Tag: Thriller (Page 14 of 17)

Blood of My Blood (Jasper Dent #3)
by Barry Lyga
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Jazz Dent has never been closer to catching his father.

Jazz has been shot and left to die in New York. His girlfriend, Connie, is in the clutches of Jazz's monstrous father, Billy--the world's most notorious serial killer. And his best friend, Howie, is bleeding to death on the floor of Jazz's new home.

Somehow, these three must rise above the horrors and find a way to come together in pursuit of Billy.

But then Jazz crosses a line he's never crossed before, and soon the entire country is wondering: "Like father, like son? Who is the true monster?"

From New York City to the small town of Lobo's Nod, the chase is on, and this time, Jazz is the hunted, not the hunter--while Billy Dent lurks in the shadows.

And beyond Billy? Something much, much worse. Prepare to meet...the Crow King.

From acclaimed author Barry Lyga comes the shocking conclusion to the bestselling I Hunt Killer trilogy.

He [Howie] held out his hands, arms outstretched, ready for the bro hug that would come. 

Instead, Jazz laughed.
The laughter was quick, unexpected, and bright. Jazz dropped the pickax and shovel with an ill-considered clang and leaned against the car as he caught his breath.
Oh, holy hell. He’s lost it. He’s seriously lost it.
“You okay?” he asked as Jazz stooped to pick up the tools.
“I’ve never been okay,” Jazz told him, and walked away.

Holyyy shit…that was a lot of epic in one book. I’m just….at a loss for words. The beginning started out with a bang, and that, I knew, was a certainty going in. But after all the cleaning up that had to be done after that shot in the chest that can only be described as a ‘white-knuckle cliffy’ at the end of the previous installment, I started to get nervous. After all the amazing-I repeat-AMAZING peril from book two, I didn’t see how, even as dire as the circumstances were through the whole novel, this book could be near as good as the last book. But, oh…dear….sweet….Jesus this mother fuckin’ book was everything I could ask for and more. HOLY SHIT I am just astounded by the awesomeness that was this story!!! What and how and why and who and blah blah blah how did he make up this story????? The epicness that jumps off of every page makes a ridiculous fangirl out of me, and for once I just don’t care! I love this book so much it hurts.

What would come next wasn’t a matter of intellect or reason or even mere emotion. It was as basic as biology. It was blood and sinew and brain matter. Raw.

I am so emotionally spent. This series reached deep into my heart, my mind, my soul and pulled out all the things that make up a perfect novel to me. There wasn’t one moment I wasn’t on the edge of my seat. Not one page passed where I didn’t fret over the mental state of Jazz’s mind. I still laughed and I still obsessed, but it was a different kind of obsession. In the previous works, I was fully invested in the crimes-who the killer was, what they were playing at, if Jazz would find the murderer(s) before it was too late, and, most of all, if they’d finally catch up to Jazz as he closed in on their string of killings. Jazz is, was, and forever will be my biggest concern. Always. So, naturally, wouldn’t my obsession grow, expand, adapt when the nature of the story became about Jazz’s sanity, mind, soul, his search for redemption and, most of all, to end Billy Dent’s reign of terror? Of course it would! DUH.

What is like to go looking for your soul, only to learn you never had one to begin with?

Like I’ve said before, this series is character driven-if you don’t connect or care for Jasper, then you likely won’t find much to enjoy about this series. I mean, yeah, there’s the idea that a killer is within grasp at any waking moment and there’s also his palpable love for his girlfriend, Connie, and the strong, everlasting friendship with his best buddy, Howie. Who, by the way, became a favorite character of mine-his loyalty and devotion for his best friend who was slowly losing his mind in his quest to end Billy Dent broke my heart and made reading his POV something I actually looked forward to. But if you don’t at least like Jazz a little, you’re wasting your time. But How dare you, if that becomes the case-ugh, I can’t even imagine a world where people don’t love Jazz. Inconceivable.

Just sayin’.

