Cover of The Executioner by Chris Carter, featuring the text The Executioner by Chris Carter.

The Executioner By Chris Carter Book Review

The Executioner is the second book of the Robert Hunter series. For those who don’t know, Robert Hunter is a top homicide investigator. Robert Hunter is the man the homicide department relies on to investigate the most brutal crimes. Now, he has a new case. This time, a priest’s headless body was found in a church. 

 

I have read many crime fiction in my life. Among them, The Executioner by Chris Carter is different and one of the best. After reading The Crucifix Killer, this is the book I’ve been looking for as a thriller reader, and I am satisfied. 

 

Plot

A priest’s headless body was found in a church in Los Angeles. The most surprising thing is that the head of a dog is added to the body!! Homicide Detective Robert Hunter was called, and he rushed to the scene with partner Carlos Garcia. Looking at the situation, the killer seemed to be a follower of a cult. But all the thoughts were messed up when the burnt body of a young woman was found in a luxurious apartment, and the severed head of the priest was found in the fireplace where the body was burnt!!

 

Can Robert Hunter find the killer before New Year? Because there would be a procession of brutally murdered bodies all over Los Angeles if he can’t.

 

My Review

The book gave a new understanding of horror, brutality, endless physical pain, and intense terror. I generally prefer to avoid these types of books altogether. I can’t digest so much brutality. Since everything in the book plays like a videography in my head while reading, these things are pretty painful for me. There are at least four such murders in the book that I had to take a break while reading! Other than that, I really enjoyed the book. Because apart from the murders, the book had a good amount of mystery, a typical thriller twist, and an understanding of why children need a good childhood.

 

As usual, the story progressed with the police investigation. Searching for clues one by one, running from one end of the city to the other in the hope of getting the slightest clue, trying to get closer to the criminal by utilizing the clue, and trying to find links between the victims. However, the author has presented them very interestingly. That’s why I found it quite enjoyable to read.

 

Throughout the book, the author gradually informs the reader about the motive of the murder but keeps the murderer hidden. Alongside the original serial killing story, there was a side story of a psychic girl also going on. In which the author has kept a good amount of brutality and twist. I’m a bit skeptical about the need for this side story, though. It seems like an attempt to twist the story to confuse the reader, which could not have such an impact on the original story. Besides, this part of the story contains several disturbing sex scenes, one of which can be referred to as soft porn.

 

The whole story revolves around Hunter and his partner. This time, they have been joined by a new captain and twenty-one police officers. But this book has become much more Hunter-focused. Garcia’s role felt less than in previous books. Also, while reading about the main antagonist’s past gave him a certain amount of soft corner, but it was nothing compared to his brutality.

 

The ending of the book was extraordinary. However, for me, it didn’t turn out to be such a bang because, in a 5 line review by a reader, he beautifully gave a major twist spoiler without any warning, Which dampened my enjoyment of reading this book quite a bit. Still, I like the ending. It was the kind of ending that a story deserves.

 

Price

Kindle – $9.99

 

Hardcover – $23.76

 

Paperback – $47.00

 

Personal Rating

8.5/10. This book had all the elements that I look for in a thriller. However, the book was a little too extremely violent for the faint of heart like me. Those who can digest or like violence may like this book more.

 

Conclusion

Compared to the first book in the series, The Crucifix Killer, this book would be a bit of a letdown for me. I still haven’t forgotten the shock of the very last page of The Crucifix Killer. It has some drawbacks in that respect. However, I will say that any thriller lover will definitely like the book. You can definitely read.

 

Similar Books

  1. The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter.
  2. Jack & Jill by James Patterson.
  3. The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup.
  4. Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh.
  5. The Poet by Michael Connelly.
  6. The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen.
  7. The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen.