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Robert Hunter #5
Един по един
НОВО ИЗПИТАНИЕ ЗА ДЕТЕКТИВ РОБЪРТ ХЪНТЪР
Един куршум в тила в стил екзекуция. Мнозина смятат, че това е много мъчителен начин да умреш. Истината обаче е друга. Не е мъчителен, поне за жертвата.
С тези мисли Робърт Хънтър разглежда фотографии от пресен случай на убийство, когато телефонът звънва. От отсрещната страна не се представят, а принуждават Хънтър да посети някакъв интернет адрес . На екрана се появява зловеща картина. Потресени, полицаите в екип с ФБР безрезултатно се опитват да проследят по електронен път първоизточника на този кошмар. Но убиецът не е аматьор и умело въвлича Хънтър в демоничната си игра.
Следват още анонимни обаждания. Още адреси. Още набелязани жертви, за които куршум в тила е само избавление.
Още с първия си роман „Хамелеонът се завръща“ Крис Картър влезе в лигата на големите криминални автори. Телеграфният стил, подправен с много напрежение, и изобретателните му герои са негова безусловна запазена марка.
Един куршум в тила в стил екзекуция. Мнозина смятат, че това е много мъчителен начин да умреш. Истината обаче е друга. Не е мъчителен, поне за жертвата.
С тези мисли Робърт Хънтър разглежда фотографии от пресен случай на убийство, когато телефонът звънва. От отсрещната страна не се представят, а принуждават Хънтър да посети някакъв интернет адрес . На екрана се появява зловеща картина. Потресени, полицаите в екип с ФБР безрезултатно се опитват да проследят по електронен път първоизточника на този кошмар. Но убиецът не е аматьор и умело въвлича Хънтър в демоничната си игра.
Следват още анонимни обаждания. Още адреси. Още набелязани жертви, за които куршум в тила е само избавление.
Още с първия си роман „Хамелеонът се завръща“ Крис Картър влезе в лигата на големите криминални автори. Телеграфният стил, подправен с много напрежение, и изобретателните му герои са негова безусловна запазена марка.
392 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2013
677 people are currently reading
12319 people want to read
About the author
Chris Carter
21 books551 followersBiographies can be an absolute drag, so I won’t bore anyone with a long life story.
I was born in Brasilia, Brazil where I spent my childhood and teenage years. After graduating from high school, I moved to the USA where I studied psychology with specialization in criminal behaviour. During my University years I held a variety of odd jobs, ranging from flipping burgers to being part of an all male exotic dancing group.
I worked as a criminal psychologist for several years before moving to Los Angeles, where I swapped the suits and briefcases for ripped jeans, bandanas and an electric guitar. After a spell playing for several well known glam rock bands, I decided to try my luck in London, where I was fortunate enough to have played for a number of famous artists. I toured the world several times as a professional musician.
A few years ago I gave it all up to become a full time writer.
I was born in Brasilia, Brazil where I spent my childhood and teenage years. After graduating from high school, I moved to the USA where I studied psychology with specialization in criminal behaviour. During my University years I held a variety of odd jobs, ranging from flipping burgers to being part of an all male exotic dancing group.
I worked as a criminal psychologist for several years before moving to Los Angeles, where I swapped the suits and briefcases for ripped jeans, bandanas and an electric guitar. After a spell playing for several well known glam rock bands, I decided to try my luck in London, where I was fortunate enough to have played for a number of famous artists. I toured the world several times as a professional musician.
A few years ago I gave it all up to become a full time writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,537 reviews
April 3, 2022
SAWing the way to the top elite of hardcore psychothriller with a bit of media criticism
Social media competence is recommended to make better evil swarm intelligence decisions.
There will certainly be funny troll comment sections both with the live stream and later when the final video is uploaded. The role of media has a big impact on the psychological dynamic of victim, Hunter, the audience, and the killer, whose motivation turns out to be a bit maybe over the top exaggerated, but somewhat understandable.
Sure as hell already reality
That, how, and when it happens, or illusionary will happen, is more a question of to what extent and not if. While it might at the moment be one of the most disturbing darknet and organized crime features, games like that with audience participation might have a place in different kinds of societies of the future for different reasons. Let´s say corporal punishment, using clones without fear and pain, militaristic societies with classy battle royales, or as an accepted hobby for relaxation, the options are endless.
Digging to the meta level
It´s one of the deeper, more meaningful, and social criticizing parts of the series, not just a maniac without a real agenda besides destroy, rape, eat, and kill, but someone who has really good reasons for revenge. This whole >> society, social media, the youth, whatever is evil and finds gore and torture entertaining << is another, far more complex thing. Depending on who is asked one could get dozens of different theories, thesis, discussions, duels, and battles until death, and explanations out of the shallow waters of many humanities, not even including new weirdo cyber pop psychology.
Or, to boil the explanation down
So simple, so easy, the human animal was, is, and will be sick, cruel, and especially fascinated by cruelty of any kind, as long as it doesn´t happen to oneself, and keen on participating in any kind of group watch offered by the favorite darknet station.
A wiki walk can be as refreshing to the mind as a walk through nature in this completely overrated real life outside books:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_C...
Social media competence is recommended to make better evil swarm intelligence decisions.
There will certainly be funny troll comment sections both with the live stream and later when the final video is uploaded. The role of media has a big impact on the psychological dynamic of victim, Hunter, the audience, and the killer, whose motivation turns out to be a bit maybe over the top exaggerated, but somewhat understandable.
Sure as hell already reality
That, how, and when it happens, or illusionary will happen, is more a question of to what extent and not if. While it might at the moment be one of the most disturbing darknet and organized crime features, games like that with audience participation might have a place in different kinds of societies of the future for different reasons. Let´s say corporal punishment, using clones without fear and pain, militaristic societies with classy battle royales, or as an accepted hobby for relaxation, the options are endless.
Digging to the meta level
It´s one of the deeper, more meaningful, and social criticizing parts of the series, not just a maniac without a real agenda besides destroy, rape, eat, and kill, but someone who has really good reasons for revenge. This whole >> society, social media, the youth, whatever is evil and finds gore and torture entertaining << is another, far more complex thing. Depending on who is asked one could get dozens of different theories, thesis, discussions, duels, and battles until death, and explanations out of the shallow waters of many humanities, not even including new weirdo cyber pop psychology.
Or, to boil the explanation down
So simple, so easy, the human animal was, is, and will be sick, cruel, and especially fascinated by cruelty of any kind, as long as it doesn´t happen to oneself, and keen on participating in any kind of group watch offered by the favorite darknet station.
A wiki walk can be as refreshing to the mind as a walk through nature in this completely overrated real life outside books:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_C...
September 20, 2024
‘Really? We always have a choice, do we? What about the choices that other people make that end up completely changing your life, not theirs? Where is our choice there, then?’
Chris Carter's One by One is a relentless, chilling thriller that plunges deep into the darkest corners of the human mind. Book #5 in the Robert Hunter series, it definitely lives up to the gritty reputation Carter has built in the previous four instalments that I've read. This time he offers up a tense cat and mouse game between Hunter, a seasoned LAPD Detective, and a sadistic serial killer who turns murder into a twisted form of interactive entertainment.
The novel’s premise hooks you from the start. The killer forces the LAPD Detective to make an impossible choice, selecting the method of the victim’s death in real-time via live video feeds. This psychological torment adds layers of emotional intensity to an already harrowing narrative. Carter expertly builds suspense not just through the physical horror of the crimes, but through the mental anguish inflicted on all involved.
Hunter is, as always, a compelling protagonist. His sharp intellect and ability to dissect the minds of killers is offset by the emotional toll these cases take on him, making him a complex and relatable character.
The Authors own background in psychology and criminal behaviour adds incredible depth to the villain, creating not just a monster, but someone whose twisted motives feel unsettlingly plausible.
While One by One is an addictive page turner, it is not for the faint of heart. The graphic violence and psychological manipulation might be too intense for some readers, but for fans of dark thrillers, it's a thrilling, edge of your seat experience. I would personally classify this series as horror/thriller!
The book’s exploration of choice, control, and moral dilemmas gives it a weight beyond the typical crime novel, making it more than just a serial killer story. The dialogue is crisp, the pacing relentless, and the short chapters push you to keep reading well past bedtime.
I Highly Recommend this series!
4.5
Chris Carter's One by One is a relentless, chilling thriller that plunges deep into the darkest corners of the human mind. Book #5 in the Robert Hunter series, it definitely lives up to the gritty reputation Carter has built in the previous four instalments that I've read. This time he offers up a tense cat and mouse game between Hunter, a seasoned LAPD Detective, and a sadistic serial killer who turns murder into a twisted form of interactive entertainment.
The novel’s premise hooks you from the start. The killer forces the LAPD Detective to make an impossible choice, selecting the method of the victim’s death in real-time via live video feeds. This psychological torment adds layers of emotional intensity to an already harrowing narrative. Carter expertly builds suspense not just through the physical horror of the crimes, but through the mental anguish inflicted on all involved.
Hunter is, as always, a compelling protagonist. His sharp intellect and ability to dissect the minds of killers is offset by the emotional toll these cases take on him, making him a complex and relatable character.
The Authors own background in psychology and criminal behaviour adds incredible depth to the villain, creating not just a monster, but someone whose twisted motives feel unsettlingly plausible.
While One by One is an addictive page turner, it is not for the faint of heart. The graphic violence and psychological manipulation might be too intense for some readers, but for fans of dark thrillers, it's a thrilling, edge of your seat experience. I would personally classify this series as horror/thriller!
The book’s exploration of choice, control, and moral dilemmas gives it a weight beyond the typical crime novel, making it more than just a serial killer story. The dialogue is crisp, the pacing relentless, and the short chapters push you to keep reading well past bedtime.
I Highly Recommend this series!
4.5
November 5, 2015
Upping this to 5 stars on my reread because it's bloody terrifying. I knew it deserved an extra star when I was forced to check all the potential hiding places in my hotel room last night. Just in case....
August 5, 2022
A serial killer is at work. Not just any serial killer, but one that puts the power and choices in the hands of the public. Broadcasting live on the internet, this serial killer asks the general public to vote on which more horrific manner of death they want a total stranger to undergo. And vote they do. Human beings voting to see a horrific death.
That's the fiction part of the book, but you know what? I bet that if such a scenario did happen live on the internet that there is plenty of sick people that would vote, and not only vote but WATCH, with glee. It's a dark world out there.
I love Chris Carter's writing because his imagery is fantastically horrific, this book had me turning away in sections and I am not easily turned, I read the most horrific of serial killer and horror novels, but yet again Chris Carter got under my skin with some of the kill and torture scenes. Sheer genius.
If you have not met Detective Robert Hunter before, now is the time, he is a genius Detective, super brainy and has the special skill of seeing the psychological element in any murder, profiling and second guessing the killer. All of the books featuring him are fantastic, I have read a few now. He works with his partner Andy Garcia and both are very likeable and tangible characters. Robert Hunter is a loner, I feel sad for him at times, but on the job he is outstanding and really likeable. Somewhat flawed yes, but outstanding.
The serial killer in this book is broadcasting first direct to Hunter and Garcia scenes of a human being trapped in an unknown location, the killer gives Hunter the choice of death method WATER or FIRE and forces Hunter to choose. Horrific in itself, but then the killer throws in a twist, and it's mind blowing, evil, shocking and graphic.
The hunt is on but this killer is cyber clever, avoiding even the most advanced searches for him on the internet, and the killer is cleverly avoiding being pinpointed by the most expert of police and FBI cyber crimes computer geniuses. He has the upper hand for most of the book, it's edge of your seat stuff.
The killer's next ploy is to broadcast on the web his next victim and let the public vote on the method of torture and death, and vote they do. It's all streamed live on the internet, the torture and kill methods are bizarre and cruel, shocking and the stuff of nightmares, we are not talking slasher killings here. Not for the weak of stomach I might add. Even this hard core serial killer fiction reader was struggling with some images.
