Title: Game
Author: Barry Lyga
Publisher: Little Brown Young Readers
Publishing Date: May 28th 2013
Pages: 517
Genre: YA Psychological Thriller
Series: Jasper Dent #2
Source: Audio
Billy grinned. “Oh, New York,” he whispered. “We’re gonna have so much fun.”
I Hunt Killers introduced the world to Jazz, the son of history’s most infamous serial killer, Billy Dent.
In an effort to prove murder didn’t run in the family, Jazz teamed with the police in the small town of Lobo’s Nod to solve a deadly case. And now, when a determined New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz’s door asking for help, he can’t say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big Apple–and its police force–running scared. So Jazz and his girlfriend, Connie, hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer’s murderous game.
I was so excited to start this book. I waited so long to read more of Jasper’s story. This book was so awesome, extremely intense, and oh so disturbing. I am not sure what it is that makes getting the insight on serial killers intriguing but it is, and Barry Lyga sure knows how to write the good stuff when it comes to serial killers. The writing was fast paced, graphic, again I say intense, and very gripping. I knew when I started, I wouldn’t be able to stop.. it was that way with the first book…. and I couldn’t it was just murder having to pause the book to get on with life. I couldn’t stop thinking about the book when I wasn’t listening. I really love the narrator to this series. He makes it even more gruesome and thrilling. The writing isn’t the only thing intense, this book is full of amazing characters too. We had all the same awesome characters plus a few new ones. Again the book left me hanging and arghhh I don’t want to have to wait… no choice and its gonna kill me. Dang cliffhangers!
Jasper is on the hunt again but this time its in New York. His presence is approached by a New York City Dectective to assist on the case of the Hat Dog Killer. The police are stumped and this detective is sure Jasper is the right person to put on the case. Not only is he helping with the Hat Dog killer but his father is still on the loose. While in New York he is approached by the FBI to help track down his father.This time Jasper may have bitten off more than he can chew and it's not just affecting him, Connie is smack dab in the middle of it all. Clues revealed and trails followed lead the the Hat Dog killer and just may be closer to home than Jasper thought. It's a real mess!
I need to start by saying this series is extreme. It is not for the faint hearted… there is nothing nice, fluffy, or light in this story. There is lots of blood, horror, and creepiness. I don’t normally go for graphic books but I do like to read about serial killers. They do intrigue me with their very demented way of thinking. I have read a few non fiction books pertaining to serial killers and Barry Lyga does a pretty dang awesome job writing these books. Getting inside Billy Dent’s mind, either through his own narrative or the narrative coming from Jasper through memories… was just pretty insane. He is a pretty messed up guy. There is also a couple more demented minds in this book a few we discover who they are and a few still left unknown. I appreciate the fact that the book isn’t just creep and blood but that there is a pretty heft mystery going on too. I also like how the mystery involves many different people separately and brings in many different narratives. I love multiple POVs. The writing and the plotting are so so freaking amazing in this book, it really does blow my mind. The twists and turns, the who dunnits, and the maniacal planning is just out of this world. It’s definitely a book to keep me up at night, from the creepy and because of the analyzing.
The book would be pretty great with just the plotting but the characters do bring in a whole new awesome. I love Jasper. He is still twisted in a many ways… um raised by a serial killer will do that for you… but I love the fact that he fights it in every movement or thought he makes. He was determined to be good, not to be like Billy, and I believe he is all good. His mind did tend to go to some dark places, but he was aware and able to pull himself back out. He was loyal to his friends, very intelligent, a little too gun-ho (but that was fun), and just a pretty cool dude.
Jasper’s friends really make the cast a great mixture. I adored Connie in this book. She wasn’t in the first book to much, but she has a really big part of the plot in this book, and she rocked it. Yes she was a bit impulsive and naïve but she really brought it for me. She really felt fearless even though I knew she was freaked with everything happening around her. Even with all the creepy and scary that followed her, she wouldn’t be pushed around. She so rocked. I also loved Howie. Really if you read the first book you know Howie. Howie was Howie and he made me laugh and roll my eyes. He was just as wonderful as in the first book. He really did bring the goofy side to a very disturbing story.
I enjoyed the mystery so much more in this book than I did the first. Not that I thought that was possible, but this one was really crazy. Killers are everywhere, people are getting killed everywhere, things are connected that shouldn't be and things that aren't connected should be. I love the sinister plot and the details of that plot. ( I don't mean the blood and guts details) I was able to picture it so clearly and see the pieces fitting together.. or course a little too late at times. I saw some things coming and totally missed some of the obvious. This was a very well done mystery and psychological thriller
If you loved the first one, you will love this one more and what's taking you so long to grab this one... GO GET IT! . If you love psychological thrillers and great msysteries, you will love this series. If you just need a creepy series... PICK IT UP! This series totally rocks!
I will have to listen to this one because I think I will read HOT Dog Killer every time I see Hat Dog Killer. :P I've heard this series is great...can't wait to start it myself.
ReplyDelete