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Carter Blake #1
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İntikam peşinde, acımasız bir seri katil. Ailesi ile kariyeri arasında kalmış bir fbı ajanı. Ve asla bulaşmak istemeyeceğiniz bir adam. Av başlıyor. "Chicago Keskin Nişancısı" adıyla ünlenmiş Wardell, ölüm cezası infaz edilmeden iki hafta önce firar ettiğinde, FBI, yakalanması imkânsız gibi görünen kişilerin psikolojisi konusunda uzmanlaşmış Carter Blake'ten yardım ister. Üstelik Wardell, Blake'e hiç de yabancı değildir. Blake, kariyeri hızla yükselen, meraklı ajan Banner ile birlikte Wardell'in izini sürmek zorundadır. Bu sırada Wardell ise tüm Amerika'ya korku salmakta, önüne geleni öldürmektedir. Ne var ki Blake ile Banner çok geçmeden davadan bertaraf edilirler. Sırf heyecan için cinayet işleyen bir adamın bir sonraki eylemini ümitsizce tahmin etmeye her çalıştıklarında, kendilerini yalanlarla ve yolsuzluklarla örülmüş bir olaylar ağının içinde bulurlar. Blake eğer Wardell'i durdurmak istiyorsa öncelikle kuralları göz ardı etmeli ve tüm ülkeyi yerinden sarsacak bir cinayet komplosunu açığa çıkarmalıdır.
446 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2014
110 people are currently reading
6428 people want to read
About the author
Mason Cross
24 books481 followersFor the latest updates, exclusive giveaways and a free short story, join the Mason Cross Readers Club.
Mason Cross was born in Glasgow in 1979. He studied English at the University of Stirling and has worked variously as a tax officer, events coordinator, project manager and pizza delivery boy. He has written a number of short stories which have been published in Ellery Queen, Scribble and First Edition.
His story 'A Living', was shortlisted for the Quick Reads 'Get Britain Reading' Award. His first novel, The Killing Season was longlisted for the 2015 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and his second, The Samaritan was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club in Spring 2016. The third book in the series, The Time to Kill was released in 2016 and published in the US under the title Winterlong in 2017, followed by Don't Look For Me and Presumed Dead. He lives near Glasgow with his wife and three children.
You can find him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to varying extents (usually when he's distracting himself from doing the actual writing), and he also has a blog.
You can find out more about Mason Cross and the Carter Blake series by visiting his website.
Mason Cross was born in Glasgow in 1979. He studied English at the University of Stirling and has worked variously as a tax officer, events coordinator, project manager and pizza delivery boy. He has written a number of short stories which have been published in Ellery Queen, Scribble and First Edition.
His story 'A Living', was shortlisted for the Quick Reads 'Get Britain Reading' Award. His first novel, The Killing Season was longlisted for the 2015 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and his second, The Samaritan was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club in Spring 2016. The third book in the series, The Time to Kill was released in 2016 and published in the US under the title Winterlong in 2017, followed by Don't Look For Me and Presumed Dead. He lives near Glasgow with his wife and three children.
You can find him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to varying extents (usually when he's distracting himself from doing the actual writing), and he also has a blog.
You can find out more about Mason Cross and the Carter Blake series by visiting his website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 386 reviews
July 6, 2021
This story begs the question, can a killer be too good? Nearly invincible and smarter than everyone else, the bad guy tends to diminish Carter Blake's strengths. 4 of 10 stars
May 16, 2018
3.5
The Killing Season, the first book in Carter Blake series, is an intense action-packed thriller.
Carter Blake is a finder. His job is to track down people who wish to remain hidden.
When Caleb Wardell, a dangerous prisoner, escapes and starts killing innocent people, the FBI asks Carter’s help to hunt him down before he kills again.
Hence, a game of cat and mouse begins. As Carter embarks on his pursuit, questions arise. Why was the security so lax during the transportation of such a highly dangerous prisoner? Where is Wardell’s destination? And more importantly, who is going to be his ultimate victim?
The Killing Season, the first book in Carter Blake series, is an intense action-packed thriller.
Carter Blake is a finder. His job is to track down people who wish to remain hidden.
When Caleb Wardell, a dangerous prisoner, escapes and starts killing innocent people, the FBI asks Carter’s help to hunt him down before he kills again.
Hence, a game of cat and mouse begins. As Carter embarks on his pursuit, questions arise. Why was the security so lax during the transportation of such a highly dangerous prisoner? Where is Wardell’s destination? And more importantly, who is going to be his ultimate victim?
July 1, 2016
This was a difficult book to rate. I give it three stars for character development but four stars for plot.
The story is told in three different points of view - Elaine, who is one of the FBI officers assigned to the case, Blake, who is the man brought in from the outside and who works outside the rules, and the killer himself, Wardell.
Rotating between these three people keeps the book alive and it makes compelling reading because we see each person's interpretation/misinterpretation of events. This style also means that shallow character development is less obvious and it was only once I'd finished the book that I realised I hardly knew anything about Elaine nor Blake. I knew what they did during the case, I knew their investigative skills, but I didn't have an insight into who they really were as people. Actually, the person we get to know the best is Wardell.
Even so, the story is very well told and with one of the points of view being in first person, the plot has immediacy and high thrill factor. Basically, Wardell is on a killing spree having escaped from prison. He's a man with no scruples and he knows his time is running out before he's recaptured - so his aim is to kill as many people as possible before that happens. There's history between him and Blake and there's a hidden intrigue that means someone behind the scenes might be pulling everyone's strings.
In all, it was a very entertaining and enjoyable read.
The story is told in three different points of view - Elaine, who is one of the FBI officers assigned to the case, Blake, who is the man brought in from the outside and who works outside the rules, and the killer himself, Wardell.
Rotating between these three people keeps the book alive and it makes compelling reading because we see each person's interpretation/misinterpretation of events. This style also means that shallow character development is less obvious and it was only once I'd finished the book that I realised I hardly knew anything about Elaine nor Blake. I knew what they did during the case, I knew their investigative skills, but I didn't have an insight into who they really were as people. Actually, the person we get to know the best is Wardell.
Even so, the story is very well told and with one of the points of view being in first person, the plot has immediacy and high thrill factor. Basically, Wardell is on a killing spree having escaped from prison. He's a man with no scruples and he knows his time is running out before he's recaptured - so his aim is to kill as many people as possible before that happens. There's history between him and Blake and there's a hidden intrigue that means someone behind the scenes might be pulling everyone's strings.
In all, it was a very entertaining and enjoyable read.
July 26, 2014
Publication Date 24th April 2014 from Orion.
With thanks to the author/publisher for the copy via a Goodreads Giveaway.
“The first thing you should know about me is that my name is not Carter Blake.
That name no more belongs to me than the hotel room I was occupying when the call came in.”
When Caleb Wardell, the infamous ‘Chicago Sniper’, escapes from death row two weeks before his execution, the FBI calls on the services of Carter Blake, a man with certain specialised talents whose skills lie in finding those who don’t want to be found.
So, you know that feeling you get when you read a book, a first in a series, and that little reading tingle comes over you that says “Yep. This one is for me” and you just KNOW that there are many happy reading years ahead of you with a new favourite character? Yep. That.
