Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    I Hunt Killers
    Unavailable
    I Hunt Killers
    Unavailable
    I Hunt Killers
    Audiobook9 hours

    I Hunt Killers

    Written by Barry Lyga

    Narrated by Charlie Thurston

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The first book in this thrilling, terrifying series by New York Times bestselling author Barry Lyga is perfect for fans of Dexter.
    It was a beautiful day. It was a beautiful field.    Except for the body.
    Jazz is a likable teenager. A charmer, some 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 criminals' point of view.
    And now, even though Dad has been in jail for years, bodies are piling up in the sleepy town of Lobo's Nod. Again.
    In an effort to prove murder doesn't run in the family, Jazz joins the police in the hunt for this new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret--could he be more like his father than anyone knows?
    From acclaimed author Barry Lyga comes a riveting thriller about a teenager trying to control his own destiny in the face of overwhelming odds.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateApr 3, 2012
    ISBN9781611134087
    Unavailable
    I Hunt Killers
    Author

    Barry Lyga

    Barry Lyga is a recovering comic book geek and the author of many books, including The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, Goth Girl Rising, Boy Toy, and Hero-Type for HMH, Wolverine: Worst Day Ever for Marvel Books, and Archvillian for Scholastic. He has also written comic books about everything from sword-wielding nuns to alien revolutionaries. He worked as marketing manager at Diamond Comic Distributers for ten years. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.Visit Barry online at www.barrylyga.com.

    More audiobooks from Barry Lyga

    Related to I Hunt Killers

    Related audiobooks

    YA Social Themes For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    Reviews for I Hunt Killers

    4/5

    613 ratings83 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      It was terrific, and I can't believe it's classified as YA. It was definitely gross and creepy! Jazz's father is a notorious serial killer named Billy Dent. Billy's in prison, and the entire town avoids Jazz, except for his friend Howie and his girlfriend Connie. The small town of Lobo's Nod is once again rocked by a series of murders, and everyone is looking at Jazz. It doesn't take him long to discover that the new killer is copying his dear old dad. It was great: suspenseful and taunt and had a great, satisfying ending.
    • 4/5
      I do not rate this book as a juv book at all, I think of it is more of a crime thriller with very adult content.I enjoyed the book very much. It was a different look at crime and how to solve it. Growing up with a Dad who was a serial killer would be bad enough, but to be groomed to follow in his footsteps is a nightmare for Jazz. This book is a struggle in trying to find himself, and will himself to be "normal" when he is not. It captured my attention, I only give it four stars for a little minor detail that bothered me as I listed to the book on tape. In some areas it seemed a little too much he said/she said type of things.Basically, this is a good make your skin crawl a little read.
    • 5/5
      I Hunt Killers is a suspenseful book that keeps the reader wanting to know whether the son of famous serial killer, Billy Dent, will indeed follow his father's footsteps into the family business. This book is a must read!
    • 4/5
      AMAZING characterization, razor-like plot! My only complaint is this: how is Jasper NOT going to therapy?! HOW.

