The Crucifix Killer

Author: Chris Carter
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction
423 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2009

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.

My review
The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter is a dark, graphic, and thoroughly gripping serial killer crime thriller. I’ve heard about this series for a while, and I’m glad I finally picked up the first book. In this debut novel, Carter created a strong foundation for the series by skillfully weaving in the backstories of the two main characters, adding depth right from the start.

In The Crucifix Killer, Carter introduces veteran LAPD Homicide Detective Robert Hunter and his new partner, Carlos Garcia. The bond between these two characters really brings the story to life! I was immediately drawn into the gritty and unsettling setting, and this edge-of-your-seat thriller is filled with realistic dialogue, compelling supporting characters, and a suspenseful narrative that kept me turning pages late into the night.

Although this is a solid crime thriller, I found that some of the dialogue felt a bit stiff, and a few storylines seemed somewhat muddled. While these issues weren’t major, they did influence my decision to rate the book 3.5 stars.

Overall, The Crucifix Killer is a gripping, tense, and fast-paced thriller, packed with twists, red herrings, and fantastic shocks. I’m eager to see how the relationship between Hunter and Garcia evolves as the series progresses. While there were a few plot holes and moments of awkward writing, I expect these will be smoothed out in future installments, and I’m looking forward to diving into the next novel in the series, The Executioner.

My recommendation: read it!