Book 79: Girl 4 by Will Carver
Book 79: Girl 4 January David #1).
Author: Will Carver, 2011.
Genre: Crime Fiction. Thriller. Police procedural. Some paranormal themes.
Other Details: Paperback. 354 pages.
Detective Inspector January David has always put his professional before his private life, but the two worlds are about to clash horrifically as he visits his latest crime scene. He is confronted by a lifeless figure suspended ten feet above a theatre stage, blood pouring from her face into a coffin below. This gruesome execution is the work of an elusive serial killer. Three women from three different London suburbs, each murdered with elaborate and chilling precision. And as January stares at the most beautiful corpse he's ever seen, he detects the killer's hallmark. But Girl 4 is different: she is alive - barely. And January recognises her.. synopsis from author's web site.
This is a hard novel to classify as while it is a gripping and often gory crime thriller, the way it has been written is quite unusual bringing a unique perspective to the narrative.
Its short chapters are narrated by individual characters: January David, the London Detective Inspector in charge of the case, the killer, and each of his victims. What is different is that the victims dispassionately relate the events before, during and after their murders. In addition, January inherited from his mother the gift/curse of having the occasional pre-cognitive dream, which is something he has tried to deny all this life. So without being an out & out supernatural thriller, the introduction of these elements marked it out from others in the crime/thriller genre.
The plot is full of enough twists and turns to keep even the most dedicated crime buff on tenterhooks and the ending just blew me away. I was so pleased to read that this is the start of a series.