About the Book
A ritualistic serial killer is stalking the city — and leaving almost no trace behind. When a brutally staged murder shocks investigators, veteran homicide detective and former Marine Kyle Hunter is pulled into a case unlike any he's seen before. No DNA. No fingerprints. No witnesses. Just a single red hair, placed deliberately at the scene like a signature.
As Hunter assembles his task force and digs into the victimology, a chilling pattern begins to emerge: the killer isn't random, and he isn't finished. Each murder is a chapter in a private story — one shaped by obsession, abuse, and a rage that has been simmering for decades. To stop him, Hunter will have to think like the predator. And the deeper he goes, the harder it becomes to come back.
Blending realistic police procedure, forensic science, and psychological profiling, The Kyle Hunter Files: Hunter On The Hunt For The Redhead Killer is the explosive first novel in Joseph R. Pinon Al-Mari's crime-thriller series — a book for readers of Michael Connelly, James Patterson, and Tana French.
Why Readers Love It
This isn't a thriller that hand-waves the investigation. Hunter's team runs real interviews. The forensic lab work follows actual protocols. The psychological profile is built, tested, and revised as the evidence comes in — the way real detectives do it. Readers who know the genre call it "one of the most authentic police procedurals in years," and the pacing is relentless: chapters end on pivots, not pauses. Most readers finish it in two or three sittings.
Book Specifications
| Genre | Crime Thriller · Serial Killer Fiction · Police Procedural · Mystery |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Pioneer Publishing Press |
| Format | Paperback (also available in Kindle) |
| ISBN-10 | 1735884253 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-7358842-5-2 |
| Page Count | 342 pages |
| Publication Date | January 15, 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Kyle Hunter Files, Book 1 |
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches |
Key Characters
Kyle Hunter — A veteran homicide detective and former Marine. Methodical, dry-witted, and carrying his own scars. He's not a superhero — he's the guy who shows up, does the work, and doesn't let go. His military background gives him a tactical edge in the field, but his real weapon is patience.
The Redhead Killer — A predator shaped by obsession, abuse, and rage. What makes him frightening isn't just the violence — it's the intelligence behind it. He plans. He waits. He watches. And he wants Hunter to understand him.
The Task Force — A small, sharply drawn team of detectives, forensic analysts, and a profiler whose methods Hunter doesn't entirely trust. Their friction and eventual cohesion is one of the book's quietest pleasures.
Excerpt — From Chapter One
"The body was arranged. That was the first thing Hunter noticed — before the smell, before the blood, before the young officer retching into the bushes behind him. Whoever did this hadn't left a scene. He'd left a sentence."
Download the free sample here.
Verified Reader Reviews
★★★★★ Derek M. — "Kyle Hunter is the detective I didn't know I was waiting for. The forensic detail is airtight and the pacing never lets up."
★★★★★ Priya N. — "Read it in two sittings. The Redhead Killer is genuinely terrifying — and the ending earns every page that came before it."
★★★★☆ Tomas R. — "If you like your crime fiction with real procedure instead of movie shortcuts, this is your series."
Order the Paperback Edition
The trade paperback edition is printed on archival cream stock with a matte-laminated cover — the same trim size as the classic detective paperbacks it belongs beside. Ships free with Prime. Available now for $14.95.