Customer Reviews

Headhunter

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A killer is stalking the rainy streets of Vancouver, taking the lives of young women and leaving their heads behind. Heads turn up everywhere -- floating downriver, buried in shallow graves, even nailed to the top of a totem pole on campus of the University of British Columbia. Among the victims are a young drug addict, a collegian, and a nun.

It's hysteria time. The RCMP launches a massive investigation, summoning up their crack detective, Robert LeClercq, to head a special investigation force. But as LeClercq tries to get inside the murderer's head, he realizes there is a diabolical depravity operating here that he cannot hope to understand.

The book winds and meanders its way from the Canadian Northwest to the jungles of Ecuador and back via New Orleans, and while the plot sometimes becomes so convoluted that it seems to be getting hopelessly entangled, it always gets back on track in time. This is a book for strong stomachs; there is some downright sickening stuff in here, but it doesn't overwhelm the narrative. And up to the very last page, the reader will never, ever, guess whodunit.

Michael Slade's "Headhunter"--originally published in 1984--is a thrill seeker's wet dream: a dark, brooding, visceral offering of psychological suspense that also functions splendidly as a mystery, yet--with its sudden jolts of brutally graphic violence and grisly descriptions of traumatized bodies--is also unafraid to revel in the conventions of the horror genre. As a high school sophomore in 1985, I clearly remember being drawn to "Headhunter"'s lurid cover art (later toned down for subsequent printings), and I quickly devoured the story hidden beneath that leering, hate-filled death mask. Of course, I have been settling down with Slade consistently over the past twenty years (he released his tenth novel "Bed of Nails" in 2003), but "Headhunter" remains the benchmark by which I measure all of his work. And having recently re-read the complete text, I can easily say that none of the powerful imagery has diminished over the years; in fact, I found it so absorbing and provocative that it was like reading it for the first time. Now an adult, I am able to fully appreciate all of the elements that mesh together so well to make "Headhunter" one of the most accomplished thrillers in contemporary fiction. Slade (a pseudonym for retired lawyer Jay Clarke and his daughter Rebecca) is, in my humble opinion, criminally overlooked by American audiences (though celebrated in his native Canada), so I decided to write a review I hope will pull more of you into his nightmarish universe of sex, death, and psychosis. Potential readers should also note that Slade's characters (mostly detectives, pathologists, and forensics experts) are recurring throughout all ten novels in his body of work, so if you enjoy "Headhunter," you can look forward to seeing them again in later works--of course, this applies only to those who survive!

Now on to the story: It is October 1982 in the beautiful but cold city of Vancouver, and a homicidal maniac is on the loose. With two unspeakably mutilated bodies discovered--and linked by the same weapon--the Royal Canadian Mounted Police must admit the terrible truth: in all probability a serial killer is at work. Enter Superintendent Robert DeClercq, a retired uber-detective who has seen his own share of personal tragedy over the years. Beckoned by the powers that be to spearhead the investigation into the murders, DeClerq assumes command of the Headhunter Squad and immediately assembles a crack team of Special External (Special X) investigators to help ferret out the diabolical killer. With political pressure mounting and widespread hysteria gripping the city, the stalwart DeClercq and his team must race against time to catch their cunning adversary before the next victim is butchered.

As Slade slowly begins to divulge pertinent details about the genesis of the killer's madness through a series of bizarre and gruesome flashbacks, the playing field of characters (both seemingly good and blatantly bad) widens and it is left up to the reader to decide who is a suspect and who is not. With Special X probing the ongoing murders and the rapidly deteriorating DeClercq receiving fiendish taunts from the guilty party, evidence and clues begin to pile up, not the least of which derive from a heroin trafficking ring and a New Orleans voodoo cult. As the investigation ensues, tension is ratcheted up to almost unbearable degrees and the reader is thrust directly into the center of the action to determine the killer's identity right along with the characters. (Of course, the information we're given keeps us one step ahead of Special X, but never ahead of Slade's devious mind!)

Really, what can one say? Slade is a master story teller--a confident and gifted writer in full control of his razor-honed plot, lovingly breathing his characters to life with personality and insight, allowing them to jump off the page with witty, memorable dialogue that propels the story at a whip-crack pace. No stone is left unturned as Slade weaves his dark and almost cinematic tale, and it is a testament to his skill as a writer that he is able to keep such a labyrinthine plot so accessible and compelling over the course of four hundred plus pages. "Headhunter" was exhaustively and comprehensively researched, and it shows: descriptions of historical facts, geography, forensic techniques, and policing procedures are flawless, investing the story with a commanding air of authenticity and authority. Again, praise to Slade for treating the reader to something substantial, for crafting his novel with a degree of intelligence and sophistication far elevated from the norm.

