Woman Reading

Jasper 'Jazz' Dent spent the first 13 years of his life raised by his father, the infamous Serial Killer Billy Dent.  Billy Dent wasn't your typical Serial Killer either.  He didn't have one specific type he killed, or prospected as he called it.  His range for targets was very broad and he enjoyed switching up his methods which caused him to have many many different Serial Killer nicknames.  Through it all he kept poor Jazz with him teaching him how to get away with the perfect murder and how to clean up blood spatters.  His main job, other than training, was to hide his fathers "trophies" if the police ever came nosing around.

Why did Jazz do this?  Well folks, he was just a kid.  He was afraid of his father, he was manipulated, and like all kids are predisposed to do, he loved him.  Thankfully, when he was 13 years old, Billy Dent was thrown in prison for his crimes.  Unfortunately the damage was already done to Jazz's psyche. 

Now at 17 he lives his life terrified that one day he's going to lose it and follow in his father's footsteps.  He can still hear his father’s voice in his head telling him how good it feels to steal someone’s last breath.  He knows he would be good at it, but he doesn't WANT to be evil.  He aches to know that he is NOT a recreation or protégé of Billy Dent. 

So when there's a murder in town and the body is missing 3 fingers (the middle one left behind as a sign) Jazz is POSITIVE that it's another Serial Killer.  Worse, the town looks at him as a suspect because of who he is.  What better way to clear his name and show that he can use the skills his father taught him for good than by calling on all of his training to help catch the killer! 

And none of that was even a spoiler!

I really enjoyed this book.  There were some scenes that broke my heart for poor Jazz, and there were others that had me scared for him.  Never did I think he was evil, what I really thought was that he'd been damaged by his childhood so badly that there was not one aspect of himself that he could trust.  If ever there was a character who should be allowed to throw themselves a pity party, well I would say it is absolutely Jasper Dent.

He had an amazing friendship with Connie and Howie, and I even liked the relationship that he had with G William.  The book was even funny at times, thanks to sweet Howie.  (Huge yay for a book where the main character is in an interracial relationship and actually talks about the hardships that come with that.  I think it's the first one I've read.)

I Hunt Killers met all my expectations and while it's only a 4 star book I can't think of one single complaint, so in summary: Very Good Stuff!

~"...called nine-one-one," Howie was saying, "and then I heard something in the alleyway, so I went back there and" -Howie coughed- "and valiantly attacked his knife with my guts, to no avail."

"Did you get a good look at him?  Could you describe him?"

Howie smiled wanly, "Yeah.  He was about yay long," -he held up his hands, four inches apart- "thin, made of steel.  Pointy.  Sharp."

Jazz grinned despite himself.~