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Purity
Ex-model Amy has her own radio show with a popular phone-in slot. When two prostitutes are murdered after a caller has admitted to fantasies of rape, Amy begins to suspect that the man she loves, who lives beneath her flat, may be a murderer. A call to her program informs her that she is next.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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182 people want to read
About the author
Shaun Hutson
124Ìýbooks512ÌýfollowersBritish horror novelist, including horror and urban thriller novels.
His novella Slugs was made into a movie, although Hutson didn't like the movie. He also appeared in two horror movies himself.
Hutson is a Liverpool F.C. fan.
His novella Slugs was made into a movie, although Hutson didn't like the movie. He also appeared in two horror movies himself.
Hutson is a Liverpool F.C. fan.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 1, 2022
A rather different outing for Hutson here, giving us a mystery thriller rather than splatterpunk, and while I like to see authors branching out to new genres, Purity ended up being rather bland. Our main protagonist, Amy Watson, is a former model now radio talk show host whose midnight time slot draws the usual riff raff. She is something of a shock jock, always ruminating on the latest scandal and such, dealing with a wide array of nutters. Alongside this, there seems to be a serial killer stalking the streets of London, but the victims? Prostitutes, a pimp, a drug addict, a tramp? While the MO-- strangulation-- is consistent, the motive remains a mystery.
Hutson tosses in a wide range of characters here, including a slimy right-wing politician, Amy's assistant at the studio, a mysterious man who moves into the flat beneath Amy's, a shrink and many more. There is also some strange nutters who call in to the show with death threats and such. Now, in a mystery whodunit, most authors would give us some clues that later we could see pointed us to the killer, but Huston just takes us on a journey here and denouement really does not give that much satisfaction. Yes, it was a surprise, but no real clues were given along the way. In fact, all the mysterious figures along the way seemed to be added just to keep us guessing, an old trope, but jeez-- you finish this and are like WTF? Still, Hutson can tell a story and various characters and situations along the way were entertaining, hence the 3 stars. Purity works well as a rather mindless palate cleanser between other reads, but I would not recommend it more than that.
Hutson tosses in a wide range of characters here, including a slimy right-wing politician, Amy's assistant at the studio, a mysterious man who moves into the flat beneath Amy's, a shrink and many more. There is also some strange nutters who call in to the show with death threats and such. Now, in a mystery whodunit, most authors would give us some clues that later we could see pointed us to the killer, but Huston just takes us on a journey here and denouement really does not give that much satisfaction. Yes, it was a surprise, but no real clues were given along the way. In fact, all the mysterious figures along the way seemed to be added just to keep us guessing, an old trope, but jeez-- you finish this and are like WTF? Still, Hutson can tell a story and various characters and situations along the way were entertaining, hence the 3 stars. Purity works well as a rather mindless palate cleanser between other reads, but I would not recommend it more than that.
November 5, 2019
Well this wasn't what I was expecting...They say not to judge a book by its cover and that couldn't be more applicable here. What looks to be a spooky horror is anything but - rather what we have is a dark crime fiction about a serial killer who preys on the weak, and a late night talk-back radio host who is firmly in the cross-hairs.
Whilst the story is entertaining, I can't help but feel cheated a little. Sure I could've researched the novel a little more but Hutson is known for paperback horror and that cover really leads the reader down a path of lies... Despite this, I actually enjoyed the book. The characters are engaging and the whodunit mystery is well written with the killer identity not who I was expecting.
Overall, Purity is a solid, dark crime fiction with echoes of noir. I give this a solid 3 (out of 5) stars.
Whilst the story is entertaining, I can't help but feel cheated a little. Sure I could've researched the novel a little more but Hutson is known for paperback horror and that cover really leads the reader down a path of lies... Despite this, I actually enjoyed the book. The characters are engaging and the whodunit mystery is well written with the killer identity not who I was expecting.
Overall, Purity is a solid, dark crime fiction with echoes of noir. I give this a solid 3 (out of 5) stars.
June 22, 2023
This was an enjoyable read. Yes, it is borderline misogynistic and racist, but one must remember that this was written many years ago where taboo topics were all the rage. Was the twist ridiculous? I think it was, but I still enjoyed it. This is a 350 page book about a serial killer, yet there is very little in there about the actual killer. All the action happens in the last 20 pages and despite that, the story kept me interested. Again, pacing is key, and older authors seem to have perfected that. I would read more from this author, but then again, I tend to gravitate towards vintage fiction.
May 3, 2016
I really didn't enjoy this much unfortunately. The murder mystery aspect was ok. The "twist" was predictable. The characters were awful - I could not connect with a single one of them - and ultimately this is what ruined it for me.
