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by Nicola Solvinic
A hypnotic, sinister debut mystery about a seemingly good cop who is secretly the daughter of a notorious serial killer.
Anna Koray escaped her father's darkness long ago. When she was a girl, her childhood memories were sealed away from her conscious mind by a controversial hypnosis treatment. She's now a decorated sheriff's lieutenant serving a rural county, conducting an ordinary life far from her father's shadow.
When Anna kills a man in the line of duty, her suppressed memories return. She dreams of her beloved father, his hands red with blood, surrounded by flower-decked corpses he had sacrificed to the god of the forest.
To Anna's horror, a serial killer emerges who is copying her father – and who knows who she really is. Is her father still alive, or is this the work of another? Will the killer expose her, destroying everything she has built for herself? Does she want him to?
But as she haunts the forest, using her father's tricks to the hunt the killer, will she find what she needs most…or lose herself in the gathering darkness?
To what audience would you recommend Haven’t Killed in Years? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
A good book for those who like fast moving mysteries. Yes I recently read a similar book, The Hunter's Daughter by Nicola Solvinic. Anna Korey's father was also a serial killer. I must say of the two books The Hunter's Daughter was the better.
-Paula_Walters
What are you reading this week? And what did you think of last week’s books? (11/13/2025)
...tery. It called to mind another book club book: https://www.bookbrowse.com/bb_briefs/detail/index.cfm/ezine_preview_number/22644/the-hunters-daughter The Hunter's Daughter by Nicola Solvinic. (Note: I just opened the discussion for Haven't Killed in Years so drop by!) I also read https://www.bookbrowse.com/bb_briefs/detail/index.cfm/ezine...
-kim.kovacs
Did you suspect Nick’s connection to the Forest Strangler, and if so, at what point in the story? Did this change the way you viewed his relationship with Anna?
I did not suspect the connection. I believe it is a stretch that someone would overcome the trauma brought on by Anna's father to fall so deeply in love with her. I admire his ability to forgive and compartmentalize. That is a tough assignment.
-Mary_S2
Dr. Richardson offers Anna the choice to open her memory vault, try to reseal it, or deal with things as they come up (p. 66). Which would you have chosen, if you’d been in Anna’s shoes?
I agree. Knowledge is power. Or it may be that I am just overly curious (nosey!)
-Mary_S2
Anna’s home is decorated with items she collected, like the skull of an opossum and the bones of a pigeon (p. 28). What did you make of this? Why do you suppose she kept such artifacts?
She loved her father and this was a way to recall the good times. I find it interesting that she could still have positive feelings after all the trauma that followed.
-Mary_S2
Dr. Richardson uses an unconventional way to help Anna tap into her childhood memories. What did you think of this method? Did it help or do harm?
While they'd a tremendous opportunity for abuse, it helped Anna not to have those memories as a child. I thought it was appropriate that she did ultimately learn what happened in her childhood.
-Donna_M
Should Anna still be a cop?
Probably not. I mean, plenty of police are less than perfect, but she definitely proved that her personal issues will override her judgment regarding her actions. As others have said, she crossed the line.
-Donna_M
Overall, what did you think of The Hunter’s Daughter? (No spoilers in this thread, please!)
I really enjoyed The Hunter's Daughter. It moved fast and while disturbing at times, it was just the right amount to provide intrigue and mystery. I do feel like the ending could have been better, as it feels like the author just needed to close up the story quickly. It does not detract from the ...
-Alison_W
What did you think of the ending? Anna's journey isn't over—what do you think is next for her?
I am looking forward to the next chapter in their journey, and hope that it will involve both of them. And the baggage that they bring with them will make the story more interesting! After all, this is all made up!
-Julie_P
Anna undergoes tests for the Lyssa variant. What do you think the inclusion of this gene type represents in the context of this story?
I think the Lyssa gene subplot only served to make us suspect Anna. It makes for a red herring.
-Misty_G
Because of her father, Anna struggles with her morality throughout the book. What were your opinions of Anna as you read?
I get that we are supposed to believe that Anna's morality issues are because of her father (and/or the DNA variant), but I don't really buy that. In my mind, her struggles are hers alone. What is fascinating is the sort of moral rationalization Anna goes through at various points in the story. S...
-Mark_S
Forests play an important role in this story. Other than being a setting, what do you think is the symbolism of the forest in this book? Is there more than one interpretation?
I enjoyed how the forest was used as both a place of darkness and of solace. The same forest that serves as a peaceful place to enjoy nature is definitely not so peaceful in the dark. I guess it depends on how the author chooses to describe it in the story. In this story, I also liked how it was ...
-Mark_S
What red herrings did you pick up on, either while reading or at the end of the book?
I never really bought Anna as the killer. That would have been too easy. On the other hand, I was definitely leaning toward Cas as the killer for a significant chunk of the novel. I also wanted to believe that the ambulette driver was more involved.
-Mark_S
Veles, also known as Weles or Volos, was widely worshipped throughout Slavik territories around the 10th century. Had you heard of this deity before reading the book? Why do you suppose the author chose to include Veles and not a better-known figure?
Like a number of other people have said, I had never heard of Veles and Googled it when it came up. The fact that it was not well-known made it work better in my eyes. A "better-known figure" would have been almost cliche. Somehow, Veles worked well with the DNA variant and the way in which Solvi...
