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Killer A Jack Rhodes Mystery (2000)

by Stephen Carpenter(Favorite Author)

3.71 of 5 Votes: 2

languge

English

genre

Mystery & Thriller

series

Jack Rhodes

review 1: I “purchased” this e-book a couple years ago when it was available for free on Amazon and I’ve only just now gotten around to reading it. I should have read it sooner!Killer is a fast-paced mystery that keeps you guessing for the first part of the book. Did the main character, Jack, commit the murder? If not, how did he write about the murder in such detail when it had happened before his book had been published? How did he know details about the murder that weren’t in the book? By the mid-point of the book, the author had left enough clues to allow the reader to figure out most of the answers. However, the story continued to move forward at a fast pace because there were still details to be filled in, not to mention a messy situation that needed to be resolv... moreed.I liked the main character in the story. I found myself rooting for him and hoping he wasn’t the killer. There was one moment in this book that I particularly liked. After Jack learned from the police about the murder that seemed to be exactly like the one in his book, he went to his lawyer. Jack told his lawyer absolutely everything, even the stuff that seemed to implicate him that the police didn’t know about. It was very refreshing. Too often I’m frustrated by fictional characters of all genres who hold back information and keep secrets when it seems so obvious that it would be better for them in the long run if they just told the truth from the beginning. It often comes across as a plot device to create drama. I love it when characters actually behave in a manner that makes sense. You can still create drama without making your characters act like complete idiots. So, while Jack didn’t always make entirely brilliant decisions, I did really like the way he handled that meeting with his lawyer.This book has a sequel (Killer in the Hills), but Killer stands completely on its own. There aren’t any dangling threads at the end to leave you feeling like you didn’t get a complete story. I haven’t read the sequel yet, but I will do so in the near future based on my enjoyment of this book.
review 2: I'd give Killer a 3.5 star rating, because 3 just doesn't cut it. Killer is a fast paced, twist filled read that doesn't shy from throwing you into wonder about what may happen next. Stephen Carpenter has woven a great tale of mystery that moves along at a good speed. While I wouldn't call the book unputdownable, it was definitely interesting enough to make you wonder what's going to happen next, even if it can't make you obsess about it. With a hoard of books that discuss copycat murders, Killer takes an interesting turn on the age old concept that will leave you guessing about Jack's innocence and guilt.Carpenter creates a good mix of characters, all of who do justice to their roles and the story. What adds to the charm of the book is the stories that run parallel, giving you a good insight into the killer's mind and leaving you more in doubt about Jack's association with the murders. The stories converge to create a great climax, one that is unpredictable and gives you all that you'd hoped for.The only (minor) glitch in Killer was, according to me, the writing style. I'm not a great fan of the style that Carpenter adopts but he does it well enough to get used to it and fast. After that, it's just an unfolding of events as they happen, giving you a look into the confusion and torment that Jack faces as he struggles to uncover his own involvement.Carpenter's style is similar to that of Daniel Stanton (author of City of Champions). Although not as vivid, descriptive or violent, Killer takes you through the character's story just as City of Champions did - right as it happens. It can be more confusing than Stanton's work, but that can be credited to the parallel stories. The confusion does clear up quickly enough, making you want to know what happens next in each of the stories and leaving you guessing abut how they might meet. Not too descriptive on the violence, Killer describes graphic scenes in a simplistic manner, its matter of fact approach adding its own bit to the creepy quotient of the book.Killer doesn't have any truly disturbing or thrilling scenes and I think it would be safe to categorize it as a crime mystery with just a splash of thrills. A unique story line, interesting characters and good story telling makes Killer a good book for lovers of mystery and crime and anyone looking for something interesting, quick, and not too long. If you look for crime thrillers with a good amount of creeps, thrills and chills, you will have to look beyond Killer. But if you're a fan of mystery books and anything to do with serial killers, then you should spend some time on Killer. It is the first book in a series and although the next one is not high on my list of reads, it definitely made the list. less

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