I Am Not A Serial Killer (John Cleaver)

I knew how much Dan Wells' I am Not a Serial Killer had impressed me when the first thing I did after finishing it was to open the Kindle Store on my device and--without bothering to look at the synopsis or review of Mr. Monster--order the next book in the John Wayne Cleaver series. I'm not an impulse buyer, and to be quite honest I spend most of my shopping time browsing the "free books" section at Kindle. But this time, there was no hesitation.

I am Not a Serial Killer is a tremendous read, a tour de force in creating a protagonist-narrator who should, almost by definition, alienate readers but who emerges as a fully realized, complex, highly sympathetic character who, as the tale progresses, increasingly engages readers' interests and concerns. Simultaneously, the antagonist-villain is revealed as both a mindless, evil killer and a kindly, loving man (when he's not out slaughtering innocent victims). The interaction between the two impels the novel, constantly heightening tensions even when the story abruptly takes an unexpected turn into supernatural horror.

John Wayne Cleaver is a warren of contradictions. Fifteen-years old and struggling with being the `weird kid' at his high school, incapable of feeling or understanding empathy and emotions in others, clinically diagnosed as sociopathic, he is nonetheless a deeply moral, strong-willed individual who understands his situation and lives according to a strict regimen of behavior to control his inner demon...the "monster" behind mental walls struggling to escape. He must consciously pretend to behave like a normal person, yet the more deeply he engages darkness and death, the more completely he acts to protect others. Incapable of fully loving, he ultimately experiences love as a means of acceptance and redemption.

Wells handles all of these elements with consummate skill. His plot seems simple: a small town suddenly finds itself in the grips of terror as a serial killer stalks its streets. Only one person, himself inexplicably interested in and drawn to such killings, fully understands the nature of events. And in order to save the town, and at the same time prove that he is not a serial killer, he must kill.

Much of the force Wells builds into his novel comes from his handling of details of background and landscape. For example, the Cleavers--mother and son--live in an apartment above a mortuary owned and run by the family. Many years ago, while an undergraduate, I occasionally spent time studying with a friend who, likewise, lived above the mortuary where he worked. Afterwards, I would go downstairs and, regardless of whether or not there were `guests' lying in the next room, play for hours in the darkness on the chapel organ. I never had a guided tour of the back rooms...but the sights, the sounds, the scents, the feel of Wells' funeral home ring true, as do his evocations of small-town life, with its insularity, its fears, its paranoia.

I am Not a Serial Killer is a remarkable book. I've read almost every book by Stephen King, Dean R. Koontz, and other well-known horror writers, and written extensively about many of them. Dan Wells' I am Not a Serial Killer is equal to the best, deserving attention and repaying the readers' investment. It clearly merits five stars.

My pumped up thrill level plummeted to zero when I got a few chapters in to I Am Not a Serial Killer. Fair warning: it changes genres less than halfway through the novel and the genre it switches to is one I generally despise in my choices of literature. Nothing of the sort is alluded to in any of the descriptions I had read about the book, nor is it referenced on the book's dust jacket. I won't spoil it for you but suffice to say, it can definitely throw you off course if you were hoping to read a gritty crime novel.

However, I am pleased to report that despite the novel jumping the shark for me so early on, I actually continued to read through because the writing here is the exact type of writing I enjoy. Author Dan Wells paints a genuine portrait of a struggle that we could imagine a teenager would go through when about to jump off the edge into a whirlpool of evil. After we leave the initial genre switch behind, we realize that the book focuses more on the study of the main character's, (John Wayne Cleaver), inner turmoil and, although a bit more extreme than the majority of the population can relate to, we can all hearken back to that moment when we were picked on at school, or ignored by our parents, or loved someone from a distance. We can easily empathize with John's struggle to avoid becoming a serial killer and perhaps that is the point.

Wells helps us see in such a young character how hard it is to harness emotions that are beyond someone like John's control. In reading this novel, we can easily imagine the kind of path a person like John would continue to travel, influenced by the events that played out in his younger life.

John is fascinated by serial killers and could recite their resumes to you upon being asked. However, in order to be a "serial killer", one has to kill multiple people. And that is a clue as to why John's isn't a serial killer at all.

I suggest you read this book if you like thriller and suspense, although this one has a lighter crime drama floating at the top than you might like. The dialogue is sharp and the shoes of our narrator, John are interesting enough in which to walk. You might be discouraged to continue on after the first few chapters if the genre switch isn't your cup of tea, but keep with it for a few more chapters before putting it down. The book is a quick read, the character study here is delicious and you're going to want an explanation for that title until the end. Will John be able to ignore his natural tendencies or is this a monster in the making? Guess you're going to have to read it to find out.

Although I enjoyed this book, I can imagine many people not liking it at all. With a background in psychology I am particularly interested in sociopaths, which this book discusses in detail. It also has some graphic depictions of the process of embalming a body for viewing and burial which would turn some people off. I found it interesting, although somewhat macabre. Different book.

As soon as I picked this book up, I couldn't put it down! This is the first novel in my life that I read cover to cover without stopping. (I take that back, it was on a Sunday, I did stop reading long enough to watch Game of Thrones) I have now also read books two and three in the John Cleaver series, and I just ordered the remaining books. Fantastically written! You're on the edge of your seat and your heart is racing through the whole book!

This book kind of felt like it was a two part book. There was the first part where we are introduced to a seventeen year old boy who has a near obsession to knowing everything about serial killers. And this made sense. The title after-all gives that impression. After every page of reading this boy talk about how he can understand serial killers, I couldn't wait for more. How long will he be able to stop himself from becoming one of them?

And then it happened. We hit chapter seven and the entire book kind of shifts. Something happens that, to me, felt like it came out of nowhere. A demon? After the shock of the story twist - which again was pretty shocking - the book was good.

I have become a fan of Dan Wells after reading this book, I enjoyed his writing style and the ride he takes us on, but I do have issues with the book. For me, the book would have been better had he stayed true to the first six chapters. There was no mention of demons anywhere in the description and I felt a bit played. Having said that, any YA reader out there would enjoy this book.

It's hard to write a review for a book you really enjoyed but still thought that it should not have taken the turn it did. I recommend this book hands down, just be ready for a jarring twist.

As I read this review it doesn't sound like I enjoyed this book. But I did! In fact I liked it so much, I am going to give away my copy. Come see what this book is all about. You will become a Dan Wells fan.

A boy who believes that if he lets it all go, he will indeed become a serial killer. Pretty interesting concept. It is a bit like Dexter in a way, except our main character in this story ends up going after demons.

I really don't believe that John has no emotions whatsoever. It could be because the author himself is not a sociopath, thus the feeling that John has emotions filtered through because of that. I don't know. Maybe when I read the rest of the books John will grow and actually develop the ability to feel some of these emotions he doesn't think that he can feel. Who know?

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In Clayton, fifteen year old John Wayne Cleaver has helped his mom and his aunt at the family run mortuary for years. He is surrounded by corpses so death means little to him, which makes it difficult for John to sympathize with the mourners.

However, the human predators who cause death fascinate and frighten him. Concerned he may become a serial killer one day as he admires these psychopaths, he sees a shrink and has established rigid rules that he totally adheres to. A loner by nurture, he prefers the dead to the living as they demand nothing as opposed to their relatives demanding miraculous cosmetics. When a sliced up body parts arrive at the mortuary, even John is taken aback. When more carved up corpses are found, John investigates as he wants to meet his first serial killer in person though this also means he bends his rules for the first time.

John holds the tale together as he constantly reminds himself that: "I am not a serial killer" though surrounded by death. He is a captivating unique lead character as is his mom and aunt. Teen-lit fans will relish his mantra and amateur sleuthing, as he investigates while also mindful of not crossing the line.

Harriet Klausner

I bought this book to make up a 4th book for a book club sale. It sat for a few weeks on the shelf. I thought it would be a take-off on the Dexter series. So it was not a book I was "hot" to read right away. It has some of the same elements of the Dexter books..a sociopath who recognizes what he is and tries to channel his darker emotions in constructive ways. But it ends there; Mr. Wells goes in a totally different direction. I thought it would be an easy read, something I could put down if I had to with no regret. It starts slowly, the author building up his characters, the background, and when it gains speed, it goes at warp and I could not put it down. Mr. Wells put a bit of a twist in the story involving a bit of horror/supernatural so if you are totally grounded in reality you may not like this. This is the kind of book that lets your mind take over, like the old fashioned suspense/horror films did and even the bad guy had his moments of humanity. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next one. You may be doing yourself a disservice by passing up this book because it sounds too much like Dexter. It is not Dexter. It can stand on its own.

I am not a Serial Killer was a fun, easy, quick read. I liked the main character (kind of a mix between Odd Thomas by Koontz and 1/2 of my high school students who are trying to find themselves). I liked him best when he was being sarcastic to his fellow classmates or his doctor, but he was also interesting as a boy learning to experience love for his mom, his sister and his neighbor. Not really sure I liked the super natural aspect of the story when it started, and there was a bit too much information about embalming a body, but after a bit I caught on and enjoyed how the plot played out. Overall, I can see this character become very popular if the author keeps going in the direction he started.

