Reviews
I KNEW IT OMG this is so good, can't wait to read the last book
Book #4 Read in 2014 Game by Barry Lyga (YA) This book is the sequel to I Hunt Killers. In this book, Jasper Dent is once again on the hunt...this time at the request of the New York Police Department. He heads to the Big Apple to try to profile and track the serial killer known as the Hat Dog Killer. Of course, his on the lam killer father Billy Dent is connected somehow....can Jasper find the killer (and perhaps Billy) before it is too late? This book once again hooked me...for a book over 500 pages, it was a quick read. The ending was a cliffhanger that left me screaming for book 3....which apparently will not be out until September. Jasper is a great character and the supporting characters, especially Connie and Howie, are once again successes. This is a great, edgy young adult series. http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
Original Review at: literarychaos.com This book picks up shortly after the events of I Hunt Killers, and I'll be honest I wasn't sure what direction the book would go, but boy was I excited and this book didn't disappoint. Barry Lyga always manages to create such gruesome and amazingly crafted stories. This book was no exception, it was well researched and had impeccable execution. Most importantly, I found myself constantly on the edge of my seat. I was so engrossed I couldn't put the book down. The idea of this story remains the same, Jasper is forced to hunt down a killer, this time the killer is in New York. I will be honest when I realized that a 17-year-old Jasper was going to hunt a killer in New York and that he would have to help the NYPD in order to catch the murderer, I was worried that the book would come off cheesy, but Barry Lyga executed the story well and the story never felt too forced. The best part of this story was the character arc we start to see with Jazz. Jazz is still dealing with the brainwashing his father instilled in him as a child, but the more the story progressed the more we see Jazz becoming his own person. I liked that we got to see more of Connie in this book. I felt like with the last book she was kind of a background character, she was there but she wasn't as important as Jazz and Howie. In this book, the reader gets to know her more and see just how much of a bad-ass she is. I really loved her as a character. She was such a good rock for Jazz and was so loyal to him. As for Howie, he remained Jazz's other companion and rock. I was very happy to see that he remained the lovable goof-ball and that the dark circumstances of the first book did little to change his demeanor. The story just would not be the same without his quips and one-liners. Characterization is one of Barry Lyga's strong points. His characters really make the story. The plot of this book rivals the first book in terms of how fast-paced and engaging it was. From the verify beginning I was hooked. I had to know what would happen to Jazz and I had to know who the killer was. I never saw the end coming. All I can say is HOLY CLIFFHANGER! I need to get my hands on the next book or audiobook so I can find out what is in store for Jazz and his friends. My Thoughts on the Audiobook: This audiobook had the same narrator as the first book. I was really happy about this, as I really enjoyed his narration in the first book. The narrator, Charlie Thurston, does such a great job giving the characters different voices. They are never overdone or unbelievable, and the voices of the murderers are beyond creepy, I don't think they could have chosen a better narrator. More than just the narrator himself, this story is almost meant to be read via audiobook. The audiobook version really lets the reader immerse themselves in the world, and actually hearing the voices of the murderers really solidifies the creepiness of the book. If given the choice I definitly recommend givine the audiobook a shot.
I fell in love with I Hunt Killers so I was really looking forward to this book to see where it was going to take me this time. I was not disappointed in the slightest. Game kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and it was hard to put down. The only bad thing I could find about this book was the ending. Talk about cliffhangers. I want to find out what happens next and not have to wait until the next book comes out.
Jazz's life has gotten somewhat back to normal, or at least as normal as Jasper Dent's life could ever be. Plagued by the same questions, and the same inner battle, he just can't seem to let himself rest. The only thing that quells the demons is Jazz's new passion; hunting killers. So when New York's finest calls upon him to help catch the Hat-Dog Killer, he answers. Pulled out of the safety of his small town, and taken away from the people who hold him together, Game shows an even stronger Jazz than the previous book. I was amazed at how much he grew during the story. Not only is he faced with an unfamiliar city, he also has to put together the pieces of a brand new serial killer's rampage. Watching Jazz fight off his inner demons, while simultaneously hunting for a true demon, kept things moving lightning fast. True to form, Lyga throws in twists and turns galore. Just when you think you've figured things out, you haven't. Trust me, it's frustrating in the best way possible. Connie also plays a much bigger role in this book. Jazz's feelings for her have always been tempered with the possibility he might someday snap. That's what I loved about their relationship in the first place. However in this book we really see how strong Jazz has to be to keep his life at an even keel. Best of all, Connie gets much more hands-on with the action! She is one feisty girl, and I couldn't help but want to follow her. If there was ever a girl who was worthy of Jasper Dent, Connie is it. I could babble on and on about the perfectly placed clues, the brilliant writing style, or the new characters who come into play, but then this review would essentially end up as a book itself. The highest compliment I can give Barry Lyga and Game is that 528 pages flew by in what felt like seconds. I was left holding a book, with a gaping maw, and lamenting the fact that there were no more pages left to read. There's one heck of a cliffhanger here, so don't say I didn't warn you. You should definitely pick up a copy of this book and, in the meantime, I'll be sitting here. Whimpering and waiting for more.
