Luna 's Reviews > The Crucifix Killer

Phenomenal. Just loved it! So the author is a graduate from the University of Michigan where he studied psychology and criminal behaviour. If you read his goodreads bio you see that he was a male dancer, a guitarist in various bands for about ten years and in those ten years he travelled the world. I got the tenth year anniversary edition of the Crucifix Killer and Carter tells the story of how he got into writing. I loved the tenth year anniversary intro as it basically describes myself when it comes to sleep patterns and such.
Our main character Robert Hunter was a child prodigy who whizzed through school. He like our author specialized in psychology and criminal behaviour and could have been so much more than an LAPD Homicide detective but got into policing because of what happened in his life.
The book starts at the end so to speak with Hunter’s new partner caught and caged by the serial killer. The serial killer contacts Hunter letting him know the partner has been caught and Hunter has a chance to save him but if he fails Hunter and his partner will both die. From here the story flashes back to the start of it all. It all flows smoothlessly, trust me…….
So we are then first exposed to a violent crime scene. One where the victim was sadistically tortured prior to being killed. On the back of the neck is the familiar tattoo left by the killer which is a double crucifix. Problem is that that killer known as the crucifix killer was caught, sentenced to life and then ended their own life in jail – so was this the work of the copycat or did they convict the wrong crucifix killer? Hunter always had his suspicions that they got the wrong guy.
If the main story line isn’t enough there is also the story line of other killings going on. At first Hunter is convinced they are all connected. The second killing deals with a striking blonde who works for a pimp known as D-King. He runs drugs, guns and girls and fenced items. He’s into everything and is one bad ass who is well connected to the streets of LA. He is a different type of pimp though who actually cares for his girls and when his favourite girl is taken from out under his nose and tortured and killed he is hell bent on revenge. When Hunter goes knocking on his door for information Hunter also shares some information with D-King and actually wouldn’t mind at all if D-King gets to our killer first.
The author uses his knowledge of LA to really paint the scene so to speak. I have to admit that I seldom rip through a book. I even have a habit of saving the last 40 pages or so for a reading occasion of its own. Yet this novel gripped me like few do. It’s like 420 pages long. I usually read in the afternoon but I just kept this book by my side and read it everywhere. I read it in three days. It was like I had to keep reading and this never, ever happens to me.
The one thing I found weird is how well the author gets into the life of the homicide detective. He is bang on with regards to personality traits, family life, drinking habits and the job itself. He even gets into the effect that crime scene smells have on a detective and talk to anyone who has been unfortunate enough to work a gruesome crime scene and they will tell you that the smells are the worst. I mean they are bad in and of themselves but you just cannot shake them. It’s like they get into your brain and you just can’t get rid of them. They can stay with you for days. Yet with all this great insight into homicide policing there are no acknowledgements at all. I’ve started the second in the series as well and there are no policing acknowledgements there either. If Carter came upon on this on his own kudos to him. Regardless it’s a mute point and his description of being a homicide detective is bang on. I say this knowing a lot of readers with appreciate the authenticity of it all.
The style of the book is excellent too. Shorter chapters written from different character perspectives. If all flows so nicely. There are many twists and turns and you can see a few of them coming but the ending is excellent even though I somehow doubt the killer would have done what they did at the end. Yet the psychology behind it may in fact be sound and it is definitely buyable.
There are some gruesome scenes in this book but they are really well written. Having said that I’m sure there will be some that think some scenes may be a bit much. As I mentioned I ordered the next two books in the series and have started the second. I rarely read back to back books in a series but this was just so good. Clearly a five star rating and so highly recommended!! Do yourself a favour and add this author to your thriller list…………