Today's From the Archive is for readers who are yet to discover who I think is one of the best crime fiction authors out there, Chris Carter. Chris writes the sort of crime fiction that I just love the read. It's certainly not for the faint hearted or squeamish. The ways he finds for his victims to be killed are certainly unique and, dare I say it, fantastic. I just love reading his books and he has also created one of the best fictional detectives in Robert Hunter. Book 6 is out soon but until then crime fans new to this author have five books to read and enjoy!
Book read and reviewed August 2013
Detective Robert Hunter
of the LAPD's Homicide Special Section receives an anonymous call asking
him to go to a specific web address - a private broadcast. Hunter logs
on and a show devised for his eyes only immediately begins. But the
caller doesn't want Detective Hunter to just watch, he wants him to
participate, and refusal is simply not an option. Forced to make a
sickening choice, Hunter must sit and watch as an unidentified victim is
tortured and murdered live over the Internet.
The LAPD, together
with the FBI, use everything at their disposal to electronically track
the transmission down, but this killer is no amateur, and he was more
than prepared for it. Before Hunter and his partner Garcia are even able
to get their investigation going, Hunter receives a new phone call.
A
new website address. A new victim. But this time the killer has
upgraded his game into a live murder reality show, where anyone can cast
the deciding vote.
Review:
This is without a doubt one
of the best crime fiction books I have ever read. And, dare I say it,
one of the most enjoyable. From the opening to closing chapter I could
not stop reading. I love short chapters, they end so abruptly and
usually on a cliffhanger that you really have no choice but to continue
reading. Some authors aren't that good with the short chapters, but
Chris Carter isn't one of them. He is a fantastic writer and tells one
hell of a story.
I read The Hunter a few days ago which is a
short story, but it was basically a glorified advert for his books. I
didn't need any advert as Carter's books have been on my radar for a few
years, I just never got round to reading them. The plot for One By One
however convinced me that I needed to start his books ASAP and I started
with this book. I was a bit wary at first having not read the previous
books but, unlike other books which are part of a series, Carter only
mentions a previous book once - he doesn't use whole chapters to tell
the reader everything that has happened to the character up till now -
and doesn't give away that much of the plot meaning previous books can
be read without them being spoilt for the reader here first.
I
did love the idea for the book. Hunter is contacted personally and asked
to log on to a website where the caller asks Hunter which method he
wants the person on the screen to die by. More deaths occur only this
time on a website that the people of California can access and vote for
their preferred kill method. In the age of reality TV and being able to
vote for all kinds of things this was certainly an enjoyable read. A
website like this being posted on Twitter and Facebook today would
certainly attract thousands of hits and would people vote? I certainly
didn't work out who the killer was and I very much enjoyed the ending
because it was a surprise. So often in crime fiction the killer is
obvious, or is known to the reader early on in the book but books like
these are more enjoyable when you don't see twists coming. The killer of
this book is probably one of my favourite killers in a crime fiction
book.
Overall I reccommend that you read this book. Previous
books do not need to have been read in advance although I feel certain
parts of the book would invoke more of a reaction from the reader had
they established a connection with the characters by knowing more about
them. It certainly doesn't take away any enjoyment from the book however
if it is your first Carter book.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/704093111?book_show_action=false
From the Archive: One By One by Chris Carter (5/5)
Tuesday 29 April 2014
Labels:
Crime,
From The Archive,
Review
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- March/April Book Haul
- Review: Can Anybody Help Me? by Sinéad Crowley (5/5)
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