I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells

I Am Not A Serial Killer

Dan Wells

Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

Published: April 2010

Hardcover: 271 pages

ISBN: 978-0-7653-2247-0

FTC FYI: I borrowed from the library

Mr. Monster

Dan Wells

Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

Published: October 2010

Paperback: 287 pages

ISBN: 978-0-7653-2790-1

FYC FYI: Borrowed from the library

This review of mine will in no way replace Hillary’s brilliant review from last year. I just wanted to let people know what I thought. I had been scared to read these books for awhile. I even told the author that when I met him last year. But with Mr. Monster up for a Whitney this year, I knew it was time to break down and read them. I read them both in just a couple days. Yes, they are scary, gory, and disturbing. That being said, they are also fascinating and very well written. I am shocked to say that I am looking forward to book three, I Don’t Want to Kill You, which comes out March 29, 2011.

In I Am Not A Serial Killer, we meet John Wayne Cleaver, a 15 years old who lives above a mortuary, who is obsessed with serial killers, dead bodies, and fires.  Oh, and is also a sociopath. John works at the mortuary with mother and aunt Margaret.  He even ties serial killers into reports he writes for school about “historical events”.  Because of one of those reports, he is sent to Dr. Neblin, a physciatrist .  John goes every week to his appointments and tell Dr. Neblin about his rules.

1. I will not hurt animals
2. I will not burn things
3. When I think bad thought about someone, I will push the thoughts away and say something nice about that person
4. I will not call people “it”
5. If I start to follow someone, I will ignore them as much as possible for a full week
6. I will not threaten people, even implicitly
7. If people threaten me, I will leave the situation

Things in town start to get exciting for John, dead bodies show up around town with pieces missing.  He is even more excited when they come to the mortuary.  Don’t get me wrong, John has issues.  Serious issues.  But, he really doesn’t want to hurt anyone.  He finds things out about the murderer, and oh boy, hold on for a nail biting, crazy ride.

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT:

I really liked what the author does with killer.  Instead of making the killer life-like, he goes a different way and I was really relieved about that.  I know relieved is a weird word, but it was nice to not have the killer too real.

As for Mr. Monster, I can’t give too many details about this book because it will give too much away.  This is one is just as scary, and even more murderous.  Just as well written as the first.

I Am Not a Serial Killer tied for Best Novel at the 2009 Whitney Awards.

4/5 stars for both.