The Executioner Pa Paperback

Can I give this novel 10 stars? It deserves it for a number of reasons. This is an author who is able to create imaginative horror from experiences he was exposed to while studying serial killers and multiple homicide offenders. If you stop and think about what some of the most notorious serial killers did in order to trap, torture, and murder their victims, you can easily see how Chris Carter parlayed his studying of criminal psychopaths into being a successful novelist. He combines his experience with a fertile imagination and violently throws his creations into the faces of a thriller audience who desire and deserve this next level of bizarre, unusual, and shocking behavior.If you enjoy the exploits of a Jack Reacher, Joe Pike, and/or A. Pendergast, you owe it to yourself to enter the mind of Robert Hunter, a detective in LAPD's Homicide Special Section (HSS), a unique branch that handles high-profile homicide cases committed by ingenious and brutal killers who paint graphic scenes while leaving no clues. The killers are all motivated by prior occurrences in their lives, events that scarred them badly physically and emotionally, that have embedded a time bomb in their brains which will eventually explode in a cascade of blood and revenge. These are "organized" murderers who require someone of special skills to understand them. A rugged and experienced detective who is logical, good with numbers/logistics, and knows that he hasn't yet seen it all.In addition the author writes in the first person, interestingly enough shifting from the viewpoint of the killer, to the detectives, and then to each of the victims. You know what everyone is thinking but nothing is given away as far as long-term strategy. It is more about "the now", what is happening currently instead of what is projected to occur in the future.Mr. Carter presents you with the thoughts and motivations of all of his main characters, allowing you to see how they fit into the grand scheme of things, yet assaulting your brain over and over again with events and situations that you have never heard of nor even thought possible. And that is where the delicious sense of terror transfers from the printed word to the reader. No one is better at this than Chris Carter.

Another brilliant book by Chris Carter. In this second instalment in the series, Detective Robert Hunter and his partner Carlos Garcia are faced with an even more vicious serial killer than the Crucifix Killer featured in the first book. The crime scenes are all different, very gruesome and require a good empty stomach to handle.The Executioner doesn't kill at random. He knows his victims well. He makes sure they meet their end in the most terrifying way. He knows their worst fears and practically scares them to death. He takes his time to maximise their pain and suffering and tortures them until they die a slow painful death. Each victim is numbered in blood, indicating that the killer is following a list of intended victims.Under the supervision of Barbara Blake, the new captain, Hunter and Garcia are pressed into finding this killer as quickly as possible before he strikes again but this proves to be a very difficult task with many false leads and dead ends.Who is The Executioner? Why is he killing these people? How is he choosing his victims? Is there a connection? How many will he kill? Who is next on his list?Well, this is another great, well-written thriller by Chris Carter. The way the plot is weaved is remarkable. All chapters are short and end in a cliffhanger, urging you to keep on reading. I really enjoyed it and it kept my interest piqued to the very end. I couldn't figure out the killer till the last part when the author decided it's time to reveal his face. I highly recommend this book and I'll make sure to read the rest of the series.

Rarely have I read an author so descriptive that is so enthralling. Normally, those scenes can be a bit boring, there is absolutely nothing boring about Chris Carter or his books. My only complaint is that only 2 are on kindle. I want them ALL, NOW!! Now, for anyone a bit squeamish, you may have difficulty, but as a former judge and as a paralegal, I have read actual trial transcripts, so sadly I am accustomed to the atrocities people do to one another. Me. Carter, please help get the rest of your books on kindle, I don't want to wait for delivery.

The write has a background of criminal psychology and experience in that field and you can see that in his writing and his cases. He can describe the most violent crimes from the point of view of the police investigators. The killers are not flat stereotypes, but they have a multifaceted background.If you like ultra-violent crimes, then you will like this book.

I gave this book a 5 rating, although I wouldn't recommend it to the faint hearted, because of logical detective work and the ending that I did not see coming. This author writes some very good books but there is always graphic violence to the extreme, in most cases.

WOW! If you are looking for an "on the edge of your seat" then this and all the other Chris Carter books are the ones you need to read. I read one and was hooked! I have ordered all his books now and look forward to the wicked, dangerous and fascinating story lines in each of them. Chris Carter has quickly become one of my favorite writers!!!

Chris Carter has outdone himself with The Executioner. This novel will keep you up all night because you can't stop reading this thriller-chiller but also you know once you stop reading you pray you won't have nightmares! Warning - if you read at night then read with all the lights on!

This book was great. I couldn’t put it down. It kept me up all night and then to the beginning of early morning. It was so suspenseful it was like a roller coaster. Chris Carter never writes a bad book. Read it. You’ll love it

When the remains of a decapitated priest are found on the altar steps of a church in Los Angeles with the head replaced by that of a canine there’s only one duo they’re going to call - the team that managed to catch the horrifying Crucifix Killer. When the forensic team find a bloody number three written on the priest’s chest. Due to the religious elements and the different components of the crime scene, Hunter believes that Garcia and he are on the tail of a ritualistic killer. However, the bodies start to mount up and Hunter has to reevaluate his original hypothesis as this killer isn’t sticking to the same MO. No, he seems to be killing the victims in the way that they fear the most. Their deaths are literally their worst nightmares. But how could the killer possibly know such personal information about each of his victims that for as far as he can see have no possible link?After such an amazing debut in “The Crucifix Killer”, I was more than happy to take the leap of faith with Carter into the second novel following Garcia and Hunter’s investigation. Just as the first one, the crimes committed are shockingly grisly that keep you up late at night hooked to every last word written on the pages in front of you. My favourite part of Carter’s writing is that even though he does use a crime novelists favourite trick of a the red herring, they’re not just carelessly thrown in like some novels. They’re all cleverly thought out and leave you thinking that this whole thing could be over (slightly before you want it too!) but then when the twists are revealed at the end... gobsmacked is literally the only word I can use to describe the feeling I got when I learnt who the killer was in this novel.So settle down, get yourself a nice hot cup of tea and follow Hunter and Garcia as they chase down a killer who literally scares his victims to death...

