The Hundredth Man

Rating:
Summary: hard-boiled thriller
Review: Carson Ryder is a homicide detective of the Mobile Police force. When headless corpses start to turn up he and his partner Harry Nautilus try to solve the case despite the tremendous opposition provided by an ambitious superior. And in the meantime Carson also tries to save a boozing pathologist from becoming fired. Carson has a secret and it is through this secret that he may (or may not) be capable of solving the murders. But there is no such thing as a free lunch, so Carson will have to pay for the information and how far is one willing to go to find a serial killer?

This is quite an enjoyable read, even though the "hard-boiled" language is now and then quite over the top and it is questionable whether in real life a superior would be willing to oppose the detective work as much as implied in this book and whether one would be willing to transport a knife by sticking it into one's leg... But not at all bad for a debut thriller.

Rating:
Summary: An easy read first novel
Review: I'm not sure if it's been mentioned but the MAJORITY of reviewers of The Hundredth Man, but most are probably reviewing the free pre release copy (not completely edited, etc) received from the publisher, as I am.
The book has flaws that I bet disappear when the book gets edited (like hiding the knife "in his thigh" as reported in an earlier review). For the most part, the book was entertaining, the character development interesting although at an early stage , as one might suspect in a first novel.
Overall, I'll read more books by Jack Kerley when they are published. I believe this series will develop into a very good one.
John Row

Rating:
Summary: An Outstanding Debut Novel
Review: It is a point of interest that a number of advertising writers have gravitated toward the suspense fiction genre. James Patterson is probably the best known of these; Don Bruns is another. We can now add Jack Kerley to the list with THE HUNDREDTH MAN. Kerley, a resident of the formerly notorious Newport, Kentucky, has worked on a number of advertising projects throughout the world. It is only fitting, then, that his debut novel is attracting worldwide attention as well.

The voice of THE HUNDREDTH MAN, as well as the subject of the title, is Carson Ryder, a Mobile, Alabama homicide detective who is one-half of a salt and pepper team making up the Psychopathological and Sociopathological Investigative Team, or PSIT. PSIT is a unit created to investigate freakish homicides. Given a choice between groping around for something in the dark or finding it easily in the light, 99 people out of 100 will choose the light; Ryder is the hundredth man. The other half of the team, Harry Nautilus, is the more experienced and, in some areas, the more reasonable of the two. The men balance each other nicely, with Ryder's keen powers of observation and deduction --- and something else --- supplementing Nautilus's ability to pilot the team through the Byzantine-like bureaucracy of the Mobile Police Department.

When a killer begins to leave headless corpses around the Mobile area, it seems to be precisely the situation for which PSIT was brought into existence. However, the team becomes hamstrung early on by Terrence Squill, a Birmingham police captain who never makes a move without checking to see which way the political wind is blowing and who regards PSIT as a public relations window dressing for the police department and nothing else. As Ryder and Nautilus investigate the killings, often clandestinely to avoid insubordination, they soon discover that the trail of bodies seems to lead back to their own police department. Ryder's relationship with Ava Davenelle, a forensic specialist with the Mobile coroner's office, who has a couple of demons riding on her back, doesn't help matters for Ryder, either.

The most bizarre aspect of THE HUNDREDTH MAN is Jeremy, Ryder's older brother. Jeremy took the brunt of their father's sadistic treatment during their childhood; now, damaged irreparably, he is both mentor and tormentor to his younger brother. Jeremy has some unique insight into the PSIT cases since he is himself a serial murderer, and his ability to understand the workings of the depraved mind can be of tremendous benefit to Ryder. There is, however, a terrible price that Ryder must pay.

Kerley writes of the Mobile, Alabama area with great authority, paying some tribute to the sometimes uneasy mix of the rural South and nouveau Cosmopolitan aspects of the area that make it a bit more unique than one who knew the region only by reputation would expect. The basics of the story are all too universal, however. It struck me at one point that Kerley could have set this story anywhere --- somewhere else in the United States, Paris, Moscow, I mean anywhere --- and its interblending of family tragedy, the rough politics of the bureaucracy, and the tentative dance between man and woman would still shine through. This explains, in part, why this fine work is scheduled for eight foreign translations, as well as a film treatment. Let us hope and pray for more from Kerley and Ryder, and more translations.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Rating:
Summary: Crazy Fast Pace........true "classic" potential
Review: Jack Kerley jumps into his story with all the style and wicked grace of the classic detective novel authors!! The action is fast paced, the dialogue is rapid fire, the characters are twisted and intriguing and the story is gripping!!
A young detective, Carson Ryder, trying to overcome his past, uses unconventional methods to pry into the minds of psychologically damaged criminals and sociopaths. When headless corpses turn up and he and his partner, Harry Nautilus' skills are needed, they run the risk of being derailed by a political circus that has developed in the police department. There is also a young woman working her way towards a promising future as a medical examiner, but ghosts of her past haunt her and she must make some important choices and in the middle of a critical investigation Carson feels an obligation to help her.
The crimes are vicious yet clean, the killer is amazingly calm and cool, yet so totally unhinged you cannot imagine how he manages to function. Allegations swirl like thick fog over everyone who becomes involved with this investigation.
This is an astounding first novel that is both horrifying and intriguing and holds the promise of more great things to come from Jack Kerley, an author to watch (and read!!)

Rating:
Summary: The Hundredth Man
Review: The Hundredth Man, by Jack Kerley, is a fast paced thriller: Carson Ryder, a detective working serial killer cases in Mobile, Alabama, is challenged to solve the unsolveable. Kerley's debut is a work of art; he toiled to perfect his craft. The twists, turns, and well written prose were crafted as a gift to the reader; Jack Kerley's no slacker. Kerley's talent lies in making the reader feel like a plot participant--can't wait to curl up with another Kerley novel. I caught his short story, "Almost There," featured in the spring 2004 issue of Southern Review, good example of his depth. David Baldacci said it best--Kerley's a writer to watch . . . and read. My vote is five stars for this talented and remarkable debut, keep up the good work!

Rating:
Summary: Best book I've read in a while
Review: This book reminds me of an early Patricia Cornwell-only better actually. I thought it was great and I will be buying Kerley's next book as soon as it comes out. He's on my hardback list now!

Rating:
Summary: Amazing book, can't wait for the movie!
Review: This is the best pschological thriller books I have read in the last few years. Not since Silence of the Lambs have I been so freaked out by an psychopathic serial killer. The pacing, the suspense - this is class act! I can't wait for the next book. And I hear this book will be a movie soon!