the link below supports independent bookstores and my blog!