May 20, 2024
When I read through a lot of Peter James early novels, I found he moved from a bad horror writer to being a rather good crime novelist over a period of ten novels. Shaun Hutson hasn’t made quite the same transition, as he had written both good and dreadful horror novels in his early days and not all of his later crime novels were particularly notable.
“Purity� is one of his better novels in either of the genres he wrote in, at least for the most part, although it does also expose some of Hutson’s weaknesses. It is the story of Amy Watson, a former model turned late-night radio phone-in show host. One of her callers, Roy, claims to be the person behind a series of killings in London, in which the victims have all been strangled and who all seem to have been suffering from a terminal illness which would have killed them before much longer.
Whilst Roy’s calls point suspicions in his direction, Amy is more concerned about the new resident in her block of flats, who seems to keep unusual hours and who veers between friendly and hostile without apparent reason or warning. Amy’s co-worker Jo, on the other hand, is concerned about her brother, who is using her flat as a crash space, but who has a questionable source of income and who is also keeping irregular hours.
“Purity� has many things in common with some of Hutson’s other work, in that it has a strong central idea, which can occasionally get buried between all the sub-plots and padding that Hutson uses to fill space and avoid working too hard to maintain a single story. Although she didn’t do much of the investigative work herself, Amy was involved in the crimes and this side of things reminded me a little of “Midnight Caller�, a television series I loved around thirty years ago. Sadly, this was about exciting as things became in that regard, as the rest of the novel didn’t go anywhere.
There was a detailed sub-plot around David Albury, a Government Minister who has championed a new law banning violent and sexual content in both writing and film, but who may have a secret of two of his own. There is a history between Amy and her producer and between Detective Inspector Grant and many of his own colleagues, but none of these really go anywhere. This means that when the ending of the novel arrives, suspicions have been pointed in entirely the wrong direction and the revelations which end the novel come out of left field.
Many of these aspects are typical of Hutson’s writing, as if he has some ideas about a basic story and how he wants to end, but without the follow through of detailed plotting and a properly developed throughline. His novels have always been very readable and well-paced, but this means you simply get to the ending, where everything comes together in a way that quickly stops making any sense even faster. “Purity� is a good idea, but has been spoiled by being written by a novelist who has a poor sense of how to develop a good idea into a great story.
“Purity� is one of his better novels in either of the genres he wrote in, at least for the most part, although it does also expose some of Hutson’s weaknesses. It is the story of Amy Watson, a former model turned late-night radio phone-in show host. One of her callers, Roy, claims to be the person behind a series of killings in London, in which the victims have all been strangled and who all seem to have been suffering from a terminal illness which would have killed them before much longer.
Whilst Roy’s calls point suspicions in his direction, Amy is more concerned about the new resident in her block of flats, who seems to keep unusual hours and who veers between friendly and hostile without apparent reason or warning. Amy’s co-worker Jo, on the other hand, is concerned about her brother, who is using her flat as a crash space, but who has a questionable source of income and who is also keeping irregular hours.
“Purity� has many things in common with some of Hutson’s other work, in that it has a strong central idea, which can occasionally get buried between all the sub-plots and padding that Hutson uses to fill space and avoid working too hard to maintain a single story. Although she didn’t do much of the investigative work herself, Amy was involved in the crimes and this side of things reminded me a little of “Midnight Caller�, a television series I loved around thirty years ago. Sadly, this was about exciting as things became in that regard, as the rest of the novel didn’t go anywhere.
There was a detailed sub-plot around David Albury, a Government Minister who has championed a new law banning violent and sexual content in both writing and film, but who may have a secret of two of his own. There is a history between Amy and her producer and between Detective Inspector Grant and many of his own colleagues, but none of these really go anywhere. This means that when the ending of the novel arrives, suspicions have been pointed in entirely the wrong direction and the revelations which end the novel come out of left field.
Many of these aspects are typical of Hutson’s writing, as if he has some ideas about a basic story and how he wants to end, but without the follow through of detailed plotting and a properly developed throughline. His novels have always been very readable and well-paced, but this means you simply get to the ending, where everything comes together in a way that quickly stops making any sense even faster. “Purity� is a good idea, but has been spoiled by being written by a novelist who has a poor sense of how to develop a good idea into a great story.
April 18, 2023
I had never read a Shaun Hutson before, i remember the lurid covers back in the day but i guess the lure was stronger from King, Herbert & Lumley amongst others and i never got around to him.
The book is sort of the equivalent of a late night kebab, you are well aware that it has no nutritional value, full of cheap ingredients of questionable origin, that you will feel cheap n dirty while devouring it, and knowing full well that after its finished you will call into question any self-respect you thought you had, but you straight ahead and do it anyway.
I am convinced that this “authorâ€� is the inspiration behind the characterÌýGarth Marenghi.
