I Hunt Killers

Chapter by Chapter's review of I Hunt Killers

I wanted to check out I Hunt Killers since the moment I saw the cover. With (what I am assuming is) blood splatter all over the cover, I was already in love. What girl doesn’t have a thing for scary looking covers? That is a rhetorical question. Anyhow, even though I didn’t know much about the book just from cover glances, the title was a dead giveaway: I Hunt Killers. Obviously after reading the synopsis, I was already in love and oh so very eager to begin reading. I will admit and tell you that from the first sentence to the final sentence, the novel was perfect and unforgettable.

Everything about I Hunt Killers invited me in; the cover. The chapters. Even the plot. (I’m pretty sure Edward Cullen said something similar to that before…). Anyways, the point is that I Hunt Killers was amazing. It was like reading a CSI novel for teens. And I absolutely loved getting to live inside of Jazz’s head with him and see the horrible life he has to live. To me, Jazz was a character who seemed both real and sad beyond all belief. Not only were we able to experience all of his memories of living with his Dad the serial killer—Billy, but we also got to see all of the things he learned about the art of murder.

But what really had me going was the mystery of the new serial killer around town who is raising the body count—and in a fashion that imitates Billy Dent. Whoa! Unexpected! Did I forget to mention the part where, just for kicks, the serial killer cuts off a certain amount of victim fingers, but leaves behind the middle finger (I’m sure you all know what that means). Did I also forget to mention how there are a few chapters that felt like real treats because we got to see through this unknown killer’s eyes?

You read heard me correctly. We got to read a few chapters that came from the point of view from the new serial killer, who gave himself the name The Impressionist. From what I could gather, every single Impressionist chapter had me finding connections to two certain villains from pop culture. Those two villains being the Riddler and the Joker (hardy ha-ha, this reviewer is a comic nerd). But honestly! The Impressionist had a level of intellect and insanity that made him the perfect antagonist for me! In fact, after Lord Voldemort and a couple other YA baddies, the Impressionist makes my top ten!

The mystery of the novel and the slight insanity managed to form an equilibrium that managed to make me smile. Not only will you be kept guessing who the killer is until the end, but you’ll also be wondering if maybe just maybe Jazz might not be all that sane. Maybe he is a killer like his father. Maybe he is the serial killer. And of course, there’s always the question of what do Jazz’s dreams mean? I personally thought that, upon the realization of who the Impressionist really is, I wanted that final frontier to be more…climatic. Don’t get me wrong, it already was climatic; I just wanted it to be a longer ending with a few more twists.

However, I do love the fact that I Hunt Killers ends on a high note and left set up for a sequel. I know that if author Barry Lyga does give I Hunt Killers another novel that I’ll be first in line to eat it right up! I would recommend this to fans of the thriller and mystery genre, as well as those of you who just want to read a novel that is unforgettable, well written and an epic tragedy.

22 out of 33 people found this review helpful.

OMG So Messed Up and Thrilling and Incredible! AN ABSOLUTE MUST

Omgomgomg…that is how felt right after finishing I Hunt Killers. That’s because Barry Lyga’s psychological serial killer slasher is incredible! Jasper “Jazz” Dent is screwed up and maybe a killer to be and maybe a killer already, but he’s a teenager that is so amazingly likable. He knows how to play people, thanks to Dear Old Dad – a notorious serial a killer – and he knows that he’s manipulative. Jazz sees his own faults and they scare even him.

But Jazz is grounded by his fragile, but awesome, best friend Howie, and his more than understanding girlfriend Connie. Both of these secondary characters are fleshed out and have some very pivotal scenes. They, along with the local sheriff G. William round out the cast of characters well. Lyga employs Jazz’s narrative and intersperses the killer’s as well, making for a messed up, but thrilling reading experience.

Every chapter, every page offers something new and opens up the story just a little bit more. I had no clue who the killer was the entire time. I had ideas, I had suspicions, but I was so off on all of them. That’s the beauty of Lyga’s story: he writes this compelling, no holds barred story, but he writes it in a smart way. The killer isn’t plain as day and the characters aren’t without fault. Poor Jazz is far more damaged than anyone could imagine. He did grow up with a serial killer for a father though. And that serial killer taught him everything he knew…

I Hunt Killers is a surprisingly gripping and taut thriller, with characters to love and story that refuses to let up. It’s being touted as a Dexter-like read for a younger audience, but having never seen Dexter, I just like to think of I Hunt Killers as a phenomenally engaging and intense read. And the ending is the most screwed up, thrilling, I-want-to-scream-expletives-at-its-perfectness, and an insanely good way to wrap up the book that I’m sitting astonished at Barry Lyga’s genius. MUST. READ. BOOK. 2. NOW.

