Book Review: I Hunt Killers (Jasper Dent, #1) by Barry Lyga

Title: I Hunt Killers (Jasper Dent, #1)
Author: Barry Lyga
Pages: 368
Publication: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Little Brown & Company
Summary taken 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?

4 STARS - I REALLY LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

I was completely surprised at how much I liked this book. It started off with a bang and continued to suck me in with its enthralling characters and unique plot.

Jazz is an amazing protagonist. His dad is a famous serial killer who taught him everything as he grew up. Then Dear Old Dad got caught and was arrested four years ago. Even though he's not around anymore, Jazz is still plagued by his dad mentally; he's constantly struggling with doing what's right and what's wrong, and using his acting skills--skills that he learned from his dad--to fool everyone into thinking that he's normal, that he's fine.

Then bodies start turning up in town and Jazz is trying to prove his innocence, that he isn't like his dad. With the help of his hilarious best friend and girlfriend, Jazz is racing to find the serial killer.

The book is intense and suspenseful, not only because of the pattern of the murders, but because of Jazz's constant battle with his inner demons. Plus, you're constantly trying to figure out who the Impressionist is, which turned out to be kind of surprising.

The ending was also surprising, but that was because I thought that this was a standalone book. It didn't end on a huge cliffhanger, but it was quite obvious that the story wasn't over, which I was happy to find out, because I can't wait to see where this series will go.

On another note, I found out from the author's site that this book is being made into a TV series. With the way that the story is told and its suspenseful plot, I think it'll be awesome to watch as a TV series, even if the storyline's most likely going to change a bit. When it comes out, I will definitely be watching it.