      If you liked this, I would also recommend: The Naturals, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
    • 1/5
      I'm bailing on this one about 20% of the way through. I don't often bail on a book, but life's too short. To be fair, I borrowed the audio version and don't care for the narrator. IMO, the narrator distracts from getting lost in the story--it's supposed to be from the perspective of a teen boy and it's clearly an adult male voice. Worse, and an aspect of the writing itself, there are many redundancies and phrasing that sounds like an adult trying to do teen. It doesn't work. The amount of times the son refers to his father as "dear old dad" is excessive and grating. I live with two teen boys and I can assure you that neither has ever used the phrase "dear old dad," even ironically. There are others and I just couldn't. It got high reviews, so I might be willing to give it another shot, in a non-audio format.
    • 5/5
      Friend recommended this book to me. I absolutely loved it. I loved it so much that I'm definitely going to search for it at a bookstore soon. It was hilarious and had me in stitches during class. It's also a page-turner. I didn't want to put this book down at all. At the moment, I'm reading 'Game', the sequel of 'I Hunt Killers".Jasper "Jazz" Dent has a serial killer as a father. There's a father and son bond between the both of them, but only because Jasper's father, Billy Dent, was the master of manipulation. He manipulated Jasper for years by educating him about the techniques of being a serial killer. Lucky for Jazz, his father gets arrested by the police after what seemed like an eternity of crime. Jazz now lived with his grandmother, otherwise known as Billy's mother. Unfortunately for Jazz, his grandmother had an old mind. At times, she would as sweet as a child and other times, she would be as cruel as a demon. Sometimes, she would be "herself", meaning that she would know she was Billy's mother and Jazz's grandmother. For some reason, Jazz's grandmother reminds me of Pookie from Hey Arnold. Anyways, after a couple of years living in Lobo's Nod without any trouble, bodies begin to appear again. After some deep thinking, it 'clicks' and Jazz realizes that the serial killer's pattern is eerily similar to someone close to him. since he had a well-known reputation of being Billy's son, people begin to suspect that he had turned into a murderer. Of course, Jazz has to prove for once and for all that he is different from his father. Just like Billy, he had the ability to think like a serial killer. Unlike Billy, he would use this mind to help stop the madness.
    • 4/5
      Disturbing. Gave me bad dreams.
    • 4/5
      I couldn't help but think of this story as a junior version of Dexter, the marvelous book and TV series about a young man groomed to be a serial killer of serial killers. I also thought about Jeffrey Dahmer who was born a killer. And I thought of that age old discussion of nature vs. nurture. Is the son of a serial killer doomed to follow in his footsteps? Is the son of a serial killer taught from a early age how to kill and enjoy it, doomed to be another serial killer?Jasper (Jazz) is the son of a serial killer, so prolific that he had several nicknames before he was caught. His only memories are whispers of his father sharing his dastardly deeds with his son, trying to mold him. But Jazz is not like him, does not want to kill people. Or does he? This is a question he asks himself over and over.His father in prison, Jazz lives with his crazy, violent, and frail grandmother. Jazz is doing all he can to live a normal life. His best friend, Howie, is a hemophiliac (with a death wish?) and he has a black girlfriend named Connie. When a dead woman is found in a field near his town, Jazz feels he is in a unique position to aid the police.As more bodies turn up, Jazz realizes that they follow a pattern set by his own father's murders. Not only is this a new serial killer, but a copycat serial killer. Jazz and his friends work on finding this killer before he can continue. But is there a link between the killer and Jazz's father?There are unanswered questions which might suggest a sequel and I look forward to following Jazz on his journey.
    • 5/5
      I Hunt Killers is, thus far, one of my favorite reads of the year. Holy geez. Creepy, intense, gory, funny - if you like these things, pick it up immediately.

      Jazz (full name: Jasper) is Complex. Capital C. He doesn't want to be a killer like his father. But, and he admits this - if only to himself, the impulses are there. He was raised to think of people as potential targets. As things. Not as living, breathing, contributing humans. But Jazz tries. He has a best friend, he has a girlfriend and he constantly tries to remind himself that people matter. (So do his friends. It's very Nature vs. Nurture.)

      The mystery was so well done, as well. Lots and lots of intrigue. Bodies piling up left and right. Tension. Watching Jazz attempt to put the pieces together and getting more and more frustrated when he can't was awesome.

      The only issue is people may struggle to connect with Jazz. I think it's natural to be repelled from people constantly thinking about murdering people. There is also A LOT of information to process and, likely, we only are getting a bit of it. So, fair warning there.

      Really, though. Loved. Team Howie!
    • 3/5
      Jazz's Dad is the most famous (and prolific) serial killer the world has seen in a long time. Dear Old Dad finally got caught and sent to jail a few years ago, but Jazz still lives in the same small town where he's always lived. Where everyone knows who his father is. Where everyone suspects what he might become. Because Dead Old Dad spent a long time training Jazz to be the best serial killer ever. And now the bodies have started appearing again...

