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. But 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.
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.
In this sequel to his brilliant debut, Dan Wells ups the ante with a thriller that is just as gripping and even more intense. He apologizes in advance for the nightmares.
Mr. Monster (John Cleaver)
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Gr 10 Up–This follow-up to Wells's I Am Not a Serial Killer (Tor, 2010) revisits Clayton County and its resident teenaged sociopath, John Wayne Cleaver, who in the earlier book saved his town from the vicious “Clayton Killer.” Only John's mortician mother knows the disturbing circumstances surrounding the ultimate demise of Mr. Crowley, serial killer and demon, at the hands of her son. Unfortunately, John's involvement jump-started an already-urgent desire to kill. In a valiant attempt at normalcy, he is able to keep it at bay with strict personal rules and pyromania as a release. But now “Mr. Monster” has tasted blood and wants more. New bodies, brutally tortured, turn up courtesy of Clayton's latest supernatural serial killer, who is curious about fellow demon Crowley's fate. Will “Mr. Monster” be satisfied if John defeats this mysterious new demon? Or will both demon and bloodlust destroy John just when he's managed something akin to a social life? Wells's grisly and cleverly narrated sequel explains just enough for new readers to jump right in, but fans will likely search out the first book and anticipate the third. Intelligent, self-aware, observant, John is a unique protagonist who inspires fear or sympathy at any given moment. His battle for control over his own violent nature manages to trump the external demon dangers, which–in this compelling, quick-paced, and chilling read–is a definite feat.–Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review
“An intense, riveting, gut-wrenching dive into the dark world of the demons within us. Let your own inner monster free and immerse yourself in this dark, page-turning adventure.”---Elitist Book Reviews on I Am Not a Serial Killer
“This dazzling, unputdownable debut novel proves beyond a doubt that Dan Wells has the gift. His teenage protagonist is as chilling as he is endearing. More John Wayne Cleaver, please.”---F. Paul Wilson on I Am Not a Serial Killer
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More About the Author
Dan Wells is the author of several novels for adults, including I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER, MR. MONSTER, and I DON'T WANT TO KILL YOU. PARTIALS is his first book for young adults. He lives in Utah with his wife and children. You can visit him online at www.fearfulsymmetry.net
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Being partially to blame for your own therapist's death is a tough thing to deal with, especially because you don't have a therapist anymore to help you through it. Sometimes irony just kicks you in the teeth like that." - John Wayne Cleaver
Yes, John Wayne Cleaver is back, dark humor intact even if his grasp on Mr. Monster is not. In his first outing, I Am Not A Serial Killer, we learned that fifteen-year-old John had been diagnosed by his therapist as a sociopath, and self-diagnosed as a (potential) serial killer. The dark side of John's psyche, which he calls Mr. Monster, is always just below the surface, struggling to escape while John tries desperately to keep it under wraps. That struggle became decidedly more difficult after John confronted and killed a serial killer who was stalking his town in I Am Not A Serial Killer... Mr. Monster's now had a taste of what he wants.
As if trying to keep your homicidal impulses under control isn't enough for a teenager to deal with, Mr. Monster finds John juggling a host of additional challenges: a mother who knows "what" John is but refuses to discuss it; an absent father; an older sister in an abusive relationship (boy does Mr. Monster want a piece of that guy); and an attempted first romance (made extremely awkward by the violent thoughts Mr. Monster has about the object of John's attention). Oh, there are also the horribly tortured dead bodies that start turning up around town, and the FBI agent who seems a little too interested in John's thoughts on the murders.
Mr. Monster is told from John's point of view, as was I Am Not A Serial Killer, that first-person narrative being absolutely crucial for the reader to be privy to the war raging in John between his desire to be normal and Mr. Monster's desire to be set free. And what a war it is. While I Am Not A Serial Killer certainly had its moments, the violence is exponentially increased in Mr. Monster. The descriptions of the damage inflicted upon the victims of the town's new serial killer spare no detail, and the showdown depicted in the last quarter of the book between John and the killer - and between John and Mr. Monster - borders on the uncomfortable.
