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windfire_sky's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
akookieforyou's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! It was very fast paced and exciting, with fairly likable characters and a compelling mystery. This book did have some pretty disturbing moments, but nothing too bad in my opinion (although I do frequently watch horror movies). And that cliffhanger had me pumped for the sequel.
althea17's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sam_hartwig's review
4.0
This book should come with a warning "Not for the faint hearted"! It was very disturbing at times. But don't think that I didn't like it, because I did!
Serial killer Billy Dent has taught his son, Jazz Dent, everything there is to know about how to kill people and get rid of their bodies - how to become the perfect serial killer just like him. Jazz doesn't want to like his dad though and tries hard to get him out of his head, which is hard when dead bodies start showing up in his local town. Jazz desperately wants to help the police in figuring out who the killer is. As the bodies pile up will they be able to find the killer before he/she moves on? You will have to read to find out.
Jazz is a hard character to like - he's a bit like Dexter (for any one who has ever watched that show like me). In the TV show you come to love Dexter because he has real feelings and is a good person even though he has evil tendencies and wants to kill people. Jazz is similar because he hunts down serial killers like Dexter except he doesn't kill them. Jazz is trying to fit into society after his father is convicted and thrown into jail. Before this Jazz had been there for all of "Dear Old Dad's" triple number kills, he didn't witness them all but he may well have because his father would give him a play by play how it happened. Poor kid!
The secondary characters were very easy to like. Jazz's best friend, Howie, is a hemophiliac (someone who's blood is thin and would bleed out quite quickly with a small cut). He has a quirky sense of humor and lightens, at times, a dark novel.
Then there's Connie, Jazz's level headed African-American girlfriend and lastly G. William, who is the typical round, older sheriff of the town. He already has a connection with Jazz because of their past, but they become closer as the book goes on.
There's a little twist at the end and I didn't guess who the killer was which as always is a good thing. I can not wait to read the rest of the books. Even though this is in the teen books, I think adults who love crime would love this series. I don't recommend this to younger teens, some sections are gruesome.
Also on my blog
Serial killer Billy Dent has taught his son, Jazz Dent, everything there is to know about how to kill people and get rid of their bodies - how to become the perfect serial killer just like him. Jazz doesn't want to like his dad though and tries hard to get him out of his head, which is hard when dead bodies start showing up in his local town. Jazz desperately wants to help the police in figuring out who the killer is. As the bodies pile up will they be able to find the killer before he/she moves on? You will have to read to find out.
Jazz is a hard character to like - he's a bit like Dexter (for any one who has ever watched that show like me). In the TV show you come to love Dexter because he has real feelings and is a good person even though he has evil tendencies and wants to kill people. Jazz is similar because he hunts down serial killers like Dexter except he doesn't kill them. Jazz is trying to fit into society after his father is convicted and thrown into jail. Before this Jazz had been there for all of "Dear Old Dad's" triple number kills, he didn't witness them all but he may well have because his father would give him a play by play how it happened. Poor kid!
The secondary characters were very easy to like. Jazz's best friend, Howie, is a hemophiliac (someone who's blood is thin and would bleed out quite quickly with a small cut). He has a quirky sense of humor and lightens, at times, a dark novel.
Then there's Connie, Jazz's level headed African-American girlfriend and lastly G. William, who is the typical round, older sheriff of the town. He already has a connection with Jazz because of their past, but they become closer as the book goes on.
There's a little twist at the end and I didn't guess who the killer was which as always is a good thing. I can not wait to read the rest of the books. Even though this is in the teen books, I think adults who love crime would love this series. I don't recommend this to younger teens, some sections are gruesome.
Also on my blog
stuckinafictionaluniverse's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. THIS WAS SO GOOD, I NEED THE SEQUEL NOW. Haven't been this excited to continue with a series in ages!
Review to come and I will order the next book online as soon as I can.
Review to come and I will order the next book online as soon as I can.
lilyr2023's review
4.0
This book was really good! If you have watched the TV show The Prodigal Son then you will love this book. This book takes you inside the mind of Jazz, the son of the most famous serial killer in this fictional United States. Jazz's dad trained Jazz from birth to follow in his footsteps and Jazz is trying to not.
I read this as an audiobook and it really enhanced the experience to hear Jazz and the other character's voices. It let you feel the emotion that Jazz keeps inside his mind and the things he knows is very intimate.
I read this as an audiobook and it really enhanced the experience to hear Jazz and the other character's voices. It let you feel the emotion that Jazz keeps inside his mind and the things he knows is very intimate.
harleyrae's review
4.0
Wow the ending of this book! I did not expect that, guess I should have but was not what I was thinking would happen. So while i did enjoy this book, i also didn't enjoy it. It took me forever to read which always makes me mad but oh well.
I liked that it was different then most murder mystery books that i read, instead of it being about a real cop who had a terrible experience at one point, it was about a boy named Jasper"Jazz" Dent. Jazz is unlike everyone else, while their fathers where bankers and engineers, his was well a serial killer, killing 123 women. With Billy Dent behind bars, Jazz feels he can finally move on with his life, until murders with the same MO as his father beginning showing up in his small town, he begin to fear the worst. We follow Jazz as he races to catch the killer behind it, and while Jazz finally beginnings to learn who he truly is.
I enjoyed all the characters,i felt each one was very well put together especially Jasper. I found it interesting to learn who growing up with the father he did on how it affected him, and how he wishes more than anything to not end up like him. I also loved Howie and while he knows he should be doing some stuff he was always there for Jazz and hoe Jazz was always there for Howie.
I felt that the author did an amazing job,I mean clearly he put a lot of thought and research into it, but I do wish he would tell us a little bit more detail. I was going insane trying to figure out what the deal was with rusty, took over half the book to figure it out. I also wish that, like with rusty, he would mention the meaning behind things sooner, I was very confused at some points thinking I had completely missed something hat seem to be very important to the story.
All in all I felt this was a new and fresh look into the minds of killers, and a new look at murder mystery book. I would defiantly recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery novel.
I liked that it was different then most murder mystery books that i read, instead of it being about a real cop who had a terrible experience at one point, it was about a boy named Jasper"Jazz" Dent. Jazz is unlike everyone else, while their fathers where bankers and engineers, his was well a serial killer, killing 123 women. With Billy Dent behind bars, Jazz feels he can finally move on with his life, until murders with the same MO as his father beginning showing up in his small town, he begin to fear the worst. We follow Jazz as he races to catch the killer behind it, and while Jazz finally beginnings to learn who he truly is.
I enjoyed all the characters,i felt each one was very well put together especially Jasper. I found it interesting to learn who growing up with the father he did on how it affected him, and how he wishes more than anything to not end up like him. I also loved Howie and while he knows he should be doing some stuff he was always there for Jazz and hoe Jazz was always there for Howie.
I felt that the author did an amazing job,I mean clearly he put a lot of thought and research into it, but I do wish he would tell us a little bit more detail. I was going insane trying to figure out what the deal was with rusty, took over half the book to figure it out. I also wish that, like with rusty, he would mention the meaning behind things sooner, I was very confused at some points thinking I had completely missed something hat seem to be very important to the story.
All in all I felt this was a new and fresh look into the minds of killers, and a new look at murder mystery book. I would defiantly recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery novel.
pearcactus3's review
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book. I love crime so this book was basically perfect. It had me hooked from the start.
magikspells's review against another edition
4.0
I just loved this story, it was a great psychological roller coaster.