From the Bookshelf of Nothing But Reading Challenges…

I Hunt Killers (I Hunt Killers, #1)

Barry Lyga

Start date: July 12, 2018

Finish date: July 31, 2018

Discussion: Books of the Month

Why we're reading this: Young Adult BOM July 2018
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Books of the Month

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What Members Thought

Sep 21, 2012 Trisha rated it it was amazing

this was EVERYTHING I had hoped it would be. Great main character, Jazz. 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 Jazz wants desperatel ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Dec 17, 2014 Snowtulip rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: uncomfortable

Another book that I read only because of a challenge, and can't believe what I would have missed out on if I hadn't done the challenge!

I am not a big mystery/thriller person, I have a heebie geebie approach to anything related to serial killers (I stay far away), but Jazz Dent has captured me with his story. I was both appalled and heart broken with his back-story and the struggles he is having in discovering who he is. This being a YA book, probably helped me in moving forward with reading this ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 03, 2015 Morgan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, humor, audiobook, mysteries-and-thrillers, young-adult, horror, five-star-reads, halloween-2015

Wow.

Even days after finishing this one, I'm still just surprised by how much I really enjoyed it. I'm also surprised that I enjoyed something that made me feel so many different things -- from several laugh out loud moments to some that were disturbing.

I also found it fascinating watching Jazz struggle with what were real impulses, what were imagined, and how to tell the difference. Being raised by one of the most notorious serial killers (over 100 murders) Billy Dent, Jasper "Jazz" Dent finds Wow.

Even days after finishing this one, I'm still just surprised by how much I really enjoyed it. I'm also surprised that I enjoyed something that made me feel so many different things -- from several laugh out loud moments to some that were disturbing.

I also found it fascinating watching Jazz struggle with what were real impulses, what were imagined, and how to tell the difference. Being raised by one of the most notorious serial killers (over 100 murders) Billy Dent, Jasper "Jazz" Dent finds it difficult to separate what he feels, what he thinks he's supposed to feel (good and bad), what his father expected him to feel, and what the community around him expects him to turn into.

I will be honest -- while I was enjoying the audiobook early on, I also felt like the "mystery" was a little obvious, but it. is. not.

There are still things you don't have answers to at the end, and I checked out the other two books in the series right away to listen to soon. The narrator does a really good job bringing the story to life and differentiating between Jazz's thoughts and when he's hearing/remembering Billy saying things, as well as the other characters.

Connie and Howie were great as Jazz's girlfriend and best friend. They both were very important in keeping him grounded in who he is/wants to be, and reminding him that he's *not* Billy.

Connie is strong and caring -- she also made me laugh more than a few times. Like the Eleventh commandment: "Thou shalt not touch thy black girlfriend's hair. Ever."

Howie would seem like he'd be another victim type -- he's a hemophiliac -- but just like Connie, he proves to be much stronger than a label. He also has just a positive, look on the bright side, humorous take on life. Definitely has some of the best lines.

G. William was also great, and omg don't get me started on Jazz's Grandma! He says she's made of "skin and bones and hate and crazy" and she is, but some of the crazy was so crazy it made me laugh to myself and make my coworkers give me a look.

Of course then I have to say things like, "I'M LISTENING TO A BOOK ABOUT SERIAL KILLERS." Then explain to them that it's fiction and no, I don't want to marry a death row inmate. :P

There is violence, murder, and a whole mess of messed up stuff going on here, but I think if the summary sounds interesting to you, or you like stuff like Dexter, but wonder what it would be like if he didn't kill people and just *thought* about it sometimes...this might be a book you'd enjoy. ...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Dom rated it really liked it

Shelves: crime-thriller

3/5 stars on first reading, upping to 4/5 on second reading. Solid.

Jasper “Jazz” Dent is the son of notorious serial killer Billy Dent. When this story opens, although Dent is locked hours away in the state penitentiary, his presence in Jazz’s life remains strong. Billy was convinced that Jazz is destined to become the next great serial killer, and Jazz isn’t so sure he’s wrong.

The vast majority of this story is told from Jazz’s perspective, and so we spend a lot of time in his head. Maybe too m ...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Amber rated it liked it

Shelves: ya

I was a little torn on giving it a two or three star rating. At first, I was intrigued by little by little I was feeling like a few things were a stretch. But by the end I was hanging on what was happening. I decided on three stars because I would read a second book. Lots of "woe is me" type teen drama, I mean the kid has a serial killer as a dad, and it slowly gets on your nerves but so much redeems that drama that is becomes an enjoyable read. ...more

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