I Hunt Killers (Jasper Dent, #1)

Mar 30, 2012 Wendy Darling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-publication, lb, thriller-suspense, young-adult, male-pov, male-ya-author, 2012-favorites, hilarious, poc, april, read-2012, mature-ya, psychological-thriller, gory

4.5 stars Do you believe violent offenders are the product of nature or nurture?

In the case of 17-year-old Jasper “Jazz” Dent, he’s got both factors working against him. Not only is he the son of the country’s most notorious serial killer, but dear old daddy even forced him to watch those grisly crimes and sometimes…more.

I’ve always been interested in how human beings cope with extreme circumstances, and the way children in particular can demonstrate remarkable resilience. I Hunt Killers sets u...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Flannery rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA readers who like adult crime thrillers, Dexter fans

Shelves: arc-galley-or-first-reads, i-wouldnt-read-on-the-t, read-in-2012, read-on-tour, young-adult-teen, wishlist-for-books-to-keep

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga Chart Comparing Gory Funny Scary and Clean

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I love reading about and researching serial killers. There, I said it. I am perpetually fascinated by the stories that seem too far-fetched to be true. Elizabeth Báthory allegedly bathed in the blood of virgins to retain her youth. Ted Bundy kept the decapitated heads of his victims in his house as mementos. Ed Gein dug up dead bodies and made a belt out of nipples. This is the stuff nightmares are made of. So it was with a certain excitement that I started reading I Hunt Kill...more

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I love reading about and researching serial killers. There, I said it. I am perpetually fascinated by the stories that seem too far-fetched to be true. Elizabeth Báthory allegedly bathed in the blood of virgins to retain her youth. Ted Bundy kept the decapitated heads of his victims in his house as mementos. Ed Gein dug up dead bodies and made a belt out of nipples. This is the stuff nightmares are made of. So it was with a certain excitement that I started reading I Hunt Killers. Barry Lyga created a fun friendship, a believable relationship (and interracial, which is exciting to note as interracial relationships are few and far between in YA), and two pretty darn scary serial killers. One is the protagonist's father, Dear Old Dad, who killed over 120 people and is now in prison. The other is a new killer, one who just started murdering people in Jazz's own town. The locals will never forget what his father did, nor will some of them ever treat him as anything other than someone about to follow in his father's footsteps.

Jazz himself is worried about becoming a killer. He knew about a lot of his father's victims and he keeps having nightmares (or are they memories?) about helping his father kill something/someone but he can't put the pieces together. He knows the history and evidence from his father's kills in and out and believes he understands the mind of a serial killer, so when the new killer starts racking up victims, Jazz attempts to help the local police solve the crime. The chief humors him more than I believe to be likely, but the funnier parts of the novel, and it IS funny, involve Jazz and his hemophiliac best friend Howie doing a little crime-solving work on their own. A lot of humor is also added by Jazz's grandmother, with whom he lives. She has increasing memory loss and often does wacky things and mistakes people for others. Of all the points in the novel that I could've been offended by, I was a little disheartened by the fact that Jazz essentially drugs his grandmother several times to keep her sleeping. Also, in regards to his grandmother, I felt like the child services worker, though well-intentioned, was unrealistic. Anybody who has worked in or around the system would probably raise an eyebrow at a worker making such an effort over someone who is healthy, not abused, able to support himself, and 6 months from aging out of the system. Sad, but true.

Fans of thrillers and horror novels will probably enjoy this, regardless of its YA categorization. When I was trying to think of readalikes, the only thing similar in the YA genre that I am aware of is the John Cleaver series by Dan Wells and I signed out of that series after the first book added in a paranormal element. This book had more gory elements, funny dialogue, more realism, and it was scarier. I was fully engaged for the entirety of the novel so to me, it is the clear winner. I Hunt Killers ends with a bang. It can stand alone but I sincerely hope that Lyga writes more about Jazz and company. Please don't leave me hanging like this, Mr. Lyga!

Thanks to Wendy Darling at The Midnight Garden for touring her ARC of this book. I loved it!

Read this review and tons of other book-related awesomeness at The Readventurer.(less)

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Apr 25, 2012 Emily May rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Emily by: Wendy Darling

Shelves: ya-na, mystery-thriller-horror, 2012

Sequel, please? Now? I thought this book was really really good. I would have happily handed out five stars, except for the fact that I had the killer's identity figured out less than halfway through the book. I feel very sad that Ms Dense seems to have been randomly replaced with Marple, but thankfully this novel is about a lot more than just solving the main mystery.

I actually took longer to read this book than I tend to do, and most of that time was spent on the first few chapters. So I shal...more

Sequel, please? Now? I thought this book was really really good. I would have happily handed out five stars, except for the fact that I had the killer's identity figured out less than halfway through the book. I feel very sad that Ms Dense seems to have been randomly replaced with Marple, but thankfully this novel is about a lot more than just solving the main mystery.

I actually took longer to read this book than I tend to do, and most of that time was spent on the first few chapters. So I shall be issuing a warning to those who feel underwhelmed at first - stick with this book, it really does get better and better. The problem was, depraved individual that I am, I felt the introduction to the story and characters to be really light. I'm the kind of reader who likes my mysteries dark and full of gore and psychopaths... and Jasper Dent's character reminded me of a much smarter version of Cassel from White Cat. I love Cassel, but he never strikes me as a "serious" character, and this is how I felt towards Jasper. At first.

But it soon became apparent that Barry Lyga really knows how to balance light and dark in a way I'm not even familiar with. There was humour in this book and Jasper Dent was in many ways a regular teenage boy with a best friend and a girlfriend. Since his dad was arrested, he has lived with his grandmother - a woman suffering from the effects of old age and a sometimes cruelly psychotic personality - but this is all rather amusing, instead of tragic. However, the author's ability to suddenly flip the switch between light-hearted teen humour and really dark descriptions of murder and sociopathic tendencies had quite an effect on me. It could have seemed silly and forced, yet for me it just made it more dramatic and disturbing.

Perhaps this is just me because I don't recall reading reviews that have picked up on this dark twistedness. But I honestly thought there was something extremely horrifying and effective about the contrast between light and dark tones in the novel.

Jasper Dent is also a very complex character, he has all kinds of conflicting emotions flying around inside him. He is the kind of person who questions his motives for everything: is he helping someone because he wants to help them? Or is he helping them for what he gets out of it? If a person is brought up knowing only one way of life, are they destined to follow that path? Can they change?

There are a few problems I had with the story. I don't believe the sheriff would really have been that understanding in a real life situation, and I don't believe he wouldn't have been just a tad more suspicious of Jasper in the beginning. Also, would that social worker really have been that concerned for a guy so close to eighteen who could obviously look after himself? I'm not sure they would have.

