I Am Not a Serial Killer
Encyclopedia
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."
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?
, a friend and fellow author praised Wells' prose as well as his characters, calling the novel "profound" and "enthralling".
Amongst book bloggers, the novel received very positive reviews, with ThirstforFiction saying calling it a "fantastic contribution to the YA genre" whilst Wondrous Reads called it "brilliant and bold"
Dan Wells (author)
Dan Wells is an American horror fiction author. A Utah native, he currently resides in Orem, Utah.-Early life:Wells wrote his first novel, Choose Your Own Adventure, when he was in second grade. He followed up with several novellas, a serial and a series of comic books when he was in high school....
. 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
Holy Grail
The Holy Grail is a sacred object figuring in literature and certain Christian traditions, most often identified with the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and said to possess miraculous powers...
of thriller writing."
Plot summary
The book follows 15-year-old John Wayne Cleaver, a diagnosed sociopathAntisocial personality disorder
Antisocial personality disorder is described by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fourth edition , as an Axis II personality disorder characterized by "...a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood...
who lives above a morgue owned by his mother. He fears that he is "fated
Destiny
Destiny or fate refers to a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual...
" to become a serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
, 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?
Critical Reception
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." Brandon SandersonBrandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson is an American fantasy author. A Nebraska native, he currently resides in American Fork, Utah. He earned his Master's degree in Creative Writing in 2005 from Brigham Young University, where he was on the staff of Leading Edge, a semi-professional speculative fiction magazine...
, a friend and fellow author praised Wells' prose as well as his characters, calling the novel "profound" and "enthralling".
Amongst book bloggers, the novel received very positive reviews, with ThirstforFiction saying calling it a "fantastic contribution to the YA genre" whilst Wondrous Reads called it "brilliant and bold"