Short Notes:

1. Never got the Mr. Crowley reference until the last page. Nice. Got my Ozzy CD out right after.
2. The Young Adult genre never came to mind while reading it. I just thought it was a clean (no sex, drugs, cussing) book. To me a good read is a good read.

My mother bought me I Am Not a Serial Killer for my birthday. I didn't know anything about Dan Wells and didn't bother to Google him before I started reading...I probably should have...this was not my preferred genre. The main character, John Cleaver, is a 15-year old whose mother and aunt are morticians. John often assists with embalming and the author quite vividly describes the process. Wells very realistically spins his story from the perspective of a sociopathic teenager with all the warning signs of becoming a serial killer...makes you wonder about Wells...how did he get so insightful? About half way through, a supernatural twist is thrown into the mix taking the storyline in more of a fantasy direction. Although much of this book was startling and disturbing to me and I won't read Mr. Monster, I need to give Wells his due...it was a great plot, written in an easy to read style, and very engrossing making it hard to put the book down. I think Wells and John Cleaver will gain a large following...I just won't be one of them.

John Wayne Cleaver is just starting high school in Clayton and he's not like his classmates. His mother runs a mortuary and his father has pretty much been nonexistent. John doesn't relate to anyone at all and doesn't connect with people emotionally. Plus his favorite hobby is researching and telling people about serial killers. He is obsessed with them because he thinks if he doesn't stick to his carefully placed rules, he would be one of them. It's not an unwarranted comparison since he shares many traits with them, including being recently diagnosed as a sociopath by his therapist. His only friend is Max, a talkative and annoying boy, who only serves as a cover for John's antisocial tendencies. Because of his inability to relate with his classmates, bullies frequently bother him and he has to will himself to grin and compliment them instead of gutting them like fish. John is intensely interested in a new development in his town: a serial killer who steals organs has been striking with increasing frequency in his very own town. John compiles a psychological profile on the killer, but some things just don't add up. Is this just a run of the mill serial killer or something more nefarious?

When I started reading this book, I automatically thought that I would be reading about a mini version of Dexter Morgan (from Jeff Lindsay's series and the TV show). To some extend the two are similar, but I was relieved to see that they have distinct differences. John was aware of his tendencies and tried to put rules in place to prevent him from becoming a killer. He would stop himself from staring at people or following people around. If he felt angry at someone, he would pay them a compliment instead of acting out the violent fantasies in his head. The killer inside of him is personified as a monster behind the wall of his rules. I think it's interesting that he sees himself and the killer as two separate beings when he's trying to repress it. Later in the novel, he decides he needs to kill the serial killer in Clayton, so he allows that wall to crumble and lets the monster out. Then, he and the creature blur together and he has to frequently stop himself from giving in to the homicidal urges with innocents in his town. The most interesting aspect of his narrative for me was his sociopathic view of people. He views them as objects and only connects emotionally through creating fear within the other person. It makes his relationships with other people like sick imitations of real ones. For instance, he feels drawn to a girl and I assume it's because he likes her and wants to be her boyfriend. Not so. He make her view him as the only person in the world and then kill her. The fact that John is only in high school makes his view of people all the more chilling. I think John is a bit darker than Dexter despite his age because he is still struggling between being a killer who kills innocents and a killer who kills other murderers.

I was a little disappointed that the villain in the novel turned out to be a supernatural creature. I don't really like my serial killers mixed with demons and the like when it's unexpected, which is the reason why I really hated the third Dexter novel. However, I accepted it and moved on. I did enjoy the rest of the novel and I am looking forward to the second book, Mr. Monster. Despite the violence, I consider the novel appropriate for young adults because it's a sort of homicidal coming of age story. I would also recommend this to fans of the Dexter TV and book series.

If you combine Encyclopedia Brown and Dexter, you get John Wayne Cleaver, the protagonist(?) of Dan Wells' debut novel I Am Not a Serial Killer.

This is another in my line of "I know it's an older book, but if I haven't read it, it's new to me" book reviews. I was introduced to Wells this past summer on the Dark Days Tour as he was promoting Partials with fellow authors Veronica Roth, Aprilynne Pike, and SJ Kincaid. The Partials series falls more in the Young Adult genre and the next book in the trilogy, Fragments, is scheduled for release in Februrary of next year.

In addition to being his first novel, Serial Killer is also the first book in a trilogy, followed by Mr. Monster and I Don't Want to Kill You. John Wayne Cleaver's tale is, at first glance, typical YA fodder: High school-aged lad placed into a supernatural situation where he has to rely on heretofore unknown abilities to win the day. This is kinda like that.

Kinda.

John Wayne Cleaver was given his name by his deadbeat dad because of said father's love for The Duke. The problem is, young John is a medically-diagnosed and admitted sociopath who struggles to keep the would-be killer within him at bay, so the name John Wayne takes on a rather unfortunate and much different connotation (I mean John Wayne Gacy, the clown you didn't want to hire for your kids' birthday party). His father, his sulking sister, his single mother and her pragmatic sister all figure into why John is the way he is as he helps out at the family mortuary.

Did I mention his mother and aunt run his small town's funeral home? No? Well, yeah, they do. That's not an unfortunate piece of the story for a kid who has a knowledge of serial killers Wikipedia writers would be green with envy for.

The story takes off when some very grisly murders begin taking place in John's backyard. Figuratively. They don't literally take place in his backyard. I meant in his town. After a couple of the victims show up at the family business, John decides to do some sleuthing and discovers that the killer is not only someone he knows, but someone with a very dark secret. As though being a murderer isn't dark enough.

Reading a synopsis of Serial Killer would lead you to believe you know how the book is going to play out and you would be wrong; dead wrong (see what I did there?). The brilliance of this book lies in two things: 1) Wells' research into psychology and sociopathy, and 2) changing the way you look at the protagonist and the antagonist in this story. Cleaver, while admirable in his desire to do the right thing, can be hard to like at times. The killer, while committing some truly grisly murders, has a part of his story that readers will empathize with.

Trying to put this book in the YA category is a back-and-forth fight. On the one hand, it's textbook Young Adult fare, in that there is the young person trying to take on a foe that is completely out of his league. That's a staple of YA literature. But on the other hand, every relationship Cleaver has, whether it's his family, his so-called best friend, and his potential love interest, is effected by his sociopathy, his obsession with serial killers and death, and his battle to keep his darker self from gaining dominance. Wells hasn't written another Twilight; this is no sparkling vampire or buff werewolf. John is a potentially dangerous young man and should absolutely be viewed as such. He should, however, be seen as a young man with a legitimate disease and an individual who is the target of bullying and ostracism at his school, topics that many, if not most, teens can relate to in today's society.

As a man nearing 40, I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be a quick read, an entertaining read, and a memorable read. While this book can be extremely violent, I do think young readers (high school-aged readers) would enjoy it as well. I think there are many battles fought by Cleaver that teens can identify with. The metaphoric ones. Not the ones dealing with a mass murder. Call the police, kids; that's why they're there.

For more on Dan Wells, you can follow him on Twitter or at his Writing Excuses website.

While this book was not what I expected, I still found it very good!

John has all the makings of a serial killer but tries very hard living by certain rules to keep that in check so he doesn't become one.
Then a serial killer is in his town, and as he tries to keep his rules in place, he can't help but be curious about what's going on.

All of my horror/suspense loving friends should read this.

I struggle with rating this book. I wanted to stop reading when it took a turn toward the fantastical, because that's really not my style, but I couldn't. Read it all in one sitting. Now I'm trying to decide if I'm going to read the second book... I don't generally like reading things that aren't rooted in reality (a demon with claws? Really?), yet I found the story captivating. And I want to know how the author will continue to develop John's character without the main foil from the first book.

Like a lot of reviewers, I was a bit surprised when the narrative genre jumped about a third of the way through the book. I was also disappointed. I loved where the story was heading - like 'Dexter' for teens, I had been so engrossed in the story (I had to keep flipping back pages to make sure I wasn't mistaken or had missed some vital clue). I sighed and read on. Instead, the book went down a boy-'Buffy' route. It wasn't long before I'd completely forgiven Dan Wells. I was sad for the story I'd lost, but delighted with the one that replaced it. The novel is so well written that the pages carry you through the story and do not detract from it. I loved it and now my 12yr old daughter is loving it. This novel is in my favourite top two for YA fiction. Can't wait for Mr. Monster, but please put it up on Kindle when the hardcopy comes out for release. I hate waiting.

Wow, that was fun! Disturbing but gripping and touching book about a teenager fighting with his inner demon and playing cat and mouse with a serial killer. While the killer is revealed about a third of the way through, it looses none of the tension as the who-done-it switches to a suspense thriller of how can the anti-hero save the day.

