Game (Jasper Dent #2) by Barry Lyga → Start Date: June 25, 2013

[Kathy]

Trisha and I are reading the 2nd book in the Jasper Dent series so if you have read and want to join us, that would be awesome!! :)

[Taylor]

I'll join :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Yay Taylor!!! Welcome aboard!!!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

lol there's a prequal on this one too Kathy (I think Taylor and I already chatted about it...)

but this one's free :D
is free
Here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/83942363/CA...


I plan to read it just before I read this one :)

[Kathy]

Huh! I always thought that was one of those preview ones!! lol :)

Yeah I'll read it before this one too, thanks! :)

[Vicki]

Okay, I have time to read the prequel and book 1 before we start this one. Since your ratings were good for book 1, I am joining you in reading this one! I hope it's good because it is HUGE! Almost 600 pages!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

alright here we go!!!!

we have 59 chapters and many many pages to enjoy

should we come back every 5 chapters? every 10?
just when something strikes us??

how do we want to do this one?
I'm so excited!

[Kathy]

Yes! Me too! I think every 5 chapters, unless they're short then every 10 is that ok? And I need to read !!

[Vicki]

It seems I'm always a dollar short, a day late, and a book behind. LOL

Wish I were up to this book to read with you girls, but I've yet to read . Hopefully I'll catch up soon.

[Kathy]

It's ok Vicki! I was so glued to so you may not want to put it down and it's a pretty quick read! But if you get to and comment, I'll chat with you! :)

[Vicki]

Thanks Kathy. :)

[Kathy]

You're welcome! I have a feeling that I'll be talking about this one for a while!! lol :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

okay I'm 5 chapters in.

wow, the first couple of chapters (view spoiler)[ yuck. the killer....I can't imagine who it is now!! (hide spoiler)]

and I love that the following chapter or 2 really recapped a lot of the highlights from book 1! It's been so long I didn't remember all the details!

but lol I love the Grandma!!! she is still hilarious! I forgot how great she was! She's crazy but always just sane enough to help!!!

I love his (view spoiler)[ tattoo too!! I HUNT KILLERS in big gothic letters. awesome! I know he'll end up taking the case. Hat-dog killer. Odd name, can't wait to see how this plays out!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

10 chapters done and

oh no (view spoiler)[ it sounds like the killer is rolling dice to pick who dies?!? Jeez, that's random.

also sounds like there is a group of killers or someone else calling the shots.
4 different phones?!?! (hide spoiler)]

oh and love that (view spoiler)[ Connie was on the ground in New York! :D lol (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I don't remember

did we have (view spoiler)[ all of these POV before?? We have the killer and Connie, Jazz (hide spoiler)]

and the beginning of chapter elven is (view spoiler)[ Howie (hide spoiler)]

I don't remember from book 1.....do you?

[Jay]

No book 1 was just Jazz and the killer

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I didn't think so!!! Thank you, Jay! I kind of like the (view spoiler)[ New POV (hide spoiler)]

I thought Connie was really cute but I also love seeing (view spoiler)[ Jazz from a new perspective (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

chapter 12

Hmmm I don't like (view spoiler)[ that they aren't at the precinct. If he doesn't meet another cop tomorrow, I'm going to start getting nervous about Jasper Dent's involvement in this case. Is this detective just pulling him in?? not the police dept??? ugh!! (hide spoiler)]

[Kathy]

Ok 5 chapters in

Gross! (view spoiler)[ Argh! Is the killer his dad? Or is it 3 POVs we're looking at? Jazz, Billy and Hat-Dog? (hide spoiler)]

I remember (view spoiler)[ the tattoo! So cool! And Jazz could totally make a living catching killers! Sure would be a thorn in his dad's side seeing as how he was the one to teach him everything he knows, but to only use it for good and not the way he intended. (hide spoiler)]

Gramma is cracking me up! Crazy lady!

Hat-Dog? (view spoiler)[ What is the significance of that? Again I ask is it Billy or one of his followers? (hide spoiler)]

This is so eerie! I remember reading and being so creeped out! I'm so glad you're reading this with me Trisha!! Thanks! :D

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I know!! It's pretty creepy!!

and Jazz's attention to detail is just awesome!

