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Carson Ryder #1
The Hundredth Man
A darkly compelling serial-killer novel introducing the next big name in psychological thrillers and, in Carson Ryder, a fascinating and complex protagonist set for many books to come.
A body is found in the sweating heat of an Alabama night; headless, words inked on the skin. Detective Carson Ryder is good at this sort of thing – crazies and freaks. To his eyes it is no crime of passion, and when another mutilated victim turns up his suspicions are confirmed. This is not the work of a ‘normal’ murderer, but that of a serial killer, a psychopath.
Famous for solving a series of crimes the year before, Carson Ryder has experience with psychopaths. But he had help with that case – strange help, from a past Ryder is trying to forget.
Now he needs it again.
When the truth finally begins to dawn, it shines on an evil so twisted, so dangerous, it could destroy everything that he cares about…
528 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2004
127 people are currently reading
2610 people want to read
About the author
Jack Kerley
22 books238 followersAKA J.A. Kerley
John Albert Kerley is an American author. He spent 20 years in a successful advertising career before writing his first book, The Hundredth Man.
He currently lives in Newport, Kentucky, and is married with two children. He enjoys the outdoors, particularly fishing.
He is the author of the acclaimed Alabama-set series of Carson Ryder novels
John Albert Kerley is an American author. He spent 20 years in a successful advertising career before writing his first book, The Hundredth Man.
He currently lives in Newport, Kentucky, and is married with two children. He enjoys the outdoors, particularly fishing.
He is the author of the acclaimed Alabama-set series of Carson Ryder novels
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
August 13, 2024
I actually read the 4th book in the Carson Ryder series about 10 years ago and loved it, so when I saw the first book in the series for sale I jumped at the chance. I was really impressed by this book the reader is faced with a crime scene really early on in this book then from there we follow Carson trying to figure out why these things are happening.
The writing style although not particularly beautiful it was fast-paced and the dialogue was especially well done, I could actually imagine real humans having the conversations that were being had in this book which is a rarity for this genre.
A particular sub-plot in this book was pretty emotion too, Carson's character benefited from this as he is show as caring, supportive and eager to help. However I think his caring nature will be his undoing in future books. This book also had some pretty well done dark humour and body horror, the body horror wasn't super gory and it stayed pretty medical throughout.
The only thing that let this book down a little was how convenient everything was and perhaps that there wasn't any big twists or reveals. I will definitely be carrying on with the series I feel pretty invested already.
The writing style although not particularly beautiful it was fast-paced and the dialogue was especially well done, I could actually imagine real humans having the conversations that were being had in this book which is a rarity for this genre.
A particular sub-plot in this book was pretty emotion too, Carson's character benefited from this as he is show as caring, supportive and eager to help. However I think his caring nature will be his undoing in future books. This book also had some pretty well done dark humour and body horror, the body horror wasn't super gory and it stayed pretty medical throughout.
The only thing that let this book down a little was how convenient everything was and perhaps that there wasn't any big twists or reveals. I will definitely be carrying on with the series I feel pretty invested already.
July 13, 2019
Yazarın okuduğum ilk kitabı. Carson Ryder serisinin de ilki. Seri epey uzun. Seriye giriş kitabı olarak fena sayılmaz. Hatta biraz farklı bile sayılır.
Başrolün hep uç noktalarda olmasına alışığız. Hep aşırı zekidir, asosyaldir, diğer polisler sevmez falan filan. Carson da aynen öyle ama bir farkı var. Öz abisi bir seri katil ve cidden bir manyak.
Başsız cesetler bir bir bulunmaya başlandığında Carson abisinden yardım ister. Ceset sayısı arttıkça zaman daralmaktadır.
Carson ve ortağı Harry kimyasını sevdim. İyi bir ikili olmuşlar. Polisiyelerde bu benim için önemli. Carson’ı biraz şımarık ve toy buldum. Aynı zamanda düşünceli ve fedakar. Küçük ayrıntıları güzel yakalıyor. Tabi bir polis de aynen böyle olmalı.
Sonu çok şaşırtmamakla birlikte çok da klişe değildi. Yazar ara ara saptırmaya çalışmış ama dikkatli bir okuyucu odak noktasını kaybetmez.
Polisiye açısından beni tatmin etti. Ortalamanın üstünde, temposu yüksek güzel bir kitaptı 👍🏻
Başrolün hep uç noktalarda olmasına alışığız. Hep aşırı zekidir, asosyaldir, diğer polisler sevmez falan filan. Carson da aynen öyle ama bir farkı var. Öz abisi bir seri katil ve cidden bir manyak.
Başsız cesetler bir bir bulunmaya başlandığında Carson abisinden yardım ister. Ceset sayısı arttıkça zaman daralmaktadır.