John resembles the early form of Dexter, perhaps, but I found him much more sympathetic, learning to embrace the monster, while Dexter had already learned that and honed his skills. Can't wait to read the other two in the trilogy.

The first in a trilogy of stories about the struggles of John Cleaver. Though most of us have struggles in life, John is different. Daily he struggles with the impulses to kill. The story is refreshing to read and Dan Wells creates a character in John, which I find fascinating. The things internally he must do to keep Mr. Monster safely secure. He is surrounded by family and "friend" that keeps him somewhat in check, at least seemingly so.

John finds an outlet in the story where his urges can be useful. This story will keep the pages turning. In fact I am 2/3 done with "Mr. Monster" and I am still intrigued by John Cleaver.

Those that are Dexter fans (and I am a huge fan) will appreciate the similarities in characters, but do not take away the fact that John Cleaver is unique.

I've listened to Dan Wells and his colleagues on the Writing Excuses podcast for years now, and I always wanted to read his book. I was thrilled when it finally hit U.S. shores (he's had quite a bit of success in Europe, I believe) and I could give it a whirl. I read it in just a couple of days, in part because, by the time I was approaching the climax, I was very curious to see what would transpire. The writing worked well for me--fairly transparent, neither terribly noticeable nor overly attention getting, which fits the narrator's disposition. The reason for the lost star, however, came from two things which are not that big of a deal, but, for me, mar an otherwise excellent novel. The first is more my fault (so probably isn't a very valid criticism): I kept feeling like I was supposed to be reading a YA novel. The 15-year-old narrator, first-person writing made me think that I should have picked this up in the Young Adults section of the bookstore. Not a bad thing, necessarily, but it made me feel a little out of sorts when all the gore (and there's quite a bit of it) started showing up. The second problem: I really enjoyed the reality of it, so when the supernatural came in, it reduced the thrill a bit. This wasn't a deal-breaker, as there is some early (blatant) foreshadowing about the supernatural being a part of the mini-mystery, but it still didn't sit quite right with me. However, I think that if someone were to pick up this book, fully expecting the supernatural to be a part of it and to understand that it's not a YA novel (despite the age of the narrator), the reading would be enjoyable and memorable. These little qualms that I mentioned here shouldn't dissuade anyone from attempting the book. It is fun, thought-provoking, exciting, and intriguing. I hope for many more from Mr. Wells.

This book is more thought-provoking and frightening than it would at first appear.

John Wayne Cleaver, the young protagonist, seems more innocent than the teenagers we now encounter in most books and movies. He doesn't drink or do drugs, and his life seems uncomplicated by the usual trappings of teen angst. He seems, for a moment, almost unrealistically innocent. But John Wayne Cleaver is a sociopath. He feels no empathy for those around him and is disturbingly fascinated with death.

The seeming innocence of the main character and the fantastic nature of the crimes surrounding him could pull the book into unrealistic "fairy-tale" territory, but the fundamental nature of severe personality disorder makes it a compelling--and oddly realistic--read.

I read a lot, and I while I'm lukewarm on some books, I usually find something I like about most that I read. It can be the characters, the plot, the writing style, a new take on an old theme, etc. Rarely, though, do I read a book that knocks it out of the park in as many ways as this one. Every character is lovingly filled out, the main character is flawed but incredibly likable, the story is fresh and exciting and unpredictable, and the writing is beautifully done. Furthermore, this book can be read just for fun, but it's wonderfully layered underneath. Dan Wells leaves it subtle enough to not beat you over the head with it, but it's not too hard to see his message about what it means to be human. Very well done.

While this book was not what I expected, I still found it very good!

John has all the makings of a serial killer but tries very hard living by certain rules to keep that in check so he doesn't become one.
Then a serial killer is in his town, and as he tries to keep his rules in place, he can't help but be curious about what's going on.

All of my horror/suspense loving friends should read this.

I struggle with rating this book. I wanted to stop reading when it took a turn toward the fantastical, because that's really not my style, but I couldn't. Read it all in one sitting. Now I'm trying to decide if I'm going to read the second book... I don't generally like reading things that aren't rooted in reality (a demon with claws? Really?), yet I found the story captivating. And I want to know how the author will continue to develop John's character without the main foil from the first book.

Like a lot of reviewers, I was a bit surprised when the narrative genre jumped about a third of the way through the book. I was also disappointed. I loved where the story was heading - like 'Dexter' for teens, I had been so engrossed in the story (I had to keep flipping back pages to make sure I wasn't mistaken or had missed some vital clue). I sighed and read on. Instead, the book went down a boy-'Buffy' route. It wasn't long before I'd completely forgiven Dan Wells. I was sad for the story I'd lost, but delighted with the one that replaced it. The novel is so well written that the pages carry you through the story and do not detract from it. I loved it and now my 12yr old daughter is loving it. This novel is in my favourite top two for YA fiction. Can't wait for Mr. Monster, but please put it up on Kindle when the hardcopy comes out for release. I hate waiting.

Wow, that was fun! Disturbing but gripping and touching book about a teenager fighting with his inner demon and playing cat and mouse with a serial killer. While the killer is revealed about a third of the way through, it looses none of the tension as the who-done-it switches to a suspense thriller of how can the anti-hero save the day.

John resembles the early form of Dexter, perhaps, but I found him much more sympathetic, learning to embrace the monster, while Dexter had already learned that and honed his skills. Can't wait to read the other two in the trilogy.

The first in a trilogy of stories about the struggles of John Cleaver. Though most of us have struggles in life, John is different. Daily he struggles with the impulses to kill. The story is refreshing to read and Dan Wells creates a character in John, which I find fascinating. The things internally he must do to keep Mr. Monster safely secure. He is surrounded by family and "friend" that keeps him somewhat in check, at least seemingly so.

John finds an outlet in the story where his urges can be useful. This story will keep the pages turning. In fact I am 2/3 done with "Mr. Monster" and I am still intrigued by John Cleaver.

Those that are Dexter fans (and I am a huge fan) will appreciate the similarities in characters, but do not take away the fact that John Cleaver is unique.

I've listened to Dan Wells and his colleagues on the Writing Excuses podcast for years now, and I always wanted to read his book. I was thrilled when it finally hit U.S. shores (he's had quite a bit of success in Europe, I believe) and I could give it a whirl. I read it in just a couple of days, in part because, by the time I was approaching the climax, I was very curious to see what would transpire. The writing worked well for me--fairly transparent, neither terribly noticeable nor overly attention getting, which fits the narrator's disposition. The reason for the lost star, however, came from two things which are not that big of a deal, but, for me, mar an otherwise excellent novel. The first is more my fault (so probably isn't a very valid criticism): I kept feeling like I was supposed to be reading a YA novel. The 15-year-old narrator, first-person writing made me think that I should have picked this up in the Young Adults section of the bookstore. Not a bad thing, necessarily, but it made me feel a little out of sorts when all the gore (and there's quite a bit of it) started showing up. The second problem: I really enjoyed the reality of it, so when the supernatural came in, it reduced the thrill a bit. This wasn't a deal-breaker, as there is some early (blatant) foreshadowing about the supernatural being a part of the mini-mystery, but it still didn't sit quite right with me. However, I think that if someone were to pick up this book, fully expecting the supernatural to be a part of it and to understand that it's not a YA novel (despite the age of the narrator), the reading would be enjoyable and memorable. These little qualms that I mentioned here shouldn't dissuade anyone from attempting the book. It is fun, thought-provoking, exciting, and intriguing. I hope for many more from Mr. Wells.

This book is more thought-provoking and frightening than it would at first appear.

John Wayne Cleaver, the young protagonist, seems more innocent than the teenagers we now encounter in most books and movies. He doesn't drink or do drugs, and his life seems uncomplicated by the usual trappings of teen angst. He seems, for a moment, almost unrealistically innocent. But John Wayne Cleaver is a sociopath. He feels no empathy for those around him and is disturbingly fascinated with death.

The seeming innocence of the main character and the fantastic nature of the crimes surrounding him could pull the book into unrealistic "fairy-tale" territory, but the fundamental nature of severe personality disorder makes it a compelling--and oddly realistic--read.

I read a lot, and I while I'm lukewarm on some books, I usually find something I like about most that I read. It can be the characters, the plot, the writing style, a new take on an old theme, etc. Rarely, though, do I read a book that knocks it out of the park in as many ways as this one. Every character is lovingly filled out, the main character is flawed but incredibly likable, the story is fresh and exciting and unpredictable, and the writing is beautifully done. Furthermore, this book can be read just for fun, but it's wonderfully layered underneath. Dan Wells leaves it subtle enough to not beat you over the head with it, but it's not too hard to see his message about what it means to be human. Very well done.

