Review: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

I Hunt Killers

By: Barry Lyga

Pub. Date: April 3, 2012

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 359

Source: ARC

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?

When I first saw I Hunt Killers at ALA, I was completely intrigued. I am a big believer in children being able to overcome their childhoods, no matter how difficult it was. This is the case with 17 year old, Jasper "Jazz" Dent. His father is, Billy Dent, a world famous serial killer who has killed over a 100 people. His father has taught him everything he knows about killing. Jazz can easily murder someone and be able to get away with it. He has seen things that no child should have to see, including the slashing and skinning of his childhood dog.

Jazz does not want to turn into his father, and reminds himself all of the time that "people matter". But because of what he knows, he can think like a killer. When a new serial killer is in town, completely copying Billy's earlier murders, Jazz makes it his responsibility to find the killer before he can kill again.

I Hunt Killers started off with a bang, and ended with a bang! I never knew what was going to happen and I could not put the book down. I was obsessed with Jazz's thoughts and felt so bad for what he went through and what he has seen. He is a good person who isn't his father. He wants to use his knowledge for good, even if it kills him in the process.

What grounded Jazz the most was his girlfriend Connie and best friend Howie. While other people looked at him like he was a piranha, these two stuck by him no matter what. Especially Howie, who has been his friend since before Jazz's father was arrested and stayed with him when the world found out who Billy really was. I loved Howie! He was the comic relief and I loved his sense of humor. 

I had no idea who the killer was and I did not see that ending coming at all. I was completely surprised and I loved every minute of it! I can not wait for the second book. I just know that it is going to be amazing!

I highly recommend picking up I Hunt Killers. Just don't read it before bed, because you won't be able to stop your heart from pumping until a while after!