THE FIRST CHILLING NOVEL IN THE ACCLAIMED ROBERT HUNTER SERIES
When the body of a young woman is discovered in a derelict cottage in Los Angeles, Robert Hunter is thrown into a nightmare case. The victim suffered a terrible death, and on the nape of her neck has been carved a strange double-cross: the signature of a psychopath known as the Crucifix Killer.
But that's impossible. Because two years ago, the Crucifix Killer was caught and executed. Could this therefore be a copycat killer? Or could the unthinkable be true? Is the real killer still out there, ready to embark once again on a vicious and violent killing spree, selecting his victims seemingly at random, taunting Robert Hunter with his inability to catch him?
Hunter and his rookie partner, Garcia, need to solve this case and fast.
It's my pleasure to be sharing my review of The Crucifix Killer as part of the Chris Carter blogathon organised by Tracy Fenton from Compulsive Readers. My apologies for the delay in posting due to an ill family member. Many thanks to Tracy and Simon & Schuster for inviting me and for my digital copy of the novel.
Whenever dark, gory crime thrillers are discussed, Chris Carter's name inevitably comes up. He's been an author I've been meaning to read for ages and so what better place to start than with his first book, The Crucifix Killer.
The novel opens with a bang when Detective Robert Hunter receives a chilling phone call; the metallic voice on the other end of the line only ever means bad news but now the stakes have never been higher. Hunter faces a soul-destroying predicament but readers have to wait a little to discover what happens next here as the storyline then switches to five weeks earlier. This impressive opening is full of tension and drama and the pace rarely lets up throughout.
The first murder that take place is certainly gruesome but the actual killing occur on the page and so I'd argue it isn't gratuitous; nevertheless anybody with a weak stomach should be warned because Chris Carter doesn't hold back with his visceral description of the body – or the torture endured by the victim before she died. It's enough to make Hunter's rookie partner, Carlos Garcia vomit, which isn't a surprising reaction given the atrocities committed.
The relationship between Hunter and Garcia is perhaps the most interesting in the book, especially after we learn of Hunter's past and the tragic death of his previous partner, Scott Wilson. The insights into Hunter's personal life and what drives him helped bring greater depth to a character who, in many ways, is the rather stereotypical maverick detective. He lives alone, drinks too much and doesn't always follow the rules. He is also a former child prodigy who received his PhD in Criminal Behaviour Analysis and Biopsychology, and has developed his body so his physique matches his impressive intellect and of course, almost every woman he meets flirts with him. However, his doubts and guilt regarding past mistakes meant that I quickly became invested in him as a character.
The killer always seems to be one step ahead of the detectives and as the body count rises, this complex investigation shows no signs of being solved. There are some really intense scenes throughout the novel, including a greyhound race where the result means the difference between life and death. Of course, Hunter finally prevails but even after he figures out the identity of the killer, the exciting closing chapters of this twisty, shocking thriller are suspenseful and emotive.
The Crucifix Killer is a solid start to the series and a seriously addictive read. I'm looking forward to reading the next book soon. Definitely recommended to all gritty crime fiction fans.
The Crucifix Killer is published in the UK by Simon & Schuster. Purchasing links can be found here.
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