Jasper is seventeen years old, and son of one of America’s most infamous serial killers. From an early age Jasper remembers Dear Old Dad instructing him in how to kill, how to manipulate those around you and how to cover your tracks. Even though his father is in prison, Jasper is surrounded by reminders of him. When a body is found, Jasper is convinced there is another serial killer on the loose. What bothers him more is the fact that he might be more like his dad than he thinks.
This novel explores the ideas of nature vs nurture and fate vs free will in a compelling way. At times I found Jasper a bit irritating, but who knows how such an upbringing would affect someone. My only other gripe was that some of the activities that Jasper gets involved in would, in reality, get him arrested. Sheriff Tanner – as the cop who finally captured Jasper’s dad – has something of a soft spot for this young man, but I wasn’t completely convinced that he would have been given quite so much leeway.
Those minor gripes aside, from the time the first body is found and Jasper is convinced another killer has come to town I was desperate to find out what was going on. It’s compelling reading, and focuses more on the psychology of a killer than the gory details (thankfully).
The scene where Jasper visits his dad in prison will probably give me nightmares. It reminded me of the scene in Silence of the Lambs where Clarisse goes to talk to Hannibal Lecter. I don’t think I’m exaggerating to say this was genius, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy (which I’ve heard good things about).