Book Review | Mister Slaughter by Robert McCammon

If you're not reading the Matthew Corbett Series, then stop reading this review and read that. Though I suppose, if you're reading this, then you're already familiar since this is book three.
I'm reading the series in preparation of the finale to be published this year from Lividian. I have 6 more books to go (on is a collection of short stories) before the 10th and final book Leviathan appears.
So far, I absolutely love the series.
Mister Slaughter is the darkest and most violent so far. Essentially Matthew and Greathouse are hired to transport a prisoner (who is a refined psychopath much like Hannibal Lecter only not nearly as smart and 100X more physically powerful) from a hospital to a jail where he'll wait until he can be sent to England to be hanged for his crimes. But things go sideways and the story pounds your brain into dust.
I did have one big problem: At a crucial part of the story, Matthew didn't behave as Matthew would behave. He acted a bit out of character. And the consequences of those actions should have annihilated him as a person. I don't see how he could hold his head up with pride going forward. McCammon might lean into that in the next book, but it sure seems like the story is going back to the former equilibrium and it's going to bother me if I think about it.
I'm sure McCammon can explain the departure and I can find a reason as well--the recent and sudden celebrity status Matthew experiences as a result of the events in Queen of Bedlam has clouded his judgement--but if that's the case, it's not apparent enough to feel like a factor in his behavioral shift. And it still doesn't change the amount of soul crushing guilt Matthew should feel, making him either quit the problem-solving profession or turn into a drunkard.
Still, you may have noticed I've given this 4.5 stars. I'd put it above Speaks the Nightbird and below The Queen of Bedlam. I leave my one objection out of it and admit that maybe I didn't pick up on cues or evidence that could diminish my problem upon a second reading.
Mister Slaughter is a great villain. And a wild read. I can't wait to jump into the next title The Providence Rider. If Matthew is sufficiently saddled with grief in that installment, maybe I can come back here and tick this review up half a star.
The edition I keep waving around in the video is the Lividian Trade paperback. I bought it as part of a 5-paperback bundle with Mister Slaughter being the only one signed initially. I've since had them all signed. • The Matthew Corbett se...
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[@itsterrific]

I think Matthew is developing here. He is young. In the aftermath of Queen of Bedlam, he starts to enjoy some celebrity, and it goes to his head a little. He starts buying fancy things and accumulates debt. The debt leads to a bit of greed in trying to pay off the debt. The greed leads to some poor decisions.
He is still the same guy so the guilt eats at him badly. He has so much inner turmoil from the opposition of the needs created by his weakness, his true character and his feelings of right and wrong.

[@THEJEFFWORD]

In hindsight, after reading The Providence Rider, I agree. This was a poor decision but within that range of believable behavior for his character. I actually think Greathouse was more out of whack in Mister Slaughter than Matthew. All those finely honed combat skills are just, poof, gone.
I'm going to post my full Providence Rider review soon and I think it's more off character for Matthew than Mister Slaughter. Or just going in a direction I don't want to see.
I still love the series and I can't wait to get back to it. So my nits might seem bigger than they actually are.

[@ScullyPop]

Excellent, Jeff!

[@THEJEFFWORD]

I'm more medium-ok. :D