Total page turner, very creepy, requires a healthy suspension of disbelief ( )

This is about Jasper, the son of one of the most notorious serial killers in the world. This novel is about Jazz trying to prove he isn't like his father by solving murders.

The mystery was compelling, but I didn't like a single character. ( )

4.5 stars
Jasper Dent (aka Jazz) isn't your typical teenage boy. He's the son of the most infamous serial killer. Jazz grew up learning the "family business" which just happened to be murder. But now that his dad is behind bars, Jazz has to find a way to blend in and move on, which is kind of hard to do when a new body count is piling up in the little town of Lobo's Nod.
In an effort to prove to everyone (and mostly himself) that he's not like his father, he tries to help the cops figure out who this new killer is. After all Jazz knows how serial killers think. He has inside knowledge of all his father's crimes, which comes in handy when there's a copycat on the loose.
As Jazz gets in deeper with the case, he has to come to some tough realizations about his past. And decide once and for all if killing really does run in the family...

When I heard about this book, I immediately thought this would be something I would like. I am obsessed with watching true-crime stuff on TV and I always follow interesting court cases. Serial killers fascinate me because they just seem so alien, but yet they look like everyone else.... scary stuff!!

Anyway, this book. It was was definitely a little darker than I thought (which was sort of dumb of me since duh, it is about serial killers). Jazz goes through most of the book wondering if the things Billy (Dear Old Dad) taught him really stuck or not. I was questioning it right along with him. He couldn't even decide if he had the urge to kill or not. And I guess being brainwashed most of your life could do that to you. But he was thinking at points that he might actually enjoy watching someone die. It was freaky. So yeah I had a love/hate relationship with Jazz. I wanted to like him, but I was afraid of him.

The details of the killings got a little in depth. I would definitely not recommend this if you don't like hearing gory details, because there's plenty. I really loved the off-the-wall hemophiliac best friend, Howie. He provided a much needed comedic relief. The fact that he was so fragile really added a layer to the story.

I enjoyed the mystery in this book and really look forward to seeing what happens next!! I will definitely be picking up Game.

Overall: Disturbing and captivating all at the same time! Jasper Dent may not be the most relatable character, but he's certainly intriguing. A must-read for crime-thriller fans and anyone who wants a good dose of mystery.

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This book is crazy and I love it. I cannot wait to get the next book. I was worried when I read the back of the book and saw a comment about Dexter Morgan on it. I tried to read the Dexter books and couldn't do it. I hope this wasn't going to be the case with this book. It wasn't. I had to stop myself at night and go to sleep because I wanted to keep reading. The son of a serial killer trying not to turn out like his dad hooked me, but Jazz, Connie, and Howie kept me reading. ( )

I don't know what in the world made me pick this one up at age 12 or 13 but it was NOT good for me! I guess it's kind of pointless reviewing this book now after years have passed but let's just say that this book is not okay at all. Unless you love graphic content and extremely morbid things. Then sure, you'll probably like this book...

I guess kudos to the author for making such a huge impression on me that I still remember nasty scenes from here because he described it so 'well'? I don't know if I was stupid or brave (probably stupid), I think I just wanted to read this book to show that I was up for it and could handle a scary book, and this book being scary isn't even my problem with it. My problem is how dirty is was, how utterly, inexcusably FILTHY it was. Sure, I bet some people in real life are indeed very messed up like Jasper's father was, but do we REALLY have to know exactly how messed up the most messed up people in the world can be? The only good thing this book taught me was to not to be naive and watch out for bad people, but I think it was at the expense of a lot of other things and not worth it at all in the end. You can figure out war sucks without someone pounding all the blood and guts of it into your head over and over again. And you can certainly figure out there are bad people in the world without disgusting descriptions of mutilated bodies. Yes, I know I was really young when I read this one (what the heck was I thinking then, anyway?!?!) but what I also know is that my opinion of it would definitely not be any better if I read it again now. In fact, it would be much worse. I probably would've rated it a 2 or even a 3 back then but me being older has only made me hate this book more. Like actually HATE it. Yeah, yeah, it was a good mystery and good at creeping readers out, but again, AT WHAT EXPENSE? Barry Lyga is sure good at making people remember his name, but not certainly not in a good way.

If you want a good mystery or a pounding heart or something with a serial killer in it, I'm not stopping you from reading a book with any of that. I'm just saying there are PLENTY of other books out there that can give you those things too without ruining your entire conscience.

Also, Jasper was a brat ( )