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bookrantreviews's review
5.0
It’s hard to believe “Predator” is Zoe Caldwell’s debut psychological thriller. Propulsive and addicting, but yet only 231 pages, it packs a wallop that you’ll still feel after you put it down. The main character, Camilla Black, is the femme fatale you can’t help but root for. She’s the standard twisted and depraved serial killer who thirsts for the next kill. Yet, she emerges as an anti-villain too, her own abusive childhood the impetus for murdering evil men who’ve abused women or children.
As the story begins, Camilla is out on a date with a man named Julian that she met through an online dating app. It’s no ordinary get-to-know you date, however. Camilla already knows enough about Julian’s past that she plans to kill him. A rapist who intends on making her next, Julian’s unaware that Camilla is watching him as he slips a drug into her drink — or that she slips him the same drug, reversing their roles as victim and predator.
With gory details of her kills and graphic descriptions of the sex she has with both her male and female lovers, “Predator” is not for the faint of heart — or the prudish of minds. The story doesn’t gloss over details of sexual and domestic abuse either.
Told in first person, Camilla is a complex character who bares all to the reader. Her euphoric attitude and lack of remorse over the murders contrast with her life as a refined, high brow fashion designer. The gruesomeness of each kill contrasts with her polished look and the top designer labels she wears to hide the depravity inside. Author Zoe Caldwell does a masterful job of illustrating Camilla’s psychopathy. Yet, Camilla’s abusive childhood and vigilantism make you wish that the psycho doesn’t get caught.
“Predator” picks up in pace and intensity throughout the novel. Longer chapters at the beginning give way to shorter ones as you near the breath-catching end. The final twist is one you’ll see coming a split second before it happens but, by that point, it’s too late to brace yourself. The question is, does Camilla see it in time?
Thank you to Zoe Caldwell for an complimentary eARC of “Predator” in exchange for an honest review.
As the story begins, Camilla is out on a date with a man named Julian that she met through an online dating app. It’s no ordinary get-to-know you date, however. Camilla already knows enough about Julian’s past that she plans to kill him. A rapist who intends on making her next, Julian’s unaware that Camilla is watching him as he slips a drug into her drink — or that she slips him the same drug, reversing their roles as victim and predator.
With gory details of her kills and graphic descriptions of the sex she has with both her male and female lovers, “Predator” is not for the faint of heart — or the prudish of minds. The story doesn’t gloss over details of sexual and domestic abuse either.
Told in first person, Camilla is a complex character who bares all to the reader. Her euphoric attitude and lack of remorse over the murders contrast with her life as a refined, high brow fashion designer. The gruesomeness of each kill contrasts with her polished look and the top designer labels she wears to hide the depravity inside. Author Zoe Caldwell does a masterful job of illustrating Camilla’s psychopathy. Yet, Camilla’s abusive childhood and vigilantism make you wish that the psycho doesn’t get caught.
“Predator” picks up in pace and intensity throughout the novel. Longer chapters at the beginning give way to shorter ones as you near the breath-catching end. The final twist is one you’ll see coming a split second before it happens but, by that point, it’s too late to brace yourself. The question is, does Camilla see it in time?
Thank you to Zoe Caldwell for an complimentary eARC of “Predator” in exchange for an honest review.
zooloo1983's review
4.0
I really can see why this book has been hailed as Dexter in Stilettos, Camilla the MC is just so kick-ass!! I found that I was hooked throughout this book, I lived vicariously through Camilla and her plight for getting justice against a certain type of men.
I love that this is a different kind of book that I needed to read. This a vigilante story, one that shows a strong woman enacting justice…maybe where she shouldn’t be but fricking glamourous at doing it.
Camilla is just so alive, when you meet her she doesn’t feel it. She feels like she is a void, but as an outsider, you feel like she is alive. She gets the thrill from doing something she absolutely shouldn’t be doing but I could not fault her reason and part of me was egging her to carry on. I wanted her to carry on her plan, I wanted her to get justice. I mean I could be an accomplice with the thoughts I had throughout the books.
There is something so charismatic about Camilla. Yes, she is aloof with her friends, and refer to the void comment above. Yet, I found I was enamoured by her. There really was something so fascinating about her and I was totally hooked by her. She knows what she wanted and was not afraid to embrace her darkness, there is a lot of darkness not only in her actions but her past. A connection, that is all that is needed. She provided us with a lot of sex, lust and gore but not all at the same time…..well…….
I have never read anything by Zoe Caldwell before but I know that the next time I see a book with her name on, I will be there with bells on if this was anything to go by. Her writing is like her characters, intoxicating, riveting and addictive. I didn’t want to put this book down but before I knew it was over. Gutted. I wanted more! LOL. I would love to see a sequel for sure!
I love that this is a different kind of book that I needed to read. This a vigilante story, one that shows a strong woman enacting justice…maybe where she shouldn’t be but fricking glamourous at doing it.
Camilla is just so alive, when you meet her she doesn’t feel it. She feels like she is a void, but as an outsider, you feel like she is alive. She gets the thrill from doing something she absolutely shouldn’t be doing but I could not fault her reason and part of me was egging her to carry on. I wanted her to carry on her plan, I wanted her to get justice. I mean I could be an accomplice with the thoughts I had throughout the books.
There is something so charismatic about Camilla. Yes, she is aloof with her friends, and refer to the void comment above. Yet, I found I was enamoured by her. There really was something so fascinating about her and I was totally hooked by her. She knows what she wanted and was not afraid to embrace her darkness, there is a lot of darkness not only in her actions but her past. A connection, that is all that is needed. She provided us with a lot of sex, lust and gore but not all at the same time…..well…….
