I Hunt Killers

I was surprised when I realized that this book's genre was considered to be Young Adult. I guess that even a 70 year old like me can like the book. The premise of being related to a serial killer and worrying if you have the same tendencies is fascinating. I imagine that others with criminal parents wonder how much of their mentalities rub off. But they probably have an every day variety of criminal in their families, instead a serial killer. That Jasper Dent worries enough about how much of his father is in him to let it impact every aspect of his life be impacted shows just how different he is from his father, one of the most accomplished serial killers that ever existed. Jasper's desire to do the right thing, coupled with his show more constant worry that he is too much like his father, makes for a plot structure that offers endless possibilities to explore right and wrong, as well as social responsibility. And then, to conclude that you, the son, have to actively resist your own father and reject everything about him, certainly held my attention. A great book! show less

Jasper Dent or Jazz lives in the sleepy small town of Lobo's Nod and everybody knows him. It's not an egotistical observation. He is the son of a very prolific and infamous serial killer. His childhood was filled with crime scenes, murder victims, and the sick training of his father. Now, he works to go against his father's teachings and clings to things that are normal. Then a girl is found murdered in a field, extremely similar to his father's own first murder. And the bodies start piling up and of course people look to Jazz. Can he figure out who the real copycat murderer is and clear his name?

I love books about serial killers. I find their mentality morbidly fascinating and the books are usually delightfully twisted. I Hunt Killers show more looks into the nature vs. nurture debate on how serial killers are made the way they are. Jazz has obviously been nurtured practically to death to be a serial killer. His instincts are automatic to recognize people's weaknesses and he recognizes how to exploit them. He knows that he's attractive and uses it to his advantage when he can. His father has been in jail for quite some time, but people still see his father and the crimes when they see Jazz. He knows they fully expect him to be just like his father. However, he works against his own instincts. When he recognizes weakness, he doesn't always try to exploit it to the fullest and obviously hasn't killed anyone yet. He keeps close to his best friend Howie, a nerdy hemophiliac, and his no nonsense girlfriend Connie. They bring normalcy to his life and make sure he doesn't go down that serial killer path. He battles with his inner self constantly and it's a really fascinating read.

One of the best things about the book is that, like Rick Yancy's The Monstrumologist, it doesn't shy away from it's own subject matter: murder. Other YA novels tend to try to protect the reader because of the age group it's aimed at, but this one makes no effort to do so. The events are described in detail and Barry Lyga doesn't pull any punches. If you can't handle pretty gory accounts of horrific murders, turn back now. I appreciate that some YA books are super gory and graphic while others aren't, so people can choose for their comfort level. Despite the dark tone and subject matter, the book is actually very funny. Jazz's narrative is full of humor (mostly dark), making me laugh throughout the grisly plot.

I only had one problem with the book. His involvement with the police is a little unbelievable. At first, the police keep him out as they should because he's a high school student, but after the police get really desperate, they allow him to explore the crime scenes and involve him in the investigation. It's the only kind of meh part of a good book, so I overlooked it. I would definitely recommend this to teen and adult horror fans. show less

I found Bary Lyga's, I Hunt Killers truly fascinating. I loved the central conflict -- Jas's (Jasper) dad is one of the world's most infamous serial killers. Naturally when a string of copycat murders start popping up in Jas's hometown, people begin to talk, and fingers point in his direction. The only way to clear his name? Track the killer himself. He does, after all, have inside information on how serial killers think and act since his father used to take him to "work" with him. "It's just like cutting into a chicken." (That phrase seriously disturbed me by the way, but wow, what imagery.)

This book is definitely not for everyone. It's intense, and there is plenty of gore (though it isn't gratuitous). Mr. Lyga manages to get his point show more across and make your skin crawl without pushing you over the edge, though I did hover there a few times -- but that's what made this such a thrilling read. The voice is honest and distinct. I felt for Jas in every way. I also LOVED his best friend Howie, and can we please talk about crazy Grandma? She was a hoot.

