Best of the Month: November 2014: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga (I Hunt Killers #1) (With Book Traile

Horror, Mystery
Dec 1, 2014
3 min read

Jasper Dent's father was one of the world's most infamous serial killers. And even though his father was locked away years ago, nobody will let him forget it. The only people who don't seem to hold it against him is his best friend, Howie, and his girlfriend, Connie. On the outside, Jazz is likeable enough, but on the inside, he's convinced he's a monster. His father taught him everything he knew, and no matter how much Jazz tries to convince himself otherwise, his father's nagging voice is constantly running through his head. He doesn't want to be the monster that everyone thinks he is, but he can't say he isn't.

After a series of murders begin in Jazz's quiet little hometown of Lobo's Nod, he's convinced there's a serial killer afoot. And, of course, some people are looking at the Dent boy - like father, like son, right? To try and prove them wrong, Jazz throws himself into solving the murders. But something odd is going on, and Jazz may soon find himself caught up in a deadly game.

Jazz is supposed to be the main protagonist, but he's very frightening and not exactly an angel. He's very charming and manipulative. Jazz is very good at manipulating people to get what he wants, and he's not afriad to use it. It can be things as little as tricking a receptionist into letting him into an office or something larger, like pulling a police officer into allowing him to hang around a crime scene. However, he does have moral boundaries and would never use his abilities to trick Howie, his best friend or Connie, his girlfriend. I think that Jazz believes that since they are so lyal to him, it would be unfair to trick and lie to them.

Another reason Jazz is so scary is because he is so very charming, usually able to talk his way out of anything. He also knows way to much about murder, from the best way to cut someone's throat to how to dispose of a dead body. His father raised him to be a serial killer, too, so he alsot hinks like one, which is scary to see since the book is from his point of view. One thing his father always taught him is that "People don't matter." which I think is big becuase it's a statement that part of Jazz accepts and even agrees with. Jazzf eels like if he agrees with this statement one time to many, he'll be proving to himself he's just like his father, which scares him. If he was like his father, he would be a monster. As much as he's scared of embracing his father's minset, it also is necessary to help him solve the murders, since he needs to think like the killer. As a result, he walks a very fine line between his father and himself.

The book was amazing! Jasper's a complicated and dangerous main character, and his constant battle with himself helps him feel very real because of his imperfections. The killer aspect of the book provided plenty of gore, horror, and chills, while the hunt for the culprit ment that I had plenty of suspense and mystery. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants something to give them some scares, and any fan of a good mystery would be more that satisfied with the fast plot and eerie character personalities! I liked the creative, original idea of the book and will be reading the rest of the trilogy ASAP. 5/5 stars!

I have to say though, this is the kind of book that teaches young children to be good little pyschopaths. I now know way too much about how to get away with murder.