      I enjoyed this but, as with the first volume in many series, there's a lot of setup to get through. Future volumes may be stronger if they can just jump right into things. This is a great read-alike for those who enjoy all the crime procedurals on TV right now - particularly Dexter (to which this has a lot of similarities) and Criminal Minds. Jazz is over the top with his emotions and self-doubts, but where this would bother me in an adult, it seemed just right for a messed-up teenager (or really, any teenager). There's not neccesarily a lot of depth to the secondary characters, but they provide good foils for Jazz. Overall this was a quick, fun read and I would pick up the next one when it comes out. Reviewed from ARC courtesy of Little Brown.
    • 5/5
      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 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.
    • 5/5
      "Regular fiction"... in that there is no fantasy or sci/fi or magical realism. It's certainly not a usual sort of story. Jazz goes through what most teens do... the endless bouncing back and forth about being just parents, or just the OPPOSITE of them. "Who am I really?" "What's a product of my upbringing versus the emerging desires and thoughts of the *real* me?" Except in Jazz's case, the extremes of like and unlike Dear Ol Dad are a bit more extreme. Dad's a serial killer.

      Jazz is an extremely well-written main character. His worries about manipulating people and what's normal are what most folks experience, but taken to an extreme. The other characters are also great - well-developed and well-written. Fascinating and compelling.