Meet Carter Blake. Well, we’ll call him that anyway. He finds people. Generally speaking. Of course there is much more to him than that, but for the purposes of this its probably all you need to know. When a dangerous man escapes, the powers that be call on Carter in the hope that he can catch up to him before disaster strikes. So begins a most terrific, page turning, thrilling tale with some real edge of the seat moments.
You know what is even better than a Thriller? An INTELLIGENT thriller. With characters that have more than just a phoned in version of a personality, a tightly woven plot that keeps you on your toes and an actual story, not just endless action. Thats not to say there is not plenty of action – there is. But as Carter and Caleb play a deadly game of cat and mouse, it is the interaction between them and those they encounter that will have you desperately turning the pages to find out the ultimate outcome. When you have a killer who is just as, if not more, intelligent than the person who is chasing him, you will genuinely wonder who is going to come out on top. It takes a man with no limits to catch a killer with no motive…yes indeed.
With a terrific supporting cast, the occasional moment that will have you hyperventilating and a magnificent final showdown – don’t you just love it when a book lives up to its initial promise and doesnt fall flat? – this was brilliantly done. Absolutely.
Inevitably Mason Cross will find his protagonist compared to Jack Reacher. Its going to happen I don’t think there is any avoiding it, sadly, as I always like to treat each read entirely on its own merits. I will address it though as I am also a fan of the majority of the Reacher Novels. And in fact I wouldnt be surprised if with the closing few words of this novel, Mr Cross himself was giving a nod to Reacher. This readers opinion? Carter Blake could easily be described as “The thinking man’s Reacher” but he is entirely his own man and I fell for him completely. More please!
Highly Recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
With thanks to the author/publisher for the copy via a Goodreads Giveaway.
“The first thing you should know about me is that my name is not Carter Blake.
That name no more belongs to me than the hotel room I was occupying when the call came in.”
When Caleb Wardell, the infamous ‘Chicago Sniper’, escapes from death row two weeks before his execution, the FBI calls on the services of Carter Blake, a man with certain specialised talents whose skills lie in finding those who don’t want to be found.
So, you know that feeling you get when you read a book, a first in a series, and that little reading tingle comes over you that says “Yep. This one is for me” and you just KNOW that there are many happy reading years ahead of you with a new favourite character? Yep. That.
Meet Carter Blake. Well, we’ll call him that anyway. He finds people. Generally speaking. Of course there is much more to him than that, but for the purposes of this its probably all you need to know. When a dangerous man escapes, the powers that be call on Carter in the hope that he can catch up to him before disaster strikes. So begins a most terrific, page turning, thrilling tale with some real edge of the seat moments.
You know what is even better than a Thriller? An INTELLIGENT thriller. With characters that have more than just a phoned in version of a personality, a tightly woven plot that keeps you on your toes and an actual story, not just endless action. Thats not to say there is not plenty of action – there is. But as Carter and Caleb play a deadly game of cat and mouse, it is the interaction between them and those they encounter that will have you desperately turning the pages to find out the ultimate outcome. When you have a killer who is just as, if not more, intelligent than the person who is chasing him, you will genuinely wonder who is going to come out on top. It takes a man with no limits to catch a killer with no motive…yes indeed.
With a terrific supporting cast, the occasional moment that will have you hyperventilating and a magnificent final showdown – don’t you just love it when a book lives up to its initial promise and doesnt fall flat? – this was brilliantly done. Absolutely.
Inevitably Mason Cross will find his protagonist compared to Jack Reacher. Its going to happen I don’t think there is any avoiding it, sadly, as I always like to treat each read entirely on its own merits. I will address it though as I am also a fan of the majority of the Reacher Novels. And in fact I wouldnt be surprised if with the closing few words of this novel, Mr Cross himself was giving a nod to Reacher. This readers opinion? Carter Blake could easily be described as “The thinking man’s Reacher” but he is entirely his own man and I fell for him completely. More please!
Highly Recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
April 9, 2019
Save for the dull dialogue, the shallow stereotypical characters, an overall lack of suspense and a general implausibility of the plot and the ending, this is a good one.
That's really all I can say about this book.
That's really all I can say about this book.
April 2, 2018
4-ish*s (Stars are for a book inthis action genre)
A good narrator allowed the listener to visualize this slam bang story as it unfolded. The book kept my attention throughout, but the ending was a tad OTT for me.
Read Petra's excellent review of this title!
A good narrator allowed the listener to visualize this slam bang story as it unfolded. The book kept my attention throughout, but the ending was a tad OTT for me.
Read Petra's excellent review of this title!
May 12, 2021
Kai pamačiau, kad bibletekoj atsirado ši, pirma serijos apie Karterį Bleiką knyga, iškart parsinešiau namo ir nieko nelaukus pradėjau skaityti. Tas begalinis noras perskaityt VISUS pasaulio trilerius... 🤦♀️ O čia dar ir visa serija jų.. Mėgstu aš jas ir nieko sau negaliu padaryt. Jei pagrindinis veikėjas įdomus, greit prie jo prisiriši ir įsitraukęs ryji knygą po knygos, stebėdamas, kaip jam seksis toliau. ⠀
⠀
O Karteris Bleikas tikrai turi šansų tokiu tapti. Net įveikus knygą, nepavyko apie jį nieko išsiaiškinti. Žmogus, neturintis, nei vardo, nei tikros tapatybės. Dirbantis privačiai ir šį kartą padedantis FTB rasti į laisvę pabėgusį kalinį. Gal kiek per protingas, per daug savo nuojauta besikliaunantis, bet vistiek patrauklus personažas. Ne ką mažiau įdomi ir agentė Eleina Baner, kartu tyrusi bylą. ⠀
Tikrai nesupykčiau, jei sekančiose knygose pora vėl dirbtų kartu, tačiau iš antrosios dalies aprašymo aišku, kad Bleiko laukia nauja kolegė. ⠀
⠀
Gal keista sakyti, bet šį kartą patiko ir žudikas. Profesionalus šaulys, nepriekaištingai apmokyta "žudymo mašina". Praeityje jau spėjęs nužudyti devynioliką žmonių, pabėgęs iš kalėjimo likus dviems savaitėms iki numatomos mirties bausmės ir toliau sėjantis baimę visos šalies mastu.⠀
⠀
Kodėl patiko? Nes autoriui pavyko jį nupiešti kaip gana metodišką, logiškai veikiantį ir savaip charizmatišką personažą. Aišku ir čia nepagailėta dirbtinio supermeno savybių - Vordelui nepastebėtam praslysti pro pulkus policininkų ir FTB agentų, buvo ne ką sunkiau, nei atimti iš vaiko saldainį. Nesvarbu, apie kurią pusę skaitau - tyrėjų ar nusikaltėlio, noriu, kad jie klystų, įdėtų pastangų, o ne vien atsitiktinumo dėka lengvai slystų paviršium. Žinau, kad skaitysiu ir sekančias dalis. Laikau kumščius, kad bent ten autorius nepamirštų realistiškumo.⠀
