Review: Blood of My Blood

Book three of the I Hunt Killers trilogy
By Barry Lyga
Available now from Little, Brown BFYR (Hachette)
Review copy
Read my reviews of I Hunt Killers and Game

The I Hunt Killers trilogy comes to a violent conclusion in BLOOD OF MY BLOOD.  When GAME ended, Jasper, Connie, and Howie were each in mortal peril.  With Billy Dent on the loose, everyone else is pretty much in mortal peril too.  And, as the survivors are starting to realize, Billy and Jasper's history is more complicated than it first appears.

I am quite honestly not sure how I feel about all of the revelations.  I feel like half of them were awesome, and half were terrible and not what I wanted at all (even though I expected that's what was going on).  And I really can't talk about them in detail since I don't want to spoil any of the (many) twists in this review.

Suffice it to say, if you've enjoyed I HUNT KILLERS and GAME, then you need to read the conclusion of Jasper's story.  If you haven't read the first two books, you'll be totally lost trying to navigate BLOOD OF MY BLOOD.  It builds strongly on the events of the previous novels.

I'm sad to see these characters go, but I like how well the trilogy played itself out.  Another book would be stretching the premise far too thin.  I'm not sure if this is the ending I wanted for Jasper, but I'm well satisfied with it.

Review: Game

Book two of the I Hunt Killers trilogy
By Barry Lyga
Available now from Little, Brown BFYR (Hachette)
Review copy
Read my review of I Hunt Killers

GAME, the sequel to I HUNT KILLERS, takes the action to NYC, where the Hat-Dog Killer is becoming increasingly bold.  The police think Jazz might be able to offer some useful insights, so they fly him out.  His girlfriend Connie follows.  (Howie stays home to help watch Jazz's grandma.)

The climax of GAME is stunning.  Lots of strange pieces fall into place, and our trio of good guys are left in mortal peril.  The trip to that point isn't quite as good as I HUNT KILLERS, but it is still thrilling.  The main problem with it is that it causes some of the characters (mostly Connie) to act in very dumb ways.  At the same time, I liked that the teen characters aren't quite as smart and savvy as they think they are.  They might know more about serial killers than the average teen, but that doesn't make them trained law enforcement officials.

There's also a lot of interpersonal drama between Connie and Jazz.  She wants to have sex; he wants to have sex but it is afraid it might unlock something dark inside him.  His father, serial killer Billy Dent, mixed rape with his killing and Jazz is extremely concerned about that legacy.  His dreams don't help.  Finding a killer does.

If you're looking for intense, dark YA, look no father than this trilogy.  GAME ups the stakes from I HUNT KILLERS (now that Dent is free), and ends spectacularly.  You might want to wait until BLOOD OF MY BLOOD comes out on September 9, or you might decide this is the perfect moment to start reading the series.

Review: I Hunt Killers

Book one of the I Hunt Killers trilogy
By Barry Lyga
Available now from Little, Brown BFYR (Hachette)
Review copy

Jasper "Jazz" Dent is the son of the world's most notorious serial killer, Billy Dent.  He had a rather unconventional childhood, one that left him able to read blood spatters, manipulate people, and dream of cutting flesh.  But he's determined not to follow in his father's footsteps.

I HUNT KILLERS is a truly magnetic book.  Jazz's voice is absorbing, haunted and cold and vulnerable.  His best friend, Howie, is hilarious and a true pal, even though his hemophilia doesn't make him the best choice to be a serial killer-hunting sidekick.  His girlfriend, Connie, has a presence and strength of will that reassures Jazz that he would never hurt her.  And he needs his friends, stuck as he his with his crazy grandmother.  I liked the adults too, from a social worker who really could help Jazz to G. William Tanner, the hick sheriff who managed what the FBI couldn't.

I HUNT KILLERS opens with a dead girl in a field.  A serial killer has come to the tiny town of Lobo's Nod again, and it's up to the police to catch them.  Jazz believes he can help due to his special insight.  I really liked the balance Barry Lyga pulled off of Jazz having helpful insights vs. the police being actually competent.  I also liked that he didn't spend too long in the killer's head - there's no lingering over the perverse details, although there is plenty of violence.  This is on the upper end of YA.

The plot and characterization in I HUNT KILLERS are both strong.  The hunt for the Impressionist is twisty and genuinely thrilling.  The nature vs. nurture debate that Jazz struggles with is compelling, particularly because Lyga doesn't pull punches.  Jazz has a genuine capacity for darkness, as shown by his reoccurring nightmares of repressed memories.

This is the best book in the trilogy and can stand alone.  I think GAME and BLOOD OF MY BLOOD are worth reading, but I HUNT KILLERS is the gem of the trilogy.