| I Am Not a Serial Killer | |
|---|---|
US version of the cover |
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| Author(s) | Dan Wells |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | John Cleaver Trilogy |
| Genre(s) | Horror |
| Publisher | Tor (US), Headline (UK) |
| Publication date | 2009 (UK), 2010 (US) |
| Media type | Print hardcover and paperback |
| Pages | 288 |
| ISBN | 0755348818 |
| Followed by | Mr. Monster |
I Am Not A Serial Killer is a 2009 young adult thriller novel written by Dan Wells. It is the first installment in the John Wayne Cleaver trilogy. Its sequel, Mr. Monster, was released in 2010 in the UK. The third installment, I Don't Want To Kill You, was released in January 2011 in the UK. Critical response was mainly positive; young adult author Jack Heath said, "Wells is a first time novelist, and already he's created a sympathetic villain, the holy grail of thriller writing."[1]
Contents |
The book follows 15-year-old John Wayne Cleaver, a diagnosed sociopath who lives above a morgue owned by his mother. He fears that he is "fated" to become a serial killer, and so lives by a set of rules designed to keep his violent impulses in check. His careful regime of self-denial is threatened when he becomes ensnared in a serial killer case in which he senses a connection with the killer. John may have to take matters into his own hands. But can he catch the killer without releasing the monster within himself?
In general, I Am Not A Serial Killer received good reviews. Publishers weekly said of the Wells that he "does a good job entering the mind of his unlikely protagonist", going on to say that the "surprising revelation about the Clayton killer's identity may turn off thriller readers who prefer not to mix genres."[2] Brandon Sanderson, a friend and fellow author praised Wells' prose as well as his characters, calling the novel "profound" and "enthralling".[3]
Amongst book bloggers, the novel received very positive reviews, with ThirstforFiction saying calling it a "fantastic contribution to the YA genre"[4] whilst Wondrous Reads called it "brilliant and bold"[5]