Title: THE DEATH COLLECTORS – Carson Ryder #02
Author: Jack Kerley
ISBN: 9780007180608
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 400
Source: Private Copy
In 1972, on the day of his sentencing, renowned artist and serial killer Marsden Hexcamp is shot dead in the courtroom by a mysterious veiled woman. Members of his Mansonesque band of followers are imprisoned or simply disappear…
Decades later, a suspected prostitute is found murdered in a candlelit motel room, the first in a series of horrors suggesting that Hexcamp’s art remains alive and treacherous. Following a trail of beautiful – and profoundly disturbing – artwork, homicide detectives Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus descend into the shocking world of the Death Collectors, people who spend vast sums to collect serial-killer memorabilia.
Official Summary
02 July 2025
After being thoroughly hooked by The Hundredth Man, I had high expectations for The Death Collectors, and Jack Kerley did not disappoint. This second installment in the Carson Ryder series ups the ante with a story that’s even more bizarre, more atmospheric, and arguably more chilling.
The book opens with a bang—literally—with the dramatic courtroom shooting of Marsden Hexcamp, an infamous serial killer whose cult-like following and disturbing artwork left a lasting stain on the world. Fast-forward several decades, and what looks like the ritualistic murder of a woman in a motel room sets off a new investigation that drags Detective Carson Ryder and his partner Harry Nautilus into the disturbing subculture of the “Death Collectors”—people obsessed with owning artifacts tied to murderers.
What I really enjoyed here is how Kerley blends crime fiction with psychological horror. The mystery unfolds in layers, pulling the reader into the grotesque allure of the art world’s darker corners. The idea that violence can be aestheticized—and commodified—is deeply unsettling, and Kerley explores this theme without ever becoming heavy-handed.
Ryder remains an excellent lead—introspective, a bit haunted, and increasingly wary of the things he sees and feels. His partnership with the ever-grounded Harry Nautilus provides a strong balance between logic and intuition, and their banter lightens the tone just enough when the narrative becomes especially grim.
The pacing is tight, the atmosphere oppressive in the best way, and the twists genuinely caught me off guard. There’s also a return to the strange relationship Ryder has with a certain individual from his past (no spoilers), adding a psychological edge that deepens the stakes beyond just solving the murders.
The Death Collectors is creepy, clever, and compelling—a crime novel that goes beyond whodunit territory and asks us to look at the darker aspects of human fascination. If you’re into stories that dive deep into the grotesque, the artistic, and the morally grey, this one is for you. Just don’t read it too late at night…
Also By Jack Kerley
THE HUNDREDTH MAN – Carson Ryder #01
A body is found in the sweating heat of an Alabama night; headless, words inked on the skin. Detective Carson Ryder is good at this sort of thing – crazies and freaks. To his eyes it is no crime of passion, and when another mutilated victim turns up his suspicions are confirmed. This is not the work of a ‘normal’ murderer, but that of a serial killer, a psychopath.
Famous for solving a series of crimes the year before, Carson Ryder has experience with psychopaths. But he had help with that case – strange help, from a past Ryder is trying to forget.
Now he needs it again.
When the truth finally begins to dawn, it shines on an evil so twisted, so dangerous, it could destroy everything that he cares about…
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
John Albert Kerley is an American author. He spent 20 years in a successful advertising career before writing his first book, The Hundredth Man.
He currently lives in Newport, Kentucky, and is married with two children. He enjoys the outdoors, particularly fishing.
He is the author of the acclaimed Alabama-set series of Carson Ryder novels
I promised to share my thoughts on the Carson Ryder series, and after reading book two I am still hooked. I enjoy this character and cannot wait to read more of his story. I have already worked through a few of the books and you will hear more about book three very soon. Until next time … Happy Reading!
