It's time for the second book in our huge Chris Carter blogathon! Today we're focusing on The Executioner, which was just as dark as the first book! Many thanks to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for the invitation. I read from my own bought ebook.
The Blurb
Inside a Los Angeles church, on the altar steps, lies the blood-soaked body of a priest. Later, the forensic team discover that, on the victim's chest, the figure 3 has been scrawled in blood.
At first, Detective Robert Hunter believes that this is a ritualistic killing. But as more bodies surface, he is forced to reassess. All the victims died in the way they feared the most. Their worst nightmares have literally come true. But how could the killer have known? And what links these apparently random victims?
Hunter finds himself on the trail of an elusive and sadistic killer, someone who apparently has the power to read his victims' minds. Someone who can sense what scares his victims the most. Someone who will stop at nothing to achieve his twisted aim.
My Review
Oh gosh! So, we're on the second book in the Robert Hunter series and if I thought the last book was dark, this one is possibly darker! I'm not sure how I'm going to manage 13 or 14 books - I'm already leaving my landing light on if I'm on my own at night and reading the books! 😂 All that said, they are terrifically exiting books, full of jeopardy and dread.
The Executioner opens with the death of a priest. I can't tell you anything about his death without spoilers, but it's quite disturbing. And puzzling. Other deaths follow, in very different manners, victims unrelated as far as The police can tell. But they all have a number marked on them...
Robert Hunter is a great protagonist. Highly intelligent, with knowledge about pretty much everything - he reads a lot - driven and dedicated, he'll go the extra mile every time in order to solve the murder. He barely sleeps, and when he does he's often disturbed by nightmares about the investigations - he and partner Carlos only deal with most serious and disturbing cases. I love the relationship between the two men. Carlos was new in the first book and it's great to see their relationship developing, making them a good team.
The deaths in this book are.... creative. And horrific. One has stuck in my mind since I read it. This series is not for the faint hearted, and won't appeal to everyone. But if you can deal with the darkness, you're rewarded with a cracking story. Essentially a police procedural, it's elevated by the creativity of the crimes and the complexity of the investigation. There are some brilliant peripheral characters and I love Hunter's new boss. Mollie tugged my heartstrings and she'll tug yours too. The conclusion of the book gives us jeopardy aplenty, and twice over. It's exciting and terrifying - I held my breath at least twice.
My only slight criticism is the same as for the first book - when a new character is introduced, the author described them - looks, clothes, facial expression, or whatever, all in a sentence of two. I feel it could be more integrated into the text as, for me, these descriptions just feel like a list of adjectives. But this is just a wee niggle.
The Executioner is an inventive, exciting and creative police procedural and thriller, with a fantastic, intriguing protagonist. Another great entry in the series and I'm looking forward to more of the books. With some trepidation though, I have to admit - I reckon they're only going to get scarier!
The Author

Born in Brazil of Italian origin, Chris Carter studied psychology and criminal behaviour in the USA. As a member of the District Attorney's Criminal Psychology team, and working together with the Police Department in numerous cases, he interviewed and studied many criminals, including serial and multiple homicide offenders with life imprisonment convictions. He now lives in London, UK.