Cover Image: Hunting Evil

Hunting Evil

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This was such an addictive thriller. It kept me turning this page gripped from start to finish. The two main characters were intense and engrossing yet on opposite end of the morality spectrum, possibly.

Was this review helpful?

Classic Chris Carter. A fast-paced, gripping mystery that’s not for the faint-hearted. A great addition to an exciting series.

Was this review helpful?

This book is yet another fantastic installment in the detective Hunter and Garcia books. Chris has an amazing way of keeping your heart in your mouth from the very beginning and even has you questioning your own morals as the story unfolds. I read this in almost one sitting, completely unputdownable!

Was this review helpful?

Chris Carter again comes up trumps with a twisting and deliciously dark visit back to Robert Hunter and Lucien Folter. An evil mind is one of my all time favourites that i read in one sitting, and was very keen to get back into their story.

Was this review helpful?

I would like to thank Netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK Fiction for an advance copy of Hunting Evil, the tenth novel. I love Chris Carter’s books, so I was THRILLED to be able to read this one early. Hunting Evil is exactly what it says it is. If you have not read a Chris Carter novel, I should warn you they are not for the feint hearted and should be read with caution. His books are dark psychological thrillers that will certainly entertain and grip but perhaps should carry a warning.

Brilliant, twisting and gruesome as always! I have read all the books in the Robert Hunter series and this one is just as good as all the other. As usual at the very end there is a huge twist that I did not expect.
Overall I love this series because you get to know the main characters better with each book but there is always a new and gruesome mystery.

Was this review helpful?

Chris Carter never lets me down! another brilliant novel! I'm looking forward to the next one, i have read all of Chris Carters books so far and enjoyed them all. I especially love the cliffhangers at the end of each chapter.

Was this review helpful?

I have been a fan of Chris Carter for years; his books featuring Robert Hunter are an auto-buy for me. Even if my bank account keeps shouting NO MORE books for you until you have read all the ones you have…

I have read the series in order so far and the all the previous books up until this one you have been able to read as standalone novels. Yes, I recommend reading them as a series, I recommend them full stop. But if you do want to pick up Hunting Evil and why wouldn’t you? You really do need to read An Evil Mind first as this is a sequel to that book. Not a direct sequel as there are quite a few books in between them, but the consequences of An Evil Mind are very much relevant to Hunting Evil. Have I made sense?

I love Chris Carter’s writing style and his short, little and snappy chapters and the way he succeeds at making a small cliffhanger at the end of almost everyone. I find myself regularly thinking, what harm can one more 3 or 4 page chapter do and then I suddenly realise that it’s 2 am and my alarm is set for 6 am.

Hunting Evil is good, it starts off with a bang and doesn’t really stop.

Now – A word of warning, this book as with the others in the series doesn’t shy away from violence, gore and the very worst examples of humanity. The books are dark. They are intense. They are at times more like horror than a thriller. But, Robert and Garcia are worth getting to know.

If you want a book that keeps you up through the night, is difficult to put down and will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up then let me recommend Hunting Evil, or even better yet, start at the very beginning with The Crucifix Killer.

Was this review helpful?

The Robert Hunter series is one of my favourites; it’s a series I turn to when I want to lose myself in a book, shutting out the world and immersing myself in the world of serial killers with violent minds and the man whose job it is to catch them.

Hunting Evil is the latest in Chris Carter’s Robert Hunter series. Hunter by name and by nature, Robert is in charge of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Ultra Violent Crime Unit. (I always read that and think of the unit with a glowing violet hue).

Hunter and his partner and closest friend, Carlos Garcia are really up against it in this latest book. Though Hunting Evil is the follow on book to An Evil Mind, it isn’t necessary to have read the first in order to enjoy Hunting Evil. What you would get though, is a strong sense from the off of what a fiendishly grotesque mind this antagonist has and the lengths to which he will go in the name of his deadly ‘research’.

Lucien Folter is our antagonist. A game player. A killer with an intelligent and acute eye, who knows how to think ahead and whose ability to read people has lead him to become Hunter’s nemesis.

Once college roommates, Hunter was responsible for catching Folter and sending him to a high security prison. Now, just three and a half years later, Folter has made a dramatic jail break, leaving behind him a trail of dead bodies and a message for Hunter.

Lucien is not happy, he wants revenge on Hunter and knowing him as well as he does from their college days, he has a pretty good idea of how to get it.

Carter does an excellent job of showing us how the brightest and most psychopathic mind of his day works to create the mayhem, doubt and guilt in Hunter that will drive him to exactly where Folter needs him to be.

Against a backdrop of inter-agency squabbling between the US Marshall’s office, the FBI and the LAPD, Hunter finds himself isolated from his peers in a game of cat and mouse the rules of which only he and Folter know how to play. Using deep thinking, and critical analysis, Hunter will have to not only anticipate Folter’s game but work out how to stop him before innocent lives are lost.