Rather than being gratuitous, however, author Dan Wells has developed John Wayne Cleaver with such nuance that the reader understands pulling any punches when describing the brutality John both faces and wants to commit would not be honest to the character. Wells is certainly not afraid to go places the reader may not necessarily want to, and has obviously done a tremendous amount of research into the psychology of serial killers. That John has done the same makes his level of self-awareness and struggle with Mr. Monster incredibly sympathetic... despite the fact his seriously twisted fantasies will creep you the hell out. It's a nifty balancing act for Wells to have pulled off.
You don't have to have read I Am Not A Serial Killer to enjoy Mr. Monster, but you're going to want to read it so go ahead and pick them both up if you haven't already. Just don't start either book unless you're prepared to finish it in one sitting... and don't read them late at night.
Yes, John Wayne Cleaver is back, dark humor intact even if his grasp on Mr. Monster is not. In his first outing, I Am Not A Serial Killer, we learned that fifteen-year-old John had been diagnosed by his therapist as a sociopath, and self-diagnosed as a (potential) serial killer. The dark side of John's psyche, which he calls Mr. Monster, is always just below the surface, struggling to escape while John tries desperately to keep it under wraps. That struggle became decidedly more difficult after John confronted and killed a serial killer who was stalking his town in I Am Not A Serial Killer... Mr. Monster's now had a taste of what he wants.
As if trying to keep your homicidal impulses under control isn't enough for a teenager to deal with, Mr. Monster finds John juggling a host of additional challenges: a mother who knows "what" John is but refuses to discuss it; an absent father; an older sister in an abusive relationship (boy does Mr. Monster want a piece of that guy); and an attempted first romance (made extremely awkward by the violent thoughts Mr. Monster has about the object of John's attention). Oh, there are also the horribly tortured dead bodies that start turning up around town, and the FBI agent who seems a little too interested in John's thoughts on the murders.
Mr. Monster is told from John's point of view, as was I Am Not A Serial Killer, that first-person narrative being absolutely crucial for the reader to be privy to the war raging in John between his desire to be normal and Mr. Monster's desire to be set free. And what a war it is. While I Am Not A Serial Killer certainly had its moments, the violence is exponentially increased in Mr. Monster. The descriptions of the damage inflicted upon the victims of the town's new serial killer spare no detail, and the showdown depicted in the last quarter of the book between John and the killer - and between John and Mr. Monster - borders on the uncomfortable.
Rather than being gratuitous, however, author Dan Wells has developed John Wayne Cleaver with such nuance that the reader understands pulling any punches when describing the brutality John both faces and wants to commit would not be honest to the character. Wells is certainly not afraid to go places the reader may not necessarily want to, and has obviously done a tremendous amount of research into the psychology of serial killers. That John has done the same makes his level of self-awareness and struggle with Mr. Monster incredibly sympathetic... despite the fact his seriously twisted fantasies will creep you the hell out. It's a nifty balancing act for Wells to have pulled off.
You don't have to have read I Am Not A Serial Killer to enjoy Mr. Monster, but you're going to want to read it so go ahead and pick them both up if you haven't already. Just don't start either book unless you're prepared to finish it in one sitting... and don't read them late at night.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Mr. Monster picks up shortly after the events of I am Not a Serial Killer. John Wayne Cleaver is still struggling with his sociopathic tendencies, brought to the fore in the last book when he squared off against a supernatural opponent, when a new killer comes to town. John has to call on his inner Mr. Monster to fight the new threat, but the real question is which is more dangerous, the new killer, or Mr. Monster?
I enjoyed the first one but I liked this one more. Dan Well's story was excellent, and makes you really care about the protagonist. Mr. Monster is darker than its predecessor, and there are a few scenes where you are find yourself cringing and saying "Oh, John, don't do THAT!" But then he goes and does it, and you're surprised to find that you care about the character's struggle even more.
I can't comment on the ending without giving any spoilers, but it ended on a note that set up the last book in the series perfectly, and it was simply awesome.
