The Cutting Room

Written by Jilliane Hoffman

Narrated by Lewis Hancock

The chilling new psychological thriller from the bestselling author of Retribution and Pretty Little Things

The body of a young woman who went missing from a Florida nightclub is found in a dumpster. A horrifying scene, but nothing compared to what she had to endure before her murder. She was drugged and tortured – all broadcast live for the twisted pleasure of a snuff club.

Detective Manny Alvarez works the homicide alongside young hotshot Assistant State Attorney Daria DeBianchi. The media spotlight shines on the accused, a privileged playboy seen leaving the club with the victim. But without cast-iron evidence, Daria and Manny must dig deeper to crack the case.

The investigation exposes a terrifying connection between numerous unsolved murders and abductions stretching across the country. Their only lead is through convicted serial killer William Bantling, who knows the sinister society’s secrets first-hand. But Bantling won’t show his hand for free – he wants off Death Row.

For Manny and Daria, the nightmare is just beginning. And the only thing more devastating than this case’s past is what lies ahead…

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jul 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9780007463664

Jilliane Hoffman

Jilliane Hoffman began her professional career as an Assistant State Attorney prosecuting felonies in Florida, with special assignments to the Domestic Violence Unit and the Legal Extradition Unit. She has advised more than one hundred special agents on criminal and civil matters in complex investigations involving narcotics, homicide, and organized crime. Her previous novels include the bestselling Retribution, Pretty Little Things and The Cutting Room.

Reviews for The Cutting Room

[teresa1953_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Set in Miami, this is a corker of a crime thriller. The main characters, detective Manny Alvarez, Assistant State Attorney Daria De Bianchi and prosecutor C.J Townsend are well drawn and likeable. They all have flaws and baggage which impact on their careers and day to day lives.The story begins with the discovery of a body in a dumpster. The victim is a missing student and it is obvious that she has been brutally tortured before death.Manny and Daria are working together on the case and have arrested a hot shot, over indulged playboy Talbot Lunders. Lunders was spotted leaving a nightclub with the dumpster vicitm, but there is no evidence to link him to her actual murder. Enter one William Bantling, an infamous serial killer serving time on Death Row. He promises a lead.....but only in return for his death sentence to be commuted. Then, bizzarely, Lunder's doting mother supplies a video which shows a young woman being subjected to what looks like S & M. Is it consentual? Is it a snuff movie? Indeed is there evidence of a so called snuff club where online voyeurs pay a shed load of cash to watch young women being sexually tortured, raped and killed? Does this exonerate her son? Is the dumpster victim more likely a puppet in this snuff club scenario?One person knows first hand how it is to be raped and tortured and barely make it out alive. That is Chloe aka C. J. Townsend.....or thats her name right now. She is the prosecutor who put William Bantling behind bars. What she didn't reveal is that she was one of his first victims. Living under an assumed name in Chicago and, as a successful prosecutor, still putting the bad guys away, she is the last person who wants to be dragged in to this drama. However, there is little choice..............This is a gripping story and it keeps it's pace for the most part. A little overlong, it did drag a little about a third of the way through, but warmed up again to the point I couldn't put it down! A great "beach read" and, although not quite as brilliant as "Pretty Little Things" I can still recommend it whole heartedly.