Book Review: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

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Release date: April 3rd, 2012

Little Brown: Young Adult

359 pages (Hardcover)

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I have no idea where to start with this book. I will say that I have already read this book once about two years ago and I can’t believe I forgot what I did. It was a good shock that I had while rereading this book and I am happy I reread it because now I can get straight into the second and third books.

I Hunt Killers takes some time to get used to, it is very gory in places and can get quite detailed where I was gagging and noted that I should not eat while reading the book. With that being said let’s get into the summary of the book!

Jasper Dent is the son of the most notorious serial killer and he is keen on trying to prove that he is nothing like his father, despite his father teaching him his killing ways and taking him on his trips to kill since Jasper was young. But bodies start to come around Jasper’s town, Lobo Nod, and he thinks this is his shot to help the police and show he is a good guy. However along the way as he starts to realize more about the crimes he also learns about himself and find that he is more like his dad than he thinks.

So like I said earlier, the book takes time to get into and to stay with. I remember first reading it I was shocked by what I was reading and couldn’t believe the murders and deaths and how sick Jasper’s father was but at the same time I couldn’t believe how much I kept devouring the book. It is so disgustingly good it has the ability to make you want to read more. Getting into the mind of killer – seeing what they see, thinking what they think but also thinking like a detective too.

Jasper does not give himself much credit, he is so smart and while he may have gotten that from his dad he is using it for good. He did, at moment, creep me out with his ‘if-I-could-kill” thoughts but I knew deep down he was never that evil.

While the book turned completely dark at times, Jasper’s best friend, Howie, was a breath of fresh air to the story. He kept the book light when readers needed it, cracked funny jokes when time was too still, and kept Jasper’s head afloat. I loved him as a side character and glad he popped in at moments when he did.

It’s strange, when you think about it, reading about a serial killer. Their kills, their want to kill, its so fascinating too at the same time because a lot of people want one question- why? And that is what Jasper is trying to find out too. Why the certain people? Why the certain way to die? Why his dad? So many family members of his father’s victims would come up to Jasper and would ask why, ask for closure and he could not give it to them. I felt horrible for his upbringing and while I wouldn’t kill anyone, I wouldn’t mind taking a knife to his father. It’s crazy how paranoid this book made me too, how random some kills were and how random it could happen to anybody.

Overall, other than that I loved the book, I flew through it just liked the first time and yes it creeped me out but that will not stop me from ordering the next two ASAP. 5 bloody stars from me and I expect the rest in this series will be just as bloody, gory, and amazing as well and I can’t wait.

Thank you for reading and I hope this gets you to get yourself a copy as well. Stay tuned for another blog post soon,

Over and out.