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mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
2.0
I loved the first few Chris Carter novels, but my enjoyment has gradually been dwindling book by book. Like all my enjoyment has been exsanguinated from my body by a catheter in my Iliac vein. In fact, I really hated 'The Caller' finding it both poorly written and poorly edited. I vowed never to buy a Chris Carter novel again, but naturally I did because I am what Hunter would call a 'sadist'.
I have to start by saying that 'Gallery of the Dead' was far better than I thought it would be based on the last novel. Some of my criticisms from 'The Caller' had been much improved in this novel, and I felt that both the writing style and the actual plot as a whole were better formed. However - come on, you knew there was going to be a however - there were still some elements that just lacked for me, and while I read it in a day, I wouldn't say that I loved it as much I did say, 'The Executioner' or 'The Night Stalker'.
This series is great for readers who dip into the series without reading in order, because there is little character development and they never recap or spoiler previous novels. But for someone like me, who read them as they were released, there is very little progression and it is now starting to border on repetitive and - dare I say - boring.
I would like to see more of Garcia and Anna and how his job impacts his home life. I want to understand Hunter personally, because he does come across as quite cold. I am tired of just reading about his love of whiskey and reading and I'm tired - no pun intended - of hearing about his insomnia. These seem to be the only defining elements of Hunter as a character, and I am ready to see more.
I liked that there were some brief slashes of personality during his scenes with Tracy in this novel, and I hope that this will be developed further in the future.
Plot-wise I felt that this was a fairly strong novel. Carter never just writes your standard killer with a simple M.O. after all, this is what makes him unique, and I enjoyed the to and fro of ideas and progression as they tried to catch the guy. Is it a bit boring that all of the killers are always geniuses that we have never heard of throughout the entire book? Yes.There were more red herrings and far more foreshadowing in this novel than other recent ones in the series, so we weren't being spoon fed all of time which was pleasing.
I also enjoyed the introduction of Fisher and Williams to the plot because it gave extra voices. They had their own stories and personalities and it broke up the tedium of just dealing with Garcia and Hunter throughout. Unfortunately Williams was bit of a wet blanket and Fisher was like a parody of a tough-female-FBI agent with a hard past and a competitive edge, but again, I managed to cope with them.
I was pleased that Carter let Garcia, Fisher and Williams lead some elements of the explanation/investigation rather than relying on super-genius and omnipotent Hunter all the time. Though Hunter did impress, I felt that Garcia didn't come across as badly as he did in 'The Caller' where all he did was blink at Hunter like a forgetful fish.
I much preferred the conversations that had give and take, where Hunter made an observation but one of the others understood and developed it. It made it feel less like I was getting a monologue lecture which Carter has a habit of descending into. I have always felt that while the supporting characters do not have Hunter's intelligence, they are still high ranking officials in either the police or FBI. Yet they are often portrayed as being idiots so that Hunter can explain his concepts. I know that this is because Carter needs a way to explain to the reader, but I'm not all that dumb either. I can grasp the theories without needing pages of explanation. I felt that this was better in this novel than novels of past, but still evident. Blake just comes across like a ball-busting, paper-pusher who can't grasp a thing outside of basic police work. Honestly, there were some points where they were explaining things to her and she was getting all worked up and confused and I just thought, how have you made it this far in your career when you don't seem able to breath and blink at the same time?
Other minor gripes: I hated the dialogue. It felt stilted and wooden and some exchanges were so entirely pointless to the plot that they should have been removed. Characters are constantly talking to themselves which bugs me because we are from their POV anyway, so I can read their thoughts, I don't need them to be verbalised.
I hated the constant bitching between Fisher and Garcia. Fisher was a parody of a tough/competitive FBI agent who looked down at police officers and whose bark and bite were equally as bad and without thought. The fact that she was also led by the journalist and couldn't seem to fathom that her technique hadn't worked, the fact that she then went into a press conference and pissed off the killer… she was so, well, shit. She was shit at her job and not a very nice character. The fact that her and Garcia kept snapping at one another like they were in a playground comparing dicks just really annoyed me. They're adults and high ranking law enforcement officers as well and yet their behaviour to me just felt forced for the sake of drama.
Minor minor gripe: I also found a spelling mistake in this book as well. Alright, 'The Caller' was riddled with them, but still. Edit. Proofread. Etc.
Honestly, after 'The Caller' I was dreading this book a bit because I want so desperately to love them. I read this novel in one sitting and I have to say that I didn't want to stop at any point, but there were elements that did really grate on me. I wish that Carter would shake up the safe formula a bit. Maybe have a killer who is just loopy rather than genius. Maybe spend some time with Garcia and Anna or to push Hunter personally. I would say that this was a better read than expected and for the most part I 'enjoyed' it, but it still wasn't up there with the best.
