“The Killer
His most valuable possession has been stolen.
Now he must retrieve it, at any cost.

The Girl
Angela Wood wanted to teach the man a lesson. It was a bag, just like any other.
But when she opens it, the worst nightmare of her life begins.

The Detective
A journal ends up on Robert Hunter’s desk. It soon becomes clear that there is a serial killer on the loose.
And if Hunter can’t stop him in time, more people will die.
Starting with Angela.

If you have read it
You must die”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of Written in Blood by Chris Carter. Written in Blood was published by Simon & Schuster on 4th February 2021 and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio and digital formats.

Last September I wrote a Top Ten Tuesday post featuring books by some of my favourite authors that I still needed to read. On that list, there were three police procedural-esque series that I have fallen a little behind with: Michael Wood’s DCI Matilda Darke series (fully up to date now!), Robert Bryndza’s Kate Marshall series (actually, this one was more about reading Kate’s origin story than catching up, but that’s for another time) and Chris Carter’s Robert Hunter series.

Written in Blood is the eleventh book in Carter’s hugely popular and thrilling LA-based cop series. Robert Hunter is a highly intelligent, driven and determined detective with the LA Ultra Violent Crimes Unit. He works alongside his partner, Carlos Garcia, seeking out the most despicable, the most deranged killers that Los Angeles has to offer. And it seems LA has quite a few to offer! When Angela, a professional pick-pocket, chooses the wrong mark, she ends up with a notebook of horror. The pages detail brutal, gruesome killings, often with photos, and Angela knows she can’t just throw the journal in the trash. Despite not being a fan of the police, this HAS to be reported. So she hands the repulsive object to someone who can actually deal with its contents. The journal eventually makes its way to Hunter and Garcia, who know they have a race against time to find the journal’s creator before they kill again. But the killer only has eyes for one person. Angela, the woman who stole the journal in the first place…

You can always guarantee an entertaining read with a Chris Carter novel, and Written in Blood is no exception. Hunter and Garcia know that time is tight. This is a sadistic killer who needs to be found before they can commit more atrocities. But with nothing to go on, where, in a city like Los Angeles, do you start looking? Employing all manner of forensics to delve into the journal’s secrets, using high-quality tech and being a little devious doesn’t really help the team move forward with catching the killer. The killer is meticulous and always three steps ahead of the cops, which makes for a high-octane, thrilling read from start to finish. Just as I’ve come to expect from this author.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. Written in Blood is a well-paced, full-on crime thriller that will have you turning the pages at the speed of light! Keen to discover whether Hunter and Garcia have finally met their match. It’s dark, disturbing and goes places other crime writers fear to tread. Which is why I think this author is so popular! I do love this series. I am ashamed I’ve fallen behind with the books but it is one of my missions this year to get up to date with the series again. Here comes my unpopular opinion. I would love to see a little more character development in the two main leads. I don’t think they’ve changed or grown as people a lot since the first book in the series, and a shedload of horrible, traumatic stuff has happened in that time, both to them and around them. Please don’t get me wrong, this author tells a GREAT tale. The storytelling is superb; it’s imaginative and propulsive. But I would love a little more character development. Perhaps that’s just me though. A Chris Carter novel, for me, is like a dark comfort blanket. I go back to these books time and time again because I know they will deliver on plot and pace, with every second of my reading experience being thoroughly entertaining. If you’ve got a strong stomach, you can’t go wrong with a Chris Carter novel. Recommended.

Written in Blood by Chris Carter was published in the UK by Simon & Schuster on 4th February 2021 and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

Born in Brazil of Italian origin, Chris Carter studied psychology and criminal behaviour at the University of Michigan. As a member of the Michigan State District Attorney’s Criminal Psychology team, he interviewed and studied many criminals, including serial and multiple homicide offenders with life imprisonment convictions. He now lives in London.