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[close] [The Crucifix Killer] by Chris Carter
Robert Hunter series Book #1
5★'s

From The Book:
When the body of a young woman is discovered in a derelict cottage in the middle of Los Angeles National Forest, Homicide Detective Robert Hunter finds himself entering a horrific and recurring nightmare. Naked, strung from two parallel wooden posts, the victim was sadistically tortured before meeting an excruciatingly painful death. All the skin has been ripped from her face - while she was still alive. On the nape of her neck has been carved a strange double-cross: the signature of a psychopath known as the Crucifix Killer. But that's impossible. Because two years ago, the Crucifix Killer was caught and executed. Could this therefore be a copycat killer? Or could the unthinkable be true? Is the real killer still out there, ready to embark once again on a vicious and violent killing spree, selecting his victims seemingly at random, taunting Robert Hunter with his inability to catch him? Hunter and his rookie partner are about to enter a nightmare beyond imagining.

My Thoughts:
I read out of order so I have read other Chris Carter books before this one that we read as a group read. I knew what an incredible writer Chris Carter was and what fascinating, believable, liable characters he has created in this series that just keeps getting better and better...so I was expecting nothing less than a stellar performance with the [The Crucifix Killer] and Carter delivered 100%.

One of the reasons that this author writes with such knowledge about serial killers is that he is somewhat of an expert on the subject. In reading his bio I discovered that Carter studied psychology and criminal behavior and went on to be a part of the Michigan State District Attorney's Criminal Psychology Team. Because of that he spent a lot of time interviewing and studying a lot of criminals, some of whom were serial killers. This he has very successfully transferred into his ultra-ego , Robert Hunter and why his books portray such real-life horror.

They're not for everyone. They tend to be very dark but then they are dealing with a very dark subject.