Mr. Monster by Dan Wells

Mr. Monster (John Cleaver #2)
by Dan Wells

YA Horror
288 pages, softcover
Target Reader: 14+

TOR
978-0-7653-2790-1
Release Date: September 28, 2010



From the publisher:

I killed a demon. I don’t know if it was really, technically a demon, but I do know that he was some kind of monster, with fangs and claws and the whole bit, and he killed a lot of people. So I killed him. I think it was the right thing to do. At least the killing stopped.

Well, it stopped for a while.

In I Am Not a Serial Killer, John Wayne Cleaver saved his town from a murderer even more appalling than the serial killers he obsessively studies.

But it turns out even demons have friends, and the disappearance of one has brought another to Clayton County. Soon there are new victims for John to work on at the mortuary and a new mystery to solve.

John Wayne Cleaver has always known he has a dark side but he’s fought hard to oppress it and live a normal life—separating John from Mr Monster to survive. But after confronting and destroying the vicious killer that was terrorizing his town, his inner monster is getting stronger and harder to contain.

John has tasted death, and the dark nature he used as a weapon—the terrifying persona he calls “Mr. Monster”—might now be using him.

With the police failing to catch Clayton County’s second serial killer John is going to have to use his secret knowledge of the first demon-killer to trap the second...but will he be able to avoid suspicion falling on him, and, in the face of extreme horrors, will he be able to restrain Mr Monster?

No one in Clayton is safe unless John can vanquish two nightmarish adversaries: the unknown demon he must hunt and the inner demon he can never escape.

Series: I Am Not a Serial Killer

Darker than I Am Not a Serial Killer, John Wayne Cleaver is not quite as endearing this time around. Killing a demon has taken its toll and no John's dealing with the consequences. In addition to the escalating temptation toward violence from within himself, John must face an FBI agent investigating the disappearance of John's neighbor; his dysfunctional family; an abusive potential brother-in-law; and another killer on the loose.

Mr. Monster is also more violent than book one. There is some graphic violence, torture, abuse. John's descent into darkness—figuratively and literally—is very disturbing in places. Parents should read this book before giving it to their teens.

However, even with the stepped-up violence, this is an exceptional book. The writing is wonderful. The plotting and pacing is spot on. The characterization is wonderful. And in the end? I'm cheering for John and waiting for book three!


Plot:

Characters:

Ending:

Cover: Once again, I like the UK version better.



Content Ratings

Language: Some mild swearing.

Violence: More violence than the first book. Several women are held hostage, tortured and killed by a demon. John is also held hostage and tortured, but escapes. John's sister is the victim of domestic violence. John acts out and breaks some of his "rules".

Drugs/Alcohol:

Immorality:

Values/Themes: The darker themes—confronting evil both inside yourself and in those around you—are tough to read at times. But the idea that we can control ourselves and that good is stronger than evil are excellent.

Age Appropriate: Depends upon the maturity of the reader. Some readers will find this too disturbing. I'd suggest 16 and up.

Writing Mechanics:


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