These things are very small matters that don't actually take anything away from the novel. This is a seriously gripping story... so, you know what you should do: read it!
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May 05, 2012 Giselle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own, favorites, mystery-thriller

"A serial killer's greatest ability is the ability to blend in"

I love being in the mind of a serial killer. Is this bizarre? Maybe a little. But with an older sister at home, I skipped the fairy tales, instead I grew up watching Freddy Krueger and reading murder mysteries. Naturally, I Hunt Killers immediately attracted my interest with its serial killer's son synopsis. Then when I removed the dust jacket and saw this:

♫ We're here for a good time!

You have to admit, there is something fascinating...more

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Apr 18, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Confession time. I may have a thing for blood, gore, and chills galore. Ha! Who am I kidding? Bloodlust would be a better description! I grew up on horror films and Stephen King bed time stories. Soooo…When I saw I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga on the shelf, I lunged for it! A serial killer book for young adults with huge doses of humor and chills? Yes, please!

I’m going to sidetrack gush right out of the gate here on this book’s gorgeous, gorgeous, gory dressing. It made me so giddy I may have jum...more Confession time. I may have a thing for blood, gore, and chills galore. Ha! Who am I kidding? Bloodlust would be a better description! I grew up on horror films and Stephen King bed time stories. Soooo…When I saw I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga on the shelf, I lunged for it! A serial killer book for young adults with huge doses of humor and chills? Yes, please!

I’m going to sidetrack gush right out of the gate here on this book’s gorgeous, gorgeous, gory dressing. It made me so giddy I may have jumped up and down like a twelve year old girl! Hehe…I have never urged anyone to pick up the print version rather than the ebook before, but there is a first time for every occasion. It is a joy to behold! The “oh-my” looks thrown my way on the train when I pulled that beauty out made me giggle every time. If you remove the book’s jacket, you will find a pristine, glowing white book splattered with blood! Just beautiful! And that is just the beginning….

Meet Jasper (Jazz) Dent. A smart, handsome, polite, young man with a dazzling I-can-get-anything-I-want charm. He has a best friend, girlfriend, a role in the school play, and…a serial killer for a father. It has been four years since Billy Dent was finally captured and locked up for a life long career spanning decades as the country’s most feared and infamous serial killer. No one will ever forget Billy Dent and what he did especially his son. Jasper lives in the same small town, lives in the same rundown house his Dad grew up in and everyone seems to be waiting for Jazz to follow in dear ole dad’s footsteps. Including Jazz. So when I new killer hits town, Jazz is determined to help solve the case and prove every one wrong. He can be “normal”. He doesn’t want to make Dad proud. Right?

Jazz, Jazz, Jazz! I loved your messed up, beautiful head from the get-go! Jazz’s dreams, fears, struggles and insecurities coupled with his dark past and power created one hell of a haunting read. All kidding aside though, Jazz possesses some seriously dark thoughts about people, caring, and love that went straight to my shiver bone! Mr. Lyga introduced some interesting issues that impacted Jasper’s life, such as the press and the families of the victims. Pain and struggles that make the possibilities for a normal teenage life for Jazz nearly impossible. So what keeps him sane and grounded in reality and emotion?

Howie! OH, Howie! I adored this guy! Jazz and Howie have been best friends through it all—before Billy Dent was caught and after. The kind of friend you take with you to break into a morgue! :) Howie’s fragileness paired with Jazz’s darkness made for an intoxicating, dangerous and fun blend! I do have to disagree with Howie on one point though--(view spoiler) Haha…You get the impression these two would do anything for each other. The trust and loyalty between Jazz and Howie was the heartbeat and love of this story for me. Sorry, Connie—you didn’t even come close. Their friendship was almost as strong as….

Dear Old Dad’s bond with Jazz. Almost. I really don’t want to spoil anything here, but just know it was not Jazz’s memories of finding teeth around the house or the recounting of the crimes that gave me the chills. It was his Dad’s “tender” moments that scared the bejesus out of me! Very sad and scary. I just wanted to keep Jazz safe. Tell him to run and get away. The frustration and pull of Jazz’s what ifs filled these pages with such emotion and pain. I had to remind myself again and again that Billy Dent was Jazz’s father no matter what he may have done. The love and bond was real and there between them. Like I said—chilling! Gives me the shivers just thinking about it.

Now since there can be only one or possibly two badasses in town—let’s just say the new killer was the odd one out. The killer made very little impression on me. But that wasn’t even one of my real disappointments with this story. It was the endings. I call them hiccup endings. Just when you think they are gone…hiccup! All the endings were powerful and perfect on their own, but all together they robbed the power and emotion of the words for me. One of those endings alone would have been spectacular!

That said, these are merely minor, minor hiccups. I loved this book and will recommend it to everyone and their mother! :D

Can’t wait for more!

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Jun 21, 2012 Maja rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-favorites, audiobooks, favorites, highly-anticipating-2012, murder-mystery, surprise-surprise, ya, reviewed-in-2012

Jasper “Jazz” Dent was raised by his father Billy, one of the world’s most violent serial killers. While other kids were riding bikes and playing, Jazz was taking care of his father’s murder trophies and learning how to become an invisible, invincible predator. When Jasper was twelve, Billy finally escalated and got caught by the local sheriff, G. William. Four years later, Jazz is still tormented by his father’s teachings, and his only goal is to escape Billy Dent’s legacy. He needs to remind h...more Jasper “Jazz” Dent was raised by his father Billy, one of the world’s most violent serial killers. While other kids were riding bikes and playing, Jazz was taking care of his father’s murder trophies and learning how to become an invisible, invincible predator. When Jasper was twelve, Billy finally escalated and got caught by the local sheriff, G. William. Four years later, Jazz is still tormented by his father’s teachings, and his only goal is to escape Billy Dent’s legacy. He needs to remind himself over and over again that people matter, especially when a new killer starts imitating Billy’s crimes. Jasper is the first to notice the pattern and as the bodies start piling up, he becomes obsessed with stopping the copycat.

In Jasper, Lyga created a well-rounded, consistent and truly believable character. He is smart and incredibly observant, but severely damaged, and very easy to love. But he's not the only one worth mentioning. Of all the fabulous characters that were built around Jazz, his girlfriend Connie was the one who really stole my heart. It is rare that a teen character, especially a secondary character, is so strong, self-assured and genuinely kind. Jazz is convinced that she’s the one keeping him sane and grounded (or as sane as he can be), and I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree with him. As much as I loved Jazz’s best friend Howie (and really, how does a serial killer’s son get a type A hemophiliac for his best friend?), Connie is one of those characters that make me proud to be a woman.

