Apparently I've read the second book in this series (cos Goodreads tells me so) but I couldn't remember it or Detective Robert Hunter, and I'm surprised as I most certainly am a convert after this book.

The premise itself was enough to get me in - though the deaths inflicted on the recipients of he-with-the-demonic-voice (and mask!) is a tad gruesome. I read a lot of books about serial killers and on those occasions I try to imagine victims' last minutes I find it just too overwhelming.

But enough reality... back to the land of fiction where the baddies exist on the page and nowhere else.

I loved most of this book. I really liked Hunter, and Carter introduced us to the victims and their friends / family prior to their deaths, so offers some great character development.

My one grumble (dropping it from a 4-star read to 3.5 stars) is that he doesn't really give us a fair playing field when it comes to working out whodunnit. I've mentioned before I dislike knowing who the baddie is from the get-go and thankfully Carter doesn't go there. He gives us a few suspects (and I was sure I'd picked it... but was wrong!); so their identity and motivation is revealed at the end but... I didn't really think we were given the tools to work it out. Although frighteningly, maybe that was just me?!

I'd love to go back and read more of this series now as I'm intrigued by Hunter. We didn't see a lot of his abilities here (given his hefty background in psychology and profiling) so I'm keen for more.

The first chapter of this book will certainly grab your attention! This is one fiendish monster who likes to play grotesque games and torment his victims. The suspense was darkly intense and sustained throughout the book with the police playing catch-up and trying to work out the motives, let alone the profile of the monster. The plot is clever and original and there's no way you'll guess the who or the why.

This is the first book I have read by Chris Carter, so although it works well as a stand alone novel, I was very pleased to find out that there are already seven previous books in the series to look forward to. Detective Robert Hunter is a great character, a mix of psychologist and detective with good intuition. I also loved Mr J, a husband of one of the victims, with a most unusual job and hope he turns up again.

What a great read. This is a great example of what a crime novel should be. If you have not read this series add it to your list now. However don't fear you can read each novel as a stand alone novel. Carter is right on point with his writing including all yhe topical elements of todays social media world. A solid thriller and a solid story. Carter is a great writer.

Fiction: Crime

Score: 9/10


"Detective Robert Hunter is the best profiler the FBI has never had".

This quote comes directly from the pages of this book and it's so true. He is the greatest, the smartest and he also sounds incredibly hot. Unfortunately for the women of this world, Robert Hunter is always too busy catching serial killers to have any time for relationships. When he's not chasing serial killers, he's usually out drinking expensive single malt whiskey at LA bars. Although in this book he does at least try to drink single malt whiskey with a female professor from UCLA, although we shall have to wait until the next book to see how that goes.

But back to what Robert Hunter does best, serial killer chasing, and he's back to doing it in this book. This ones a real sicko too, via video call he kills one person in front of that persons closest person in the world. After asking two questions, one he knows they know the answer to and one he knows they don't know the answer to, he leaves the other person to live the rest of their lives with the guilt of not getting it right and letting their loved one die. It has all the hallmarks of the fantastic debut novel by M J Arlidge, "Eeny Meeny".

As with all of the superb author Chris Carter's books, I couldn't put it down and it was read in one day. Now I wait with baited breath until my favourite "never been a FBI profiler" detective returns.