“So, now what?”
“Can’t tell you.”
“You wound me.”
“Well, you wound easily.”
-Lmao, Howie and Jazz

Malice, death, truths, lies, betrayals, they go hand in hand with one another. Jasper is about to learn the true identity of the crow king. So many possibilities, so much speculation, but only one possible outcome that can rock you to your core and make both your eyes and stomach bleed. The truth will rip your heart to shreds and make you question, like the main detective in this book, what kind of world we live in. And, let me tell you, the truth isn’t even the part that will make you choke on your own shock-no, what comes after? That’s gut check time.

He dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. Was this shock? Was he going into shock? He couldn’t breathe, and his vision had gone blurry.

This book explored not only a deeper side to Jazz, but also the cold, hard truth of what happens when you are done and your body has finally gone on auto-pilot. Shut down. Went into preservation mode. We watch as Howie and Connie do everything they can, which isn’t much, as Jazz slowly descends into madness and let’s his dark side he’s always fought take over. He becomes detached, cold, driven in his desperation to end his father’s life, because he believes it’s his job-it’s his duty and his duty alone-it’s always been him. Father vs. Son. Mano y Mano. Wit, cunning, and all that crazy Billy has taught Jazz as he grew up. But what happens if he succeeds? If he finally lets all the lessons he learned take over when he’s fought them so desperately his whole life? Will that be it? Will he be fulfilled, at peace, able to move on with his life like a normal human being? Or will he slowly become Billy Dent’s successor, the next notorious serial killer….just like Dear old Dad wanted?

“I think I’ve had enough of your kind of love,” Jazz said, surprising himself that he clenched his jaw tight, tears gathering. “You…you abused me,” he spluttered. “You did horrible things to me. You made me-“

This story explored deep emotional levels I didn’t know it possessed. I had no idea that I would think the last two (MURDEROUS) books would be tame, fluffy, funny, light-hearted compared to this one. But I clearly knew nothing. I will push and push and push people to read this series until I’ve annoyed them beyond comprehension. For that, I’m sorry. But, also, like Jazz, only a little sorry-this series is too good to go unnoticed by so many of my friends-but I’m about to shake everyone up. I will get people to read this. That’s your only warning. Anna, you lovely lovely French vixen-THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS WONDERFULLY HORRIBLE AND ADDICTIVE AND PERILISTIC series. I wear this badge with honor. I will NEVER EVER EVER forget Jazz or this series. Holy book hangover hell, here I come.

Killers hunt me.

 

Game (Jasper Dent #2)
by Barry Lyga
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

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.

Both the stakes and the body count are higher in this suspenseful and unstoppable sequel from acclaimed author Barry Lyga.

 

He wondered: When next he saw his father, would he be thrilled or terrified?

Hmm hmm hmmmmm. What a wonderfully demented series. Not often do I pick up thriller books and find such satisfaction. It isn’t merely the characters, though, that’s about 80% of it, and it isn’t wholly the mysteries. I think my love for this series stems from the humor that seeps off of every page. Jazz wouldn’t be Jazz without his snarky, asshole-ish attitude I’ve come to love so deeply, and I don’t think I’d enjoy Jazz’s inner voice that channels Billy-isms (I do love it, albeit begrudgingly) without the laugh-factor, either. Mix all that humor, Jazz’s completely deranged mind, serial killers that don’t care who they take out to achieve their ultimate goal, friends (and girlfriend) who start to find themselves wrapped up in the killing game as well, and what do you have??? One helluva story.

“So I get to help out during the Bad Hours. Great. Should have let the Impressionist kill you,” Howie grumbled.
“He wasn’t going to kill me.”
“That’s just because he didn’t really, really know you.”

