I had high hopes for this book following the first and I was not disappointed in any way. In fact, I can honestly say I enjoy the series so much that it has taken up the position of my second favourite crime series. In case you’re curious as to what my first is, it’s Sharon Bolton’s Lacey Flint series which I highly recommend. Still, if you haven’t jumped into the Robert Hunter books I highly recommend you do. Throughout you’re faced with twists and turns, questions going unanswered until the right moment. Unlike a number of crime books which I have read over the last few months this one is not predictable: throughout you are second guessing everything, your ideas changing as more information comes out in the open. Finding a crime series in which I do not work things out before the end is always great, hence why I recommend these so highly. Moreover, there’s some laughter in there too – so that you’re not constantly stuck in the darkness of the crime. Honestly, if you’re a crime fan pick up the Robert Hunter series: I assure you, you will not regret it!

Hunter and Garcia are called out to a particularly shocking murder scene. The inside of a Los Angeles church is blood splattered worse than any abattoir. On the altar steps is the body of a priest who has been decapitated and his head has been replaced by that of a stray dog. On closer examination the forensic team find the number 3 written on his chest in blood, the blood from a pregnant woman. The number 3 indicates, perhaps, that this is victim number 3 and they have a sadistic serial killer on their hands. he first murder may hint of anger against religion or devil worship of sorts, but the plot revolves around bullying, albeit bullying of the most extreme and vicious kind. The murders are brutal, almost visceral to the reader. In fact you could run through a thesaurus and still not find the most appropriate gruesome words to describe some, but they are certainly creative. Add to the mix run ins with authority figures, Hunter’s insomnia and emotional issues, and a few twists and turns and you have all you need for a blockbuster of the genre. There’s plenty of serial killer fiction out there and LA is the perfect location, rather than a small English town, to give credibility as sadly, too many real life examples have proved this in past. The graphic nature may put some off or even offend and it really pushed the envelope of credibility at times, but this is fiction written with total conviction and some sense of morality. Compelling at times for me, but if it’s not your cup of tea I can understand.

Detective Robert Hunter investigates the gruesome murder of a priest whose blood-soaked body is discovered on the alter steps. The number 3 is written on his chest in his own blood. When more bodies begin to turn up, Hunter realises each person has been killed in the way that scared them most. It appears the killer knew their worst fears. But how? Hunter must pull out all the stops if he's to bring the killer to justice. The Executioner is the second book in this fantastic series and phew, what an exhilarating read it was! The plot was exceptionally clever with some very gruesome scenes. The short chapters with cliffhanger endings kept me constantly on the edge of my seat with shredded nerves and chewed fingernails. It was a fast-paced thrilling journey into the mind of a sadistic serial killer. A marvellous read.

Thisis the second novel by Chris Carter and it is just as good as the first. Great plot, gruesome murders and I did not have a clue as to the killer. Strong characters and really good read. Could not put id down. Fabulous.

The second in the Robert Hunter Series and as anyone who reads this author will know this is not one for the squeamish! A priest is found brutally murdered in his church in what appears to be some sort of ritualistic killing. LAPD Homicide Detective Robert Hunter and his partner Carlos Garcia are handed the case. This is a partnership made in fictional heaven; they are the perfect foils for each other. Briefly, the killer hasn’t finished yet and soon more bodies are found, each in very different but equally horrible and sadistic circumstances. Hunter re-evaluates and decides they are looking for a killer who somehow knows the victims worst nightmare and he enacts those in the killings. But why these victims? Do they have any connection to each other? I’m fairly immune to blood and gore in fiction but this author definitely knows how to make me shudder - no spoilers but I struggle with animal killings so that’s my worst nightmare in evidence! The connection between the victims when it is finally revealed was a shock, I really didn’t expect that. Another dark and complex case for Hunter and a thrilling and terrifying book for the reader. I can’t even imagine what Carter will come up with next…