Getting brief glimpses of the killer’s point of view is certainly not uncommon in crime novels, and I can think of at least ten cases when I really appreciated the insight. Usually, these chapters are either about the gore or about allowing the reader to really feel the fear of the victims. This time, however, I didn’t feel that the few brief passages told from The Impressionist’s point of view brought anything useful to the story. Yes, they were interesting, but they were mostly about The Impressionist's obsession with Jazz himself, which is something we could have figured out on our own. We saw the gory details through Jazz’s eyes (and memories) anyway. There was, however, one thing Lyga did better than most: while Jazz was investigating, even when he was one step ahead of the police, Barry Lyga never made the police look stupid and incompetent. He found a way to create a hero that is special in some way without degrading the small-town sheriff and his people.

The narrator, Charlie Thurston, did an amazing job differentiating the voices of all the characters. He didn’t just change his voice, he slightly changed his accent too, and he adapted it to each character according to age and education. The changes in accents were minute, but they were there, and they were very impressive. He also handled the emotional scenes in a way that made me believe and really feel them. My only problem is that he made Billy Dent, Jazz’s personal boogeyman and the world’s most notorious serial killer sound funny! I’m not sure if this is an audio issue or a book issue, which is why I’d like to hear from those of you who’ve read the book. Regardless, next time I see the name Charlie Thurston on an audiobook, I won’t hesitate to pick it up.

Also posted at The Nocturnal Library
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Jun 28, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity by: Isamlq

Shelves: young-adult

HEY. YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO CROSS THE TAPE. THIS IS A CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION.

Oh who are we kidding...no one ever pays attention to warnings, especially book characters.

Our lead character Jasper (Jazz) is no exception. Except in his case, he is smarter than the average ~~bear~~ cop. After all, you might know a thing or two when your dad is one of the most famous serial killers of all time. His skills are bound to come in handy when hunting down a serial killer who is copying his dad's moves.

Welco...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Oceana Fern {Assorted Insanity} rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: horror-thriller lovers

Recommended to Oceana Fern {Assorted Insanity} by: myself. I am awesome.

Shelves: horror-fiction, mystery-fiction, favorites, young-adult, four-stars, dat-title

4.5

Find my vlog review here.

William R. Somerset should have been partnered with Jasper Francis Dent in Se7en.

By the way. Sorry, Jazz, but that is totally a serial killer name.

I HUNT KILLERS is the story of seventeen year-old Jazz, the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, Billy Jazz, and his efforts to hunt down a new serial killer. As the bodies pile up, Jazz and his friends must work faster than ever.

I HUNT KILLERS is disturbing. It's gory. It's sinister. And it is freaking awesome....more

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Apr 13, 2012 Sasha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012-favorites, ya-qc-5, young-adult, unexpectedly-enjoyed, horror-thriller

If you asked me to describe this book in one word, I would say it was CREEPALICIOUS.

Jazz is 17 years old and is kind of an outcast in his hometown. But not because he’s weird (he’s super charming) or because he’s ugly (he’s quite attractive) but because his dad is serving 25 Life Sentences for murder. Jazz is the world’s most notorious serial killer’s son. And when girls start showing up dead, Jazz is determined to prove to the town that he is not the killer. But in this nature vs nurture battle...more If you asked me to describe this book in one word, I would say it was CREEPALICIOUS.

Jazz is 17 years old and is kind of an outcast in his hometown. But not because he’s weird (he’s super charming) or because he’s ugly (he’s quite attractive) but because his dad is serving 25 Life Sentences for murder. Jazz is the world’s most notorious serial killer’s son. And when girls start showing up dead, Jazz is determined to prove to the town that he is not the killer. But in this nature vs nurture battle, where both sides seem to be against him, how will Jazz come out “normal”? And can he be “normal”, even if he wants to?

First, I love how Barry snuck in something that relates to every single teenager out there (you know, in case you didn’t connect with the whole serial killer parent thing). The question: WILL I TURN OUT LIKE MY PARENTS?! (O_O) Ahem, sometimes this isn’t a bad thing (in Jazz’s situation it is, of course). But really, everyone has either experienced or seen “those parents”, the ones who push and push their children to be like them or the “stage moms” who push their kids to do something because they themselves wanted to do it when they were younger.

This book truly is unlike anything out there right now in YA. And there are so many things about its uniquity that I enjoyed. It’s told from third person . Today, there are SO MANY books that are first person and it’s so nice sometimes to be TOLD a story; to be an observer and try to figure things out instead of “experiencing it” from first person. Also, there is the fact that the reader can hear Billy’s voice (Jazz’s serial killer father) in Jazz’s head – it seriously adds to the creepy factor (and if you ever get to hear Barry Lyga speak, IT IS SERIOUSLY EERIE and I love it.).

I Hunt Killers is a face-paced page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat. And at the end, you’re still on the edge – begging for more.

PS- While I did enjoy this book very much, I would not recommend it to readers under the age of 16. I have no doubt that there are children younger than 16 that could handle some of the content, but 16+ is just my person opinion/recommendation.(less)

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Apr 23, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, mystery-thriller, favorites, contemporary

I was completely blindsided by how much I love Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killers. I had an inkling that it would be good after reading positive reviews on The Midnight Garden and The Readventurer, but there was no way for me to know just how good. I Hunt Killers is the type of book that makes me wish I were more articulate, that I could communicate with the written word more effectively than I can.

I Hunt Killers captures the reader quickly; less than five pages in and I was hooked. It is a fast paced...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Crowinator rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of teen sleuths, psychological horror, and Criminal Minds

Shelves: arcs, ya, horror-and-psychological-thrillers, mystery-and-crime, 2012-reads, antiheroes, favorites-read-in-2012, assassins-and-serial-killers, cliffhangers-ho

First Line: “By the time Jazz got to the field outside town, yellow police tape was everywhere, strung from stake to stake in a sort of drunken, off-kilter hexagon.”

Cover Story: Night Prowler
“I'm your Night Prowler, break down your door
I'm your Night Prowler, crawling 'cross your floor
I'm your Night Prowler, make a mess of you, yes I will
Night Prowler, and I am telling this to you
There ain't nothing you can do” – AC/DC

Five-Sentence Summary:
Jasper “Jazz” Dent wants nothing more than to be left a...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Jen (A Reading Daydreamer) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook, favorites

In anticipation for Halloween, I decided to pick up I Hunt Killers. I've had my eye on it for awhile now, but I've always been hesitant to pick it up, because it's WAY out of my comfort zone! I'm a weenie and I can never handle anything too scary. Luckily, it had JUST enough creep factor to keep me excited and reading, instead of pushing me away from it. I Hunt Killers was a fantastic, bone-chilling murder mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed!

