ARC - I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Time Taken To Read - 2 days

Blurb From Goodreads

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad?

Jasper (Jazz) Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could--from the criminal's point of view.

And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.

In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret--could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

My Review

I am always nervous when I accept a new author to read (new to me) but I am delighted I had the opportunity to try this one.

Imagine your dad is a well known serial killer, world wide! Well that is how it is for Jazz (Jasper) Dent. Jazz is trying to live a normal teenager's life whilst dealing with the aftermath of being raised by a serial killer who taught him the ins and outs of the trade. Jazz's little town has had and barely recovered from it and now someone has been murdered and Jazz knows it is a serial killer. How long before the town thinks it is Jazz and how can he persuade the Chief this is a serial and there will be more murders!

This isn't the best book I have ever read nor amazingly written but it is compelling reading. Jazz battles with all the killer instincts and tweaks his father has molded and brainwashed into him as a young child. He knows killing is wrong and yet his view on people and killers is very different from your average person which is why he knows the town has another serial killer on it's hands. As he starts to investigate, the bodies start to pile up leaving Jazz to question himself and ability to connect and understand the killer.

I think the reason I liked this book so much was because of all the crime/slasher books I have read this gives you the point of view from a could be killer, how he views humans compared to how he should and the inner battle he faces practically everyday. There is some gruesome details with the killings but nothing too over the top and there is a wee twist or two that was done very well. I am glad there is another one to come as I have a few questions I hope will be answered in the next book and hearing more about Jazz's father and childhood. A book that leaves you wanting more is always something in favor for the author and a good compliment to their work so 4/5 for me!

Thanks so much to Transworld publishers especially Lynsey Dalladay for giving me the opportunity to read this and introducing me to a new author.

You can find Barry Lyga here http://barrylyga.com/new/home.html and http://fanboyandgothgirl.com/ and on twitter @barrylyga

This book is a new release (April 12th 2012) and available on amazon.co.uk for pre-order on hardback for £8.44 with free delivery.

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