Call Me Hunter: A Novel

by Jim Shockey Narrated by Scott Brick, Jim Shockey

Overview

INSTANT #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

An elite secret society of killers has controlled the world's treasures for hundreds of years...until one member tears himself free to salvage his soul and protect his daughter's life in this “astoundingly original, relentlessly paced, and purely authentic” (Jack Carr) debut.

The single greatest work of art in the world is not in the Louvre or The Met, or in any private collection. In fact, its whereabouts are unknown.

Once in a long while, a child is born possessing the rarest of gifts, the innate ability to feel impossible beauty, to recognize priceless works of art. When such a child is discovered, a 250-year-old secret organization called Our World trains them to acquire the greatest works of art through theft, bribery, forgery, and even murder. Once found, the masterpiece will disappear again without anyone ever knowing it surfaced and sold for billions of dollars of profit at a secret auction attended by only the wealthiest of the art world's patrons.

One of Our World's rare geniuses is Zhivago. He is also a psychopathic killer. On his trail is Hunter, a man who will stop at nothing to destroy the organization and save his daughter from suffering the same fate her mother did at its hands.

Editorial Reviews

Connor Sullivan

"Shockey has woven a yarn so original in concept, and masterful in design the pages practically turned themselves. I'll be thinking of this book for years to come. A complete winner."

(Starred Review) MyPointReviews.com

"An epic thriller unlike any story I have read in quite some time. Certainly the most original. We get deep state, conspiracy, and a chase across Canada to unravel this quite original novel. Fans of Brad Thor, Jack Carr, and Brad Meltzer will devour this action filled thriller. Highly recommended."

Chris Hauty

"A world-building spine-tingler that delivers on multiple levels, CALL ME HUNTER is an instant, dark-as-night thriller classic. Jim Shockey's debut is boldly original, a canon shot across the bow that heralds the arrival of a brand spanking new and out-sized talent in the genre."

Gregg Hurwitz

"My hat’s off to Jim Shockey. One of the world’s greatest hunters spins a tale of pursuit of a different stripe. CALL ME HUNTER is a fascinating descent into the world of priceless art and artifacts and the brilliant savant child born to identify them. Throw in a passel of psychopathic killers and a shadowy organization bent on obtaining these objects at any cost and you have the making of a first-rate thriller."

The Real Book Spy

"An authentic, riveting thriller that stands out for its unique storylines, CALL ME HUNTER reads like a cross between something from Dan Brown and Brad Thor. Shockey, who is known for his TV show, among other things, is considered one of the world’s greatest hunters, and he puts his vast knowledge of that subject on full display here. Well-written and infused with informative, expert details from a true master of his craft, CALL ME HUNTER has all the makings of a hit."

Rick Hansen

"Humans have been telling stories since the beginning of time, and Jim Shockey carries on that tradition masterfully. CALL ME HUNTER will pique your curiosity and captivate your attention with its adventure and mystery so that you just can’t put it down."

Willie Robertson

"Just read CALL ME HUNTER! What a great read . . . So good. Could be an awesome TV series like THE TERMINAL LIST."

Cole Hauser

"CALL ME HUNTER is a captivating account of a young girl that brings the reader a sense of empowerment, resiliency, and hope. A visceral reminder that humans are animals at the very core."

Mark Sullivan

There were so many moments in Jim Shockey’s CALL ME HUNTER where I said “Is this true? Is this real?” that the experience reminded me of reading The DaVinci Code for the first time. Written with deep insight into the mysterious world of art and art collectors, Shockey’s debut is riveting and wholly original. I loved it.

Jack Carr

"If you think you know Jim Shockey from his award-winning shows on television, think again. CALL ME HUNTER proves Jim is more than one of the world’s most respected hunters and outdoorsman. Much more. He is a man of letters. CALL ME HUNTER is astoundingly original, relentlessly paced, and purely authentic in a way that only Jim could deliver. Shockey's debut thriller exceeds all expectations. It will leave you breathless and wondering if the story that just consumed you was written on a foundation of more than mere whispers of the truth."

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr

Astoundingly original, relentlessly paced, and purely authentic.”

New York Times bestselling author Mark Sullivan

Written with deep insight into the mysterious world of art and art collectors, Shockey’s debut is riveting and wholly original.”

Epic 5 Stars MyPointReviews.com

"An epic thriller unlike any story I have read in quite some time. Certainly the most original. We get deep state, conspiracy, and a chase across Canada to unravel this quite original novel. Fans of Brad Thor, Jack Carr, and Brad Meltzer will devour this action filled thriller. Highly recommended."

Kirkus Reviews

2023-07-26
A mysterious manuscript sends a young journalist on a collision course with an ancient and deadly secret society.

Buried in Shockey’s thriller is a potentially interesting story about a preternaturally gifted child, a murderous secret society, a race for priceless art, and a young journalist on the verge of bringing a 250-year mystery to light. But getting past the roadblocks Shockey erects in order to find the good stuff is harder than it should be. The story begins when journalist Nyala finds a manuscript left at her door, written by a mysterious author who calls himself Tsau-z. He writes of a boy named Hunter who possesses a unique supernatural talent: He can immediately tell the value of antique objects. Animals defer to him: Dogs “seemed to nod” at him and “birds never flew away” from him. Nyala shares that gift: “Deer didn’t run from her. Neither did rabbits hop away as she walked by.” She’s fascinated and sets out to verify the story. But Shockey seems to have a muddled understanding of how journalism works, and Nyala herself smacks of wishful thinking, the result of the cultural and political agenda of the author rather than an actual person. She’s a beautiful but virginal 20-something with “exotic” looks and “coppery skin.” She disdains other journalists as fake news and thinks guys with man buns are “gender-confused.” She admires Hemingway, John Wayne, and the Guess Who, and loves to watch the hunting channel. This is convenient: The villain using Hunter for nefarious purposes is an animal rights activist who dreams of banning hunting altogether. The plot grows increasingly convoluted, making it frustrating to follow, and Shockey’s inability to flesh out characters in any meaningful way robs the narrative of urgency. Add long search descriptions from Wikipedia and Google, and your interest in Tsau-z’s tale wanes long before his secrets are revealed.

Poor character development and a convoluted plot hurt what might have been an interesting story.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940160548654
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	10/17/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1
Zhivago is dead.

I hunted him down and I killed him.

The police are gone and the street is dark now. Quiet. I stood right here and watched them carry him away. No. Watched isn’t the right word; I enjoyed them carrying him away. He will never say “exquisite” again. He will never hurt you.

Zhivago is only the first. Before this is done, they will all know me as fear.

You knew me a long time ago by another name. Know me now as Tsau-z.

I am the Man of Sores.

All this you need to know.

Soul Catcher.

This is all you need to know.

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