The plot is fantastic, paced well from the start, the dialogue is great, the characters really shine, the story reveals itself bit by bit but you really are kept guessing for the majority of the book, no clues as to the killer's identity or indeed if Robert Hunter is going to get even close to capturing the killer in time before more and more lives are lost in this most barbaric of ways.
What will the public vote next?
I read this book over a few hours, could not put it down, by the final third of the book I was frantically turning pages, the ending is spectacularly good, I was nearly hyperventilating reading it! Chris Carter manages to keep his reader well engaged from start to finish in books that for me, are a cut above most of the crime fiction books I read and love. He's up there with the very best.
I can't rave enough about how much I enjoyed this book, I love it when I can read and lose track of all surroundings around me until I emerge back into reality when the book ends. Robert Hunter is a formidable character that I love, I love his brain and how he operates, the whole series is fantastic.
Highly recommended. 5 easy stars, would give it 6 if that was an option. If you are looking for a top notch crime book with a sophisticated serial killer plot, plenty of tense moments, some new and interesting kill scenes and a race to the spectacular finish line then you have found it. Here it is. Bet you love it!
Which of the kill scenes will YOU find the most disturbing? I am not telling which one was mine. But seriously, I might have nightmares.
That's the fiction part of the book, but you know what? I bet that if such a scenario did happen live on the internet that there is plenty of sick people that would vote, and not only vote but WATCH, with glee. It's a dark world out there.
I love Chris Carter's writing because his imagery is fantastically horrific, this book had me turning away in sections and I am not easily turned, I read the most horrific of serial killer and horror novels, but yet again Chris Carter got under my skin with some of the kill and torture scenes. Sheer genius.
If you have not met Detective Robert Hunter before, now is the time, he is a genius Detective, super brainy and has the special skill of seeing the psychological element in any murder, profiling and second guessing the killer. All of the books featuring him are fantastic, I have read a few now. He works with his partner Andy Garcia and both are very likeable and tangible characters. Robert Hunter is a loner, I feel sad for him at times, but on the job he is outstanding and really likeable. Somewhat flawed yes, but outstanding.
The serial killer in this book is broadcasting first direct to Hunter and Garcia scenes of a human being trapped in an unknown location, the killer gives Hunter the choice of death method WATER or FIRE and forces Hunter to choose. Horrific in itself, but then the killer throws in a twist, and it's mind blowing, evil, shocking and graphic.
The hunt is on but this killer is cyber clever, avoiding even the most advanced searches for him on the internet, and the killer is cleverly avoiding being pinpointed by the most expert of police and FBI cyber crimes computer geniuses. He has the upper hand for most of the book, it's edge of your seat stuff.
The killer's next ploy is to broadcast on the web his next victim and let the public vote on the method of torture and death, and vote they do. It's all streamed live on the internet, the torture and kill methods are bizarre and cruel, shocking and the stuff of nightmares, we are not talking slasher killings here. Not for the weak of stomach I might add. Even this hard core serial killer fiction reader was struggling with some images.
The plot is fantastic, paced well from the start, the dialogue is great, the characters really shine, the story reveals itself bit by bit but you really are kept guessing for the majority of the book, no clues as to the killer's identity or indeed if Robert Hunter is going to get even close to capturing the killer in time before more and more lives are lost in this most barbaric of ways.
What will the public vote next?
I read this book over a few hours, could not put it down, by the final third of the book I was frantically turning pages, the ending is spectacularly good, I was nearly hyperventilating reading it! Chris Carter manages to keep his reader well engaged from start to finish in books that for me, are a cut above most of the crime fiction books I read and love. He's up there with the very best.
I can't rave enough about how much I enjoyed this book, I love it when I can read and lose track of all surroundings around me until I emerge back into reality when the book ends. Robert Hunter is a formidable character that I love, I love his brain and how he operates, the whole series is fantastic.
Highly recommended. 5 easy stars, would give it 6 if that was an option. If you are looking for a top notch crime book with a sophisticated serial killer plot, plenty of tense moments, some new and interesting kill scenes and a race to the spectacular finish line then you have found it. Here it is. Bet you love it!
Which of the kill scenes will YOU find the most disturbing? I am not telling which one was mine. But seriously, I might have nightmares.
February 16, 2024
Een voor een is het vijfde deel in de populaire Robert Hunter reeks. Eerder las ik de vorige delen allemaal al en beloonde die telkens met 5 sterren. Ook dit keer leverde Carter een beresterk verhaal af met gruwelijke details en enge moordmethoden. Een sterke maag is een vereiste bij het lezen van Carter’s werk. Hunter en Garcia krijgen een anonieme oproep en worden door de beller doorverwezen naar een website. Achterhalen wie achter die site zit is onmogelijk want de dader is ontzettend slim als het op IT aankomt. De rechercheurs zien live op hun scherm hoe een persoon vastgebonden zit en de dader laat de rechercheurs de keuze hoe de persoon om het leven zal komen. De dader heeft geen medelijden en gaat nadien gewoon voort met het uitzoeken van slachtoffers en het uitzenden van zijn daden. De ene nog verschrikkelijker dan de andere.
Een voor een past dus zeker in het straatje van Carter’s eerdere werken en zal menig thrillerlezer kunnen bekoren. Laat ons zeggen dat Carter echt op hoog niveau boeken blijft afleveren, wat ik alleen maar kan toejuichen. Dat doet telkens weer uitkijken naar nieuwe delen in deze straffe reeks! Een voor een krijgt net zoals de voorgangers de maximum score en dus 5 sterren.
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2024...
Een voor een past dus zeker in het straatje van Carter’s eerdere werken en zal menig thrillerlezer kunnen bekoren. Laat ons zeggen dat Carter echt op hoog niveau boeken blijft afleveren, wat ik alleen maar kan toejuichen. Dat doet telkens weer uitkijken naar nieuwe delen in deze straffe reeks! Een voor een krijgt net zoals de voorgangers de maximum score en dus 5 sterren.
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2024...
July 2, 2024
What an incredible series. It just has not let up and from reviews of the ongoing saga's it does not seem too.
Chris Carter studied criminal behaviour and psychology at the University of Michigan. He employed these crafts with the Michigan State attorney's office dealing with all kinds of violent offenders. Clearly this author has the background and knowhow to deliver. As a police procedural it is so bang on. Overall just one of my favourite series.
The setting is LA as it always is and where our hero the child prodigy Robert Hunter works in the violent offenders section of homicide because there is homicide and then there are the true psychos! His partner Garcia is by his side again.
The book opens up with a phone call to Robert and the voice behind the call gives him internet instructions to find a site where an elaborate little scheme is hatched. A man is in a plastic type container with hoses and such around it. The caller wants Hunter to play a game. Should the man be placed on fire or drowned. The caller is insistent it is all up to Hunter. Hunter clearly tries to talk sense to the caller but the caller wants no part of it and so Hunter eventually chooses water knowing the man will drown. However the caller knew this would be Hunter's choice and tells him so and so the caller decides to ignore Hunter's wishes and floods the container with the agent NaOH which is that chemical that when thrown at someone burns them. Ex boyfriends and such have used it on their leaving girlfriends and such. Just a little can do so much damage think of being stuck in a container which will be flooded with the stuff. The descriptions of how the burning goes down is just so crazy. I really think that a lot of extreme horror fans would really enjoy this series. It is a thriller but man this whole series is right on the edge. I just love it.
So the investigation begins and our killer is clearly not done. Round two is a bit different in that Hunter cheated the first time in the eyes of our killer. Our killer has created a website known as pickadeath.com and there is female restrained in the same booth. The words guilty are on the screen as is a counter on both sides of the words Eaten or Buried. The public is invited to vote on this and most think its a gag of some sort but it is clearly not as Hunter and his team know. The terms are quite simple whichever counter gets to a 1000 first is the way she dies. Our killer is not all that bad though, if two minutes expire and the counter's do not reach 1000 then she will be set free. Well freedom does not come for her and I won't spoil which option wins but man oh man what I was introduced too by the killer here was just beyond anything I imagined. I will not be toying with wasps anytime soon that is for sure.
So these type of games continue. There are a series of five in total and the twists and turns along the way into Hunter getting a grasp on this case is amazing. Hunter joins forces with an elite FBI cyber unit but the killer here knows his way around all types of security. Together though they are better and stronger than apart.
Clearly though there is a connection to what is going on and when we do find out the reason you kind of feel for the killer and what he has gone through. You understand why he chose not to kill one of the victims knowing that living would be worse for her than dying and why he chose to disfigure her so much. I never really thought I would picture being on this guys side but the reasons for all this insanity is quite valid and I think most would agree.
Just a fascinating series with great police procedural work and such a great cast. So many twists and turns along the way and a surprising twist that makes you actually feel for such a crazy killer. Both Hunter and Garcia are pushed to their limits and at the end it is not clear if Garcia will be staying on as a homicide detective.
Over the last few months I keep seeing a love from other reviewers regarding this series including books down the line I have not reached yet - this is number six. That just excites me so much as I just love this series. An easy five stars and I think everyone I've read has been five stars so that says something and yeah I'll admit I do rate a lot of books five but when they are spot on to what you desire why not? When they are crap I know it but I seem to have gravitated to what I really like and I truly am thankful for that. Enjoy this series if you find it enticing. Just so creative and great as a police procedural as well!!
Chris Carter studied criminal behaviour and psychology at the University of Michigan. He employed these crafts with the Michigan State attorney's office dealing with all kinds of violent offenders. Clearly this author has the background and knowhow to deliver. As a police procedural it is so bang on. Overall just one of my favourite series.
The setting is LA as it always is and where our hero the child prodigy Robert Hunter works in the violent offenders section of homicide because there is homicide and then there are the true psychos! His partner Garcia is by his side again.
The book opens up with a phone call to Robert and the voice behind the call gives him internet instructions to find a site where an elaborate little scheme is hatched. A man is in a plastic type container with hoses and such around it. The caller wants Hunter to play a game. Should the man be placed on fire or drowned. The caller is insistent it is all up to Hunter. Hunter clearly tries to talk sense to the caller but the caller wants no part of it and so Hunter eventually chooses water knowing the man will drown. However the caller knew this would be Hunter's choice and tells him so and so the caller decides to ignore Hunter's wishes and floods the container with the agent NaOH which is that chemical that when thrown at someone burns them. Ex boyfriends and such have used it on their leaving girlfriends and such. Just a little can do so much damage think of being stuck in a container which will be flooded with the stuff. The descriptions of how the burning goes down is just so crazy. I really think that a lot of extreme horror fans would really enjoy this series. It is a thriller but man this whole series is right on the edge. I just love it.
So the investigation begins and our killer is clearly not done. Round two is a bit different in that Hunter cheated the first time in the eyes of our killer. Our killer has created a website known as pickadeath.com and there is female restrained in the same booth. The words guilty are on the screen as is a counter on both sides of the words Eaten or Buried. The public is invited to vote on this and most think its a gag of some sort but it is clearly not as Hunter and his team know. The terms are quite simple whichever counter gets to a 1000 first is the way she dies. Our killer is not all that bad though, if two minutes expire and the counter's do not reach 1000 then she will be set free. Well freedom does not come for her and I won't spoil which option wins but man oh man what I was introduced too by the killer here was just beyond anything I imagined. I will not be toying with wasps anytime soon that is for sure.
So these type of games continue. There are a series of five in total and the twists and turns along the way into Hunter getting a grasp on this case is amazing. Hunter joins forces with an elite FBI cyber unit but the killer here knows his way around all types of security. Together though they are better and stronger than apart.
Clearly though there is a connection to what is going on and when we do find out the reason you kind of feel for the killer and what he has gone through. You understand why he chose not to kill one of the victims knowing that living would be worse for her than dying and why he chose to disfigure her so much. I never really thought I would picture being on this guys side but the reasons for all this insanity is quite valid and I think most would agree.
Just a fascinating series with great police procedural work and such a great cast. So many twists and turns along the way and a surprising twist that makes you actually feel for such a crazy killer. Both Hunter and Garcia are pushed to their limits and at the end it is not clear if Garcia will be staying on as a homicide detective.