If you like mysteries, thrillers or the TV show "Dexter", you definitely need to check this one out. I really enjoyed it and I am so excited that there is going to be a second book. Seriously. Can.Not.Wait. show less

Jasper “Jazz” Dent is obsessed with serials killers, and who could blame him considering his dad *is* one. His dad is finally locked up, leaving Jazz alone with his demented grandma, his friends, and his quest to prove to himself and the world that he‘s nothing like dear old dad. When another killer shows up in his hometown, Jazz finds himself wrapped up in the investigation. This fast moving YA story is a little Y for this A.

I had trouble suspending enough disbelief to buy a premise where teenage Jazz is eagerly welcomed into a serial killer investigation but always manages to be above suspicion. The book atones for some of its investigational unbelievability by doing a really great job of depicting Jazz‘s father‘s lasting show more impact on him with convincing flashbacks and glimpses into Jazz‘s struggle to determine if his father‘s rotten core lives in him, too. show less

OK, so I really liked this. However. I'm shocked that this is teen. I feel like an old lady saying this, but the violence and descriptions of serial killer behavior was really adult to me. It was Dexter-esque. And I have to wonder about younger teens reading this really realistic violence and these sexualized yearnings to murder people--does it have the potential to imprint on them in some way? I don't know if that's how it works, but it made me really uncomfortable to think about 9th graders reading this.

Still, well written, interesting main character, lots to think about, a scary killer, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

4.5 stars
Jasper Dent (aka Jazz) isn't your typical teenage boy. He's the son of the most infamous serial killer. Jazz grew up learning the "family business" which just happened to be murder. But now that his dad is behind bars, Jazz has to find a way to blend in and move on, which is kind of hard to do when a new body count is piling up in the little town of Lobo's Nod.
In an effort to prove to everyone (and mostly himself) that he's not like his father, he tries to help the cops figure out who this new killer is. After all Jazz knows how serial killers think. He has inside knowledge of all his father's crimes, which comes in handy when there's a copycat on the loose.
As Jazz gets in deeper with the case, he has to come to some tough show more realizations about his past. And decide once and for all if killing really does run in the family...

When I heard about this book, I immediately thought this would be something I would like. I am obsessed with watching true-crime stuff on TV and I always follow interesting court cases. Serial killers fascinate me because they just seem so alien, but yet they look like everyone else.... scary stuff!!

Anyway, this book. It was was definitely a little darker than I thought (which was sort of dumb of me since duh, it is about serial killers). Jazz goes through most of the book wondering if the things Billy (Dear Old Dad) taught him really stuck or not. I was questioning it right along with him. He couldn't even decide if he had the urge to kill or not. And I guess being brainwashed most of your life could do that to you. But he was thinking at points that he might actually enjoy watching someone die. It was freaky. So yeah I had a love/hate relationship with Jazz. I wanted to like him, but I was afraid of him.

The details of the killings got a little in depth. I would definitely not recommend this if you don't like hearing gory details, because there's plenty. I really loved the off-the-wall hemophiliac best friend, Howie. He provided a much needed comedic relief. The fact that he was so fragile really added a layer to the story.

I enjoyed the mystery in this book and really look forward to seeing what happens next!! I will definitely be picking up Game.

Overall: Disturbing and captivating all at the same time! Jasper Dent may not be the most relatable character, but he's certainly intriguing. A must-read for crime-thriller fans and anyone who wants a good dose of mystery.

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Billy Dent made sure to teach his son everything he knows. Jasper knows that he could do exactly what Dear Old Dad did--but he doesn't want to, and reminds himself of it at every turn. He doesn't want to do what his father did, because his father is in prison for killing 124 people in his career as a serial killer. Now there's a second serial killer in town, and Jasper--Jazz--is using what he knows of his father's beginnings to get ahead of the copycat.

I've been in a reading funk in which everything has been solidly mediocre; that might be inflating my rating here, but wow. It's the kind of scary book I've been hoping for for a while now. I read a bit at lunch, then stopped to consider why I was feeling so tense and anxious, only to show more realize that it's this book that was ramping me up.

The open ending is really fantastic for a stand-alone book; I'm less enamored with it now that I see the "BOOK ONE" in the title. Fuck sequels and serials forever. show less