I am Not a Serial Killer is a great read, the type of genre the book is changes half way through, I don't want to give away which genre it switches to as that would be giving away a substantial part of the plot. Admittedly, at first I thought oh no, the author has obviously just run out of ideas on how to keep the story going but as I read on those thoughts were proved wrong, the change of genre works really, really well.

Basic plot of I Am Not a Serial Killer has John Cleaver having recently finished primary school entering high school for the first time in the small town of Clayton. John whose father bailed years ago and whose mother's parental skills are so bad they drove his sister out of the family home, is not popular at all in school. A target for bullies he hangs around with Max, an equally unpopular kid, not because he enjoys his friendship, but because appearing to have conversations with someone else (Max is a talker) will make the other kids and teachers not notice just how different he is. You see John is always trying to keep the monster behind the wall. The monster is the fact that John is a sociopath who has a list of rules he makes himself follow so as not to start on his natural calling as a serial killer. His mother and aunt run the local mortuary and he is fascinated by dead bodies, since it is the only place he seems to be able to communicate with his mother at all, he is always assisting with the preparation of the town's bodies. He has read every detail of famous serial killers' sprees, so when a murder victim is slashed open in the town laundromat and their organs piled up beside them, John knows straight away this is no one off. John can't help but to become obsessed with profiling this killer and trying to catch him in the act of the kill to study his methods up close.

A very good and unique storyline and a very definitely unique character with John Cleaver. If you liked the learning about behind the scenes mortuary parts of the novel also check out Weepin' Willie by Richard Grayson.

Omg, stop whatever you are doing and read this book.

The Good News:
I'm normally attracted to stories that have an intense plot with exotic locals and a strong, quirky leading man. This book has made me second guess exactly which kinds of books I love. IANaSK is the first in a trilogy (thank God! I was not ready to leave this character) about a 15 yr old who's battling with whether or not he's psycotic. He's got a therapist, divorced parents and an estranged sister. Not mention his mom is a mortician. Not to mention, he's obsessed with serial killers. Not to mention, there's a serial killer on the loose in his town. OMG.

The Better News:
There's a mystery element to the story. Who's the serial killer? Why does he kill? Is he among the residents of the small town? The answer will shock you. Additionally, Wells makes you sympathize with a psychopathic kid. Also, my stomach was able to handle all the embalming detail described.

The BEST News:
There is a major twist that you do not see coming. Seriously, I thought maybe the main character, John, had lost it. Highly recommended for those who love a little mystery, a little horror and a little YA. Hold on to your hats folks and dig into this book!

This a very well written book with a rather original topic.

The hero of the story is a 15 year old sociopath who knows deep inside that he is a serial killer waiting to happen. He develops rules to keep his monster at bay. Then bodies start turning up in his small town and he find himself in a precarious position of identifying the serial killer and not being able to go to anyone else with the knowledge he has.

A good first effort by Dan Wells. I am looking forward to reading the other two books of this trilogy.

4 STARS

I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells

Here are some facts about fifteen year old John Wayne Cleaver :
His name is very similar to the famous serial "clown" killer John Wayne Gacy.
His fathers name is Sam, which would make John, "Son Of Sam".
He has studied serial killers, and has a vast knowledge of them.
His last name is a common weapon used in murders.
He helps his mother and aunt run a mortuary.
He has certain urges within him that aren't healthy.
Because of all these facts John has decided fate wants him to become a serial killer. In order to prevent this from occurring he has set some strict rules by which he lives. Soon a murder spree begins, and John cannot contain the excitement of knowing there is a serial killer right here in his own little town. Using his knowledge of serial killers, and the ability to examine the corpses in his mortuary, John Wayne Cleaver sets out to unveil the killer.
This is the first book in a serial killer series by Dan Wells. Dan takes you on a short terror ride full of twists and turns, it is not your average Scooby Doo "who dunnit" mystery caper. Chapter One straps you in, Chapter Two slowly pulls you up a steep incline, and Chapter Three lets you go with a rush forward. As the main character is force to witness the unbelievable and unforgettable, the reader will soon realize he is dealing with anything but normal circumstances. This book comes along with a strong recommendation and a high anticipation for book two - Mr. Monster.

Since I enjoyed Dan Wells's 2012 foray into Young Adult, Partials , I decided to go back and read his other work: The John Cleaver trilogy. The idea of getting into a mind of sociopath intrigued me; I expected a thought-provoking, character-driven novel with an complex, yet also unreliable narrator. I went in with high expectations, but although it was an exciting read filled with suspense, the John Cleaver's character was too forced--nor did the plot twist that almost ruined the story. However, I still found the story enjoyable--a very easy read. I didn't like John very much nor could I grasp his thinking, but I'll let it go--he is a sociopath after all.

I'm Not Sure If I Would Classify It As An Adult Novel:
If it were up to me, this novel would be classified as Young Adult. Well to be fair, it was originally pitched as a YA novel, so maybe that's why I didn't get the adult vibe from it. Or because the protagonist was a high school freshman. Perhaps it was the horror, "gore" aspect that kept it from being in YA--but it really wasn't that horrific. I'm the girl who got scared with that hanging man song from Suzanne Collin's Mockingjay, but this novel...didn't faze me at all. So even if you are a YA lover, don't let the adult classification deter you.

If You Liked Barry Lyga's I Hunter Killers, This Is Your Book:
I also found it similar to Barry Lyga's new horror YA novel, I Hunt Killers, which is also why I think Dan Wells's I Am Not A Serial Killer could have passed for YA. Although Jazz (from I Hunt Killers) is not as messed up as John Cleaver (in fact, they might as well be opposites: Jazz is charismatic while John is reclusive), they are both teenagers desensitized by their unusual upbringing. Both struggle between good and evil, the idea that they might become serial killers, and dedicate themselves to catching serial killers. But while charismatic I Hunt Killer's Jazz worries that he might be a sociopath, I Am Not A Serial Killer's John is already diagnosed as one.

Character (John Wayne Cleaver):
John is hard to relate to (despite having a great sense of humor)--not surprisingly, since he is a diagnosed sociopath. He has a "monster" inside of him with murderous intentions, and he struggles to keep himself in check by self-imposing rules. He is also oblivious to social situations--and doesn't know when to shut up and only cares about sharing his serial killing expertise. At times I was annoyed with him: "I don't want to be a serial killer, I have to keep the monster in, I am dangerous..." It was like his way of dealing with his nature. To me, John wants to be a serial killer, and he was just saying these things to make himself feel "normal." I often wish there was more to him.

There are times where he is too naive, or just plain stupid. There were opportunities to bash the murderer in the head..but he just stood there, observed for a few seconds--then ran away. Why in the world would you drag a body with a murderer after you? And how in the world could he even carry a 140 lb+ body? Does he secretly weight train and it just wasn't mentioned? From the novel, I just thought he was a skinny, antisocial, creepy nerd.

Oh yeah, apparently he is also paranoid because a serial killer has the same name as him. And his father's name is Sam, so that also makes him the "Son of Sam"--another serial killer. This family really doesn't know how to name children: John and Sam are like the boringest, most common names in the book. Try a Pokemon name next time.

Romance:
I am not sure if John's crush on Brooke would be considered a romance since it was very much one-sided. John, being a sociopath, makes it difficult for him to recognize emotions. Rather than a crush, it was more like an unhealthy obsession. It was like watching that stalker guy from American Beauty.

Does This Guy Have No School?
Or homework? Projects? I am surprised John, being a high schooler, has time left for stalking people.
No wonder John is not the sharpest tack in the drawer.

I Have Issues With This Plot Twist:
I love a good plot twist any day, but this one...it was just so RANDOM, and not in a good way. Not only did the genre change, but all logic. After that twist, it was like "well then, all bets are off."

Pace:
This really saved the book. Even if the first few chapters felt slow with introductions, and a slight serial killer info-dump, the action saved it in the second half.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read--if you don't think about it too much and don't mind the unrelatable narrator. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to a YA horror fan, especially if you enjoyed Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killers. As for me, I want my horror scarier than this.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. Stuff on serial killers interest me. The book's title drew me in and drew many others in when they saw me reading it.
I had very mixed feelings about this book. Part of me liked it and the other part didn't. On the upside, I thought the idea of a young boy having killer tendencies was interesting and that's how the first part of the book worked out. I liked the way it was set up to see the psychological part of him. On the downside, it reminded me a lot of Dexter. Seemed like there were a lot a ideas taken from that. I guess it would probably be hard to portray a young "aspiring" serial killer any other way. After about half way through the book it takes another twist. This one into the supernatural. Again, I had mixed feelings. I didn't really like this twist and wanted it to continue how it started out. The supernatural part was still good and well written and I ended up enjoying it somewhat. I think I would of liked it more if it would of continued like the first part of the book.
Will I read the 2nd book? Yes, I would have to say that it kept me intrigued enough to find out what happens next.