Over the last few months I keep seeing a love from other reviewers regarding this series including books down the line I have not reached yet - this is number six. That just excites me so much as I just love this series. An easy five stars and I think everyone I've read has been five stars so that says something and yeah I'll admit I do rate a lot of books five but when they are spot on to what you desire why not? When they are crap I know it but I seem to have gravitated to what I really like and I truly am thankful for that. Enjoy this series if you find it enticing. Just so creative and great as a police procedural as well!!
February 5, 2018
Inteligentno, zanimljivo, jednostavno, dovoljno okrutno. Za triler, stvarno ima sve što treba!
Serijal se ne veže, tako da se slobodno uzme bilo koji naslov i gušta! Nema greške!
Serijal se ne veže, tako da se slobodno uzme bilo koji naslov i gušta! Nema greške!
November 26, 2025
Oh my God! OMG! I was holding my breath for the last ten minutes of this book. JUST F*CKING BRILLIANT!
I guess spending the weekend with this series is worth it. Just wow. This book keeps getting better and better. The violence in the kills, the intelligence of the villain, the motive, and the heartbreaking backstory—I was stunned and terrified.
Living in a world where technology has advanced to great lengths, where social media can dictate a person’s life, where anyone can judge, tear down, and destroy someone’s self-esteem—knowing that if push comes to shove, people would rather watch someone die for their own entertainment instead of stopping, reflecting, and choosing to save a life. Yes, we all have a choice, but every choice we make changes not only our own lives but also the lives of others.
Truly sad, sadistic, and heartbreaking. The last pages of the book will floor you. OMG.
I guess spending the weekend with this series is worth it. Just wow. This book keeps getting better and better. The violence in the kills, the intelligence of the villain, the motive, and the heartbreaking backstory—I was stunned and terrified.
Living in a world where technology has advanced to great lengths, where social media can dictate a person’s life, where anyone can judge, tear down, and destroy someone’s self-esteem—knowing that if push comes to shove, people would rather watch someone die for their own entertainment instead of stopping, reflecting, and choosing to save a life. Yes, we all have a choice, but every choice we make changes not only our own lives but also the lives of others.
Truly sad, sadistic, and heartbreaking. The last pages of the book will floor you. OMG.
September 17, 2020
3.5/5 stars
Another story with detectives Robert Hunter and Carlos Garcia and this time in my opinion with more gruesome murders committed by the perpetrator. In general I enjoyed the story as much as the previous one's in the series.
I'm still wondering why the FBI was involved since outside of explaining internet terminology his presence was useless and I just saw it as a filler for some pages the author needed.
It's ok to be misleaded in a crime novel but I would have liked if the author has given me some clues and other persons of interest and the chance to figure who it was along with the detectives. It feels like I'm reading and reading and I'm only waiting for when Hunter will have the epiphany or find a clue as to who it is and then tell me (the reader) while explaining it also to his colleagues.
I also must confess that it was the first book in the series that I didn't want Hunter to hook up with any female character that came into view since I didn't make much of them. lol
I love Garcia's relationship with his wife Anna and this time after the last books she was more involved and present in the story and to be honest I would like that kind of relationship for Hunter too since the author after five books made me care enough for him that I want some happiness and stability for him also.
As always the working relationship and chemistry between Hunter and Garcia is a big plus while reading the story and of course Captain Blake that adds a nice female touch to the duo.
The perpetrator in this story is using the internet and the need of people to have an opinion about everything and the pleasure they find in the power they hold by voting even when a human's life is at risk. We see people daily vote for whatever and whoever in every kind of reality show that makes one wonder what would happen in Chris Carter's imaginary scenario used for his story was suddenly real...? I hope that I never have to find out and I still have faith in the good in us!
Another story with detectives Robert Hunter and Carlos Garcia and this time in my opinion with more gruesome murders committed by the perpetrator. In general I enjoyed the story as much as the previous one's in the series.
I'm still wondering why the FBI was involved since outside of explaining internet terminology his presence was useless and I just saw it as a filler for some pages the author needed.
It's ok to be misleaded in a crime novel but I would have liked if the author has given me some clues and other persons of interest and the chance to figure who it was along with the detectives. It feels like I'm reading and reading and I'm only waiting for when Hunter will have the epiphany or find a clue as to who it is and then tell me (the reader) while explaining it also to his colleagues.
I also must confess that it was the first book in the series that I didn't want Hunter to hook up with any female character that came into view since I didn't make much of them. lol
I love Garcia's relationship with his wife Anna and this time after the last books she was more involved and present in the story and to be honest I would like that kind of relationship for Hunter too since the author after five books made me care enough for him that I want some happiness and stability for him also.
As always the working relationship and chemistry between Hunter and Garcia is a big plus while reading the story and of course Captain Blake that adds a nice female touch to the duo.
The perpetrator in this story is using the internet and the need of people to have an opinion about everything and the pleasure they find in the power they hold by voting even when a human's life is at risk. We see people daily vote for whatever and whoever in every kind of reality show that makes one wonder what would happen in Chris Carter's imaginary scenario used for his story was suddenly real...? I hope that I never have to find out and I still have faith in the good in us!
May 21, 2023
Um bom thriller, cheio de acção do início ao fim e que nos agarra logo nas primeiras páginas.
Não há um momento de tédio.
Ao mergulhar no vasto mundo das redes sociais e na influência por vezes insidiosa da Internet, Carter criou uma leitura policial genuinamente arrepiante, que, de forma assustadora, poderá tornar-se realidade...
Não há um momento de tédio.
Ao mergulhar no vasto mundo das redes sociais e na influência por vezes insidiosa da Internet, Carter criou uma leitura policial genuinamente arrepiante, que, de forma assustadora, poderá tornar-se realidade...
February 23, 2024
Kan niet anders dan 5 sterren voor dit boek 😍
July 23, 2022
You should only read this book if you like gruesome killings - and I DO mean gruesome. The killings approached being too gruesome for my taste and that is saying quite a lot.
Los Angeles Police, Homicide Special, Detective Robert Hunter receives a phone call while in his office. He is told to go to a particular website, the URL for which consists purely of letters, numbers and symbols so no one could happen upon it. Well-known cops, like Hunter, receive calls from pranksters and goofballs frequently, but Hunter had a feeling that he should listen to this particular caller. Now, Hunter is no ordinary cop. He is super bright, having graduated from high school and college far earlier than most. He then got a PhD in Behavioral Science and received other advanced training and has been in the field as a cop for over 20 years.
He and his partner, Detective Garcia spoke with the caller and, as instructed, went to the website. What they saw shocked them! The website had an apparently live feed showing a man in a very odd type of restraint within a glass box. The box contained two pipes each of which had small holes from top to bottom Was it real or some kind of computer-generated fake? They became convinced that this was no joke when the caller, whose voice was slightly altered, told Hunter that he had to select the captive´s means of death, by fire or by drowning. Hunter used all of his negotiating skills but could not deter the caller, who said that if Hunter didn´t choose, he, the caller would.
Hunter chose drowning because it seemed the more humane option and then water began to seep through the holes in the pipes and the box slowly began to fill. The level slowly rose until it reached the captive´s chin and then it stopped. Shortly thereafter, it began to recede and the captive, who earlier showed signs of panic and terror began to relax and even giggle. The water eventually went down to just below his waist and then stopped receding. What happened thereafter was the most horrifying thing that Hunter had ever seen.
There are many books out there (where? THERE!) that portray profilers or criminal psychologists and the vast majority are wretched! The depictions are so wildly incorrect that I, who until my retirement, was a psychologist/behavioral scientist (complete with a doctorate from a very prestigious university), often couldn´t finish them. Carter, on the other hand, did a beautiful job of portraying Hunter as a highly trained, highly skilled, very intuitive cop behavioral scientist.
The plot, through quite gruesome, was very engaging and extremely well done. The characters were realistic, had great depth and were so well created that I was able to picture and experience almost every one of them, even the very twisted killer. Absolutely the only reason that I have given One By One four stars was the gruesome manner in which the victims were killed. Carter may have gone a step too far.
I want to emphasize, as I said earlier, if you´re not up for horrifying murder methods, don´t read this book. If you are, then you´re as crazy as I am or will be after finishing the book
Fini
Los Angeles Police, Homicide Special, Detective Robert Hunter receives a phone call while in his office. He is told to go to a particular website, the URL for which consists purely of letters, numbers and symbols so no one could happen upon it. Well-known cops, like Hunter, receive calls from pranksters and goofballs frequently, but Hunter had a feeling that he should listen to this particular caller. Now, Hunter is no ordinary cop. He is super bright, having graduated from high school and college far earlier than most. He then got a PhD in Behavioral Science and received other advanced training and has been in the field as a cop for over 20 years.
He and his partner, Detective Garcia spoke with the caller and, as instructed, went to the website. What they saw shocked them! The website had an apparently live feed showing a man in a very odd type of restraint within a glass box. The box contained two pipes each of which had small holes from top to bottom Was it real or some kind of computer-generated fake? They became convinced that this was no joke when the caller, whose voice was slightly altered, told Hunter that he had to select the captive´s means of death, by fire or by drowning. Hunter used all of his negotiating skills but could not deter the caller, who said that if Hunter didn´t choose, he, the caller would.
Hunter chose drowning because it seemed the more humane option and then water began to seep through the holes in the pipes and the box slowly began to fill. The level slowly rose until it reached the captive´s chin and then it stopped. Shortly thereafter, it began to recede and the captive, who earlier showed signs of panic and terror began to relax and even giggle. The water eventually went down to just below his waist and then stopped receding. What happened thereafter was the most horrifying thing that Hunter had ever seen.
There are many books out there (where? THERE!) that portray profilers or criminal psychologists and the vast majority are wretched! The depictions are so wildly incorrect that I, who until my retirement, was a psychologist/behavioral scientist (complete with a doctorate from a very prestigious university), often couldn´t finish them. Carter, on the other hand, did a beautiful job of portraying Hunter as a highly trained, highly skilled, very intuitive cop behavioral scientist.
The plot, through quite gruesome, was very engaging and extremely well done. The characters were realistic, had great depth and were so well created that I was able to picture and experience almost every one of them, even the very twisted killer. Absolutely the only reason that I have given One By One four stars was the gruesome manner in which the victims were killed. Carter may have gone a step too far.
I want to emphasize, as I said earlier, if you´re not up for horrifying murder methods, don´t read this book. If you are, then you´re as crazy as I am or will be after finishing the book
Fini
January 18, 2023
Estupendo! Cómo sufrí!. Por una vez el asesino no desmerecía los crímenes (no me hubiera importado. Ya me ha quedado claro que lo leo por sadismo malsano. Nunca termina una de conocerse a sí misma)
Trepidante absolutamente.
Lo leímos en una conjunta y lo acabamos todos a velocidad supersónica. No fuimos capaces de parar.
Conjunta Escuela (Sagas).
Trepidante absolutamente.
Lo leímos en una conjunta y lo acabamos todos a velocidad supersónica. No fuimos capaces de parar.
Conjunta Escuela (Sagas).
February 4, 2017
Det. Robert Hunter and his partner Det. Carlos Garcia must track down a serial killer who is broadcasting his murders over the internet. Viewers are given a choice as to how they would like the victim to die.
The movie "Untraceable" was released in 2008 and starred Diane Lane. It had the exact same plot, in which a killer broadcasts his murders over the internet. This book was published in 2013, five years later. The killers in both even have the same motive! This book skates uncomfortably close to outright plagiarism!
Worse than that, it's not even any good. The characterisation is as flat as you can get. I've read all five books so far, and Robert and Carlos still don't feel like real people! I've kept returning to the books because they're usually gruesomely fast-paced, but Carter's flaws as a writer are much more evident when the plot is boring and predictable (because it's already been done, almost down to the letter!)
There are no real plot twists, just stomach-churning torture scenes in between the detectives turning up at crime scenes or trying to find a link between victims. There's one measly attempt at a red herring that's over almost before it begins. It's strange to slog through a 500 page book where nothing really happens! Gross death. Outrage. Investigate crime scenes. Rinse and repeat! Attempts at condemning modern society's soullessness due to our current age of technology are obvious and heavy-handed.
