The first thing I should mention is that if graphic descriptions of torture, bodily mutilation, and necrophilia are topics that make you feel queasy, then I cannot stress enough that you should not read this book. Trust me, you will regret it if you will. Even if you feel like those types of descriptions don’t bother you, I’d still suggest reading this one away from any of your usual reading snacks.

Birdman is a fast-paced, multi-layered crime fiction narrative with unexpected and effective plots twists that would entertain any reader. Hayder begins the DI Jack Caffery series with a novel that moves the reader between Caffery’s police procedurals, and the horrific actions and motivations of the serial killer in a way that grips attention rather than loses it.

Although there are aspects of the novel that readers would likely recognize—the crime fiction genre is well saturated with a host of arguably overused conventions—Hayder’s quality characters make Birdman a stand-out narrative. There are two key aspects of her characters that I consider particularly notable. The first is all the detail Hayder includes about killer’s life that gives the reader insight into the reasoning behind the horrific crimes without sparking any real sympathy. The other is Hayder’s presentation of each victim as a well developed, living character within their own right.

The only significant gripe I had with Birdman that's worth mentioning is with a particular event that occurs within the final few pages.  I don't want to give anything away so all I'll say is that something happens that, for me, was far too predictable especially in comparison to all of the other reveals of the novel which all genuinely surprised me. I recognise that part of my annoyance with this scene is because it involves a character I didn't really like and because what happens means the novel ends with a sort of happy ending that seemed out of place to me, although not undeserved. I might change my opinion once I read the rest of the series though.

While the vivid images present throughout were crafted so well, they’re the reason why I couldn’t quite give it a five-star rating for myself—maybe I'll be able to in the future if I become less squeamish. Despite saying that, Birdman will be a favourite for many readers and quite rightly so. Hayder has successfully reignited my interest in crime fiction after it was lost among my other favourite genres. This was the first Hayder novel I’ve read and I’m happy to say it won’t be the last.

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