Title: THE DEATH SCULPTOR – Robert Hunter #4
Author: Chris Carter
ISBN: 9780857203007
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 496
Source: Private Copy
‘Good job you didn’t turn on the lights …’ A student nurse has the shock of her life when she discovers her patient, prosecutor Derek Nicholson, brutally murdered in his bed. The act seems senseless – Nicholson was terminally ill with only weeks to live. But what most shocks Detective Robert Hunter of the Los Angeles Robbery Homicide Division is the calling card the killer left behind. For Hunter, there is no doubt that the killer is trying to communicate with the police, but the method is unlike anything he’s ever seen before. And what could the hidden message be? Just as Hunter and his partner Garcia reckon they’ve found a lead, a new body is found – and a new calling card. But with no apparent link between the first and second victims, all the progress they’ve made so far goes out of the window. Pushed into an uncomfortable alliance with the confident Alice Beaumont, Hunter must race to put together the pieces of the investigation …before the Death Sculptor puts the final touches to his masterpiece.
Official Summary
01 October 2024
Regular visitors to the blog will know that I have recently started reading Chris Carter’s Robert Hunter series. There are fourteen books so far and I have only just finished book four. While I am very tempted to read the latest book – I have promised myself that I will read this series in order – something I very rarely manage to do. I love these books and so far, they have all been five-star reads. I have allowed this series to skip to the top of my TBR pile and you can expect to hear more about Robert Hunter in the weeks to come.
The Death Sculptor is an intense, edge-of-your-seat thriller that showcases Detective Robert Hunter at his finest. From the chilling opening with the student nurse discovering the mutilated body of Derek Nicholson, I was completely hooked. What makes this novel a brilliant read is how Carter layers the suspense. Each twist is more shocking than the last, and just when you think you’ve got it figured out, a new body is found, throwing all your theories into disarray.
The dynamic between Hunter and his partner Garcia remains a highlight, but the introduction of Alice Beaumont adds an intriguing new element to the mix. Her confident, almost combative personality adds tension and urgency to the investigation. Carter does an exceptional job weaving her into the narrative without detracting from Hunter’s usual brilliance.
The killer’s signature method — the grotesque yet fascinating sculptures made of human remains — is disturbing but morbidly captivating, offering an eerie insight into the mind of a twisted artist. I found myself both horrified and riveted by the concept. As the bodies pile up and the clues lead in different directions, the tension builds to an almost unbearable level, culminating in a heart-stopping conclusion.
Carter’s writing is vivid and cinematic, making the gruesome scenes all the more horrifying. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with intricate plots and complex characters, The Death Sculptor delivers on all fronts. This novel is brilliant crime fiction, earning every one of its five stars.
Also by Chris Carter
THE NIGHT STALKER – Robert Hunter #3
An unidentified female body is brought into the Los Angeles County morgue. The cause of death is still unclear. Her body bares no marks; except for the fact that her most intimate parts have been stitched shut. But what shocks the pathologist the most is that the killer had left something inside her. Something so monstrous Detective Robert Hunter, of the Los Angeles Homicide Special Section, has to be pulled off a different case to take over the investigation.
Within days a new body surfaces. Like the previous victim, she’s also been stitched shut and something has been left inside her. Something as ingenious as it is grotesque. And the killer isn’t done yet, not by a long shot.
When his inquiry collides with a missing persons’ case being investigated by the attractive, razor-sharp Whitney Meyers, Hunter suspects the killer might be keeping several women hostage. Soon Robert finds himself on the hunt for a murderer who is much more monstrous than he ever could have expected; a predator whose past hides a terrible secret, and who won’t stop until each of his victims has brought forth the awful truth.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
I was born in Brasilia, Brazil where I spent my childhood and teenage years. After graduating from high school, I moved to the USA where I studied psychology with specialization in criminal behaviour. During my University years, I held a variety of odd jobs, ranging from flipping burgers to being part of an all male exotic dancing group.
I worked as a criminal psychologist for several years before moving to Los Angeles, where I swapped the suits and briefcases for ripped jeans, bandanas and an electric guitar. After a spell playing for several well-known glam rock bands, I decided to try my luck in London, where I was fortunate enough to have played for a number of famous artists. I toured the world several times as a professional musician.
A few years ago I gave it all up to become a full time writer.
While I cannot recommend this series highly enough, I must warn sensitive readers to be aware of these books – they are dark and gruesome and may not be for everyone. I am starting to wonder when I started enjoying such horribly dark fiction. I will aim to include some lighter reviews for those of you who don’t appreciate the gruesome quite as much.
As always, thank you for visiting the blog and reading my review, your support is much appreciated and remains my inspiration to keep sharing my reviews. Until next time…. Happy reading!