I can't believe this has such a high rating! Oh well, hopefully the next book will restore some originality. And a notice to Chris Carter - torture porn was already past its use-by-date by the time "Untraceable" came out in 2008!
The movie "Untraceable" was released in 2008 and starred Diane Lane. It had the exact same plot, in which a killer broadcasts his murders over the internet. This book was published in 2013, five years later. The killers in both even have the same motive! This book skates uncomfortably close to outright plagiarism!
Worse than that, it's not even any good. The characterisation is as flat as you can get. I've read all five books so far, and Robert and Carlos still don't feel like real people! I've kept returning to the books because they're usually gruesomely fast-paced, but Carter's flaws as a writer are much more evident when the plot is boring and predictable (because it's already been done, almost down to the letter!)
There are no real plot twists, just stomach-churning torture scenes in between the detectives turning up at crime scenes or trying to find a link between victims. There's one measly attempt at a red herring that's over almost before it begins. It's strange to slog through a 500 page book where nothing really happens! Gross death. Outrage. Investigate crime scenes. Rinse and repeat! Attempts at condemning modern society's soullessness due to our current age of technology are obvious and heavy-handed.
I can't believe this has such a high rating! Oh well, hopefully the next book will restore some originality. And a notice to Chris Carter - torture porn was already past its use-by-date by the time "Untraceable" came out in 2008!
August 13, 2025
A minha opinião em vídeo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vUwY...
Primeira experiência com Chris Carter e fiquei surpreendida pela objetividade: aqui não há “palha”, é mistério e ação do início ao fim. Como só li este volume (o 5º da série), não conheço muito da vida do detetive Robert Hunter, mas isso não fez falta. A narrativa é focada no caso e mantém o ritmo sempre alto.
A premissa lembra Saw e outros thrillers mais sombrios: vítimas presas em situações extremas, com o destino decidido por votos online. Hoje já vimos este tipo de enredo em vários filmes e livros, mas em 2013, quando foi escrito, deve ter sido impactante. Gostei muito do ritmo, da tensão e da forma direta como a história é contada. É leitura rápida, intensa e sem momentos mortos.
Primeira experiência com Chris Carter e fiquei surpreendida pela objetividade: aqui não há “palha”, é mistério e ação do início ao fim. Como só li este volume (o 5º da série), não conheço muito da vida do detetive Robert Hunter, mas isso não fez falta. A narrativa é focada no caso e mantém o ritmo sempre alto.
A premissa lembra Saw e outros thrillers mais sombrios: vítimas presas em situações extremas, com o destino decidido por votos online. Hoje já vimos este tipo de enredo em vários filmes e livros, mas em 2013, quando foi escrito, deve ter sido impactante. Gostei muito do ritmo, da tensão e da forma direta como a história é contada. É leitura rápida, intensa e sem momentos mortos.
January 10, 2021
Apie savo meilę Chris Carter jau esu pasakojusi ne kartą. Aš tikrai mėgstu detektyvinius romanus, o šie yra vieni iš geriausiųjų. Kartais skaitai tiesiog užgniaužęs kvapą, tačiau nepaisant to, sunku knygą paleisti iš rankų 🤭🖤
Ši knyga jau yra penktoji, kurioje pagrindinius vaidmenis užima detektyvas Robertas Hanteris bei jo kolega Karlosas Garsija. Šį kartą į Los Andželo policijos departamentą paskambina nepažįstamasis, tačiau jis skambina ne bet kam, o tiesiogiai Robertui Hanteriui. Paslaptingasis žmogus Robertui pasiūlo užsukti į jo interneto puslapį, kuriame vyksta tiesioginė transliacija. O transliacija ne šiaip sau.. Tai tikrų tikriausia egzekucija. Policija bendradarbiauja ir su FTB, jie stengiasi visomis išgalėmis susekti šio įrašo kaltininką, tačiau jie atsitrenkia tarsi į sieną. Paaiškėja, jog nepažįstamasis labai gudrus ir atrodo, jog visuomet policiją lenkia bent vienu žingsniu..
Nieko kito negaliu pasakyti tik tai, jog Carteriui ir vėl pavyko mane nustebinti. Beprotiškai įdomi knygos pradžia, o kuo toliau, tuo painiau bei įdomiau klostosi įvykiai. Kaip ir prieš tai skaitytose knygose, taip ir šioje aukų žudymų metodai nebuvo pasirinkti patys švelniausi.. Skaitydama šią knygą vis tarp eilučių ieškojau sąsajų ir bandžiau įminti mįslę kas gi yra tas paslaptingasis žudikas ir dėl ko jis visa tai daro.. Na niekaip nebūčiau atspėjusi.. Niekaip 🙈
Tie kas skaitėte jau anksčiau išleistas Chris Carter knygas nepraleiskite ir šios. Labai puikiai susuktas detektyvas.Nuobodžiauti tikrai nebus kada, o ir net neabejoju, jog skaitydami šią knygą laužysite galvą, kokie žudiko motyvai.
Kaip ir visuomet, taip ir dabar.. Vėl nekantriai lauksiu naujų knygų! 🖤📚
Ši knyga jau yra penktoji, kurioje pagrindinius vaidmenis užima detektyvas Robertas Hanteris bei jo kolega Karlosas Garsija. Šį kartą į Los Andželo policijos departamentą paskambina nepažįstamasis, tačiau jis skambina ne bet kam, o tiesiogiai Robertui Hanteriui. Paslaptingasis žmogus Robertui pasiūlo užsukti į jo interneto puslapį, kuriame vyksta tiesioginė transliacija. O transliacija ne šiaip sau.. Tai tikrų tikriausia egzekucija. Policija bendradarbiauja ir su FTB, jie stengiasi visomis išgalėmis susekti šio įrašo kaltininką, tačiau jie atsitrenkia tarsi į sieną. Paaiškėja, jog nepažįstamasis labai gudrus ir atrodo, jog visuomet policiją lenkia bent vienu žingsniu..
Nieko kito negaliu pasakyti tik tai, jog Carteriui ir vėl pavyko mane nustebinti. Beprotiškai įdomi knygos pradžia, o kuo toliau, tuo painiau bei įdomiau klostosi įvykiai. Kaip ir prieš tai skaitytose knygose, taip ir šioje aukų žudymų metodai nebuvo pasirinkti patys švelniausi.. Skaitydama šią knygą vis tarp eilučių ieškojau sąsajų ir bandžiau įminti mįslę kas gi yra tas paslaptingasis žudikas ir dėl ko jis visa tai daro.. Na niekaip nebūčiau atspėjusi.. Niekaip 🙈
Tie kas skaitėte jau anksčiau išleistas Chris Carter knygas nepraleiskite ir šios. Labai puikiai susuktas detektyvas.Nuobodžiauti tikrai nebus kada, o ir net neabejoju, jog skaitydami šią knygą laužysite galvą, kokie žudiko motyvai.
Kaip ir visuomet, taip ir dabar.. Vėl nekantriai lauksiu naujų knygų! 🖤📚
December 28, 2024
Buena historia, buen ritmo y esta vez con los crímenes más horribles a mi parecer de todos los que he leído de sus libros, se le ocurre cada cosa a Carter cuando escribe que a veces da miedo jaja.
La presencia del FBI en este libro fue algo nuevo, los ciberdelitos fue lo que propició que pidieran ayuda a ellos y es frustrante como a ellos también los ata de pies y manos este psicópata durante la trama. Hunter se las vio difícil para saber por dónde irían los tiros en esta ocasión. García la sufrió también con respecto a Anna.
La capitana Blake solo daba órdenes, bueno ya se que esa es su función pero podría ayudar un poco más.
El psicópata en esta historia está usando internet y la necesidad de las personas de tener una opinión sobre todo y el placer que encuentran en el "poder" que tienen al votar incluso cuando la vida de un ser humano está en riesgo. Vemos gente diariamente votando por lo que sea y por quien sea en todo tipo de reality shows que hacen que uno se pregunte qué pasaría en el escenario imaginario de Carter usado para su historia de repente fuera real... ¡Espero no tener que averiguarlo nunca y seguir teniendo fe en lo bueno que hay en nosotros!
La presencia del FBI en este libro fue algo nuevo, los ciberdelitos fue lo que propició que pidieran ayuda a ellos y es frustrante como a ellos también los ata de pies y manos este psicópata durante la trama. Hunter se las vio difícil para saber por dónde irían los tiros en esta ocasión. García la sufrió también con respecto a Anna.
La capitana Blake solo daba órdenes, bueno ya se que esa es su función pero podría ayudar un poco más.
El psicópata en esta historia está usando internet y la necesidad de las personas de tener una opinión sobre todo y el placer que encuentran en el "poder" que tienen al votar incluso cuando la vida de un ser humano está en riesgo. Vemos gente diariamente votando por lo que sea y por quien sea en todo tipo de reality shows que hacen que uno se pregunte qué pasaría en el escenario imaginario de Carter usado para su historia de repente fuera real... ¡Espero no tener que averiguarlo nunca y seguir teniendo fe en lo bueno que hay en nosotros!
November 27, 2017
This series just more and more gruesome as it goes! I love it!. So many sick and twisted ways to kill people. Robert Hunter has to be one of my favourite characters.. these books are just so good!!
April 16, 2025
This is a great series – though I have been wary of the violence & gore. This is another very engrossing story.
Detective Robert Hunter (LAPD) receives a call, and the caller asks him to go to a website. Robert asks his partner Carlos Garcia to also listen in and try to get help to trace the call. Both are shocked at what they see – there is a man restrained in a glass enclosure. Robert is next asked how he wants to see the man die – by fire or by water? Attempts to trace the call do not lead anywhere – the call is bounced from many locations and the IP address of the website traces to a server in Taiwan. Robert is to get more calls – and it is not clear what is the motive. Is the killer picking random people?
Many of the murders in Chris Carter’s books are brutal, and they come across to me as more extreme than necessary for the plot. But as with his other books, this one has a great plot as well. Good characters, interesting backstory and solid procedures. It is always a delight to follow Robert Hunter and his partner Carlos Garcia. The build-up to the reveal was extremely good, though I found the ending a little theatrical.
A very intriguing story which had me hooked!
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
Detective Robert Hunter (LAPD) receives a call, and the caller asks him to go to a website. Robert asks his partner Carlos Garcia to also listen in and try to get help to trace the call. Both are shocked at what they see – there is a man restrained in a glass enclosure. Robert is next asked how he wants to see the man die – by fire or by water? Attempts to trace the call do not lead anywhere – the call is bounced from many locations and the IP address of the website traces to a server in Taiwan. Robert is to get more calls – and it is not clear what is the motive. Is the killer picking random people?
Many of the murders in Chris Carter’s books are brutal, and they come across to me as more extreme than necessary for the plot. But as with his other books, this one has a great plot as well. Good characters, interesting backstory and solid procedures. It is always a delight to follow Robert Hunter and his partner Carlos Garcia. The build-up to the reveal was extremely good, though I found the ending a little theatrical.
A very intriguing story which had me hooked!
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
August 21, 2013
4.25 stars
I say this practically in every reviews I have written when it comes to Chris Carter's "Robert Hunter" series: a well-written series that satisfy my needs for serial killers and fast-paced procedural. Every single books that he has written just grips me from the get go -- it is so fast paced and intense, I always feel like on edge of my seat (or bed, wherever I am when I read).
This latest book again gives a captivating story -- but more so than the previous books, I feel that it also has a good message behind all those gruesome and horrific murders. Chris Carter questions society that thrives on voting an outcome of someone else's life (Chapter 34). Or in this case on the method of killing people, simply to fill their curiosity. How people enjoy violent things -- the more violent the better. I can't help thinking that since I love reading this; I'm also part of this 'sick' society. Though in my defense, this is fiction, and only in pages. But at the same time, I know that it could easily happen in real life.