Carson ve ortağı Harry kimyasını sevdim. İyi bir ikili olmuşlar. Polisiyelerde bu benim için önemli. Carson’ı biraz şımarık ve toy buldum. Aynı zamanda düşünceli ve fedakar. Küçük ayrıntıları güzel yakalıyor. Tabi bir polis de aynen böyle olmalı.
Sonu çok şaşırtmamakla birlikte çok da klişe değildi. Yazar ara ara saptırmaya çalışmış ama dikkatli bir okuyucu odak noktasını kaybetmez.
Polisiye açısından beni tatmin etti. Ortalamanın üstünde, temposu yüksek güzel bir kitaptı 👍🏻
November 3, 2021
Revisited after my last book reminded me of the series!
Mini-review, because pretty much what you see is what you get with this one - the blurb gets it right, the writing is on the better side of good, and while we've definitely got one of the "serial killer with a twisty turny super complicated plan" types, the characters and the (admittedly gory) plot do enough to mitigate it.
This is actually really solid, especially considering its age - it's not showing the years badly at all. However, I know the series heads a bit downhill, and with a constantly rotating door on the love interests, I'm happy to leave it where this one ended - it'll be good to have if I need another trip down memory lane one of these days.
Mini-review, because pretty much what you see is what you get with this one - the blurb gets it right, the writing is on the better side of good, and while we've definitely got one of the "serial killer with a twisty turny super complicated plan" types, the characters and the (admittedly gory) plot do enough to mitigate it.
This is actually really solid, especially considering its age - it's not showing the years badly at all. However, I know the series heads a bit downhill, and with a constantly rotating door on the love interests, I'm happy to leave it where this one ended - it'll be good to have if I need another trip down memory lane one of these days.
May 2, 2016
This started off well for me but for some reason in the middle the plot just fell apart Carson Ryder was likable enough but his character just fell a bit by the wayside. By the ending was a lot of babble about nothing.
3 stars
3 stars
September 14, 2012
This is going to be a hard review to write, I'm afraid. I disliked the book and liked it in equal turns. The dialogue is very hard to follow, even for a die hard thriller fan like me, and at times I found I had to go back and re-read numerous paragraphs/sentences to understand what was going on; sometimes I still didn't! It's extremely disjointed for the most part and I never really understood why Captain Squill was trying to scupper the investigation: strange as Carson was hot on the trail of the killer. If every murder investigation was treated like this by the hierarchy, it would take an age to solve. I really don't know whether I'll read the next in the series, albeit I bought it as the reviews said to stick with the series as it does get better: not sure at the moment though. On the plus side, I didn't figure out who the killer was until just before Carson did, and there are a couple of red herrings thrown in for good measure. It was enough to hold my concentration for a couple of days so I'll rate it 3.5 stars.
March 24, 2008
This book was horrible. It was one bad detective cliché after bad cliché. The dialogue in the worst 1950’s detective movie is 1,000 times better than what is in this book. And to top it off, this book is more about a relationship the main detective has with an alcoholic medical examiner than it is about a serial killer mystery. I am mad at myself for reading 220 pages of this book and not stopping sooner.
August 23, 2015
Detective Carson Ryder deals mostly with cases that involve those who are mentally unstable. The psychopaths, the insane. Little is it know he has his own secrets to hide.
When I first started this book I was drawn into the storyline but not so much the storytelling. I felt as if there was some pile up of extra stuff that took away from the story itself. But still I could not stop reading it getting more drawn into the book as I continued turning the pages.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
When I first started this book I was drawn into the storyline but not so much the storytelling. I felt as if there was some pile up of extra stuff that took away from the story itself. But still I could not stop reading it getting more drawn into the book as I continued turning the pages.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.
April 25, 2013
As much as I hate to read books in a series out of order, I actually read the sequel to this book (The Death Collectors) first. I must admit, that despite my expectations, I actually enjoyed the sequel more than this first book in the Carson Ryder series! Though Kerley did not give away any plot points in the sequel, a lot of the tension was still lessened since the characters all “made it” to the sequel. Still, it was an enjoyable and fast-paced mystery - just not as filled with dramatic tension as the second book in the series. I am looking forward to the third book, A Garden Of Vipers, though!
March 4, 2011
If you like murder mysteries you would enjoy this book. It is the first one I've read by this author and I will look for more of his books. Naturally being about murder, it was a little gory in places, but the characters were likable (except for the bad guys!) and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep one's interest. The setting was Mobile, Alabama and the main character a young detective named Carson Ryder. Now you will have to read the book to find out more.
September 5, 2007
THE HUNDREDTH MAN (Police Procedural) – G
Jack Kerley – 1st book
Dutton, 2004 – Hardcover
Det. Carson Ryder is one-half of new team supposed to investigate crimes which indicate having been committed by someone with psychological disorder; i.e., crazy. For their first case, they have a serial killer leaving headless bodies lying about with very small writing on the body.
