What is the mood of The Most Dangerous Game?

The mood is clearly suspenseful, and readers are led into
an adventure story that many find compelling.  It is one of the most compelling themes
of literature, and the conflict of man against man, hunter and hunted, is fairly common.
 The interesting twist here is that the author misleads most readers into making
Rainsford into the sympathetic hero of the story.  By then end, we do root for him to
overcome Zaroff.  But why?  Is Rainsford a good guy?  Some readers seem to think so.  If
you look closely, however, he is an arrogant man, interested only in his own well being.
 Early in his conversation with Zaroff, Rainsford is told there are sailors caged in the
basement for future hunts.  At the end, after he dispatches Zaroff, Rainsford assumes
Zaroff's place.  He sleeps a comfortable sleep in Zaroff's bed.   And the men in the
basement?  Rainsford says and does nothing.  The mood then is one of suspense, but there
is an undercurrent as well of complicity of the audience.  Is Rainsford any different
from Zaroff?  Are we?