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Pirmas blynas kiek prisvilęs. Bet labai nenusivyliau - kelios skaitytos apžvalgos nuteikė, kad kažko fenomenalaus nesitikėčiau. Bet antrosios dalies "Samarietis" įvertinimai daug geresni. Aš, nebūčiau aš, jei nebandyčiau tuo įsitikint pati 😏 ⠀
⠀
O Karteris Bleikas tikrai turi šansų tokiu tapti. Net įveikus knygą, nepavyko apie jį nieko išsiaiškinti. Žmogus, neturintis, nei vardo, nei tikros tapatybės. Dirbantis privačiai ir šį kartą padedantis FTB rasti į laisvę pabėgusį kalinį. Gal kiek per protingas, per daug savo nuojauta besikliaunantis, bet vistiek patrauklus personažas. Ne ką mažiau įdomi ir agentė Eleina Baner, kartu tyrusi bylą. ⠀
Tikrai nesupykčiau, jei sekančiose knygose pora vėl dirbtų kartu, tačiau iš antrosios dalies aprašymo aišku, kad Bleiko laukia nauja kolegė. ⠀
⠀
Gal keista sakyti, bet šį kartą patiko ir žudikas. Profesionalus šaulys, nepriekaištingai apmokyta "žudymo mašina". Praeityje jau spėjęs nužudyti devynioliką žmonių, pabėgęs iš kalėjimo likus dviems savaitėms iki numatomos mirties bausmės ir toliau sėjantis baimę visos šalies mastu.⠀
⠀
Kodėl patiko? Nes autoriui pavyko jį nupiešti kaip gana metodišką, logiškai veikiantį ir savaip charizmatišką personažą. Aišku ir čia nepagailėta dirbtinio supermeno savybių - Vordelui nepastebėtam praslysti pro pulkus policininkų ir FTB agentų, buvo ne ką sunkiau, nei atimti iš vaiko saldainį. Nesvarbu, apie kurią pusę skaitau - tyrėjų ar nusikaltėlio, noriu, kad jie klystų, įdėtų pastangų, o ne vien atsitiktinumo dėka lengvai slystų paviršium. Žinau, kad skaitysiu ir sekančias dalis. Laikau kumščius, kad bent ten autorius nepamirštų realistiškumo.⠀
⠀
Pirmas blynas kiek prisvilęs. Bet labai nenusivyliau - kelios skaitytos apžvalgos nuteikė, kad kažko fenomenalaus nesitikėčiau. Bet antrosios dalies "Samarietis" įvertinimai daug geresni. Aš, nebūčiau aš, jei nebandyčiau tuo įsitikint pati 😏 ⠀
March 9, 2016
Com uma ação que decorre em apenas alguns dias, O Caçador começa com a fuga do «Sniper de Chicago» conhecido por ter matado 19 pessoas com 19 tiros. Caleb Wardell escapa ao corredor da morte em circunstâncias algo estranhas quando a carrinha de transporte que o levava para outro local é intercetada pela Máfia Russa e o ajuda a libertar-se. No entanto, tudo parece estranho. Estranho até para o próprio Wardell que não entende o porquê daquela ajuda e acaba por matar toda a gente.
Quando tomam conhecimento que se encontra em fugo um perigoso assassino, ex-marine, o FBI não tem outro remédio senão recorrer a uma pessoa de fora da organização para os ajudar a capturar Wardell. O nome é Carter Blake, conhecido por “encontrar pessoas”. Blake vai fazer parelha com Elaine Banner e vão formar uma dupla extraordinária.
Opinião completa em: http://marcadordelivros.blogspot.pt/2...
Quando tomam conhecimento que se encontra em fugo um perigoso assassino, ex-marine, o FBI não tem outro remédio senão recorrer a uma pessoa de fora da organização para os ajudar a capturar Wardell. O nome é Carter Blake, conhecido por “encontrar pessoas”. Blake vai fazer parelha com Elaine Banner e vão formar uma dupla extraordinária.
Opinião completa em: http://marcadordelivros.blogspot.pt/2...
April 11, 2021
Kai gerumo!!! Veiksmas prasideda nuo pirmų puslapių, net nėra kada atsikvėpti. Mano galvoje Bleikas - tai lyg Džeimsas Bondas. Gražus, drąsus, nuovokus, protingas, paslaptingas... Galėčiau tęsti ir tęsti.. 🙈 Patiko, kiek dėmesio skirta FTB darbui iš vidaus, parodoma visa tyrimo "virtuvė". Nežinau, kiek tai tikra, bet mane įtikino. Pasitaikė ir viena kita kraupesnė scena, tad, iš mano pusės, tai dar vienas pliusas. Ilgai nelaukus reiks čiupti antrąją dalį, Bleikas iš tiesų mane sužavėjo!
March 28, 2014
This exciting thriller takes place over just a few, very action packed, days. The story begins with the escape from a prison transport of Caleb Wardell, a sniper who was literally a fortnight away from facing execution for the murder of nineteen people. You might think that, having gained his freedom, he would be eager to find somewhere to hide in order to live out his life in obscurity. However, then we would have no novel and, besides, serial killers do not tend to show sense in these situations (Ted Bundy escaped from prison only to then indulge in another killing spree, this time in a State which had the death penalty). On his first day of freedom Wardell kills a man and it is obvious that he has no intention of stopping until he is caught.
Special Agent Elaine Banner, single mother and ambitious to further her career, is hopeful that capturing Wardell will help her gain promotion. Along with Steve Castle, who worked on the original case, they are sent to discover his whereabouts and capture him before his escape is discovered by the press . There is also another man brought in to help them- Carter Blake. Blake is a specialist in finding people who don’t want to be found, but his presence is resented, especially by Castle However, Blake has an uncanny way of anticipating Wardell’s moves, in a journey which follows them across the country. Wardell has scores to settle and his killing is becoming more personal –but as events unfold, it becomes more and more obvious that he is either being helped, or used. ..
This is not really an original thriller, but it has good characters, an excellent plot and is fast paced and exciting. In some ways, it is refreshing to have an ‘old fashioned’ edge of the seat thriller, which does not pretend to be anything other than what it is – a real page turner and great storytelling. Carter Blake is a likeable hero – anonymous and without ties, but with just the hint of an interesting past . Hopefully he is going to return for more adventures, which I look forward to reading.
Lastly, I received this novel from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.
Special Agent Elaine Banner, single mother and ambitious to further her career, is hopeful that capturing Wardell will help her gain promotion. Along with Steve Castle, who worked on the original case, they are sent to discover his whereabouts and capture him before his escape is discovered by the press . There is also another man brought in to help them- Carter Blake. Blake is a specialist in finding people who don’t want to be found, but his presence is resented, especially by Castle However, Blake has an uncanny way of anticipating Wardell’s moves, in a journey which follows them across the country. Wardell has scores to settle and his killing is becoming more personal –but as events unfold, it becomes more and more obvious that he is either being helped, or used. ..
This is not really an original thriller, but it has good characters, an excellent plot and is fast paced and exciting. In some ways, it is refreshing to have an ‘old fashioned’ edge of the seat thriller, which does not pretend to be anything other than what it is – a real page turner and great storytelling. Carter Blake is a likeable hero – anonymous and without ties, but with just the hint of an interesting past . Hopefully he is going to return for more adventures, which I look forward to reading.
