The Death Sculptor – Chris Carter (Robert Hunter #4)

The Death Sculptor – Chris Carter (Robert Hunter Book 4) – Genre – Crime / Police

Blurb: ‘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.

My Review: This is the 4th book in the Robert Hunter series and just as I thought Chris Carter couldn’t get any more twisted and gruesome along comes The Death Sculptor.  This serial killer is the stuff of nightmares and I was wincing and grimacing throughout the book.  I adore Robert and Carlos’ relationship and in this book we uncover a little bit more about Robert’s past and meet Alice who is brought in to assist the team in tracking down this killer.  Once again a solid but disturbing police procedural and I look forward to reading the next book in the series shortly.

About the author: Chris Carter was born in Brasilia, Brazil where he spent my childhood and teenage years. After graduating from high school, he moved to the USA where he studied psychology with specialization in criminal behaviour. During his University years he held a variety of odd jobs, ranging from flipping burgers to being part of an all male exotic dancing group.

He worked as a criminal psychologist for several years before moving to Los Angeles, where he swapped the suits and briefcases for ripped jeans, bandanas and an electric guitar. After a spell playing for several well known glam rock bands, he decided to try my luck in London, where he was fortunate enough to have played for a number of famous artists.  He toured the world several times as a professional musician.  A few years ago he gave it all up to become a full time writer

Books in order:

1.  The Crucifix Killer
2. The Executioner
3. The Night Stalker
4. The Death Sculptor
5. One by One
6. An Evil Mind
7. I am Death
8. The Caller