*** The character of Ryder and his history is intriguing if a bit familiar. I really enjoyed his experienced partner Harry. The crimes are suitably unusual enough you really want to know who and why, and really don’t know until the end. But the secondary characters were, for the most part, easy stereotypes and their issues much to easily overcome. All-in-all, it’s a good first effort, but I’ll hope for more from his next book.
Jack Kerley – 1st book
Dutton, 2004 – Hardcover
Det. Carson Ryder is one-half of new team supposed to investigate crimes which indicate having been committed by someone with psychological disorder; i.e., crazy. For their first case, they have a serial killer leaving headless bodies lying about with very small writing on the body.
*** The character of Ryder and his history is intriguing if a bit familiar. I really enjoyed his experienced partner Harry. The crimes are suitably unusual enough you really want to know who and why, and really don’t know until the end. But the secondary characters were, for the most part, easy stereotypes and their issues much to easily overcome. All-in-all, it’s a good first effort, but I’ll hope for more from his next book.
March 17, 2016
I've read a couple of books in the Carson Ryder series and really enjoyed them, so I finally bought the first one and it's really just not as good as the others at all. I'd really give it two and a half stars (why can't we give half stars, goodreads???) as it drifted in and out of being enjoyable and then just being okay. I'm glad I read it, because back story etc, but the whole thing kind of felt a lot like that, just a back story for the rest of the books. I'm a big fan of detective novels, even totally trashy ones, I like to try and figure out who the baddie is, but this just didn't sit right, it was like two separate books and there was too many things happening. I've revisited one of his books a couple of times, but I think this one will probably just sit gathering dust.
March 19, 2014
Twisty, complex thriller, with lovely dark moments, although I am getting a little tired of the over-used 'bad boss in the police department' scenario. Are there NO decent, honest police forces in the US? (grinning here)
April 15, 2021
Nothing here. I give up after disk one. I didn’t like anything about this. Unlikeable characters. Forced and dull writing. Awful narration. Back to the library you go.
May 25, 2023
3.5* Добро начало на кратка поредица с оригинален главен герой и сюжет, който може би щеше да ме впечатли повече преди да прочета книги на Патриша Корнуел или Керин Слотър. Без да издавам нищо от книгата, само ще споделя, че открих много сходства с "Аутопсия" на Корнуел и "Blindsighted" на Слотър. Сигурно, ако бях попаднал първо на Кърли, щеше да ми се струва, че те са заимствали от него. Както и да е... Накратко, ако сте пресушили повечето трилъри на пазара през изминалите години, вероятно "Един от 100" няма да ви изненада с нещо ново. Но пък Кърли пише много добре, създал е любопитен главен герой (с любопитна лична история) и е заредил сюжета с нужното количество динамика и обрати. Южняшкият привкус на "Един от 100" е допълнителен плюс. На различни места в книгата Кърли пуска ценни бисери, които ме накараха да се смея на глас. Като например, че хората от фермите на Алабама говорели със скоростта, с която растели дините. Толкова бързо течала и мисълта им :D
July 14, 2023
The Hundredth Man was all over the place for me. Small parts of it were well written and flowed well. But mostly it was ridiculous, improbable and far fetched…bordering on laughable at times. Here’s a number of examples of what I came across.The dialogue at the beginning is straight out of a 70s cop show like Hawaii Five O or Dragnet. Hard nosed cops with short one liners. Then all of a sudden a cop says the night was copacetic. Seriously…. I had to get a dictionary to even see what that means. Later on another cop uses the word lascivious. I can’t even pronounce that and again had to grab a dictionary. If authors want to use big fancy words they should use them when describing something, definitely not in dialogue. Then some writing was found on a dead body and one of these tough cops says as it was written in lavender, not purple….lavender. Because that’s how tough hard nosed cops talk. And omg the stereotypes!! So many macho cops with massive egos and way too much testosterone. All cracking jokes and ribbing each other like they’re at a weekend bbq, when they’re actually at a crime scene with a headless corpse, or at an autopsy. This is so far from reality it’s ridiculous. And high ranking superiors with no brains whatsoever whose sole purpose seems to be to destroy the entire investigation. Then there’s the senior cop who chews on paper all day (that’s right- like from a book). At one stage homocide detectives are brainstorming a case in a busy bar! Writing up possible crime scenarios on paper and then screwing it up and tossing it aside. Surely this would be done in a confidential room, especially when it’s a high profile case with the media involved. At one stage a civilian is allowed to walk into an autopsy room which is completely empty, except for the headless body lying on a gurney. When discovered by a policeman he asks about the corpse and the policeman proceeds to reveal the identity of the victim. In the first case a man is killed at night in bushes then dragged into streetlight and beheaded. The killer then proceeds to write a detailed message in tiny writing under pubic hair…in streetlight. It’s a busy city and he’s in a lit up area and the message writing alone apparently would have taken 10 