The Cleaner Paperback – 17 May 2018

I couldn't put this book down! I loved it!This is a first time read for me by author Paul Cleave, but I'm already thirsty to read more.The Christchurch Carver, a serial killer who rapes and kills women. The police have no leads.But one of the victims was not killed by The Christchurch Carver, despite the police assuming she was.This story is told through The Christchurch Carver, very cleverly written, and he intends to find out who killed this woman and pinned it in him.I can't recommend this book enough

Disturbingly dark account of a serial killer on the loose in Christchurch, New Zealand. Having raped and killed several women and being called the Christchurch Cleaver the protagonist Joe lives a double life and we are witness to this double life existence as Joe recounts his crimes and his life as a mentally challenged janitor working at the police station investigating these murders that allows him to be one step ahead of the lead investigation officer Detective Schroeder.A copycat killer appears and Joe is not happy that this murder should be tagged on to his killing spree. He decides that he will uncover this copy cat killer, kill him and frame him for the other murders.Joe however has an admirer in the police station, Sally who works in maintenance. She had a brother who died and was very much like Joe in that he was mentally challenged and she see's parallels in Joe. She always felt guilty about how her brother died and to recompense she decides to try and make Joe's life a bit easier. She starts off by bringing him sandwiches and then follows him - just to keep any eye on him to keep him safe.Joe meets a woman in a bar, Melissa and from this point on his life gets rather more complicated. Melissa is not all she seems either and Joe gets himself into some serious trouble.This is a dark and intriguing psychological thriller, graphic in some parts but Clever manages to make the protagonist a rather 'likeable' character due to his excellent use of humour and Joes' batty mother which is unusual in this type of novel.Well written, good compelling storyline and a good twist at the end easy to recommend it and easy to give 4 stars from me.

Someone recommended this book to me. I'm so glad they did. I couldn't put it down.

This is Paul Cleave's first book; it is also the direct prequel to Joe Victim, his latest book which I read recently. Since I read the books the wrong way round I knew all the who-dunnits in this book but did not know the whys or hows. This did affect my enjoyment of the book and I do highly recommend you read the two books in the proper order! However, I enjoyed Joe Victim so much I just had to read the beginnings of his story. This (well both books) is a very unique take on the serial killer book as it is almost entirely told from the killer's point of view and we hardly even get to know the police investigators in this first beginning book. They have developed into characters by the time we get to the latest book, Joe Victim, the 7th in the series, though. But here, they show up occasionally and mostly through Joe, the cleaner's, point of view. The scary thing about this story is that even with the entire violent, ruthless murders we are somehow drawn to Joe and he does become an unwillingly sympathetic character to the reader in an unsettling way to my dismay, even though he is completely unlikable as a person and unreliable as a narrator. Occasionally another narrator will take over and we get an outsider's take on the case, but as I said this is not from the police themselves; they are kept as background characters making this a very unique style of thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed. I just didn't get the full impact since I had already read the sequel which keeps no secrets of the events that happen here. I'm impressed with this author and will move on to his next book which revolves around the same police department in Christchurch, NZ.

just couldn't put the book down! it keeps you going. first book I've read from him, will definitely buy more! excellent.

A highly entertaining criminal caper which is comprised of an odd mix of black humour and gruesome violence. Makes the most of its setting in Christchurch, New Zealand and the characters are terrific.

Came quickly and was a great read

As I enjoy the Jack Reacher series a friend recommended The Cleaner as a book I would thoroughly enjoy and find it gripping. Unfortunately this was not so as I really found it hard to get into and then came the climax part way through the book but then it seemed to tail off. I did read it through to the end hoping it would pick up but unfortunately it did not. Such a shame

