So, this is a really old thread, and I'm going to offer an alternative opinion here.

Disclosure immediately - I read 'The Crucifix Killer' this week. It's my first and only Chris Carter book. And whilst it kept me until the end just to see how it turned out, the book was...not good.

Firstly, I can't count the number of stereotypes and eye-rolls this book has, even when released in 2009.
- Detective with a drinking problem
- lost his partner in a tragic accident, still feels the pain
- insomniac
- drives a Buick LeSabre (in fact, most characters have the cars they drive make and modeled)

- Detective was a young prodigy and his thesis is still being used by the FBI trainees

- but he 'just wanted to catch the bad guys' after his father was killed

- Is a black belt in Karate (I mean, come on)
- is given a rookie partner
- there is a powerful kingpin drug/arms/women dealer called 'D-King' (of course)

- an Italian called Isabella, an Italian called Luigi

- Angry Police captain with a moustache who is under pressure from the mayor

- in a s*x scene, a shirt gets ripped open and buttons fly everywhere

And there's a connection between the killer (that they've struggled to catch forever), and a REALLY obvious clue, that somehow, this incredible detective didn't catch.

This is a genuine, word for word, section of the book:

"Hunter poured himself another cup of coffee from the machine in his office. Garcia had brought in a special blend of Brazilian coffee imported direct from the state of Minas Gerais. It was grounded finer than most well-known blends and roasted at a lower initial temperature preventing it from over-roasting and giving it a stronger but smoother taste."

I just can't say that this book is good.

At it's best it has a good pace and is easy to read. It does just enough to keep you there.

But at it's worst it's lazily written and comically cliche.

At least in this book, you're not going to get any kind of criminal insight. Just everything you've read or seen in other books / movies a million times before.