Title: Game
Series: Jasper Dent #2
Author: Barry Lyga
Publish date: April 16th 2013 by Little, Brown Young Readers
Source: Received for review from the publisher via NetGalley
Buy it from: Amazon
Goodreads summary:
I Hunt Killers introduced the world to Jasper (Jazz) Dent, the son of the world’s most infamous serial killer.
When a desperate New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz’s door asking for help with a new case, Jazz can’t say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big Apple–and its police force running scared with no leads. So Jazz and his girlfriend Connie hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer’s murderous game.
Meanwhile, Jazz’s dad Billy is watching…and waiting
Review:
Jeez Louise, did I wait to long too write this review OR WHAT? (Spoiler: the answer is not “or what.” I waited too long.)
So, here’s what I remember about Game by Barry Lyga.
-I still liked Jazz and found his internal struggle interesting. He has to try to reconcile his personality and how he grew up with the person he wants to be, but he’s afraid that there’s something fundamentally flawed about him because of who his father is. His voice still feels authentic and real.
-CONNIE. I love this girl. Thank you, Barry Lyga, for providing some diversity in a female main character AND making her pretty damn awesome. She doesn’t have Jazz’s “experience” with this kind of stuff, but she’s smart and strong and she knows it. Getting her POV in this follow-up was awesome.
-The gore. Oh dang. Who ever said that YA books have to be edited to be less “graphic?” Because I’d like to place I Hunt Killers and Game in their hands. The gore is crazy and scary and– so so good.
-I did find it a little more difficulty to suspend my believability in this one. In the previous novel, the murders happened in Jazz’s small town and were by a copycat of his father’s work. His involvement made sense. It was harder to believe that a New York City cop would seek out his expertise for a case seemingly unrelated to his serial killer dad.
-BUT dear old dad was creepy as all get-out, guys. As was this mystery. Barry Lyga’s thrillers are so so compelling and I can’t WAIT until we see Jazz again in the next novel.
Need a second opinion?
“I may have mixed feelings about this particular installment of the Jasper Dent saga, but the author’s writing, gift for narrative voice, sense of humor, and excellent research will ensure I’ll read just about anything he’s written.” –The Midnight Garden
“Total freezer book my friends.” –Good Books and Good Wine
“To me, this series has all the right ingredients to make it a memorable one.” –The Quiet Concert