I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER by Dan Wells is a promising start to what seems to be a wonderful trilogy. I picked it up first because of the title. Okay, I was intrigued. Then I flipped through it and read the copy. Okay, more intrigued. I noticed the blurb from F. Paul Wilson on the cover and thought, hey, if he liked it, I might, too. I like F. Paul Wilson's books very much. So I gave it a shot. I could not put it down. The character of John Wayne Cleaver leaps off the page from the moment you start. Even if the first two chapters are heavy in the process of embalming a corpse, Wells never lets go of the voice and the character of John. We are right there with him as he becomes intrigued in the mystery of a local murder. Halfway through the book in a single sitting, I hated that I had things to do. Wells intricately drops small bits of mystery and then wallops you with a supernatural twist that takes things to a very new level in storytelling. The character of John, without ruining anything, is so real and so true and yet so unique, that you understand his world and his awkward place in it. The dialogue is spot on, the secondary characters are perfectly formed for this small midwestern American town and the action moves along. John is a hero who isn't a hero, a boy who isn't a boy, really, and a typical teen that is atypical. All of these things helped me to have the most fun I've had with a book in a long time. I would disagree with the previous reviewer that this a "good airplane" read. This is pure escapism, pure fun, pure psychological, supernatural and honest storytelling. Dan Wells, if you are reading this, I would like you to know that for a first novel, this is terrific and I will be waiting for TOR to release the second and third installments of the story of John Wayne Cleaver. Everyone else, do yourself a favor and pick up I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER. Trust me. You'll love it.

John Wayne Cleaver is a strange young man and that is probably the best way to begin to describe the web that Dan Wells spins with his novel. If you are a fan of Dexter then you will find this novel mesmerizing; I thought that I would not be able to make ...it through the novel at the beginning, the build up in the beginning is very slow but then you feel as though you have been climbing the stairs to a slide because once you get into the characters, the story begins to run and it pulls you along with it. I have never read any novel like it. John Wayne Cleaver is a strange young man, but once you get to know him, you will find him to be the dearest sociopath you have ever read.

This book was particularly good however I lost interest immediately when the supernatural came in. It peaked my interest enough to keep me reading. However, I was expecting and hoping it was a full-fledged person committing these disastrous evil-doings to build some more plot. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.

I Am Not A Serial Killer is a fun, entertaining, and well-written read. It's clear that the author has done a lot of research into sociopathic psychology, and it was fascinating to find that I could sympathize with a sociopathic character so well. It's only a couple hundred pages long and doesn't overstay its welcome.

However, that isn't to say that it's perfect. I was rather disappointed when the plot took a turn to the supernatural; I felt that Dan Wells could have written a great, serious realistic book, and I was rather confused when the supernatural elements were introduced.

The main character, as much as I like him, seems to have an older voice than he should. If he was perhaps two years older, I wouldn't mind as much, but the boy acts and thinks a bit too much like an adult for my liking.

Faults included, I still think this book is worth checking out. It's well written and I hope to see more from this author in the future.

John Wayne Cleaver is not your average teenager. He grew up working in a morgue, is obsessed with serial killers, is a clinical sociopath, and adheres to a strict set of personally imposed rules meant to keep him from becoming a serial killer. Dan Wells kicks off this fast pace novel by opening at the scene of a bizarre homicide. John surmises that this could be the work of a serial killer, here is his own quiet town!

Wells had me enthralled and the blurb on the front, "unputdownable" holds true for the first third of the novel. Until we find out who the "serial Killer" really is. I don't want to give away the twist, but suffice to say, you won't see it coming. I'm a fan of plot twists but this novels reads like a "Dexter Morgan" type story a only to take a jump off the deep end into the super natural.

The book remains immensely entertaining and Wells' writing is superb. His dark comedic voice won't have you rolling on the floor, but you will love John Wayne Cleaver's unique perspective on life. The problem lies with the transition to the supernatural. You will be left saying, "WTF mate?" still, Wells is an author to keep an eye on and I will be purchasing the next two books in this series.

Read more at The Debut Authors Blog

I liked this novel, but I could not bring myself to love it. It felt like a mishmash of novels I've read before stretched to be something a bit more fitting to the young adult crowd. Perhaps that makes me more critical since the novels I have read with the same storylines were quite obviously adult novels. I will say when the main character had a hard time figuring something out it did make sense for him because of the type of person he was, while the audience will have figured it out long before he even questions it. Well told, interesting tale, but a little too much of this story being a melting pot.

I think parts of this were a little underdeveloped, but that it was generally good. I tend to give debuts the benefit of the doubt and I’ve read some of his later works and know they’re quite good.

by Emily Placido, author of Julita's Sands: A Memoir

I got right into this book and couldn't put it down. It started off as a real life thriller, but near the middle it turned into a fantasy thriller. Maybe my expectations were different, but when it got weird the story lost some credibility for me. The author, Dan Wells keeps the reader on the edge of his seat, no question about it. I found myself feeling sorry for both the protagonist and the monster. What I liked the best about this book is that the hero, so to speak, is a young teenage boy, who goes through the normal angst of teenage years but who also knows his strengths and weaknesses, especially his primary weakness. I do look forward to reading the sequel since the end is left pretty much wide open.

Though a little short, and reading more like a YA fiction book than Adult fiction, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

A note for the publisher (and author if he has any say in the matter): I prefer eBooks. However, when the publisher has the audacity to price an electronic copy (which I can't share or re-sell, and costs the publisher *nothing* beyond a small cut to the store) higher than the physical book, as is the case here, I'll get it from the library every time rather than contribute to this messed-up model. Book publishers: Learn from the mistakes the music industry made when MP3s first became popular! You're making the same ones.

"I am not a serial-killer" is an interesting, at times gripping book. I did not care too much for the "supernatural" element in it but I must admit Dan Wells handled this quite well. The writing is good but aimed at a YA audience ( I should know, I write novels AND novels for YA), but the publishers gloss on this fact to attract a wider audience. Dan Wells can do gruesome, Dan Wells can do funny, Dan Wells can do strange and suspenseful, but he never goes too far in the metaphysics department, which is a pity because the book could use more insight, however flawed, from the main character.
I bought this as a CD and am unfortunately in agreement with a previous poster. The actor reading the book must be around 40, and is a very bad choice for John Wayne Cleaver. He detracts, imho, much from the story, which I'm sure I would have enjoyed much more with a younger narrator. As for the female voices... one word: omg :-(
So please, guys, choose another narrator for books 2 and 3.

I am Not a Serial Killer was a book I picked up and was really looking forward to reading. The premise of a teenager trying to figure out his obsession intrigued me. Once I got going on the book it was deja vu. If you have ever read any of the Dexter books you will know what I am talking about. Here is a person who is fighting demons. "The Monster" is what John Wayne calls his demon......the dark passenger is Dexters'. Both characters are trying to be good. Both are trying to be "human". Both want to be able to feel like a "person". Half way through I am Not there is a different twist, but for my money I would take the Dexter books. I am Not a Serial Killer has some interesting things about funeral homes I didnt know, but I really didnt need to hear about it over and over. I have to wonder if I am the only person to see the similarities in these two book series. I prefer orginal ideas over used ones and the dark sense of humor in Dexter is refreshing over angst. This book was just too close to the Dexter books for me to want to read any more of them.

Most unique character I've read about in a while. I couldn't put it down and read it in one day. Be prepared it is slightly disturbing. I wouldn't categorize this as a young adult book even though is is written from a fifteen year olds perspective. Not something Miley Cyrus fans will appreciate. Spoiler alert****I do strongly disagree with reviewers that found fault in the fact that the killer was a demon. It couldn't have been written any other way. The point was that he was hard to kill. If it was a human killer he wouldn't have such difficulty either killing him or reporting him to the police. The character was written too clever to be bested by just a human. I think it was perfect as it was.

Well, I got this book when my mom had finished reading it and said I'd probobly like it. I loved it. The main character John Wayne Cleaver, is a 15 year old sociopath who has never really fit in with the world because of his obsession with serial killers. Now, John believes that he is going to be a serial killer when he grow's up and restricts himself with rules so he doesn't end up hurting anyone. however, when his neighbor/demon becomes a serial killer to tear organs out of living people to repair himself, John throws away his rules and decides he is the only one who can stop him. now this book is a bit dark and gory so i wouldn't recomend for anyone under 16 or so. Unless they are into this sort of thing and it wouldn't bother them. This review is coming from a 14 year old. Some other reviews call the writing style simplistic, they obviously havn't read "call of the wild". This book uses fluent language and is very smooth reading. I would reccomend this book to anyone who agrees that normal is boring and prefers the supernatural reign.

