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Deviant

2.76 of 5 stars 2.76 · rating details · 131 ratings · 69 reviews

Danny Lopez is new in town. He made a mistake back home in Las Vegas, and now he has landed at an experimental school in Colorado for “tough cases.” At the Cobalt Charter School, everything is scripted—what the teachers say, what the students reply—and no other speaking is allowed. This supercontrolled environment gives kids a second chance to make something of themselves....more

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published October 1st 2011 by Harry N. Abrams

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Jan 14, 2012 Donna added it

Shelves: dnf

DNF.

I tried. I didn't succeed. I found the opening chapter exceptionally disturbing and thankfully the rest of the story didn't carry on from that POV because I don't know if I would have been able to get through it. It's about an unknown boy (not Danny) about to kill and mutilate a cat. Pretty gross. But it's written succinctly. It roiled up a pretty strong reaction in me. So the writing did it's job. But that's where it left me.

After that, it snaps into Danny's head but it doesn't stay there....more DNF.

I tried. I didn't succeed. I found the opening chapter exceptionally disturbing and thankfully the rest of the story didn't carry on from that POV because I don't know if I would have been able to get through it. It's about an unknown boy (not Danny) about to kill and mutilate a cat. Pretty gross. But it's written succinctly. It roiled up a pretty strong reaction in me. So the writing did it's job. But that's where it left me.

After that, it snaps into Danny's head but it doesn't stay there. The whole story reads kind of schizophrenic in that it's kind of limited third but it's talking in an almost stilted, highly educated voice that is not befitting Danny at all. And then it head-hops something awful. It's jarring to switch POVs from one sentence to the next. Very few authors can do it and have it flow. McKinty isn't one of them. It just felt all over the place, I couldn't get a grip on any of the characters and from what I was seeing, I didn't like most of them.

Danny's a bit of a jerk, not bailing out his step-dad simply because he didn't want to (the thing with the cops was all a misunderstanding, easily solved should Danny have opened his mouth). His step-dad is the token hippy guy with some of the most cliched dialogue I've ever come across. Danny's mom is just as cliched and is barely a presence in the story up to the point where I stopped reading (about 100 pages in). The interaction between these three is something out of a paint-by-numbers lesson on parental dialogue. It was painful at times to read.

Info-dumps are set up through awkward dialogue (everyone's guilty of this) and there's far too much name-dropping going on. And then the interjections with the mystery boy and his cat obsession were really weird and didn't seem to be going where. I get it. It's funky and mysterious. Get on with it.

Just the whole thing felt forced and it eventually became a burden to read. It got to a point where I was begrudging having to read it. That's usually a good time to stop. The plot had great potential and the set-up for the school was well-played. It's definitely a bit of a creepy place. But the overall execution fell short for me. I just felt the writing wasn't up to snuff and the emphasis was usually in places it didn't really need to be, and was grossly lacking where it should have been. Maybe the story got more intriguing but I couldn't tough it out.(less)

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Jun 21, 2012 Hylary Locsin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

Fifteen-year-old Danny Lopez has never been a model student at his Las Vegas school. Caring more about skateboarding than studying, his mom, Juanita, and his stepdad, Walt, hope that the move to Colorado will be good for him academically. Juanita has been offered the job of managing a new casino on the Ute Indian Reservation, so Danny finds himself in the small town of Cobalt, near Colorado Spring...more Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

Fifteen-year-old Danny Lopez has never been a model student at his Las Vegas school. Caring more about skateboarding than studying, his mom, Juanita, and his stepdad, Walt, hope that the move to Colorado will be good for him academically. Juanita has been offered the job of managing a new casino on the Ute Indian Reservation, so Danny finds himself in the small town of Cobalt, near Colorado Springs. Shortly after moving into their new house, Danny meets Antonia “Tony” Meadows, a pretty but quirky girl his age who lives across the street and warns him that the school he is going to attend, Cobalt Junior High Charter School, is different than what he’s used to. On his first day, Danny learns just how different CJHCS is. The principal, Mr. Lebkuchen, has instituted the Direct Instruction method, which requires that teachers and students follow a script throughout the school day, and forbids any communication between students of any kind on school grounds. Everyone at CJHCS must also wear stifling uniforms complete with white gloves. Tony introduces Danny to her friends, and he soon learns that the students at CJHCS have other methods of communication besides talking. Just as Danny thinks things couldn’t get any stranger, however, he learns that several housecats in Cobalt have gone missing, only to turn up days later ritualistically mutilated. Danny also starts receiving unsettling and cryptic letters from someone named “Indrid Cold,” and they seem to be tied to the cat killings. Convinced that there is a serial killer in Cobalt, Danny and his friends decide to find out who the killer is, before they begin murdering people instead of cats.

