Review: I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER by Dan Wells

This book gets five stars for uniqueness. At first I didn't know hy this book was considered speculative fiction (it's nominated for a Whitney award in that category) but then Wells reveals the reason part-way through and I was tickled pink. But I don't want to spoil the book for you. I'm only going to tell you bits so this review makes sense.

John Wayne Cleaver is a fifteen year-old-boy with issues. He is obsessed with serial killers, and is convinced he's destined to become one. He also doesn't know how to empathize with others and has extreme antisocial tendencies. He tells his story in the first person point of view, and I've never read a point of view like his. F. Paul Wilson describes him best:

"Dazzling, unputdownable. The teenage protagonist is as chillling as he is endearing. More John Wayne Cleaver, please."

The kid is creepy, but for some reason we love him. He has the most violent thoughts, but creates rules for himself to keep his actions at bay. I got a kick out of what Wells said in his acknowledgments to Brandon Sanderson:

"First and foremost I must mention Brandon Sanderson, who shut me up in the car one day and told me to stop talking about serial killers and just write a book about them."

I love this. Not only is Sanderson a stud in the fiction world, but he also convinced his friend to write this incredible story. And simultaneously we're left wondering how many of Cleaver's thoughts stem from the author's. Disturbing.

The last leg of the book had wonderful tension. I ripped through the pages--I had to know how it would end. And the ending made me smile. I am terrible with endings! But Wells wrapped up his story just right and added a little jab to cause us to continue to worry for John Cleaver.

The book was perfectly constructed, the details were well flushed out, and, once again, the creepy kid's point of view was more unique than I can say.

Check it out. But it's not for the faint of heart.