afpena 's review for:

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni

4.0

dark emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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After a summer filled with books that, despite their high ratings, often fell flat, my expectations for Robert Dugoni's Her Deadly Game were low. Maybe it was these low expectations, but the experience of reading this crime drama turned out to be far more engaging and satisfying than anticipated.

Her Deadly Game delivers a compelling crime drama that shined mostly because of the authentic main character. Protagonists so frequently stretch the bounds of belief, but Keera's responses felt closer to reality and grounded. When she receives an anonymous email with instructions to keep its contents secret, she doesn't hesitate to involve her private investigator. This immediate, realistic decision sets the tone for her character.

Keera's complexity extends to her personal relationships. She openly acknowledges the positives and negatives of her family dynamic, particularly her relationship with her father. While she clearly loves him, she harbors no illusions about his struggles with alcoholism, leading to a realistic tempering of her expectations. Similarly, her interactions with a former colleague, despite a past awkward romantic gesture, are marked by professional respect. Keera shows a skepticism essential for a good mystery. She doesn't take her client's word at face value, consistently questioning everything with a sense of genuine inquiry rather than blind acceptance or a weird supernatural ability to solve crime.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read.