Quirky and unique, this tale from veteran crime novelist, Adrian McKinty, is certainly not for everyone, but will definitely prove interesting to many. Set in the fictional town of Cobalt, Colorado, the author’s crime novel background shines through in establishing the setting, the cast of characters, and the mystery surrounding the cat killer that is terrorizing Danny Lopez and his new friends. Squeamish readers beware, the story contains quite a bit of graphic detail concerning the cat killings, and cat lovers might immediately put the book down as the first chapter describes a (fortunately) nearly successful cat murder. The author takes the reader straight into the mind of the murderer (though the identity is left unknown until the end), creating an effective sense of foreboding as the killer begins to resent Danny and his friends meddling in the crime spree. The situation at Danny’s new school, where students have to be quiet and wear strange white gloves, takes a backseat to the murder mystery aspect of the novel, which is unfortunate since it was one of the most interesting parts of the story. Despite this slight shortcoming, however, Deviant has a lot to offer the reader, especially teen boys who will like Danny’s style of narration and the brisk pace of the story. The novel is definitely a departure from typical young adult fare, and bold readers should give it a try.

I have to say that, although I enjoyed this novel, I am not surprised to read that it received quite a few negative reviews. It definitely is not for everyone, but I think that many teen readers, especially boys, will “get it” like I did. The subject matter is, admittedly, unusual: serial cat killer stalks small town. I am personally a moderate cat lover, but I could see how someone who treasures all things feline might throw the book down after the first chapter in revulsion. I have to admit that if the animal was changed from cats to dogs I probably would do the same thing. Once the initial “creep-out” factor is overcome, however, there is a lot to be enjoyed in the story. I’m looking forward to seeing what Adrian McKinty comes up with next for the young adult audience. (less)

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May 14, 2012 Oscar rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-2012

Deviant is about a kid named Danny whos new to Colorado. His mother got a promotion at new casino there, so his family had to move. Its Danny, his mom, and his stepfather, plus a cat. Danyy doesnt really get along with his stepdad. He first new friend is his neighbor, a girl named Tony, who goes to his new school. His new school is real strict and all, but the students find a way to survive. So eerything fine and all, untill they find out about this catkiller, whos killing cats! So its a plot t...more

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Dec 12, 2011 Erin Forson rated it 2 of 5 stars

Deviant
by Adrian McKinty
This Book Left Me Feeling…
mildly entertained but not memorably so.
Story Line
Imagine being forced to go to school where no talking is allowed, everyone has to wear white gloves, and the teacher and students communicate with one another through a written script. No, this isn’t sci-fi, this is Danny Lopez’s world after he and his mom and stepfather move to Colorado. It’s not hard to imagine how much Danny hates this new life—but the monotony of his school day is suddenly br...more

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Dec 08, 2011 Laci rated it 4 of 5 stars

First I have to tell you how big of a sucker I am for books like this one. I love everything about these types of books. I love the mystery to them, the hardship between the characters, and the suspense in the story! Your classic page turner.

Danny Lopez is the kid in town. But he is not moving to New York City, Seattle, or L.A. He is moving to a very little town just outside Denver, Colorado. And what is in this small town....nothing. Well not nothing, because he is moving there with his mom an...more First I have to tell you how big of a sucker I am for books like this one. I love everything about these types of books. I love the mystery to them, the hardship between the characters, and the suspense in the story! Your classic page turner.