I have to start by saying that 'Gallery of the Dead' was far better than I thought it would be based on the last novel. Some of my criticisms from 'The Caller' had been much improved in this novel, and I felt that both the writing style and the actual plot as a whole were better formed. However - come on, you knew there was going to be a however - there were still some elements that just lacked for me, and while I read it in a day, I wouldn't say that I loved it as much I did say, 'The Executioner' or 'The Night Stalker'.
This series is great for readers who dip into the series without reading in order, because there is little character development and they never recap or spoiler previous novels. But for someone like me, who read them as they were released, there is very little progression and it is now starting to border on repetitive and - dare I say - boring.
I would like to see more of Garcia and Anna and how his job impacts his home life. I want to understand Hunter personally, because he does come across as quite cold. I am tired of just reading about his love of whiskey and reading and I'm tired - no pun intended - of hearing about his insomnia. These seem to be the only defining elements of Hunter as a character, and I am ready to see more.
I liked that there were some brief slashes of personality during his scenes with Tracy in this novel, and I hope that this will be developed further in the future.
Plot-wise I felt that this was a fairly strong novel. Carter never just writes your standard killer with a simple M.O. after all, this is what makes him unique, and I enjoyed the to and fro of ideas and progression as they tried to catch the guy. Is it a bit boring that all of the killers are always geniuses that we have never heard of throughout the entire book? Yes.
Spoiler
I do read crime novels to try and work out who the killer is, and it does irritate me when Carter removes my requirement to think by making the killer a random guy that has never been mentioned before. But still.Spoiler
I saw the nameless 'Girl' connection almost immediately but it didn't ruin the impact of this twist. I felt that this storyline added a much needed element of emotion into the novel and made for a big ending, which I hadn't been expecting.I also enjoyed the introduction of Fisher and Williams to the plot because it gave extra voices. They had their own stories and personalities and it broke up the tedium of just dealing with Garcia and Hunter throughout. Unfortunately Williams was bit of a wet blanket and Fisher was like a parody of a tough-female-FBI agent with a hard past and a competitive edge, but again, I managed to cope with them.
I was pleased that Carter let Garcia, Fisher and Williams lead some elements of the explanation/investigation rather than relying on super-genius and omnipotent Hunter all the time. Though Hunter did impress, I felt that Garcia didn't come across as badly as he did in 'The Caller' where all he did was blink at Hunter like a forgetful fish.
I much preferred the conversations that had give and take, where Hunter made an observation but one of the others understood and developed it. It made it feel less like I was getting a monologue lecture which Carter has a habit of descending into. I have always felt that while the supporting characters do not have Hunter's intelligence, they are still high ranking officials in either the police or FBI. Yet they are often portrayed as being idiots so that Hunter can explain his concepts. I know that this is because Carter needs a way to explain to the reader, but I'm not all that dumb either. I can grasp the theories without needing pages of explanation. I felt that this was better in this novel than novels of past, but still evident. Blake just comes across like a ball-busting, paper-pusher who can't grasp a thing outside of basic police work. Honestly, there were some points where they were explaining things to her and she was getting all worked up and confused and I just thought, how have you made it this far in your career when you don't seem able to breath and blink at the same time?
Other minor gripes: I hated the dialogue. It felt stilted and wooden and some exchanges were so entirely pointless to the plot that they should have been removed. Characters are constantly talking to themselves which bugs me because we are from their POV anyway, so I can read their thoughts, I don't need them to be verbalised.
I hated the constant bitching between Fisher and Garcia. Fisher was a parody of a tough/competitive FBI agent who looked down at police officers and whose bark and bite were equally as bad and without thought. The fact that she was also led by the journalist and couldn't seem to fathom that her technique hadn't worked, the fact that she then went into a press conference and pissed off the killer… she was so, well, shit. She was shit at her job and not a very nice character. The fact that her and Garcia kept snapping at one another like they were in a playground comparing dicks just really annoyed me. They're adults and high ranking law enforcement officers as well and yet their behaviour to me just felt forced for the sake of drama.
Minor minor gripe: I also found a spelling mistake in this book as well. Alright, 'The Caller' was riddled with them, but still. Edit. Proofread. Etc.