Man oh MAAAAAN did this story end in a crazy place. Imagine literally the worst case scenario….and multiply it by ten, lol. Being a seasoned perilista, I didn’t know what to expect-my friend, who knows my unhinged mind very well, said I would love the end and all of book three…almost as if these scenes and most of the third book were made for me. And I thought, hmm, okay, I guess we’ll see then. Everyone has a different trigger point, a different idea of what scary is, what humor is, what danger is, so it’s all fairly subjective, if you think about it. I almost always hear (or rather, see) people say ‘OMGAH THAT ENDING’ or “OMG I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOOOOOW’ or ‘EVIL CLIFFHANGER’. You know the reviews, you’ve likely seen them for your future reads. Well, unlike most sane people, I love when I see those headlines-what’s better than getting your heart pumping at the end of your favorite books?? If you don’t get intense feels, what’s the point? Not many people agree about wanting things to go to Hell in a handbasket, but it’s one of my favorite things about books. *shrugs* That’s just me. But, my point is, more often than not, people are overreacting. Most endings aren’t that bad, and I can’t help but to feel a tad disappointed each time I get my hopes up. But, and trust me on this, if you read this book….The end will not let you down. Believe me.

Inwardly, Jazz bristled, but he didn’t let Morales see it. His past was his. It was fractured and weird and a typhoon of emotions and fragments of memories, but it was his and his alone.

Wow. I’m still reeling after finishing last night. My (book) adrenaline was on high and I couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning and desperate for more. That’s what makes a good series. The first book is great-Yeah, awesome. But when book two makes it impossible for you to put down?? That’s a fuckin’ win. I am almost always annoyed by book two in a series, but this series doesn’t fall into that curse. Book two not only kept me up late into the night reading, it intensified my thirst and longing for the third installment. Instead of being weary about what’s to come and how the author could possibly fuck up probably one of my (only) favorite thriller series thus far into my life, I know, without a doubt, the third book will be fantastic.

What was lurking back there in the cold, dark recesses of his memory? What secrets were hidden in his past? Jazz felt as though his own life was a minefield, one he’d lost the map for. One wrong step and he’d lose a foot or a leg.
Or his mind.

Jazz. Jasper. Jasper Dent. The elusive serial killer’s son. Billy Dent Jr.. There are literally no words to describe how obsessed with him I am (see picture above). He’s raw. He’s unsure of himself. He’s loyal. He’s tormented. He loves deeply. He’s devoted to clearing his name. And….he’s a manipulative little shit. I love love loooooove him. Being in his mind is like walking on shards of glass. He never knows if he’s doing something because he’s inherently good, or if he simply wants people to believe he’s good. He helps hunt killers, he protects those around him…but to what end?? What if he snaps? What if he’s just sitting around with the girl he loves or his best friend in the whole world…and he decides to go Billy on their asses? What then?

“I’m sorry. I really am.” Nah, Billy whispered, you ain’t sorry. You just know sayin’ it gets you what you want.
Jazz shook Billy away. He was sorry.
He was, like, 99 percent sure he was really sorry.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” he said. “I’ll apologize to your dad right now.”
Maybe 98 percent.

Jasper doubts himself on the deepest levels and I truly enjoy watching his internal struggle. He wants so badly to be good, to prove he’s more than his piece of shit dad, but it’s an uphill battle and he feels the only way he’ll ever know if he’s truly good is to kill the baddest of bad men himself-his dad.

Jazz stared at her father. Connie had never seen such a stare. He didn’t move; his expression didn’t change. It was something ethereal, something in his eyes, or in his soul. Something had shifted, and Connie suddenly realized that she’d been wrong before-her father wasn’t the hawk on the high branch.
Jazz was.

We follow him to NYC to try and stop the Hat-Dog killer (I SWEAR it’s not…like….something about killing dogs-I’d NEVER support a book where I had to read about animal slaughter as a main plot point), which he thinks is also one step closer to dear old Dad…and we see his journey to redeem himself unfolding before our eyes. I can’t say much more than what I’ve already said, so all I can do is encourage you to try this series. It’s gruesome. It can be sad. There is a lot in book one I didn’t want to have to read about…but it’s Jazz’s journey and I wouldn’t change it for the world. You have to read these books. If you like thrillers or tortured leads at all, you’ll likely love it. Just a thought.

“You think you’re gonna find your soul. Ever since I’ve known you, you’ve been thinkin’ that someday you’re gonna crack and end up like your daddy. And you’ve been looking for proof that you won’t. What you don’t realize is this: The looking is the proof. Trust me when I tell you that Billy Dent never had a moment’s doubt in his life about what he was and what he was doing. Your doubt is your soul, kid.”