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YA Review: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

4/4/2012

32 Comments

 
Picture
I'm still living in the world where this is the cover. It's been changed to the more boring black cover here.
I Hunt Killers
Author: Barry Lyga
Publication Date:  4/3/12
Publisher: Little Brown
Goodreads | Amazon


Blurb (GR):  
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?  


Review:
I Hunt Killers Barry Lyga Graph
I love reading about and researching serial killers. There, I said it. I am perpetually fascinated by the stories that seem too far-fetched to be true. Elizabeth Báthory allegedly bathed in the blood of virgins to retain her youth. Ted Bundy kept the decapitated heads  of his victims in his house as mementos.  Ed Gein dug up dead bodies and made a belt out of nipples. This is the stuff nightmares are made of. So it was with a certain excitement that I started reading I Hunt Killers. Barry Lyga created a fun friendship, a believable  relationship (and interracial, which is exciting to note as interracial relationships are few and far between in YA), and two pretty darn scary serial killers. One is the protagonist's father, Dear Old Dad, who killed over 120 people and is now in prison. The other is a new killer, one who just started murdering people in Jazz's own town. The locals will never forget what his father did, nor will some of them ever treat him as anything other than someone about to follow in his father's footsteps. 

Jazz himself is worried about becoming a killer. He knew about a lot of his father's victims and he keeps having nightmares (or are they memories?) about helping his father kill something/someone but he can't put the pieces together. He knows the history and evidence from his father's kills in and out and believes he understands the mind of a serial killer, so when the new killer starts racking up victims, Jazz attempts to help the local police solve the crime. The chief humors him more than I believe to be likely, but the funnier parts of the novel, and it IS funny, involve Jazz and his hemophiliac best friend Howie doing a little crime-solving work on their own. A lot of humor is also added by Jazz's grandmother, with whom he lives. She has increasing memory loss and often does wacky things and mistakes people for others. Of all the points in the novel that I could've been offended by, I was a little disheartened by the fact that Jazz essentially drugs his grandmother several times to keep her sleeping. Also, in regards to his grandmother, I felt like the child services worker, though well-intentioned, was unrealistic. Anybody who has worked in or around the system would probably raise an eyebrow at a worker making such an effort over someone who is healthy, not abused, able to support himself, and 6 months from aging out of the system. Sad, but true. 

Fans of thrillers and horror novels will probably enjoy this, regardless of its YA categorization. When I was trying to think of readalikes, the only thing similar in the YA genre that I am aware of is the John Cleaver series by Dan Wells and I signed out of that series after the first book added in a paranormal element.  This book had more gory elements, funny dialogue, more realism, and it was scarier. I was fully engaged for the entirety of the novel so to me, it is the clear winner. I Hunt Killers ends with a bang. It can stand alone but I sincerely hope that Lyga writes more about Jazz and company. Please don't leave me hanging like this, Mr. Lyga!

Thanks to Wendy Darling at The Midnight Garden for touring her ARC of this book. I loved it!


4/5 stars

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32 Comments
Jasprit link
4/3/2012 09:01:22 pm

This is a fantastic review Flan, I especially love your diagram! I remember Wendy enjoyed this one, so I'm even more excited to read it now that you liked it too! :)

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/4/2012 03:11:19 am

Thanks, J. Yes, Wendy liked it a lot! If you like upper YA on the scarier side, I bet you will too.

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Reynje
4/3/2012 09:04:36 pm

This is the best thing I've seen all day :) Particularly the positioning of childbirth and whoopee cushions.

Brilliant review!

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/4/2012 03:12:27 am

As I have no experience on the matter, I had to ask Catie for some firsthand advice as to where childbirth should go. She is very knowledgeable in the ways of the world.

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
4/3/2012 09:11:23 pm

Belt made out of nipples? EW! Thanks for that image, Flannery;D

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/4/2012 03:13:43 am

There is a really great scene in the eponymous movie about him where he makes an ornament out of a labia and puts glitter on it. You're welcome.

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Tatiana (The Readventurer) link
4/4/2012 03:18:10 am

@.@ *and hurl*

Maja link
4/3/2012 10:04:29 pm

He really drugged his grandmother?! Well, that's a first.
My comfort zone is between I Hunt Killers (I think) and Silence of the Lambs. IF I'm in in the right mood, I can go as far as Stephen King. Anything outside that is more than I can handle. I'm a coward, everyone knows that.
Also, I can't believe you mentioned Bundy, but not Dahmer.

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/4/2012 03:16:38 am

Mentioning Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy in this review would've been like including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in a list of rock n' roll musicians you ought to learn more about:) (though Ted Bundy is almost there)

I'm positive you could handle this one, and I think there's enough humor to keep you interested. I like that you say anything outside of that might make you uncomfortable but that's a lie--I bet you could take the funny ones. Dead Alive is ridiculously gory but so, so funny. (quasi-intentionally)

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michelle link
4/4/2012 12:31:31 am

Love the chart! I was so excited when this came in on my nook last night! (I am trying to rearrange my TBR list for it to come up a bit sooner!)

