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Content snapshot
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Violence
Very heavy
Extreme graphic serial killer violence; Hayder's crime scenes are among the most disturbing in British crime fiction
Language
Some
Adult language in Hayder's crime thriller register
Sexual Content
Some
Adult content in the investigation's subject matter
Substance Use
Barely any
Some drinking
Emotional Intensity
A lot
The psychological weight of investigating the killer's psychology — and Caffery's own personal darkness — creates the novel's sustained and demanding dread
What this book is about
Mo Hayder's debut novel introduces DI Jack Caffery as he investigates a serial killer who has left five female victims with his signature. Hayder writes crime fiction at the extreme end of graphic violence; the crimes are extremely detailed and disturbing. For adult readers who approach graphic crime fiction knowingly. Hayder is one of the most acclaimed — and most disturbing — British crime writers.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Extreme graphic violence throughout
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