Book Review // Predator: Stalking Shadows by James A. Moore
Time to dive back into my ultimate love/hate franchise: Predator. Over the years, the Yautja have stalked their way through novels, comics, and video games. The comics? Usually excellent. The games? Often fun. The novels? Well… let’s say it’s been hit-and-miss.
That said, I’ve enjoyed a few of the older Predator books, so I was curious when I picked up this one. Stalking Shadows is a prequel to the IllFonic video game Predator: Hunting Grounds, which, full confession, I haven’t played. So I’m going in blind, hoping the book stands on its own.
The Details
Title: Predator: Stalking Shadows
Author: James A. Moore
Format: 336 pages, Paperback
Buy now: Amazon
Blurb:
This official prequel novel bridges the gap between Predator 2 and the modern-day continuity of the Predator franchise. U.S. Marine Scott Devlin is assigned to clean up the aftermath of a Los Angeles combat zone, where strange alien tech and weapons are discovered. Soon, he’s shipped off to a jungle mission that looks like a drug cartel takedown, until his team finds human bodies strung up in trees and skinned alive. As Devlin digs deeper, he uncovers secret agencies, savage hunters, and even a potential ally in the never-ending war against the ultimate predators.
Review
Alright, let’s rip off the bandage. Here’s the part some readers will hate: this is a timeline-jumping novel. We begin in LA in the late 1980s, then leapfrog across decades until we arrive in 2019/2020. If you dislike the “10 years later” storytelling trick, this one might frustrate you. Personally, I don’t mind it when it’s handled well, and here, it primarily works.
Our focus is on Scott Devlin, a U.S. Marine who slowly becomes entangled in the hidden war with the Hunters over the course of his career. The novel isn’t about one Predator, one mission, or one showdown; instead, it tracks Devlin’s progression from idealistic young soldier to battle-hardened Spec Ops veteran to top-secret mission organiser.
What makes it stand out is that the story actually cares about the humans. As we get to know Devlin’s comrades, we feel the weight of his losses, the adrenaline of his firefights, and the frustration of constantly fighting enemies no one officially acknowledges as real. For once in a Predator novel, the humans aren’t just disposable meat for the aliens, and that was surprisingly refreshing.
Of course, there are the familiar Predator hallmarks: chance encounters, glowing green blood splatters, mysterious government agents, and plenty of bodies left hanging in trees. But it’s framed within a very human story, which makes the payoffs hit harder.
Final Thoughts
I won’t dive deeper for fear of spoilers (especially since this ties into both the films and the Hunting Grounds game). But here’s the bottom line:
If you’re looking for wall-to-wall Predator action, this may feel a little slow-burning.
If you’re open to a character-driven military thriller that happens to feature the galaxy’s deadliest hunters, this one’s worth your time.
Overall, Predator: Stalking Shadows proved to be a fun and engaging read that captured human resilience in ways I didn’t expect. It’s a solid addition to the Predator mythos, and yes, it made me actually care about the humans for once.
Go read it, before the Hunters find you first.
