Can you imagine the sorts of messed up you might be if you had a serial killer for a dad? I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga explores the effect the sins of the father has on Jazz Dent, son of the infamous serial killer Billy Dent. While Jazz comes across as fairly well adjusted to outsiders, he grapples on the inside with the darker side of his humanity.
When a mysterious murder occurs in Jazz’s small town, he sees it as what may be the first in a line of serial kills. And so to atone for his father’s crimes, Jazz takes it upon himself to play the hero and solve the murder. The main character of I Hunt Killers certainly brings a unique perspective to the table as his father used to give him serial killer lessons. As readers we are privy to creepy flashbacks of these lessons with dear old dad during I Hunt Killers.
Barry Lyga’s Jasper ‘Jazz’ Dent is a fascinating character caught between nature and nurture, battling a messed up family history. We see that he desperately wants to be good, yet has all of these issues. Like, for example he thinks about how easy it would be to kill someone and get away with it. Honestly, I found myself pulling for Jazz despite the super scary moments.
Also, I briefly want to touch on the supporting characters of I Hunt Killers. There’s Connie who is Jazz’s girlfriend. She shows him that he is capable of love and caring for someone besides himself. I like that she is rational and tough as nails and down to help Jazz out. Then there is Howie who is Jazz’s hemophiliac best friend. Howie brings humor and a light touch to the book — having Jazz’s back despite his physical limitations.
I read this book, I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga, via audio which turned out to be a pretty great choice. Charlie Thurston is the narrator and lends a bit of growing pain timbre to his voice — he does a rather wonderful job voicing all of the characters and narrating the terrifying bits. I Hunt Killers is a fabulous audiobook produced by Hachette Audio. It is 9 hours and 32 minutes unabridged.
Disclosure: I purchased my copy with my Audible credit.
Other reviews of I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga:
Makeshift Bookmark – “I think I lost quite a bit of my sanity in the process of reading”
Book Harbinger – “Thrilling, creepy, and unpredictable”
Bites – “Unique and thoroughly disturbing”
Sash & Em – “It was CREEPALICIOUS“
Love this book. And yes, Connie is da bomb dot com. Glad you enjoyed it!
Connie totally rocks and is so strong and confident, I love it.
Great review, hun! I really want to read this, mostly because of your description of Jazz and Connie, they both sound like interesting characters and a good couple. I’d love to try the audio book, I’m off to find out if I can get it over here.
Oh my goodness, you totally NEED to read it. It’s fantastic and I think you’d like how it’s a bit out of the ordinary.
That definitely sounds like it could be good! Kind of creepy, but good! Thanks for the review!
Lauren, it is super creepy but also super compelling.
I’ve heard amaaahzing things about this, I think I need to add the audio to my TBL.
Jen the audio is soooooo wonderful! Like, it’s really well done and fascinating.
Ooh, I have this one through NetGalley, I think, but I’m probably going to buy the audiobook! I trust your opinion thoroughly when it comes to audiobook, and I’ve been looking for a new one, HURRAH. Also, I am in the mood for creepy for sure.
Tara, I think you will LOVE this audiobook, it’s such an engaging listen, perfectly paced and the mood and overall tone of the narration is PERFECT for listening.
Sounds fab. It was recommended to me a while back and I never considered audio. Sounds like the way to go.
Juju, audio is absolutely the way to go for I Hunt Killers, I think.
This sounds intense but awesome (and kinda Dexter-ish, maybe?). Also, I’m impressed that Lyga could pull of this book as YA. Adding this one to my Audible want list!
Well, it’s gory but not like going to make you puke gory. And well, not that Dexterish because Jazz doesn’t kill people and his dad doesn’t kill them for a noble reason. What it is though is a fantastic listen.
Loved this. It was exactly what I was hoping it would be.
Right? I got what I came for in regards to I Hunt Killers.
Yeah so I have this serial killer fascination. Just the title made me go, ooh that sounds interesting! I’ll definitely be adding it to my list! Thanx for the review!
Hahaha, I love it! Hooked by the title.
I read I Hunt Killers on ebook but have heard nothing but fabulous things about the audiobook version. I bet the creepiness really comes alive with actually hearing the thoughts of Jazz and his dad. Barry Lyga is amazing and I can’t wait to read his future books!
Oh, Tara, the creepiness is ratcheted up by listening to the audiobook. I am excited about his other book as well.
Yikes I loved this book. It’s almost hard to explain without sounding like a sociopath, but Jazz might be like the physical embodiment of what goes on inside my head. I CANNOT wait for the sequel!!
I think that we’ve all got questionable thoughts, this certainly does not make you sound crazy.
Ooh, now this sounds like something I might purchase from Audible myself, if it’s available in the UK!
DO ITTTTTT!
Was glad to hear the audio for this one was good! This has been one of my favorite reads so far this year. I loved Jazz’s mental struggle, and his constantly reminding himself that he cares about things and people is really what makes him not a psycho. Love Connie and Howie!
I think his struggle really added meaning to the book, that he isn’t magically a good guy with no faults but sort of a tortured hero.
Sounds creepy, but also sounds really interesting. If a book can put you completely in the mind of a character going through that kind of conflict, it’s pretty darn amazing.
Oh, I Hunt Killers absolutely puts you completely in the mind of Jazz!
I’ve heard good things about this book, but I’ve been staying away because of the SCARY, but the more I hear the more I feel like I might be willing to deal with the scary…
I think you could TOTALLY handle the scary, Meghan.
I’ve been wanting to read this one! Now that you tell me the audio is legit, I might have to use my Audible credit as well, especially since I was just trolling Audible’s cheap books and finding NOTHING. I love me some serial killers. I mean, not in a creepy way. Obviously.
Um, I didn’t WANT to read this book initially. It sounded to be too much of a creepfest, which I can’t handle. Gore doesn’t bother me so much as the KILLER suspense, and I have a feeling I’d *die* with this one. BUT. I’m a character girl through and through, more than anything else, and the way you made these characters sounds… Oh, boy. I’m squarely in a pickle.
File this book under “books I didn’t think I’d be adding to my tbr.” Yup, totally didn’t think I’d want to read this one, but I gotta admit, you’ve changed my mind AGAIN.
*drowning in my tbr pile*