About the Hardback Edition
The hardcover collector's edition of The Monster In Him is the version of Book 2 that belongs on a permanent shelf. Sewn binding that lies flat when open. Archival cream stock. Matte-laminated jacket with the original cover art, foil-stamped spine, and the series mark on the back. This is the edition built to survive a second reading — which, given how much is packed into the final act, most readers end up doing.
Inside, the story is unchanged: convicted killer Chris Mullin is behind bars, serving five consecutive life sentences — and still working. From inside the prison, he is manipulating staff, influencing people on the outside, and plotting a revenge that Detective Kyle Hunter has no way to see coming. As new violence begins to surface beyond the prison gates, staged with the same cold precision as the original murders, Hunter realizes the game has changed. He is no longer hunting a killer. He is playing chess with one.
Why Choose the Hardcover
Reader habits tell the story: crime thrillers get re-read. They get lent. They get collected. And when they're part of a series, they get shelved together — with matching spines, matching trim, matching covers. This hardcover edition of Book 2 is designed for exactly that. The sewn binding holds up to multiple readings without cracking. The larger trim size makes the tense sequences tighter on the page. The matte jacket resists fingerprints, and the foil spine looks right beside the hardcover of Book 1.
If you're building the Kyle Hunter Files collection — or gifting the series to a reader who appreciates a proper hardcover — this is the edition to buy. It also pairs naturally with the paperback (for travel) and the Kindle edition (for late-night reading without waking anyone up). Many readers own all three.
Book Specifications
| Genre | Crime Thriller · Psychological Thriller · Serial Killer Fiction · Police Procedural |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Pioneer Publishing Press |
| Format | Hardcover (also available in Paperback & Kindle) |
| ISBN-10 | 1735884294 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-7358842-9-0 |
| Page Count | 328 pages |
| Publication Date | March 10, 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Kyle Hunter Files, Book 2 |
| Binding | Sewn hardcover with dust jacket |
| Dimensions | 6 x 0.95 x 9 inches |
Key Characters
Detective Kyle Hunter — Returns, but not the same man who closed the Redhead Killer case. This book puts him on unfamiliar ground: no longer the hunter, but the hunted. And the target is someone he already put away.
Chris Mullin — Five life sentences, no remorse, no fear, no limits. A new kind of antagonist for the series: patient, brilliant, and utterly indifferent to the bodies he leaves behind. He doesn't want to escape. He wants to win.
The Prison — Almost a character in its own right. The book's most memorable scenes unfold inside a maximum-security facility where the rules are unwritten, the guards are compromised, and the walls are thinner than anyone wants to admit.
Excerpt — From the Opening Pages
"The day Chris Mullin was sentenced, he smiled at the judge. Not the tight, defeated smile of a man going away for life — a real smile. The kind you give someone when you know something they don't. Kyle Hunter saw it from the back of the courtroom, and he's been seeing it in his sleep ever since."
Download the free sample here.
Verified Reader Reviews
★★★★★ Derek M. — "Darker and tighter than the first book. Mullin is one of the most chilling antagonists I've read in years."
★★★★★ Priya N. — "The prison scenes are extraordinary — controlled, tense, and impossible to look away from. Pinon just keeps getting better."
★★★★☆ Andrew P. — "Read it in one weekend. Start with Book 1 if you haven't — but this one is the stronger novel."
Complete Your Collection
Building the Kyle Hunter Files on your shelf? Start with Book 1: Hunter On The Hunt For The Redhead Killer, then continue with the paperback edition of this book if you prefer to mix formats. The hardcovers are designed to match — same trim, same spine treatment, same archival paper.
Order the Hardback Edition
The collector's hardcover is a limited print run. Once this edition sells through, it will not be reissued in this format. If you want the copy that lasts, order now. $18.95 — free Prime shipping.