Honestly, after 'The Caller' I was dreading this book a bit because I want so desperately to love them. I read this novel in one sitting and I have to say that I didn't want to stop at any point, but there were elements that did really grate on me. I wish that Carter would shake up the safe formula a bit. Maybe have a killer who is just loopy rather than genius. Maybe spend some time with Garcia and Anna or to push Hunter personally. I would say that this was a better read than expected and for the most part I 'enjoyed' it, but it still wasn't up there with the best.
jessica_reading_writing's review against another edition
5.0
Overview: Okay, I know I've been reading a lot of CC lately. I'm having a break for a bit now before I read the last 3! This book was...crazy. I mean, all his books are crazy but this one was...even crazier. And that's a good thing. While the revelation of the killer didn't blow me away, the way Hunter and Garcia solved the case and found out the clues I found fascinating. Also...the banter between Garcia and the FBI agent (I forget her name) was so bloody funny
zoer03's review against another edition
5.0
Wow wow wow.... what can I say.... mind = blown. It has everything... twists, turns, thrills, gore and yes humour... mordant humour but at the right time... tension between different the police and FBI and just everything you want.... oh and a really creepy clever killer. 10 stars
beccajbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This was fantastic! Perfect Chris Carter, at his very best.
Really enjoyed the chase and then the twists too. Fabulously gory and depraved, the bad guy was suitably bad and the good guys were, of course, nuanced and complex.
This is great for fans of serial killer thrillers, fans of this series especially, and anyone wanting a gruesome read with plenty of plot too.
Really enjoyed the chase and then the twists too. Fabulously gory and depraved, the bad guy was suitably bad and the good guys were, of course, nuanced and complex.
This is great for fans of serial killer thrillers, fans of this series especially, and anyone wanting a gruesome read with plenty of plot too.
corruptedminds's review against another edition
3.0
This series suffers from a severe lack of editing.
The writing seems amateurish -
The first few books had Hunter using the word "ain't" repeatedly.. Not something you'd expect from the character. By book 3, the writing was getting better, the plots were still fun, and the violence was still horrifying.... They were more enjoyable binge reads.
But now, this latest book requires more editing too - as others have mentioned, the tone can be patronizing and there's way too much exposition.
The writing seems amateurish -
The first few books had Hunter using the word "ain't" repeatedly.. Not something you'd expect from the character. By book 3, the writing was getting better, the plots were still fun, and the violence was still horrifying.... They were more enjoyable binge reads.
But now, this latest book requires more editing too - as others have mentioned, the tone can be patronizing and there's way too much exposition.
bethlovescake's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
remi_san's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Agent fisher was just a b***h. So ego inflated and just put a red carpet to the killer and invited home.
Hated her until the last
Hated her until the last
beckyyreadss's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I wanted to read this book as the first book was recommended to me by a friend and I instantly loved this series. Some of the books in this series still makes my skin crawl to this day. So, I am always looking forward to the next book in this series and Chris Carter manages to creep me out every single time.
The main character in this book and series is a detective named Robert Hunter. He has got a new case and him and his partner Garcia has arrived at one of the most shocking crime scenes they have ever attended. In a completely unexpected turn of events, the detectives find themselves joining forces with the FBI to track down a serial killer whose hunting ground sees no borders; a psychopath who loves what he does because to him murder is much more than just killing, it’s an art form. Welcome to the Gallery of the Dead.
The thing that gets me every time is Chris Carter manages to freak me the fuck out every time, within every single book. Enough to the point where I can’t sleep. Thie mystery and the suspense is brilliant and enough to keep you hooked and you shouldn’t be because it is disturbing but I couldn’t put it down. I was on edge and as frustrated as Robert Hunter to get this case closed. The way that both detectives were close to giving up hurt my heart. Also, I love the fact that the Robert is finally starting to be happy with Tracy and I swear if anything happens to Tracy or Garcia, I'm going to lose it. Let them be happy. The plot twist of this book when we found out who the Surgeon was had me kicking my feet because I was annoyed that I didn’t manage to guess who it was as we never actually met him within the book, it just happened, and they managed to push him aside. I love that Garcia had a shotgun in the car and that he was smart enough to bring a vest.
Only thing I would say is a weakness, for me personally, is the short chapters. I just prefer bigger chapters. However, in this book it did fit well with Chris Carter’s writing style where it doesn’t work for me usually. I was hooked that after a while the short chapters didn’t bother me as they usually work with other authors.
Overall, the book was an easy and quick read and because the writing was amazing, the storyline gives me the creeps and it was overall brilliant I gave it four stars. I cannot wait for the next book in the series and see how much Lucian is going to cause so much trouble and how much Garcia is going to want to get him as well as Robert.
Overall, the book was an easy and quick read and because the writing was amazing, the storyline gives me the creeps and it was overall brilliant I gave it four stars. I cannot wait for the next book in the series and see how much Lucian is going to cause so much trouble and how much Garcia is going to want to get him as well as Robert.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Sexism