Collecting Cooper (Theodore Tate Book 2) by Paul Cleave

I came to this book not realizing that previous books are referenced in passing. The first book of his I read was Blood Men, followed by Cemetery Lake, and now this book, Finding Cooper. Nevertheless, it can stand alone as a compelling narrative.

This book focuses on Christchurch, a city I lived in for 8 years. A nice little city but I saw it was changing all those years ago. But I moved to Japan before it got its nickname, CrimeChurch.

Paul Cleave uses New Zealand's second-largest city to weave tales of suspense with multi-character viewpoints.

Cleave has an exceptional narrative voice for Tate—sarcastic, world-weary, and driven by a quest for justice. The storyline unfolds through alternating chapters featuring Tate in the first person, Adrian—a prospective serial killer with a penchant for collecting—and Cooper, a kidnapped criminology professor. The killer's chapters blend dark humor with creepiness, portraying characters with painful pasts and mundane malevolence, evoking a more genuine sense of fear than typical fictional villains.

Tate is a PI just out of prison in this book, but at heart, he is a detective through and through. With a bunch of twists, perfect pacing, and authentic dialogue, the story is entertaining. Dry humor, insightful observations, and vivid descriptions bring Christchurch to life, making it practically palpable.