The Hundredth Man

If you missed Jack Kerley’s The Hundredth Man (Signet, 396 pages, $7.99) when it first appeared last year, snatch it up now in paperback. This serial killer mystery, a first novel by Kerley, is a gem of the genre.

Carson Ryder is a detective whose star has risen very fast in the Mobile, Alabama, police department. Because of his amazing success on a prior serial killer case, he and his partner Harry have been assigned to a new unit, the Psychopathological and Sociopathological Investigation Team – derisively nicknamed “Piss-It” for short. The new unit is supposed to have jurisdiction whenever a particularly ugly and insane-seeming murder comes along. Not too many cases meet those criteria, and the brass isn’t too crazy about show more the idea in any event, especially with Carson – something of a loose cannon – at the helm. Even when a case clearly falling within the scope of PSIT’s mission comes along, Carson and Harry find themselves dealing more with the chain of command, the paperwork, and the useless details than with the murders themselves.

Carson has a secret ingredient to add to the mix, his own special consultant. Add to that his attempts to help a new pathologist with talent to burn who seems intent on burning out, and it’s a compelling recipe.

One of the greatest strengths of this book is the attention Kerley pays to how an inept bureaucracy can screw things up so badly that people get hurt. Whether it’s because a macho boss has to maintain some sense of control over a detective who is brighter than he is, or because a boss thinks she can get excellent work out of her employees only by constant, debilitating criticism, or because politics always trumps performance, Kerley knows how the working world works. This lesson feels especially relevant in light of the news about FEMA, New Orleans and Louisiana officials and their reaction to Hurricane Katrina. Maybe if we paid more attention to those who know what they’re doing, and less to those who know only how to spit shine their shoes, fewer lives would be lost.

There’s no question that Kerley’s newest book, The Death Collectors, is high on my list of books to read next (an odd category of books in my house, encompassing approximately four shelves, similar to the infamous Rolling Shelves Rick gives us a glimpse of daily). With a bookstore gift certificate burning a hole in my wallet, I’m guessing that this new mystery will soon adorn my study like a new jewel. show less

For a first novel that sails in heavily charted waters (James Ellroy's L.A. Confidential and Nelson DeMille's alternating first-and-third person viewpoints come to mind), The Hundredth Man is surprisingly fresh and effective. That's because it does all the little things so well: humorous dialogue, insomnia-inducing suspense, multifaceted characters, and a tightly structured plot that navigates twists and turns a-plenty without veering off the rails.
The only part that didn't work for me is a critical physical resemblance that's necessary to understanding the killer's motive but unknowable to the reader until revealed. All in all, though, this was a great read, and I'm looking forward to Carson Ryder's (and his evil alter ego Jeremy's) show more next adventures.

-Kevin Joseph, author of "The Champion Maker" show less

The Hundredth Man introduces the reader to Carson Ryder, a Mobile, Alabama homicide detective and one of two detectives assigned to the Psychopathological and Sociopathological Investigative Team, or PSIT. PSIT is a unit created to investigate freakish homicides. The other half of the team is Harry Nautilus, a more experienced detective. When a killer begins to leave headless corpses around the Mobile area, it seems to be exactly the situation for which PSIT was brought into existence. However, the team is kept on the sidelines by an egotistical police captain who never makes a move without checking to see what the political consequences will be. As Ryder and Nautilus surreptitiously investigate the killings, they soon discover that the show more trail of bodies seems to lead to an unexpected place.

Ryder is an attractive character who lives in a house on stilts over the marshy salt waters outside the city. He also has a softer side. He has a psychopathic brother with multiple personalities. Jeremy, who resides in a secure unit within a mental institution, has special intuitive qualities and some unique insight into the PSIT cases. His ability to understand the workings of the depraved mind can be of tremendous benefit to Ryder. There is, however, a terrible price that Ryder must pay. I would read more in this series for this character alone.

This was a very interesting book and I understand the later ones are even better so I've already picked up the second book in the series. show less

So much conflict and tension within the department and across departments (that assistant ME is a piece of work - who talks to strangers like that?!, probably setting up a "love interest", bleah) that it's hard to stomach. Feels over the top. I understand giving Ryder a foe or creating a villain, but this is too much. It isn't pleasant to listen to and if it doesn't resolve and calm down, this will be the only book in this series I read and will probably return to audible. I read enough crime fiction to know that you don't have to lay it on this thick. Well, I can't take it anymore. Returned to audible - DNF.

The Hundredth Man introduces the reader to Carson Ryder, a Mobile, Alabama homicide detective and one of two detectives assigned to the Psychopathological and Sociopathological Investigative Team, or PSIT. PSIT is a unit created to investigate freakish homicides. The other half of the team is Harry Nautilus, a more experienced detective. When a killer begins to leave headless corpses around the Mobile area, it seems to be exactly the situation for which PSIT was brought into existence. However, the team is kept on the sidelines by an egotistical police captain who never makes a move without checking to see what the political consequences will be. As Ryder and Nautilus surreptitiously investigate the killings, they soon discover that the show more trail of bodies seems to lead to an unexpected place.

Ryder is an attractive character who lives in a house on stilts over the marshy salt waters outside the city. He also has a softer side. He has a psychopathic brother with multiple personalities. Jeremy, who resides in a secure unit within a mental institution, has special intuitive qualities and some unique insight into the PSIT cases. His ability to understand the workings of the depraved mind can be of tremendous benefit to Ryder. There is, however, a terrible price that Ryder must pay. I would read more in this series for this character alone.

This was a very interesting book and I understand the later ones are even better so I've already picked up the second book in the series. show less

A reasonable start to the series which is quite enjoyable but is just missing something, it does build pace as the book goes on and builds great tension towards the end of the book. I like the central characters in the book. Hopefully just a faltering start with his first book, having read a later book in the series I know these get better, so I will be continuing with the series. 3.5 stars.

I really enjoyed Kerley's writing style and characters. I love a good crime/detective novel, and Kerley sucked me into the world of Mobile, AL instantly. I genuinely like the characters of Carson and Harry, and was left guessing whodunnit until the end. This book addresses my obsession with things like Criminal Minds and I will be reading more Jack Kerley!