Unfortunately, various life stuff has kept me away from the blog for a long while but I am back today with my review of the fifth book in the epic Robert Hunter series by Chris Carter, One by One, as part of the blogathon. My thanks to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for inviting me. I read my own purchased ebook.
The Blurb
Detective Robert Hunter of the LAPD's Homicide Special Section receives an anonymous call asking him to go to a specific web address - a private broadcast. Hunter logs on and a horrific show devised for his eyes only immediately begins.
The LAPD, together with the FBI, use everything at their disposal to electronically trace the transmission down, but this killer is no amateur, and he has covered his tracks from start to finish. And before Hunter and his partner Garcia are even able to get their investigation going, Hunter receives a new phone call. A new website address. A new victim. But this time the killer has upgraded his game so that anyone can take part . . .
Here we are at book five in the fantastic Robert Hunter series, One by One, by Chris Carter. Now, I am, by nature, quite feart, as we would say in Scotland, generally anxious about all sorts of things, and a real scaredy-pants when it comes to horror - never read or watch it. But I'm reading this series, which in my view, is the darkest of dark crime, with plenty of truly horrifying moments. And I'm enjoying the imagination and the creativity of the author, although it's very, very dark stuff.
Robert Hunter is invited to view a private show online, Just for him, and his team. And he has to make an awful decision whilst he's watching. But that is just the beginning, as Robert and Carlos are drawn into an evil game which will test both men to their very core.
Every time I read a book in this series, I think the crimes can't be any worse in the next one. But Chris Carter's imagination seems to know no bounds and something more awful always pops up. I wonder if he draws on any of his interviews with criminals for material. The crimes in One by One are truly horrific - I had to skip a couple of pages of details at one point - but they also have things to say about people's love of reality tv and social media, their trust in what they see, and for some, their willingness to make an awful choice with the push of a button.
What I've found with this series is that, no matter how horrific the crimes are, or how much the perpetrator seems to be enjoying themselves, the original reason behind them, the breaking point, is terribly sad, and this book is no different. At the centre of all this horror is a heartbreaking story.
Carter is a master at building anticipation, tension and dread. The storyline is detailed and satisfyingly complex, and I like that the author includes scientific, psychological and technical information, without it ever feeling clunky. The denouement is terrifying and heartstopping. Another great entry in the collection.
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.