Lastly, I received this novel from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.
June 3, 2019
Son zamanların okuması en uzun süren kitabı oldu. Tam bir işkenceydi.
Bir keskin nişancı seri katil var ve milleti avlıyor. Kim olduğunu polisler biliyor ve bir türlü yakalayamıyor. Bu elbette çok yavan.
Bu katili yakalamaya çalışan Blake tabi ki sorunlu bir tip. Polis değilim, polisten daha iyiyim, bulunmak istemeyenleri bulurum havasında geziyor. Hemen birlikte çalıştığı bir kadın detektifle yakınlaşıyor, klasik. Herkes başka şeyin peşine düşerken Blake doğru tahminlerde bulunup adamı yakalıyor falan.
Ne kadar sıkıcı ve klişe olduğunu anlatamam. Bu kitap zevkten çok acı verdi. Polisiye de değil aksiyon kitabıydı. Kovalamacaydı. Ben beğenmedim. 👎🏻
Bir keskin nişancı seri katil var ve milleti avlıyor. Kim olduğunu polisler biliyor ve bir türlü yakalayamıyor. Bu elbette çok yavan.
Bu katili yakalamaya çalışan Blake tabi ki sorunlu bir tip. Polis değilim, polisten daha iyiyim, bulunmak istemeyenleri bulurum havasında geziyor. Hemen birlikte çalıştığı bir kadın detektifle yakınlaşıyor, klasik. Herkes başka şeyin peşine düşerken Blake doğru tahminlerde bulunup adamı yakalıyor falan.
Ne kadar sıkıcı ve klişe olduğunu anlatamam. Bu kitap zevkten çok acı verdi. Polisiye de değil aksiyon kitabıydı. Kovalamacaydı. Ben beğenmedim. 👎🏻
March 11, 2021
"Karteris Bleikas nėra mano tikras vardas, tai pirmiausia turėtumėte žinoti apie mane,,
Ir viskas to man užtenka, kad įsitraukčiau į šią knygą. Visi žinot mano meilę Kepler ir Chris Carter, tai čia žinokit tokio pat lygio perliukas.
Viskas knygoje kaip ir atvira, žudikas pabėgo ir reikia jį sugauti.. Tačiau neapsigaukite, ji sugauti taip pat įmanoma, kaip vėją laukuose. Nei FTB nei policija atrodo bejėgiai.. Ką daryti?
Tiek jūs turite žinoti apie šią knygą. Rašytojas mausto taip meistriškai, kad ir man nebuvo lengva atspėti kas kaip ir kodėl. Nu wow, džiaugsmo pilnas kailis taip sakant, nes tai nauja detektyvų serija, kurios antros dalies jau beprotiškai laukiu 😍
Kam patinka tyrėjų psichologija, šita knyga must read. Taip taip, viskas paaiškinama, visos turėjų mintys ir veiksmai. Ir tai man siaubingai patiko, dievinu kai skaitytoją įtraukia į tyrimą taip, kad pats susitapatini su tyrėjų komanda ir galvoji, koks bus sekantis psichopato žingsnis. Kas bus kita jo auka? Ar makabriškas planas išsipildys.
Labai labai rekomenduoju tikriems detektyvų mėgėjams ❤️ Bei nerekomenduoju tiems, kurie nemėgsta žudymo scenų. Nes jų čia gausu 🔥
Ir viskas to man užtenka, kad įsitraukčiau į šią knygą. Visi žinot mano meilę Kepler ir Chris Carter, tai čia žinokit tokio pat lygio perliukas.
Viskas knygoje kaip ir atvira, žudikas pabėgo ir reikia jį sugauti.. Tačiau neapsigaukite, ji sugauti taip pat įmanoma, kaip vėją laukuose. Nei FTB nei policija atrodo bejėgiai.. Ką daryti?
Tiek jūs turite žinoti apie šią knygą. Rašytojas mausto taip meistriškai, kad ir man nebuvo lengva atspėti kas kaip ir kodėl. Nu wow, džiaugsmo pilnas kailis taip sakant, nes tai nauja detektyvų serija, kurios antros dalies jau beprotiškai laukiu 😍
Kam patinka tyrėjų psichologija, šita knyga must read. Taip taip, viskas paaiškinama, visos turėjų mintys ir veiksmai. Ir tai man siaubingai patiko, dievinu kai skaitytoją įtraukia į tyrimą taip, kad pats susitapatini su tyrėjų komanda ir galvoji, koks bus sekantis psichopato žingsnis. Kas bus kita jo auka? Ar makabriškas planas išsipildys.
Labai labai rekomenduoju tikriems detektyvų mėgėjams ❤️ Bei nerekomenduoju tiems, kurie nemėgsta žudymo scenų. Nes jų čia gausu 🔥
April 30, 2021
Pagaliau aš ją išvargau... Visiška tralialiuška, iš serijos "šaudo,gaudo,spjaudo" 🥴
March 23, 2019
"I find people who don't want to be found."
Speaking of found, I found The Killing Season to be utterly engaging and it kept me hooked the entire book! It tells the story of Blake, who agrees to help the FBI locate serial killer Caleb Wardell, after he escaped from a prisoner-transport van while en route to the federal correctional complex, where he was due to be executed in two weeks. From there it's hang-on-to-your-seat time! (With a few chuckles thrown in.) I loved Blake and can't wait to learn more about him in the next book!!
Speaking of found, I found The Killing Season to be utterly engaging and it kept me hooked the entire book! It tells the story of Blake, who agrees to help the FBI locate serial killer Caleb Wardell, after he escaped from a prisoner-transport van while en route to the federal correctional complex, where he was due to be executed in two weeks. From there it's hang-on-to-your-seat time! (With a few chuckles thrown in.) I loved Blake and can't wait to learn more about him in the next book!!
April 1, 2020
This exciting thriller was just what I needed to take my mind off current stressful events! Loved the mysterious main character, Blake, who reminded me of Jack Reacher. Thanks to reading buddy,Val, for this recommendation.
February 26, 2016
Ultimamente tenho hesitado bastante antes de começar uma nova série, mas estou muito satisfeita por ter arriscado nesta! O Caçador é a nossa primeira aproximação a Carter, um homem com um passado misterioso cuja actividade profissional passa por encontrar pessoas que não querem ser encontradas... e é bem pago para isso.
Os métodos de Carter, nem sempre legais, envolvem o estudo minucioso dos movimentos, palavras e acções daqueles que procura numa tentativa de entrar na cabeça dos mesmos e prever os seus próximos passos. Neste primeiro caso, Carter colabora com o FBI, em especial com a agente Elaine, para encontrar Wardell e travá-lo antes que mais inocentes sejam liquidados.
Ex-sniper dos Marines, Wardell é um assassino muito competente: da última vez provocou 19 mortes com 19 tiros... e está de novo no activo. As motivações de Wardell são mais um ponto de interesse no livro, bem como a escolha das suas vítimas. Carter só tem hipótese de apanhar Wardell se souber de antemão quem é a próxima vítima e isso revela-se ainda mais complicado quando se torna óbvio que grande parte delas não passam de alvos aleatórios; pessoas inocentes que se encontravam no sítio errado à hora errada.