minutes! The central character (a policeman) is phoned late at night to say a body has been found in a park. They meet there almost immediately after and there is a TV crew already there shoving a microphone in his face asking about the headless body. So the tv news reporter already knows more about the case than the lead homocide detective. Two funeral home staff call at the morgue to collect a body and ride the gurney down the hall like kids with a shopping trolley, and get told off by the morgue manager. A detective drops his pants in a full police meeting with all his superiors including the chief of police to show how long it would take the killer to write a message on the victim’s body. Jeremy is in a high security mental institution with no computer or phone. Yet he is able to solve crimes better than an entire police department with all the information and technology at their fingertips. The whole Jeremy burning Carson as payment for assistance was just bizarre. And Ava meets him once and says no more burning otherwise Carson will never come back and you’ll die in here all alone. And he says okay then. Gee, if only Carson thought of this earlier. Ava’s weird performance when Carson told her about his childhood with Jeremy. She went out into a storm and screamed for ages and threw chairs and tables and tore her clothing off. I was reading this and thinking what is going on, these two have just met and hardly know each other. She was carrying on like she just lost a child or a sibling. Just bizarre. With what happened to Jeremy as a young boy I simply don’t accept that a loving mother would turn a blind eye and go to her sewing room each time he was abused. Any mother would protect her son and get him out at all costs. There was a reference at one point to a man with washboard lats. Shouldn’t that be abs??When Carson went to Caulfield’s house he described how his mutilated hand has covered by a flappy shirt sleeve. Then he says to himself there’s no way he could hold a gun in that hand, even though he can’t see the man’s hand? Two men tow Carson’s truck out of a ditch in 30 secs (yeah right) and then he shoots out two of their tyres before taking off. Surely flashing his badge and saying police emergency would have been sufficient. He then gets a state police escort and personal chopper to get back to Mobile all based on what….a hunch….a theory? One rambling phone call to his partner and presto. Later on Carson has to take a police launch up river to where he thinks the killer has taken the latest victim. Sure would have been handy to have an experienced skipper to take them in. Perhaps the accident they had later could have been avoided. After the boat crash he strips to his underwear to swim the rest of the way. He can’t carry his knife so guess what, he stabs it deep into his thigh as a kind of sheath. Some of this stuff is so laughable. Cops slamming fists into tables was used way too many times. Just sounds petulant. And i have to say i am well and truly over novels where serial killers leave clues at their crime scenes which ultimately lead police to capture them. How often does this happen in the real world? Not an enjoyable read I must say.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2024
Poor writing with confusing character jumps
February 21, 2011
Synopsis: Carson Ryder who has a troubled and problematic past, teams up with partner Harry Nautilus as part of the newly formed two-man PSIT (Psychopathological and Sociopathological Investigative Team), referred to as Piss-it by the other members of the Mobile, Ala., police force. While Piss-it’s official mandate is the investigation of murders committed by particularly horrendous killers, the formation of the team is actually a public relations scheme.
Nevertheless, when a headless body turns up in a local park, Piss-it has its first real case. At the autopsy, Carson meets new hire Dr. Ava Davenelle, who is handling corpse-cutting duties. Of course he’s immediately smitten, though his polite advances are rejected. Turns out she has her own life as well as a job-threatening problem, which Carson must solve while simultaneously identifying the killer who has meanwhile added several more headless victims to his growing list.
Review -- This is the first installment of the Carson Ryder series, and probably the most suspenseful.
I enjoyed the banter between the two partners. The older and wiser Nautilius takes Carson under his wings, and the two of them work well together. Carson, has an older brother named Jeremy who killed his own father in order to save his, and Carson's lives. Carson has since changed his last name in order to distance himself from Jeremy. Jeremey is also a convicted serial killer who is residing in a mental institution for the criminally insane.
During the investigation, Carson meets new hire Dr. Ava Davenelle, who is handling corpse-cutting duties. Turns out Ava has her own job-threatening problems, which Carson must solve while simultaneously identifying the killer who has meanwhile added several more headless victims to his growing list. Don't get too comfortable with Ava as a love interest. As with everything else in this series, nothing is what it seems.
Carson actually uses Jeremey to help solve cases, which in itself, should remind readers of Silence of the Lamb, in a way. Where else do you get information on pyschos, but from the very worse there is?
The Death Collectors, A Garden of Vipers, Blood Brother, In the Blood, Buried Alive, Little Girls Lost, and The Last Scream are the other books in this series. Some of these titles, it seems, are only found in the UK.
