Random by Craig Robertson
Genre; Crime
Glasgow is being terrorised by a serial killer the media have nicknamed The Cutter. The murders have left the police baffled. There seems to be neither rhyme nor reason behind the killings; no kind of pattern or motive; an entirely different method of murder each time, and nothing that connects the victims except for the fact that the little fingers of their right hands have been severed.
If DS Rachel Narey could only work out the key to the seemingly random murders, how and why the killer selects his victims, she would be well on her way to catching him. But as the police, the press and a threatening figure from Glasgow’s underworld begin to close in on The Cutter, his carefully-laid plans threaten to unravel – with horrifying consequences.
My Thoughts:
This novel is told from the point of view of “The Cutter”. It’s the second novel this year that I’ve read where the novel is narrated from the point of view of the serial killer and it’s the second novel this year that I’ve loved that about it.
You’re thrown straight into his mind as the novel starts and it’s a dark and focused place.
The title of the novel comes from the fact that the way he murders his victims is always random, never the same way twice and Robertson is quite inventive when choosing modes of murder for his victims! I particularly liked his first one and was interested to find out during BritCrime at the weekend that it had been used as a real way to murder someone.
But don’t be fooled by the random but inventive deaths. This is no killer on a spree, this is a great story of a man unravelling. It also has a whole other twisted story wrapped around in it and at the end you are left in awe at how Robertson pulled all the threads together. Like I say; not just a spree killer novel.
Glasgow also plays a great role in Random. You can see and hear the sights and sounds of the city as our killer moves about within it.
Random was Robertson’s debut. I now can’t wait to read his other books. This is one I’d definitely recommend.
Margot Kinberg says
Glad you enjoyed this one, Rebecca. I always find it interesting when a fictional crime is based on a real-life crime.
Jane Risdon says
I cannot say I have ever read a story from the murderers POV and it must be an a amazing thing to carry off convincingly. To be based on a true story is very interesting and I wonder if the author had access to police insider information, or if he just read news reports and took the story from there. I shall have to keep my eyes open for this author. Thanks Rebecca.
Emma says
Like the sound of this, and the idea of the murderer telling the story. Sounds like it might be a bit gruesome?
tracyshephard says
i would like to read this one 🙂