I Don't Want to Kill You

I Don't Want to Kill You follows teenage sociopath John Wayne Cleaver in his third confrontation with supernatural evil. After defeating two demons in previous encounters, John must face new threats in his small town of Clayton County, North Dakota. John works at his family's mortuary while wrestling with his own dark impulses and sociopathic tendencies. When ritualistic murders begin occurring in Clayton County, he takes it upon himself to track down and stop the supernatural killer before more people die. The book continues the series' mix of horror, suspense and psychological elements while introducing new relationships and challenges for the protagonist. The story maintains its focus on John's internal struggle between protecting others and controlling his violent nature. This third installment explores themes of sacrifice, redemption, and the complexity of human connection through the lens of a character who must learn to feel despite his psychological barriers. The novel examines whether someone predisposed to violence can choose a different path.

Readers call this the strongest entry in the John Cleaver trilogy, with intense psychological elements and a satisfying conclusion to the series. Multiple reviews note the book's darker tone compared to earlier installments. Likes: - Character development of John Cleaver - Emotional depth and moral complexity - Fast-paced final act - Balance of horror and humanity Dislikes: - Some found it too dark for YA audiences - Religious themes felt heavy-handed to non-Mormon readers - Romance subplot received criticism for feeling forced Ratings: Goodreads: 4.24/5 (15,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (300+ ratings) From reviews: "The psychological aspects hit harder than the supernatural ones" - Goodreads reviewer "Wells nails the internal struggle of a teenager fighting his own nature" - Amazon reviewer "Too much focus on dating drama in the middle section" - LibraryThing review

I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells First book in the same series follows teenage John Cleaver's initial struggle with his dark impulses while hunting a supernatural killer in his small town.

Mr. Monster by Dan Wells The second book of the series chronicles John Cleaver's descent into darker territory as he faces both internal demons and external threats.

The Devil's Only Friend by Dan Wells Fourth installment in the John Cleaver series sees the protagonist working with a government team to track down supernatural entities.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson A tale narrated by an isolated teenage girl with dark proclivities leads readers through a story of family secrets and murder.

The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher A story blends horror with dark humor as the protagonist discovers portals to other dimensions in her uncle's museum.

🔸 The author Dan Wells wrote the first draft of the entire John Cleaver trilogy before selling any of the books, completing them during his lunch breaks while working at a corporate job. 🔸 The protagonist John Cleaver is named after John Wayne Gacy and Henry Lee Lucas, two notorious real-life serial killers, reflecting the character's struggle with his dark impulses. 🔸 The book was originally published in 2011 and is part of what fans often call "The John Cleaver Series," which eventually expanded beyond the initial trilogy into a six-book series. 🔸 The series explores real psychological conditions, with the main character exhibiting traits of antisocial personality disorder and being clinically diagnosed as a sociopath within the story. 🔸 Dan Wells drew inspiration for the supernatural elements from various world mythologies, particularly Mesopotamian and Norse legends, blending them with modern horror conventions.