Danny Lopez is the kid in town. But he is not moving to New York City, Seattle, or L.A. He is moving to a very little town just outside Denver, Colorado. And what is in this small town....nothing. Well not nothing, because he is moving there with his mom and step-dad because they are building a new casino and his mom is going to be the manager there. Some think that this is wrong but really don't do anything about it. Well while Danny is here he should make the best of it. He becomes friends with the girl next door and a couple guys down the road. They all go to the same school. This school is not like other schools though. This school has a very strict policy. There rules are: they can not talk while school is in session, they have to where white gloves so they know if you have been doing something that you are not supposed to do, and they learn from scripts providing from the state. But during this time a series of events start to happen. Cats start coming up missing and then come up murdered. What is happening in this small town?

At first when if first started to read this book I thought to myself what is going on? The book started off with a really neat story. The main character goes to a school that is very strict and meets a group of friends that become some of his best friends. Hey it could happen. It does in most books. While at the school Danny befriends the principle by accident. I think he just felt somewhat comfortable with the principle. But things change and this is going to be one of them. Later on in the book the real twist happens....the start killing off cats. Now come on, what did the cats ever do to you. They are cute and cuddly and are great snuggle partners. It was really disturbing to read about a serial cat killer. Yes there were more then one. In the book they talk about the cats being a offering to the demon so that evil can enter the world. This book was going every which way. But the sad part is that the book was very well written and really good.

I know what you are saying....that I just went on and on about things I complained about in the book and you are still saying that they book was good?!?!?!?!? Yes. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants a read the keeps you on your toes. I think that this this book was a really awesome read. It was intriguing and kept you going inside the story. In my opinion that is what every book should have.(less)

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Aug 28, 2011 Seana rated it 4 of 5 stars

I should start off by saying that I'm a big McKinty fan and would happily read anything he wrote. So even though I too was a bit stressed out by the first chapter, I actually found it was a pretty good little tale in itself in the end, and I also knew that gruesome exploitation of cat killing wasn't something that would be on McKinty's agenda.

There is a mysterious cat killer stalking the pages of this book, but the more interesting part of the story for me was that of being a kid moving from one...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Karla Nellenbach rated it 3 of 5 stars

Summary:

The remote Colorado town of Cobalt is known for only two things: its prisons and more recently, its school. Three years ago, a progressive school unlike any other opened its doors. In the controlled atmosphere of Cobalt Charter School, everything is scripted: the dress codes, the class schedules, what the teachers say, how the students respond, and when they can speak, which is almost never. Any parent unsure of how this environment would affect his child need only look at the school's a...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was a pleasant surprise, but also had a few let downs. I found that it had a good plot that kept you interested as you tried to figure out who terrorized the town. (Okay, terrorized isn't exactly the right word, but I don't want to give anything away.) There was a good mix of characters, although it seemed like all the guys liked Danny's friend Tony (Antonia), which got a bit repetitive. I did like the two warring friend groups in the school, as they provided a lot of action and helped...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Tammi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Danny Lopez and his mom Juanita and step-dad Walt live in Las Vegas where his mom works at a Casino for Mr. Glynn. They move to Colorado because Glynn is opening a new casino and wants Danny’s mom to manage it. Danny is therefore enrolled in Cobalt Junior High where they use the system of Direct Instruction. Direct Instruction is where the teachers and students read from a script. They do not permit talking aka triangulation at this school and the students have to wear white gloves all the time....more

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Jul 25, 2011 Karly added it

Shelves: netgalley

Danny Lopez finds himself relocating to Colorado with his stepdad because his mom got a job running a new casino. He is enrolled in a local school that follows the Direct Instruction method: kids and teachers cannot talk other than to read from the scripted lesson of the day. Danny is befriended by Tony, the girl who lives across the street. There's a local scandal that Danny and his new friends start to investigate: someone is kidnapping cats and killing them. Danny decides to try and catch the...more

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Jun 21, 2011 Chibineko rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, male-lead-character, murder, mystery, thriller

I really debated about whether or not to review this book because I didn't really know what to say about it. It isn't a terrible read but I just didn't get into this as much as I would have liked to. The following parts of the review will be semi-spoilerish (I'll leave the big stuff out) to some people, so if you're wondering whether or not to read the book then here's my opinion: It's worth checking out as a library book & reading. I also recommend that you read the book synopsis below beca...more I really debated about whether or not to review this book because I didn't really know what to say about it. It isn't a terrible read but I just didn't get into this as much as I would have liked to. The following parts of the review will be semi-spoilerish (I'll leave the big stuff out) to some people, so if you're wondering whether or not to read the book then here's my opinion: It's worth checking out as a library book & reading. I also recommend that you read the book synopsis below because well, the official book description isn't all that accurate. Those details are in the book, but not to the degree that the official synopsis makes it appear.

