''Mr. Monster'' is a
young adult
A young adult is generally a person in the years following adolescence. Definitions and opinions on what qualifies as a young adult vary, with works such as Erik Erikson's stages of human development significantly influencing the definition of ...
horror novel
Horror is a genre of fiction which is intended to frighten, scare, or disgust. Horror is often divided into the sub-genres of psychological horror and supernatural horror, which is in the realm of speculative fiction. Literary historian J. ...
by
Dan Wells, published in 2010 by
Tor Books
Tor Books is the primary imprint of Tor Publishing Group (previously Tom Doherty Associates), a publishing company based in New York City. It primarily publishes science fiction and fantasy titles, and is the largest publisher of Chinese scien ...
and by
Headline
The headline or heading is the text indicating the content or nature of the article below it, typically by providing a form of brief summary of its contents.
The large type ''front page headline'' did not come into use until the late 19th centur ...
. It is the sequel to ''
I Am Not a Serial Killer
''I Am Not A Serial Killer'' is a 2009 horror novel written by American author Dan Wells, originally published by Tor Books. It is Wells' debut novel and the first installment in the John Cleaver series. It is followed by five books, and has b ...
'' and the second book in the John Wayne Cleaver series. The book focuses on the dual threats of the conflict between John and his darker side, which he calls "Mr. Monster", as well as the emergence of a second
serial killer
A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more persons,A
*
*
*
* with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them. While most authorities set a threshold of three ...
in Clayton County.
Reviewers have praised both the continuation of the series' plot and the depth found in John's characterization. The novel was the co-winner of the 2010
Whitney Award The Whitney Awards are awards given annually for novels by LDS authors. Established in 2007, they are named after Orson F. Whitney, a prominent early member of the LDS Church. There are several categories for which novels may be nominated. The Whi ...
for Novel of the Year. It has been published in English, Spanish, French, Russian, Czech, and Croatian. An
audiobook
An audiobook (or a talking book) is a recording of a book or other work being read out loud. A reading of the complete text is described as "unabridged", while readings of shorter versions are abridgements.
Spoken audio has been available in sc ...
of the novel is available, narrated by
Kirby Heyborne
Kirby Heyborne (born October 8, 1976) is an American actor, musician, singer, songwriter, narrator and comedian. He is known for his work in films centered around the culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Heyborn ...
. The sequel to this book, ''
I Don't Want to Kill You
''I Don't Want to Kill You'' is a 2011 horror novel by Dan Wells published by Tor Books in the U.S. and Headline Publishing Group in the U.K. It is the third book in the John Wayne Cleaver series, following ''I Am Not a Serial Killer'' and '' Mr ...
'', was released in March 2011.
Development
Wells had not planned to write a sequel novel, but after the success of ''I Am Not a Serial Killer'', his publisher requested that the book be expanded into a trilogy.
Like the first book, ''Mr. Monster'' required research into
offender profiling
Offender profiling, also known as criminal profiling, is an investigative strategy used by law enforcement agencies to identify likely suspects and has been used by investigators to link cases that may have been committed by the same perpetrator. ...
and
embalming
Embalming is the art and science of preserving human remains by treating them (in its modern form with chemicals) to forestall decomposition. This is usually done to make the deceased suitable for public or private viewing as part of the funeral ...
.
Wells has described ''Mr. Monster'' as "about half as gory as the first book, but at least twice as creepy". He focused on balancing John Cleaver's sympathetic and frightening sides.
He has also commented that writing the sequels to ''Serial Killer'' "really helped me grow as a writer, by forcing me to dig deeper into the character and find new ways to challenge him and myself." This protagonist calls the darker part of his personality "Mr. Monster",
which was one of the aliases employed by serial killer
David Berkowitz
David Richard Berkowitz (born Richard David Falco, June 1, 1953), also known as the Son of Sam and .44 Caliber Killer, is an American serial killer who pleaded guilty to eight shootings that began in New York City on July 29, 1976.
Berkowitz ...
, also known as the "Son of Sam."
Plot
In the aftermath of the Clayton Killer, John Wayne Cleaver struggles to balance his desire to do and be good with his darker side, which he calls "Mr. Monster" and which he previously let loose in order to save the town. His mom is now aware of his rules and helps to enforce them, but refuses to confront the reality that the Clayton Killer, posing as Mr. Crowley, was actually a demon. John frequently meets with an FBI investigator, Agent Forman, but is careful not to reveal any information about the supernatural activity he witnessed or the fact that he himself killed Crowley. When Agent Forman informs John of a new murder victim, he begins to suspect that a new serial killer – possibly a demon – is on the loose. John then meets his sister Lauren's new boyfriend, Curt, whose behavior earns him the top spot on John's list of suspects. Meanwhile, he grows closer to Brooke and decides to ask her out on a date – despite his recurring nightmares about harming her. When they attend the school bonfire, another body is found in the lake. As John examines the evidence, he realizes the new killer is imitating Crowley; this time, however, the victims were tortured prior to their death.