[Kathy]

Ok 10 chapters in

I see now!! (view spoiler)[ So it's Billy rolling the dice to see who gets killed? And they have multiple phones...those "burn phones" is what they call them? And the title! Cause Billy likes games! Using different players! He's so sick! (hide spoiler)]

I'm scared! (view spoiler)[ It was pretty funny that Connie was there before they guys were, but I have a very bad bad bad feeling about her being there! I'm so scared for her right now! (hide spoiler)]

[Kathy]

Trisha wrote: "I didn't think so!!! Thank you, Jay! I kind of like the [spoilers removed]

I thought Connie was really cute but I also love seeing [spoilers removed]"

Me too! I loved (view spoiler)[ Howie's chapter! He is hilarious! And Connie is so determined to treat Jazz normal and give him normal experiences and I really liked seeing Jazz through their eyes! (hide spoiler)]

[Kathy]

Trisha wrote: "chapter 12

Hmmm I don't like [spoilers removed]"

OMG! I was thinking the same thing! (view spoiler)[ Could he be the killer? Getting info from Jazz as a way to get better at his craft? He only put up just enough of a fight at Connie being there and putting in her 2 cents! I wouldn't put it past Billy to suggest to this guy to bring in Jazz to get him to New York for that reason and so he could see Jazz! He is that sick! (hide spoiler)]

*EDIT*

Or I just had another thought!(view spoiler)[ It could be that Billy had the guy contact him as a way to continue his "training" as an up and coming serial killer! It's probably none of those! I'm sure we will have many more theories before we are done with this one! lol (hide spoiler)]

[Kathy]

15 chapters in

I'm still on the fence about (view spoiler)[ Hughes, I don't know, something about him just isn't right! (hide spoiler)]

Connie and Jazz (view spoiler)[ I feel so bad for him! Feeling like he could never be intimate with his girlfriend for fear of becoming like his dad! So frustrating! (hide spoiler)]

Doug Weathers (view spoiler)[ What is he planning on doing with the info that Aunt Samantha gave him? (hide spoiler)]

Billy (view spoiler)[ Who is he leading/directing/commanding...not sure which one is appropriate...and now he knows that Jazz is in New York! This is crazy! (hide spoiler)]

[Kathy]

finished chapter 20

I've been thinking about the numbers! (view spoiler)[ Billy Dent rolls the dice, he calls the Hat-Dog killer and gives him the numbers. They are very specific, first it was 11...a 5 and 6...2nd time it was a 6...a 5 and 1, not a 3 and 3. The NYPD are finding 2 bodies a month, roughly every 2 weeks. The numbers is how he is picking his victims, but I can't figure out the correlation between the clues! (hide spoiler)]

UGH! The Hat-Dog killer! (view spoiler)[ He is one sick individual! Sick sick sick! Chapter 19! I could have gone the whole book without that chapter!! (hide spoiler)]

I thought for sure (view spoiler)[ Connie was going to get kidnapped by Billy...especially when she ran into him! Or Hat-Dog was going to get her in the alley! What did that mean "ugly J"? Something to do with Jazz? And why is he taking pics, unless he sends them to Billy! I don't know!! (hide spoiler)]

I have to go to bed, I have a meeting in the morning and then work later. I might be on before I go to work though. Night!! :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

The numbers (view spoiler)[ ugh! yes, but I can't figure it out either. I wish we had more information!!! what would Dice help you pick?? not type, not location...oh wait...

how many burroughs (did I spell that right?) does New York have?? Does it have 11? or 12? Does it pick location? Ugh, I can't figure it out!! (hide spoiler)]

There are alot of mentions of birds. (view spoiler)[The story about the hawk that Billy used to tell Jazz. The "as the hawk flies" or something like that for the murderer, and then Connie saying her dad looked like a hawk and jazz the prey when they were at the airport....What could the numbers and birds have to do with each other?? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 19 was definitely disturbing! ugh :(
(view spoiler)[do you think it's one of the cops??? Or...who else has Jazz bumped in to?? Someone coming back from book 1?? (hide spoiler)]

OMG! When Connie (view spoiler)[ bumped into Billy I was TERRIFIED!! I'm still worried. Don't you know Billy already knows who she is?!?!? gah! I still think she's in danger!! (hide spoiler)]

man, this one is so creepy! I have a 3 hour volunteer thing at the food bank in the morning so I won't be on until much later to post more, but I'm hoping to read a lot tomorrow on this one :)

goodnight!