One of the many things I loved in I Hunt Killers were th...more In anticipation for Halloween, I decided to pick up I Hunt Killers. I've had my eye on it for awhile now, but I've always been hesitant to pick it up, because it's WAY out of my comfort zone! I'm a weenie and I can never handle anything too scary. Luckily, it had JUST enough creep factor to keep me excited and reading, instead of pushing me away from it. I Hunt Killers was a fantastic, bone-chilling murder mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed!

One of the many things I loved in I Hunt Killers were the characters, especially Jazz. Jazz, the son of the world-famous serial killer. Jazz was not bad-ass. He was not the bravest person, but he proved to be a strong character. Even though his thoughts wavered from time to time, he was able to overcome the bad thoughts and stay as a good person (not kill anyone). I also freaking loved Jazz's best friend, Howie. Howie was hilarious and kind of stupid, in a way, but also adorable. He definitely lightened up the story when it was dark and scary. And we can't forget Connie, Jazz's girlfriend! Connie was extremely supportive, and unbelievably brave! Being the girlfriend of a serial killer's son? Talk about courage. The characters were fantastic and very well done!

The next-best-thing was the PLOT. Ahh, Barry Lyga, you are incredibly awesome! The plot for I Hunt Killers was so intense, captivating, and gripping! I couldn't stop reading until I knew who the new killer in Lobo's Nod was! I loved the suspicion, plot twists, and the creepy scenes. It's suspenseful for sure, and awesome. I had no problems with it whatsoever!

Pretty much what I'm trying to say is: GO READ THIS BOOK. If you're a fan of Pretty Little Liars (without the romance-y part), creepy and spine-tingling emotions, this is THE book for you! Even if you don't like that area of YA, I'd still give it a shot! This one surprise me, to say in the least. Outstanding!

Audiobook Review: SO GOOD. I so so so recommend the audio! Of course, it's narrated by a male and it's just perfect for the voice of Jazz! It definitely adds to the story, and it's flawless. 5 teacups for the audio as well!

5 Teacups for I Hunt Killers!

THIS REVIEW WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON A Reading Daydreamer:
http://a-reading-daydreamer.blogspot....

For more of my reviews, please check out the blog:

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Feb 22, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-mt-bookpile

There's an episode of Criminal Minds where a teen asks Reid if he (the teen) could be a psychopath, and there's Wells' I Am Not a Serial Killer - both seem to have informed this book. That's not a bad thing, by the way. The difference here is that Jazz (Jasper) is the son of the worst serial killer in history, Billy Dent, and has been "trained" (aka brainwashed) by his father in how to be an even better killer than Billy ever was. That's quite an ambition for a father to have for a son, isn't it...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Alyssa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, a-guy-of-ya, get-with-library, highly-anticipated, i-love-this-cover, reccomended, mystery-suspense, really-excited-for, a-favourite-author, actually-funny, contemporary, emotional, great-realistic-fiction, great-books, kick-ass, multiple-povs, mystery, read-it-but-just-buy-it-anyway, what-a-weird-book, thriller, ya-loved, ya-romance

Hoo boy. This book was not good for my proneness to nausea and queasiness.

It only took two books for Lyga to soar on to my chart of authors to watch out for. I mean, damn! His talent! The two books of his that I've read (the other is The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl) have blown my mind with their abilities to make me both equally uncomfortable and enthralled, and I honestly cannot express how fascinated I am with his writing craft and the careful way he’s slid all sorts of sen...more Hoo boy. This book was not good for my proneness to nausea and queasiness.

It only took two books for Lyga to soar on to my chart of authors to watch out for. I mean, damn! His talent! The two books of his that I've read (the other is The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl) have blown my mind with their abilities to make me both equally uncomfortable and enthralled, and I honestly cannot express how fascinated I am with his writing craft and the careful way he’s slid all sorts of sentiments into my heart. In I Hunt Killers, there’s this psychologically-driven and precise way to the narration that makes Jazz, the son of the world’s most notorious serial killer, become this completely unreliable, and yet still interesting and wholly sympathetic person, and it’s incredibly mesmerizing in all sorts of ways.

Lobo’s Nod has seen the most serial killers than any small town in history. Billy Dent, the first killer, was a man born and raised there, who managed to murder over a hundred and twenty people while simultaneously raising his son, Jazz, before getting caught by the town’s head policeman. Now, with Dear Old Dad locked up in the state prison, another psychopath is on the loose, and this time, Jazz is determined to save some lives, even if he’s not exactly sure that his mind, which was trained by the most disturbed, is up for the job.

This book could be labelled a mystery, but it’s so much more than that. Maybe it’s because the killer became obvious to me very quickly, but I didn’t really focus much on the mystery of the story, and rather on the mental and emotional elements. Part of the reason why I was so uncomfortable while reading – and believe me, when I wasn’t queasy, I was genuinely shuffling in my seat – is because every character, down to the serial killers and the anonymous parental units, were so perfectly portrayed. The fact that Jazz could seem dangerous one second and then broken the next, paired with the multiple insights into the minds of the serial killers, made me feel raw and, in a way, very violated. For most of the book, the reader experiences the sad story of Lobo’s Nod through the eyes of Jazz, and so not only does the reader know what he does of his past, but then also knows how much is missing from it, how many pieces of his life his PSTD has taken from him. This added depth to the story, and the extra layer of the contrasting compassion and coldness of other characters, made for quite the intense and unforgettable read.

I Hunt Killers is a book I’d carefully recommend, despite the fierce reaction it has personally ignited. Like I said, it made me physically and mentally sick, so I hesitantly suggest it to readers of faint heart – and to those under 16, because really, this book is a little graphic - but gladly recommend it to just about everyone. Of course, there are some weak aspects to the story, particularly in regards to the mystery and in some unforgiving conveniences, but I Hunt Killers is a very strong, horribly intimate book that humbly ranks high on my list of favourite reads of the year.

4.25 stars(less)

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Apr 05, 2012 Misty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-or-galley, horror-mystery-suspense-thriller, own, juvenile-ya, dark, read-in-2012, review-copy-accepted

There are always times when you think the concept of a book is so interesting and potentially awesome that you're sure you're going to be let down when you read it. It's some little failsafe in our brains, preparing us for disappointment because we're pretty sure we're going to be let down. And then, when that doesn't happen, and we actually get what we are hoping for - there's this moment of shock. It's a little thrilling, actually. And it's all the more special for being rare.
Thankfully - for...more There are always times when you think the concept of a book is so interesting and potentially awesome that you're sure you're going to be let down when you read it. It's some little failsafe in our brains, preparing us for disappointment because we're pretty sure we're going to be let down. And then, when that doesn't happen, and we actually get what we are hoping for - there's this moment of shock. It's a little thrilling, actually. And it's all the more special for being rare.
Thankfully - for me, at least - I Hunt Killers delivers one of those moments.