Dan Wells has created a great story with his debut novel, I Am Not a Serial Killer. The POV character, John Wayne Cleaver, is a teenager obsessed with serial killers. (Mostly because he knows that he could very easily be one) John is one of the more interesting protagonists that I've ever read, in that he knows he is flawed, dangerous, but is very self-analytical and has set up a series of rules to keep himself from going off the deep end.
But then when a series of bizarre murders occur in John's home town, he realizes that there is another killer on the loose. John sets aside his rules in order to find the murderer, only to discover that his opponent isn't exactly human.
I am Not a Serial Killer is a fascinating read. It is hard to categorize, in that because it has a young protagonist, you might be tempted to call this Young Adult, but John is a deep character, and frankly, a little frightening. Nope. It is horror. Dan Wells walks a fine line here, but doesn't stumble. You root for John, but at the same time, you know that he is one little mistake away from being a monster. He's human, believable, and unnerving at the same time.
Not to give anything away, but my favorite bit is when John loses his cool with a high school bully. He doesn't fly off the handle, he just tells the bully in a very matter-of-fact way what he'd like to do to him.
Overall, this was a great read. I pounded through the earlier released UK version in a couple of nights.

I was really intrigue by the premise - young man is convinced he has the makings of a serial killer. Seemed like an excellent and interesting unique story. I don't read a ton of mystery/thrillers but this seemed like a great story idea and I picked it up enthusiastically.

The first 1/3 of the book delivered to my expectations - until a completely supernatural element is introduced...

I have no problem with supernatural stories, obviously, my problem was that with this premise there was never any hint or inkling of a supernatural element, and this element really came from nowhere and always seemed to not fit the story.

Very disappointing and always felt like a copout. There was such promise in the story and character but the author took the lazy way, which was really unfortunate.

I really enjoyed this book and felt that it was a quick easy read and hard to set down. I'm not sure if this classifies as YA, it's an easy read but goes to some very dark places. Was fascinating (if a little frightening) to get inside John Cleaver's head. Too many stories use the "kid realizes things aren't as they seem and decides to figure it out himself without getting adults to help" story-line and often (usually?) it is not very believable. The set up and description of John, his thoughts, his home life, relationships, and his mental issues all led to a very understandable hesitation to get adults involved (and was reinforced when he finally did ask for help!). All the foreshadowing paid off so nicely at the end.

Really, the title of this book should make you want to read it immediately. I could leave off there, but that's not how I want my first ever the store review to go, so...

Before I begin, I should mention that I don't read a lot of horror. Most of it doesn't interest me, simply because the horror that involves monsters, demons, vampires, what-have-you, simple doesn't scare me. I know the monsters aren't real, so the terror that they are supposed to inspire doesn't affect me. I feel sympathy for the characters facing them, of course, but most of the time I'm just bored. Great writing can help with this, but when I go into the bookstore or the library, the horror section is not where I'm headed.

That said, I Am Not A Serial Killer was horrifying in all those delicious little ways. The edge of your seat anticipation, the growing dread you feel within, the compulsion to keep turning pages yet always fearing what will be revealed upon them. This book grabbed me by the next, hissed in my ear, and forced me to read. And I loved every moment of it.

Now, I mentioned what I did in the first part of this review for a reason; monsters don't scare me, but serial killers and sociopaths do. When I want to be scared, I don't put in Friday the 13th or A Nightmare on Elm Street. I read true stories of John Wayne Gacy, HH Holmes, or Albert Fish on CrimeLibrary. Sociopaths and serial killers are real, and they could be anywhere - a thought which fascinates and horrifies me.

John Wayne Cleaver, as you know by reading the other reviews, is the main viewpoint character of this book, and the one through whom the story is told. He is obsessed with serial killers, and believes that he may, in fact, be on the verge of becoming one himself. In himself he sees all the classic signs of sociopathic tendencies, and to prevent himself from becoming like those he obsesses over, has established strict rules that he must follow, such as never harming an animal and forcing himself to think good thought about people he would like to hurt. This works very well for young John, until bodies are discovered in his own small town, stirring the monster inside that he has been keeping at bay.

The narrative voice of John Wayne Cleaver hooked me from the very first page, and I could feel the lack of empathy the character had. Throughout the book, it was incredibly difficult to tell who was the hero and who was the villain. Saying anything more would be spoiling things, but the twist - as I saw it - involving the villain was masterfully done. John terrified me, but at the same time I could not help but feel extreme sympathy for him, and I honestly don't know how Dan Wells managed that one. Every character felt real, and it was fascinating seeing them all from the perspective of a burgeoning sociopath, who sees people as objects rather than living beings.

As other reviews, both positive and negative have mentioned, there is a supernatural element involved in the story. This is true, and I understand how others could be upset with this. I, personally, found it to be an interesting twist; the character of the demon was fascinating to read about, and I wish I could go on; however, revealing the demon, while a rather small spoiler, is far more spoiler than I want to give.

I loved this book, and the sequel, Mr. Monster (coming out in a few months, I think) which I preordered from the UK is even better. And as soon as I am able to, I plan to order the third book, I Don't Want To Kill You, from the UK as well. Easily among the best horror I've read in many years, as well as filling my morbid fascination with serial killers (John's knowledge of them is almost as good as my own).

I Am Not A Serial Killer was humorous and thought-provoking, because it opens up a whole new world rarely ventured into; one of a sociopathic teenage boy.
What this basically means is he is incapable of compassion or love, this recipe alone would concoct an incredible situational-comedy novel (Mind you, there is a cute little love story, if not disturbing)But then they mix in his homicidal instinct and yet give him a strong will to not follow in his namesakes footsteps. And he is beginning to win that fight, until a real serial killer comes to town. I'm telling you, it keeps you guessing until the end, but remains a light read that is tailored to a Young Adult audience (so, its not really gory at all) I don't want to give this satirical suspense novel away, so read it for yourself!

P.S- Dan Wells (the author) says the second and third are better than the first, which is pretty tough with a book of this quality.

I saw a review that said this belonged in the young adult section, however, I didn't feel that way (maybe I'm immature.... possible). I wouldn't really call this a horror book. Yes, there is some gore but overall this book was funny. I laughed out loud several times while reading and just thought it was very well written. I don't think the 2nd and 3rd book in the series kept up with the first (although still worth reading) but this book was great.

All I can say is Wow! Wow wow wow. Did not expect the switcheroo that happened but man did it take this book in a whole different direction. I enjoyed the first person narrative. It was pretty cool to be inside his mind as he struggled with his inner demon. Great story! Looking forward to the next book.

This book was just strange to me. I'm guessing since it is part of a series that if I continue to read the books some or all of my questions would be answered but I just didn't find the first book interesting enough to read any more books in the series.

I am currently reading the third and final book of this series and though it has prevented me from completing school work and given me a whole new kind of paranoia about serial killers, this is really an amazing and compelling series. They are entertaining but they also give you a lot to think about. I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes a good horror or supernatural novel or anyone who enjoys dynamic characters and plots. Seriously, read this series!

This is the only book I've ever read in one sitting.

There are some supernatural elements to this story that I normally wouldn't care for, but the main character is so well developed and the story so thoroughly engaging that I simply couldn't care. Or stop reading.

I thought i was going to be reading a book about serial killers, but it was that, and more. This is a supernatural book, and i had no idea. Loving the supernatural i was pleasantly surprised. I can see where someone expecting a real world scenery might be disappointed, but i loved it.

Very fast read; Dan Wells is a talented writer. The reason it gets a 4 and not a 5 is that, as others have said, the book starts out fantastically then slows. If the first several chapters were indicative of the whole novel that it would be an easy 5 stars.
On a podcast the author said he had an offer for the novel to pull out the mid-book twist (not saying what due to spoilers), wishing he had taken that offer instead.

Even still, an enjoyable read. Loaned the book to a coworker because I liked it enough.

I too have read this book and found it a very good YA read. I enjoyed how the plot's theme evolved and kept you wondering.

It would recommend it readers that like dark fantasy and mystery. I think if you enjoy authors like Garth Nix, Cassondra Clare, Neil Gaiman, Steven King, EA Poe and Brom or books like Plucker, City of Bones, Riddle of Epsilon, Neverwhere, Graveyard Book than this is right up your alley. I would also place it in with books like Speak if you are looking for "teen issues" themed books.

I can't wait for the sequel "Mr. Monster" which I will have to get from the store UK.

I thought the book was for adults, and it actually seemed to start out that way. About half way through the book, the story line changed and it seemed more like something a ninth grader might enjoy reading. It actually was too simplistic for adults. I don't think I will read the rest of the series, but if I ever meet a 14 year old, I would recommend the book.

Spoiler alert. But I'll be doing you a favor if you read them.

The premise of "I Am Not A Serial Killer" sounded compelling enough; a teenager named John Wayne Cleaver is battling against his own sociopathic compulsions to kill, of which he is painfully self-aware. Eventually he uses these tendencies and perspectives to do battle with some sort of supernatural adversary which is killing residents of the protagonist's small town. That's pretty much it.

