Lyga, Barry-- Game informal buddy read starts August 1, 2018

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

This thread is open to discuss Game by Barry Lyga.



Synopsis
Billy grinned. “Oh, New York,” he whispered. “We’re gonna have so much fun.”

I Hunt Killers introduced the world to Jazz, the son of history’s most infamous serial killer, Billy Dent.

In an effort to prove murder didn’t run in the family, Jazz teamed with the police in the small town of Lobo’s Nod to solve a deadly case. And now, when a determined New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz’s door asking for help, he can’t say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big Apple–and its police force–running scared. So Jazz and his girlfriend, Connie, hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer’s murderous game

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

      ~ Buddy Style Reads ~
    Three Ways to Enjoy a Book!

At NRBC we use three styles of buddy reads. These will be indicated in the thread title as “Buddy Read”, “Relaxed Buddy Read” or “Informal Buddy Read”.

A “Buddy Read” has a discussion leader and a reading date is set to start the book. A reading schedule is posted prior to the start date and discussion questions are posted each day regarding that section of the book. More information about these types of reads is below. An example is here, showing a reading schedule here.

A “Relaxed Buddy Read” is similar to our usual “buddy reads” except there are less questions and break points. For example, a book may be split into three sections and those reading the book should pause at the end of the section to answer some discussion questions, make comments, or ask their own questions to other readers. An example is here.

An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book. An example is here.

A “Read and Watch Buddy Read” may be set up as any of the above, but we will also watch the movie or T.V. series - or even go to a play! - and make comparisons, discussing what has been left out or changed as well as the actors and actresses. There is a long debate of what one should do first: read the books or watch the movie? We usually read first, but it isn’t essential. Also, if you would like to join in, but don’t want to watch the movie, show, or play, but only read the books, that is fine, too. An example is here.


MORE UNDER SPOILER
(view spoiler)[

“Buddy Reads” (“BRs”) include:

• A reading schedule which can range from 50, 75, to 100 or so pages a day.

• Discussion questions posted daily by moderators and occasionally group members
   who help one of us out. If you want to be a Discussion Leader, let us know.

• If the book is really long, we'll plan a break day.

• Members do NOT have to answer every question, they are meant to stimulate
   conversations about the books AND allow us to glance back upon them when the
   sequels come out. This helps us to remember what exactly happened in the previous
   book.

• We find the buddy style of reading to be more fun than just posting one or two
   sentences about a book. We feel this is what distinguishes us as being a ‘book club’
   rather than just another GoodReads ‘group.’

• If you can NOT start the book on time, feel free to join in at a later date. They are
   set up to make it easy to do so.

• Moderators are people too, so occasionally we get sick, have to work late at our real
   jobs, or have something that keeps us from writing the questions. Please forgive us;
   we're only human and we don't get any compensation for what we do--not even
   free books!

• Discussions and questions are set up to make you think, analyze, and see things you,
   or even we, may have missed. Feel free to add your own thoughts at any time, if you
   think we've missed something.

• If you've read the book, feel free to let us know what you thought about the book.
   You can do so at the end of the buddy read, or, if you can't wait, add spoiler tags
   before you comment like:

   **************BEWARE! SPOILER FOR THE END OF THE BOOK**************

   Or insert a (view spoiler)[spoiler (hide spoiler)]. If you do NOT know how to do so, just check out our
   GoodReads 101 explanation on how to Insert a Spoiler.

• If you are looking for a reading buddy, post an inquiry in our Buddy read requests thread. Use that thread, if you want to have a repeat read of a BOM
    or buddy read, too.

• Have fun! We always do when more than one person joins in. And we look less silly
   if someone else discusses a book with us. (hide spoiler)]

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

res

[Jenny]

Sure, why not?

[Amy the book-bat]

I'll have to see if I can get this one from the library

[Teri]

looking forward to it

[Jessi]

I'm excited!!

[Ashlee]

Looking forward to continuing this series

[Chava]

I'd like to continue the series too. I see that the ratings keep getting higher with the books.

