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  • Published: 31 March 2026
  • ISBN: 9780593540237
  • Imprint: Putnam
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 352
  • RRP: $39.99

The Hunter




An atmospheric thriller that explores the dark side of a small town and asks: How can we uncover the truth when we keep lying to ourselves?

“Herrera has a gift for drawing vivid characters and rich settings. A voicey and compelling debut that is not to be missed.” —Karin Slaughter

An atmospheric thriller that explores the dark side of a small town and asks: How can we uncover the truth when we keep lying to ourselves?

“Herrera has a gift for drawing vivid characters and rich settings. A voicey and compelling debut that is not to be missed.” —Karin Slaughter

After reckless behavior costs NYPD detective Leigh O’Donnell her job and her marriage, she returns with her four-year-old daughter to her beautiful hometown of Copper Falls, Ohio. While the town may seem idyllic, something rotten lies at its core. Three men in town have drowned in what Leigh suspects to be a triple homicide. She hopes that by finding out who killed them, she just might get her life back on course.

Headstrong and intuitive, Leigh isn’t afraid to face a killer, but she has to do more than that to discover the truth about what happened to those men. She must unravel a web of secrets going back generations, and, in doing so, plumb the darkness within herself.

Perfect for fans of Mare of Easttown, this taut debut is a haunting look at how the search for truth often leads back to the most unlikely of places.

  • Published: 31 March 2026
  • ISBN: 9780593540237
  • Imprint: Putnam
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 352
  • RRP: $39.99

Praise for The Hunter

A Reader’s Digest October Book Club Pick 
A South Floria Sun Sentinel Best Mysteries of 2023 Pick

“[A] complex plot, which is matched by thoroughly realized characters whose actions are anything but predictable. Herrera is a writer to watch.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The Hunter will bring thriller fans the immersive read they're looking for.” —Good Morning America (online)

"A thriller with depth." —Booklist

"An absorbing, twisty read" —Criminal Element

“With its language and momentum, the book propels the reader to the last page.” —New York Journal of Books