All of which brings me to what is perhaps "Headhunter"'s single most effective asset--its absolutely stunning conclusion! The ending is where even an accomplished novel (or film for that matter) will finally begin to suffocate under the weight of crumbling logic, yet this is the exact point where "Headhunter" truly distinguishes itself. The last thirty or so pages of this book are the absolute essence of suspense, culminating in a shock finale that is the equivalent of a sledge hammer to the skull. More writers and directors should take a cue from Slade and realize that the ending of a novel or film can make or break the entire project. Here, Slade has orchestrated an unforgettable ending . . . and I guarantee the revelation of the killer's identity will leave you slack-jawed in awe. But this dramatic revelation does not come out of left field. It all makes perfect sense, and many a reader will instantly scramble to re-read several key passages for subtle clues they may have missed. With such a fascinating and audacious ending, Slade has provided a telling and thought-provoking commentary on sexual violence that will resound in your head for days to come. Brilliant. So here you have it all in one delicious package ... plot, narrative, character, dialogue, and pacing all working together like the gears of a well-oiled machine. And at the controls, a writer who has an obvious love for and devotion to his craft. Now settle in, turn down the lights, and prepare to enter the hypnotic world of the "Headhunter." And remember, no peeking at the last page ...

This is the second book Ive read by Michael Slade and it is just as good as the other, which was a latter book, CUTTHROAT. While I enjoyed this, I still think I liked CUTTHROAT more. Anyway, this book is fascinating-it puts you inside the mind of the killer, lends insight into DeClerq's torments, and is filled with lots of insights into criminal psychology. It is good for a serial killer buff and for thriller fans. This is a really good one-BUY IT.

I read this book when it came out and it is a pleasant surprise--a first novel written well enough to be by an accomplished author. Michael Slade is actually more than one person, written in collaboration but it flows as if from one mind. I've read all Slade books since and have yet to be disappointed. If you like Thomas Harris' Hannibal books you will like Slade. This book is seriously under-rated and is one of my all-time favorites. It will keep you guessing til the end. BUY IT!

This is simply the best fiction novel I have ever read. I usually tend to stick to non-fiction and history, but this book blew me away. It is so complex and visual in its presentation. The story is interesting and well paced. The characters leap off the pages. The ending is absolutely incredible. I have always wanted to see a movie made of this one, and wonder why one hasn't been done yet. But, I also get afraid that Hollywood would only make a mess out of this masterpiece.

This book is a thrilling read in so many ways. First of all, the plot about a vicious serial killer is always a fun read. Second, Slade's tying multiple time frames and characters together is unique and pushes you to the end because you want to know how the hell it all fits together. (These multi-plot line story structures went on to become SLade's trademark.) Also there is plenty of research put into every novel, and this is of course no exception. I have always been a sucker for serial killers written in gruesome splatterpunk fashion mixed with a mystery angle, so it's no surprise Slade has become one of my top 3 favorite horror writers.

Michael Slade's "Headhunter" is one complex piece of writing, and has an ending that is one of the most surprising I've read! I assume (?) that this is the first in the Robert DeClerq series, but was puzzled if "Ripper" is the follow-up? At any rate, on its own "Headhunter" is a mesmerizing look into a serial killer's demented life. We are introduced to the killer early in the book identified as "Sparky." The book flip-flops back and forth into different times and we meet some characters whose presence is mystifying until the book reaches its last several pages.

DeClerq is a haunted, fragile man, whose dedication to solving the headhunter crimes is plummeting him into an abyss of self-doubt, remorse, and vengeance. His lovely wife, Genevieve, stands by him and demonstrates a marital union rare in books these days. The Headhunter task force is peopled with vastly different characters including the sexist Rick Scarlett; the aggressive and career-driven Katherine Spann; the brutish Rabidowski; and the comical Bill Whipple. Not to mention Rusty Lewis and Monica McDonald, whose characters are kind of left up in the air by the book's denouement. Several nasty villains appear including John Hardy, an outrageously self-centered pimp; Suzannah, a completely demented dominatrix; and a strange voodoo sequence whose presence is questionable, considering the outcome of the book. It is an ambitious undertaking, and the cliff-hanging ending will certainly surprise most readers. Sometimes the book seems to wander off its course, and some of the scenes of riot, violence, and such are padding and not really that interesting to the story. But overall, "Headhunter" is a stunning work, and certainly worth a read.

This was the first of Slade's novels I had ever read, and there is no other horror writer to compare with charachterization or plotting. Gory, heart-wrenching, with an ending that will just totally blow you away. Been hooked on Slade ever since.

Would have given 5*'s, but for a couple of small gripes. Part 2 (of 3) could have been left out; one nut at a time, ok?? Don't judge a book by its dreary cover, *Headhunter* is a fantastic thriller, if you can stand ultimate hard core sicko-sexual. Lots of psychiatric and cop info, this book is very cultivated and succeeds as both a shocker and a mystery.

As you will see in other reviews, after reading, the palpitations of upsetness will stay with you.

The first in Michael Slade's masterful Special X series is a roller-coaster ride from the first page to the last.

Headhunter is a novel ahead of it's time. Before the general public knew what "criminal profiling" was, Slade was introducing his readers to deranged inner working of the psychotic mind, and how a modern police force hunts those psychos down. Because of this Headhunter is still a relevant and entertaining read even twenty years later.

Agatha Christie would be proud of the twists and turns that leads to the un-guessable conclusion. De Sade would cringe at the horrific details along the way...

Michael Slade worked his magic and created a masterpiece with Headhunter. Thankfully, he continues to do so with all of his Special X books.