[Kathy]

finished chapter 23

The numbers (view spoiler)[I googled how many boroughs there are and wikipedia says there are 5; The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. So could it be time? Like as in hours, but then am or pm is not specified.

I didn't think any thing about the birds until you said something. And I think of anyone from book 1 that would be a suspect. We need more info! (hide spoiler)]

Thurber (view spoiler)[ Why is he flaking out? And this "Ugly J" stuff again! The creepy message to him that was wrote on that dead girl. *shudders* (hide spoiler)]

I am too! (view spoiler)[ I think Billy knows who Connie is too! I'm so scared for her! (hide spoiler)]

I'll be on later tonight too! Have a great day! :)

[Kathy]

finished chapter 30

Howie (view spoiler)[ I love his character! He's so funny and an awesome best friend! I love his charm, though I'm not sure I would love it so much if it was directed at me! lol!! (hide spoiler)]

Possible suspects!! Here we go!! (view spoiler)[ These are for the person who is contacting Connie.

The aunt because she's in Lobo's Nod! The Hat-Dog doesn't have to be the one calling/texting her.

Weathers! He could be it! We didn't see him much in the last one and it would come out of left field if he was the person contacting Connie!

Erickson! I thought he was the killer in the last book, so I wouldn't put it past the author to put him into this role to throw us off!

I'm probably grasping at straws with those...except maybe the reporter! But there is really no one else, unless it's someone we haven't heard from yet!

I got nothing on the other guy! They said based on hair samples the guy is Caucasian, but he could have planted the hair to throw everyone off. Jazz has mentioned it a lot during this book, but I don't know. If that were the case though, then it could still be Huges! But I don't have any other suspects! (hide spoiler)]

Connie! (view spoiler)[ She is getting into sooooo much trouble! Is she nuts? Yes! I think she is!!! I wonder what they are going to uncover in the ground. I guess it could be Billy texting her too, that would make sense as he loves to pull the strings and be the puppet master! (hide spoiler)]

Still got nothing! (view spoiler)[ Nothing on the numbers! I tried looking at the chart to see if I could see something there, but I couldn't find a thing!! lol (hide spoiler)]

It's all so very very creepy and sinister! I really like Jazz when he is so focused too, when he's not worried if he's feeling what he's supposed too. I'll read more tomorrow.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

argh! I got no where on this today!! I'll finish it tomorrow though :)

[Kathy]

That's ok I'm going to put it down for a little bit, I need to read Ascend!! :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

OMG okay 30 chapters in

wow! Connie (view spoiler)[ WHAT IS SHE DOING?!?!?!?! I mean, I'm glad she involved Howie at least but GAH!!!! What on earth!? She IS crazy!! (hide spoiler)]

Game (view spoiler)[ ugh, the note and the Ugly J! Crazy... I wish I understood the numbers too!! Maybe they are...S lines? Bus stops? GRRR! And why would 11, 5 & 6 not work again? Why was he confused?? (hide spoiler)] so much we still don't know! LOL!

This one is WAAAY creepy! I like reading it at night!!

So (view spoiler)[ I think you have a great idea with the aunt. I'm already concerned about her willingness to suddenly come back into their lives. But you know, that's because we think everything might be a lie now! LOL!
I think the detective that involved him might have been involved but...then he wouldn't call Billy and talk about who he just saw...

maybe Morales then?? (hide spoiler)]

but that leaves someone still in Nob - which brings us back to (view spoiler)[ the aunt? ........maybe the aunt is really a guy, dressed as a girl? I bring this up only because the one detective brought up Lesbians and some other weird things...made me wonder if he's hinting. he seemed almost giddy to make the references...and I can't help but think that might crush Howie for hitting on her so much :D (hide spoiler)]
I can't wait to read more tomorrow!!