Nevertheless, when a headless body turns up in a local park, Piss-it has its first real case. At the autopsy, Carson meets new hire Dr. Ava Davenelle, who is handling corpse-cutting duties. Of course he’s immediately smitten, though his polite advances are rejected. Turns out she has her own life as well as a job-threatening problem, which Carson must solve while simultaneously identifying the killer who has meanwhile added several more headless victims to his growing list.
Review -- This is the first installment of the Carson Ryder series, and probably the most suspenseful.
I enjoyed the banter between the two partners. The older and wiser Nautilius takes Carson under his wings, and the two of them work well together. Carson, has an older brother named Jeremy who killed his own father in order to save his, and Carson's lives. Carson has since changed his last name in order to distance himself from Jeremy. Jeremey is also a convicted serial killer who is residing in a mental institution for the criminally insane.
During the investigation, Carson meets new hire Dr. Ava Davenelle, who is handling corpse-cutting duties. Turns out Ava has her own job-threatening problems, which Carson must solve while simultaneously identifying the killer who has meanwhile added several more headless victims to his growing list. Don't get too comfortable with Ava as a love interest. As with everything else in this series, nothing is what it seems.
Carson actually uses Jeremey to help solve cases, which in itself, should remind readers of Silence of the Lamb, in a way. Where else do you get information on pyschos, but from the very worse there is?
The Death Collectors, A Garden of Vipers, Blood Brother, In the Blood, Buried Alive, Little Girls Lost, and The Last Scream are the other books in this series. Some of these titles, it seems, are only found in the UK.
June 25, 2025
If you're a fan of gritty crime thrillers with a Southern Gothic twist, The Hundredth Man might just be your next page-turning obsession. Jack Kerley plunges us into the sweltering darkness of Mobile, Alabama, where bodies turn up mutilated, headless, and scrawled with cryptic ink. It’s a vivid, unsettling start — and it only gets more intense from there.
Our protagonist, Detective Carson Ryder, is no stranger to the grotesque. He's got a gift for handling the kind of killers that make your skin crawl — and a past that’s just as unsettling as the cases he investigates. Kerley gives Ryder a compelling blend of intelligence, sarcasm, and emotional baggage, which makes him an interestingly flawed hero to follow. What makes things even more intriguing is Ryder's "help" on the case — a presence that’s as mysterious as it is psychologically complicated, adding a dark psychological layer to the narrative.
The plot itself moves at a quick, compelling pace, balancing police procedural elements with a growing sense of dread. The killer isn’t just brutal — they’re methodical, and the clues left behind hint at something more personal and deeply twisted. As Ryder digs deeper, the lines between his professional role and his personal demons start to blur, leading to a conclusion that is both disturbing and deeply satisfying.
Kerley’s writing is sharp and vivid, especially when it comes to atmosphere. You can practically feel the thick Alabama heat and hear the cicadas buzzing as the tension escalates. There’s also a healthy dose of dark humour and sarcasm, which helps cut through the horror without undermining it.
The Hundredth Man is a dark, compelling read that blends psychological intrigue with the visceral horror of serial crime. It’s smart without being pretentious, gruesome without being gratuitous, and Ryder is a character you’ll want to follow long after the final page. This isn’t just another crime novel — it’s a deep dive into the mind of a detective who’s barely keeping his balance while hunting someone with none at all.
https://featzreviews.com/the-hundredt...
Our protagonist, Detective Carson Ryder, is no stranger to the grotesque. He's got a gift for handling the kind of killers that make your skin crawl — and a past that’s just as unsettling as the cases he investigates. Kerley gives Ryder a compelling blend of intelligence, sarcasm, and emotional baggage, which makes him an interestingly flawed hero to follow. What makes things even more intriguing is Ryder's "help" on the case — a presence that’s as mysterious as it is psychologically complicated, adding a dark psychological layer to the narrative.
The plot itself moves at a quick, compelling pace, balancing police procedural elements with a growing sense of dread. The killer isn’t just brutal — they’re methodical, and the clues left behind hint at something more personal and deeply twisted. As Ryder digs deeper, the lines between his professional role and his personal demons start to blur, leading to a conclusion that is both disturbing and deeply satisfying.
Kerley’s writing is sharp and vivid, especially when it comes to atmosphere. You can practically feel the thick Alabama heat and hear the cicadas buzzing as the tension escalates. There’s also a healthy dose of dark humour and sarcasm, which helps cut through the horror without undermining it.
The Hundredth Man is a dark, compelling read that blends psychological intrigue with the visceral horror of serial crime. It’s smart without being pretentious, gruesome without being gratuitous, and Ryder is a character you’ll want to follow long after the final page. This isn’t just another crime novel — it’s a deep dive into the mind of a detective who’s barely keeping his balance while hunting someone with none at all.
https://featzreviews.com/the-hundredt...