And the motivation between the murders sadden me as well. Because again, it taps the question about society and how they're easily giving out vicious comments on Internet on things that they don't completely know or understand. Simply because it's entertaining. The Internet trolls. The people who are willing to videotape a crime and upload it, comment on it, like/dislike it on Internet.
So, story wise, this is really, really good. I have formed a strong attachment of Robert Hunter and his partner in Homicide Special Section Carlos Garcia. Combined with how it makes me ponder about the era of Internet and social media, it easily makes this latest installment another favorite.
I do have complains. I don't really like how Robert solves the case. It's a bit out of the blue. Robert can't find or link any clues related to the murders beforehand. Then suddenly he and his mind clicks. It is too "deus ex machina" of a plot for me. In addition, this story also introduces another character -- whom I would like to read about more -- Michelle Kelly, head of FBI Cybercrime Division in Los Angeles. I'm rather sad that there is no more information about her in the end.
The ending is -- well, not a cliffhanger, but maybe more of an open choice, and I would be waiting on what decision will be taken.
I say this practically in every reviews I have written when it comes to Chris Carter's "Robert Hunter" series: a well-written series that satisfy my needs for serial killers and fast-paced procedural. Every single books that he has written just grips me from the get go -- it is so fast paced and intense, I always feel like on edge of my seat (or bed, wherever I am when I read).
This latest book again gives a captivating story -- but more so than the previous books, I feel that it also has a good message behind all those gruesome and horrific murders. Chris Carter questions society that thrives on voting an outcome of someone else's life (Chapter 34). Or in this case on the method of killing people, simply to fill their curiosity. How people enjoy violent things -- the more violent the better. I can't help thinking that since I love reading this; I'm also part of this 'sick' society. Though in my defense, this is fiction, and only in pages. But at the same time, I know that it could easily happen in real life.
And the motivation between the murders sadden me as well. Because again, it taps the question about society and how they're easily giving out vicious comments on Internet on things that they don't completely know or understand. Simply because it's entertaining. The Internet trolls. The people who are willing to videotape a crime and upload it, comment on it, like/dislike it on Internet.
So, story wise, this is really, really good. I have formed a strong attachment of Robert Hunter and his partner in Homicide Special Section Carlos Garcia. Combined with how it makes me ponder about the era of Internet and social media, it easily makes this latest installment another favorite.
I do have complains. I don't really like how Robert solves the case. It's a bit out of the blue. Robert can't find or link any clues related to the murders beforehand. Then suddenly he and his mind clicks. It is too "deus ex machina" of a plot for me. In addition, this story also introduces another character -- whom I would like to read about more -- Michelle Kelly, head of FBI Cybercrime Division in Los Angeles. I'm rather sad that there is no more information about her in the end.
The ending is -- well, not a cliffhanger, but maybe more of an open choice, and I would be waiting on what decision will be taken.
July 16, 2023
Nice plot, with an unexpected twist at the end. There could have been more character build up on the murderer earlier in the story before revealing his identity.
January 26, 2021
"(...) didžioji dalis žmonių visiškai kvailai ir klaidingai tiki, kad tik mes patys atsakingi už savo gyvenimą, kad mes visada turime galimybę rinktis, norime to ar ne. (...) O kas, jei kitų žmonių pasirinkimai visiškai pakeičia ne jų, o tavo gyvenimą?"
Kaip ir reikėjo tikėtis - puiki. Tokias baisybes skaičiau, kad net vietomis purtė nuo šleikštulio. Gyvenime negaliu pakęst net truputį žiauresnių scenų, tačiau knygose jos mane traukia ir veža kaip narkotikai. Ir kuo žiauriau ir baisiau, tuo geriau. O Chris su savo nesibaigiančia fantazija (po velnių, kaip jam ir į galvą tokios mintys šauna?!) , ir ypač šia serijos dalim - kaip tik tai, ko reikia patenkinti mano šlykščių vaizdų ištroškusią sielą.
Kaip ir reikėjo tikėtis - puiki. Tokias baisybes skaičiau, kad net vietomis purtė nuo šleikštulio. Gyvenime negaliu pakęst net truputį žiauresnių scenų, tačiau knygose jos mane traukia ir veža kaip narkotikai. Ir kuo žiauriau ir baisiau, tuo geriau. O Chris su savo nesibaigiančia fantazija (po velnių, kaip jam ir į galvą tokios mintys šauna?!) , ir ypač šia serijos dalim - kaip tik tai, ko reikia patenkinti mano šlykščių vaizdų ištroškusią sielą.
June 21, 2021
Δεν ήταν κακό σαν βιβλίο, απλώς ήταν κοινότοπο. Επίσης, ήθελα κάπως ο ήρωας να εξελιχθεί και να υπάρξει μία ιστορία πίσω απ' αυτόν.
January 20, 2024
Rechercheur Robert Hunter krijgt een anoniem telefoontje waarin hem wordt gevraagd naar een specifieke website te gaan. Als hij inlogt, komt hij terecht in een gruwelijke show die alleen voor zíjn ogen bedoeld is. De beller wil echter niet dat Hunter alleen maar toekijkt. Hij wil dat Hunter meedoet, en weigeren is geen optie: ‘Ik heb uw hulp nodig, rechercheur. Vuur of water? Speel met mij mee.’
Nog voordat Hunter en zijn partner Garcia hun onderzoek naar deze verknipte geest kunnen starten, krijgt hij een nieuw telefoontje. Een nieuwe website. Een nieuw slachtoffer. Maar deze keer heeft de moordenaar zijn spel geüpgraded naar een uiterst moorddadige live-realityshow, waar iedereen over de afloop kan meebeslissen…
'Een voor een' is het vijfde deel van de Robert Hunter serie en wat keek ik hier weer enorm naar uit!
Ook dit deel begint vrijwel meteen weer ontzettend gruwelijk en de smerige details liegen er niet om! Het lijkt wel alsof elk boek steeds erger wordt en laat ik daar nou net van houden! Ik vergelijk de boeken van Chris Carter vaak met de zieke moorden van de film Saw en dat was dus nu weer zo.
Deze keer maak je kennis met de online wereld en een hele zieke moordenaar. Hij neemt contact met Robert op en laat hem live meekijken met gruwelijke taferelen. Langzaamaan raakt Robert steeds meer betrokken bij het spel van deze psychopaat.
Eigenlijk is dit verhaal geen enkel moment saai. De spanning is continu voelbaar en de gebeurtenissen zijn wreed en schokkend. Wat een fantasie heeft deze schrijver toch en ik ben helemaal fan van deze schrijfstijl!
Zoals je dus wel begrijpt, is dit boek zeker niet voor tere zieltjes. Je moet wel tegen de gruwelijke details van de moorden kunnen. Tegelijkertijd laat Chris ook met dit verhaal zien hoeveel schokkends zich online af kan spelen en hoe ziek de mens kan zijn.
'Een voor een' kon ik bijna niet wegleggen en ik had dit boek dan ook binnen enkele uren gelezen. Chris is echt één van mijn favoriete auteurs en ik wil NU meteen deel zes lezen!
Chris, I love your books! ❤️
Verder wil ik @harpercollins_holland / @worldofthrillers heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 4,5 ⭐️
Nog voordat Hunter en zijn partner Garcia hun onderzoek naar deze verknipte geest kunnen starten, krijgt hij een nieuw telefoontje. Een nieuwe website. Een nieuw slachtoffer. Maar deze keer heeft de moordenaar zijn spel geüpgraded naar een uiterst moorddadige live-realityshow, waar iedereen over de afloop kan meebeslissen…
'Een voor een' is het vijfde deel van de Robert Hunter serie en wat keek ik hier weer enorm naar uit!
Ook dit deel begint vrijwel meteen weer ontzettend gruwelijk en de smerige details liegen er niet om! Het lijkt wel alsof elk boek steeds erger wordt en laat ik daar nou net van houden! Ik vergelijk de boeken van Chris Carter vaak met de zieke moorden van de film Saw en dat was dus nu weer zo.
Deze keer maak je kennis met de online wereld en een hele zieke moordenaar. Hij neemt contact met Robert op en laat hem live meekijken met gruwelijke taferelen. Langzaamaan raakt Robert steeds meer betrokken bij het spel van deze psychopaat.
Eigenlijk is dit verhaal geen enkel moment saai. De spanning is continu voelbaar en de gebeurtenissen zijn wreed en schokkend. Wat een fantasie heeft deze schrijver toch en ik ben helemaal fan van deze schrijfstijl!
Zoals je dus wel begrijpt, is dit boek zeker niet voor tere zieltjes. Je moet wel tegen de gruwelijke details van de moorden kunnen. Tegelijkertijd laat Chris ook met dit verhaal zien hoeveel schokkends zich online af kan spelen en hoe ziek de mens kan zijn.
'Een voor een' kon ik bijna niet wegleggen en ik had dit boek dan ook binnen enkele uren gelezen. Chris is echt één van mijn favoriete auteurs en ik wil NU meteen deel zes lezen!
Chris, I love your books! ❤️
Verder wil ik @harpercollins_holland / @worldofthrillers heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 4,5 ⭐️
June 22, 2020
Ήδη το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς μού είχε φανεί κορυφαίο... και να που τώρα φτάσαμε αισίως στο πέμπτο και κάθε φορά λέω ότι ο πήχης ανέβηκε κι άλλο... πραγματικά δεν ξέρω πού θα φτάσει ο Κάρτερ, το μόνο σίγουρο είναι ότι όλη η σειρά είναι σκέτος εθισμός. Πολλά μπράβο...
March 12, 2021
Ένα τηλεφώνημα στον Ρόμπερτ Χάντερ τον παραπέμπει σε μια ιστοσελίδα όπου ένας ημίγυμνος άντρας βρίσκεται δεμένος και παγιδευμένος σ’ ένα δωμάτιο. Ο άγνωστος συνομιλητής αναγκάζει τον ντετέκτιβ να διαλέξει με ποιον τρόπο θα δολοφονηθεί ο αιχμάλωτος. Γιατί διάλεξε τον Χάντερ και πώς βρήκε το προσωπικό του τηλέφωνο; Γιατί επέλεξε να βασανίσει το θύμα; Πώς θα καταφέρει να μετατρέψει την επόμενη δολοφονία σε διαδικτυακό σόου με δυνατότητα ψηφοφορίας από ευρύτερο κοινό; Γιατί του αρέσει να βασανίζει και να σκοτώνει τα θύματά του; Πόσο πολύ εθίζεται όσο περισσότεροι τον παρακολουθούν;
Αυτή είναι η πέμπτη υπόθεση που αναλαμβάνει ο Ρόμπερτ Χάντερ, ένας ιδιοφυής και χαρισματικός άνθρωπος, με υψηλό δείκτη ευφυίας και πολύ καλή γνώση της ανθρώπινης συμπεριφοράς και ψυχολογίας, μερικούς μήνες μετά την επίλυση των φόνων του «Γλύπτη». Ο Χάντερ, πτυχιούχος Ψυχολογίας και με διδακτορικό στην Ανάλυση Εγκληματικής Συμπεριφοράς και στη Βιοψυχολογία, είδε τη ζωή του να ανατρέπεται οριστικά όταν ο πατέρας του έπεσε θύμα ληστείας από αγνώστους. Η μανία του για εκδίκηση και η αδυναμία των ερευνών να εντοπιστούν οι ένοχοι τον οδήγησαν να καταταγεί στους κόλπους της Αστυνομίας. Η αλματώδης καριέρα του τον ενσωμάτωσε στη Διεύθυνση Ληστειών και Ανθρωποκτονιών.
