The First Time I Hunted is the third in the Garnet McGee series by Jo Macgregor. A psychological thriller, Hunted expands both characters and setting beyond the world of Pitchford, Vermont. In this third installment, Garnet again becomes embroiled in the middle of a mystery with time running out to catch the killer.
As in the first two novels, Garnet remains a fascinating character. At the end of The First Time I Fell, she made a fundamental decision about her life and carries out her resolution in Hunted. At the end of each book, Garnet advances as a character by exploring new dimensions but remains a work-in-progress. Author Macgregor has handled this superbly in the first two books of the series and continues it in book three.
The books also excels in suspenseful scenes, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. When these passages come, the words fly by, riveting your attention. The rare “What are you doing, Garnet!” moments occur, but most of the time the sequences are taut and believable.
The humor in the novel is also excellent. While there are fewer oddball characters in this one than in the last two, Garnet’s mother is back and continues to be not just humor fodder but important to both plot and character. But the funnier segments aren’t restricted to Garnet’s mother, as small, snarky phrases throughout the narrative elevate the reading experience.
The writing is also very well done. The descriptions sparkle with details, and the settings are vividly detailed. Macgregor’s use of language propels the plot along.
Macgregor has also done a lot of research for this novel and it shows. Sometimes the exposition goes overboard, and a lot of detail is thrown at the reader. Fortunately, the author moves it along with action occurring in the scene. A lot happens here, setting up (I believe) elements that will be important in future novels.
How does The First Time I Hunted stack up against The First Time I Died and The First Time I Fell? Certainly, if you enjoyed the first two, you’ll like this novel as well. It honors its predecessors and is a worthy addition to the series. While Hunted‘s premise is not as original as Died, it sets a new standard of where Macgregor could go if she continues to write more Garnet McGee adventures. I hope she will.