Com o desenvolvimento da investigação, Carter e Elaine encaram a possibilidade de Wardell ter recebido ajuda não só para escapar da prisão mas também para andar para a frente com os seus planos homicidas, o que torna o enredo ainda mais interessante. Sempre que as coisas se complicam para Wardell, uma ajudinha providencial acaba por garantir o sucesso da sua operação, prejudicando ainda mais as investigações.
Ao alternar sucessivamente entre os pontos de vista de Carter, Elaine e do próprio Wardell, Mason Cross dá-nos uma perspectiva muito abrangente sobre o progresso da história. O título do livro, O Caçador, encaixa-lhe que nem uma luva; este livro não é sobre descobrir a identidade do criminoso mas sim de encontrá-lo e travá-lo o mais depressa possível porque a cada dia que passa, Wardell colecciona vítimas.
O Caçador é um livro cheio de acção e suspense; os acontecimentos sucedem-se perante os nossos olhos a um ritmo formidável e enervante. De um lado temos dois agentes muito empenhados em apanhar este criminoso, privilegiando a inteligência e evitando cometer os mesmos erros que foram cometidos da outra vez, do outro lado temos um homicida sem nada a perder - Wardell sabe que será apanhado, só quer cumprir os seus objectivos de matança antes dessa hora - que não comete erros, que se mantém sempre um passo à frente dos investigadores, que está disposto a tornar tudo ainda mais pessoal e que, como se não bastasse, parece ter alguém a ajudá-lo.
Esta é uma receita para o sucesso, e é isso que o O Caçador me parece, um êxito. Neste primeiro livro pouco é efectivamente revelado sobre Carter; essa informação ficará para os próximos casos, livros que eu vou certamente ler!
Os métodos de Carter, nem sempre legais, envolvem o estudo minucioso dos movimentos, palavras e acções daqueles que procura numa tentativa de entrar na cabeça dos mesmos e prever os seus próximos passos. Neste primeiro caso, Carter colabora com o FBI, em especial com a agente Elaine, para encontrar Wardell e travá-lo antes que mais inocentes sejam liquidados.
Ex-sniper dos Marines, Wardell é um assassino muito competente: da última vez provocou 19 mortes com 19 tiros... e está de novo no activo. As motivações de Wardell são mais um ponto de interesse no livro, bem como a escolha das suas vítimas. Carter só tem hipótese de apanhar Wardell se souber de antemão quem é a próxima vítima e isso revela-se ainda mais complicado quando se torna óbvio que grande parte delas não passam de alvos aleatórios; pessoas inocentes que se encontravam no sítio errado à hora errada.
Com o desenvolvimento da investigação, Carter e Elaine encaram a possibilidade de Wardell ter recebido ajuda não só para escapar da prisão mas também para andar para a frente com os seus planos homicidas, o que torna o enredo ainda mais interessante. Sempre que as coisas se complicam para Wardell, uma ajudinha providencial acaba por garantir o sucesso da sua operação, prejudicando ainda mais as investigações.
Ao alternar sucessivamente entre os pontos de vista de Carter, Elaine e do próprio Wardell, Mason Cross dá-nos uma perspectiva muito abrangente sobre o progresso da história. O título do livro, O Caçador, encaixa-lhe que nem uma luva; este livro não é sobre descobrir a identidade do criminoso mas sim de encontrá-lo e travá-lo o mais depressa possível porque a cada dia que passa, Wardell colecciona vítimas.
O Caçador é um livro cheio de acção e suspense; os acontecimentos sucedem-se perante os nossos olhos a um ritmo formidável e enervante. De um lado temos dois agentes muito empenhados em apanhar este criminoso, privilegiando a inteligência e evitando cometer os mesmos erros que foram cometidos da outra vez, do outro lado temos um homicida sem nada a perder - Wardell sabe que será apanhado, só quer cumprir os seus objectivos de matança antes dessa hora - que não comete erros, que se mantém sempre um passo à frente dos investigadores, que está disposto a tornar tudo ainda mais pessoal e que, como se não bastasse, parece ter alguém a ajudá-lo.
Esta é uma receita para o sucesso, e é isso que o O Caçador me parece, um êxito. Neste primeiro livro pouco é efectivamente revelado sobre Carter; essa informação ficará para os próximos casos, livros que eu vou certamente ler!
March 1, 2020
For a first book in a series, the author Mason Cross has done a good enough job with ‘The Killing Season’. Everything readers expect today in a generic mercenary-for-hire-who-hooks-up-with-the-FBI-but-the-FBI-is-overly-pansy-from-rules storyline is here. Unfortunately, the book was a by-the-numbers plot for me.
An incredibly smart serial killer goes on a killing spree. So a sexy hot female FBI agent who is recently divorced with a little girl meets cute with the free-lance ex-military Carter Blake. Carter Blake is now a private mercenary after several Iraq tours. He is a colors-outside-the-lines guy hired by the straight-laced rulebook FBI to assist in the case.
If you have been looking for a series which stars an updated and cleaned up James Bond-clone, the character Carter Blake is a satisfactory PG-15 stand-in, more or less. He is missing the unique ferocity of 007 in my opinion, but I am a very jaundiced reader of this thriller genre. I was an extreme fan of adult spy and ex-military cop thrillers in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.
Yes, that means I was reading such books when I was 14-17 years old.
Clerks did not card kids back then, not in my neighborhood. The local drug store, two blocks from my junior high school, let me buy, one by one, the entire paperback set of a satiric adult series featuring a violent spy character who somehow found himself having sex every other chapter in between chasing down evil killers. I found the series in a regular bookstand area by the door, next to the comic books. (It was the 1960’s, the TV era of the original ‘Man from U.N.C.L.E., ‘The Wild Wild West’, and ‘Mission Impossible’). I also found the entire Ian Fleming’s James Bond series in a box of used paperbacks at my local Salvation Army store for $5 when I was fourteen years old. Some might say I was precocious, but I think I was simply a curious and neglected kid as well as a voracious reader, having run out of juvenile books to read at my local library branch.
Anyway. I am absolutely sure my reviews on modern books in this classic male-romance-action genre are suspect.
An incredibly smart serial killer goes on a killing spree. So a sexy hot female FBI agent who is recently divorced with a little girl meets cute with the free-lance ex-military Carter Blake. Carter Blake is now a private mercenary after several Iraq tours. He is a colors-outside-the-lines guy hired by the straight-laced rulebook FBI to assist in the case.
If you have been looking for a series which stars an updated and cleaned up James Bond-clone, the character Carter Blake is a satisfactory PG-15 stand-in, more or less. He is missing the unique ferocity of 007 in my opinion, but I am a very jaundiced reader of this thriller genre. I was an extreme fan of adult spy and ex-military cop thrillers in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.
Yes, that means I was reading such books when I was 14-17 years old.
