Blood Of My Blood by Barry Lyga

Blood Of My Blood by Barry Lyga

Release Date - September 9, 2014
Publisher Website - Little Brown/Hachette
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  480 pages
My Rating - 4.5/5
**received in exchange for an honest review from the publisher**

**SPOILERS FOR I HUNT KILLERS AND GAME**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Jazz Dent has been shot and left to die in New York City. His girlfriend Connie is in the clutches of Jazz's serial killer father, Billy. And his best friend Howie is bleeding to death on the floor of Jazz's own home in tiny Lobo's Nod. Somehow, these three must rise above the horrors their lives have become and find a way to come together in pursuit of Billy. But then Jazz crosses a line he's never crossed before, and soon the entire country is wondering: "Like father, like son?" Who is the true monster?
The chase is on, and beyond Billy there lurks something much, much worse. Prepare to meet...the Crow King.

If you've read my previous reviews for this series, you'll know that I am a huge fan of the atmosphere and characters that Barry Lyga has crafted. As this series comes to a close the focus is on bringing everything together, and putting Jazz through one last excruciating reveal that left both the characters and me reeling.

Jasper's story took an even creepier turn in Game when it was highly suggested that he had been sexually abused. The person abusing him, and what it means to his story is a mystery. All is revealed in book three, and the truth is anything but freeing. The tying together of plot points that thread through the entire series is craftily done. All the major questions are answered, and loose ends are pulled back into play.

The deliciously shiver inducing introduction of the Crow King in Game was something I was looking forward to exploring in this novel. I had theory. I took a few guesses. The truth turned out to be more twisted than I anticipated and, yet, made complete sense. The secrets that are waiting in this novel are some of the best executed reveals I've read. It made the long build to the pay off well worth it.

If the second book was more about the chase, and hunt, this third installment is all about the characters. There is still plenty of action, but everything that's plagued these characters is the focus. This is a novel that balances the plot and character development so that equal time is spent on both. I wanted more of Howie, and Connie, but I cannot begrudge the focus being on Jasper. This is his story after all. This is him finally answering the question that has haunted him from book one - am I just like my dad? Turns out the answer is more complex than Jasper (or the reader) ever imagined.

Billy Dent is shiver inducing. We got a little bit of his characterization in Game, but this novel really allows his character to take a more central role. He's not just some threat looming in the background. He's also much more complex than you'd expect. It would be easy to portray Billy as a caricature, and make him a one dimensional villain. Barry Lyga, however, did his research and it shows. Terrifying doesn't even begin to describe Billy Dent. The effort Barry Lyga put into creating a highly believable serial killer, and his attention to detail is staggering. I anticipate his computer has a rather interesting internet search history. The time spent, however, created something deeper than your usual serial killer novel. It's almost like a study into the most deranged minds, and it's, at times, an uncomfortable place to be.

Barry Lyga's chilling series comes to a satisfying conclusion. One that is fitting for Jasper's journey. Those looking for chills, thrills, and pitch perfect characterization will not want to miss this series. Just maybe read it with the lights on.