-Larry Correia, author of Monster Hunter International
I enjoyed the first one but I liked this one more. Dan Well's story was excellent, and makes you really care about the protagonist. Mr. Monster is darker than its predecessor, and there are a few scenes where you are find yourself cringing and saying "Oh, John, don't do THAT!" But then he goes and does it, and you're surprised to find that you care about the character's struggle even more.
I can't comment on the ending without giving any spoilers, but it ended on a note that set up the last book in the series perfectly, and it was simply awesome.
-Larry Correia, author of Monster Hunter International
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Lisa Reid
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Dan Wells has certainly done his homework. He pulled me in with I Am Not A Serial Killer, his first look at John Wayne Cleaver, his well-named sociopath (named for both John Wayne Gacy and a weapon). While the first novel explored the relationship between John's good side and "Mr. Monster," his twisted inner demon, this latest novel delves much farther into John's relationship with his own psychosis.
As someone who's always been a little fascinated with serial killers (I've stopped reading the true crime genre but still enjoy thrillers), John is an interesting anti-hero: he wants to be good, but he has to fight himself for the privilege, and he doesn't have any of the usual rewards for being good that the rest of the populace have since he doesn't have positive emotions. We see his anger and fear reactions later in the book, but he really doesn't experience love or other positive emotions like most people do.
John's war with Mr. Monster, as well as his interactions with other characters (his mother, aunt, sister, first crush, other kids at school, and an FBI agent he talks to about the murders occurring in town) reveal a lot about his mental state. Wells has done a brilliant job capturing not only a young mind, but a young sociopathic mind in turmoil. Well done!
As someone who's always been a little fascinated with serial killers (I've stopped reading the true crime genre but still enjoy thrillers), John is an interesting anti-hero: he wants to be good, but he has to fight himself for the privilege, and he doesn't have any of the usual rewards for being good that the rest of the populace have since he doesn't have positive emotions. We see his anger and fear reactions later in the book, but he really doesn't experience love or other positive emotions like most people do.
John's war with Mr. Monster, as well as his interactions with other characters (his mother, aunt, sister, first crush, other kids at school, and an FBI agent he talks to about the murders occurring in town) reveal a lot about his mental state. Wells has done a brilliant job capturing not only a young mind, but a young sociopathic mind in turmoil. Well done!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read
Exciting from the start. This is a book you won't want to put down, and one you will want for your personal library.
Published 1 month ago by Shabuki
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent read
Mr monster is a fantastic sequel by Dan Wells. The reader feels the emotional and truly raw struggle as John tries his best to Jerome monster hidden inside. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kate marks
4.0 out of 5 stars
A hero unlike any other
John Wayne Cleaver's journey started in I Am Not a Serial Killer, but his problems get more severe in the second book in Dan Wells's trilogy, Mr. Monster. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Terry Weyna
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chilling look at the inside of a sociopath's head.
Dan Wells has done it again with Mr. Monster. It is a thrilling and chilling follow up to I Am Not a Serial Killer. It was shocking and full of surprises. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Writh
4.0 out of 5 stars
Compelling
Compelling is the best word to describe the read. As I progressed through the chapters, I found myself saying Mr. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Matthew A Schleicher
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mr Monster
This series is great! You get attached to our main character John Cleaver so quickly and find yourself wanting the best for him along his way to clean up his small town of serial... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Amanda
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book
I've read this entire series by Dan Wells and he does a great job of holding your interest. The main character is like a young "Dexter" if you like that type of book. Read more
Published 4 months ago by MariaB
5.0 out of 5 stars
The second book in the series and I'm now even more hooked!
Dan Wells writes so creatively, and this 2nd book in the series had me even more excited turning each page. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Danny Shaban
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wowza!! What a sequel!
And that ending - more so than the first book, I Am Not A Serial Killer, this one really demands its sequel, I Don't Want to Kill You, be read in immediate succession. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Yolanda S. Bean
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Series
This was a very good series by Dan Wells, and I highly recommend it.
Easy to read but keeps your interested the whole way through
Easy to read but keeps your interested the whole way through
Published 4 months ago by kalsp