[Kathy]

ok finished chapter 35

lol When you read at night is everyone gone to bed and it's just you and a couple of lamps on and the house is quiet? That's how it is at my house and sometimes when reading books like this really creeps me out!! lol! :D

Connie (view spoiler)[ Yes, I'm glad she included Howie in all this stuff going on, but seriously I think she's crazy!!! She's being reckless!! (hide spoiler)]

The birds (view spoiler)[ You were right!!!! Something about crows is a major clue, but I can't figure it out! The only thing that comes to mind is Edgar Allan Poe, but I don't know if Billy has a fascination with the poet. I don't know much of anything at this point and it's driving me crazy!! lol

I think though that Belsamo definitely has ties to Billy! When he looked at Jazz and then flaked out like Thurber!! What is with the cawing and shouting about crows?? Is it like a show of allegiance or something?? (hide spoiler)]

I didn't think about (view spoiler)[ Morales being dirty as far as that, I mean she may want to go off and kill him and have Jazz help or at least let him take a shot, but I didn't think that she was involved in this like that! But!! Jazz did say that he thought the guy was FBI and not a cop, but Morales and Hughes both were at the station all day in interrogation, but I can't think of anyone else for a suspect! (hide spoiler)]

The aunt (view spoiler)[ I didn't think about the Lesbian thing either, didn't put that together. But I'm suspicious of her cause like you said all of sudden she's ok with helping out with Gramma?? Like she didn't know that Jazz has taking care of her crazy a** since he was 13 years old?? How can she live in that household, that environment and NOT have her own brand of crazy is nothing short of a miracle!! (hide spoiler)]

One more thing! The box! (view spoiler)[ Is Billy really not his dad? Or is this just one more thing in the awful list of despicable things Billy did to Jazz? If he's really not his dad and Billy knew who it was, you know the guy is dead! There is no way that Billy Dent would tolerate his wife cheating on him with another guy and not kill him! (hide spoiler)]

I need to read faster!! It's so good! :D

[Kathy]

I have trying to think what (view spoiler)[ "Ugly J" means! Jasper? Janice is Jasper's mom's name. I don't know, but I think those are the only 2 names that start with J. (hide spoiler)]

*EDIT*

OMG!!!! (view spoiler)[ That is only person with the name starting with the letter J!!! Jazz's aunt Sam has a middle name starting with J!!!!!!!! And she was "ugly" until high school!!!! OMG!

It would make since why she is discounting the blank space on the birth certificate! But then that would mean that it wasn't "Ugly J" that has been texting Connie! (hide spoiler)]

[Kathy]

Ok finished chapter 40

I'm not sure of anything!!!! Not anymore!!!

Except 3 things! (view spoiler)[ Billy has been calling Hat-Dog! Hat-Dog is Belsamo!! And "Ugly J" has to be Aunt Sam!!! Has! To! Be!!!! Oh! make that 4 things, Belsamo is the one texting and now CALLING!!!!! Connie! (hide spoiler)]

I'll probably finish tomorrow!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

wow, I'm 40 chapters in too!! Amazing story!

I totally agree with all of your 3 things

but why do you think Belsamo is calling Connie? I still think that's the aunt. Because she's doing it without talking to Billy.

Did I miss a clue in there? I was a bit distracted reading today :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

OMG the irony on Irony!

I'm actually reading this for...a...wait,

in chapter 44 and the game is revealed

(view spoiler)[ i'm reading this for a MONOPOLY CHALLENGE!!! How creepy is that?!!?!? *shudders* this is twisted (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

but there is a second game, clearly, that Connie is playing

we just don't know hers yet....

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

okay, wow, ch 50...everyone is set up. I have 9 more chapters and I'm going to stab at one more theory.

I don't think (view spoiler)[ Sammy J is anything but innocent. BUT, I think Billy...might just be in Nob. I think he might be intent on killing her :(
I think Howie just might be in Nob alone with Billy.
(hide spoiler)]

but, if I'm wrong then (view spoiler)[ who is sending messages to Connie?
and who is Hat? I think it might be Hughes. He just seems....off. if that makes sense. He brought jasper there, he opened up that part of the game....

maybe i'm wrong, but I think he might be Hat. (hide spoiler)]

and Connie...(view spoiler)[ I'm hoping she was just sent away. (hide spoiler)]

and the whole birth certificate thing (view spoiler)[ lol no theories. I wish G William was his real dad. I think that would make me smile - you know, like her mom had an affair on Billy...but I can't imagine that's right. Billy would have killed him already....than let him be the 2nd mentor to Jasper (hide spoiler)]

but man, I don't feel like I know anything anymore.....

okay, here goes!!! end of the story!!!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

omg I'm done. wow, :) enjoy!

