I Hunt Killers (I Hunt Killers, #1) in Multiculturalism in YA,Fantasy, Sci FI,Paranormal and fun books ;p

Oct 20, 2013 The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-that-are-keepers, theme-interracial-relationships, author-is-my-rock-star, characters-unusual-heroes, best-damn-book-ever, books-on-kindle, genre-ya-fiction, characters-serial-killers, e-books-purchased, omg-emotional

I Hunt Killers is dark, disturbing, claustrophobic and risky. It's also a reminder of what GOOD YA fiction used to be like (with some notable exceptions) until it got dumbed-down by authors and/or publishers who seem to operate under the (mistaken) assumption that teens need to be talked down to and the stories need to be more simplistic. This is a YA novel with teeth, in turns psychologically creepy with well-placed moments of humor and humanity. Barry Lyga crafted the ultimate outsider, the so I Hunt Killers is dark, disturbing, claustrophobic and risky. It's also a reminder of what GOOD YA fiction used to be like (with some notable exceptions) until it got dumbed-down by authors and/or publishers who seem to operate under the (mistaken) assumption that teens need to be talked down to and the stories need to be more simplistic. This is a YA novel with teeth, in turns psychologically creepy with well-placed moments of humor and humanity. Barry Lyga crafted the ultimate outsider, the son of a serial killer, and gives him a sympathy all the while prickling us deep down wondering what makes a young man like him tick (or perhaps be a ticking time bomb). Lyga also gets big kudos for diversity. The main character Jazz has a black girlfriend named Connie who is no weak-willed pushover and his friend Howie suffers from hemophilia but is found in the thick of the action with a well-placed quip. In their own ways they too are outsiders.

Okay, serial killers are SO not my thing. Sure, I might watch the occasional Discovery ID show when bored, but I'm not into stuff like CSI or Criminal Minds. Silence of the Lambs freaked me out for a month, and the original Psycho had me so terrified as a child that I made my mom stay in the bathroom with me while I showered (I also made my folks hide all the knives). That being said, I Hunt Killers is less about a serial killer and more about the son of one. Jasper (Jazz) Dent is a typical, good-looking teenage boy who just so happens to be the son of the most notorious serial killer in America. Talk about NOT winning father of the year awards. Jazz's childhood, if one can call it that, easily makes Mommy Dearest look like The Brady Bunch with The Waltons thrown in. Given what for all intents and purposes could be considered PTSD, Jazz struggles inside to not be a self-fulfilling prophecy. He strives for normalcy, but normalcy isn't for him, especially with a grandmother suffering from dementia whom in her lucid moments tortures Jazz mentally.

That struggle to hold onto humanity is put to the ultimate test when a body is discovered outside of the town Jazz lives in. While law enforcement, a small police force headed by the man who brought Jazz's father to justice and saw the worst the man was capable of, doesn't notice anything too particular, Jazz knows in his gut that another serial killer is on the hunt. All the while Jazz questions his desire to find the killer as he has to think like one. Like his father.

I just finished this and all I can really say is read this now! The writing isn't graphic or gory, but being inside the mind of brilliant and horrific madness is a journey you won't soon forget. Jazz Dent is an incredible and incredibly complex hero. I loved him, feared him and wanted to strangle him at varying points in the book. Connie is Jazz's anchor with a force of will that he needs. She sees beyond his supposedly "dark" reputation to the wounded soul inside. By the way, no race-fail here. Connie is smart, loyal and has a mind of her own. Howie is no action hero, but he doesn't allow his disease get in the way of being there for his best friend (and tattoo canvas). Barry Lyga crafted a tour de force mystery/thriller that will haunt you until the very last.

But it's far from over...hence the title. ...more

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