📖 Overview
Dan Wells is an American author known for horror, science fiction, and young adult fiction. His breakout novel "I Am Not a Serial Killer" was published in 2009 and later adapted into a feature film in 2016.
Wells has authored multiple successful series, including the John Cleaver series and the Partials Sequence. His work often combines elements of horror and science fiction with psychological themes, particularly exploring the nature of identity and morality.
A graduate of Brigham Young University, Wells is also recognized as one of the hosts of the "Writing Excuses" podcast, which provides writing advice and industry insights alongside fellow authors Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, and Howard Tayler. His involvement in the speculative fiction community extends to his work with BYU's Leading Edge magazine and his contributions to game reviewing.
In addition to his traditional publishing career, Wells has expanded into various formats including novellas, comic books, and gaming-related content. His body of work demonstrates versatility across different media while maintaining consistent themes of psychological complexity and genre-blending storytelling.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Wells' character development and psychological depth, particularly in the John Cleaver series. Many note his ability to create sympathetic protagonists despite dark themes. The Partials series receives recognition for its world-building and scientific elements.
Liked:
- Complex moral questions and ethical dilemmas
- Fast-paced plotting
- Believable teenage characters
- Balance of horror and humor
- Fresh take on common genre tropes
Disliked:
- Some find the violence excessive
- Romance subplots feel forced to some readers
- Later series entries don't match early book quality
- Occasional pacing issues in middle sections
Ratings:
Goodreads averages:
- I Am Not a Serial Killer: 3.9/5 (47,000+ ratings)
- Partials: 4.0/5 (39,000+ ratings)
- The Hollow City: 3.7/5 (4,000+ ratings)
Amazon averages:
- John Cleaver series: 4.5/5
- Partials series: 4.3/5
Reader quote: "Wells excels at making you root for characters you shouldn't like, while questioning your own moral compass."
📚 Books by Dan Wells
I Am Not a Serial Killer - A teenage sociopath who works at a mortuary struggles to suppress his darker urges when a supernatural killer begins terrorizing his small Midwestern town.
Mr. Monster - John Cleaver faces a new supernatural threat while battling his own inner demons and growing attraction to a classmate.
I Don't Want to Kill You - John Cleaver pursues a female demon who leaves a trail of suicides in her wake while questioning his own humanity.
The Devil's Only Friend - Now working for a secret government team, John Cleaver hunts demons while dealing with loss and trauma from his past.
Over Your Dead Body - John Cleaver travels across the country pursuing supernatural entities while protecting the only person he has left.
Nothing Left to Lose - In the final installment of the John Cleaver series, John faces his greatest challenge as he confronts a demon that threatens everything he holds dear.
Extreme Makeover - A cosmetics company scientist accidentally creates a DNA-altering lotion that leads to global catastrophe.
Mr. Monster - John Cleaver faces a new supernatural threat while battling his own inner demons and growing attraction to a classmate.
I Don't Want to Kill You - John Cleaver pursues a female demon who leaves a trail of suicides in her wake while questioning his own humanity.
The Devil's Only Friend - Now working for a secret government team, John Cleaver hunts demons while dealing with loss and trauma from his past.
Over Your Dead Body - John Cleaver travels across the country pursuing supernatural entities while protecting the only person he has left.
Nothing Left to Lose - In the final installment of the John Cleaver series, John faces his greatest challenge as he confronts a demon that threatens everything he holds dear.
Extreme Makeover - A cosmetics company scientist accidentally creates a DNA-altering lotion that leads to global catastrophe.
👥 Similar authors
Brandon Sanderson combines intricate fantasy worldbuilding with psychological depth and moral complexity in series like Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive. His work features detailed magic systems and explores themes of identity similar to Wells' approach.
Barry Lyga writes young adult novels that deal with dark themes and psychological horror, particularly in his I Hunt Killers series. His protagonists often struggle with their own nature and potential for darkness, paralleling Wells' John Cleaver series.
Scott Westerfeld creates science fiction that examines human nature and society through technological advancement in works like Uglies and Peeps. His writing combines young adult accessibility with complex scientific concepts and moral questions.
Jonathan Maberry writes horror and science fiction that blends genres and focuses on character psychology, particularly in his Joe Ledger series. His work explores similar themes of humanity versus monsters, both literal and metaphorical.
Mira Grant writes science fiction horror that emphasizes biological threats and scientific accuracy in series like Newsflesh. Her work combines technical detail with character-driven narratives that examine moral choices in crisis situations.
Barry Lyga writes young adult novels that deal with dark themes and psychological horror, particularly in his I Hunt Killers series. His protagonists often struggle with their own nature and potential for darkness, paralleling Wells' John Cleaver series.
Scott Westerfeld creates science fiction that examines human nature and society through technological advancement in works like Uglies and Peeps. His writing combines young adult accessibility with complex scientific concepts and moral questions.
Jonathan Maberry writes horror and science fiction that blends genres and focuses on character psychology, particularly in his Joe Ledger series. His work explores similar themes of humanity versus monsters, both literal and metaphorical.
Mira Grant writes science fiction horror that emphasizes biological threats and scientific accuracy in series like Newsflesh. Her work combines technical detail with character-driven narratives that examine moral choices in crisis situations.