Barry Lyga gave me exactly what I was looking for. The Nature vs. Nurture debate is one of the most interesting to me, and in a story like this, where a boy is essentially being groomed to be the world's finest Serial Killer Extraordinaire by his, um - talented? - father, Nature vs. Nurture takes center stage. Jazz's father has been in jail for 4 years by the time the book opens, but Jazz can't really get out from under his shadow. He's been programmed to see the weaknesses in people, and his own superiority, and then to use that. Being in his head, the reader gets to see what a struggle it is for Jazz to have any kind of normalcy. He clings to the things that make him human because he's terrified that he's a ticking timebomb - he's just waiting for something to set him off. He tries so hard to remind himself to be normal, because he's so terrified that he's not. It's like N.vs.N. in a petri dish - a one-man psychological experiment in whether we really have any control over who we become.

Psychologically, this book could not have been any more what I wanted it to be. It was exactly what I was hoping for, unsettling and a little heartbreaking, fascinating and creepy. The doubt (both on Jazz's part and on the reader's, for Jazz) was just perfect. The way Jazz pushes people away and tests them to see if they'll finally give up on him - it's almost like a part of him is waiting for someone to give him permission. For someone important to him to show that they think he's hopeless, so that he can finally let go of the tension and the burden of trying not to be his dad, and just give in to what he perceives to be inevitable. He's so hyper-aware of everything, every advantage and disadvantage. Jazz, and the narration, was knowingly calculating, which is chilling on its own, but what's great is that it chills Jazz too - but not enough to stop him from doing what has to be done.

The tone, too, was exactly what I wanted. It's darkly humorous at times, and other times just plain dark, but it's prevented from being completely bleak by the human connections in Jazz's life. It's through them that you know Jazz isn't a lost-cause, because they see the humanity in Jazz that he's tortured himself into pretending doesn't exist. Through them, you know he has the potential to be loving, to be a good person, and you see the burdens he places on himself - and all the while, that good portion of his life is being constantly undermined by Jazz's impressions of himself and his fear that any good he does, any love he feels, is just an act. The blind his inner serial killer hides behind. It's fascinating.

And interlaced with all of this, there are snippets of things Jazz saw or did with his father, as well as snippets of narration from the current Lobo's Nod serial killer, which help escalate the tension and show what Jazz really is up against and why he's so haunted. The way these scenes from his past creep up on him and never let him have peace were a really nice layer to the story. All of it - the killer's obsession and plotting, Jazz's understanding of the horrors and his own calculation, his grandmother's craziness and his father's sociopathic glee - all of that combines to make it a really gripping read. And though it's gruesome, it's never gratuitous. Lyga eschews continual bloodbaths and cheap startles in favor of a layered psychological thriller that is far more chilling as a result.(less)

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Jun 05, 2012 Mimi Valentine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: finished-copy-for-review, 5-star, best-of-2012, pure-awesomeness, reviewed

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

It's hard to imagine how a serial killer's mind works. But Barry Lyga must have some sort of shady part time job or at least serial killer mind-reading powers, because this book is BRILLIANT.

Jazz — son of the most notorious serial killer, snarky teenager, and overall charmer — takes the phrase dark hero to extremes! Being brought up by his psychotic father, he has How To Be A Good Serial Killer lessons ingrained on his brain. Sometimes they help him figure out other cas...more

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May 10, 2013 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: things-that-make-you-go-ewww, all-time-favorites

(If you want to read this book, I would just like to note that it contains murder, rape, graphic violence, and emotional child abuse. If you are easily offended by any of this, this is your warning. If you aren't easily offended by any of this, I'll just point out that while it's bad, I've also read worse, so no need to let it dissuade you.)

I really enjoyed this! I don't quite know what that says about me, but let's just go with it. To be quite honest I've always been fascinated with the psychol...more

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May 24, 2012 Elena rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic, young-adult, mystery, male-protag, favorites, poc

As the son and protege of a legendary serial killer who's now behind bars, Jazz has a burning need to prove to the world and to himself that in his case, the adage that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree is one hundred percent false. Jazz doesn't want to be a killer, but his instincts and outlook on the world and the people around him were so shaped by his serial killer father (who was grooming him to go into the family business, as it were) that it's an everyday struggle for him to be nor...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Tiffany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, favorite-series, contemporary-ya, this-series-is-on-deck

Jasper Dent's father is the world's most notorious serial killer. Jasper Dent was brought up by his dad. Jasper Dent had a messed up childhood. He desparately wants to avoid turning out like his dad, but could he be more like him than anyone knows?

Okay. So maybe this book sounds a teensy bit disturbing. And creepy. Especially when you look at the cover. And when you read the blurb. But let me assure you, the insides of this book are much, much better than the outsides. You know the saying, "don'...more Jasper Dent's father is the world's most notorious serial killer. Jasper Dent was brought up by his dad. Jasper Dent had a messed up childhood. He desparately wants to avoid turning out like his dad, but could he be more like him than anyone knows?

Okay. So maybe this book sounds a teensy bit disturbing. And creepy. Especially when you look at the cover. And when you read the blurb. But let me assure you, the insides of this book are much, much better than the outsides. You know the saying, "don't judge a book by its cover"? Please put that into effect here.

I Hunt Killers is another juicy, gritty story by Barry Lyga. If anyone liked Hero-Type, you won't be disappointed with this book. Barry Lyga keeps on surprising me with his ahem, extensive imagination. But he also surprises me with his profound insight on tough moral questions (e.g. How do you know that you're not a killer when you were raised to be one?). My word of choice to describe his writing is gritty:

"You know I could kill you, right?" he said quietly, his coice measured and calm. "I could do it right now. Right now. And there's nothing you could do to stop me. Even though I've told you."

Literary elements all pass with flying colors. Jazz (Jasper) is a really likable character, disturbing thoughts and all. Barry Lyga is really good at writing from messed up points of view. I guess I should be worried about this, but all I really feel is admiration. The setting is in an unassuming place called Lobo's Nod, which kind of gives an air of "oh god, this could be happening right here . . . *rocks back and forth in hysteria, then reads book faster* . . .". Lots of good stuff happening.

