Chris Carter (2) (1965–)

A killing like no other. A killer more twisted than he’s ever seen before. A case that will test him to the limit. Has Robert Hunter finally met his match? "Do you believe the Devil exists, Detective?", the officer at the end of the line asks. "Because if you don’t . . . I’m sure you will once you get here".

A word of warning: The story has A LOTS of gore.
Book 12 in one of my favorite series and possibly the grisliest and most disturbing to date. If you have read any of the previous show more books, then you will know that they were pretty gruesome, but this one has the number one place. This is not a book or even a series for anyone that is even a bit squeamish. The violence in this one is much more than merely shocking and the book comes with several trigger warnings.

Detectives Robert Hunter and Carlos Garcia are back again, in possibly their most brutal and vicious cases of their careers. The body of a young woman has been found...bringing us "sick murder" #1. The police, of course call Robert Hunter as he is the head of the LAPD’s "Ultra-Violent" Crimes. When they arrive on the scene even Robert & Carlos are more than just shaken by it. They have a very sick killer on the loose and soon more bodies begin to turn up, making it obvious that they have a serial killer with an unknown agenda, who needs to be stopped.

If you have read any of Chris Carter’s books before, you know these are very fast paced, hard gripping thrillers and this one is not the exception. The violence and the crimes have definitely been escalated to an entirely new level of horror and terror.

In spite of the gore element, I really did enjoy this book. It was the book for a group read that takes place on the Mystery & Suspense group on LibraryThing each month. In spite of the gore that is present in most of this authors books, Chris Carter has managed to deliver a highly entertaining, raw and brutal thriller that addresses some very real and important issues from suicide and depression to the sad but real dangers of bullying. I also believe that there are many who will appreciate the page of contacts for people who may be struggling. show less

In Chris Carter’s tenth instalment of his series featuring Robert Hunter, the head of LAPD’s Ultra Violent Crimes Unit, is once again pitted against his psychopathic nemesis, Lucien Folter. In An Evil Mind (Robert Hunter #6) Robert Hunter found himself in a battle of wits with his former college roommate, and the nation’s most prolific serial killer. Now, in Hunting Evil, after having spent three and a half years locked in solitary confinement, Lucien has escaped, and the only thing on show more his mind is vengeance.

Hunting Evil is action packed as Lucien initiates the most sadistic of games with Hunter in a bid to destroy him. With an intelligence that rivals Hunters’s, an ability to disguise every facet of himself, and having had years to plan, Lucien seemingly has the upper hand.

Sharp short chapters contribute to the quick pacing as Carter switches between the perspectives of Robert and Lucien. Hunter is struggling with this cat and mouse game, and Carter shows his increasing feelings of frustration and guilt. Lucien’s mind is an uncomfortable place to be in, a psychopath whose goal is to commit and document every variation of murder his inhumanity is chillingly portrayed by Carter.

Hunting Evil is a gripping psychological thriller, and though I thought there were some small flaws in the story, (for example, Hunter failing to provide protection to his love interest despite her obviously being at risk), I enjoyed it, much as I have others in the Robert Hunter series. show less

OK, so if you are the type of person who sits around drinking single-malt scotch and thinking about the most brutal ways to kill somebody, painfully and shockingly, then you might enjoy this book. Or if you'd rather think about catching the person who does this sort of thing, you may also enjoy this.

Either way, the book gets right on with it pretty early on, and continues a few times just in case once was not enough. You might think putting a bomb inside a victim, then blowing her up during show more the autopsy killing a few good people would be bad enough, but that's only the beginning. This story brings new meaning to the word "stalker."

All I can say is if I ever get blown up by a bomb inside of me, I know I'd want to have Robert Hunter going after my killer. But reading about it is much more enjoyable. show less

Het vierde deel van de Hunter & Garcia reeks van Chris Carter en wat keek ik daar naar uit. De voorgaande drie delen waren telkens goed voor de volle 5 sterren en ook dit boek klonk weer verrukkelijk. Net zoals in die eerdere boeken, was het ook hier weer duimen en vingers aflikken en waren de gruwelijkheden nooit ver weg. Net als je denkt dat je alles wel al eens ergens eerder gelezen hebt, komt Carter met een verhaal dat je verbaast en meeneemt voor enkele hele fijne uren leesplezier. Ik show more heb lang gewacht om aan dit boek te beginnen omdat ik het per se wou lezen op reis. Ik wist dat het supergoed zou zijn en wie wil er nu geen gruwelijk goed boek in zijn koffer meenemen. Hoewel het bij mij op de e-reader was haha! De personages zijn weer sterk neergezet en het puzzelen naar de dader was als vanouds weer aanwezig met de nodige zijsporen om ons als lezer op een dwaalspoor te brengen. Ik heb genoten van de beeldhouwer dat alle elementen bevat dat een spannende thriller nodig heeft. De originaliteit van Carter is werkelijk ongezien en gezien er nog heel wat boeken in het Engels verschenen zijn van Hunter & Garcia leven we hier in België op goede hoop dat er nog veel spannends zal verschijnen. Mijn hart maakte alvast een grote sprong toen ik zag dat er op 9 januari 2024 een nieuw deel zal verschijnen – Een voor een. Een uitgestelde kerst is het zeker dus met dit cadeautje! Voor De Beeldhouwer geef ik, net zoals bij de vorige delen, het volle pond aan punten en dus 5 dikke sterren!
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2023/09/06/de-beeldhouwer-van-chris-carter-5/ show less