      That all being said, this book is disturbing. Definitely not for everyone.
    • 5/5
      As you should know by now, I like creepy books, the creepier, the better! Therefore, when I saw this book, I definitely had to check it out. While parts of the book didn't quite live up to my expectations, I thought this was a great first book in a series. Jasper "Jazz" Dent is introduced to us at the scene of a brutal murder. He is watching the investigators as they go about their investigative process. If you didn't know the premise of the book, you might suppose at this point that Jazz is a murderer who has come back to the scene of the crime. However, that is not the case. Jazz has been trained by the most prolific serial killer of all time....his dad. He was supposed to follow in his dad's footsteps, but instead, his dad was caught and sent to prison. Jazz has since developed a friendship with the detective who caught his father. All he wants is to be a normal teenager; however, throughout the book the reader can see that damage that his dad has done to his mind. Jazz constantly has to remind himself that people matter. It is easy to see that things could have taken a very different turn for Jazz, and he could be the one killing instead of hunting the killers. I really enjoyed this book, though it was predictable in places. For instance, I figured out the killer's identity early in the book. However, there were enough surprises at the end to make up for that. I am looking forward to the sequel to this book, Game, which I have heard is even better than the first book.
    • 4/5
      "I Hunt Killers" is a story about Jazz, 17-year-old son of a famous serial killer. Dad has been in prison for the last four years, but a dead body is found in a field, and Jazz is convinced that another serial killer is at work.Jazz is an conflicted, broken protagonist. His sociopath father brought him up to be a serial killer, and Jazz has to constantly fight the dark side of his nature. He wants to do the right thing, but questions his motives for doing it. Fortunately, Jazz's best friend Howie and girlfriend Connie stick with him through thick and thin, and it is through Jazz's actions towards them that we see how unlike his father Jazz is. Unfortunately, sometimes it felt like those two are the only people keeping Jazz on the side of the angels, and I spent half the book worrying that poor Jazz will snap if anything happens to them.I enjoyed the mystery (and did not guess who the killer was), and can't wait to read the sequel, "Game."
    • 5/5
      If I could, I would have my review say this and this only: "Read this f&%$%$g book! NOW!"But since I know you all are expecting a real review, here goes.... Jazz is a teen who learned a lot from his dad. Normally people would say that's a good thing. But when you're dad is known for being the most infamous serial killer with his body count up to triple digits.... Not so much. Especially when murders begin happening in the same town that you live in. But instead of doing things like his father, Jazz chooses to use his knowledge and do things that will help the police. Or at least help them to think its not him committing those crimes. He becomes obsessed with it and makes it his duty to catch the killer. I was not surprised at all that I liked this book. If you know me, I am a HUGE fan of Criminal Minds and I felt like this was Criminal Minds in a book. And just like with the show, at the end of this book, I found myself thinking 'How in the hell did Lyga come up with all this information?!" Kind of scared me, but it definitely did not stop me from finishing the book. Another thing I loved about this book was the characters. Jazz was very conflicted and it showed. He was fighting his demons the entire story and chilling as it was, I loved it. I also loved Howie. He was like the opposite of Jazz but that's why I felt like they were so good together. Realistically I felt like they would be real best friends because they're so different from each other; they balance each other out. And he was so funny. His sarcastic nature and funny one liners made him the comedic relief of this dark and creepy book. And last but not least, there was Connie. I loved her because she was so realistic as well. She was so believable and you could tell that she loved Jazz. The only thing that kind of irked me, was the fact that I got who the killer was a loooonnnnnggg time before the book told me. Don't get me wrong, the book isn't at all predictable, its just as stated earlier, I watch Criminal Minds and CSI: Miami, Vegas, and New York "religiously" so I knew the signs to look for. I kind of brought it on myself. But it kind of redeemed itself with the end. I was definitely NOT expecting the end. Gahh I can't explain how great it is without giving it away, so I'll leave it at that.What scared me the most about this book was the detail of the crimes though. With my reader's imagination, I was able to visualize everything going on in the book as I read it. There were certain parts of the book that made me put it down. Like my teaser I posted on Tuesday.... (See that post HERE) *Shudders* And that was only on page 82! I think what scared me about visualizing everything, was knowing that there are really people out there like that out in the world. That are into killing people and all that jazz. (no pun intended...) With this book, Barry Lyga shows his true genius with this creepy thriller. This is one book you will not want to put down. Not only because its so amazing, but because not knowing will gnaw at you until you find out "whodunit."
    • 5/5
      I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga is a fast-paced, young adult thriller told through the eyes of the son of a serial killer. I read the book in a single sitting. It was engaging from beginning to end. I was immediately drawn into the world of Jazz and was fascinated by the "son of a serial killer" premise. It's near the top of my list for this year. I thought the author did an outstanding job keeping the book squarely in the young adult category while dealing with the adult-themes.
