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Bharath's Reviews > The Crucifix Killer
The Crucifix Killer (Robert Hunter, #1)
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Almost within a few pages of starting this book, I was regretting my decision. The violence is high & very graphic. And yet, I braved it and kept going. This is largely a very good story with excellent pace & great character development.
LAPD Detective Robert Hunter works on the most difficult of cases. His instincts are invariably right and even when he gives it to others, his gut instinct finally has proved right. He has a new partner Carlos Garcia, a rookie who hope to learn from his senior partner. Hunter has some painful memories – bad cases and the recent death of his former partner who was married to his cousin. They are called on to investigate an especially cruel murder of a woman, and the killer leaves a mark of a double crucifix on her neck. The killer calls Hunter on and off – challenging him and playing mind games with him. Other gruesome murders follow. It is not clear what the link is between the victims – they seem not to have known each other. So, what motivates the serial killer – is it a warped sense of cleansing society of perceived sins?
I loved Robert Hunter’s character, as also that of Garcia. There is a decent amount of subtle research on serial killers and the approach Hunter follows feels very authentic. The reveal on the motivation of the murders is a good one and impossible to guess till you get there. Nevertheless, some of the ends are not tied up very well. (view spoiler).
This is a book where you need to brace yourself for some really gruesome violence and associated descriptions. If you can do that, this is a good story, a page turner, though with some plot holes. Had the author steered clear of sensationalism, this could have been an excellent read.
My rating: 3.75 / 5.
LAPD Detective Robert Hunter works on the most difficult of cases. His instincts are invariably right and even when he gives it to others, his gut instinct finally has proved right. He has a new partner Carlos Garcia, a rookie who hope to learn from his senior partner. Hunter has some painful memories – bad cases and the recent death of his former partner who was married to his cousin. They are called on to investigate an especially cruel murder of a woman, and the killer leaves a mark of a double crucifix on her neck. The killer calls Hunter on and off – challenging him and playing mind games with him. Other gruesome murders follow. It is not clear what the link is between the victims – they seem not to have known each other. So, what motivates the serial killer – is it a warped sense of cleansing society of perceived sins?
I loved Robert Hunter’s character, as also that of Garcia. There is a decent amount of subtle research on serial killers and the approach Hunter follows feels very authentic. The reveal on the motivation of the murders is a good one and impossible to guess till you get there. Nevertheless, some of the ends are not tied up very well. (view spoiler).
This is a book where you need to brace yourself for some really gruesome violence and associated descriptions. If you can do that, this is a good story, a page turner, though with some plot holes. Had the author steered clear of sensationalism, this could have been an excellent read.
My rating: 3.75 / 5.
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Reading Progress
October 2, 2021
–
Started Reading
October 2, 2021
– Shelved
October 9, 2021
–
Finished Reading
