THE EXECUTIONER

A gruesome scene awaits Detective Robert Hunter on the steps of a Los Angeles church:  the body of a priest, violently killed.  It’s clear the murderer has taken care to lay out the murder scene, posing the body in a particular way.  Most shocking of all, the priest’s head has been removed and replaced with the head of a dog.

At first, Detective Hunter believes it to be a ritualistic killing.  But then other bodies turn up, and though apparently unconnected, a pattern emerges.  All the victims were killed, horribly and bizarrely, in a way that reflects their greatest fear.  The victims apparently have nothing in common, and don’t appear to have any connection to each other.  But it becomes clear that someone knows all about them, including their greatest and most secret fears.  Detective Hunter sets about trying to find the crucial clue that connects the victims.

This is the second book featuring Detective Hunter, but it stands alone in its own right.  I haven’t read Chris Carter’s first book, but I didn’t feel I was missing out on any major back story.

This book is not for the faint-hearted.  The murders are graphic, and exceptionally gruesome.  But it’s tightly plotted, and I found it a thrilling read, with twists and turns all the way through.  Perhaps this isn’t a book for everyone, but I really enjoyed it.  If you’re fond of gritty thrillers and innovative serial killers, this one’s a must read.