Hardcover, 361 pages
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Published by: Little Brown and Company
Jasper Dent, #1
Source: Library
For fans of: Suspense, Thriller, Contemporary, Mystery, Crime, YA
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 THOUGHTS*
If I could, I would have my review say this and this only:
“Read this f&%$%$g book! NOW!”
But since I know you all are expecting a real review, here goes….
Jazz is a teen who learned a lot from his dad. Normally people would say that’s a good thing. But when your dad is known for being the most infamous serial killer with his body count up to triple digits…. Not so much. Especially when murders begin happening in the same town that you live in.
But instead of doing things like his father, Jazz chooses to use his knowledge and do things that will help the police. Or at least help them to think its not him committing those crimes. He becomes obsessed with it and makes it his duty to catch the killer.
I was not surprised at all that I liked this book. If you know me, I am a HUGE fan of Criminal Minds and I felt like this was Criminal Minds in a book. And just like with the show, at the end of this book, I found myself thinking ‘How in the hell did Lyga come up with all this information?!” Kind of scared me, but it definitely did not stop me from finishing the book.
Another thing I loved about this book was the characters. Jazz was very conflicted and it showed. He was fighting his demons the entire story and chilling as it was, I loved it. I also loved Howie. He was like the opposite of Jazz but that’s why I felt like they were so good together. Realistically I felt like they would be real best friends because they’re so different from each other; they balance each other out. And he was so funny. His sarcastic nature and funny one liners made him the comedic relief of this dark and creepy book. And last but not least, there was Connie. I loved her because she was so realistic as well. She was so believable and you could tell that she loved Jazz.
The only thing that kind of irked me, was the fact that I got who the killer was a loooonnnnnggg time before the book told me. Don’t get me wrong, the book isn’t at all predictable, its just as stated earlier, I watch Criminal Minds and CSI: Miami, Vegas, and New York “religiously” so I knew the signs to look for. I kind of brought it on myself. But it kind of redeemed itself with the end. I was definitely NOT expecting the end. Gahh I can’t explain how great it is without giving it away, so I’ll leave it at that.
What scared me the most about this book was the detail of the crimes though. With my reader’s imagination, I was able to visualize everything going on in the book as I read it. There were certain parts of the book that made me put it down. Like my teaser I posted on Tuesday…. (See that post HERE) *Shudders* And that was only on page 82! I think what scared me about visualizing everything, was knowing that there are really people out there like that out in the world. That are into killing people and all that jazz. (no pun intended…)
With this book, Barry Lyga shows his true genius with this creepy thriller. This is one book you will not want to put down. Not only because its so amazing, but because not knowing will gnaw at you until you find out “whodunit.”
Overall, I give this
I have a signed copy of this one I've been meaning to read for so long! I think I will be trying to play a little catch up in November and December so hopefully I can read it then! I love what you wanted to just say in the review. lol I'm curious if I'll figure it all out beforehand too because I also watch a lot of crime shows. Great review! 🙂
~Sara @ Forever 17 Books
I couldn't agree more. I can't wait for the next one. Great review — and that cover really stunned me when I realized what it looked like…amazing.
I had high hopes for this book and while I was slightly disappointed, I did really enjoy the book. The content was right up my alley. :]