10 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

Anoutomus

I loved this book what a good book to have:)))

9 out of 18 people found this review helpful.

Best book ever

OH MY GOSH! THIS IS BY FAR PPROBABLY THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ! HAS SOME DARK MATERIAL BUT AMAZINGLY WRITTEN AND CANT WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL!!!!!!

8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Amazing!! One of the best books I've ever read!!! It will keep y

Amazing!! One of the best books I've ever read!!! It will keep you
turning pages until the end!!!

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

!?!?

I thougt the book was good and i think a there should be another book.I want to read the book again!!!!!!

7 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

Boo

Another possibly good book ruined by hateful plot spoilers. And before some snarky poster says dont read them...i dont, but when you have to scroll past these loooooong posts that give away every detail of the book, i usually end up seeing something that ruins the book. I dont understand why you plot spoilers do it? Why do you feel the overwhelming need to tell the entire book? Other readers would like to read it and be surprised, not know everything that is going to happen. Bn, these plot spoiling posters just cost you another sale!!!

5 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Fantastic book

Realy good read

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

I felt really troubled the whole time I was reading this book, b

I felt really troubled the whole time I was reading this book, because it really is a scary topic. Kids growing up to be killers. A voice eerily reminiscent of Dexter. Really quite terrifying. And also very good.

Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a complex character. His upbringing with his serial killer Dad has created a dual identity within himself, and it makes for some pretty powerful reading. Jazz suffers from hearing the voice of his demented father in his head and it is creepy, but what I imagine to be realistic. I liked how Jazz worked so closely with the police chief in his town, to help himself cope with the conflicts running through his mind. Just brilliant. And I loved both supporting characters of Connie and Howie. Those two were so perfect in their love for Jazz and their dialog!

And the ending - WOW. Just after the halfway point, the story begins to fly towards it's climax. And I totally did not see it coming. I definitely appreciate a book that gives me a genuine surprise.

I'm a big fan of Barry Lyga, stemming back to his totally awesome debut The Adventures of Fan boy and Goth-Girl. His stories always manage to pull me in right away and demand my complete attention and brain power until finished. I Hunt Killers was no exception. If you haven't read Lyga before, I promise you will want to explore his back catalog after this one!

4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Love it!

So freaking good dont question it just read!

2 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Amazing

Written soooooo welll (: love it

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Good?

Is it good???????????L??????????????????????????
?????????????????









?????

2 out of 51 people found this review helpful.

A new favorite ...

Exactly what I expected and more .... Cant wait for the sequel! Love Jazz's character. His battles between good and bad keep you on the edge. I found myself questioning his intent several times.... The author does a great job at keeping you guessing.

Have already recommended to friends.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fucking stupid book

Worst book ever

1 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

Barry Lyga takes nature versus nurture into the criminal mind. S

Barry Lyga takes nature versus nurture into the criminal mind. Seventeen-year-old Jazz's father is a notorious serial killer with an incredibly high body count. His "dear old daddy" has made Jazz watch him commit some grisly crimes, and he's trained Jazz to take over after him. Jazz doesn't know what to believe. He's afraid that he might take after his dad despite his belief that it is possible for serial killers to love some people.

Jazz is a very complex and believable character. While the vast majority of us have never been subject to Jazz's kind of upbringing, he is very relatable. Looking through his mind, I understood why he is so afraid of harming others, of being consumed by the criminal he feels lurking within himself. However, he has a best friend (Howie) and his girlfriend (Connie). These two people believe in him and give him the support that he needs as he sets out to find the new serial killer in town.

The story is engaging and filled with details that bring the crime scenes to life. Despite the dark features in this novel, it has humor through both Jazz's voice and that of Howie, who relieves much of the tension running throughout the novel. The combination of humor and the serious nature of the work is well-balanced. It is dark and disturbing, and it had me laughing from start to finish, a credit to the genius of this work.

I Hunt Killers explores how both the environment and genetics work to develop a child's personality and behaviors and how an innate sense of morality can overcome the criminal mind (or the mind that has been trained to think like a criminal). There are also scenes told from the killer's point of view, giving us the perspective of a criminal and the child of a criminal king of sorts.

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Great book

The storyline keeps your attention. It is an interesting insight into the mind of a serial killer.

Into the mind of a serial Killer

Good read. End left open for a sequel. Hope there is one. Takes on the aspect of the killer's child and what he is going through.

Eomare to pippin and merry

Go to result three even you pippin. Look at my post. Thanks

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wierd

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Starryriver

Sorry she picks up her catch and runs to the camp