[Kathy]

Trisha wrote: "OMG the irony on Irony!

I'm actually reading this for...a...wait,

in chapter 44 and the game is revealed

[spoilers removed]"

Trisha!! That might be the craziest thing I have ever heard!!!! lol!! Seriously!!

(view spoiler)[ Wow! Can I say that Lyga is a freaking genius?? How do they come up with this stuff!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Kathy]

53 chapters in

I agree with you on somethings! lol!

I think Hat is (view spoiler)[ Hughes! He didn't take the phone to be cloned like he said he was going to and he wants to keep Jazz's findings on the DL!!! (hide spoiler)]

Billy (view spoiler)[ is in NYC, he's looking for someone, but who??? I hope it's Connie!!!!

I think "Ugly J" is Aunt Sam and I think she was Ms. Auto-Tuner because she was talking about how if something happened to her no one would care, but if it was a white girl it would be national news. I think Billy is the one who sent her to get the bag with the clues because the vibe (for lack of a better term) of the note was different than that of the person of Ms. Auto-Tuner, at least to me anyway. I don't know I could be wrong, but I have only 7 chapters left!! Woohoo!!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Kathy]

Done!!

Are you freaking kidding me!!!! OMG!! I...I....S***!!!

Sorry! When is book #3 out??? I need it like now!!! OMG!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Yay!!!! I'm so glad you're done but OMG WHY DID IT END THERE?!?!?!

Billy has Connie
Jazz is dying in the locked storage w/ 2 bodies!
Howie has been hurt and is probably bleeding out
Jazz Gramma is probably dead!!

I mean HOLY CRAP!!!

[Kathy]

I know!!! I'm going CRAZY here!!! I mean why why why Mr. Lyga?? WHY?? 2014? *sobbing*

[Jay]

I thought the FBI woman was cool

[Kathy]

Yeah she was cool! I don't know how many times I changed my mind from Hughes to Morales to someone else and then back around again!! lol!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I know! And for Morales to just....get killed like that. Just..."oh, is she still alive" and BOOM!

wow and wow, this book was so good.

I couldn't believe, in the end, it was Monopoly
just genius storyline!

[Kathy]

I know! Who would have though to use Monopoly like that! I don't think I'll be able to play that game without thinking about this book again!! And Trisha! You're doing that challenge! Too creepy! lol!!

[Vicki]

I know that this is a long shot since "we" read this last year. I am in Ch. 46 now and I wondered WHY I never read it with you girls back then. Now I know. this is when Becky and her husband split and all that drama happened last summer...ugh...I believe that he left on June 20 or 21. That explains my lack of reading this at that time.

So I'm reading and I just wanted to come here and see everyone's theories. LOL I hope that maybe you see this Trisha.

I am suspicious of (view spoiler)[Hughes, but I don't want to be. I've even had some momentary suspicions of Howie, just because he seemed to quick to send Connie off! LOL (hide spoiler)]

Connie is only 17 and even if (view spoiler)[ nothing happens to her and she survives any ill will Billy might want to cause her, she still is really stupid for not going to the cops and going the NY. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha, I laughed SO hard when I read that you were reading for a (view spoiler)[Monopoly Challenge!!! (hide spoiler)] LOL I think if that were me and I was sitting home alone at night (which I do 3 nights of the week), I'd FREAK OUT!!! Wonder if it was a bad omen, a sign? LOL And the if I heard a noise, I'd probably pee in my pants! LOL

I can't believe that Billy was (view spoiler)[telling Jasper all that about Connie. Of course, we all knew that he had to know about her...no brainer there...but now I am REALLY scared for her!!! (hide spoiler)]

Lyga is brilliant for sure! He must have one evil, wicked mind. LOL

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I DID see your comment here :D yay! LOL

I know Connie (view spoiler)[ UGH! Why why why! I know, why didn't she tell someone, go to the cops...something!! (hide spoiler)]

Howie (view spoiler)[ I know right!!! I was all over with my theories too! Everyone seems like a suspect when you trust no one! (hide spoiler)]

are you almost done, then?