[Teri]

Page 32, finished chapter 5

(view spoiler)[ well, this one is super disturbing. I was so grossed out that second chapter. Howie made me tear up a little bit. jazz going to new york where his father is ...oh dear... (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

page 100 finished chapter 12
(view spoiler)[ So...I don't know, connie is crazy going to new york! and i don't know about aunt samantha either, i don't really trust that, she's either evil or gonna end up dead. I shouldn't say that, maybe she'll be fine. So it seems like there is two people at this game, right? and billy calling the shots? i mean, i know hughes and jazz said it's not two people, but i think the fact that they threw that out there, maybe it is. howie getting all padded up to go see grandma about tickled me though, he's my favorite. (hide spoiler)]

[Geri]

I’d like to join! I just borrowed this from my library. I’ll try to start tomorrow!

[Teri]

Geri wrote: "I’d like to join! I just borrowed this from my library. I’ll try to start tomorrow!"

Great!

[Jenny]

Forgot I signed up for this. I will try to start tomorrow as well.

[Teri]

page 170 finished chapter 20
(view spoiler)[ connie is an idiot for going! I guess that's being young though and figuring you can get away with anything. God, this is a mess. So did Doug tell Billy or he wrote the article and someone else called billy? THis killer talking about eating eyeballs and stuff, I'm so grossed out! (hide spoiler)]

I'm going to try to catch up on a couple other books that I am behind on, but I'll be back!

[Jessi]

Dang Teri! Im in another BR so Im going to read chapters 1-5 then I will be back with my thoughts on those chapters.

[Jessi]

Chapters 1-5

(view spoiler)[ The first three chapters are ridiculously short but full of imagery and ickiness. Chapter 2 makes Billy Dent look like a cute bunny rabbit. It also puts the dog chapter from the first book to shame. Gramma is worse for sure but she makes me laugh. I knew the birdbath was a damn signal!! I don't think Jazz should go to New York but that's the whole premise of the book. What do you think G. William will say about New York? Will he encourage him to go or try to talk him out of going? (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

Jess wrote: "Chapters 1-5

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ god that second chapter-ugh-so so gross! Geandma is quite a character, good lord! (hide spoiler)]

[Geri]

Jess wrote: "Chapters 1-5

[spoilers removed]"

I started today. I’m glad I’m reading book 2. I really like some of the characters like Howie. And even though she’s a racist, Grandma makes me laugh too.(view spoiler)[ I’m glad we got an answer to the birdbath question. I did think it had to be a signal to help get Billy out of prison. I really want to know where the story will go once they get toNew York. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny]

Listening to this, so I am not sure about chapters, but...
(view spoiler)[ At least we know that the new serial killer is a guy. Or the narration is lying, but "he" was referenced as cutting the "thing".
Creepy. Not seeing people as human but as objects, looking at intestines in the moonlight- yuck.

Thank goodness for the comic relief of Howie.

(hide spoiler)]

[Geri]

Teri wrote: "page 100 finished chapter 12
[spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I really like Howie too! (view spoiler)[ Ugh! The murders are gruesome. I’m glad Connie is with Jazz. But I don’t think it will be as romantic as they hope. This is YA. :) I agree with G. William that Jazz having doubts and worrying he’ll be like his dad, is proof he isn’t.

I hadn’t thought about two killers. That is an interesting theory. I like how they figured out why the murderer was putting hats or dogs on the victims. (hide spoiler)]

[Geri]

Teri wrote: "page 170 finished chapter 20
[spoilers removed]

I'm going to try to catch up on a couple other books that I am behind on, but I'll be back!"

