|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
Detective Carson Ryder and Detective Harry Nautilus are members of Mobile's new Psychopathological and Sociopathological Investigative Team. This organization is supposed to help investigate crimes that are not easy to solve and involve criminals who might not be completely sane. Since its conception, they have not had any opportunities to demonstrate the value and importance of this organization. Luckily for them - and unluckily for the victim - the situation changes. A body is found without its head. Ryder and Nautilus are not allowed much access to the case, as the person in charge does not trust them; yet, they can tell that this is the work of one unstable individual. Then another victim is found and the police slowly allow Ryder and Nautilus to investigate. All of the bodies found are missing their heads, and little blood is found at the murder scenes. Besides the removal of the head, there is little violence shown; however, there are several sentences written on the body that seem to make little sense. There seems to be no motivation or explanation for the murders and the choice of victims. In addition to hunting down a killer, Ryder must help one of his friends overcome her alcohol addiction. This element seems unimportant to the plot; however, in the end, she becomes vital to the plot. Whatever the goal of the serial killer is, Ryder and Nautilus must find him before another victim is claimed. THE HUNDREDTH MAN is a strange combination of a suspense and character-driven thriller. In addition to this combination, the book is written in both first and third person. When the text appears in first person, it is written from the perspective of Carson Ryder. When the text appears in third person, it follows around Mr Cutter, the serial killer. Both of these characters have hidden depths and have seen the ugliness of life. Their characters are nothing alike; however, there is some connection between them that is unexplainable. Kerley does a good job of creating interesting and developed characters without losing the flow of an action thriller. THE HUNDREDTH MAN is Jack Kerley's first thriller. Hopefully there will be several more to follow.
Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, June 2004
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
| 
