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crowsandprose's review against another edition
4.0
Fans of the Dexter TV show, look no further: Here is your serial killer. Here is your sociopath. Presented in a far better manner than Lindsay's schlocky, wish-fulfillment character Dexter Morgan (who in the books is a shallow mirror of his tv persona) John Wayne Cleaver is a young, dangerous man with tho emotional range of a teaspoon and all the problems that come with it.
I found the character engaging, the writing tight -- though it was short read, it remained an engaging book, which I cannot really say for either of Lindsay's. Yes, it's got an occult angle, but that doesn't attract from the sound character writing behind John. The character's foils and failings are just right, no one is so stupid that they never see the proto-killer in their midst.
My only problem is the relatively neat wrap up of the "Who Did It" and "What Happens To Them" come the end of the book. It's all a little too neat there, but it's a minor flub and I have every faith that Wells will get better in his next book.
So pick these up and put Dexter down. You'll be glad you did.
I found the character engaging, the writing tight -- though it was short read, it remained an engaging book, which I cannot really say for either of Lindsay's. Yes, it's got an occult angle, but that doesn't attract from the sound character writing behind John. The character's foils and failings are just right, no one is so stupid that they never see the proto-killer in their midst.
My only problem is the relatively neat wrap up of the "Who Did It" and "What Happens To Them" come the end of the book. It's all a little too neat there, but it's a minor flub and I have every faith that Wells will get better in his next book.
So pick these up and put Dexter down. You'll be glad you did.
tinybatwings's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is a good book, well written and the characters are written very well. However, horror is just not my cup of tea. Fans of horror will like this though.
atnea's review against another edition
3.0
I did it! I was so tired yesterday after finishing reading this that I just went straight to sleep. I didn't even mark it as finished or something. Just threw it and turned the lights off. But enough about me, let's go with the book.
At first, when I first started reading this book, I was really excited about what I had learnt so far. This 15 year old boy named John Wayne Cleaver, who lived in one of those towns lost by God, had all the characteristic of a serial killer, such as showing no empathy for animals, or peeing at night, with the small exception that he did not want to be a serial killer. He had though about, but knew it was wrong. He felt as if there was a monster inside of him, that he had to control.In order to accomplish this task he established a series of very strict rules to avoid having macabre and grim thoughts about what he could do if he let the monster free. He also read about other serial killers (all of them, most likely) to learn about them and their patterns and avoid becoming like them. His family was composed of his mother and his aunt and later on the story, his sister, Lauren (not a spoiler, I promise). His father had long been gone and only received a card and a gift from him on Christmas and occasionally on his birthday. And his family worked in the morgue. Meaning, him, his mother and his aunt received all the corpses of the small town and prepared them to the funeral. Stuff like that.
Up until this point, everything seemed great. The story was really intriguing and I was loving and couldn't stop reading.
Then one day, in the small little town that nothing ever happened in, there was a murder. And a grotesque one. John, finding about it, got really excited, of course, because this was the first time he was so close to murdering. As in, what the monster wanted to do.
I already loved the book by this far. It was amazing. More murders kept happening and they were all so intriguing and strange and there was the small taint of mysterious in it. Until in a small little page, BAAM! The story took a turn I was completely unprepared for and definitely ruined the impression I had about it. It was all so good and perfect and then that small little fact changed everything.
What was my reaction? I stopped reading. Yep. Stopped.
I had already read there was this point where it could define whether you love it or hate it. But I was EXCITED about it, was looking forward to it. Once I read the small thing, my interest for this book dropped and I just couldn't go on.
Days passed and I just left it there, until (yesterday) I made myself finish it. I tried to concentrate on the excitement I had before the small thing, and it kind of worked. I did finish it.
It is actually a really good book. I contains some phrases and metaphors that I just couldn't help but love. I felt like my emotions where described by what he was saying. He nailed it (not that I have murderous thoughts, but if you look at it in another way, it's amazing).
At the end, the book was really good, but the disappointment I felt once I read the small thing was so big that I can't help but give this book a 3.25 rating. But I think once you get over the initial shock, the book is ok.
The character development was incredible, couldn´t have asked for more. The setting was ok, and the sub plot was really deep and amazing. The main plot is the thing that didn't do it for me.
I'm not sure if I can recommend it to somebody, but if you're the type of people who can get over small facts like that one, then...go ahead, read it!