Clerks did not card kids back then, not in my neighborhood. The local drug store, two blocks from my junior high school, let me buy, one by one, the entire paperback set of a satiric adult series featuring a violent spy character who somehow found himself having sex every other chapter in between chasing down evil killers. I found the series in a regular bookstand area by the door, next to the comic books. (It was the 1960’s, the TV era of the original ‘Man from U.N.C.L.E., ‘The Wild Wild West’, and ‘Mission Impossible’). I also found the entire Ian Fleming’s James Bond series in a box of used paperbacks at my local Salvation Army store for $5 when I was fourteen years old. Some might say I was precocious, but I think I was simply a curious and neglected kid as well as a voracious reader, having run out of juvenile books to read at my local library branch.
Anyway. I am absolutely sure my reviews on modern books in this classic male-romance-action genre are suspect.
August 3, 2015
The Killing Season is an action-packed thriller and impressive first book by British author Mason Cross. It follows Carter Blake, a truly enigmatic character, who has dedicated himself to finding people who do not want to be found. He teams up with FBI agent and single Mum Elaine Banner to track down an escaped serial killer, Caleb Wardell.
This gripping story is told from multiple perspectives; Carter’s in the first person, Elaine and Caleb’s in the third. I particularly enjoyed that the point of view of the rather disturbing villain was also included. There is more than just action and killings though. The plot is intelligent, Mason Cross’ writing is taut and his characters, including the side characters, are well developed. The interactions between them make for compulsive reading.
Listening to the audiobook was just like watching a blockbuster action movie on screen. It was incredibly well visualized but devoid of long descriptive passages. Narrated perfectly by Eric Meyers, who gave each character a distinct voice, male and female voices were handled equally well and even the non-native English speakers sounded authentic. I find I quite often have to increase the speed of an audiobook narration, but there was absolutely no need her. It kept my attention all the way through so much so I became annoyed when I had to pause it because people were expecting me to pay them attention, when all I wanted to do was keep listening.
Carter Blake is a very likeable hero, and I was pleased to see that the sequel “The Samaritan” has just been released.
Anybody who likes Jack Reacher type of stories should definitely enjoy this, but I would highly recommend it to anyone wishing to read an edge-of-your-seat thriller with great characters written by a fresh new voice.
Thanks to Audio Book Reviewer for my copy of this audiobook in exchange for an unbiased review.
This gripping story is told from multiple perspectives; Carter’s in the first person, Elaine and Caleb’s in the third. I particularly enjoyed that the point of view of the rather disturbing villain was also included. There is more than just action and killings though. The plot is intelligent, Mason Cross’ writing is taut and his characters, including the side characters, are well developed. The interactions between them make for compulsive reading.
Listening to the audiobook was just like watching a blockbuster action movie on screen. It was incredibly well visualized but devoid of long descriptive passages. Narrated perfectly by Eric Meyers, who gave each character a distinct voice, male and female voices were handled equally well and even the non-native English speakers sounded authentic. I find I quite often have to increase the speed of an audiobook narration, but there was absolutely no need her. It kept my attention all the way through so much so I became annoyed when I had to pause it because people were expecting me to pay them attention, when all I wanted to do was keep listening.
Carter Blake is a very likeable hero, and I was pleased to see that the sequel “The Samaritan” has just been released.
Anybody who likes Jack Reacher type of stories should definitely enjoy this, but I would highly recommend it to anyone wishing to read an edge-of-your-seat thriller with great characters written by a fresh new voice.
Thanks to Audio Book Reviewer for my copy of this audiobook in exchange for an unbiased review.
February 8, 2016
Okay....Carter Blake is an interesting guy and his book is a read I can endorse. I mean in a way we've been here before if "we've" read many of the action type reads out there. The first thing he tells us is that his name isn't really carter Blake. he's a "finder of people", that would be "people who don't want to be found". This time the person he's called on to find is a raving psychopathic sniper...
The book is well constructed and I'd like to have given it a 5 star rating. I couldn't because of one thing. I've mentioned before that I understand that recycled plot points aren't necessarily a problem. I mean with thousands of years of story-telling leaves very few "totally new" plot points. The thing here is I've read one of the plot points used here in several books recently, and I saw it coming almost as soon as a certain character was mentioned.
Be aware...major spoiler below tag.
Anyway, in spite of that problem it's an excellent read and I can recommend it.
Enjoy.
The book is well constructed and I'd like to have given it a 5 star rating. I couldn't because of one thing. I've mentioned before that I understand that recycled plot points aren't necessarily a problem. I mean with thousands of years of story-telling leaves very few "totally new" plot points. The thing here is I've read one of the plot points used here in several books recently, and I saw it coming almost as soon as a certain character was mentioned.
Be aware...major spoiler below tag.
Anyway, in spite of that problem it's an excellent read and I can recommend it.
Enjoy.
December 2, 2016
Voor wie van spannende actie thrillers houdt een echte aanrader. Dezelfde stijl als de boeken van Lee Child (Jack Reacher).
September 29, 2018
The Killing Season is the first book in the Carter Blake series by Mason Cross. Caleb Wardell escapes from prison the FBI called Carter Blake to help the FBI task force to locate him and return in back to prison. However, on every turn, the task force is faulted in their attempts to upper hind Caleb Wardell. Carter Blake started to get a bad feeling about the people involved in the task force. The readers of The Killing Season will continue to follow the twists and turns in Carter Blake investigation and will be surprised with the ending of this book.
The Killing Season is the first book I have read of Mason Cross, and I enjoyed it. I will read more books by Mason Cross. I like the portrayal of the characters and the way interact with each other. The Killing Season was well written and researched by Mason Cross. The way Mason Cross described his settings allow me to feel like I was travelling around the United States with the main characters of The Killing Season.
The readers of The Killing Season will highlight the consequences when there is corruption within law enforcement. Also, the readers of the Killing Season will learn about the role of bounty hunters in law enforcement investigations.
I recommend this book.
The Killing Season is the first book I have read of Mason Cross, and I enjoyed it. I will read more books by Mason Cross. I like the portrayal of the characters and the way interact with each other. The Killing Season was well written and researched by Mason Cross. The way Mason Cross described his settings allow me to feel like I was travelling around the United States with the main characters of The Killing Season.
The readers of The Killing Season will highlight the consequences when there is corruption within law enforcement. Also, the readers of the Killing Season will learn about the role of bounty hunters in law enforcement investigations.
I recommend this book.
December 11, 2022
Dar šiemet spėjau susipažinti su daugumos pamėgtu autoriumi ir atrodytų bebaimiu ir neįveikiamu pagrindiniu veikėju - Karteriu Bleiku. Šiemet detektyvų perskaičiau labai daug, labai daug pažinčių su pagrindiniais veikėjais, tad nenuostabu, kad tarp tokios gausos norisi ir to išskirtinumo. Mason Cross tikrai sukūrė labai išskirtinį personažą.
Kas tas Karteris Bleikas yra iš tikrųjų galima tik spėti. Jo darbas rasti tuos, kas nenori būti surasti. Jo mąstymas neeilinis, gal net sakyčiau artimas žudikų protui. Pastebi ir užfiksuoja atmintyje, net mažiausią smulkmeną. Tad kai iš kalėjimo pabėga serijinis žudikas geriausias FBI sprendimas kokį galėjo sugalvoti, tai pasikviesti būtent Bleiką. Ar tikrai žudikas žudo visus ir be pagrindo? Ir kas nori, kad tyrimas nenusisektų ir Kalebas Vordelas išliktų kuo ilgiau laisvėje.