September 26, 2015
I always find it interesting to read recently-established crime writers’ first novels - absorbing the first raw notes of a (hopefully) unique voice. Each time I cross my fingers, hoping to uncover a gem worth following through books and years to come.
Advertiser-turned author Jack Kerley’s debut tale hits like a hammer right from the opening pages, quickly moving from missing fingers to missing heads, all in the sweltering heat of Mobile, Alabama. Detective Carson Ryder is both admired and loathed by colleagues and superiors, having hitched onto the fast-track following a successful serial killer pursuit the year before – seemingly thanks to Ryder’s innate understanding of “crazies and freaks”.
Two headless bodies scrawled in barely decipherable ranting spark Ryder and veteran partner Harry Nautilus onto the trail of another serial killer, one that dredges up past secrets for many people, including Ryder himself.
The best storytelling strikes a balance between the familiar and the unique, and matches engaging characters with exciting plots and well-drawn settings. Kerley’s writing puts a huge tick in all boxes, but more importantly, brings everything together into a gripping tale unfolding naturally from the characters, backstory and setting – never feeling forced by an authorial puppet-master. A gem uncovered.
Advertiser-turned author Jack Kerley’s debut tale hits like a hammer right from the opening pages, quickly moving from missing fingers to missing heads, all in the sweltering heat of Mobile, Alabama. Detective Carson Ryder is both admired and loathed by colleagues and superiors, having hitched onto the fast-track following a successful serial killer pursuit the year before – seemingly thanks to Ryder’s innate understanding of “crazies and freaks”.
Two headless bodies scrawled in barely decipherable ranting spark Ryder and veteran partner Harry Nautilus onto the trail of another serial killer, one that dredges up past secrets for many people, including Ryder himself.
The best storytelling strikes a balance between the familiar and the unique, and matches engaging characters with exciting plots and well-drawn settings. Kerley’s writing puts a huge tick in all boxes, but more importantly, brings everything together into a gripping tale unfolding naturally from the characters, backstory and setting – never feeling forced by an authorial puppet-master. A gem uncovered.
February 25, 2020
"Един от сто" на Джак Кърли е първия от поредицата Карсън Райдър. Ами общо взето е голяма психария. Всичките герои са малко чалнати. Детективът уж е добър, но зависи от началник, който само му се пречка и му спъва разследването. Това беше дразнещо - по политически причини началниците правят всичко възможно, за да провалят разследващите, а в същото време психопата продължава да убива. Райдър пък има брат, който е сериен убиец и е в затвора. Помагаше на една патоложка, която пък беше алкохоличка и всичко това беше почти до края, когато вече стана интересно. Та, все пак бива, за който се интересува от психология и психопатии.
June 22, 2023
So glad I read a later book 2 in the series (4 stars) as If I had read this one first would of put me off big time. Garbled cop speak which left me with a dizzy head, what what what the hell is going on here what are they talking about. A story more about the detectives relationship with our alcoholic pathologist. But what about the serial killer, and what did he talk about, what is he going on about. Not enough plot twists, cardboard serial killer, just wanted it to finish, thank fully it did.
July 8, 2008
Read this book. Didn't like the plot. Gave it away. Typical Max Payne stuff. And to come to think of it, Max Payne was more interesting then this! You can try, but I wouldn't recommend it.
March 22, 2021
The Hundredth Man by Jack Kerley takes readers to Mobile, Alabama in this police procedural. It is the first read of a multi book series that contains more than a dozen novels. This is a good read that is graphic, at times, and not for those who prefer a traditional cozy style read.
Detective Harry Nautilus and Detective Carson Ryder have a bit of a reputation thanks to the media coverage regarding a recent case. This means that there are many in the department who do not like either one of them. That includes Captain Terrence Squill who is angling to be the next police chief as rumors abound that Chief Hyrum is about to take early retirement.
They and a couple of specialists are part of Chief Hyrum's new project, the “Psychopathological and Sociopathological Investigative Team” referenced by the unfortunate moniker, PSIT. While Homicide Detectives Nautilus and Ryder are assigned to the first district in the city of Mobile, any case that is under the purview of PS11 becomes their case no matter where it occurs. A body missing the head could fit their mandate and would be their first case under the program.
A headless body on the southwest side of the city is their callout this night. Besides missing the head, the dressed male body has been posed a certain way so that he could be found quickly. It is only later when the body is nude at the morgue that it is discovered that there is writing on the body. Two horizontal lines of words that are a message from the killer.
It will not be the last message sent.
While the case is the major storyline, there are a lot of other storylines in the complex read. A book that uses politics, personal relationships, as well as several classic crime fiction tropes (veteran detective partnered with a rookie detective, a grandstanding and massively incompetent boss, hatred of the FBI by locals, etc.) to create the start of a multi book series. Written by a former advertising executive, it seems occasionally as the author did a survey of what worked for other authors and threw those pieces in here.