Over the course of the narrative I kept hoping for some sort of "swerve"; that the whole "My neighbor is secretly an organ harvesting demon" plotline would ultimately be revealed to be a powerful delusion on the part of young Mr. Cleaver as some sort of cover or rationalization for all sorts of aberrant behavior, including stalking, trespassing, kidnapping, assault, etc. Such a swerve would have made for an interesting character study, but instead the utilization of a genuinely supernatural antagonist, as this story proffers, seems more like a cop-out. It's much easier to sell Cleaver as a hero when his otherwise disturbing behaviors are conveniently being employed against a more powerful evil in service, however tangentially, to a greater social good, i.e. - an end to the killings. But why does a book fictionally examining pathologies like this even need a hero? The author, Dan Wells, wants to eat his moral cake and have it, too.

For a first novel, the writing is competent, even if the premise is somewhat sloppy. There was a section in the middle where the exposition in a couple of close paragraphs struck me as redundant, but that was the worst of it. The writing and subject matter is probably best suited to a Young Adults level. It is therefore frustrating to me that this book is being marketed to adults as a story about a reluctantly aspirant serial killer with no mention whatsoever of the horror/supernatural aspects to the story. Even the Library of Congress data section omits these descriptors.

I can (unfortunately) see a possible future where this series becomes the new "Twilight Saga" once the current crop of teenyboppers outgrows their Hot Topic phase. Sparkly vampires who don't kill humans will be out, and serial killers...who don't kill humans...will be in. Have fun kiddies. I'll be over here in my old-man rocking chair reading Helter Skelter for the fifth time, and better off for it.

I was expecting to read a copycat of the plot from Dexter, after having first read the abstract. I was wrong. I loved the psychology aspect of it, getting into the head of John. It was nothing like I expected and I loved it! It was hard to put down. I'll definitely be starting the next book, "Mr. Monster."

This is one of my favorite books and I am so excited to see Dan Wells at the Cavalcade of Authors this year.

This is the book that had me interested in serial killers.

It deserves a read

The writing though quite boring keeps you reading on because John is a likable character. You want to make sure he ends up in a good place and correctly diagnosed.
The glaring problem for the plot, John is clearly not a sociopath.
He has a specific form of Aspergers, his behaviour is typical of a 15 year old apsergers kid who has become too obsessed with his primary interest.
His concern over his behaviour, the rules and his bluntness about his interest are something a true sociopath would never be able to exhibit. He has none of the manipulative behaviour, the denial or the social skills of a true sociopath.
Add the fact that in real life the two conditions are widely misdiagnosed it creates a frustrating environment for the educated reader.
Many of Johns problems, the grief he gets and having a therapist, could have clearly been avoided if he had declared his interests early on as being part of wanting to be a criminologist/sociologist etc... (even if it's a cover) you do a lot of research on serial killers in those classes even in high school. I was an honour student in sociology. Psychology is a lifelong interest of mine.

You wish the author would have done his research or hired someone to do it for him instead of doing something sensationalist.

I would recommend Naoki Urasawa's "Monster" for a much better look at sociopaths. Naoki Urasawa's Monster, Vol. 1

Dan Wells has crafted something extraordinary with his first novel, I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER.

John Wayne Cleaver is our protagonist, and as you find out very early on, he isn't your average teenager. His troubles go much deeper than most, and are much more serious. See, he worries that he might become a serial killer. He has all the tendencies of a sociopath, and he is very aware of how dangerous they are.

John is obsessed with serial killers--how could he not be considering his tendencies, and the fact that he is named John Wayne (though his mother swears she didn't name him after the serial killer John Wayne Gacy). John, a boy in High School who also works at his family mortuary, begins to notice a strange pattern in the murders that are taking place in his small town. His personal investigation of the murders put him in a unique position to expose the killer, and also put him in danger of losing himself to his inner sociopath.

One of the things I especially liked about I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER, was that it doesn't seem to follow the typical public's view of "horror." It seems like people are hell-bent on assuming that horror is synonymous with hack-and-slash and blood-and-gore. Guess what? That's garbage, and Dan proves in this amazing novel--the first in a trilogy--that the old-school flavor of horror built on suspense and character is the way it should be written and enjoyed.

Dan's writing is clever, and extremely well done. There are moments where the novel seems YA, and others where is is straight-up Horror/Supernatural Horror. I think it was this accessible blend that really made this book excellent, in my opinion.

When I was reading this novel, I somehow managed to feel pleasantly disturbed, amused, horrified, terrified, and awed. How often can one book evoke that range of emotions, and make you pleased about all of them? I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER does just that.

Now, some people may mistakenly draw parallels to the Jeff Lindsay's character, Dexter. First of all, I know Dan, and he had this idea long before Dexter was even popular. Second, Dan handles the young sociopath infinitely better than Lindsay handles his young Dexter segments. Lastly, Dan's book shifts dramatically from normal Horror to a near-Supernatural Horror part way through the novel (and it succeeds where Lindsay's 3rd Dexter novel turned into complete crap). This book isn't like Dexter. It surpasses Dexter.

On that note, I'll mention that I've read the entire trilogy of Dan's John Cleaver novels. You all won't see them released in the US for a bit, but let me just say that where I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER is an amazing book, the two follow-ups manage to blow it our of the water.

Don't be afraid to pick up this novel. It is incredible, and the sequels that will come out over the next year are even better.

This was easily one of my favorite UK releases from last year, and will be one of my favorite US releases this year.

Recommended Age: 13 and up (the sequels, just so you know, should prolly be for 15 and up)
Language: None
Violence: Well, duh. It get's awesomely crazy at times. You did read the title of the book right?
Sex: None

I too have read this book and found it a very good YA read. I enjoyed how the plot's theme evolved and kept you wondering.

It would recommend it readers that like dark fantasy and mystery. I think if you enjoy authors like Garth Nix, Cassondra Clare, Neil Gaiman, Steven King, EA Poe and Brom or books like Plucker, City of Bones, Riddle of Epsilon, Neverwhere, Graveyard Book than this is right up your alley. I would also place it in with books like Speak if you are looking for "teen issues" themed books.

I can't wait for the sequel "Mr. Monster" which I will have to get from the store UK.

I thought the book was for adults, and it actually seemed to start out that way. About half way through the book, the story line changed and it seemed more like something a ninth grader might enjoy reading. It actually was too simplistic for adults. I don't think I will read the rest of the series, but if I ever meet a 14 year old, I would recommend the book.

Spoiler alert. But I'll be doing you a favor if you read them.

The premise of "I Am Not A Serial Killer" sounded compelling enough; a teenager named John Wayne Cleaver is battling against his own sociopathic compulsions to kill, of which he is painfully self-aware. Eventually he uses these tendencies and perspectives to do battle with some sort of supernatural adversary which is killing residents of the protagonist's small town. That's pretty much it.

Over the course of the narrative I kept hoping for some sort of "swerve"; that the whole "My neighbor is secretly an organ harvesting demon" plotline would ultimately be revealed to be a powerful delusion on the part of young Mr. Cleaver as some sort of cover or rationalization for all sorts of aberrant behavior, including stalking, trespassing, kidnapping, assault, etc. Such a swerve would have made for an interesting character study, but instead the utilization of a genuinely supernatural antagonist, as this story proffers, seems more like a cop-out. It's much easier to sell Cleaver as a hero when his otherwise disturbing behaviors are conveniently being employed against a more powerful evil in service, however tangentially, to a greater social good, i.e. - an end to the killings. But why does a book fictionally examining pathologies like this even need a hero? The author, Dan Wells, wants to eat his moral cake and have it, too.

For a first novel, the writing is competent, even if the premise is somewhat sloppy. There was a section in the middle where the exposition in a couple of close paragraphs struck me as redundant, but that was the worst of it. The writing and subject matter is probably best suited to a Young Adults level. It is therefore frustrating to me that this book is being marketed to adults as a story about a reluctantly aspirant serial killer with no mention whatsoever of the horror/supernatural aspects to the story. Even the Library of Congress data section omits these descriptors.

I can (unfortunately) see a possible future where this series becomes the new "Twilight Saga" once the current crop of teenyboppers outgrows their Hot Topic phase. Sparkly vampires who don't kill humans will be out, and serial killers...who don't kill humans...will be in. Have fun kiddies. I'll be over here in my old-man rocking chair reading Helter Skelter for the fifth time, and better off for it.

I was expecting to read a copycat of the plot from Dexter, after having first read the abstract. I was wrong. I loved the psychology aspect of it, getting into the head of John. It was nothing like I expected and I loved it! It was hard to put down. I'll definitely be starting the next book, "Mr. Monster."

This is one of my favorite books and I am so excited to see Dan Wells at the Cavalcade of Authors this year.

This is the book that had me interested in serial killers.