Narrated mainly through the twisted thoughts of the Christchurch Carver, this is a ghastly piece of work, definitely not for the squeamish. I felt the author did a fine job of accomplishing his goals. Joe, who cleans offices in the police department, is a serial killer who has raped and murdered six women as the story begins. There are hints of other murders in his past and more killings will ensue. The story contains a morbid sense of humour, mainly through Joe’s sardonic comments. These included politically incorrect misogynist thoughts and twisted rationalizations for his crimes. I frequently found myself laughing out loud at the black humour, which made me feel like a bad person.Joe has so far managed to remain off the police detectives’ very long list of possible suspects. He has done this by presenting two different personalities. At work, he is ‘Simple Joe’, a mentally challenged janitor within the police department. He always has a ready grin, is unobtrusive, and well-liked. He believes he is a brilliant mastermind at killing undetected and in solving crimes. He was hired as a cleaner by the police due to a push to employ people with mental and physical disabilities. He brags that he can transition from Hannibal Lecter to Forrest Gump easily. His self-concept of having such a superior intellect is somewhat delusional. It seems he is not so much a criminal mastermind but that the police are incompetent.Joe is angry that someone else has murdered a seventh woman, and that murder has been grouped with the six crimes he has committed as the Christchurch Carver. He is determined to find the true copycat killer and then blame all the murders on him. The police force never suspects that their simple janitor has been going through their muddled files and evidence, even bringing some of it home and that he is working out who this copycat killer really is.Joe lives alone, with two goldfish as companions. He has no friends and visits his addled, overbearing, and clinging mother every week, a task he dreads. His only outside interest or hobby is his nighttime excursions to commit murder. Sally, a fellow maintenance worker, sees Joe as a replacement for her mentally challenged brother who died. She wants to take care of Joe and seems to be harbouring romantic feelings towards him. Seeing that he always takes the bus to work, she intrudes in his life. She brings him snacks, suggests they go for walks and coffee and offers him drives home from their workplace. Joe regards her as too fat, unattractive and stupid. He has no use for a car as he steals them at night. Sally is now stalking him outside work and is much smarter than Joe realizes.Beware, there is a ghastly scene of torture within the city park, which is highly graphic and disturbing. There is also a scene where a cat is killed and thoughts of killing another cat. Also interested in Joe is the beautiful, seductive Melissa. She is very evil. Her motivations towards Joe are unclear, and I disliked her mysterious role in the story. The story ends in chaos. I wanted to know more about these dreadful, unlikeable characters. I fear my mind is now warped so much that I have already downloaded the next book in the series. Recommended for those who might enjoy a very grisly tale containing dark humour. Beware. Not for everyone.

Imagine a cross between American Psycho, Seven and Hong Kong Phooey. One of the most darkly comic thrillers I have ever read. Some of the dialogue between our serial killer narrator Joe and his batty mother is laugh out loud. There is also a surprising element of pathos to the back stories of Joe and Sally. Then there is Melissa, who is a match for Joe in every respect, including an act which no man would relish.I can understand why it’s not for everyone, but I loved it.

I am in the happy position of having 'found' a great new author! This is the second book I've read by New Zealander Paul Cleave and they (also Trust No One) have been terrific. I've gone ahead and ordered several novels from his Christchurch Noir series.In this book Joe works as a cleaner at the police station. He acts cognitively impaired so the detectives never consider he is anything other than what he appears. It never occurs to them that he is the Christchurch Carver, so he has easy access to files and evidence as he goes from room to room, cleaning.The narration alternates between the first person narrative of Joe peppered with flashbacks to his past, and occasional third person chapters that focus on Sally, a young woman who works at the department and feels pity, and possily affection, for Joe. His voice is consistent and creepy. We hear his thoughts constantly, on every subject, and it reminds you that you REALLY don't know the person standing next to you on the elevator. It's an unsettling book., and ai can't imagine it was easy to inhabit this character.What sets this thriller apart is that Joe does not have smooth sailing in his activities. Aside from Sally's well meaning but intrusive actions, Joe meets another woman who is not what she seems, who also interferes with his plans. Poor Joe!.This book really reminded me of Jo Nesbo's Headhunters, another noir novel filled with unexpected twists and turns, and some wry humor. Cleave takes the well loved serial killer story and gives it a few original twists that work well.There is a LOT of killing and it is heartless, cold and moderately graphic. The matter-of-fact way Joe talks about his activities and victims is disturbing, but if you can handle it the ending is pretty satisfying.I can't wait to read more of Cleave's work. Excellent noir, and set in NZ, which is pretty cool. I don't think I've read any other mysteries set in the land of the kiwi.

Ich habe wirklich schon sehr viele Bücher in meinem Leben gelesen, aber als ich auf Paul Cleave gestoßen bin hat das wirklich mein Leben verändert. Alle seine Bücher sind echt klasse. Durchgehend spannend und zugleich sehr witzig.Ich hoffe er schreibt noch gaaaaaaanz viele Bücher.

Je suis devenue très vite accro à ce livre. Un policier très particulier qui garde en halaine jusqu'au bout, même si on connait dès le début l'identité du tueur! Heureusement, il y a un 2e tome!