While John assists his mother in embalming the body at the family mortuary, Lauren reveals that Curt has hit her. This triggers Mr. Monster's emergence; in order to curb his urge to kill Curt, John burns down an old warehouse and kills a cat. He begins to wonder if it is even possible to corral Mr. Monster at all. He takes Brooke on a second date, during which a news report reveals that a third body has been found. John rushes to Agent Forman's office, only to discover that he knows about Crowley's being a demon. Moreover, Forman himself is a demon, part of a network that has been searching for Mkhai – the being that took over Crowley's body – for the past 40 years. He keeps the women he's kidnapped – his "toys" – at a house outside Clayton. Forman takes John there, and tempts him with the opportunity to harm and kill the women, but John resists. Instead, he discovers that Forman is a different type of demon; his special power is being able to feel exactly what the people around him are feeling. Once John tells the trapped women of his discovery, they use it against him; one of the women sacrifices herself so that Forman will become weak enough for John to kill. However, Forman recovers, leaves the house, and brings back Curt as an offering to John. John resists the temptation a second time, instead distracting Forman with the story of how Mkhai fell in love with Kay Crowley. This gives Forman an idea, and he returns to the house with Brooke. In his absence, John constructed a trap for Forman by running an electrical current to his torture devices and hiding the wires. John has to pretend that he is going to harm Brooke in order to get Forman to fall for the trap; it works, and Forman's body melts. John saves most of the women, but Curt lights the house on fire before he can save one who had been trapped in the wall.
John wakes up in the hospital, and the police inform him that the testimonies of the women of his heroics have cleared him of any charges. Later, Brooke comes by to break up with John, saying she doesn't want to confront the truth about what happened back at the house, and hands him Forman's phone. He finds the phone numbers of other demons, and calls one named "Nobody," telling her to come find him. Slaying demons offers him an outlet for Mr. Monster.
Reception
Critical reception of ''Mr. Monster'' was mostly positive, with multiple reviewers highlighting Wells's further development of both the protagonist and plot. A ''
Savannah Morning News
The ''Savannah Morning News'' is a daily newspaper in Savannah, Georgia. It is published by Gannett. The motto of the paper is "Light of the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry". The paper serves Savannah, its metropolitan area, and parts of South Ca ...
'' review complimented John Cleaver's characterization as "a nifty balancing act for Wells to have pulled off". Lee Mandelo praised Wells's expansion of ''Serial Killer'' into a series, stating: "If his own blog hadn't told me otherwise, I would never have guessed he hadn't intended a sequel from the beginning". ''Alternative Magazine'' also commended Wells's continuation of the storyline, saying that ''Mr. Monster'' "immediately addresses any faults with its predecessor's ending" while keeping the "strong aspects of the original story". ''
Kirkus Reviews
''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...
'' noted that "John's realistic familial relationships and friendships offer a counterbalance to the bloody, fantastical elements of the tale" and recommended the novel for "fans of genre mash-ups". A ''
School Library Journal
''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with ...
'' reviewer described ''Mr. Monster'' as "compelling, quick-paced, and chilling". ''
Publishers Weekly
''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of B ...
'' wrote that the book "stands out with taut, sharp writing, strong plotting, vivid angst, and a compelling portrayal of a disturbed man's struggles for self-control".
Awards and nominations
* 2010
Whitney Award The Whitney Awards are awards given annually for novels by LDS authors. Established in 2007, they are named after Orson F. Whitney, a prominent early member of the LDS Church. There are several categories for which novels may be nominated. The Whi ...
for Novel of the Year (tied with ''
The Way of Kings
''The Way of Kings'' is an epic fantasy novel written by American author Brandon Sanderson and the first book in ''The Stormlight Archive'' series. The novel was published on August 31, 2010, by Tor Books. ''The Way of Kings'' consists of one pre ...
'' by
Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Winn Sanderson (born December 19, 1975) is an American author of high fantasy and science fiction. He is best known for the Cosmere fictional universe, in which most of his fantasy novels, most notably the ''Mistborn'' series and ''The ...
)
* 2010 Whitney Award finalist for Best
Speculative Fiction
Speculative fiction is a term that has been used with a variety of (sometimes contradictory) meanings. The broadest interpretation is as a category of fiction encompassing genres with elements that do not exist in reality, recorded history, na ...
See also
* ''
I Am Not a Serial Killer
''I Am Not A Serial Killer'' is a 2009 horror novel written by American author Dan Wells, originally published by Tor Books. It is Wells' debut novel and the first installment in the John Cleaver series. It is followed by five books, and has b ...
''
*
''I Am Not a Serial Killer'' (film)
* ''
I Don't Want to Kill You
''I Don't Want to Kill You'' is a 2011 horror novel by Dan Wells published by Tor Books in the U.S. and Headline Publishing Group in the U.K. It is the third book in the John Wayne Cleaver series, following ''I Am Not a Serial Killer'' and '' Mr ...
''
References
{{reflist
2010 American novels
American thriller novels
American young adult novels
English-language books
Tor Books books
Sequel novels
Headline Publishing Group books
External links
Author's websiteDan Wells papersat
L. Tom Perry Special Collections
The L. Tom Perry Special Collections is the special collections department of Brigham Young University (BYU)'s Harold B. Lee Library in Provo, Utah. Founded in 1957 with 1,000 books and 50 manuscript collections, as of 2016 the Library's special ...
,
Harold B. Lee Library
The Harold B. Lee Library (HBLL) is the main academic library of Brigham Young University (BYU) located in Provo, Utah. The library started as a small collection of books in the president's office in 1876 before moving in 1891. The Heber J. Gran ...
,
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...