Book Review: The Hundredth Man

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Hundredth Man     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Jack Kerley
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Psychological Suspense   Serial Killer   Police Procedural
Series: Detectives Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus # 1
Dutton, June 2004, $23.95, 320 pp.

It was his first autopsy as a pathologist for the mobile Alabama police department and it went well until he found an object in the victim’s anus that exploded and destroyed his hand. The head pathologist hires Dr. Ava Davenelle as his replacement and Detective Carson Ryder who is observing the autopsy is almost immediately smitten. The case Carson is working on involves a victim with his head surgically removed from his body in almost perfect condition except for the knife wounds that that the killer inflicted.

Ava finds writings on the public area of the body and Carson thinks they are dealing with a sociopath personality. A special unit was formed to deal with killers like that with Carson and his partner heading up the unit but police politics push them into a lesser role. Two more decapitated victims are found, also with bizarre writing on their torso. Carson finally takes Ava on a date but she passes out from to much alcohol. He uses his connections to help her fight the disease while looking for a killer who will strike again and this time the victim could be someone he knows.

Jack Kerley’s debut novel is an exciting serial killer thriller that is on a par with the likes of Thomas Harris and Patricia Cornwell. The protagonist comes from a dysfunctional background and has his own demons to fight but that doesn’t stop him from being an expert detective with an intuitive sense that helps him solve cases. Readers will enjoy the expert pacing, brilliant characterizations and believable action scenes of THE HUNDREDTH MAN.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner