BOOKS: Jack Caffrey by Mo Hayder

Mo Hayder writes the scariest police books I've read. Like, Criminal Minds creepy. I've finished the series now, and several threads were tied up and it feels like a good place to stop.

1. Birdman
2. The Treatment - the only book I listened to, and I loved the narrator and the way he said 'Jack'

The first two books are very graphic and disturbing. One of the overarching stories is about Ewan, Jack's younger brother who disappeared when they were young. Jack has always felt it was their back door neighbour, Pendericki who still lives behind him. So, serial killers and pedophiles dominate the opening books. Just warning!

3. Ritual
4. Skin
5. Gone

Books 3-5 form a little mini-trilogy in the middle of the series. Police diver Flea Marley takes a center stage and an unsolved case carries through. There is some connection between Flea and Jack that needs to be developed, but Flea is no more together than Jack. Jack has moved out of London and seems to be moving on from Ewan's death. A few more serial killers, lots of suspense.

6. Poppet
7. Wolf

Poppet by Mo Hayder (384 pages)

Something weird is going on at a mental hospital and Jack gets called in on the sly, because the whistle-blower isn't supposed to be reporting the suspicious deaths. The cover is creepy, and so is the book. But really good if you like creepy suspense!

Not much Flea in this one, but she is still on Jack's mind.

Wolf by Mo Hayder (416 pages)

Sometimes, worrying about what might happen is scarier than what actually happens. That is the theme of this book, as a family is taken hostage, and they are still a bit creeped out by a brutal murder that happened in the area fifteen years before. As a reader, you are just as scared as the family about what might happen even if nothing even really happens. The power of imagination. Now, having said that, there are some super creepy and scary people in this one. Let's just say I read most of this one during the daylight hours!
Jack finally gets some closure but he's still pretty messed up.


Hayder has a few stand alone novels as well - Hanging Hill, Toyko, and Pig Island that I will definitely look into. Any one feeling brave enough to try some Hayder?