I’ll stop here for today too. Things really are getting interesting! (view spoiler)[ I understand Connie going with Jazz. But she never told him what she found at the mini tours of the crime scenes. That will be mportant later, I think. And the killer’s phone call. Is that Billy Dent calling? What does 6, 5+1 mean? And what else was said!? I want to know! LOL

And Morales. I was surprised she wants Jazz’s help even though Montgomery wants Jazz gone. There will be more to this! And yes, the situation with Connie’s dad and Jazz is a mess! (hide spoiler)]

[Jessi]

Geri wrote: "Jess wrote: "Chapters 1-5

[spoilers removed]"

I started today. I’m glad I’m reading book 2. I really like some of the characters like Howie. And even though she’s a racist, Grandma makes me laugh..."

Glad I'm not the only one with a sense of dark humor!

[Teri]

page 203

(view spoiler)[ "Heir to the Croaking"--come on! even I caught the "crow king" part of that, I mean with the story he told connie in NY, right? I didn't catch that ugly j thing...I don't know where this is going. I want to like his aunt, but I'm afraid to. Jazz really messed up with Connie's dad, too...that was ugly. (hide spoiler)]

[Geri]

Read through chapter 36 today. So much going on!(view spoiler)[ I do think Howie’s crush on Samantha is funny. But I’d get annoyed by his constant flirtation.

It is a little far fetched that NY police would bring a teen like Jazz so deeply into the case. But I just go with it. Interesting about Valsamo. He was so crazy, I wasn’t sure why they were taking him so seriously. But maybe he was there to distract while the other victim was killed and placed at the scene? Very elaborate planning!

Connie found the birth certificate. Very curious why Billy isn’t listed as father. Why was the box buried? Is Billy playing a game with Connie? I hope Billy doesn’t attempt to hurt Connie. I could see Billy trying to mess with Jazz’s head that way! (hide spoiler)]

[Geri]

Teri wrote: "page 203

[spoilers removed]"

I do wonder about Samantha too!

[Jessi]

Chapters 6-10

(view spoiler)[ Nothing much here except Jazz leaving for New York and Connie surprising him there. And of course Billy Dent is yanking the chain of the New York's resident serial killer (hide spoiler)]

[Jessi]

Chapters 11-15

(view spoiler)[ I really wish Jazz would start listening to the people around him. Almost all of his thoughts are self doubt. It bothered me in the first book and it's bothering me in this one. I'm curious about what the numbers and the use of dice mean. I'm also curious about Samantha. She seems pretty normal for the Dent family but I don't know her true intentions. The different MO's of the "killer" make me wonder if Billy is one killer and "the killer" is the second one. (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

Jess wrote: "Chapters 11-15

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I agree about Jazz, his decisions and obsessions can be frustrating, but I also like that he has those moments where he can see that he's not like his dad, and when he lists the things he should be worried about or how he should be acting. I don't know. (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

page 346 finished chapter 37
(view spoiler)[ Why is it that these people can just jump on flights to NY, jeesh, I'm grown and can't do that! Anyhoo...the thing at the police station, I'm just not sure. I mean, Billy called someone and wanted to have a little fun at the cop's expense, right? so that was the guy? or one of them? i still think there must be two people...maybe one is a girl...idk. the birth certificate thing is weird. I was thinking that a mother would take those things, keep them in a safe place, jazz's first toy... or maybe because billy was in the picture, she didn't want them. or billy's dad found the box she kept those things in and buried because he had the foresight to know that he would play a little game? though it's not billy on the phone. I have no idea what's going on! lol (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

Finished!
Wowza
(view spoiler)[ so, cliffy, of course. I have read this before about a million years ago, and about the only thing I did remember was that his mom was live, but I can't remember much else. This Hat-Dog thing was crazy and this one was definitely more gruesome than the first. I love Howie, I feel so badly for him. We didn't really get an answer about Sam, but I think she's not bad. I'm not sure how Jazz is going to get out of this one. Why wasn't Hughes and his people doing anything?! He TOLD Hughes about the stuff and the storage unit, right? I mean, they should have been all over it!
I think the worst part for me was Connie in this one. She was just behaving in a way that was killing me! She was so stupid! and now she's caught!!! I felt old, but I was totally agreeing with her parents! (hide spoiler)]

[Jenny]

I was waiting for someone else to finish!