Από την άλλη, ο συνεργάτης του, Κάρλος Γκαρσία, ήταν ήδη δύο χρόνια ντετέκτιβ όταν επέλεξε να μεταβεί στο Ανθρωποκτονιών. Παντρεμένος με τη γλυκιά Άννα και γιος ομοσπονδιακού πράκτορα, αγνόησε τις προτροπές της μητέρας του, που ήξερε καλά τους κινδύνους και τα προβλήματα από ένα τέτοιο επάγγελμα, και ακολούθησε τα βήματα του ήρωά του, του πατέρα του! Ως προς τη συνεργασία μεταξύ Χάντερ και Γκαρσία έχουμε μια ιδανική εξισορρόπηση, μιας και οι δύο συμμετέχουν στις έρευνες, ακολουθούν παράλληλες ή διαφορετικές άκρες στο δύσκολο κουβάρι που έμπλεξαν και ταυτόχρονα η προσωπική τους ζωή είναι εντελώς αντίθετη: ο ένας ανύπαντρος, αφοσιωμένος στις υποθέσεις του, με τα δικά του ψυχολογικά προβλήματα και ο άλλος παντρεμένος με μια γυναίκα γεμάτη κατανόηση, υπομο��ή και εγκαρτέρηση. Μόνο που αυτήν τη φορά ο Γκαρσία θα καταλάβει πόσο πολύ επηρεάζει η δουλειά του την οικογενειακή αρμονία και γαλήνη, κάτι που θα τον οδηγήσει σε κάποιες αναθεωρητικές σκέψεις.
Αυτό το ντουέτο αναλαμβάνει μια φριχτή στη σύλληψή της υπόθεση: άγνωστος άντρας ανεβάζει στο internet σκηνές βασανισμού, τις οποίες έχει επιλογή το κοινό να ψηφίσει! Και σε αυτό το βιβλίο έχουμε το γνωστό μοτίβο: θύματα με ευρηματικούς, σοκαριστικούς και ανατριχιαστικούς τρόπους δολοφονίας και βασανισμών, αγώνας δρόμου ενάντια στον χρόνο να βρουν οι ντετέκτιβ τον δολοφόνο πριν σκοτώσει κι άλλους, συναρπαστικές λεπτομέρειες με τις διαδικασίες που χρησιμοποιούνται για ταυτοποιήσεις, έρευνα αρχείων κλπ. Η αστυνόμος στην ίδια Διεύθυνση Μπάρμπαρα Μπλέικ, ο Ντένις Μπάξτερ, επικεφαλής της Δίωξης Ηλεκτρονικού Εγκλήματος της Αστυνομίας του Λος Άντζελες και η Μισέλ Κέλι, επικεφαλής της Διεύθυνσης Δίωξης Ηλεκτρονικού Εγκλήματος του FBI, πραγματική ιδιοφυία στη χρήση των υπολογιστών, ικανή να χακάρει σε δευτερόλεπτα διαδικτυακούς σέρβερ και on-line βάσεις δεδομένων, σπεύδουν προς βοήθεια, με τα θύματα και τους θεατές να αυξάνονται γεωμετρικά με κάθε νέα δολοφονία.
Η κεντρική ιδέα των φόνων είναι ευρηματική. Πρόκειται για μια κραυγή αγωνίας ως προς τον βαθμό αλληλεπίδρασης και εθισμού με τα μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης. Είναι ανατριχιαστικό το πόσο γρήγορα μπορεί να διαδοθεί κάτι όχι απλά διαφορετικό αλλά άρρωστα εθιστικό και στη συνέχεια να ανέβουν τα best of ξανά στα μέσα. Γιατί ο άνθρωπος συμμετέχει σε κάτι που θα οδηγήσει στον θάνατο; Πόσο σημαντικό για τις ζωές μας είναι να γίνει viral κάτι από αυτά που εμείς θα ανεβάσουμε; Με τις ανατριχιαστικές αυτές σκέψεις, ο συγγραφέας δείχνει τον βαθμό χειραγώγησης της κοινής γνώμης. Μια λεζάντα αποτυπώνει εμμέσως το μήνυμα στον εγκέφαλο κι ο αναγνώστης δε χρειάζεται να διαβάσει το άρθρο ή να υπεισέλθει σε λεπτομέρειες: η φήμη αρκεί και έχει μεγάλη ισχύ. Κι αυτό σε συνδυασμό με το ότι η κοινωνία σήμερα γουστάρει να καθορίζει τι θα συμβεί στις ζωές των άλλων (δείτε πόσο μεγάλη απήχηση έχει η ψηφοφορία σε παιχνίδια τύπου Big Brother) δίνει άφθονη τροφή στον ψυχοπαθή δολοφόνο και βασανιστή. «Το πρόβλημα είναι ο λόγος που τα ριάλιτι είναι τόσο δημοφιλή και υπάρχει τόσο μεγάλη ποικιλία τους στην τηλεόραση. Είναι σχεδιασμένα ώστε να δίνουν στον κόσμο την ψευδαίσθηση της δύναμης. Της δύναμης να ελέγξουν τι θα συμβεί σε μια δεδομένη κατάσταση. Της δύναμης να επιλέξουν τη μοίρα κάποιου ατόμου, ας πούμε. Και αυτή η δύναμη είναι εθιστική» (σελ. 131). Επιπλέον, ο συγγραφέας κατάφερε με απλό τρόπο να μου δείξει πώς γίνεται να ανέβει κάτι στο Διαδίκτυο χωρίς να εντοπιστεί, μέσω διαδικασιών πολύπλοκων μεν, εύληπτων όμως μέσα από το κείμενο.
Ο Chris Carter, με ειδίκευση σπουδών στην εγκληματική συμπεριφορά και μέλος της ομάδας Εγκληματολογικής Ψυχολογίας της Εισαγγελίας της Πολιτείας του Μίσιγκαν, συνεχίζει να μεταφέρει την εμπειρία του και τις απόψεις του στα κείμενά του, χαρίζοντάς μου ξανά μια ανατριχιαστική αληθοφάνεια στις πράξεις και το σκεπτικό ενός δολοφόνου. Πάντως, ο συγγραφέας, που για άλλη μια φορά δείχνει τις γνώσεις του και την εμπειρία του από τον χώρο της εγκληματολογικής ψυχολογίας (χάρη σε αυτόν έμαθα τα βασικά χαρακτηριστικά γνωρίσματα ενός ψυχοπαθούς, τη συμπεριφορά του, τις αντιλήψεις του, τη νοοτροπία του στην παρούσα υπόθεση, καθώς και κάποιες ψυχολογικές προεκτάσεις που δε γίνονται ευρύτερα αντιληπτές σε μια συζήτηση αν δεν είσαι γνώστης επ’ αυτού), δε γράφει επιφανειακά ή με σκοπό να προκαλέσει αλλά ξέρει να τοποθετεί και διακριτικά κοινωνικά μηνύματα στα γραπτά του και να φωτίζει διάφορες και διαφορετικές πλευρές της αμερικανικής κοινωνίας, δημιουργώντας έτσι μια ολοκληρωμένη τοιχογραφία του Λος Άντζελες. A propo, για άλλη μια φορά σηκώνει τα χέρια ψηλά με τον βαθμό παράνοιας που συναντάει κανείς στο υπέροχο και συναρπαστικό κατά τα άλλα αυτό μέρος, στο οποίο και πάλι μας ταξιδεύει με κινηματογραφική ματιά και μας ξεναγεί στα do’s and don’t’s της πόλης. «-Τούτη η πόλη δεν έχει συνείδηση. Δεν έχει έλεος» (σελ. 164).
Οι δολοφονίες είναι ανατριχιαστικές (ειδικά αυτή με τις ταραντούλες μου έφερε ναυτία), το περιβάλλον κλειστοφοβικό και γεμάτο σασπένς ενώ το κίνητρο και η σκέψη που κρύβονται πίσω από τις δολοφονίες και ο συνεκτικός δεσμός μεταξύ των θυμάτων συγκροτούν μια εικόνα απόλυτα λογική, βαθιά ανθρώπινη, που όμως χάνει την αξία της εφόσον ο δολοφόνος προχωράει σε τέτοιες ανούσιες πράξεις. Το δε γεγονός πως η λύση ήρθε σχεδόν ουρανοκατέβατη και τυχαία το προσπέρασα γιατί ο Chris Carter στα κείμενά του δημιουργεί ατμόσφαιρα που σε παρασέρνει και σε φέρνει αντιμέτωπο με τη σκοτεινή πλευρά του ανθρώπου, δείχνοντάς σου πως ο καθένας μπορεί να γίνει θύμα κάποιου. Το «Έναν προς έναν» είναι ένα συναρπαστικό μυθιστόρημα, γεμάτο ωμές περιγραφές, ένταση και σασπένς. Ρεαλισμός, κινηματογραφικοί διάλογοι και απανωτές εναλλαγές σκηνών προσφέρουν ταχύτητα και παλμό κατά την ανάγνωση του κειμένου. Η σειρά με τον Ρόμπερτ Χάντερ θέλει γερά νεύρα και άπλετο φως όσο κρατάει η ανάγνωση.
Πρώτη δημοσίευση στο site μου: www.vivliokritikes.com/%CE%AD%CE%BD%C...
Αυτή είναι η πέμπτη υπόθεση που αναλαμβάνει ο Ρόμπερτ Χάντερ, ένας ιδιοφυής και χαρισματικός άνθρωπος, με υψηλό δείκτη ευφυίας και πολύ καλή γνώση της ανθρώπινης συμπεριφοράς και ψυχολογίας, μερικούς μήνες μετά την επίλυση των φόνων του «Γλύπτη». Ο Χάντερ, πτυχιούχος Ψυχολογίας και με διδακτορικό στην Ανάλυση Εγκληματικής Συμπεριφοράς και στη Βιοψυχολογία, είδε τη ζωή του να ανατρέπεται οριστικά όταν ο πατέρας του έπεσε θύμα ληστείας από αγνώστους. Η μανία του για εκδίκηση και η αδυναμία των ερευνών να εντοπιστούν οι ένοχοι τον οδήγησαν να καταταγεί στους κόλπους της Αστυνομίας. Η αλματώδης καριέρα του τον ενσωμάτωσε στη Διεύθυνση Ληστειών και Ανθρωποκτονιών.
Από την άλλη, ο συνεργάτης του, Κάρλος Γκαρσία, ήταν ήδη δύο χρόνια ντετέκτιβ όταν επέλεξε να μεταβεί στο Ανθρωποκτονιών. Παντρεμένος με τη γλυκιά Άννα και γιος ομοσπονδιακού πράκτορα, αγνόησε τις προτροπές της μητέρας του, που ήξερε καλά τους κινδύνους και τα προβλήματα από ένα τέτοιο επάγγελμα, και ακολούθησε τα βήματα του ήρωά του, του πατέρα του! Ως προς τη συνεργασία μεταξύ Χάντερ και Γκαρσία έχουμε μια ιδανική εξισορρόπηση, μιας και οι δύο συμμετέχουν στις έρευνες, ακολουθούν παράλληλες ή διαφορετικές άκρες στο δύσκολο κουβάρι που έμπλεξαν και ταυτόχρονα η προσωπική τους ζωή είναι εντελώς αντίθετη: ο ένας ανύπαντρος, αφοσιωμένος στις υποθέσεις του, με τα δικά του ψυχολογικά προβλήματα και ο άλλος παντρεμένος με μια γυναίκα γεμάτη κατανόηση, υπομο��ή και εγκαρτέρηση. Μόνο που αυτήν τη φορά ο Γκαρσία θα καταλάβει πόσο πολύ επηρεάζει η δουλειά του την οικογενειακή αρμονία και γαλήνη, κάτι που θα τον οδηγήσει σε κάποιες αναθεωρητικές σκέψεις.