At first, when I first started reading this book, I was really excited about what I had learnt so far. This 15 year old boy named John Wayne Cleaver, who lived in one of those towns lost by God, had all the characteristic of a serial killer, such as showing no empathy for animals, or peeing at night, with the small exception that he did not want to be a serial killer. He had though about, but knew it was wrong. He felt as if there was a monster inside of him, that he had to control.In order to accomplish this task he established a series of very strict rules to avoid having macabre and grim thoughts about what he could do if he let the monster free. He also read about other serial killers (all of them, most likely) to learn about them and their patterns and avoid becoming like them. His family was composed of his mother and his aunt and later on the story, his sister, Lauren (not a spoiler, I promise). His father had long been gone and only received a card and a gift from him on Christmas and occasionally on his birthday. And his family worked in the morgue. Meaning, him, his mother and his aunt received all the corpses of the small town and prepared them to the funeral. Stuff like that.
Up until this point, everything seemed great. The story was really intriguing and I was loving and couldn't stop reading.
Then one day, in the small little town that nothing ever happened in, there was a murder. And a grotesque one. John, finding about it, got really excited, of course, because this was the first time he was so close to murdering. As in, what the monster wanted to do.
I already loved the book by this far. It was amazing. More murders kept happening and they were all so intriguing and strange and there was the small taint of mysterious in it. Until in a small little page, BAAM! The story took a turn I was completely unprepared for and definitely ruined the impression I had about it. It was all so good and perfect and then that small little fact changed everything.
Spoiler
What happened was that the killer is a demon. As in a supernatural, clawed and evil demon. I was expecting a real serial killer, not a supernatural one. I had a whole theory about it, and finding out that it was a demon and not real, REAL thing just really overthrew me.What was my reaction? I stopped reading. Yep. Stopped.
I had already read there was this point where it could define whether you love it or hate it. But I was EXCITED about it, was looking forward to it. Once I read the small thing, my interest for this book dropped and I just couldn't go on.
Days passed and I just left it there, until (yesterday) I made myself finish it. I tried to concentrate on the excitement I had before the small thing, and it kind of worked. I did finish it.
It is actually a really good book. I contains some phrases and metaphors that I just couldn't help but love. I felt like my emotions where described by what he was saying. He nailed it (not that I have murderous thoughts, but if you look at it in another way, it's amazing).
At the end, the book was really good, but the disappointment I felt once I read the small thing was so big that I can't help but give this book a 3.25 rating. But I think once you get over the initial shock, the book is ok.
The character development was incredible, couldn´t have asked for more. The setting was ok, and the sub plot was really deep and amazing. The main plot is the thing that didn't do it for me.
I'm not sure if I can recommend it to somebody, but if you're the type of people who can get over small facts like that one, then...go ahead, read it!
capercaillie's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
An interesting twist, but I became increasingly bored as it neared the climax, and I don't have any desire to read the rest of the series. I didn't realise it was a young adult series so my expectations were a bit out of sync with the genre.
brittthebull93's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sandiet's review against another edition
2.0
an ok read...I doubt I will read the others (this being the first of a trilogy). I found parts drew me in and others I found myself saying "OK THAT is a bit far fetched" At one point I was considering putting it down but considered as it was only 279 pages I should just finish it. Depends on what you like to read maybe this would intrigue you but for me it was just ok.
thebriary's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know. It was okay but I have buyer's remorse. It would have been way better without the "twist" that is so blatantly telegraphed I actually cringed. I prefer to leave this novel with the belief that the twist was a part of John's psychosis REGARDLESS of evidence to the contrary. Makes it a better story.
Plus, slavish devotion to the Macdonald Triad for no reason but that it exists (except it doesn't, really) and it would be "authentic" was super irritating.
Plus, slavish devotion to the Macdonald Triad for no reason but that it exists (except it doesn't, really) and it would be "authentic" was super irritating.
eol's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
akookieforyou's review against another edition
4.0
*4.5*
"I'm on the edge, Neblin, I'm off the edge - I'm over the edge and falling into hell on the other side."
Out of the few books I've read concerning fictional serial killers, or people with those tendencies, just like John, this one is my favorite. John is such a fascinating protagonist, the way he thinks about things is one of my favorite parts of the whole story. I really loved this story, and can't wait to see what's next for John Wayne Cleaver.
"I'm on the edge, Neblin, I'm off the edge - I'm over the edge and falling into hell on the other side."
Out of the few books I've read concerning fictional serial killers, or people with those tendencies, just like John, this one is my favorite. John is such a fascinating protagonist, the way he thinks about things is one of my favorite parts of the whole story. I really loved this story, and can't wait to see what's next for John Wayne Cleaver.