There's no one who writes quite like Barry Lyga, but his acknowledgements give me a clue as to which YA writer friends influenced him. "My early readers deserve extra-special thanks: . . . Lisa McMann and the mighty, mighty Libba Bray." Now I think that he gets some of the deep moral thinking from Lisa McMann (author of Cryer's Cross), and his wildly outlandish ideas from Libba Bray (author of Going Bovine). But when I compare all of these authors, at the end of the day, Barry Lyga still manages to write with a style that is completely his own.
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Jun 19, 2012 Skyla rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: awesomeness, best-buddies, books-i-own, cover-matches-book, covergasm, creepy, dark-subject-matter, father-son-bond, first-time-reading-this-author, i-want-it-and-i-want-it-now, laugh-your-ass-off, murder, need-sequel-asap, mystery, rape, rage-anger-issues, prison, real-life-issues, ya

It was a beautiful book.
It was a beautiful story.
Except for that ending!

This is the first time I have read anything by Barry Lyga and I honestly had no idea how this was going to go. My friends had been raving about this and I thought it was a stand alone novel, which made me more excited because all I have been reading lately is series...it isn't a stand alone so damn it! I have to read another series, but it was good!

This book just dragged me in and had me on the edge of my seat wondering "Who...more

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May 23, 2012 Lady*M rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, mystery, thriller, young-adult

Just a few impressions...

Genuinely frightening, but also entertaining. G. William, Connie and, especially, Howie (quoting Hannibal The Cannibal) provide counterbalance to Jazz's monstrous upbringing. His constant self-examination is both creepy and heartbreaking. The humor was a good contrast to book's much, much darker moments.

Yes, you will have to suspend disbelief - there is no way people would be so tolerant of Jazz - majority of people are just not that mature. And there is no way that Jaz...more

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May 28, 2012 Sarah ~Slow reader, or slowly reading? ;) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: assassins, ebook, meh

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 13, 2012 Bonnie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, read-in-2012, arcs-read, eek-the-creepies, owned-arc

4.5 stars

'Jazz was afraid of two things in the world, and two things only.
One of them was that people thought that his upbringing meant that he was cursed by nature, nurture, and predestination to be a serial killer like his father.
The second thing…was that they were right. '

When a woman is found murdered in Lobo's Nod, the last thing on anyone's mind is that it could potentially be another serial killer because they've already dealt with one in their lifetime. Billy Dent was a local of Lobo's...more 4.5 stars

'Jazz was afraid of two things in the world, and two things only.
One of them was that people thought that his upbringing meant that he was cursed by nature, nurture, and predestination to be a serial killer like his father.
The second thing…was that they were right. '

When a woman is found murdered in Lobo's Nod, the last thing on anyone's mind is that it could potentially be another serial killer because they've already dealt with one in their lifetime. Billy Dent was a local of Lobo's Nod, who murdered into the triple digits, is behind bars but his son Jazz still lives in town with his Grandma. Having grown up with Billy and being taught everything he knew it was inevitable that Jazz would be far from a normal kid.

'Jazz hadn't given her many details of exactly what life in the Dent house had been like, but he'd told her enough that she knew it wasn't hearts and flowers. Well, except for the occasional heart cut from a chest. And the kind of flowers you send to funerals.'

Since his father went to prison, Jazz has struggled with nightmares, memories, and the fear that he's going to end up exactly like Dear Old Dad. When the woman is found murdered, Jazz feels that it really is another serial killer and he decides to use his knowledge to help find him since he knows exactly how the mind of a serial killer works.

Maybe it's because I'm a big fan of mysteries/thrillers/true crime but this was a lot of fun. The subtle humor that Mr. Lyga managed to swirl into the mix was perfection and managed to really take the edge off the more gory bits. This was definitely raw and gruesome though, but it was extremely well done. The YA classification in this case definitely applies to the older YA crowd. I was really shocked at how detailed some of the crime scenes were described and a few of Jazz's nightmares (which include cutting of human flesh and his fears that these aren't nightmares at all). I'd only recommend this to fans of the genre that are able to stomach some pretty detailed descriptions.

I Hunt Killers definitely ends with the possibility for more but can work as a stand-alone novel as well. And apparently we actually can look forward to more as this is a planned trilogy.

Much thanks to Wendy Darling at The Midnight Garden for allowing me to be a part of her blog tour!(less)

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Mar 25, 2013 Allison R rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, ebook, guy-reads, family, horror-thriller-suspense, abraham-lincoln-2014

Wow, I was amazed by this book and how much I actually really enjoyed it. This is my first book by Barry Lyga.

Jasper aka Jazz is a great male character and it is hard to find one that you can like on one side and dislike at the same time because you don't want him to go "dark" like his father. I was surprised that Jasper wasn't thrown into jail because he was trying to "help" the police with trying to solve the murders. Howie was a perfect best friend/side kick, he cracked me up especially when...more

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Nov 03, 2012 Lottie Eve rated it 5 of 5 stars

Books about serial killers interest me. A lot. Serial killers, if done well almost always make for a very exciting and suspenseful read. The way they can do something so horrible so easily always intrigued me. So when I saw this book on the shelf it was an immediate buy. I must say that Lyga did not disappoint. I Hunt Killers left me utterly speechless.

Being in Jazz’s head was just terrifying and horribly sad. The way that Jazz was raised by his father was an awful way to grow up and it astounde...more Books about serial killers interest me. A lot. Serial killers, if done well almost always make for a very exciting and suspenseful read. The way they can do something so horrible so easily always intrigued me. So when I saw this book on the shelf it was an immediate buy. I must say that Lyga did not disappoint. I Hunt Killers left me utterly speechless.

Being in Jazz’s head was just terrifying and horribly sad. The way that Jazz was raised by his father was an awful way to grow up and it astounded me how Jazz raised above all that. Jazz is constantly wondering if he will harm the people around him and become the killer his father wanted him to be. Even though Jazz is always doubting himself as a good person you know that he really is just a deeply disturbed, good-hearted kid. Jazz is an incredibly endearing, sad, and believable character that will stay in your mind for a very long time if not the rest of your life. Also let me just say that Jazz is very hilarious with his black humour:

Making a duplicate key from a wax impression was an extremely useful skill to have if you were the sort of person who liked invading other people’s homes and killing them.