Αυτό το ντουέτο αναλαμβάνει μια φριχτή στη σύλληψή της υπόθεση: άγνωστος άντρας ανεβάζει στο internet σκηνές βασανισμού, τις οποίες έχει επιλογή το κοινό να ψηφίσει! Και σε αυτό το βιβλίο έχουμε το γνωστό μοτίβο: θύματα με ευρηματικούς, σοκαριστικούς και ανατριχιαστικούς τρόπους δολοφονίας και βασανισμών, αγώνας δρόμου ενάντια στον χρόνο να βρουν οι ντετέκτιβ τον δολοφόνο πριν σκοτώσει κι άλλους, συναρπαστικές λεπτομέρειες με τις διαδικασίες που χρησιμοποιούνται για ταυτοποιήσεις, έρευνα αρχείων κλπ. Η αστυνόμος στην ίδια Διεύθυνση Μπάρμπαρα Μπλέικ, ο Ντένις Μπάξτερ, επικεφαλής της Δίωξης Ηλεκτρονικού Εγκλήματος της Αστυνομίας του Λος Άντζελες και η Μισέλ Κέλι, επικεφαλής της Διεύθυνσης Δίωξης Ηλεκτρονικού Εγκλήματος του FBI, πραγματική ιδιοφυία στη χρήση των υπολογιστών, ικανή να χακάρει σε δευτερόλεπτα διαδικτυακούς σέρβερ και on-line βάσεις δεδομένων, σπεύδουν προς βοήθεια, με τα θύματα και τους θεατές να αυξάνονται γεωμετρικά με κάθε νέα δολοφονία.
Η κεντρική ιδέα των φόνων είναι ευρηματική. Πρόκειται για μια κραυγή αγωνίας ως προς τον βαθμό αλληλεπίδρασης και εθισμού με τα μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης. Είναι ανατριχιαστικό το πόσο γρήγορα μπορεί να διαδοθεί κάτι όχι απλά διαφορετικό αλλά άρρωστα εθιστικό και στη συνέχεια να ανέβουν τα best of ξανά στα μέσα. Γιατί ο άνθρωπος συμμετέχει σε κάτι που θα οδηγήσει στον θάνατο; Πόσο σημαντικό για τις ζωές μας είναι να γίνει viral κάτι από αυτά που εμείς θα ανεβάσουμε; Με τις ανατριχιαστικές αυτές σκέψεις, ο συγγραφέας δείχνει τον βαθμό χειραγώγησης της κοινής γνώμης. Μια λεζάντα αποτυπώνει εμμέσως το μήνυμα στον εγκέφαλο κι ο αναγνώστης δε χρειάζεται να διαβάσει το άρθρο ή να υπεισέλθει σε λεπτομέρειες: η φήμη αρκεί και έχει μεγάλη ισχύ. Κι αυτό σε συνδυασμό με το ότι η κοινωνία σήμερα γουστάρει να καθορίζει τι θα συμβεί στις ζωές των άλλων (δείτε πόσο μεγάλη απήχηση έχει η ψηφοφορία σε παιχνίδια τύπου Big Brother) δίνει άφθονη τροφή στον ψυχοπαθή δολοφόνο και βασανιστή. «Το πρόβλημα είναι ο λόγος που τα ριάλιτι είναι τόσο δημοφιλή και υπάρχει τόσο μεγάλη ποικιλία τους στην τηλεόραση. Είναι σχεδιασμένα ώστε να δίνουν στον κόσμο την ψευδαίσθηση της δύναμης. Της δύναμης να ελέγξουν τι θα συμβεί σε μια δεδομένη κατάσταση. Της δύναμης να επιλέξουν τη μοίρα κάποιου ατόμου, ας πούμε. Και αυτή η δύναμη είναι εθιστική» (σελ. 131). Επιπλέον, ο συγγραφέας κατάφερε με απλό τρόπο να μου δείξει πώς γίνεται να ανέβει κάτι στο Διαδίκτυο χωρίς να εντοπιστεί, μέσω διαδικασιών πολύπλοκων μεν, εύληπτων όμως μέσα από το κείμενο.
Ο Chris Carter, με ειδίκευση σπουδών στην εγκληματική συμπεριφορά και μέλος της ομάδας Εγκληματολογικής Ψυχολογίας της Εισαγγελίας της Πολιτείας του Μίσιγκαν, συνεχίζει να μεταφέρει την εμπειρία του και τις απόψεις του στα κείμενά του, χαρίζοντάς μου ξανά μια ανατριχιαστική αληθοφάνεια στις πράξεις και το σκεπτικό ενός δολοφόνου. Πάντως, ο συγγραφέας, που για άλλη μια φορά δείχνει τις γνώσεις του και την εμπειρία του από τον χώρο της εγκληματολογικής ψυχολογίας (χάρη σε αυτόν έμαθα τα βασικά χαρακτηριστικά γνωρίσματα ενός ψυχοπαθούς, τη συμπεριφορά του, τις αντιλήψεις του, τη νοοτροπία του στην παρούσα υπόθεση, καθώς και κάποιες ψυχολογικές προεκτάσεις που δε γίνονται ευρύτερα αντιληπτές σε μια συζήτηση αν δεν είσαι γνώστης επ’ αυτού), δε γράφει επιφανειακά ή με σκοπό να προκαλέσει αλλά ξέρει να τοποθετεί και διακριτικά κοινωνικά μηνύματα στα γραπτά του και να φωτίζει διάφορες και διαφορετικές πλευρές της αμερικανικής κοινωνίας, δημιουργώντας έτσι μια ολοκληρωμένη τοιχογραφία του Λος Άντζελες. A propo, για άλλη μια φορά σηκώνει τα χέρια ψηλά με τον βαθμό παράνοιας που συναντάει κανείς στο υπέροχο και συναρπαστικό κατά τα άλλα αυτό μέρος, στο οποίο και πάλι μας ταξιδεύει με κινηματογραφική ματιά και μας ξεναγεί στα do’s and don’t’s της πόλης. «-Τούτη η πόλη δεν έχει συνείδηση. Δεν έχει έλεος» (σελ. 164).
Οι δολοφονίες είναι ανατριχιαστικές (ειδικά αυτή με τις ταραντούλες μου έφερε ναυτία), το περιβάλλον κλειστοφοβικό και γεμάτο σασπένς ενώ το κίνητρο και η σκέψη που κρύβονται πίσω από τις δολοφονίες και ο συνεκτικός δεσμός μεταξύ των θυμάτων συγκροτούν μια εικόνα απόλυτα λογική, βαθιά ανθρώπινη, που όμως χάνει την αξία της εφόσον ο δολοφόνος προχωράει σε τέτοιες ανούσιες πράξεις. Το δε γεγονός πως η λύση ήρθε σχεδόν ουρανοκατέβατη και τυχαία το προσπέρασα γιατί ο Chris Carter στα κείμενά του δημιουργεί ατμόσφαιρα που σε παρασέρνει και σε φέρνει αντιμέτωπο με τη σκοτεινή πλευρά του ανθρώπου, δείχνοντάς σου πως ο καθένας μπορεί να γίνει θύμα κάποιου. Το «Έναν προς έναν» είναι ένα συναρπαστικό μυθιστόρημα, γεμάτο ωμές περιγραφές, ένταση και σασπένς. Ρεαλισμός, κινηματογραφικοί διάλογοι και απανωτές εναλλαγές σκηνών προσφέρουν ταχύτητα και παλμό κατά την ανάγνωση του κειμένου. Η σειρά με τον Ρόμπερτ Χάντερ θέλει γερά νεύρα και άπλετο φως όσο κρατάει η ανάγνωση.
Πρώτη δημοσίευση στο site μου: www.vivliokritikes.com/%CE%AD%CE%BD%C...
July 21, 2020
Ο δολοφόνος τους έπαιζε στα δάχτυλα από την αρχή!
Εντάξει, τι να πω τελικά για τον Chris Carter και τα βιβλία του, που όσο περνάει ο καιρός όλο και καλύτερα γίνονται, όλο και πιο παρανοϊκά (με την καλή την έννοια βεβαίως-βεβαίως)! Με το «Έναν προς έναν», πιστεύω ότι ξεπέρασε κατά πολύ τον πήχη, που ο ίδιος έχει θέσει στον εαυτό του και σε επίπεδο ιστορίας και πλοκής όσο και σε επίπεδο γραφής!
Ας τα δούμε όμως … Ένα προς Ένα…
Ιστορία: Όχι πολύ πρωτότυπη μεν, απίστευτα δυνατή δε! Αυτή τη φορά έχουμε να κάνουμε έναν… σινεφίλ δολοφόνο, ο οποίος βγάζει online τα θύματά του και ζητά από το κοινό του να επιλέξει τον τρόπο με τον οποίο θα τα θανατώσει. Ένα φονικό reality show, που προσωπικά δε θα ήθελα με τίποτα να το παρακολουθήσω!
Πλοκή: Καταιγιστικά γρήγορη, με γυρίσματα και καθηλωτικές ανατροπές. Με μικρά, όπως πάντα κεφάλαια, ο συγγραφέας κατορθώνει να σε κρατάει δέσμιο της ιστορίας, στερώντας σου –με βαθιά του ικανοποίηση είμαι σίγουρη- ακόμη και τον ύπνο.
Γραφή: Εμφανώς βελτιωμένη, πιο λογοτεχνική θα μπορούσαμε να πούμε και απείρως πιο ατακαδόρικη. Επίσης, έχει αποφύγει κάποια από τα κλισέ που συναντήσαμε στα προηγούμενα βιβλία της σειράς με το Ρόμπερτ Χάντερ. Επιπλέον, σε αυτόν τον πέμπτο τόμο της σειράς, ο Κάρτερ παίζει λίγο και με το συναίσθημα του αναγνώστη, αφού εισάγει για πρώτη φορά την πρακτική της συναισθηματικής φόρτισης, με μια πολύ δυνατή σκηνή που δε θα αφήσει κανέναν ασυγκίνητο. Και το γεγονός ότι έφτασα να ξεχωρίζω αποσπάσματα από ιστορία του Κάρτερ, αυτό από μόνο του είναι πολύ πολύ σημαντικό για μένα.
"Ο περισσότερος κόσμος πιστεύει πως είμαστε υπεύθυνοι για ό,τι συμβαίνει στη ζωή μας. Πως πάντα έχουμε μια επιλογή, είτε το θέλουμε είτε όχι. Και τι συμβαίνει με τις επιλογές άλλων που καταλήγουν να αλλάξουν τη ζωή σου αλλά όχι και τη δική τους; Πού είναι η επιλογή που έχεις τότε;"
Χαρακτήρες: Το ζεύγος Χάντερ και Γκαρσία δυναμικό και σε τέλεια αρμονία όπως πάντα. Βλέπουμε τον Κάρλος εδώ να επηρεάζεται σε προσωπικό επίπεδο από αυτά που συμβαίνουν. Ο δολοφόνος από την άλλη είναι η επιτομή της κακίας. Ένα πλάσμα χωρίς ηθικούς ή άλλους φραγμούς. Ένα πλάσμα χωρίς καμιά εκτίμηση ή σεβασμό για την ανθρώπινη ζωή που χρησιμοποιεί τα πιο σαδιστικά τεχνάσματα προκειμένου να βασανίσει κι εν τέλει να σκοτώσει τα θύματά του. Δεν εκφράζει συναίσθημα, θυμό, μίσος ή απογοήτευση. Αντίθετα ξεχειλίζει από ευχαρίστηση και ικανοποίηση για τον τρόμο και τον πόνο που προκαλεί. Ένα πλάσμα που μόνο άνθρωπο δε μπορείς να αποκαλέσεις. Ή μήπως όχι...;
Ένα από τα αγαπημένα μου χαρακτηριστικά στις ιστορίες του Κάρτερ, είναι το γεγονός που επιλέγει να γράψει ένα αμιγώς αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα, εντάσσοντας όμως σε αυτό κοινωνιολογικές προεκτάσεις. Όπως στο «Έναν προς έναν» όπου αποδεικνύει το πόσο επικίνδυνη επιρροή μπορεί να έχει το internet στους νέους ανθρώπους. Και είναι πραγματικά πολύ τρομακτικές οι σκηνές όπου τα νούμερα των ψηφοφόρων ανεβαίνουν με τρελό ρυθμό. Ανθρώπων που ψηφίζουν όχι για το ΑΝ θα θανατωθεί ένας άνθρωπος αλλά για το ΠΩΣ θα θανατωθεί!
