The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter.

Hello again! 

It's just me. So I've got another book review for you! This time around I'm going to be reviewing The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter.

So here is a little background on the book and the Author himself. Chris Carter is a crime and fiction author who was born in Brazil and moved to the USA after graduating high school. He studied Psychology and specialised in criminal behaviour. He worked as a criminal psychologist for several years before moving to Los Angeles were he joined several glam rock bands. A few years ago he gave it all up and decided to become a full time writer.

The Crucifix Killer is the first in a series of books which are based on the lives of two detectives, Detective Robert Hunter and his 'rookie' partner Detective Carlos Garcia, who work as part of the homicide squad. Chris carters own description of the book is as follows "In a derelict cottage in Los Angeles National Forest, a young woman is found savagely murdered. Naked, strung from two wooden posts, the skin has been ripped from her face – while she was alive. On the nape of her neck is carved a strange double-cross: the signature of a psychopath known as the Crucifix Killer.

But that’s not possible. Because, two years ago, the Crucifix Killer was caught and executed.

Could this be the work of a copycat killer? Someone who has somehow accessed intricate details of the earlier murders – details that were never made public? Or is Homicide Detective Robert Hunter forced to face the unthinkable? Is the real Crucifix Killer still out there, ready to embark once again on a vicious killing spree, selecting his victims seemingly at random, taunting Hunter with his inability to catch him?

Robert Hunter and his rookie partner are about to enter a nightmare beyond imagining, where there's no such thing as a quick death."

So onto the review! I bought the book second hand from a charity shop, as I was making my way home from college a few months ago (I think). I was waiting for the bus and I had some money, so I thought why not take a look in the second hand book shop? I can honestly say it was a great decision. I had a look around, as I was hoping to stumble on some Stephen King books, when I came across The Crucifix Killer. I was drawn to it as soon as I saw the cover, It looked gruesome and that's exactly what I love from a book! So I bought it.

I started reading it straight away and I fell in love with it almost immediately. It starts at the end of the case which I thought was a great touch, throughout the book you are switched from one time period to another, which can, I must admit, get a little confusing at times! Furthermore I really enjoy how Carter throws you straight into the action, I prefer being thrown into the deep end, so to speak, rather than reading 20 pages of setting the scene and such (It just bores me). Throwing me straight in captures mine (and the readers) attention and encourages me to read on. His use of description throughout the book is just right, It not only helps me establish the setting of the scene in my mind, without spoon feeding me the story or overdosing on the details, but it also helps me build up my own view of the characters, again without being spoon fed a forced view on them.

With most crime and fiction writers I expected the books to, not quickly, but sort of skim over the murders if that makes sense? Carter does no such thing, he describes the murders beautifully. In a totally non creepy way he makes it seem very realistic and I feel helpless because of it, all I want to do it help these poor people. After I read about the first murder I thought to myself 'How is he going to top this? How is he going to make it worse than this?'. By gods grace he managed to make each murder worse than it's predecessor's!

As I mentioned previously it skips randomly between time periods, E.g It starts at the end of the case, then continues at the start etc. When I came to the end of the first chapter and saw that Carter had used that style of writing, it instantly compelled me to read on (to the point were I almost missed my bus stop!) because I wanted to know what happened next, I wanted to know the outcome.

So I continued with my reading after I'd walked up the hill to my house. I really hate hills. Throughout the books Carter drops hints as to who the 'Crucifix killer' may be, you may think it's one person, then all of a Sudden Carter drops another clue which suggests an entirely different person may be responsible! I loved it, I don't like for the books to be to hard to solve, at the same time I hate when they are to easy. A nice balance is just right and Carter has got that spot on.

After each of the murders Carter gives a little background information on the victims in the form  of a story, which ultimately tells us how he/she ended up at the hands of the 'Crucifix killer'. This is a great (and quick) way for me to get to know the victims without, again, going into masses and masses of detail. 

Carter uses words, phrases and experiences, among other things, from his time as a criminal psychologist, which makes the story all the more believable and realistic. It adds, I feel, a human touch to the story. This story (though it may be fiction) isn't just a fairy tale manufactured from nothing, it has elements of reality to it.

Now if you know me well or at all, you'll know I HATE romantic stories. They just make me cringe. The book it's self does have a romantic sub plot, BUT, in Carters defence it is very small  AND a hell of a lot more realistic than most romantic plots/sub plots. I'm willing to make an exception in this books case.

Throughout the week that I was reading the book, I was kept on my toes, always wondering what would happen next, wondering what the Crucifix Killers next move would be. I was never bored reading it, I never wanted to stop once. I felt real compassion towards both the detectives throughout their struggles within the book, be they personal or work related. When I neared the end, I began to go through everything I had learned and tried to solve the case, to no avail sadly. Then I reached the last few pages and it had started to become clearer, the ending truly is an explosive climax. I literately threw my book at the wall and shouted "NO GOD NO" when I discovered the killers Identity. I was not, in a thousand, million days expecting that kind of ending. All I can say is WOW.

The only criticism I have is that it, in my opinion, wasn't long enough. The print in the book was bigger than average, even so I still finished it within a week. I was clearly so desperate to find out what happened eh? I suppose it would have been worse had I not gone onto the internet and discovered the other two. 

So all in all this is, in my honest opinion, one of thee, if not the best books I have ever read and it's successors, The Executioner and The Night Stalker live up to the standards set by the first book. I squealed with delight and joy when I found out Chris Carter is realising ANOTHER yes ANOTHER book in the series. This one is called The Death Sculptor. As you can imagine I have Already pre-ordered it and Eagerly await it's arrival!

Thank you for reading!
Have any of you read The Crucifix Killer? If you have, did you like it as much as me?
Leave a comment and let me know what you think!
Chris x