Danny's not happy. First his mother got married to a guy that Danny just can't stand and now he has to leave his home because his mother got a new job in Colorado. To make matters worse, Danny's new school is "special" in that everything is controlled. The kids don't just wear uniforms- they're also not allowed to speak unless it's from a script. Supposedly the incredibly controlling environment is going to help kids excel, but it doesn't stop schoolyard bullies from finding ways to pick on Danny & his new friends. If these stressors aren't enough, there's the neighborhood's tendency for dead cats. The adults swear that it's due to coyotes, but the kids know better. They know that there's someone dangerous out there & that it's only a matter of time before he makes the leap from animals to humans!

First the good. I really appreciated that the author took such great pains to research the stages that a potential serial killer would go through as well as what might go through their minds. The rather gruesome beginning to the book sets a dark tone for much of the book's opening. When it comes to details about serial killing, the author is top notch.

However, when it comes to details about everything else the author seems to come up a little short. Scenes that revolve around non-serial killer emotions tend to fall a little flat & I really couldn't help but feel that a few lines here or there would have helped out immensely. One such scene occurs later in the book with Danny & there just wasn't enough buildup to really justify such a scene, especially since it's such a complete opposite of things he was feeling & thinking earlier. It also doesn't help that the book's official description doesn't really fit the actions of the book's bad guy. If you're expecting this to be about a serial killer then you'll be semi-disappointed. The book is mostly about Danny adapting to his new environment, his stepdad, & his new friends.

I'm willing to give the book the benefit of the doubt though & I'll still recommend it, albeit as a library read. I can see this having a pretty large appeal to the male reading audience, especially since it's so hard for young men to find a book that isn't aimed towards teen girls or written for a far younger mindset. It's just that this didn't draw me in like I really wanted & needed it to. It'll never capture the public mindset like Pretty Little Liars did, but I have a feeling that it'll still find a good following.

2.5/5

(Arc provided by Netgalley)(less)

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Nov 26, 2011 Angela rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: dropped, dragged-out-plot, confusing, dull, male-pov, original-concepts, netgalley, mystery, depressing, middle-grade, slow, wtf-ending

Deviant was an extremely dull novel. I could not understand anything in the plot line. Most likely, the reason is I simply tried to scroll through the pages as fast as possible. How anyone could enjoy Deviant is beyond me. The characters were two-dimensional, nothing happened in the first 150 pages and it was just an unendurable read for me.

In the beginning, Danny is moving. He and his family, consisting of Walt, his step-father, and his mom, are moving to Cobalt, the place where the new casino...more

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Jun 14, 2011 Christy (Love of Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley

This was actually a pretty good book. I've studied serial killers, so the book was interesting to me. I'm not sure why other reviewers felt the details of the serial killers mind was disturbing, because this was actually very mild.

I admit, the 1st chapter had me anxious, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I anticipated due to what someone else had said about it. I have to quit doing that. One thing this book did do, was make me second guess who I thought the "bad guy(s)" were early on. Not too much...more

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Oct 04, 2011 Chrissy rated it 2 of 5 stars

I chose to review Deviant by Adrian McKinty because I thought the premise sounded interesting. With my background in psychology, I always love to read stories about troubled teens or "tough cases." Unfortunately, this description of the book seems to be misleading. The school isn't for troubled teens. It is an experimental school with strange programming, but it is a regular charter school.

I think it's pretty clear that I love books. Love them. I even love to love them. I hate it when I don't li...more I chose to review Deviant by Adrian McKinty because I thought the premise sounded interesting. With my background in psychology, I always love to read stories about troubled teens or "tough cases." Unfortunately, this description of the book seems to be misleading. The school isn't for troubled teens. It is an experimental school with strange programming, but it is a regular charter school.