Ìý
I have another Hutson in my TBR stack and I am wondering whether just to chuck it in the charity bag without opening it, then again this may just be a one off
The book is sort of the equivalent of a late night kebab, you are well aware that it has no nutritional value, full of cheap ingredients of questionable origin, that you will feel cheap n dirty while devouring it, and knowing full well that after its finished you will call into question any self-respect you thought you had, but you straight ahead and do it anyway.
I am convinced that this “authorâ€� is the inspiration behind the characterÌýGarth Marenghi.
Ìý
I have another Hutson in my TBR stack and I am wondering whether just to chuck it in the charity bag without opening it, then again this may just be a one off
March 9, 2023
not a good read . teenager material . no reasonable plot . No bonding with characters . everything is immature and no effort even to build any good background for any character . hate all of it . what is the point of all the radio show calls ??what about the silly silly ending ?? what about the love affair with the neighbor policeman? What i the point of putting the home secretary ? what is the point of the police investigations if they have not part in revealing the culprit?
I should have known from the cover it is not a good thing to read . All drama .
I should have known from the cover it is not a good thing to read . All drama .
May 5, 2017
Ex model turned shock jock, Amy Watson, thinks she's getting calls from a serial killer. A serial killer who targets the sick, and Amy has just found a lump. Short, zippy, tense, and with a load of Herbert style set pieces; there's a lot to like. With the device of a radio phone in show, Hutson allows himself a lot of room to beat some old bugbears to death. A lot of clues buried amid all the red herrings - one of Hutson's more satisfying books.
May 21, 2020
Overall very thrilling, but some chapters felt a little buried by the details. By the end some of the plot twists felt unnatural, more for the sake of shock. But overall it was a good book, well written. I enjoyed reading it.
September 10, 2020
This book was a surprise to me not as gory as his other books but it was a really good read. I didn't figure out who the killer was , it was a real surprise when it was revealed.
August 29, 2021
"Twist" at the end felt a little random and not very well thought out. Most of the characters could have been developed better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2022
Was. Expecting a horror and this turned out to be a crime thriller,but it kept me guessing to the very end as to who the killer was!
A good solid book to end 2021 on!!
A good solid book to end 2021 on!!
May 17, 2022
Summary:
Purity centers around a former glamour model turned radio presenter, Amy Watson. She encourages her callers to talk about their fantasies live on air & is taken aback when one of her callers says that he fantasies about raping a woman. He continues to ring the station every night with more morbid thoughts & Amy begins to suspect that she is talking to London’s newest serial killer.
My Thoughts:
This is the second book that I’ve read by Hutson & I thought it was good. I liked the storyline. I liked Amy. I liked the build-up. I liked the tension. The identity of the killer took me by complete surprise & I’m not too sure if I liked that or not.
My Rating: * * *
Purity centers around a former glamour model turned radio presenter, Amy Watson. She encourages her callers to talk about their fantasies live on air & is taken aback when one of her callers says that he fantasies about raping a woman. He continues to ring the station every night with more morbid thoughts & Amy begins to suspect that she is talking to London’s newest serial killer.
My Thoughts:
This is the second book that I’ve read by Hutson & I thought it was good. I liked the storyline. I liked Amy. I liked the build-up. I liked the tension. The identity of the killer took me by complete surprise & I’m not too sure if I liked that or not.
My Rating: * * *
March 20, 2013
This was my very first Shaun Hutson book, and aside from a very close second of 'Slugs', it still remains the FIRST. Tortuous chapters leave you bleary eyed and exhausted as you can't face putting the book down until you know how it end. It's a one sitting sort of book. Doesn't have ANY appropriate 'put-down' moments. I've read and re-read at least 9 times. I find a little nugget that I missed each time, and it still thrills me like I'm a Shaun Virgin. I'm afraid this is better than 50 shades for thrills. Not to mention the quality of the writing. ;)
July 19, 2013
Hutson is known for his horror novels, but despite Purity being shelved by several GR folk as horror, it is a murder mystery. A serial killer is on the loose and the investigation into his identity isn't making much progress. The POV shifts between various characters including an radio presenter, a detective and a politician. Purity is a competent and engaging story that held my interest without having that quality that makes a book difficult to put down.
April 27, 2014
A book I found amongst many that were given to us. I'm glad I gave it a chance because I couldn't put it down. There isn't really anything overly spectacular about it but I still couldn't help being hooked, and I loved the twist at the end. Definitely didn't see that coming!
February 6, 2015
Hmmm, not one of his best, but the murder mystery themes were spot on and still left that cold shiver down your back. Fantastic author, ridiculously talented, but this one just didn't hit every usual mark. And Hutson usually does.
April 20, 2010
Was ok, prefered Lucys' child.
March 12, 2014
The murder mystery was good. I did not see that coming. But it was not enough to counter the unnecessary padding and details which often made me lose interest in the sorry. Not a memorable read.
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