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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Another amazing book by Rachel, I couldn't put it down.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Finally finished this! Took a while but i powered through, and it was kinda worth it
The story itself is fast-paced, but some things did not sit well with my taste. The book, in general, was good. Good idea, good storyline, good ending. However this was not my best read out there.
I kinda have trouble with the author’s approach in making the story more suspenseful. Some parts felt forced, some were unnecessarily draggy. I also had problems with the actions by the characters. If the murderer knew, or at least get a hunch of what the reunion would be about, why bother even coming
The story itself is fast-paced, but some things did not sit well with my taste. The book, in general, was good. Good idea, good storyline, good ending. However this was not my best read out there.
I kinda have trouble with the author’s approach in making the story more suspenseful. Some parts felt forced, some were unnecessarily draggy. I also had problems with the actions by the characters. If the murderer knew, or at least get a hunch of what the reunion would be about, why bother even coming
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
One year ago, a bunch of childhood friends gathered in Cornwall for a wedding. But tragedy strikes and the wedding never happens. Now, the same guests have been invited to return. But to what purpose? Surely there isn’t anything to celebrate! Yet, their host, Lucas, has a plan and it all will be revealed while playing a murder mystery game.
Ah, party games. They’re not really for me. Just shove me in a corner somewhere with a drink (or two) in my hand and I’m good to go. That said, I used to think a murder game sounded like an absolutely fantastic way to spend an evening with friends. Costumes, a part to play, clues to find and a mystery to solve …. fun times, right? Hm, maybe not so much. It’s not entirely clear at first what Lucas’s objective is with his particular murder game but it sure is obvious that he forgot to bring the “fun” bit.
The Murder Game is the second instalment in the Stephanie King series and while I enjoyed the previous one, I have to say this one is even better! To begin with, the location is sheer perfection. A big mansion near the ocean in Cornwall with extensive grounds to wander around, luxurious rooms to relax in, yummy food and wine … where do I sign up for this? This idyllic place stands in extreme contrast to the awkward and, quite frankly, dysfunctional friendships the reader encounters. Not to mention the tragedy that prevented the wedding from going ahead.
These friends couldn’t be any more different from each other if they tried. Most of them aren’t even particularly likeable, nor should they be because that just adds to the mystery aspect. Can any of them be trusted? There are secrets and lies that need to be uncovered but whose? And once everything is out in the open, how will the various relationships be affected? You may not quite warm to these characters but they are most definitely extremely intriguing!
The Murder Game is cleverly split up into two parts. Part one deals with the events that happened a year ago, while part two deals with the present. The story is mostly told through the eyes of Jemma. She is married to Matt, one of the childhood friends. Like the reader, Jemma is an outsider. She doesn’t know these people well at all and is the only one who’s not afraid to take a stand against the bullying tactics of Lucas. It is through her that we must try and fit the pieces together. The clues are there, you just need to find them! Ultimately they lead to quite a devastating and shocking revelation
I don’t want to give too much away. I will say this : like many of you I’ve been struggling with my reading these last few weeks but I absolutely FLEW through The Murder Game! It is incredibly well-paced, full of suspense and intrigue, completely and utterly immersive and addictive. It provided me with that much needed escape from reality and distraction that had been lacking lately.
I’m a huge fan of Rachel Abbott’s books. Her books never fail to be immensely gripping from start to finish and they always read more like super tense psychological thrillers than actual police procedurals. Stephanie King obviously does make an appearance but she is not the be all and end all in these stories. To me, she feels more like a “tool” (lack of a better word) to move the story along, to kick things up a notch and expertly guide us to a most satisfying conclusion. Cleverly plotted and perfectly executed, The Murder Game is an absolute treat and I have no doubt fans of Rachel Abbott will love it!
Ah, party games. They’re not really for me. Just shove me in a corner somewhere with a drink (or two) in my hand and I’m good to go. That said, I used to think a murder game sounded like an absolutely fantastic way to spend an evening with friends. Costumes, a part to play, clues to find and a mystery to solve …. fun times, right? Hm, maybe not so much. It’s not entirely clear at first what Lucas’s objective is with his particular murder game but it sure is obvious that he forgot to bring the “fun” bit.
The Murder Game is the second instalment in the Stephanie King series and while I enjoyed the previous one, I have to say this one is even better! To begin with, the location is sheer perfection. A big mansion near the ocean in Cornwall with extensive grounds to wander around, luxurious rooms to relax in, yummy food and wine … where do I sign up for this? This idyllic place stands in extreme contrast to the awkward and, quite frankly, dysfunctional friendships the reader encounters. Not to mention the tragedy that prevented the wedding from going ahead.
These friends couldn’t be any more different from each other if they tried. Most of them aren’t even particularly likeable, nor should they be because that just adds to the mystery aspect. Can any of them be trusted? There are secrets and lies that need to be uncovered but whose? And once everything is out in the open, how will the various relationships be affected? You may not quite warm to these characters but they are most definitely extremely intriguing!
