Genre: Dark Romance, Thriller, Horror
Subgenres: Erotic Thriller, Gothic Romance, Psychological Suspense
Series: Yes, this is the second book in the "Cat and Mouse Duet" series. You absolutely must read Haunting Adeline first.
A Romance? Maybe. A Psychological Rollercoaster? Absolutely.
If Haunting Adeline made you question your morals, Hunting Adeline is here to shatter them completely. This book doesn’t just dip its toes into the dark—it dives headfirst into the abyss. H.D. Carlton turns up the intensity, dragging readers through a harrowing tale of violence, survival, and obsessive, all-consuming love. If you thought Zade was intense before, just wait—because now, he’s completely unhinged, and honestly? I couldn't look away.
A Quick Look at the Plot (No Spoilers, I Promise)
Adeline has been kidnapped by a human trafficking ring, and let me tell you—it’s brutal. Her once-thrilling cat-and-mouse game with Zade has turned into a nightmare of survival, and her only hope is that her obsessive, morally grey stalker-turned-savior finds her before it’s too late.
Meanwhile, Zade is on a warpath. This man isn’t just searching for her—he’s ready to burn the entire world down to get her back. If Haunting Adeline was about the twisted dance between predator and prey, Hunting Adeline is about what happens when the predator loses his mind and goes feral.
Tropes & Themes
Tropes: Stalker romance, antihero obsession, rescue mission, revenge, survival, brutal captors
Themes: Trauma and recovery, vengeance, psychological warfare, the blurred line between love and possession
The Overall Vibe
Think claustrophobic intensity. The entire book feels suffocatingly dark, as if you’re trapped right alongside Adeline, desperately waiting for Zade to find her. The tension is relentless, and when the violence hits—it hits hard. This isn’t a casual dark romance with a sprinkle of angst. It’s disturbing, gut-wrenching, and emotionally exhausting in a way that’ll leave you staring at the ceiling at 2 AM, wondering what you just read.
Heads-Up: Here’s What You’re In For
This book is not for the faint of heart. Carlton doesn’t just hint at the darkness—she throws you into the deep end and holds you there.
- Explicit, on-page sexual violence (this is a major part of Adeline’s storyline)
- Torture, extreme violence, and murder
- Human trafficking
- Dubious/non-consent themes
- Mental and physical trauma
If any of these are hard limits for you, seriously, do not read this book.
Why This Book Slaps (And Sometimes Stings)
This book delivers an absolutely suffocating level of tension, where every chapter is dripping with urgency—you physically need to know what happens next. And then there’s Zade, who goes full psycho in a way that should make you want to run for the hills, but somehow, you’re still rooting for him. If you thought he was intense in Haunting Adeline, he’s on a whole new level here—dangerous, relentless, and completely unhinged. Adeline’s survival arc is just as powerful. She is put through absolute hell, yet she refuses to break, and watching her fight, endure, and claw her way through the nightmare is both heartbreaking and gripping. That said, the book isn’t without its flaws. Some scenes drag, particularly in Adeline’s captivity, where the emotional depth is necessary but starts to feel repetitive. And overall, it’s overwhelming—even for dark romance veterans, this book is relentless. There are no breathers, no soft moments, just pain, trauma, and revenge, back to back, making it an intense, exhausting experience.
Personal Take (aka My Brain is Still Processing)
I finished this book feeling wrecked. It’s disturbing, it’s addictive, and it left me feeling both horrified and fascinated. This is not a feel-good read. There were times I wanted to put it down, but at the same time, I physically couldn’t stop reading. Carlton does an incredible job of making you feel everything—the fear, the pain, the desperation, the twisted devotion. I don’t know if I’d ever reread this book, but I can’t deny that it did exactly what it set out to do—make me feel trapped, haunted, and emotionally wrung out.
Writing Style & Pacing
Carlton’s prose is visceral—you don’t just read it, you feel it. She leans hard into descriptions, making every scene cinematic and immersive. That being said, the pacing is uneven. Some sections feel like they drag forever, while others fly by in a blur of violence and chaos.
The Characters
- Adeline: This girl suffers. But her will to survive makes her arc one of the strongest parts of the book. She’s broken but refuses to shatter completely.
- Zade: A walking red flag wrapped in black tactical gear. But somehow, Carlton makes him work. His obsession with Adeline reaches terrifying new levels, yet there’s a raw, desperate devotion that makes you root for him—even when you shouldn’t.
- The villains: Absolutely horrific. The human trafficking ring isn’t just a plot device—it’s viscerally, disturbingly real.
The Setting is Just as Intense as the Story
Forget gothic mansions—this time, we’re trapped in grimy, hellish locations where danger lurks in every shadow. Whether it’s the abandoned freight train where Adeline hides or the blood-stained rooms of her captors, Carlton makes every setting feel suffocatingly real.
If You Liked…
- The Mindfck Series* by S.T. Abby
- Captive in the Dark by C.J. Roberts
- Sick Fcks* by Tillie Cole
Then you’ll probably love (or at least be thoroughly disturbed by) Hunting Adeline.
Who Should Read This?
- Fans of extreme dark romance who can handle the heaviest content—this book does not hold back.
- Readers who love obsessive, morally grey heroes and don’t mind if their love interests come with a serious body count.
- Anyone who enjoys survival/revenge storylines where romance is tangled up in trauma, darkness, and raw intensity.
Wrapping It Up
Hunting Adeline is one of the darkest, most intense books I’ve ever read. It’s not just dark romance—it’s psychological horror, survival thriller, and vengeance all wrapped into one. It’s brutal, raw, and emotionally exhausting, but if you can handle it, it’s an unforgettable ride.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) – Dark, disturbing, and gripping. Not for the faint of heart, but if you can handle it, you won’t be able to put it down.