Review: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Title: I Hunt Killers

Series: I Hunt Killers #1

Novellas in this series: Down Time (#0.1) | Lucky Day (#0.2)

Author: Barry Lyga

Genre: YA, mystery thriller

Publication date: April 2012

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis:

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 rating: ★★★★☆
The premise of this book is what immediately grabbed my attention. I read a couple of the novellas beforehand and I was all in! And overall, I really enjoyed this book!

For Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round.

Poor Jazz had such an awful childhood with a serial killer for a dad. You’d think the guy would hide this from his family, but noooo.

Jazz had witnessed crime scenes the way cops wished they could—from the criminal’s point of view.

It’s just insane! And now everyone thinks he’s gonna grow up to be just like his Dear Old Dad. And sometimes, even Jazz thinks so too. Jazz really struggled with what his dad did, with what everyone thinks of him, and everyone judging them both. Poor kid. I really felt for him. Seeing Jazz’s inner struggle just with himself, it was incredibly heartbreaking 😩 It just made me so sad to see all these thoughts go through his head. It’s just so messed up how he brought up in all this insanity.

Billy Dent’s fathering skills—such as they were—resembled brainwashing techniques more than parenting.

In I Hunt Killers Jazz is basically trying to catch killer to prove that he isn’t a killer himself—to prove it to others, but also to himself.

“I need to prove that I can do more than just mess people up with what Billy taught me. I can do some good with it, too.”

It just hurts my soul because I do feel like he’s a good kid! Throughout the book he just did these little things that showed me that he did care! He cares so much! Especially for his best friend Howie. Jazz is always worrying about his friend’s hemophilia. And I also love that Howie believes in Jazz even though he doesn’t believe in himself. He’s so supportive and I just loved their relationship.

Speaking of Howie, I loved him! He was really funny and I enjoyed his presence.

Howie laughed weakly. “Tell your pops I said ‘hi.’”
“Seriously?”
“God, no! Are you nuts? Tell him I’m already dead. Tell him I’ve been dead.” Howie shivered.

As for Jazz himself, I also really loved him! In the back of his mind he always worries that he is going to turn out like his dad, but he is such a caring person, I don’t think that will happen. Also, he’s very snarky and I love that. Lol. Another character I liked was Connie, Jazz’s girlfriend. She almost keeps him grounded, and she doesn’t take any of his shit, which I loved. Lol. And we also meet Jazz’s dad, Billy, very briefly. He is a real piece of work. I can’t believe the way he toys with his son. Just... wow.

While the book was interesting, for whatever reason, it took me a little while to get into it. I think it’s just because it was a little slow at the start, but halfway into it things really started to pick up and I was hooked! But overall, I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed reading about Jazz and his messed up childhood and all the trauma and inner turmoil he is now dealing with. The first half of the book was not entirely action-packed, but the second half did have more action, which I enjoyed. I really liked the characters and the investigation into this killer and oh my god! The killer got a POV which, just, damn! I really enjoyed it though! I’m interested to see what’s next for Jazz, especially with that ending with Billy. Yikes!

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! 😊