This manga is one of my all-time favorites. 
 Light is an introverted high school student who acquires a strange notebook. He soon discovers that the notebook has the power to kill someone when their name is written on its pages. Herein lies the conflict: What will Light do with that kind of power? 
 What I love most about Death Note is how universal it is. You don't have to be a manga or anime fan to appreciate the art work, the characters, and the plot twists. I think the author really wants readers to examine their own thoughts and feelings as they follow Light's descent into darkness. Death Note, though very dark, has something for everyone. There are heroes and villains, death gods, high school antics, detective and mystery subplots, and characters unlike any others I've ever met. Death Note plays with the idea of love and hate, and how humans treat one another on a very deep level. In that respect, it is very different from most manga series I have read. It forces readers to examine not only the morality of Light's actions, but also the characters who follow him. Some people are infatuated with him; others are terrified of him. But most people have no idea what he is doing behind closed doors. Light creates the perfect ruse. Or so it seems. 
 If you've read 1,000 different manga series, or if you haven't read any at all, Death Note is an excellent addition to your library. Read it, enjoy it, have nightmares about it - it's a great read from start to finish.