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/4/2012 03:19:28 am

I hope you like it! It is such a change from most YA out there. Not a paranormal element or instalove relationship to be found.

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Heidi link
4/4/2012 02:20:08 am

I can't believe I am just hearing about this book this week. I have my degree in psych and have alway been fascinated by what makes a serial killer, is it nature or nuture. This book is something I would enjoy, as demented as it sounds. I wish I had gotten on Wendy's tour. Oh not everything by SK is scary....

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/4/2012 03:21:22 am

Oh, I know:-/ Generalization Station, population 1. I guess I should've worded it as 'most' SK books but I'm a bit too lazy to change it now. It came out yesterday, though, if you are interested in reading it. Also, Wendy is giving away her ARC along with two others in a current giveaway:)

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Noelle link
4/4/2012 02:24:14 am

Hahahaha--Student Loan Debt? Word. *Psycho sound effect* Excellent visual aid as always, Flannery. I can already tell I'm going to like Jazz and Howie and their crime investigation methods.

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/4/2012 03:24:31 am

I bet you will. They were a funny pair. I'd like to see this made into a television show.

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Nicola link
4/4/2012 05:29:36 am

Ah, this is so my kind of book! Will definitely be getting a copy of this. Great review!

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/4/2012 07:04:19 am

Success! I hope you find a copy soon, Nicola. It's just come out yesterday but I think it was released on the same day for you guys? It's up on TBD:)

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Missie, The Unread Reader link
4/4/2012 06:19:17 am

"I love reading about and researching serial killers. "

I haven't ever shared my home address with you, have I Flann? *makes quick note to move to secret location*

Your illustration cracked me up. I studied it for hours. The "Student Loan Debt" bit slayed me.

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/4/2012 07:02:36 am

MUAHAHAHAHA, I DO have your address. Actually, when I read about the crazy things serial killers do, I just can't believe any of them got away with any of it. Seriously, have you READ those Wikipedia entries? They are insane.

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Sam link
4/4/2012 07:31:12 am

I honestly wasn't interested in this book before but after seeing both you and Wendy give it such great reviews, I am determined to read this when I can! Serial killers ARE sort of fascinating aren't they? In a strange sort of way...

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/5/2012 09:07:10 am

They ARE sort of interesting, though you're right that it is in a totally bizarre kind of way. I bet you'd like it, though!

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VeganYANerds link
4/4/2012 09:08:38 am

My best friend loves reading about all of that too, Flann, so I know she will like this for sure. I can be a bit of a scaredy-cat but this really does sound intriguing, I'll just have to read it during daylight ;)

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/5/2012 09:06:08 am

Little, Brown made a great book trailer for it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0wwRp7Ou53E

I hope you both give it a try:)

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Catie (The Readventurer) link
4/4/2012 10:00:45 am

This book sounds dark and hilarious and awesome. I've been meaning to read Barry Lyga's Fan Boy and Goth Girl series for a while.

Also, I challenge you to watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnt7g47O3JY and not laugh at least once.

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Maggie, Young Adult Anonymous link
4/4/2012 02:00:13 pm

BELT OF NIPPLES!! I need to a minute while I recover from that mental image.

....


*Let me peruse the other comments*


GLITTER LABIA!!!!!!

This is the first time I'm going to need to watch Criminal Minds for comfort.

Still totally adding this book to my to-read list. :) Love the chart + review, Flann!

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/4/2012 02:20:43 pm

Glitter labia sounds like a band name. Also, it reminds me of Sparkle Motion from Donnie Darko. Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Glitter Labia, Maggie.

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Lucy link
4/4/2012 03:53:51 pm

I would have dismissed this book as not for me just on the cover alone. But, your review has me giving it a second look. It does sound dark but I'm glad to hear it has a humorous side too. Way to win me over! Awesome review and diagram.

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/5/2012 09:10:08 am

I think they probably changed the cover for that exact reason. I prefer the one I posted above but now it is mostly just black with very little blood spatter. I still wouldn't read this most places in public, though, lest someone think I am reading a how-to manual or something;-)

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Sophia (FV) link
4/4/2012 11:42:26 pm

This is my first time stopping by. I saw your guest post over at The Unread Reader. Great review! I loved your diagram. :)

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Flannery (The Readventurer) link
4/5/2012 09:08:14 am

Thanks for stopping by, Sophia! Missie is such a doll:) I love that feature she runs over at her blog.

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Heidi link
4/5/2012 10:49:46 am

Bwahahaha, your graph kinda made my day. Seriously. The stuff that falls in the funny but gory category? That's my jam. Which is probably why I liked I Hunt Killers as much as I did. You're right, it WAS funny. I loved that he had an interracial relationship and a hemophiliac best friend. I agree, while I could accept Jazz's relationship with the sheriff despite everything, I had a harder time swallowing the social worker. Honestly, by the time she could process all of that paperwork and what-not, he'd be 18 anyway...Great review!

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Regina link
4/28/2012 12:04:16 am

I keep coming back to read this brilliant graph -- aging is clean but scary. LOL.

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