The Executioner – Book Review

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a review on a Chris Carter novel, The Crucifix Killer. I adored Carter’s writing style, it was something that completely sucked me in and made me want to read more of his novels. Now, I know I was late to the party as I didn’t realise it was the first in a series of novels featuring Detective Hunter. I got straight onto Amazon when I finished the last one and ordered the next one – The Executioner.

I found this one even better. What I love most about them is that you can tell they’re by the same author. The voice is consistent, as is the characterisation and the fear Carter puts into the novels. At times you find yourself holding your breath in anticipation. It also doesn’t hold back on the violence. Carter writes in such a way that you can almost feel the horrors that the victims go through and it makes you shudder.

Hunter and Garcia are a great team and they’re a joy to read. Sometimes, when it comes to detective novels, there’s always one detective who’s a bit of a dick quite frankly, but you find yourself warming to both of them. Their cases never get easier and I think, at times, the serial killers are horrifying. Carter knows when to stop describing the pain of the victims and leaves it hanging in the air for the reader to imagine the terror they must feel.

A lot of tension is created through the writing and I love how Carter writes short chapters. They build on the anticipation and I haven’t guessed the killer once yet. There are always sub-plots in the novels which never take away from the main story, but are a good addition. The characters are sometimes truly disturbing and cruel. It amazes me that someone could write such horror so adeptly and make it addictive as I’m already so excited to order the next books in the series!

The executioner is named so by the media because he makes his victims suffer in the most brutal way – he makes them face their fear, and kills them in that way. Slowly and agonising. It takes a man of steel to go through with that and to enjoy their pain and suffering. I’m not going to say much more because it will give too much away, but I will say this, I did not see the murderer being who it was! If you end up guessing it, you’ll make a better detective than me. Although, I definitely urge you to try out this series – it’s so bloody good. If you’re into crime thrillers, you won’t find many that are more addictive.

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