(view spoiler)[ Isn't it a great ending? I don't think there is anyone who reads this that can help reading the next one. This was a reread for me as well, so I knew about his mom, but I had forgotten a bunch too. I love it when he figures out the monopoly clue.

I agree with you about Connie. I just kept wanting her to stop.
(hide spoiler)]

Good book.

[Teri]

Yes! Now I gotta order the next one LOL
it was good

[Jenny]

Haven't you read the third?

[Teri]

Jenny wrote: "Haven't you read the third?"

Yes, but I don't remember what happens!!! Like, at all...:(

[Jenny]

Really, me either. I'm sure it will come back to us...

[Geri]

UGH! The ending is driving me crazy! It was exciting, but I hate cliffhangers. This was my first time reading the book. My library has the digital book available to borrow now. Thank goodness! LOL

I was surprised (view spoiler)[ that Valsamo was a killer. I thought he was too crazy and I knew the killer had a wife or girlfriend. But I never thought it was 2 Killers, hat AND dog. Not surprised Billy was pulling the strings. (hide spoiler)]

So now I have to read the next book soon. I am so worried for Connie and Jazz! LOL I was shocked to find out (view spoiler)[ that Jazz’s mother may be alive. I hope so because that means his nightmares about killing her aren’t real. (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

Geri wrote: "UGH! The ending is driving me crazy! It was exciting, but I hate cliffhangers. This was my first time reading the book. My library has the digital book available to borrow now. Thank goodness! LOL
..."

Glad you liked it! Yup, heck of a cliffy for sure. I really liked this one, but I was super bothered by Connie in this, I adore her, but her behavior drove me nuts!

[Ashlee]

Haven't had a chance to jump onto the discussion. My thoughts up to chapter 16....

(view spoiler)[ After reading this chapter, I'm wondering...
Is Hughes not even a part of the NYPD? Instead, he's working for Billy, and has lured Jazz into the trap?

Is Weathers Billy's go to man from home? (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlee]

The whole time I'm reading, I thinking about what the section titles mean, and what are the cryptic messages that the caller keeps giving?

(view spoiler)[ Does Billy continue to get people onto his side. Doing his dirty work, like moving the bodies, to keep the police and FBI running in circles.

Although I think it's extremely dangerous, I like the fact that the NYPD and FBI decided to bring Jazz back to the case. I am worried about Connie as she runs off once again. (hide spoiler)]

[Geri]

Ashlee wrote: "The whole time I'm reading, I thinking about what the section titles mean, and what are the cryptic messages that the caller keeps giving?

Does Billy continue to get people onto his side. Doing h..."

Don’t want to spoil anything for you. But the reveal about who was killing and how it was determined was really good. I was surprised and it was definitely worth the read.

Connie surprised me too. She did keep runnng off on her own.

[Geri]

Teri wrote: "Geri wrote: "UGH! The ending is driving me crazy! It was exciting, but I hate cliffhangers. This was my first time reading the book. My library has the digital book available to borrow now. Thank g..."

Will there be a buddy read for the third book? Not sure I can wait, but I can try! LOL

[Jenny]

I'd be up for it. I really don't remember what happens in the third book.

[Teri]

Jenny wrote: "I'd be up for it. I really don't remember what happens in the third book."

I'm down for a BR of the third one, when works for y'all?

[Ashlee]

I'm definitely in for book 3.

[Geri]

Teri wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I'd be up for it. I really don't remember what happens in the third book."

I'm down for a BR of the third one, when works for y'all?"

I already have book 3. LOL How does 8-13 work? Not sure I can be trusted to wait longer!

[Jenny]

I will be playing Quidditch then, but I can join the discussion late.

[Ashlee]

Geri wrote: "Teri wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I'd be up for it. I really don't remember what happens in the third book."

I'm down for a BR of the third one, when works for y'all?"

I already have book 3. LOL How doe..."

I also already have book 3, so that works for me

[Teri]

Sounds good to me!

[Geri]

Ok, great! I’ll request a thread.