Member Reviews

Prologue, let the game begin... it starts in the game, then it's split into two parts..

Part one ⏪ Rewind one year to the build up to Lucas and Ninas upcoming wedding. Jemma and her husband Matt's drive to Lucas's house, Jemma's looking forward to meeting Matt's friends and the celebrations to follow. Matt and Jemma are very much in love, which is evident.

It's based mainly around Jemma's perspective, her view on his friends, with some of Alex's thoughts, in the mix.

Part two, fast forward ⏯ goes back the year later/now... Lucas arranges a reunion for his friends who attended the previous year, when tragedy struck, to celebrate his first wedding anniversary. A very different drive for Jemma and Matt's visit, trepidation due to the previous years events.

It seems they all have their secrets, that they do not want to divulge even to their closest friends. Some characters, seem more cagey than others, it feels to me like a murder mystery/whodunnit kind of read.

Whilst this book notes, Stefanie King book 2, if you've not read the first, this will not affect your reading of the book. I've read books by this author before, but not with this character in. Overall great read, you're suspicious, intrigued and I didn't see the twist until later on.

Like a real life, modern day murder mystery break, with a reluctant group of participants, a hint of deja vu, with a final twist... 🔎

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The Murder Game by Rachel Abbott quite simply had me hooked from the very first page. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy and I literally could not put it down.

The story starts as many murder mysteries do with a group of people gathered in a beautiful setting for a celebration. In this case the wedding of wealthy philanthropist Lucas Jarrett to the lovely Nina in the stunning setting of Polskirrin in the South West of England. We see the goings on mainly through the eyes of Gemma Hudson, an outsider and the wife of one of Lucas’s oldest friends.

It’s not long however before a body washes ashore, that of Lucas’s introverted and enigmatic sister Alex. With no real evidence to support foul play her death is ruled as suicide. Lucas can’t accept the ruling and invites the guests from that ill fated night back to Polskirrin on the first anniversary of her death. They soon find out this is no memorial - he’s planned a murder game to find Alex’s killer and they are all suspects.

What I liked most about The Murder Game by Rachel Abbott:

1. I loved how the author has stuck closely to the murder mystery framework we all love but added twists here and there to maintain the readers guessing game.
2. The character dynamics and relationships - so much tension is built between the reunion of these old friends, with undercurrents of so much shared history - not all good - that has you believing any one of them could be a murderer.
3. The setting - from the Japanese garden to the boathouse and the main house - Polskirrin is a wonderful setting for a murder mystery.
4. Our detective - Stephanie - honest, kind, blunt, believable she is everything you want your murder mystery detective to be.
5. The ending - I loved it. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

Easily five stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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3 - 4 stars.

A group of old friends gather at Polskirrin, a gorgeous mansion in Cornwall for the wedding of wealth Lucas Jarrett to Nina Belanger. Matt, Andrew, Nick and his sister Isabel have been friends for years. The night before the wedding Lucas troubled younger sister Alex drowns in an apparent suicide. One year later Lucas summons them all back to Polskirrin where he forcefully insists on the group taking part in a game. they are given costumes and roles based on information he provided and they have to tell the truth. This is a more deadly version of the party murder mystery game that is played to entertain. What does Lucas wish to achieve? Will the friends go along with it? The story is told by Jemma who is Matt’s wife in the first person and from the perspectives of Nina, Alex and DS Stephanie King.

The characters are well portrayed although not all likeable. I confess to imagining Lucas as Aidan Turner partly because it a lovely thought and partly because it’s Poldark country! I really like the exploration of group dynamics with Lucas at the centre with most of the cast dancing to his tune. Polskirrin is one of the stars of the book as far as I’m concerned! The beautiful house comes alive and I could picture the cove so typical of this county which I love and there are some very good descriptions that transport you to Cornwall. The premise feels rather ‘Christie-esque, there is pace, increasing tension between some characters and plenty of twists in the storyline. There’s intrigue to keep you interested in the plot with blackmail, abductions and there is a character that is raped but that is dealt with carefully and sensitively.

My reservations about the book lie with lack of flow at times, there is some repetition and the end seems abrupt and lets down the what precedes. It is described as a Stephanie King novel and yes, she’s certainly in it but she’s peripheral to the events at Polskirrin in many ways.

Overall, I like the premise, the setting some interesting characters but there are some reservations hence 3 -4 stars but I’ve rounded up as there’s more to like than dislike.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC.

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A new experiment from Rachael Abbott and she's succesful in doing so. I read her previous books but this one was above them all. She has improved her writing and narration style.
Lucas has invited us back to celebrate the anniversary. But the anniversary of what? The wedding that never happened, or the tragedy that occurred just hours before the ceremony was due to begin? He's told us that tonight he has planned a game. We have our costumes, we have our parts, and everyone must play. The game, he tells us, is about to begin
This book was like a siren. It blew out my mind. I can't expect more from this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a copy.

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Rachel Abbott is one of the best crime thriller writers out there.

I literally love reading her work and I get so excited when her new books come out.

I was over the moon to receive an advanced review copy of this novel.

This book blew my mind yet again and I am already ready for the installment.

This book is unputadownable and Rachel knows how to write a great book!

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