Of course, how he mixed those pieces together defines his book. The Hundredth Man by Jack Kerley is a solidly good read. Just don't be surprised if now and then you read something and it reminds you of another crime fiction or police procedural. Billed as a psychological thriller, the read is more of a police procedural than anything, though it does contain elements of other genres.
The next book in the series, The Death Collectors, is on hold for me at the library.
The Hundredth Man
Jack Kerley
http://www.jackkerley.com/
Dutton (Penguin Group)
https://www.penguin.com/publishers/du...
June 2004
ISBN# 0-525-94821-X
Hardback (also available in audio, eBook, and paperback formats)
314 Pages
My read came from the Downtown Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2021
Detective Harry Nautilus and Detective Carson Ryder have a bit of a reputation thanks to the media coverage regarding a recent case. This means that there are many in the department who do not like either one of them. That includes Captain Terrence Squill who is angling to be the next police chief as rumors abound that Chief Hyrum is about to take early retirement.
They and a couple of specialists are part of Chief Hyrum's new project, the “Psychopathological and Sociopathological Investigative Team” referenced by the unfortunate moniker, PSIT. While Homicide Detectives Nautilus and Ryder are assigned to the first district in the city of Mobile, any case that is under the purview of PS11 becomes their case no matter where it occurs. A body missing the head could fit their mandate and would be their first case under the program.
A headless body on the southwest side of the city is their callout this night. Besides missing the head, the dressed male body has been posed a certain way so that he could be found quickly. It is only later when the body is nude at the morgue that it is discovered that there is writing on the body. Two horizontal lines of words that are a message from the killer.
It will not be the last message sent.
While the case is the major storyline, there are a lot of other storylines in the complex read. A book that uses politics, personal relationships, as well as several classic crime fiction tropes (veteran detective partnered with a rookie detective, a grandstanding and massively incompetent boss, hatred of the FBI by locals, etc.) to create the start of a multi book series. Written by a former advertising executive, it seems occasionally as the author did a survey of what worked for other authors and threw those pieces in here.
Of course, how he mixed those pieces together defines his book. The Hundredth Man by Jack Kerley is a solidly good read. Just don't be surprised if now and then you read something and it reminds you of another crime fiction or police procedural. Billed as a psychological thriller, the read is more of a police procedural than anything, though it does contain elements of other genres.
The next book in the series, The Death Collectors, is on hold for me at the library.
The Hundredth Man
Jack Kerley
http://www.jackkerley.com/
Dutton (Penguin Group)
https://www.penguin.com/publishers/du...
June 2004
ISBN# 0-525-94821-X
Hardback (also available in audio, eBook, and paperback formats)
314 Pages
My read came from the Downtown Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2021
February 8, 2021
This book was a solid 3.5 stars for me, rounded up rather than down because much of the writing was good, and the semi-complex plot was handled well. Kerley didn't show mastery of dialogue in this book, but I hope it's something that improves through this 13- book series.
I didn't buy into some portions of the story, but overall it was believable. Protagonist Carson Ryder has an interesting family history and an even more interesting elder brother. A character that received little attention, Ryder's detective partner Harry Nautilus, is an interesting man and even more integral to the investigation than he seems to get credit for.
I'll read the next couple of books in the series before I make up my mind whether this one is worth reading through the entire series or not. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I didn't buy into some portions of the story, but overall it was believable. Protagonist Carson Ryder has an interesting family history and an even more interesting elder brother. A character that received little attention, Ryder's detective partner Harry Nautilus, is an interesting man and even more integral to the investigation than he seems to get credit for.
I'll read the next couple of books in the series before I make up my mind whether this one is worth reading through the entire series or not. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
May 15, 2024
First time reading this author, I saw good reviews of this book and thought I’d give it a try. The book was good and interesting, though sometimes it was a bit slow going. I got so irritated at all the political BS that was obstructing a very good police investigation into a serial killer.
The ending was very tense and exciting and I was glad to see everyone got what they deserved.
I will definitely be reading more of the Carson Ryder series.
The ending was very tense and exciting and I was glad to see everyone got what they deserved.
I will definitely be reading more of the Carson Ryder series.
July 20, 2019
Ми... не е шедьовър, ама става за убиване на времето.
July 14, 2024
A decent read. The pacing of the story kept me hooked and keen to read another chapter.
Key characters were well-developed and left with enough to learn that would warrant reading further into the series. Others were a little too convenient to fulfil exactly what the main character needed at that moment.
Some parts of the story felt a little forced, and it was a bit more gruesome than what I usually read.
Overall it's a solid introduction to a series that I may or may not pursue.
Key characters were well-developed and left with enough to learn that would warrant reading further into the series. Others were a little too convenient to fulfil exactly what the main character needed at that moment.