The Murder Game is cleverly split up into two parts. Part one deals with the events that happened a year ago, while part two deals with the present. The story is mostly told through the eyes of Jemma. She is married to Matt, one of the childhood friends. Like the reader, Jemma is an outsider. She doesn’t know these people well at all and is the only one who’s not afraid to take a stand against the bullying tactics of Lucas. It is through her that we must try and fit the pieces together. The clues are there, you just need to find them! Ultimately they lead to quite a devastating and shocking revelation
I don’t want to give too much away. I will say this : like many of you I’ve been struggling with my reading these last few weeks but I absolutely FLEW through The Murder Game! It is incredibly well-paced, full of suspense and intrigue, completely and utterly immersive and addictive. It provided me with that much needed escape from reality and distraction that had been lacking lately.
I’m a huge fan of Rachel Abbott’s books. Her books never fail to be immensely gripping from start to finish and they always read more like super tense psychological thrillers than actual police procedurals. Stephanie King obviously does make an appearance but she is not the be all and end all in these stories. To me, she feels more like a “tool” (lack of a better word) to move the story along, to kick things up a notch and expertly guide us to a most satisfying conclusion. Cleverly plotted and perfectly executed, The Murder Game is an absolute treat and I have no doubt fans of Rachel Abbott will love it!
This book is a combination domestic thriller and procedural. The characters aren't all likable and some suspension of disbelief is needed, but I was on the edge of my seat reading this book. There are three timelines but the story is easy to follow. Some of the events that took place in the oldest timeline are hard to read about, but are important to the plot. A few actions that a couple of the main characters takes don't add up, but overall I really enjoyed this suspenseful thriller.
I like the detective, Stephanie King, and some things about her life are left up in the air at the end. I am hoping that means a new book will be coming out in the series since I like the author's writing style and would like to read more about Stephanie.
I like the detective, Stephanie King, and some things about her life are left up in the air at the end. I am hoping that means a new book will be coming out in the series since I like the author's writing style and would like to read more about Stephanie.
Finished reading: April 12th 2020
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
I've been meaning to try one of Rachel Abbott's books for a long time now and this blog tour was a perfect excuse to finally do so! I had an excellent time with the first book of the series, And So It Begins, last month and I think that I might have possibly enjoyed the sequel The Murder Game even more... I'm definitely fully hooked when it comes to this series now! I'll try to explain below why The Murder Game ticked all the right boxes for me.
First of all, I love that this series isn't the typical detective thriller despite having detective Stephanie King as the leading character of this series. Instead, both first two books are dark psychological thrillers first, and detective/crime thrillers second, and this shift in focus is both refreshing, gives the stories a multi-dementional feel and makes the series in general stand out above the rest. While Stephanie is the glue between the books of this series, we won't actually see her appear until later in The Murder Game and only because body shows up and a detective is needed. This is definitely unexpected and it was a very clever twist to have other characters in the spotlight instead.
The story mainly focuses on three characters: Jemma, Nina And Alex. We get to see the situation from the POV of all three women and not only that, we also have events set one year ago as well as in present. This complex structure really takes story to the next level without obstructing the reading pace or readability in general. The characters themselves might not be all too likeable, but their development is solid and their flaws make them feel realistic. It was also interesting seeing things from the POV of 'outsider' Jemma, as she doesn't know rest of the characters in play until the wedding. Nina is likewise an outsider of course, but she does know Alex and has a different view on things as the case hits closer home. Alex probably most intriguing POV though, both due to her past and the secrets surrounding her...
The structure of the plot is without doubt one of highlights of The Murder Game. Switching back between past an present, the structure allows for plot twists and secrets to be revealed slowly and they definitely added a healthy dose of suspense and tension to the story. Not knowing what exactly happened to Alex in the past added a level of intrigue as well as an ominous feel... The murder game Lucas wants to play in the present is a brilliantly executed element too and it really gave the story that 'locked room' vibe. I also loved the setting close to the Cornwall sea as it added to the darker and ominous atmosphere as well as playing a key role in plot. Furthermore, the eventual appearance of Stephanie in the plot felt natural and her development was another interesting touch. Of course the case she first investigated (the death of Alex) took place a year ago, but it was interesting to see how past and present collided with a new missing person case in the present. The whole detective investigation was not main focus of The Murder Game of course, but it added a little something extra and enabled reaching a credible ending to the story.
There is a lot to love in The Murder Game... Well written, suspenseful, complex, a dark and multi-dimentional plot, an interesting cast of characters, that locked room feel, a Cornwall coast setting... Fans of dark psychological thrillers will be in for a treat!
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An intriguing and twisty read. It kept me wanting to read more, I did guess one or two twists along the way. But didn't detract from enjoyment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Violence