'The Cleaner' by Paul Cleave is a dark and twisted noir novel that follows the story of Joe Middleton, a serial killer who works as a cleaner at the police station in Christchurch, New Zealand. The narrative alternates between Joe's first-person perspective and occasional third-person chapters focusing on Sally, a coworker who feels a mix of pity and affection towards Joe. Joe manipulates his cognitive impairment to stay under the radar of the detectives investigating the serial killings, giving him easy access to files and evidence. As the story unfolds, unexpected twists and dark humor are woven into the plot, creating a chilling and unsettling atmosphere.

Characters:

The characters are intricately developed, with Joe as a conflicted antihero and supporting characters that provide contrasting insights into his life.

Writing/Prose:

The style is a mix of dark humor and unsettling first-person narration that immerses the reader in the killer's psyche.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows a serial killer posing as a cleaner at a police station, letting him observe investigations while plotting to evade capture.

Setting:

Set in Christchurch, New Zealand, the police station serves as a crucial backdrop for the unfolding events.

Pacing:

The pacing fluctuates between intense climaxes and slower, more drawn-out sections, impacting reader engagement.

I pull the car into the driveway. Sit back. Try to relax. The day, I swear to God, has to be at least ninety-five degrees. Christchurch heat. Schizophrenic weather. Sweat is dripping from my body. My ...

Notes:

The Cleaner is a thriller novel by New Zealand author Paul Cleave.

The story is primarily told from the perspective of Joe Middleton, a serial killer.

Joe works as a cleaner at the Christchurch Police Department, allowing him to stay updated on police investigations.

He pretends to be cognitively impaired to avoid suspicion and gain access to evidence.

Joe has a complicated relationship with his mother, adding depth to his character.

The book includes humor, despite its dark themes and content.

The narrative is interspersed with first-person accounts from a co-worker named Sally.

The novel features unexpected twists and turns linked to Joe's double life.

Cleave’s writing has earned comparisons to other popular crime authors like Jo Nesbø and Stephen King.

The book is part of a series, with references to events and characters from Cleave's other novels.

Overall, readers have mixed reactions to the book, with some loving its originality and dark humor while others find it unpleasant.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains high levels of violence, graphic depictions of killing, and themes related to mental illness.

From The Publisher:

An international bestseller and one of the top-selling novels in New Zealand's history, Paul Cleave's dark thriller is a brilliant, bloody masterpiece.

Joe is in control of everything in his simple life-both his day job as a janitor for the police department and his "night work." He isn't bothered by the daily news reports of the Christchurch Carver, who, they say, has murdered seven women. Joe knows, though, that the Carver killed only six. He knows that for a fact, and he's determined to find the copycat. He'll punish him for the one, then frame him for the other six. It's the perfect plan because he already knows he can outwit the police.

All he needs now is to take care of all the women who keep getting in his way, including his odd, overprotective mother and Sally, the maintenance worker who sees him as a replacement for her dead brother. Then there's the mysterious Melissa, the only woman to have ever understood him, but whose fantasies of blackmail and torture don't have a place in Joe's investigation.

Originally published in 2006 in Cleave's native New Zealand, where it was a finalist for the prestigious Ned Kelly Award for Best Fiction, The Cleaner is a chilling and darkly funny thriller that will leave you clamoring for his next.

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The Cleaner

Paul Cleave

Book 1 in the series:Cleaner