Some parts of the story felt a little forced, and it was a bit more gruesome than what I usually read.
Overall it's a solid introduction to a series that I may or may not pursue.
May 5, 2021
It was ok.
I kept finding myself distracted and not understanding some parts of the dialogue.
It was also quite forgettable after a while.
Overall, might give the series another try as the reviews say it does get better.
I kept finding myself distracted and not understanding some parts of the dialogue.
It was also quite forgettable after a while.
Overall, might give the series another try as the reviews say it does get better.
February 3, 2015
For those of you who enjoy crime but, like me get irritated by the ‘hard-boiled’ style that reads like a police report – this is the one for you. Set in Mobile, Alabama, Kerley’s use of imagery is stunning.
“The morning smelled pure enough to drink when we awakened at dawn. The storm slipped north around 3:00 a.m., the only relics of its passing were breeze in the sea grasses and the pockmark stippling of the sand.”
This book has a fantastic concept. Who doesn’t want to read about a wholesome Southern detective with a psychopathic brother? On that note, the highlight the book was the first phone call from Carson’s brother, Jeremy. The use of capitalisation and downright nonsensical speech jolts the narrative out of the realms of ordinary. I particularly liked Carson’s shell-shocked responses, which I found strangely heart-breaking.
“Jeremy, will you please stop-“
In the background I heard a door opening, followed by scuffling and a man cursing. My caller screamed, “NO! GO AWAY. It’s a PERSONAL CALL! I’m talking to MY PAST!”
Carson Ryder is tough, don’t get me wrong, but he breaks the mould of brawny cop by participating in meditation and holding a master’s degree in psychology. Both of these welcome elements of character went a long way to winning this crime novel cynic over!
“Once home, I lit some candles, sat cross-legged on my couch, and did the deep-breathing exercises recommended by Akini Tabreese, good friend and martial artist.”
Furthermore, the relationship between Carson and his partner, Harry, didn’t stray too far into Batman and Robin territory. In fact, the tone was of mutual respect, caring and true partnership.
“Harry put his hands on his knees and pushed slowly erect, like hoisting a bag of concrete on his shoulders. “All I’m saying, Cars, is that you did a helluva job on the Adrian case, but it did a helluva job on you too. Just keep me in the loop, let me know what you’re thinking. It’s always good to bounce stuff off your partner, right?” He pointed to his head. “Gets lonely in there sometimes, Cars. People make fast decisions, don’t let anyone in on them.””
Perhaps most surprisingly, the issue of alcoholism is dealt with in a lot of detail. Again, we some mould breaking writing here as the person suffering from alcoholism is the person you would least expect.
In summary, this is quite different but if you like a more hard-boiled style it may not be for you. Personally, I loved it and will be reading more from this author.
“The morning smelled pure enough to drink when we awakened at dawn. The storm slipped north around 3:00 a.m., the only relics of its passing were breeze in the sea grasses and the pockmark stippling of the sand.”
This book has a fantastic concept. Who doesn’t want to read about a wholesome Southern detective with a psychopathic brother? On that note, the highlight the book was the first phone call from Carson’s brother, Jeremy. The use of capitalisation and downright nonsensical speech jolts the narrative out of the realms of ordinary. I particularly liked Carson’s shell-shocked responses, which I found strangely heart-breaking.
“Jeremy, will you please stop-“
In the background I heard a door opening, followed by scuffling and a man cursing. My caller screamed, “NO! GO AWAY. It’s a PERSONAL CALL! I’m talking to MY PAST!”
Carson Ryder is tough, don’t get me wrong, but he breaks the mould of brawny cop by participating in meditation and holding a master’s degree in psychology. Both of these welcome elements of character went a long way to winning this crime novel cynic over!
“Once home, I lit some candles, sat cross-legged on my couch, and did the deep-breathing exercises recommended by Akini Tabreese, good friend and martial artist.”
Furthermore, the relationship between Carson and his partner, Harry, didn’t stray too far into Batman and Robin territory. In fact, the tone was of mutual respect, caring and true partnership.
“Harry put his hands on his knees and pushed slowly erect, like hoisting a bag of concrete on his shoulders. “All I’m saying, Cars, is that you did a helluva job on the Adrian case, but it did a helluva job on you too. Just keep me in the loop, let me know what you’re thinking. It’s always good to bounce stuff off your partner, right?” He pointed to his head. “Gets lonely in there sometimes, Cars. People make fast decisions, don’t let anyone in on them.””
Perhaps most surprisingly, the issue of alcoholism is dealt with in a lot of detail. Again, we some mould breaking writing here as the person suffering from alcoholism is the person you would least expect.
In summary, this is quite different but if you like a more hard-boiled style it may not be for you. Personally, I loved it and will be reading more from this author.
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