Book Reviews and More: I Hunt Killers

Wednesday 14 March 2012

I Hunt Killers - Barry Lyga

I Hunt Killers
Barry Lyga
Hachette Book Group Canada
LB Teens
ISBN 9780316125840

Barry Lyga has created a dark story with interesting twists. In the past 5 years I have read over 800 books and this is one of the best. I could not put it down, literally. I stayed up so late one night I only got 3 hours sleep before needing to get up for work, and I read the book in 2 sittings. The characters are incredible. The pace of the plot breathtaking; from the beginning it races to the climax. It will stir something primal in you as you read.

Jasper 'Jazz' Francis Dent is the son of serial killer Billy Dent. He is almost 18 and a likeable teen. But after a suspicious killing in Lobo's Nod, Jazz is convinced a serial killer is afoot, and is doing what he can to help, whether the sheriff wants the help or not. For Jazz has a deep seated fear - he fears he is just like his father. After all, his

father has raised him his whole life to be the perfect killer. His father was known by many names, as he changed his methods often and worked hard to not get caught. His father was known as The Artist, Green Jack, Gentle Killer, Hand-in-Glove and more. Wherever Billy hunted he became known by a different name. But Jazz has started using that knowledge and training, and is working on catching a killer.The story was amazing - an incredible story by a gifted story teller. It was like watching a whole season of Dexter in a single episode, or like Dexter and The Mentalist blended together and on steroids. The story is dark, and Jazz has a lot of personal demons to deal with, from his father's legacy, to a

senile grandmother he is trying to look after and protect, all the while trying to stay sane, calm and be an asset to the investigation. And in hunting down this copy-cat killer, maybe Jazz is finding his vocation, his calling in life. But can he keep it together long enough to put the clues together, can he protect the people he cares about, and can he avoid the sins of the father? This gripping novel will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first paragraph until the final word! Barry Lyga is like a cross between Irvine Walsh, Chuck Palaniuk, and Douglas Coupland, looking at the things most people look away from. But Lyga has a way of humanizing them, shedding light in the dark places and helping to expose us to the reality of the world around us without being over the top. And though his books are mainly aimed at teens, I have introduced them to numerous adult readers, all who become addicted to Lyga's gifted writing and this is one of the best!