Review by giasbookhaven - The Game Is Afoot

giasbookhaven 's review for:

The Game Is Afoot by Elise Bryant

4.25

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I liked this more than book one because Mavis felt more self aware and less annoying. Lots of characters growth blended in the narrative.

Full review to come.

6.26.2025 Updated:

The Game Is Afoot is the follow up book to It's Elementary. Single mother, Mavis is still trying to do it all by herself. Work a full time job, take care of her seven and a half year old daughter, Pearl while finding a balance between the PTA duties and extracurricular school activities. This time around her ex-husband, Corey is around to pick up some parental duties but with her unresolved issues from the last case she solved bubbling beneath the surface, Mavis is even more on edge.

Still trying to keep things together with a new romantic relationship and co-parenting dynamic with her ex, Beachwood township is rocked off its axis with the sudden death of local Purple Platypus team coach with all the soccer teams' kids present. Tension was brimming at the edges of every scene, there was only a matter of time before our poor Mavis cracked.

I want to start with my thoughts on the characters and overall story: I enjoyed the first book but I really liked this one. A lot of the aspects about Mavis that bothered me in book one were finally front and center in the narrative in The Game Is Afoot. Mavis's character is funny and she's extremely introspective. So it grated my nerves to see her go against her inner thoughts and instincts in book one.

This time, readers will go along with Mavis taking a leap into the unknown when the microaggressions at her job push her too far and our girl quits! (THANK GOD) And Mavis tries to invest all the free time she now has into figuring out how to do self-care. Probably the most relatable part of this book for me. I still struggle with being in the moment and turning my brain off listening to what my body is trying to tell me.

Others may disagree with me, but I think Mavis leaning into the distraction of trying to solve the case of coach Cole's murder was actually a really good thing. The task kept her busy and focused when she spontaneously quit her job and needed to fill that extra time with something. As someone familiar with anxiety and panic and anxiety attacks, if there's too much downtime, the mind can take off and really cause you to spiral.

The other moms in the Beachwood area are snotty, pretentious, obnoxious and low-key racist. Mavis dealing with that on top of everything else made me so glad that she had the support system of her dad, Jack and her ex Corey. They were always team Mavis and the topic of therapy for them wasn't a taboo like Mavis believed it was. But since they knew her so well, they didn't push too hard on it either and let her make the decision on her own.

I think Pearl's character was really the only reason I gave Corey a second glance. Yes, he's trying now to make up for the time he missed but those moments and years for a child are so important and you do not get that time back. I don't care how well Corey knows Mavis or how long they were together. Mavis deserves someone who meets her where she is and is supportive of her and the decisions she makes. Not someone who wants to revive the past.

Mavis is still trying to find a middle ground where the friends she make aren't trying to hurt someone else or involved with some crime or god forbid someone's murder. But outside of her inner circle, I think Jasmine's character and her neighbor Ms. Joyce are positive additions to that list.

And as much as I liked this book, there were so many moments and interactions Mavis had to endure with these crazy, white moms that I would not be able to stand. Mavis not taking them too seriously and choosing to navigate those mine fields for Pearl's sake is commendable.

When it comes to the actual mystery behind coach Cole's death I had three guesses in the beginning but the actual reveal was unexpected! It was such a good twist and the cliffhanger in the Epilogue had me screaming!! I can't wait to read what happens next.

I highly recommend this book for readers who like their cozy mysteries with a bit of sub-urban drama and PTA moms from hell

Content Warnings