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Tropes : Serial Killer, Revenge

Triggers : Gore, Rape, Murder, Torture

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My Recommendation: Skip reading the synopsis.. GO IN BLIND!!

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Synopsis:

“When the body of a young woman is discovered in a derelict cottage in the middle of Los Angeles National Forest, Homicide Detective Robert Hunter finds himself entering a horrific and recurring nightmare. Naked, strung from two parallel wooden posts, the victim was sadistically tortured before meeting an excruciatingly painful death. 

All the skin has been ripped from her face – while she was still alive. 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 are about to enter a nightmare beyond imagining.”

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Quick Review:

If you love being engrossed in series such as Law and Order: SVU or Criminal Minds, get ready for the wild ride through a hunt of a deadly, gruesome killer!

I loved the immediate draw the story took to pull us in!

While I did figure out the killer not too far into the story, every toss and turn had me in its clutches until the very end, wondering if I was truly right or not. All the way to the point where I pondered in shock whether I should immediately go into book 2.

Unfortunately, and to a degree that I haven’t been able to fully figure out, this series has become VERY difficult to track down. Between my library denying my request for the ebook AND the fact the majority of the series is not available for purchase, I had to regretfully shy away from continuing on.

It could be due to the unhinged, brutal way the author writes his murders.. which is why I highly recommend this book for readers with a stronger stomach and who may not be easily triggered.

The writing does contain a level of graphic descriptiveness not normally shown in many books I’ve read in the past. But I will give the author credit, I was hooked from page to page!

The plot does focus on the idea of wrongful convictions when the recently deceased ‘killer’ appeared to be striking again, causing so many doubts and mazes for us in figuring out who could it really be??

While I think this first book could be read as a standalone, I hope I will someday be able to get a hold of the rest of the series. There is a satisfying ending with a minimal cliffhanger that does leave a door open, similar to tv shows where it concludes with the characters’ backstories open-ended.

If you are looking for an engaging, serial killer-based, crime novel, I recommend giving this one a try!

Would I Recommend?: Yes, for select readers..

How I Read It: Library eBook

Final Rating:

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More Book Information:

Published: October 1, 2009

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: Adult Mystery / Thriller

Pages: 448

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Happy Reading, Kat