I think it's pretty clear that I love books. Love them. I even love to love them. I hate it when I don't like a book, not just because it isn't a good reading experience, but because I feel bad for all the people who put so much work into the story. That's why this review is so hard to write.

I didn't like it.

And not one of those, "Oh, the story was good, but it wasn't right for me" kind of not liking either. It's one of those, "I really wish I was critiquing this as a writing partner so I could make comments about all the things not working for me," kind of not liking. :P

Okay, so let's start with the good. Despite the premise not sounding exactly like the above blurb, it is still an interesting one. There's a cat killer who we get to see into the mind of every few chapters. This creates a good sense of mystery and intrigue to balance some more mundane chapters. There's also a very strange school and the weird principal who runs it. The policies of the school and getting behind what's really going on there would be enough for a good story.

Now, the stuff I didn't quite like. Most of my dislikes can fall under the heading of: Does Not Sound Like Realistic YA. By that, I mean that the voice and the language didn't strike me as well done YA. I was painfully aware that an adult wrote this book. I mean, when was the last time a teenager described someone as a "valley girl?" The author tried to use updated dialogue on occasion, but didn't seem to use it right. For example, the phrase "made of awesome" is in there a few times. While this is a more current phrase, it wasn't always used correctly.

Also, everything is very clearly spelled out in a way that I found condescending to read. I'm sure this wasn't the author's intention and maybe I picked up on it more because I like to write, but I just wanted to scream, "Show, don't tell!" There was actually a part of the story where Danny does a mini psychological evaluation on each of the main characters (including himself). I realize, I am an adult reading a young adult book, but I think we need to give teenagers more credit for what they can pick up on in a story than this novel does.

Other than that, I think this story just wasn't for me. While the narration was mostly in Danny's head, it would randomly flip perspectives or go omniscent. Personally, I don't like that style, though others might. Also, I didn't feel as closely connected to Danny as I prefer to. Again, personal preference. Another nitpick that might not bother other people but definitely bothers me: there was product placement all over the place. Whether or not this was done intentionally, it bugged the heck out of me. These things alone wouldn't make me hate a story, but lumped together with my previous complaints made this story difficult for me to finish.

While I did not enjoy Deviant, I wouldn't write it off as a no-go for everyone. If it sounds like the type of story you like, I'd say read the first few chapters. They'll give you a good sense of what the rest of the story is like.

Overall rating: If interested, borrow it.(less)

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Jun 04, 2011 Lacey rated it 2 of 5 stars

First Thoughts:

Okay, I went into reading this book knowing nothing about the author or much of the story itself. The first chapter really freaked me out, I mean describing in detail of the mind of a serial killer?! I mean come on, that's bound to freak anyone out. This was definately a strange book, the characters were too easily placed and seemed to get over these terrible incidents quite quickly and they forgave way too easily. But despite that it was interesting read and only took me about a...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Mandi Kaye Ottaway rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was neither the best nor the worst book I’ve ever read. I found parts of it very disturbing to read, particularly at the beginning. However, McKinty does an excellent job putting the reader inside the villain’s head. I was reminded of Ted Dekker several times throughout.

Overall, the book doesn’t flow very well. The point of view switches characters often, sometimes in mid-paragraph, making it somewhat difficult to keep up with. That being said, the story was an interesting read. While it do...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Nicole Sobon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

It took me a while to get into "Deviant", but it was a rather interesting book. I'm not big on violence, whether its people or animals, so the first chapter was difficult to push through, but I did, and I came out surprised by the story and how much I actually liked it.

Danny just moved to Colorado from Las Vegas after his mother is given a promotion at the new casino her boss is preparing to open. The new job means a new car, a new house - a new lifestyle. The life he had in Las Vegas is incredi...more

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Oct 02, 2011 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

I don't know about you, but I was a little creeped out by this cover. Even now, I'm not sure if it was a good kind of creepy -but it was definitely creepy, not to mention that the centerpiece of the cover is the world "deviant," which only adds to the feeling of uneasiness. From the beginning, I knew that something was going to be wrong with the characters in this book, but, somewhat crazy person that I am, I was completely drawn in the creepy cover and I wanted to learn more about what this boo...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Cherie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Adrian McKinty's Deviant is a twisted mystery with a cat serial killer as wicked as a young Hannibal Lector and an unlikely hero in Danny Lopez.