That little line will never leave me. Ever. Jazz’s hemophiliac crime investigation partner, Howie was an awesome and hilarious addition to the book. Jazz and Howie’s conversations are seriously funny:

“What if the whole thing was just an accident?”
“And what? Accidentally cut off three fingers postmortem? ‘Oops, oh no, my girlfriend just died! Clumsy me, in trying to perform CPR, I chopped off some fingers! Guess I’ll take them with me…Oh, darn, where did that middle finger go?’ “

Their hilarious friendship is one of the big reasons I enjoyed this book so much! I love how even though Howie is very weak physically Jazz still treats like an equal. Connie, Jazz’s girlfriend is an awesome female character even though she stays out the action throughout most of the book. She is strong, smart, and speaks for what she believes. I really love how Howie and Connie all have a positive effect on Jazz and help him stay “human”. Jazz’s father and the killer well let’s just say I hated them. Oh, and Jazz’s grandma is very delusional-and hilarious. The way she reacted to the cops and the media made me laugh so much my stomach started to hurt. She can also be very cruel though…

The murder mystery was awesome. My heart was hammering in my chest at times. The suspense had me up awake in my bed reading with a flashlight. I never knew who the killer was until the very end when he/she was revealed. The climax was exciting and the ending….was amazing! One complaint I had was how the story was told. Sometimes the book will switch to the killers POV, which I was never really a fan of. It kind of ruined the flow for me but it was just a minor issue.

The writing was awesome. I do warn that I Hunt Killers is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of blood and gore and the descriptive writing just makes it even more gruesome. Considering that this is a YA novel I was really surprised about all the descriptions of the murders scenes and the bodies of the victims. If you are not one to shy away from blood and gore than you will probably enjoy the writing as much as I did! Lyga did a great job portraying Jazz and the killer. The dark humour was all put into the right places and never seemed offending or forced. I loved the writing almost as much as I love the story and characters.

I Hunt Killers is definitely one of the best YA murder mysteries I have ever read. Judging by the ending there is going to be a sequel! I am going to mark this on my calendar with a big red pen and blood splatters!
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Nov 14, 2012 Trisha rated it 4 of 5 stars

this was EVERYTHING I had hoped it would be. Great main character, Jaz. he's torn between who he is and who he might be. He's been raised and trained by a serial killer - the best of the best. And he's afraid - terrified - that he is exactly like him. Even if he missed the "nature" part and just being his father's son doesn't make him a killer - then his father telling him bedtime stories of his murders and teaching him to all he knows just might be what kicks him over.

But Jaz wants desperately...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Scott Pilgrim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, must-read-2012, contemporary, mystery

Seen at Scott Reads It
I Hunt Killers is one of my favorite books I read this year. I honest never thought reading about serial killers could be so entertaining.From the first sentence I knew I Hunt Killers was the book for me. I Hunt Killers tells the story of Jasper "Jazz" Dent who is the son of a famous serial killer. Basically Jazz is trying to prove to himself and the world that he will not turn out like his serial killer father. Jazz decides to investigate a series of murders in his town...more Seen at Scott Reads It
I Hunt Killers is one of my favorite books I read this year. I honest never thought reading about serial killers could be so entertaining.From the first sentence I knew I Hunt Killers was the book for me. I Hunt Killers tells the story of Jasper "Jazz" Dent who is the son of a famous serial killer. Basically Jazz is trying to prove to himself and the world that he will not turn out like his serial killer father. Jazz decides to investigate a series of murders in his town to prove he is nothing like his dad. I was really surprised how thought-provoking I Hunt Killers was and I couldn't stop thinking about Jazz's internal conflict.

I really liked how even though I Hunt Killers is a dark book about serial killers, Barry Lyga still managed to make I Hunt Killers a fun and humourous read. Jazz's best friend Howie was really funny and provided alot of hilarious dialogue that really provided a ton of comic relief. Now onto the more serious dark murder crimes... The murder scenes were completely unfeignedly brutal and gruesome. I really felt like Barry Lyga put alot of effort into I Hunt Killers and it felt very well-researched. I really learned a ton about law enforcement, serial killers, and crime scenes.

Jazz is one of the most fantastically written characters I have ever read. His struggle with himself is a completely brutal conflict that really interested me. Personally I know that Jazz could never have killed someone because he is not the monster his father is. Jazz was an extremely likeable character that was really well-developed to the point where I felt like I knew him. Jazz's loyalty to his friends Connie and Howie was really something spectacular and admirable. I really hope that Jazz gets rid of his personal demons and the skeletons in his closet in the next book.

I Hunt Killers is a fast-paced mystery that left me speechless and dumbfounded. I truly was never bored at all in I Hunt Killers because there was always something exciting going on. The plot of I Hunt Killers is extremely complex and well developed but still easy to follow. I really enjoyed Mr. Lyga's writing style which was very simplistic and compelling. Everything in I Hunt Killers was really realistic and gory, I do really enjoy gory novels. The supporting characters are really outstanding especially G. William and Howie. Another thing that I failed to mention above is scenes from the killer's point of view which really gave you a sick and twisted perspective on the murders.

I Hunt Killers is a thriller that will leave readers clamoring for more. I'm certainly psyched for the sequel Game and I hope it is as gory as I Hunt Killers. This is a thought-provoking novel that I really needed after reading so many non-sensical light reads recently. After hearing that I Hunt Killers is being adapted as an ABC Family TV Show I'm really excited but I hope they don't tone down the meaning and ingenuity of this book. I would highly recommend I Hunt Killers for everyone. To make the wait until Game comes out less painful, I think I wanna read the Dexter novels.(less)

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Oct 16, 2012 Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I Hunt Killers was first recommended to me by Giselle @ Xpressoreads and I downloaded it to my Nook. I figured this would be the perfect fall read and it was! Lyga takes us inside the mind of Jasper Dent the son of a famous serial killer. The tale was unique, creepy and captivated me. Call me sick, but I loved all the details about how a serial killer thinks and what drives them. Dexter fans should find this one appealing.

The tale begins when we meet protagonist Jasper (Jazz) Dent. He is scopin...more I Hunt Killers was first recommended to me by Giselle @ Xpressoreads and I downloaded it to my Nook. I figured this would be the perfect fall read and it was! Lyga takes us inside the mind of Jasper Dent the son of a famous serial killer. The tale was unique, creepy and captivated me. Call me sick, but I loved all the details about how a serial killer thinks and what drives them. Dexter fans should find this one appealing.

The tale begins when we meet protagonist Jasper (Jazz) Dent. He is scoping out a police scene in the park. It’s the murder of a young woman and Jazz is convinced the town has another serial killer. He should know, after all his Dad is a famous serial killer. His Dad is in jail but Jazz remembers all the lessons he taught him. When Jazz looks at the crime scene he sees it from the killer's perspective. His entire childhood was spent learning his Dads trade, right down to how a killer gets caught. Jazz decides to investigate fearing the police will miss vital clues. The tale that unfolds kept me captivated and was filled with suspense, mystery, gore, friendship and self discovery.