    • 5/5
      When I first saw this book on Hachette's catalogue, I knew it was going to be good. This book totally reminded of Dexter, sure the main character is not a serial killer himself, but you get to feel how a serial killer's mind worked. I also had flashbacks to Criminal Minds when I read the book. And then I saw the book trailer...You know I was begging for the book. :P So THANK YOU SO MUCH HBG for providing me a copy.So what can I say about the book in two sentences? Can the book get anymore epic? Gosh! This book! I fell for the book hard from the first page.If you know me, I LOVE male POV, and this book can provide prove to my argument how male POV is AWESOME! Jazz is such a brilliant character, by that I mean he is so intelligent but at the same time he is so relatable.Barry created such a creative, intricate book. I fathom at the mind twisting, unexpectedness an author's mind must be like. Barry totally treated me with some chapters from the POV of the new serial killer. Wow! Those chapters...*sigh* I am just fangirling in my little world. The book is fill not only with suspense and tension, but it also has humour. I found myself laughing from time to time, it balanced out the book. It kind of reminded me of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. In Hamlet, there are parts that has humour to it, but in the end there is violence and tension. And now for another if you know me fact: I really can't stand graphic, gruesome descriptions. My stomach just can't handle it (nope, definitely not a doctor here). Which makes me kind of weird because I like what most boys like in a book but can't stand a lot of gross stuff. Anyway, back to the book. This book did have violence scenes in it, so it won't be for everyone.I definitely didn't want to part with this book! Is Barry writing another book? Please tell me he is! (HE IS!)
    • 5/5
      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 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.
    • 4/5
      What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad? Jasper (Jazz) Dent is the son of the world's most infamous serial killer. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could--from the criminal's point of view. And now new 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 copycat serial killer. I found that I couldn't put this book down even when I wanted to. It's well written and leaves you eager for the sequel.
    • 5/5
      WOW! This is what I can say about the book, while I feel the shivers constantly go up and down my arm. After reading this book, I felt someone was always creeping up onto me and I swear there were people in my room everytime I went to bed. The plot was one I could never ever get enough of. It was constantly moving and I never knew what was coming next. And trust me, I was freaking out when it did. This book was like Silence of the Lambs for teens. The way things were explained and the pictures could perfectly paint in your mind was one reason this book was an intense read. Jazz was a guy who just had the worst life, one could imagine, when growing up. Knowing what his dad did, and even going with him to help out, would scar him for life. Well now since his dad is arrested, nothing could go wrong. Right! Wrong! I Hunt Killers was a book that created images and fearful shivers constantly till the last word. I am looking to what happens in the next book and will have my blanket ready to cover my eyes when I do. I highly recommend this book to everyone, even those who are afraid of these books.
    • 4/5
      I thought this book was pretty great. The story was interesting and we got a very fresh perspective. I thought Lyga did a great job getting us into the mind of Jazz, a boy raised by a serial killer. There were so many subtle thoughts and actions that showed perfectly that Jazz is VERY different from us, no matter how hard he fights it. I thought the action towards the middle got just a little slow and the ending was a bit of a confusing rush, but there was the hint at a sequel, so I'm quite pleased. Great book overall!
    • 4/5
      Wow, just wow. This book is ridiculously creepy, but amazingly so? It is like Law and Order SVU (the only good kind) told from the perspective of Jasper Dent, a boy who is connected to both a serial killer and the cops. It really is the best of both worlds.Jasper Dent's father is one of the most infamous serial killers. Everyone in his sleepy little town of Lobo's Nod, perhaps in the world, has been waiting for him to crack, to show just how similar he is to his father. Jazz is intent on making sure that never happens. But when bodies start piling up and Jazz knows he can solve the mystery, it becomes harder and harder to deprive himself of the life he was brought up to want - a life of death. So you know when you're watching SVU (because lets be honest, no one can ignore a SVU marathon) and the cops cannot figure out why the heck someone would pose the dead body, or even why they would kill him/her in the first place? Well, let's just say in I Hunt Killers, that whole part of the story is not a mystery. Jazz's father spent a lot of time trying to instill all that he knows into his son. Jazz can tell you exactly what the killer was thinking, and it is incredibly disturbing in the best kind of way. I cannot even begin to imagine what kind of research Barry Lyga did... I'm not sure I really want to find out. It payed off though, and that's all that really matters... right? Another aspect of the story that I loved were the characters, especially Jazz's best friend, Howie. He has a blood disease that makes him incredibly fragile, but his attitude and humor towards it are priceless. Howie is just a really cool character; he lightens up the book and makes the reader laugh in the middle of piles of gore and liters of blood. I would definitely recommend the insanity and creepy that is I Hunt Killers... Well, assuming that you can handle reading about severed fingers, blood, draino injections, rape and murder. The perfect novel for any crime show fans! PS: I know that in this review I kind of praise the blood, but I will very clearly put it out there that I do not find any of this subject mater amazing in real life. Just in fiction.
