I Hunt Killers

What if the world's worst serial killer... was your dad?

Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could - from the criminal's point of view.

And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.

In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret - could he be more like his father than anyone knows?
from goodreads.com

Beth says 4 Stars...
On occasion I have the urge to read a twisty thrill-ride type of mystery novel.  This book had exactly what I wanted in spades. Importantly, the mystery is wonderfully done and the ending was a shocker.  The pace flowed smoothly and kept me engaged; I read this book obsessively. The crimes unfold with a well-balanced mix of suspense and gore that doesn't go too far to the gross direction. Jazz embarks upon his own investigation that sometimes overlaps with the police's and other times goes into different directions.  His relationship with the police officials is a bit odd, but works well in the story. The occasional flash from the perspective of the killer adds another dimension to the narrative.

Jazz is a wonderful narrator to take you to the dark and weird places inside the mind of a serial killer. He's conflicted, but doesn't let everything get too intense all the time. There's a constant internal grappling with Jazz balancing his desire to hurt instilled by his father and the inherent good in his nature. He has a great sense of humor that's enhanced by his best friend Howie, a hemophiliac whose presence reminds Jazz of how easily he could do harm. Howie's a good foil for Jazz, with his fragility and good-hearted resilience bringing out the best in Jazz. The specter of Jazz's father hangs over the whole book, infiltrating the story with its menacing presence.

Overall, this is a really nice start to a new series that fills an unusual niche. The obvious comparison is to Dexter, but it isn't quite accurate. When you see through Jazz's eyes, you see the conflict that comes from his experiences as a serial killer-in-training. Get ready for the funniest book you'll read about serial killings.
Book Purchased

Eleanor & Park

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, ELEANOR AND PARK is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.
from goodreads.com

Beth says 5 Stars...
I'd been hearing about this book for a while and (luckily for me) Amazon lowered the price right around the end of the year, making it impossible for me to not buy it!  I'm so glad I did.  Although this isn't my typical book, I adored it.  It spoke to the eternal misfit kid that remembers going through high school.  It would have been amazing to have a Park on the bus with me, sharing music and other things.  Although there was an actual plot, it was very much secondary to the characters sharing their stories.  I quite liked how the narration switched between Eleanor and Park, giving insight into both sides of their relationship.  The changes at times could be quite quick, and I'm interested to see if there were any differences between the ebook I read and the physical copies.  Occasionally the perspective shifts happened in the middle of the page and, while always accompanied by a heading, they could get a touch confusing.  I couldn't put the book down, which is quite interesting because it isn't designed to be a heart-pounding page turner.  I simply got completely pulled into the world of the characters.

The characters are absolutely the heart and soul of the story.  I absolutely adored both Eleanor and Park.  They had delightfully different strengths and weaknesses that were on full display throughout the novel.  It was also wonderful to see their relationship develop slowly, in a way that felt natural.  No insta-love here.  It felt earned and worthy whenever something new would happen.  The supporing characters all had more than a quick mention, especially the various family members.  Park's parents were a fantastic combination, with all of the contradictions that make for deep characters.  I completely adored Park's mother.  Can we have a book about her, please?

This is a fantastic book for current teens or anyone who remembers what it was like to be a teen.  The characters feel real, the recreation of the '80s is absorbing (although I can't vouch for its authenticity), and the end will slam into you like a feelings train. 
ebook purchased

Nightlight: A Parody

About three things I was absolutely certain.
First, Edwart was most likely my soul mate, maybe.
Second, there was a vampire part of him–which I assumed was wildly out of his control–that wanted me dead.
And third, I unconditionally, irrevocably, impenetrably, heterogeneously, gynecologically, and disreputably wished he had kissed me.

And thus Belle Goose falls in love with the mysterious and sparkly Edwart Mullen in the Harvard Lampoon’s hilarious send-up of Twilight.

Pale and klutzy, Belle arrives in Switchblade, Oregon looking for adventure, or at least an undead classmate. She soon discovers Edwart, a super-hot computer nerd with zero interest in girls. After witnessing a number of strange events–Edwart leaves his tater tots untouched at lunch! Edwart saves her from a flying snowball!–Belle has a dramatic revelation: Edwart is a vampire. But how can she convince Edwart to bite her and transform her into his eternal bride, especially when he seems to find girls so repulsive?

Nathan says 4.5 stars...
This is the parody I've been waiting for. Like mountain lion blood from Edward's lips, acerbic wit drips from every page. Nothing is safe in this hilarious and campy farce. Poor Belle Goose takes the most ridiculous aspects of unremarkable heroine Bella Swan and amplifies them into a laugh out loud mockery of a shallow, static character. Other characters echo issues in the series while still being laugh-worthy. The writing is a cruel, and rather accurate, mimicry of Stephanie Meyer's own. The plot is a funny twist on the series. Even the actors in the movies aren't safe from some ribbing. I'm aware that this review is very short; I just don't want to give anything away. If you've been wanting to rip out the jugulars of sparkly vampire fans this is the perfect solution. I can promise that this book is much more biting than any Cullen.

Book Purchased