Jazz is a complex character and at the young age of seventeen he has spent a large amount of his life living a nightmare. His Dad groomed him to be a serial killer and he struggles to separate himself from those lessons. Plagued with nightmares, he has an uncanny ability to get into the mind of a killer. I really connected with him, but also wondered in the back of my mind if his fears were justified. He is extremely intelligent, charismatic and at times manipulative, but you cannot help but adore him. His best friend Howie is loyal and reluctantly follows along with all of Jazz's adventures. He constantly reassures Jazz that his fears are unfounded. Jazz’s grandma suffers from dementia and was both hilarious and downright scary. It is very obvious that even before her illness the woman was not right in the head. Some of the things she did and said blew my mind! Members of the media, the police, and family members of victims added to the suspense and had me turning the pages. The killer who refers to himself as the “Impressionist” gave me the willies.

While I Hunt Killers is classified young-adult, it certainly offers plenty of gory images, murder and mayhem. I found myself completely enthralled by the tale Lyga spins. I am a huge fan of CSI and loved seeing the other side from a killer’s perspective. The “Impressionist” is given a voice and his obsession with Jazz is frightening. The details of his killings offer enough of a picture to raise the hair on your arms and make you squirm in your seat. I loved watching Jazz’s mind work as he took in details of crime scenes, examined bodies and pieced together the criminal’s mind. The shattered images from Jazz’s childhood and the accounts his Dad gave him regarding his hunts gave me chills. Despite the small town setting, I appreciated the respectful approach the author took with law enforcement. The police while one step behind Jazz, were intelligent. They were not the flounder idiots typically depicted in novels. While I pieced together the mystery, Lyga added some twists that I did not see coming. That uncomfortable nagging and self-doubt about Jazz that the author skillfully baited me with had me wondering if he was a killer and the suspense was delicious.

I highly recommend I Hunt Killers to fans of mystery and thrillers. The tale can at times be violent and gory so be warned. The suspense kept me turning the pages late into the night and I am on pins and needles waiting for Game book two in the Jasper Dent series, due out in April of 2013.
Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer (less)

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Jun 22, 2012 Steven R. McEvoy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-best-of, read-2012

Barry Lyga has created a dark story with interesting twists. In the past 5 years I have read over 800 books and this is one of the best. I could not put it down, literally. I stayed up so late one night I only got 3 hours sleep before needing to get up for work, and I read the book in 2 sittings. The characters are incredible. The pace of the plot breathtaking; from the beginning it races to the climax. It will stir something primal in you as you read.

Jasper 'Jazz' Francis Dent is the son of ser...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Archer rated it 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars

Well, hello there fellow book-a-holics!

Today I am wearing my bitter disappointment hat. I really am. I feel so incomprehensibly meh about the whole experience of reading this book. This is, as far as I’m aware, a very rare kind of book. A catch the killer thriller that does not have an adult protagonist. It’s a YA title, it’s marketed as a YA title. I love these types of thrillers, they’re a guilty pleasure. So why didn’t I love this?

The only real reason that I can think is that it trie...more 2.5 stars

Well, hello there fellow book-a-holics!

Today I am wearing my bitter disappointment hat. I really am. I feel so incomprehensibly meh about the whole experience of reading this book. This is, as far as I’m aware, a very rare kind of book. A catch the killer thriller that does not have an adult protagonist. It’s a YA title, it’s marketed as a YA title. I love these types of thrillers, they’re a guilty pleasure. So why didn’t I love this?

The only real reason that I can think is that it tried too hard. It tried too hard to step up to the plate and play with Darkly Dreaming Dexter, The Bone Collector and Messiah (all of which are adult novels in this broad genre) and it was weighed, measured, and found very wanting. It almost built up atmosphere and then it destroyed them whiny teenage angst, which I will get to in bit. It tried to have shocking revelations at the end of it but, and I mean this 100%, if people watch CSI, NCIS, Criminal Minds, Dexter, or read any novels in this genre… then they will see them coming a mile off.

My biggest peeve though was the protagonist. Our anti-hero in this tale, because I am fairly sure that that is what Mr Lyga was aiming for, is a whiny, self obsessed asshat of a man. I know he is written to be a sociopath, I know he is meant to be dark and manipulative but he had the depth of a puddle, the appeal of a toad and was about as charming as piece of road kill. On the back of the book it is blurbed that he is “a more chillingly charming protagonist than Dexter Morgan”. I’m sorry but no. He isn’t. For one thing Dexter literally fakes every single emotional response, and Jazz feels but he plays people. That does not make him more chillingly charming than Dexter Morgan at all.

He is constantly whinging about how hard he finds it not to kill any and every person he is close to… yet he never actually does anything to show that he actually could kill anyone if he were given the chance… AND HE WAS! MULTIPLE TIMES! Ifyou’re going whinge for 350 someodd pages about these desires to kill and how easy it would be then please, actually make the effort to kill something or someone.

There were numerous revelations in the book that weren’t actually at all revealing. They confirmed what the could figure out from the blurb, which royally irritated me – Yeah there is practically a spoiler on the blurb of the book, and from paying attention to what they were reading. It’s not that hard to figure out the glaringly obvious.

And to be perfectly honest some of the writing and research was either done in Switzerland or overly religious it was so peppered with holes. Both in the psychology used by Jazz to manipulate people, even his girlfriend, who is apparently safe because she’s black. (And I was saddened to read that because it confirms in my mind that going out of your way to be none racist… is the new racist.) If it was any other book and the male protagonist “exploded” and threatened to kill his girlfriend… for about the 8th or 9th time… then there would a big to-do. But because he’s some tormented teen we’re meant to accept it and let it slide? Nah I’m sorry that’s never OK, he says he loves her but he could kill her? Fuck off… then when you get to where you fuck off to… Fuck off some more.

But in spite of everything that irritated me about the book I like the way all of the threads of story were neatly tied in a bow at the end. I liked the idea that there was more to the story than was written on the page; well I would be because what was on the page wasn’t great. I liked the note that the killer had, I liked the tattoo idea. And most of all I liked that it left it open for, what I predict, will be an evolutionary sequel, which, as I am glutton for punishment, I shall probably read. I would read this book again but I wouldn’t go into it expecting great things. This is one title where I’m not 100% sure that the hype and adoration is really deserved.

Happy reading all…

Archer
This review can also be found onCuddlebuggery

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topics	posts	views	last activity
YA Buddy Readers'...: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga---> Start Date: April 14, 2013	63	38	Apr 26, 2013 10:17pm
Jazz's mom ...	3	34	Mar 29, 2013 12:02pm
Wild Things: YA G...: I Hunt Killers	2	8	Feb 27, 2013 02:17pm
Jazz's mom ...	1	15	Jan 05, 2013 11:34pm
Wouldn't this make an amazing movie?	11	66	Dec 25, 2012 09:07am

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I Hunt Killers (Jasper Dent #1)

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