When Danny Lopez and his family move to Colorado, everything is just plain weird. From his scripted school to the secret groups to the mysterious cat killings, he longs for the bright lights of Las Vegas, but a killer has other plans. As Danny and his friends investigate, they quickly realize they might be in over their heads in this new thriller.

Deviant...more

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Jul 15, 2011 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

After reading the reviews already posted before I'd really gotten into this book, I was a bit nervous about reading it. But then I got into it and really enjoyed it. The serial killer aspect to the book was very interesting. I liked how really it kept me guessing, it's that guy, no it's this kid, no wait, it's that kid. I love when it takes me a bit to figure out who the bad guy is. As a science teacher I also like how it talked about Tesla and other science topics. As a teacher, can I say that...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

The little blurb for the book had drawn me into the storyline, however after actually reading it I wasn't that impressed. The story itself was flat and a bit boring. I had to step back while halfway through the book and ask myself, "Wait, whats the conflict again?" Tony annoys me to no end and has a varying personality thorough the book. Danny had been an interesting character in the beginning but proved to be nothing special in the end. Speaking of the end that was probably my favorite part of...more

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Dec 17, 2011 Hikari rated it 3 of 5 stars

A killer is around town. Danny and his cat may or may not be the next victims. Sound intriguing? Yeah, thought so. I didn't know if I should be more scared for Danny or his cat though...

Deviant has a gripping plot for sure. From Danny's über strict school to the cat kidnapper then right down to that last twist about the killer, there isn't a dull moment in this book.

One thing I love in YA's are male protagonists. And guess what? Danny is male! He's an average fourteen-year-old, hating his new sc...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

I got my hands on an advanced copy of McKinty's Deviant and when I went to add it to my GoodReads' page I started to wonder if I had made a mistake in requesting it. I noticed that some people had claimed to be so upset by the first chapter that they put the book down and didn't pick it back up, but I had committed to reading it so I thought I'd go ahead and see it through. Despite the odd reviews I waded on in to the story, and I'm glad I did.

I'm not sure that the blurb on the back of the book...more I got my hands on an advanced copy of McKinty's Deviant and when I went to add it to my GoodReads' page I started to wonder if I had made a mistake in requesting it. I noticed that some people had claimed to be so upset by the first chapter that they put the book down and didn't pick it back up, but I had committed to reading it so I thought I'd go ahead and see it through. Despite the odd reviews I waded on in to the story, and I'm glad I did.

I'm not sure that the blurb on the back of the book or the fearful reviews really properly set the stage for Deviant, Danny Lopez is new in town and a teenage boy struggling with a difficult family dynamics but otherwise he seems to be a likeable character. His new school is a strange Charter school where the students seem as mysterious and difficult to navigate as the faculty and the strange teaching style, but Danny cautiously wades into his new surroundings and tries to acclimate to his new friends and surroundings.

Interspersed through Danny's rather straightforward narrative, McKinty gives us glimpses into a dark and twisted mind. Against the back drop of the more mundane, the dark glimpses seem even more menacing in tone, even when the contents of those glimpses aren't terribly menacing. In other words, it's the contrast between Danny and our killer that really seems to highlight just how far "out there" that our killer is.

There is mention of acts of violence committed against animals. Honestly, from what I've read of truly violent people, this book was scarily accurate. It always starts with something small, pulling the legs off of grasshoppers, burning ants with a magnifying glass and escalates to animals and usually keeps escalating until it reaches a horrifying crescendo. Given the difficulty of that particular subject matter, I think that the author handled it tastefully. It's essential to the plot but clearly not something the author wrote into the story just for the shock value.

Though there were many points in the story that I enjoyed - likable characters, a plot with interesting twists but there were two things that I found rather grating. The first was that several times it was mentioned that Danny's family had no cable yet. The first time I hardly noticed it but later when it kept coming up, I couldn't help but wonder why. The other was references to current political figures, but that's because I find that it kind of jars me out of the story and puts me back into the present.