-Mark_S
How much do you think Anna’s mother knew about her husband’s activities? Do you think she felt her daughter was involved?
I wonder if it was an "ignorance is bliss" sort of relationship. Granted, it doesn't sound like there was much bliss, but there is a big difference between recognizing that something is "off" with your partner and believing that he might be a serial killer. If she felt stuck/trapped, it sort of m...
-Mark_S
Do you think Anna's mother is a bad person?
While I can only imagine what life would be like for someone like her who discovers the real identity of her husband, to essentially take that out on Anna will definitely not earn her any votes for mother of the year. Anna was a child who needed help, and her mother seemed completely uninterested...
-Mark_S
Anna hides her identity from everyone, even those closest to her, because she thinks most people “would recoil from that proximity to evil” – they’d shun her because of her father’s activities (p. 250). Do you agree with her?
I definitely understand why she would want to hide that from everyone. As others have already commented, people are often quick to assume that those connected to criminals (i.e., Ted Bundy) knew and/or are somehow responsible for what happened. I can't see how revealing that part of her past woul...
-Mark_S
Who did you suspect of carrying out the murders? Were you surprised at the identity of the guilty party?
I remember being surprised when Parkes first "meets" Anna and didn't seem to recognize her. For someone who was that involved and obsessed with the case, it just didn't make sense. That made me suspicious of him in general, but I did not have him pegged as the killer.
-Mark_S
Was Anna's father the only reason why Anna felt like a monster? How do you think her mother might have played a role?
Love this question! As much of a monster as her father was, there isn't much in terms of redeeming qualities when talking about mom either. Solvinic did a great job of exploring how Anna's present state of mind was impacted by her relationship with both parents.
-Mark_S
Do you think Anna is on her way to healing?
Yes. I think Anna is beginning to realize that she is a person capable of being loved and giving love to others. It seems like she always felt broken and unworthy of love. The trauma she experienced as a child and feelings of rejection and abandonment were simmering beneath the surface and affect...
-Kathy_Downey
For what audience would you recommend The Hunter’s Daughter? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
Readers who like mysteries, police procedurals, and morally conflicted characters would like this book. The Acorn series on Prime video is in a similar vein.
-Colleen_A
Who was protecting Anna from potentially dangerous people?
There seemed to be a host of individuals who protected Anna. Her father, by teaching her about the forest gave her extraordinary survival skills. Nick tried but didn't really understand how to protect her—but then, he had his own issues that involved Anna's father. I think her boss tried to prote...
-Donna_M
Strange things happen to Anna throughout the book and there is talk of even stranger things that have gone on before. Did you think there was a logical explanation for everything, or did you believe in the strangeness?
.I thought th is was a well written mystery, I really did not like the references to supernatural as an explanation for the occurrences. I accept that Anna was very young when her father with whom she was very close started to involve her in his fantasy, but felt this use was one of the books sho...
-Barry_E
Nick is always there for Anna. As you learned more about him at the end of the book, does his care for Anna help shape your opinion of forgiveness and healing from trauma?
I liked Anna and Nick's characters and was glad that he was able to not put the burden of her father's actions that inflicted trauma in his life on his feelings towards Anna.
-Donna_J
What are you reading this week? (8/14/2025)
...ly worth the five star review I left on Goodreads, subsequently watching the dramatization of her novel Normal People on Hulu. This week I am reading The Hunter's Daughter by Nicola Solvinic from Bookbrowse.
-John_B1
About the The Hunters Daughter by Nicola Solvinic category
Please join BookBrowse in our book club discussion of The Hunter's Daughter by Nicola Solvinic.
-system
"Solvinic delivers a terrific thriller that readers will find hard to believe is her first novel. … A mix of Karen Dionne's The Marsh King's Daughter and Thomas Harris's The Silence of the Lambs, this impressive novel spotlights the difficulty of escaping a troubling past. Add some supernatural elements, and the result is a tale to remember." —Library Journal (starred review)
"An engrossing, hallucinogenic read that vibrates with increasing tension." —BookPage (starred review)
"Solvinic is remarkably assured for a first-timer, lacing the action with elegant descriptions of the rural landscape and enough valid suspects to keep the pot boiling. Readers will look forward to this promising suspense author's next outing." —Publishers Weekly
"This atmospheric and haunting mystery will keep the reader guessing to the very last page. A must-read for lovers of serial-killer thrillers and mysteries with a darker edge." —Booklist
"Original and compulsively readable, The Hunter's Daughter is a pagan treasure; dark, memorable and ultimately satisfying. Vivid and fast-paced, the story draws you in from the first page and never lets go." —Scott Hawkins, author of The Library at Mount Char
"Adept depictions of childhood trauma and the power of legacy drive this story about the daughter of a serial killer who must now investigate her father's copycat. Atmospheric, taut and haunting, The Hunter's Daughter is a thoroughly compelling read!" —Wendy Walker, bestselling author of What Remains
This information about The Hunter's Daughter was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Nicola Solvinic has a master's degree in criminology and has worked in and around criminal justice for more than a decade. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and cats, where she is surrounded by a secret garden full of beehives.
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