I have never read anything by Zoe Caldwell before but I know that the next time I see a book with her name on, I will be there with bells on if this was anything to go by. Her writing is like her characters, intoxicating, riveting and addictive. I didn’t want to put this book down but before I knew it was over. Gutted. I wanted more! LOL. I would love to see a sequel for sure!
karen1's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bwagner's review
5.0
I loved this book. This is not my first book by this author but it is one of my favorites yet. This is a story that is full of action and suspense. I found this book to be a well developed story that has characters that are connectable and takes you on twists and turns that kept me turning pages. I had no problems connecting with them. This is a fast paced, engaging story that pulled me in right from the beginning. I highly recommend reading this book.
kaz_loves_books's review
5.0
Camilla and Julian are having a drink in a bar, it’s their first date. They met on Tinder but it was no accident. She had been looking for him. If she is right, he will try to drug her drink. She made her excuses to leave the table and found a vantage point in time to see Julian move her glass, drop something in, then move her glass back. Camilla decided it was her man, took her time before returning to the table. She needed Julian away from the table so asked him to get her a bag of crisps. When he went to the bar, she made sure he wasn’t looking and opened her bag to get the tablet, then dropped it in his pint of beer. She didn’t touch any more of her wine.
The tablet soon took effect so she helped him out of the bar and took him to her flat where she gave him another half of a roofie to keep him under control. She later called a cab to take them near to the garage to pick up the tools she needed. They headed on foot towards his final destination, a derelict block of flats, all boarded up, awaiting demolition. She took him up twelve floors to the roof, then stripped his clothes off and bound him to the mast. She then used her crossbow and arrows to kill him.
By day, Camilla works at Couture as a successful fashion magazine editor and always dresses smartly, even in designer clothes sometimes. She is most disturb to see that Julian has been found so soon and the story has made the papers. Her secretary, Jess, asks her if it was a ‘Julian’ she saw for her date. Camilla struggled to remember mentioning it, then it came to her that Jess came into her room as she was wrapping up the call to Julian. She would have to be more careful in the future. She couldn’t have it all go wrong for her now. She should really stop the killing but she feels so damaged after her dad abused her and got away with it. She now feels it's her place to try and help others in the same situation.
Has Camilla killed once too many times? Is she starting too make silly mistakes? Will the police soon be on her trail?
I really enjoyed this book and got straight into it. It was great to have a female killer for a change. The descriptive writing was good. The story flowed really well so I didn’t want to stop reading so managed this book in two sittings. Very good for a debut.
The tablet soon took effect so she helped him out of the bar and took him to her flat where she gave him another half of a roofie to keep him under control. She later called a cab to take them near to the garage to pick up the tools she needed. They headed on foot towards his final destination, a derelict block of flats, all boarded up, awaiting demolition. She took him up twelve floors to the roof, then stripped his clothes off and bound him to the mast. She then used her crossbow and arrows to kill him.
By day, Camilla works at Couture as a successful fashion magazine editor and always dresses smartly, even in designer clothes sometimes. She is most disturb to see that Julian has been found so soon and the story has made the papers. Her secretary, Jess, asks her if it was a ‘Julian’ she saw for her date. Camilla struggled to remember mentioning it, then it came to her that Jess came into her room as she was wrapping up the call to Julian. She would have to be more careful in the future. She couldn’t have it all go wrong for her now. She should really stop the killing but she feels so damaged after her dad abused her and got away with it. She now feels it's her place to try and help others in the same situation.
Has Camilla killed once too many times? Is she starting too make silly mistakes? Will the police soon be on her trail?
I really enjoyed this book and got straight into it. It was great to have a female killer for a change. The descriptive writing was good. The story flowed really well so I didn’t want to stop reading so managed this book in two sittings. Very good for a debut.
vikkiew87's review
5.0
@zoecaldwellauthor you are absolutely amazing!! This has gripped me and been a book which I have been completely unable to put down. I cannot wait for your next serial killer. I knew I was going to love this book, I wasn’t prepared for how much I love this book. This has completely blown me away. I absolutely cannot say anything negative about this one! This is definitely a book I highly recommend to everyone. This is published November 2nd and should definitely be added to the TBR.
muffhead's review
5.0
Predator - Zoe Caldwell
By day Camilla is a rich beautiful successful magazine editor. By night she has an insatiable need to kill.
Her victims are the scum of society. A guy planning to date rape her ends up on top of a building with 30 arrows in him.
Other victims have beaten or raped women, or groomed and abused children.
For this reason I was totally rooting for Camilla the whole way through. I really hoped she wouldn't get caught.
When you learn a little about her history you understand her reasoning.
In amongst what can be triggering stories of child abuse is lots of sex, straight and lesbian, which is incredibly well written.
The style of writing is punchy. You will find it impossible to put down.
By day Camilla is a rich beautiful successful magazine editor. By night she has an insatiable need to kill.
Her victims are the scum of society. A guy planning to date rape her ends up on top of a building with 30 arrows in him.
Other victims have beaten or raped women, or groomed and abused children.
For this reason I was totally rooting for Camilla the whole way through. I really hoped she wouldn't get caught.
When you learn a little about her history you understand her reasoning.
In amongst what can be triggering stories of child abuse is lots of sex, straight and lesbian, which is incredibly well written.
The style of writing is punchy. You will find it impossible to put down.
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