MR. MONSTER

Three months ago, 16-year-old John Wayne Cleaver killed a demon masquerading as his neighbor, Mr. Crowley (I Am Not a Serial Killer, 2010). It had been harvesting body parts from the local citizenry to keep itself alive. John, who carefully controls his sociopathic tendencies with rigid rules, allowed Mr. Monster, his dark half, just enough freedom to stalk and trap Mr. Crowley. The ensuing quiet months have all but convinced everyone that the “serial killer” is gone. But the killings begin again. John and FBI agent Clark Forman know the pattern is different. John wants to help with the investigation, but he has to keep his part in the end of the last case a secret; who’d believe the truth? While fighting to control Mr. Monster, who's had a taste of blood, John finds even the most demonic beast can be overlooked.... Wells’s second horror-fantasy thriller is as inventive and convoluted as the first, but John’s realistic familial relationships and friendships offer a counterbalance to the bloody, fantastical elements of the tale. Not for the squeamish but utterly riveting for fans of genre mash-ups. (Horror. 15 & up)