The CallingThe Calling

by Neil Cross

Hardcover, 336 pg.
Touchstone, 2012
Read: September 13 – 14, 2012

Wow. Just…wow. The same disturbed depravity, intensity, dedication, drive that are displayed in each episode of Cross’ show are in full force here. You’ve got one very, very sick murderer (and I mean that in every possible way) being hunted by Det. Luther across London. And even tho’ most people who pick up this book know exactly how it ends (the opening scene of episode 1), you’re still on the edge of your seat, white-knucklin’ the book, breathing only when you remember.

The visuals are straight off of the show, too. I’m so, so glad that I don’t have to see the two major crime scenes on TV. Just having read them is going to stick with me for awhile, a long while probably.

Possibly even more brutal is watching the break-up of the Luther marriage. Again, we met Luther post-divorce on TV, but having to go through Zoe’s turmoil and Luther’s obliviousness at the beginning of the end…ugh. Just rip my heart out, please.

All the police characters at the heart of season 1 are here and are note perfect. Quite the achievement.

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4 Stars