🩸 Horror Fiction

Hangman

✍️ Daniel Cole
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$20.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A detective confronts a copycat killer targeting victims across the Atlantic.

The narrative centers on Detective Emily Baxter, who is forced to leave her personal trauma behind to join a multinational task force. The plot unfolds through a series of gruesome copycat murders that mirror past tragedies. Key elements include the investigation of bodies found in dramatic poses and the psychological toll on Baxter as she deals with the disappearance of William Wolf Fawkes. Cole organizes the story by following the investigative process from the initial meeting in New York to the discovery of subsequent victims. The text highlights the pressure exerted by media coverage and the collaborative efforts between American and British agencies. This approach creates a sense of urgency and helplessness as the team struggles to keep pace with the killer's escalating spectacle.

Key Themes
copycat murders law enforcement task force detective grief
Literary Context

This novel is published by Ecco Press in 2020. It engages with contemporary American crime fiction traditions, focusing on the intersection of FBI and CIA operations alongside UK law enforcement. The setting moves between New York and locations across the Atlantic, reflecting a globalized approach to modern thriller narratives.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Tana French · Gillian Flynn · James Patterson
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Ecco Press 📅 2020 📖 256 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780062653994

📝 Description: Hangman

Detective Emily Baxter remains haunted by the unresolved Ragdoll case and the vanishing of her friend William Wolf Fawkes. She finds herself drawn back into the fray when summoned to a joint FBI, CIA, and UK law enforcement task force meeting in New York. The group presents images of a new copycat murder, featuring a body contorted into a specific pose and hung from the Brooklyn Bridge with the word BAIT carved into its chest. Baxter is ordered to assist as media pressure mounts, leading her to another crime scene where the inscription reads PUPPET. Daniel Cole, an author known for his tense thrillers, structures this narrative around the escalating depravity of these transatlantic murders. The story tracks the team’s desperate attempts to catch a killer who operates with nothing to lose. Baxter must overcome the grief and fear that have paralyzed her for the past year to stop another terrible act before it is too late. This book suits readers who enjoy procedural police investigations and psychological tension involving law enforcement task forces. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted fiction or stories without graphic crime scenes.

💎 Our verdict on Hangman

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Cole effectively constructs a sense of urgency through the collaborative efforts of American and British agencies hunting a relentless killer. The narrative succeeds in highlighting the psychological weight carried by Detective Baxter, making her personal trauma central to the procedural plot. The transatlantic setting adds a layer of complexity to the investigation, emphasizing the helplessness felt by the team as they chase a moving target. While the graphic nature of the crime scenes may alienate some, it serves the tone of escalating depravity well. This is a solid choice for enthusiasts of psychological horror and police procedurals who appreciate tight pacing and high-stakes tension over lighthearted entertainment.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who crave tense, atmospheric thrillers with a strong procedural backbone will find this book compelling. It is ideal for those who enjoy complex investigations involving multinational task forces and the psychological toll of unresolved trauma on law enforcement officers. The narrative appeals to fans of dark, gritty crime fiction that does not shy away from graphic depictions of violence and the eerie spectacle of copycat murders. Those interested in the intersection of personal grief and professional duty will appreciate the depth of Detective Baxter’s internal struggle. It offers a gripping experience for anyone who likes to follow the investigative process as it escalates under immense media pressure.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Cole effectively constructs a sense of urgency through the collaborative efforts of American and British agencies hunting a relentless killer. The narrative succeeds in highlighting the psychological weight carried by Detective Baxter, making her personal trauma central to the procedural plot. The transatlantic setting adds a layer of complexity to the investigation, emphasizing the helplessness felt by the team as they chase a moving target. While the graphic nature of the crime scenes may alienate some, it serves the tone of escalating depravity well. This is a solid choice for enthusiasts of psychological horror and police procedurals who appreciate tight pacing and high-stakes tension over lighthearted entertainment.

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