Folter will set the rules for this deadliest of games, and many people will die as a consequence, as Hunter struggles to work out what the twisted mind of this cold and deadly psychopath will do next.

It’s good to see Garcia have a bigger role in this book, too. He has really come into his own as Hunter’s partner and friend, even if Hunter can’t yet bring himself fully to open up to anyone, because the danger he attracts as a result of his job makes him fearful of creating more targets for the warped and twisted minds he deals with. This makes Hunter the archetypical loner; a renegade within a system bound by rules that he’s always going to have to step outside of.

Utilising a series of fairly short, sharp chapters to enhance the propulsive mechanism of the book, Carter has created another heart pounding, pacy read full of tension, twists and shocking moments. It’s a fast and furious read that’s bound to delight fans of Carter’s previous books, and to create some new ones.

Verdict: Bloody, compelling, addictive– another fabulously macabre journey into the world of a psychopathic serial killer and the man who has to bring him down.

Was this review helpful?

I adore the Robert Hunter novels they are the most addictive and deliciously dark stories- Hunting Evil is an absolute rollercoaster, not for the faint hearted but definitely for those who like their crime with an edgy, unrelenting pace and a deeply disturbing vibe.

Lucien is a favourite character of mine, this time the ongoing battle between Lucien and Robert heats up to volcanic levels. I like that there is no promise that the good guys will eventually win, almost anything could happen and often does.

Chris Carter writes so so well, immediately involving the reader in every aspect and nuance of plot – You simply can’t look away and it is easily a one sitting read that will leave you horrified yet satisfied. We all like to walk on the dark side occasionally and a Chris Carter novel is always one of the most entertaining ways to do so.

Recommended. This and the entire series.

Was this review helpful?

I am a huge fan of Chris Carter and have been reading his books for years. This read is no exception. It's bloody, fast-paced and utterly thrilling.
Chris Carter is one of my favorite authors and this read did nothing to sway my feelings.

A brilliant read for fans of JA Kerley and Karin Slaughter.

Was this review helpful?

Just brilliant as ever! This is a fantastic gripping read. Robert Hunter appearing vulnerable and afraid of a serial killer he has met in the past. A character that is pure evil. The gruesome killings are so shocking. Several heart stopping moments in Hunting Evil which had me gasping for breath. The partnership of Hunter and Garcia is one of the best I've come across in crime fiction.

Was this review helpful?

It’s a typical Chris Carter: a cinematic, easy read. It’s the perfect beach read and one you’ll pass around the office once you’ve finished.
With a solid plot and well known characters, it’s hard not to feel at home. Perfect for established fans and new recruits, but those who haven’t read what came before will have fun doing so once the case here has been solved.

Was this review helpful?

"Lucien Folter is evil in human form": This quote sums this book up for me. I absolutely love Chris Carters Hunter and Garcia series and book 10 shows no signs of letting up at all. I feel that this series just keeps getting stronger and stronger and I really look forward to what comes next. I started this book last night and thankfully it is a long weekend and I could stay up late reading - I finished it today. I can't recommend this series more - but be warned, it is definitely not for the faint hearted - it dark, gruesome and graphic. Some scenes do make your stomach turn and at times I was even holding my breath in anticipation of what was going to happen next. When you read this book you live this book. I really would love to see a TV series made out of these books.

The first chapter of this book is just brilliant! Lucien Folter, the most evil killer the FBI has ever seen has managed to escape from prison - killing everybody in his way. Lucien is Robert Hunter's former friend and college room mate. 3 1/2 years ago Robert put him behind bars - and now Lucien wants revenge. Robert and his partner Garcia along with the FBI must use everything that they know about him to try to stop him. Killing is fun for Lucien, he enjoys it - and enjoys torturing Robert along the way. This man has no feeling other than of hate.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster UK Fiction and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

Was this review helpful?

This is Chris Carter's latest addition to the Robert Hunter series, a tense and gripping reading with serial killer Lucien Folter escaping a high security penitentiary, after carrying out a killing spree, leaving behind a bloodbath. Robert Hunter is the head of LAPD's Ultra Violent Crime Unit and had been instrumental in getting Lucien arrested and imprisoned behind bars in solitary confinement. Robert knows just how dangerous Lucien is, the pair had been friends and room mates in college, the brightest minds in psychology to graduate, no-one knows Lucien better. He is not surprised when the FBI's Adrian Kennedy tells him that Lucien left behind a message specifically for Robert in his cell. Lucien is looking for vengeance as he embarks on a series of mind games designed to test Robert to the limits of his endurance.