It deserves a read

The writing though quite boring keeps you reading on because John is a likable character. You want to make sure he ends up in a good place and correctly diagnosed.
The glaring problem for the plot, John is clearly not a sociopath.
He has a specific form of Aspergers, his behaviour is typical of a 15 year old apsergers kid who has become too obsessed with his primary interest.
His concern over his behaviour, the rules and his bluntness about his interest are something a true sociopath would never be able to exhibit. He has none of the manipulative behaviour, the denial or the social skills of a true sociopath.
Add the fact that in real life the two conditions are widely misdiagnosed it creates a frustrating environment for the educated reader.
Many of Johns problems, the grief he gets and having a therapist, could have clearly been avoided if he had declared his interests early on as being part of wanting to be a criminologist/sociologist etc... (even if it's a cover) you do a lot of research on serial killers in those classes even in high school. I was an honour student in sociology. Psychology is a lifelong interest of mine.

You wish the author would have done his research or hired someone to do it for him instead of doing something sensationalist.

I would recommend Naoki Urasawa's "Monster" for a much better look at sociopaths. Naoki Urasawa's Monster, Vol. 1

Dan Wells has crafted something extraordinary with his first novel, I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER.

John Wayne Cleaver is our protagonist, and as you find out very early on, he isn't your average teenager. His troubles go much deeper than most, and are much more serious. See, he worries that he might become a serial killer. He has all the tendencies of a sociopath, and he is very aware of how dangerous they are.

John is obsessed with serial killers--how could he not be considering his tendencies, and the fact that he is named John Wayne (though his mother swears she didn't name him after the serial killer John Wayne Gacy). John, a boy in High School who also works at his family mortuary, begins to notice a strange pattern in the murders that are taking place in his small town. His personal investigation of the murders put him in a unique position to expose the killer, and also put him in danger of losing himself to his inner sociopath.

One of the things I especially liked about I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER, was that it doesn't seem to follow the typical public's view of "horror." It seems like people are hell-bent on assuming that horror is synonymous with hack-and-slash and blood-and-gore. Guess what? That's garbage, and Dan proves in this amazing novel--the first in a trilogy--that the old-school flavor of horror built on suspense and character is the way it should be written and enjoyed.

Dan's writing is clever, and extremely well done. There are moments where the novel seems YA, and others where is is straight-up Horror/Supernatural Horror. I think it was this accessible blend that really made this book excellent, in my opinion.

When I was reading this novel, I somehow managed to feel pleasantly disturbed, amused, horrified, terrified, and awed. How often can one book evoke that range of emotions, and make you pleased about all of them? I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER does just that.

Now, some people may mistakenly draw parallels to the Jeff Lindsay's character, Dexter. First of all, I know Dan, and he had this idea long before Dexter was even popular. Second, Dan handles the young sociopath infinitely better than Lindsay handles his young Dexter segments. Lastly, Dan's book shifts dramatically from normal Horror to a near-Supernatural Horror part way through the novel (and it succeeds where Lindsay's 3rd Dexter novel turned into complete crap). This book isn't like Dexter. It surpasses Dexter.

On that note, I'll mention that I've read the entire trilogy of Dan's John Cleaver novels. You all won't see them released in the US for a bit, but let me just say that where I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER is an amazing book, the two follow-ups manage to blow it our of the water.

Don't be afraid to pick up this novel. It is incredible, and the sequels that will come out over the next year are even better.

This was easily one of my favorite UK releases from last year, and will be one of my favorite US releases this year.

Recommended Age: 13 and up (the sequels, just so you know, should prolly be for 15 and up)
Language: None
Violence: Well, duh. It get's awesomely crazy at times. You did read the title of the book right?
Sex: None

I began reading this book last night and was so impressed with it I had to submit a review right away. The writing is clever, creative, and funny. I can't wait to find out more about the main characters. On an interesting note, I am enjoying the series United States of Tara, and the supporting actor Keir Gilchrist is my John Wayne Cleaver!

Picked this up browsing, sounded pretty cool from the description. The main reason this book fell flat for me was the main character, I just didn't care for him. Then the story takes a fantasy/cartoonish turn, not what I expected or wanted. The writing was pretty straightforward, but coming from a teen perspective that was okay...my feeling now is that I won't be going forward with this trilogy.

I wanted to love this book. I picked it up at the store based entirely on the title, and even though the premise sounded dangerously similar to that of "Dexter", I decided to give it a shot. After a few pages, I already felt embarrassed. The author REALLY wants you to know he's done some moderate research on serial killers, as he name drops all popular ones within the first chapter. He continues to rely on this "research" throughout the novel. Rather than put any real thought or depth to his protagonist, Wells instead gives you a community college crash course on abnormal/forensic psychology. I thought the idea behind book had some real potential, but instead it's wasted on a boring, predictable story with almost no tension at all. I would say this book is on par with the Fear Street series, and I probably would have loved it when i was 12 years old

I was attracted to the premise of the story. Having taken a few criminal psychology courses in college, the traits of serial killers described intrigued me. The novel began well enough, but nothing in the first few chapters or the back panel could possibly prepare anyone for the "twist" into the sci-fi genre. Completely unnecessary.

I honestly have no idea what the author was thinking. Why go through all the research of serial killers and title your book about them when the main plot of the book involves an Earth-walking "demon." Each chapter I read after Wells revealed this twist I waited, with decreasing optimism, for John (the protagonist) to end up explaining how that was all a dream to his therapist.

Awful book that could have been so much more...

I like most of the people who rated this book low like the first 6 chapters. Read it straight through without putting it down and really thought it was getting better. As a middle school teacher I have come to expect the fantastic but this book just got silly. It did a complete 180 in its storyline and just became far too unbelievable. I was thoroughly disappointed and like most on this forum really wish there had been a better description of the content on the back. I didn't enjoy the Twilight series for the same reason. Way too silly of a premise when I thought it had such potential.

The premise is fine -- 15 year-old sociopath, trying to be normal. The writing is ok -- it's coming from a 15 year-old point of view, so it's a little simplistic. I can live with that. What I can't live with (spoiler) -- the bad guy is some sort of demon. Come 'on, if that's the type of book I wanted to read, I'd be looking in the fantasy genre, not mystery. *Really* disappointing. Because the story could have been based on a *human* killer, and it would have been great.

Like the others who gave low ratings, I was optimistic about the first few chapters, then it jumped to science fiction. As a reader, I do not read book about animals who talk, vampires, dragons, etc. It just isn't what appeals to me. I really wanted to like this book, but I can't.

I really had high hopes for this book, but about halfway through the plot became just ridiculous. I continued to read, thinking that it would get better. However, it just never did. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

I've waited over a year to review this book because it honestly makes me so mad. This is a ripoff of the Dexter novels, but with some unexplained mysticism. The protagonist is a watered-down idiot version of Dexter Morgan, with none of the lovely supporting cast. When I hit the awful supernatural bit in the middle, I honestly threw the book across the room. Once I pushed through to the end, I threw the book in the garbage.

The book is so bad that I didn't even give it to Goodwill--I couldn't have it on my conscience that anyone would have to read this book because of me.

SPOILERS

Half-way through, the kid finds that the killer is his neighbor and he's a demon. It doesn't explain a damn thing about the demon, except that he's done this sort of thing before. It's so trite and poorly thought-out. How the kid was able to determine this guy was a demon and how to defeat him is beyond me--the kid isn't really that smart at all.

The whole time I was reading this book, I just kept wishing I was reading something good like Stephen King's IT. Even though that one's main characters are kids that are younger than John Cleaver, they do better research to find out what's terrorizing the town and how to defeat It.

I Am Not a Serial Killer, though--absolute garbage. Anyone who says they enjoyed this book must be a friend of the author or a pure-blood idiot.

Im currently obsessed with this saga, but besides that, the packaging was good, the price was fair and the item came a little bit delayed but that was probably because i bought it near christmas, however it was a good experience!

Omg, stop whatever you are doing and read this book.

The Good News:
I'm normally attracted to stories that have an intense plot with exotic locals and a strong, quirky leading man. This book has made me second guess exactly which kinds of books I love. IANaSK is the first in a trilogy (thank God! I was not ready to leave this character) about a 15 yr old who's battling with whether or not he's psycotic. He's got a therapist, divorced parents and an estranged sister. Not mention his mom is a mortician. Not to mention, he's obsessed with serial killers. Not to mention, there's a serial killer on the loose in his town. OMG.

The Better News:
There's a mystery element to the story. Who's the serial killer? Why does he kill? Is he among the residents of the small town? The answer will shock you. Additionally, Wells makes you sympathize with a psychopathic kid. Also, my stomach was able to handle all the embalming detail described.

The BEST News:
There is a major twist that you do not see coming. Seriously, I thought maybe the main character, John, had lost it. Highly recommended for those who love a little mystery, a little horror and a little YA. Hold on to your hats folks and dig into this book!

The title pretty much covers what I think if the book. It was a very interesting book. I like to read sci fi/fantasy but this book had enough hints of action and possibly something more, supernatural or unexplainable or...., that I kept coming back to out. I wanted to know what happened next.

I enjoyed this book and although I am not a fan of seeing a good novel turned into a movie, this one would be perfectly suited for that format! Let’s see if it ever happens. Try it! It’s a good story line and a quick read.