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Hunted Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Hunted


Detective Reed Ware falls into a very suspicious murder that points directly to crooked cops that may lead all the way up to the mayor. After the loss of his ex-wife and son, Detective Reed Ware stopped drinking and took interest in two boys whose mother was shot and killed. Watching after Holly and Ant Bayard was at times difficult and frustrating but nevertheless, he took to caring after them as his own.
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On Christmas Eve, Reed gets a call from eighteen year old Holly, telling him to meet him at an empty store front building where a murder is taking place. Upon arriving, Reed finds Holly taking pictures of four dead civilians, with his cell phone. Holly tells him that cops shot them.

After investigating and finding proof of a group of cops, that went all the up to the mayor, Reed takes his findings to his superintendent. Informing his superintendent, he ends up in a fight and is fired shortly after. Holly was also arrested on a fake drug charge by crooked cops and the same ones take Ant hostage. Knowing he needs time to find the cops involved he sets his plan in motion.

Arriving in a tux at a Christmas Eve party, where all of the top brass has been invited including his superintendent, sheriff and the mayor, he takes the group hostage. The North Orleans Police Department calls in Caroline Wallace to talk him into releasing the hostages. When Caroline gets there, she is surprised to see her estranged father, the superintendent to the NOPD, hostage. Caroline sets eyes on Reed and determines he is even better looking now that he was ten years ago. Caroline had a crush on him when she was seventeen and Reed was protecting her family. Reed never took it to the next level, which crushed Caroline.

Caroline speaks to Reed to see what his demands are and he tells her he wants: Holly released from jail and brought to the mansion, along with a million dollars and an escape helicopter. Caroline is confused as to what could have happened that changed this good man, but she gets the demands satisfied. Holly arrives handcuffed and speaks to Reed, spouting off about how crooked cops arrested him on a drug charge. Reed tells Caroline to bring Holly into the mansion along with herself and he will release several hostages. Caroline agrees and she enters the mansion.

Reed grabs Caroline from the back and ties her wrists in zip ties. Holly tells Reed how glad he is to see him, but how are they going to get out of this? He assures him that everything is going to be fine. Reed takes Caroline hostage by placing her in a large garbage can and sets his escape plan in motion by releasing the hostages and setting off fake bombs. Dressing in FBI gear, he and Holly take the garbage can and run, yelling “Out of our way, we have a bomb.” Running through the woods to the swamp, he starts an electric boat and escapes.

Switching the zip tie for handcuffs, Caroline is angry; she is on his side. She wants to help him in any way she can. Taking Holly to a trucker stop, he puts him in a truck to go to Mexico until he and Ant can meet up with him. Reed takes Caroline back to the swamp to a small cabin, where she demands to know what is going on. Reed tells her she needs to mind her own business; she'll be killed if she knew. Being in such tight quarters is difficult for the both of them; sexual tension is building between the two of them until they have sex.

Reed plans to switch Caroline for Ant, so they can escape, but those plans are foiled when Holly calls to tell him he knows where they are holding Ant and he needs to meet him at the abandoned amusement center. He never went to Mexico; he couldn't leave his brother behind. Reed is also reaching out to his ex-partner who has moved to Boston by phone and by e-mail. The next morning, Caroline finds the cell phone that Holly used to take pictures of the murders. Reed is angry and finally tells her of his suspicions. Caroline is on board and wants to help. Reed's partner calls him on his disposable phone, telling him that he has brought the FBI with him. Relief swamps Reed and Caroline, and they agree to meet up with him. Reed drives to a hotel and wants to leave Caroline there, but she talks him into meeting his old partner and the FBI. His partner arrives at the hotel and gun fire breaks out; his partner is part of the crime ring. Forcing Reed and Caroline into a van, they drive to the same amusement park that Ant is being held. Upon arrival Ant rushes to Reed, throwing his arms around him yelling, “They're going to kill us. They were just waiting for you.” A fight breaks out and then someone yells, “FBI! Freeze!” Holly is shooting into the crowd, allowing Reed, Caroline and Ant to make an escape, but when Caroline turns her back, Reed is gone. He's been shot in the leg. Caroline and Ant are debating what to do when someone approaches them from behind and brings them back to the group. She sees Reed on the ground with a bullet wound and is scared. Fear rushes her until her father, Superintendent Wallace, arrives along with the mayor. She begs her father for their lives, but he doesn't give in. Just when she thinks it's all over, the Department of Justice arrives arresting the criminals. Caroline finds out that her father turned state's evidence in order to save her daughters life and wore a wire; he tells Caroline that he loves her and would never let anything happen to her. Their broken relationship starts to heal.

One week later, Reed, Caroline, Holly and Ant, celebrate Christmas as a family. Holly and Ant have been living full time with Reed now along with Caroline. They've not been separated since the shooting. Reed buys Caroline an engagement ring and plans to ask her to marry him when they open their gifts.
Best part of story, including ending: I liked the intrigue of this book immensely and the fact that it took place in New Orleans.

Best scene in story: My favorite scene was when Reed and Caroline arrive at the abandoned amusement park when Ant rushes up to Reed and throws his arms around him. Then again when Holly comes to the rescue shouting, "FBI" and firing a gun.

Opinion about the main character: I like Reed very much. Although things looked like he was a good cop turned bad; he was a good man with integrity.

The review of this Book prepared by Karenann Knotoff a Level 2 American Robin scholar

Chapter Analysis of Hunted

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Plot & Themes

Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases 10%Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 60%Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 20%How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) 10% Tone of story    -   suspenseful (sophisticated fear) How difficult to spot villain?    -   Somewhat obvious Time/era of story:    -   2000+ (Present) What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot?    -   70% Misc. Murder Plotlets    -   Proving innocence of very obvious suspect Kind of investigator    -   police procedural, American Kid or adult book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Any non-mystery subplot?    -   feelings towards lover Crime Thriller    -   Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown)    -   Yes Is Romance a MAJOR (25%+) part of story?    -   Yes

Main Character

Gender    -   Male Profession/status:    -   police/lawman Age:    -   20's-30's Ethnicity/Race    -   White/American

Setting

United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Deep South Misc setting    -   fancy mansion

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   generic/vague references to death/punishment Explicit sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   descript of kissing    -   touching of anatomy    -   actual description of sex Amount of dialog    -   significantly more descript than dialog

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Karen Robards Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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