The US Marshall Office is legally in charge of hunting down Lucien with US Marshall Tyler West, although the FBI have taken joint responsibility, although it takes some time to get them to co-ordinate their efforts with the LAPD. With everything and everyone he holds dear at risk, Robert finds himself boxed into the darkest of territory with a Lucien hellbent on maximising his suffering. Lucien is no ordinary serial killer, he is a sick and disturbed psychopath who has compiled extensive 'research' notebooks known as the 'murder encyclopedia'. He is a psychopath studying psychopaths by choice, intent on exploring the murkiest and darkest corners of the world of serial killers. This makes him an incredibly difficult person to catch, as he is not driven by emotions or uncontrollable personal urges, he is a cold, careful and clinical planner able to emotionally disassociate himself from the barbarity of his heinous crimes.

Whilst Robert has a team around him to help, including his close friend and partner, Carlos Garcia, he finds that it is personal insider knowledge of Lucien that is of any real help as he battles against time and the odds to try and prevent Lucien from committing the gravest of acts. Carter immerses the reader in the world of serial killers with a masterful creation in Lucien, an expert at evading detection, and the insertion of research and knowledge gained by the study of serial killers. Those who have read crime fiction extensively revolving around serial killers will likely be familiar with some of the twists and turns to be found in the narrative. This is a fast paced and compulsive read, with plenty of blood and gore, so perhaps not for the faint of heart. Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for an ARC.

Was this review helpful?

This is my first read in the Robert Hunter series so I was probably a bit on the back foot, however, in saying that I absolutely loved this book, I literally could not put it down, I devoured it, serial killer Lucien Folter escapes from a high security prison and sets about revenge, everything is in aid of hurting Robert Hunter who Lucien was a roomie with in college, needless to say Hunter did not know of Folter's sick tendancies!!! With bodies turning up by the dozens, every law enforcement agency after Folter..... can he carry out his revenge and still escape?

Seriously for those who love serial killer thrillers, this is a must must read.... so much so I went straight onto Amazon and bought the whole series so I can start back at the very beginning, what a joy. As and aside, this would make for a great movie!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster UK Fiction for an advanced copy and for introducing me to Robert Hunter, I will forever be indebted to you.

Was this review helpful?

HE'S THE MOST DANGEROUS KILLER THE FBI HAS EVER KNOWN. AND HE'S JUST ESCAPED.

The ninth book in the Detective Robert Hunter series. Robert and the team at the Ultra Violent Crime Unit in LA are on the hunt for possibly the world's most evil criminal. An old friend and roommate of Robert's, Lucien Folter. Folter has escaped from the maximum security prison where he had been held in solitary confinement for the past 3.5 years. Bitter and angry, the extremely clever and manipulative chameleon plans for revenge against Robert. This book is, as with all of Chris Carter's books, a very exciting read. In fact it reads like an episode of Criminal Minds as we led on a cat and mouse chase between good and evil. Can Robert and his team catch up with Lucien before he kills again? I really enjoyed it!

Was this review helpful?

Another amazing book from Chris Carter. I've loved every single one of his books and this latest one really didn't disappoint. It's good to see Lucien back and to see what he has planned now that he has escaped and how Robert will handle what Lucien has to offer.

Was this review helpful?

What an explosive read!!
From start to finish it's packed with action and a great story.
I couldn't put it down, I love the Hunter series and this will not disappoint anyone. It's very fast pace and you are easily drawn in to the characters stories.
Hunter is a hero! The fight he faces and the sorrow he's put through.

This book would make an amazing movie.
I can't wait for another book from Chris Carter.

Was this review helpful?

I love Chris Carter’s books, so I was THRILLED to be able to read this one early. Hunting Evil is exactly what it says it is. We’re back with Hunter and Garcia as they are faced with one of the most evil killers America has ever known, and this time Lucien Folter is out for revenge. This book was immense fun, in as much as a serial killer thriller can be, it is gripping, gruesome, emotive and thoroughly engaging, I was completely hooked right from the beginning, I couldn’t put Hunting Evil down!

Was this review helpful?

After reading this tour de force which blew me away, I was speechless and needed a couple of days to digest what I have just read. For a start this is this authors first sequel but do not worry as it can be read as a standalone. Saying that I am sure that you will want to read this tsunami of a journey by reading An Evil Mind.
Robert Hunters' nemesis and once friend Lucien Filter has escaped from a high security prison and has only one thing on his mind REVENGE!!!!
Be warned once you start reading this book you will not want to put it down. Lucien is evil personified and the most prolific serial killer America has ever known. This read gave me chills, had the hairs standing up on the back of my neck. While reading this book, I had to read sections again as honestly I could not believe what I was reading. My heart was in my mouth and I was literally shouting at this book,tapping my kindle faster and faster. I have had a sleepless night as after I had finished this read it was still going round in my head. This book is mind blowing.
Chris Carter is my all time favourite author and I have been with him from the start. His books a are series I will read again and again and never be disappointed. A five star read hell no an easy ten stars and so Highly Recommended.
I would like to thank the author, Simon and Schuster UK and Netgalley for advanced copy and being one of lucky 100 to read it. Thank you so much a very happy reader.

Was this review helpful?