"Μα γιατί ψηφίζει ακόμα ο κόσμος; Όλοι ξέρουν πως αυτό που βλέπουν δεν είναι παιχνίδι, ούτε κάποιο κόλπο για την προώθηση ταινίας. Αυτό που βλέπουν είναι πραγματικό. Όλοι ξέρουν πως θα πεθάνει στην πραγματικότητα. Πως δεν είναι ψέμα. Όλοι το ξέρουν, αλλά παρ' όλα αυτά εξακολουθούν και ψηφίζουν... Γιατί;"
Ολοκληρώνοντας θα ήθελα να πω ότι, το «Έναν προς έναν» του Chris Carter είναι ένα απίστευτα δυνατό θρίλερ που καθηλώνει. Συστήνεται ανεπιφύλακτα για τους εραστές του είδους, κυρίως εκείνους που διαθέτουν γερά νεύρα κι ακόμα πιο γερό στομάχι!
Διαβάστε την άποψή μου στ�� blog μας: https://vivliografika.blogspot.com/20...
Εντάξει, τι να πω τελικά για τον Chris Carter και τα βιβλία του, που όσο περνάει ο καιρός όλο και καλύτερα γίνονται, όλο και πιο παρανοϊκά (με την καλή την έννοια βεβαίως-βεβαίως)! Με το «Έναν προς έναν», πιστεύω ότι ξεπέρασε κατά πολύ τον πήχη, που ο ίδιος έχει θέσει στον εαυτό του και σε επίπεδο ιστορίας και πλοκής όσο και σε επίπεδο γραφής!
Ας τα δούμε όμως … Ένα προς Ένα…
Ιστορία: Όχι πολύ πρωτότυπη μεν, απίστευτα δυνατή δε! Αυτή τη φορά έχουμε να κάνουμε έναν… σινεφίλ δολοφόνο, ο οποίος βγάζει online τα θύματά του και ζητά από το κοινό του να επιλέξει τον τρόπο με τον οποίο θα τα θανατώσει. Ένα φονικό reality show, που προσωπικά δε θα ήθελα με τίποτα να το παρακολουθήσω!
Πλοκή: Καταιγιστικά γρήγορη, με γυρίσματα και καθηλωτικές ανατροπές. Με μικρά, όπως πάντα κεφάλαια, ο συγγραφέας κατορθώνει να σε κρατάει δέσμιο της ιστορίας, στερώντας σου –με βαθιά του ικανοποίηση είμαι σίγουρη- ακόμη και τον ύπνο.
Γραφή: Εμφανώς βελτιωμένη, πιο λογοτεχνική θα μπορούσαμε να πούμε και απείρως πιο ατακαδόρικη. Επίσης, έχει αποφύγει κάποια από τα κλισέ που συναντήσαμε στα προηγούμενα βιβλία της σειράς με το Ρόμπερτ Χάντερ. Επιπλέον, σε αυτόν τον πέμπτο τόμο της σειράς, ο Κάρτερ παίζει λίγο και με το συναίσθημα του αναγνώστη, αφού εισάγει για πρώτη φορά την πρακτική της συναισθηματικής φόρτισης, με μια πολύ δυνατή σκηνή που δε θα αφήσει κανέναν ασυγκίνητο. Και το γεγονός ότι έφτασα να ξεχωρίζω αποσπάσματα από ιστορία του Κάρτερ, αυτό από μόνο του είναι πολύ πολύ σημαντικό για μένα.
"Ο περισσότερος κόσμος πιστεύει πως είμαστε υπεύθυνοι για ό,τι συμβαίνει στη ζωή μας. Πως πάντα έχουμε μια επιλογή, είτε το θέλουμε είτε όχι. Και τι συμβαίνει με τις επιλογές άλλων που καταλήγουν να αλλάξουν τη ζωή σου αλλά όχι και τη δική τους; Πού είναι η επιλογή που έχεις τότε;"
Χαρακτήρες: Το ζεύγος Χάντερ και Γκαρσία δυναμικό και σε τέλεια αρμονία όπως πάντα. Βλέπουμε τον Κάρλος εδώ να επηρεάζεται σε προσωπικό επίπεδο από αυτά που συμβαίνουν. Ο δολοφόνος από την άλλη είναι η επιτομή της κακίας. Ένα πλάσμα χωρίς ηθικούς ή άλλους φραγμούς. Ένα πλάσμα χωρίς καμιά εκτίμηση ή σεβασμό για την ανθρώπινη ζωή που χρησιμοποιεί τα πιο σαδιστικά τεχνάσματα προκειμένου να βασανίσει κι εν τέλει να σκοτώσει τα θύματά του. Δεν εκφράζει συναίσθημα, θυμό, μίσος ή απογοήτευση. Αντίθετα ξεχειλίζει από ευχαρίστηση και ικανοποίηση για τον τρόμο και τον πόνο που προκαλεί. Ένα πλάσμα που μόνο άνθρωπο δε μπορείς να αποκαλέσεις. Ή μήπως όχι...;
Ένα από τα αγαπημένα μου χαρακτηριστικά στις ιστορίες του Κάρτερ, είναι το γεγονός που επιλέγει να γράψει ένα αμιγώς αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα, εντάσσοντας όμως σε αυτό κοινωνιολογικές προεκτάσεις. Όπως στο «Έναν προς έναν» όπου αποδεικνύει το πόσο επικίνδυνη επιρροή μπορεί να έχει το internet στους νέους ανθρώπους. Και είναι πραγματικά πολύ τρομακτικές οι σκηνές όπου τα νούμερα των ψηφοφόρων ανεβαίνουν με τρελό ρυθμό. Ανθρώπων που ψηφίζουν όχι για το ΑΝ θα θανατωθεί ένας άνθρωπος αλλά για το ΠΩΣ θα θανατωθεί!
"Μα γιατί ψηφίζει ακόμα ο κόσμος; Όλοι ξέρουν πως αυτό που βλέπουν δεν είναι παιχνίδι, ούτε κάποιο κόλπο για την προώθηση ταινίας. Αυτό που βλέπουν είναι πραγματικό. Όλοι ξέρουν πως θα πεθάνει στην πραγματικότητα. Πως δεν είναι ψέμα. Όλοι το ξέρουν, αλλά παρ' όλα αυτά εξακολουθούν και ψηφίζουν... Γιατί;"
Ολοκληρώνοντας θα ήθελα να πω ότι, το «Έναν προς έναν» του Chris Carter είναι ένα απίστευτα δυνατό θρίλερ που καθηλώνει. Συστήνεται ανεπιφύλακτα για τους εραστές του είδους, κυρίως εκείνους που διαθέτουν γερά νεύρα κι ακόμα πιο γερό στομάχι!
Διαβάστε την άποψή μου στ�� blog μας: https://vivliografika.blogspot.com/20...
February 12, 2021
Διαβάζοντας με ανάποδη σειρά τα δύο τελευταία που εκδόθηκαν στη χώρα μας, έχω να δηλώσω ότι αυτό είναι το στυλ που ταιριάζει στον Carter και όχι το "ψυχολογικό" που προσπάθησε να γράψει στο Διαβολι��ός...Ξεκάθαρα!
Ένα πολύ δυνατό αστυνομικό θρίλερ, που σε κρατάει σε αγωνία μέχρι τις τελευταίες σελίδες και ταυτόχρονα σε προβληματίζει για την κατάντια της σημερινής κοινωνίας όπως αυτή εκφράζεται μέσα από τα social media.
Βαριέμαι να γράψω περισσότερα! Διαβάστε το...
Ένα πολύ δυνατό αστυνομικό θρίλερ, που σε κρατάει σε αγωνία μέχρι τις τελευταίες σελίδες και ταυτόχρονα σε προβληματίζει για την κατάντια της σημερινής κοινωνίας όπως αυτή εκφράζεται μέσα από τα social media.
Βαριέμαι να γράψω περισσότερα! Διαβάστε το...
August 23, 2025
Als Robert Hunter, rechercheur bij de afdeling Bijzondere Moordzaken van de politie in LA, een anoniem telefoontje krijgt en de beller hem verzoekt naar een specifieke website te gaan, zal dit gesprek zijn leven volledig op zijn kop zetten. Hij komt terecht in een gruwelijke show die alleen voor zijn ogen is bedoeld en een wrede moordenaar vraagt hem te kiezen hoe zijn slachtoffer zal sterven. De beller is niet te traceren en Hunter en zijn partner Garcia hebben het onderzoek nog maar net opgestart als de telefoon weer gaat. Nu gaat de weerzinwekkende moordshow nog een stap verder en kan iedereen stemmen over het lot van het volgende slachtoffer…
Al snel is duidelijk dat het team te maken heeft met een hondsbrutale moordenaar die alle touwtjes in handen lijkt te hebben. Hij is uitermate goed voorbereid, technisch onderlegd, deinst nergens voor terug en kent geen berouw als hij zijn slachtoffers martelt en ze op vreselijke manieren laat sterven. Een link tussen de verschillende slachtoffers is haast niet te ontdekken en de rechercheurs tasten lang in het duister terwijl deze psychopaat de zaak persoonlijk maakt, het team telkens verrast en kleine aanwijzingen geeft die nergens toe lijken te leiden, totdat de verbindende schakel er ineens voor zorgt dat dit kat-en-muisspel eindigt in een race tegen de klok.
De auteur trekt je met zijn zeer vlotte, beeldende en meeslepende stijl direct dit bizarre verhaal in en door de korte hoofdstukken, kleine cliffhangers en de snelle schakelingen tussen de diverse perspectieven is dit adembenemende, ijzingwekkende en intens spannende verhaal al erg snel niet meer weg te leggen. De band tussen Hunter en Garcia wordt verder uitgediept, hun vertrouwen wordt op de proef gesteld en terwijl zij goed samenwerken speelt ook Michelle Kelly, het hoofd van de divisie Cybercrime van de FBI, een interessante en onmisbare rol in het geheel.
Dit is een zeer gruwelijke thriller die veel vaart heeft, je niet meer loslaat, een hoop vragen oproept en je laat nadenken over maatschappelijke en ethische vraagstukken en de aard van de mens. Alle puzzelstukjes passen uiteindelijk naadloos in elkaar, het motief is sterk en geloofwaardig uitgewerkt, er komen grote emoties los en dit fantastische boek móét je lezen als je niet terugdeinst voor een verhaal over een enge seriemoordenaar dat je levensecht wordt voorgeschoteld!
5⭐
Al snel is duidelijk dat het team te maken heeft met een hondsbrutale moordenaar die alle touwtjes in handen lijkt te hebben. Hij is uitermate goed voorbereid, technisch onderlegd, deinst nergens voor terug en kent geen berouw als hij zijn slachtoffers martelt en ze op vreselijke manieren laat sterven. Een link tussen de verschillende slachtoffers is haast niet te ontdekken en de rechercheurs tasten lang in het duister terwijl deze psychopaat de zaak persoonlijk maakt, het team telkens verrast en kleine aanwijzingen geeft die nergens toe lijken te leiden, totdat de verbindende schakel er ineens voor zorgt dat dit kat-en-muisspel eindigt in een race tegen de klok.
De auteur trekt je met zijn zeer vlotte, beeldende en meeslepende stijl direct dit bizarre verhaal in en door de korte hoofdstukken, kleine cliffhangers en de snelle schakelingen tussen de diverse perspectieven is dit adembenemende, ijzingwekkende en intens spannende verhaal al erg snel niet meer weg te leggen. De band tussen Hunter en Garcia wordt verder uitgediept, hun vertrouwen wordt op de proef gesteld en terwijl zij goed samenwerken speelt ook Michelle Kelly, het hoofd van de divisie Cybercrime van de FBI, een interessante en onmisbare rol in het geheel.
Dit is een zeer gruwelijke thriller die veel vaart heeft, je niet meer loslaat, een hoop vragen oproept en je laat nadenken over maatschappelijke en ethische vraagstukken en de aard van de mens. Alle puzzelstukjes passen uiteindelijk naadloos in elkaar, het motief is sterk en geloofwaardig uitgewerkt, er komen grote emoties los en dit fantastische boek móét je lezen als je niet terugdeinst voor een verhaal over een enge seriemoordenaar dat je levensecht wordt voorgeschoteld!
5⭐
October 25, 2024
4,0 ✨✨✨
(Audiobook)
(Audiobook)
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