"Imagine your worst fear- then meet your worst nightmare.He'll scare you to death..."Have you ever read the blurb of a book and thought, this is exactly what I've been waiting for?Well, that thought hit me as soon as I picked up Chris Carter's The Executioner. This entry in the Robert Hunter series is a dark, gritty and violent journey, centred on the chase for a serial killer who kills his victims with their own worst fears. It might sound like a simple, yet hooking, synopsis for a thriller, but it awakened something in my mind that screamed at me to devour it.And Mr Carter strikes the spot with a confident and clever blow.SPOILER WARNINGSynopsis (Not a copy from the book, but I always keep my interpretations close.)There's a new serial killer plaguing the streets of LA.And he's destroying people with their own worst fears.Homicide Special Detective Robert Hunter has never seen death like this.So violent, so angry.But can he use his psychological genius to nail this killer to the wall?Or will the monster complete his goal and slink away into darkness...?Plot - 5/5 StarsThe Executioner has a gruesome, delightful start that sets the standard tone of dark and depressing, while promising you a bumpy, twist-filled ride. And, on those points, Carter delivers with gusto. He then goes on to completely blow your expectations out of the water. There are some fantastic elements to this story that catch you by surprise.One in particular, comes in the form of the character Mollie. While she's a compelling addition to the cast, it's the paranormal aspects she brings that really shock and awe. Carter weaves this unbelievable plot that pushes at the boundaries of his own fictional concoction. And it works. It's exciting as hell! Well, not hell, because if that place exists, I'm not too sure exciting is the best adjective.To elaborate, Mollie has visions surrounding pain. She sees events that radiate it strongly. For a large part of the novel, the reader's skepticism is pushed, but the author does nothing to dissuade the possibility that it's real.Combine that with the thrilling hunt for a fascinating, multi-layered serial killer, and Carter's second novel feels undeniably fresh, putting it on-par, if not above, this book's predecessor.The pieces of this jigsaw all slot together perfectly.Pace - 5/5 StarsThanks to the surprising elements injected into this entry to the series, there's always something new around the corner to knock the air out of you. The structure ensures you won't lose interest, and Carver flaunts his psychological muscles to ensnare the reader.A fast, rip-roaring ride of a book.Characters - 5/5 StarsWhen I posted my review for The Crucifix Killer, in the characters' section, I commented on the fact that the cast fit a mold; that they played their parts well, but no more (with the obvious exceptions). In The Executioner I feel Carver has found his feet and hit the ground running. I cannot think of one character who is in any way average in this book. There are a good few newbies this time around, but they're expertly written.Our main, Robert Hunter, is one of the best crime/thriller protagonists I've read. The author injects his creation with his own real-life experiences and intelligence. Hunter's attention to details, especially those concerning people, is astounding. The character is a genius and the intuitive aspects of his mind make him more than just simply compelling.While I don't have much to say about Garcia, he is a capable partner for Hunter, and they both compliment each other well.Another new, big addition to the cast is Barbara Blake, our detectives' new captain. She's tough, dedicated, loyal and extremely capable. Pressure can't break her, and she can push back with as much force.Carver has a captivating cast for this series, and I can't wait to ride with them again.Writing - 5/5 StarsThe short, exciting chapters remind me of Mr James Patterson's penchant for immediacy. It pushes the story hard and fast, making each chapter a morbidly delightful nugget of despair.Overall - 5/5 StarsOver the past couple months I've been extremely lucky with my reading choices. I'm yet to read something I'm not particularly keen on.Long may my streak continue!

Absolutely fantastic. I picked up the Crucifix Killer and flew through it and decided to see what else the author did. I read this equally as fast and have since read my 3rd Chris Carter book - The Night Stalker.Gripping , you can't help turning the pages. Not for the weak hearted ! It's pretty gruesome stuff but I'm a huge fan of criminology and forensics so i love a good crime read.This doesn't disappoint. I'm now onto book 4 The Death Sculptor! And I've also ordered the 5th and 6th! Not sure where these books had been hiding and I'll be disappointment when I reach the last book!

When the body of a catholic priest is found mutilated in his own chapel, Detectives Hunter and Garcia are called in. When the number three written in blood is discovered on the body, they suddenly find themselves not only trying to find the priest’s murderer but also other potential victims.This is the story of a sick serial killer who dreams up gruesome tortures for his victims based on their own fears. It’s a fast, pacey read with plenty of credible characters that add to the intrigue. The only element I was not sure about was the psychic element that was introduced part way through; to me it changed the feel of the story and didn’t seem to be a necessary addition, though overall it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book too much.Carter manages to maintain the suspense right to the very last, whilst still managing to tie up all the loose ends for a very entertaining read.

ok so I have all this man booksand waiting for his new one too come out - I just wish he wrote them every 3 months,If you love a good murder but with twists and turns that keep u on your seat .. No messing about. ( this guys books just from the first page have you there on your seat not knowing should u turn over the page or not ? his ideas on death as well at times make me think how can some one have ideas to kill like that ( so scary) But I have read them all since December and now I just wish the new one was out - not long (May) could not come fast enough