    • 4/5
      In this Dexter-inspired novel, readers are introduced to a fascinating new hero who is, well, let's say, a little unorthodox. Young Jasper "Jazz" Dent seems like a normal teenager one the surface, but there's something lurking underneath. The truth is that his father is one of the wort serial killers in history, and he's in prison. And Jazz's hands aren't completely unstained. He's been taught by his father to take over the family business, though Jazz prefers to use his powers for good instead of evil. When he is accused of a new string of murders, Jazz must hunt down the killer, while continuing to keep his own dark nature under wraps.If you're looking for an excellent, action-packed teen thriller, then I Hunt Killers fits the bill. Author Barry Lyga weaves a unique mystery peppered with well-constructed characters dealing with unique conflicts that makes the story really leap off the page. The internal conflict that Jazz constantly deals with is incredibly well portrayed as something like a diabolical specter that continues to haunt him -and begs the question: are serial killers born or made?Mystery, thriller and action all rolled into one, I Hunt Killers is a unique story with vivid characters that won't let readers go.
    • 4/5
      When I picked up I Hunt Killers, I had read a few reveiws and was excited to read it. While the subject of Barry Lyga's novel is interesting, I felt bogged down by the angst Jazz felt throughout the novel. It seemed as though Jazz would constantly have thoughts of becoming his dad, and I wanted him to either act on those thoughts or really turn in the other direction from them. I would like to have seen more of the action at the beginning of the book, and maybe I would have finished this one sooner. I'm not sure if I'll add this one to my classroom library just yet...still debating.
    • 5/5
      What if the world's worst serial killer was your father?That's the question asked by Barry Lyga's new book I Hunt Serial Killers - the question Jasper Dent has to deal with every day of his life. Billy Dent, his father, has been in jail for the past four years, but that doesn't stop the people of Lobo's Nod, the town where they lived (and Jasper still lives) from looking at Jasper "Jazz," strangely.He might be charming and attractive and he was popular before his father's arrest but now people wonder how long it'll be before he becomes just like his infamous father.And now bodies are stacking up in Lobo's Nod again. To keep his name clean - and maybe his conscious, too - Jazz is helping the police find the killer. Only, he may be even more like his father than anyone suspects.I Hunt Killers has a main character in 17-year-old Jazz that will set you on edge. Certain events/recollections are definitely of the skin crawling variety, as well. Without either of those things, though, the novel would not have been nearly as good. The squicky - and frankly, rather gross and disturbing - bits needed to be there.As much as I Hunt Killers is about finding a killer, it's also about Jazz trying to figure out who he is. Yes, he's the son of a serial killer who killed more than one hundred people and who raised him with knowledge of and talk about those kills . . . but what does that mean for him as he grows older? Is he, like everyone (or who he sees as everyone) seems to think, doomed to follow in his father's footsteps? Or can he turn away from the negativity and be a good person?Jazz's inner struggle, the mystery, and the crime were all done incredibly well. One element wasn't lacking because of another's presence, they were all strong. The characters were also great. Through Jazz's grandmother we get to see a lot of how family dynamics and upbringing affected both Billy and Jazz - with it being shown and not told, something that makes the effect much stronger. The characters who are closest to Jazz are a lot of fun for their parts in the story. They're unique and original and I loved seeing the parts they played not only in his life but also in the unveiling of the story line as it progressed.I Hunt Killers also seemed to handle the technical aspects of both the investigation of the murders, the handling of the evidence, etc very well (or if it was wrong it was written in a way that seemed very right).
    • 5/5
      After reading this book I could not go to sleep! The whisper words of Billy's crazed murders flowed through my mind! Literally. This book is so creepily fantastic!What blew my mind about this book is the great plot line. I love the idea of serial murder child. We have Jasper the son of a serial killer named Billy Dent. Jasper has a hard back round filled with blood, murders, and lies. Jasper is doing his best not to be like his father. Instead, he using what his father taught him about murder to catch killers. This folks kept me reading well into the night.The characters of the book Jasper, his best friend Howie, his gf Connie and his father are all written so well! I mean OMG! I can't begin to tell you how each character is so fresh! His friend Howie and Connie are minor characters but play a big role in keeping Jasper sane. They give him courage, strength, and lots of wisdom for the inner demons he is fighting.The best part of this book is the inner demons Jasper faces. Poor kid has been through so much that he blames himself for everything. He blames himself for not speaking out about his father, his mother disappearance, the mind games that his father played on him. My goodness! Some parts of the book gave me fearful chills down my spine. The fear in Jasper and the fear that Billy gives us literally froze me in my seat.Take it from me when I say that I want everyone to read this book. There are some parts in the book that are explicit and I feel because of certain parts that this should be read by mature teens. Preferably 18+. Heck, I'm old and this book gave me the hibbie jibbies! This book is similar to Silence of the Lambs but for teens. Really gave me the creeps. *shudders* But would I read it again, HECK YEAH!With that said, I Hunt Killers is one amazing book! The hideous thoughts of Billy, the flashback of Jasper's life, the hurt and blame, all make for a fantastic read! If you want to know what it is like to be in the mind of a crazed serial killer read this book. I Hunt Killers will slice you open till your speechless!
