Game by Barry Lyga
Release Date: April 16, 2013
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult Mystery, Crime, Thriller
ISBN: 978-0316125871
Source: Received From Publisher
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Billy grinned. “Oh, New York,” he whispered. “We’re gonna have so much fun.”

I Hunt Killers introduced the world to Jazz, the son of history’s most infamous serial killer, Billy Dent.

In an effort to prove murder didn’t run in the family, Jazz teamed with the police in the small town of Lobo’s Nod to solve a deadly case. And now, when a determined New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz’s door asking for help, he can’t say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big Apple–and its police force–running scared. So Jazz and his girlfriend, Connie, hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer’s murderous game.

***

After reading, I Hunt Killers (review here) this past summer I was totally on board to read the sequel Game! And I finally did!

From a small town to New York, Jasper “Jazz” Dent is thrown into another serial killer case thanks to the work he completed in his hometown regarding his serial killer father, being recognized nationwide. Giving us another thrilling and gruesome case to follow, which is even darker than I Hunt Killers. Much darker. Much more gory as well. I loved getting inside Jazz’s mind as he helped solve the case and seeing Jazz’s father get inside his head too every step of the way, for better or worse. Speaking of the former, I loved the line, “…forensic evidence is like snappin’ together five pieces from a hundred-piece puzzle and sayin’, ‘That’s close enough.‘”

By his side on the case as much as possible is his girlfriend, Connie. We actually get to read from her POV in this book which was so exciting. I really enjoyed getting to see Connie’s home life and discover that not only is her full name Conscience but her younger brother, Whiz’s full name is Wisdom. I actually know a girl named Wisdom so this was cool to see as a guy name. Anyway, I wanted more of Connie and Jazz in the sequel and am more than satisfied with what we got. In the sequel, Jazz deals with accepting the reality that he was initially attracted to Connie because she’s black and none of his father’s victims were black, so she represented safety for him. Connie admits that she already knew this and still cared for Jazz. As it’s written in the book; Connie believed in Jazz’s humanity more than he did. Jazz also struggles even more with not following in his father, Billy’s footsteps, this time, not allowing himself to have sex with Connie, for fear that sex is a trigger for something so much darker in him to be unleashed.

When Connie and Jazz make their way back home, they must continue to evade Jazz’s racist grandmother and also Connie’s understandably very concerned father, who doesn’t want his daughter dating the son of a serial killer. I loved the tension here and how well executed all of the varied emotions were on all sides. I really felt for everyone here.

Then, Jazz is summoned back to New York, so back at home, Connie and Jazz’s best and only friend, Howie do what they can do help Jazz from where they are. In addition, there’s Jazz’s Aunt Samantha who Jazz calls for help taking care of their grandmother while he’s in New York. At first, I was taken aback when it was made clear that Howie was hitting on Sam. But then, I had to remember that the characters are older now, hormones are racing, and this is not out of character. Still didn’t like it but I got it. Howie was Howie but I liked I Hunt Killers Howie more. Anyway, characters and relationships dynamics aside, I really enjoyed the story here but it’s hard to talk about not just the case but how everything intertwines without spoiling anything so that’s why you still basically have no idea what’s actually going on – read it and find out.

Generally speaking, I loved the mystery, I loved the dark humor, the thrill in each and every chapter. I did have to suspend my belief to get on board with the idea of the NYPD needing Jazz’s help so badly but once you just dive in, it’s great. And boy did I love that ending. I was waiting for this revelation and now I need to take the third book off of my shelf now and read it immediately.

Now Game is significantly longer than I Hunt Killers but it is totally worth it. So don’t feel intimidated by the length of this book at all. You can read this in one-two sittings if you start this at a time when you’re free, it’s that captivating. Game kept me on edge even more than I Hunt Killers and I am ready more than ever to start the final book in the trilogy.

Game by Barry Lyga is available today.