Knygoje pateikti skyriai iš skirtingų veikėjų pusės, tad galima labiau pažinti žudiką ir patį Bleiką. Besirutuliuojant veiksmui lyg veiksmo filme patiko Karterio ir Kalebo priešprieša. Netruko jaudulio, tačiau skaityt teko pakankamai atidžiai.
Kas tas Karteris Bleikas yra iš tikrųjų galima tik spėti. Jo darbas rasti tuos, kas nenori būti surasti. Jo mąstymas neeilinis, gal net sakyčiau artimas žudikų protui. Pastebi ir užfiksuoja atmintyje, net mažiausią smulkmeną. Tad kai iš kalėjimo pabėga serijinis žudikas geriausias FBI sprendimas kokį galėjo sugalvoti, tai pasikviesti būtent Bleiką. Ar tikrai žudikas žudo visus ir be pagrindo? Ir kas nori, kad tyrimas nenusisektų ir Kalebas Vordelas išliktų kuo ilgiau laisvėje.
Knygoje pateikti skyriai iš skirtingų veikėjų pusės, tad galima labiau pažinti žudiką ir patį Bleiką. Besirutuliuojant veiksmui lyg veiksmo filme patiko Karterio ir Kalebo priešprieša. Netruko jaudulio, tačiau skaityt teko pakankamai atidžiai.
October 15, 2021
Detta är en spänningsroman som handlar om jakten på en prickskytt som mördar urskillningslöst. Det är en debutroman och den handlar om FBI-agenten Elaine Banner och så anlitar man en man utifrån som heter Carter Blake. Dessa två deltar i jakten på mördaren. Berättelsen var spännande och boken var välskriven, men tycker ändå inte att den var jättemärkvärdig. Helt okej men inte mer.
February 20, 2021
This is not a genre that I usually read so I don't have much to compare it with other books. I found at times the chase to be a bit slow and others I was very invested in it. The audio reader was good. The twist at the end I did not see coming and have mixed feeling about. I would read others in the series when I am in the mood.
July 19, 2023
Nors anotacija nekvepėjai labai patraukliai, bet man knyga patiko. Profesionalūs savo srities žmonės visada mane sužavi. Ypač konkretūs ir nedaugžodžiaujantys.
October 7, 2017
Dual review with Swedish first and then English!
SWEDISH REVIEW
Jag var överlycklig över att få chansen att läsa den här boken. Jag älskar att läsa böcker med huvudpersoner som har ett hemligt förflutet, FBI agenter och jakter på galna mördare och den här boken lyckas få med allt det. Carter Blake är en man som kan spåra upp människor som inte vill bli hittade och han kontaktas av FBI för att hitta Caleb Wardell, "Krypskytten från Chicago", som har rymt två veckor före sin avrättning. Blake tillsammans med agent Elaine Banner jagar Wardell över landet med Wardell skjuter folk slumpmässigt, eller är det verkligen slumpmässigt? Kan Wardell ha en dödsplan?
Berättelsen i den här boken är intensivt spännande och jag fann Carter Blake fascinerande och jag vill verkligen veta mer om honom, hans förflutna och vad som gjorde honom till mannen han är idag. Jag gillade även Elaine Banner, hon är en tuff kvinna som jonglerar sitt liv som ensamstående mamma med en karriär som FBI agent. Tillsammans är de ett bra team i denna bok.
Jag gillade vändningarna i boken att allting inte är som det verkar. Det verkar som om Wardell har hjälp från någon, men vem skulle hjälpa en man som Wardell? Slutet är verkligen spännande, med en konfrontation mellan huvudpersonerna och sanningar som avslöjas. Jag rekommenderar varmt denna bok och ser fram emot att läsa nästa bok i serien!
Tack till Modernista för recensionsexemplaret!
ENGLISH REVIEW
I was thrilled to get the chance to read this book. I love main characters with a secret past, FBI agents and a hunt for some crazy killers and this book manage to have it all. Carter Blake is a man that can find anyone and he is contacted by FBI to find Caleb Wardell, the 'Chicago Sniper', who has escaped two weeks before his execution. Blake together with agent Elaine Banner is hunting Wardell over the country as the killer is shooting people at random, or is it really random? Could the man have a killing plan?
I found the story in this book to be intense and thrilling and I found Carter Blake intriguing and I really want to know more about him, his past and what made him into the man he is today. I liked Blake and I also like Elaine Banner, she is a tough woman who is juggling her life as a single mother with a career as an FBI agent. Together are they a good team in this book.
I liked the twists and turns the story took. It seems that Wardell could have help from someone, but who would help a man like Wardell? The ending is really thrilling, with a confrontation between the main characters and truths being revealed. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next book in the series!
Thanks to Modernista for the review copy!
SWEDISH REVIEW
Jag var överlycklig över att få chansen att läsa den här boken. Jag älskar att läsa böcker med huvudpersoner som har ett hemligt förflutet, FBI agenter och jakter på galna mördare och den här boken lyckas få med allt det. Carter Blake är en man som kan spåra upp människor som inte vill bli hittade och han kontaktas av FBI för att hitta Caleb Wardell, "Krypskytten från Chicago", som har rymt två veckor före sin avrättning. Blake tillsammans med agent Elaine Banner jagar Wardell över landet med Wardell skjuter folk slumpmässigt, eller är det verkligen slumpmässigt? Kan Wardell ha en dödsplan?
Berättelsen i den här boken är intensivt spännande och jag fann Carter Blake fascinerande och jag vill verkligen veta mer om honom, hans förflutna och vad som gjorde honom till mannen han är idag. Jag gillade även Elaine Banner, hon är en tuff kvinna som jonglerar sitt liv som ensamstående mamma med en karriär som FBI agent. Tillsammans är de ett bra team i denna bok.
Jag gillade vändningarna i boken att allting inte är som det verkar. Det verkar som om Wardell har hjälp från någon, men vem skulle hjälpa en man som Wardell? Slutet är verkligen spännande, med en konfrontation mellan huvudpersonerna och sanningar som avslöjas. Jag rekommenderar varmt denna bok och ser fram emot att läsa nästa bok i serien!
Tack till Modernista för recensionsexemplaret!
ENGLISH REVIEW
I was thrilled to get the chance to read this book. I love main characters with a secret past, FBI agents and a hunt for some crazy killers and this book manage to have it all. Carter Blake is a man that can find anyone and he is contacted by FBI to find Caleb Wardell, the 'Chicago Sniper', who has escaped two weeks before his execution. Blake together with agent Elaine Banner is hunting Wardell over the country as the killer is shooting people at random, or is it really random? Could the man have a killing plan?
I found the story in this book to be intense and thrilling and I found Carter Blake intriguing and I really want to know more about him, his past and what made him into the man he is today. I liked Blake and I also like Elaine Banner, she is a tough woman who is juggling her life as a single mother with a career as an FBI agent. Together are they a good team in this book.