    • 4/5
      Jazz's father is the world's most infamous serial killer--124 victims (including his wife, Jazz's mother). And for the first 13 years of his life, Billy nurtured and trained his son in the, well, family business. Four years ago, Billy started working too close to home, and the local sheriff arrested him; Billy was sentenced to multiple life sentences. Jazz, now in the in the custody of his dementia addled grandmother, is just trying to be a normal teenager, though one obsessed with crime and forensics. He figures he knows all about being a serial killer, so he is uniquely suited to catching one. Especially the one who is mimicking his father's kills one by one, right in his home town. The sheriff, now Jazz's mentor of sorts, tries to keep him away, but once the bodies start piling up, Jazz can't help but be involved. This is a rather graphically violent story with plenty of psychological thriller to it. It's very compelling and the action rarely stops. I understand why this is a YA read, but I'm not entirely comfortable with the 15 and up they have put on it. The squeamish and the nightmare prone of any age should probably stay away. Dexter fans will love it.
    • 5/5
      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. It appears that there will be a second book, which I will be looking forward to reading when it comes out!Note: There are grisly scenes in the novel and swearing. This book is recommended for older teens and up and is not for sensitive readers.
    • 5/5
      There are always times when you think the concept is so interesting and potentially awesome that you're sure you're going to be let down when you read it. It's some little failsafe in our brains, preparing us for disappointment because we're pretty sure we're going to be let down. And then, when that doesn't happen, and we actually get what we are hoping for - there's this moment of shock. It's a little thrilling, actually. And it's all the more special for being rare.Thankfully - for me, at least - I Hunt Killers delivers one of those moments.Barry Lyga gave me exactly what I was looking for. The Nature vs. Nurture debate is one of the most interesting to me, and in a story like this, where a boy is essentially being groomed to be the world's finest Serial Killer Extraordinaire by his, um - talented? - father, Nature vs. Nurture takes center stage. Jazz's father has been in jail for 4 years by the time the book opens, but Jazz can't really get out from under his shadow. He's been programmed to see the weaknesses in people, and his own superiority, and then to use that. Being in his head, the reader gets to see what a struggle it is for Jazz to have any kind of normalcy. He clings to the things that make him human because he's terrified that he's a ticking timebomb - he's just waiting for something to set him off. He tries so hard to remind himself to be normal, because he's so terrified that he's not. It's like N.vs.N. in a petri dish - a one-man psychological experiment in whether we really have any control over who we become.Psychologically, this book could not have been any more what I wanted it to be. It was exactly what I was hoping for, unsettling and a little heartbreaking, fascinating and creepy. The doubt (both on Jazz's part and on the reader's, for Jazz) was just perfect. The way Jazz pushes people away and tests them to see if they'll finally give up on him - it's almost like a part of him is waiting for someone to give him permission. For someone important to him to show that they think he's hopeless, so that he can finally let go of the tension and the burden of trying not to be his dad, and just give in to what he perceives to be inevitable. He's so hyper-aware of everything, every advantage and disadvantage. Jazz, and the narration, was knowingly calculating, which is chilling on its own, but what's great is that it chills Jazz too - but not enough to stop him from doing what has to be done. The tone, too, was exactly what I wanted. It's darkly humorous at times, and other times just plain dark, but it's prevented from being completely bleak by the human connections in Jazz's life. It's through them that you know Jazz isn't a lost-cause, because they see the humanity in Jazz that he's tortured himself into pretending doesn't exist. Through them, you know he has the potential to be loving, to be a good person, and you see the burdens he places on himself - and all the while, that good portion of his life is being constantly undermined by Jazz's impressions of himself and his fear that any good he does, any love he feels, is just an act. The blind his inner serial killer hides behind. It's fascinating.And interlaced with all of this, there are snippets of things Jazz saw or did with his father, as well as snippets of narration from the current Lobo's Nod serial killer, which help escalate the tension and show what Jazz really is up against and why he's so haunted. The way these scenes from his past creep up on him and never let him have peace were a really nice layer to the story. All of it - the killer's obsession and plotting, Jazz's understanding of the horrors and his own calculation, his grandmother's craziness and his father's sociopathic glee - all of that combines to make it a really gripping read. And though it's gruesome, it's never gratuitous. Lyga eschews continual bloodbaths and cheap startles in favor of a layered psychological thriller that is far more chilling as a result.
    • 3/5
      Jazz's dad is an infamous serial killer and he taught Jazz everything. Now there is somebody in town mimicking his father's kills, and Jazz is determined to solve the mystery.