Overall it was an intriguing book and while there were a few bumps and dips in the twisty road, it was one I was glad I had wandered down for a while.(less)

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Jul 06, 2011 Terri Armstrong rated it 3 of 5 stars

“Deviant” by Adrian McKinty

Danny Lopez and his family moved to Cobalt, Colorado where he knew no one and nothing, for his mother’s job at a new casino that belongs to the Ute and Cherokee Nations.
His step-father Walt works at LRFCF a minimum security prison. Danny’s only friend is Jeff, his cat, until he meets Tony, his neighbor, and a few kids at school who make up a group called “The Watchers”. The group is very small consisting of: Olivia, Cooper, Tony, Tom and now Danny. Carol did belong, bu...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Shelley Daugherty rated it 3 of 5 stars

I would rate this a little higher if I was younger but for me the story was a little slow. However, I think this would be a good book for younger readers who are wanting to test out the waters of mysteries moving into murder mysteries. This book revolves around a cat murderer and how his moves are affecting the people in the town, mainly the kids. Danny is a new kid but he is quickly being forced to choose which group of people he wants to hang out with and with, the strangeness of his new schoo...more

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Nov 28, 2011 Krystle rated it 2 of 5 stars

There isn’t that much YA mystery novels these days where a good who did it or solve the case type of plot are the driving force behind the story. I think I’ve only read one other book in the genre, Clarity, which I didn’t really care for. I guess I can say that I’m not really a fan of the genre in the first place but I’m always optimistic if the writing’s good and the story has something I can attach to.

Let’s see, the writing. It’s nothing spectacular, I can tell you that much but at least it’s...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Marsha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, literature-fiction, young-adult, advance-reading-copy-advance-uncorr

This was a book with a very slow start. In spite of the cryptic messages by “Indrid Cold” I felt myself a touch bored and a little irritated with this story about a burgeoning serial killer. It seemed to deal more with the problems of the various adolescents more than with the cat-killer at its center.

But the story slowly gathers steam as first the teenagers and then the authorities realize there is more going on than a psycho killing felines. While I guessed the identity of the serial slaughte...more

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Nov 05, 2011 Missie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, horror

Deviant has its high points, but is mostly a disappointment. McKinty does the POV of a disaffected teen pretty well, but inserts bizarre asides from the POV of other characters randomly. Instead of showing attitudes through reactions, he takes this lazy way out to tell what the other characters are thinking. Another sour note to me was the occasional slang or other cultural reference that was clearly dated pre-2000, when the main character was a typical young teen boy (no special education or in...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Asche rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'm not going to lie. I could have gone without reading this book and it wouldn't have made a difference. Right from the start, I did not think that the book flowed very well. Being an animal lover, I would have rather not read the first few pages. The book mentions a killer, but I was thinking a normal serial killer type. But the book isn't really about the killer, just about Danny trying to fit in at his new school. Besides that, there isn't really much else that I can say about it. Overall, I...more

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Nov 03, 2011 Sandy added it

Shelves: did-not-finish

From the opening scene of Deviant, I knew this book wasn't for me. I didn't realize this book was about a serial killer, with vivid details from his POV. I was attracted to this book from the blurb about kids at an experimental school, and I must have missed the part about the serial killer. I admit--I was too big of a wimp to finish and had to stop about 50 pages in because being in the mind of a serial killer was too creepy for me. However, I think fans of this kind of book will find it satisf...more

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About Adrian McKinty

Adrian McKinty is an Irish novelist. He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1968 and grew up in Victoria Council Estate, Carrickfergus, County Antrim. He read law at the University of Warwick and politics and philosophy at the University of Oxford. He moved to the United States in the early 1990s, living first in Harlem, New York and from 2001 onwards Denver, Colorado where he taught high sch...more

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Books by Adrian McKinty

Dead I Well May Be (Michael Forsythe #1)

The Lighthouse Land (Lighthouse Trilogy, #1)

The Cold Cold Ground (Troubles Trilogy, #1)

The Bloomsday Dead (Michael Forsythe #3)

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