I liked the twists and turns the story took. It seems that Wardell could have help from someone, but who would help a man like Wardell? The ending is really thrilling, with a confrontation between the main characters and truths being revealed. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next book in the series!
Thanks to Modernista for the review copy!
July 8, 2016
Having read and enjoyed The Samaritan and A time to kill (Winterlong) by Mason Cross I was eager to read "The Killing Season" the first book in the series that introduced Carter Blake (not his real name) to the reader. Unfortunately what initially starts out in a fast and addictive manner quickly turns into a predictive cat and mouse narrative in which Blake aided by the beautiful FBI agent Elaine Banner (will he or will he not manage to convince her to share his bed!) travel, at a furious pace,throughout a number of US states in an attempt to bring to justice No 1 out of control sniper killer Caleb Wardell.
There are parallels in this story with Lee Child's One Shot and comparisons can easily be drawn with such notorieties as John Allen Muhammad The Beltway Sniper, and Charles Whitman who killed 16 people on August 1st 1966 using his sniper skills from the top of the clock tower at the University of Texas. The story is solid and fast moving leaving little time for the reader to become too disinterested and there is a nice little unexpected twist in the final chapters as the sniper's intentions become clear. The FBI personnel are the usual buzz cut grunts and the character of Banner is a stereotypical career driven lady attempting unsuccessfully (is there any other way?) to achieve a home and work life balance.
Mason Cross as an author is very easy to read and in Carter Blake has created a likeable hero with a complex past who now occupies his time searching for the missing...."And who are your clients?...Anyone who wants somebody found" A solid read but not his best.
There are parallels in this story with Lee Child's One Shot and comparisons can easily be drawn with such notorieties as John Allen Muhammad The Beltway Sniper, and Charles Whitman who killed 16 people on August 1st 1966 using his sniper skills from the top of the clock tower at the University of Texas. The story is solid and fast moving leaving little time for the reader to become too disinterested and there is a nice little unexpected twist in the final chapters as the sniper's intentions become clear. The FBI personnel are the usual buzz cut grunts and the character of Banner is a stereotypical career driven lady attempting unsuccessfully (is there any other way?) to achieve a home and work life balance.
Mason Cross as an author is very easy to read and in Carter Blake has created a likeable hero with a complex past who now occupies his time searching for the missing...."And who are your clients?...Anyone who wants somebody found" A solid read but not his best.
December 2, 2016
Carter Blake is an enigmatic Sherlock "Holmsian" guy living off the grid in government sanctioned anonymity. Blake's specialty is finding people who don't want to be found and he is both incredibly successful and relentless in his pursuit. He agrees to assist the FBI in finding Caleb Wardell; a death row psychotic ex Marine sniper who escapes his prison van and launches a brutal killing spree. Problems in the manhunt develop quickly due to Blake's independent approach vs the FBI's more rigid protocols and he and his FBI partner are soon bounced from the FBI's reactive task force. Wardell proves to be a brilliant tactician in evading his pursuers while pursuing his homicidal agenda and challenges Blake and the FBI in ways that will surely make you late for work. More than just a routine manhunt for a killer, hidden agenda's and motivations lead to a stunning conclusion that you won't see coming.
One of my great pleasures in life is finding new authors and reading Mason Cross's debut thriller is what I was most thankful for on Thanksgiving Day 2016 (in addition of course, to the birth of my first grandchild November 16th). This book is why we so much enjoy reading brilliant crime fiction.
One of my great pleasures in life is finding new authors and reading Mason Cross's debut thriller is what I was most thankful for on Thanksgiving Day 2016 (in addition of course, to the birth of my first grandchild November 16th). This book is why we so much enjoy reading brilliant crime fiction.
November 18, 2014
"It takes a man with no limits to catch a killer with no motive"
This book has been lurking near the top of my to-be-read pile for some time and all the good things I've been hearing about it have made me impatient to get started. I certainly wasn't disappointed - I devoured The Killing Season over a couple of days and I'm just about getting my breath back.
The plot revolves around a manhunt for a serial killer sniper and takes place over the course of several days. The enigmatic character of Carter Blake and the FBI's Elaine Banner team up against a formidable opponent's seemingly unstoppable killing spree.
I found The Killing Season reminiscent of early Alex Cross books by James Patterson, but with the action ramped up to the maximum. There's a fair amount of graphic violence which can sometimes turn me off a book, but the quality of the writing kept me on board. I lost count of the clever plot twists and the action built to a gobsmacking conclusion. I'm hoping this is the start of a series and if so I'll look forward eagerly to the next instalment.
With thanks to the author and publisher for the advance review copy e-book via Netgalley.
Highly recommended
This book has been lurking near the top of my to-be-read pile for some time and all the good things I've been hearing about it have made me impatient to get started. I certainly wasn't disappointed - I devoured The Killing Season over a couple of days and I'm just about getting my breath back.
The plot revolves around a manhunt for a serial killer sniper and takes place over the course of several days. The enigmatic character of Carter Blake and the FBI's Elaine Banner team up against a formidable opponent's seemingly unstoppable killing spree.
I found The Killing Season reminiscent of early Alex Cross books by James Patterson, but with the action ramped up to the maximum. There's a fair amount of graphic violence which can sometimes turn me off a book, but the quality of the writing kept me on board. I lost count of the clever plot twists and the action built to a gobsmacking conclusion. I'm hoping this is the start of a series and if so I'll look forward eagerly to the next instalment.
With thanks to the author and publisher for the advance review copy e-book via Netgalley.
Highly recommended
July 31, 2016
I really wish GR would have 1/2 star ratings- this was a 4.5- There is only 1 reason why I didn't give it a full 5 star - but to be totally honest- it is a picky one at that !!
So, do LOVE Jack Reacher? I sure do- if you like/love him you will L-O-V-E this series! Please meet Carter Blake, a loner who specializes in finding people who don't want to be found.
Carter has little backstory to this point as he is called upon to join an FBI task force searching for Caleb Wardell, "the Chicago Sniper", who has escaped jail and is planning to continue his deadly serial killing. Of course, being an outsider without law enforcement credentials makes him an unwelcome addition except for Elaine Banner, an ambitious Special Agent, more willing to trust Blake as things unfold than just following the FBI normal rules and regulations.
The story continues with the hunt for Caleb Wardell, and picking up the carnage along the way.
This truly is a great series- I love Carter Blake and his 'style' of getting the bad guys! A great read!!
So, do LOVE Jack Reacher? I sure do- if you like/love him you will L-O-V-E this series! Please meet Carter Blake, a loner who specializes in finding people who don't want to be found.
Carter has little backstory to this point as he is called upon to join an FBI task force searching for Caleb Wardell, "the Chicago Sniper", who has escaped jail and is planning to continue his deadly serial killing. Of course, being an outsider without law enforcement credentials makes him an unwelcome addition except for Elaine Banner, an ambitious Special Agent, more willing to trust Blake as things unfold than just following the FBI normal rules and regulations.
The story continues with the hunt for Caleb Wardell, and picking up the carnage along the way.
This truly is a great series- I love Carter Blake and his 'style' of getting the bad guys! A great read!!
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