Deadly Game

Robert Finlay #2

by Matt Johnson

Reeling from the attempts on his life and that of his family, Police Inspector Robert Finlay returns to work to discover that any hope of a peaceful existence has been dashed. Assigned to investigate the Eastern European sex-slave industry just as a key witness is murdered. Finlay, along with his new partner Nina Brasov, finds himself facing a ruthless criminal gang, determined to keep control of the traffic of people into the UK. On the home front, Finlay’s efforts to protect his wife and child may have been in vain, as an MI5 protection officer uncovers a covert secret service operation that threatens them all… Picking up where the bestselling Wicked Game left off, Deadly Game sees Matt Johnson’s damaged hero fighting on two fronts. Aided by new allies, he must not only protect his family but save a colleague from an unseen enemy… and a shocking fate.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Crime

300 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2015

About the author

Matt Johnson

Matt Johnson served as a soldier from 1975-78 and Metropolitan Police officer from 1978 -1999.

His debut novel Wicked Game – a crime thriller - was published by Orenda Books in March 2016. The sequel Deadly Game, was published March 2017.

Wicked Game was listed for the Crime Writers Association John Creasey Dagger award, has topped the Amazon and WH Smith KOBO charts in several categories and at the end of 2016 was listed by Amazon UK as the highest-rated ‘rising star’ novel of 2016.

Peter James, the international best-selling novelist said of Matt’s first book "Terse, tense and vivid writing. Matt Johnson is a brilliant new name in the world of thrillers."

Matt's first non-fiction was the multi award-winning No Ordinary Day which reveals the startling truth behind the 1984 murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher.

Winner of the Book of the Year and Reader's Choice awards at the 2024 CrimeCon True Crime Awards.

Highly-Commended at the 2024 CrimeCon True Crime awards for Outstanding Investigative Reporting.

Winner of the 2024 Capital Crime Fingerprint Award (True Crime)

Shortlisted for the 2024 Crime Writers Association ALCS Gold Dagger for non-fiction.

Background

In 1999, Matt was discharged from the police with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Whilst undergoing treatment, he was encouraged by his counsellor to write about his career and his experience of murders, shootings and terrorism.

Matt was eventually persuaded to give this a go, and one evening, he sat at his computer and started to weave his notes into a work of fiction that he described as having a tremendously cathartic effect on his own condition. He used his detailed knowledge and recollections to create what has been described by many readers as a fast paced, exciting and authentic tale of modern-day policing and terrorism.

It could be argued that Matt Johnson is living proof PTSD is a condition that can be controlled and overcome with the right help and support. He has been described by many fans as an inspiration to fellow sufferers.

Reviews

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I started reading "Deadly Game" by Matt Johnson, I just knew it was going to be an excellent thriller, the heartbreaking opening prologue had me glued to the pages instantly.
This is the second in the Robert Finlay thriller series and although I haven't read the first book "Wicked Game", it can easily be read as a standalone as there is plenty of information to bring you up to date and be completely involved.
I loved all of the characters in the story and I have to admit that Robert Finlay is my new fictional hero - human, modest but tough and moral minded whilst sadly being damaged and desperate to protect his family. He's realistic, very likeable and guarantees you an exciting and enthralling read. I was sucked in and was never let go, I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it a refreshing change to the many complex and complicated plot lines that you find in many thrillers.
The main theme to the story of sex trafficking in Eastern Europe was really sad and quite distressing to read about - making me take a deep breath during the descriptions of what the girls endured. The author did a fantastic job incorporating it into a story in a way that alerts the reader to the real life side of this horrendous and truly shocking industry.
What I did really appreciate was the fact that the author doesn't bore the reader with intricate and technical details of weaponry or bamboozle you with military/government agencies etc. The story was easy to follow and really a pleasure to read. There was an excellent multi layered narrative too and with brilliant descriptive writing, meticulous and careful plotting (for example I could clearly picture the diving incident with clarity and detail) it was a superbly crafted and penned book.
A fantastic, realistic cast that are likeable and relatable, they are the type of characters you would follow to the ends of the earth in a series and together with an intriguing story they complete this intelligent and addictive thriller. The tense, exciting ending really had me wondering who you should trust. The skullduggery, backstabbing, dishonesty and subterfuge within government agencies is really quite frightening and very believable.
Matt Johnson's real life experiences as a soldier and police officer are skilfully conveyed into his writing in an exceptional and talented way and in my opinion this is a perfect thriller for young and old alike and you don't need a degree to understand it!
I look forward in anticipation to read the last in the trilogy "End Game", from all accounts it too looks a fabulous read and with all books in the series published by the respected Orenda Books, I truly expect another thrilling and compelling read.

5 stars

[Jacob Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly Game is the second novel in the nail biting Robert Finlay series by Matt Johnson. After the exciting events that took place in book one, I couldn’t wait to see what Matt did next with his character.

In Deadly Game, Robert is sent on holiday. Robert suffers from PTSD and he is sent away to relax. Whilst on holiday he comes across the Christie family who are being investigated back in England by MI5. Toni Fellows, who works for MI5, is keen to recruit Robert but Robert has other idea about what he wants to do with his life and his wife Jenny wants him to lie low and concentrate on his family. She has had enough of Robert risking his and their lives and I’m sure that she wouldn’t mind of Robert had a desk job for the rest of his life. Robert is still seeking answers to events that occurred in book one although it has references to the previous book, Deadly Game can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series.

I thought that there were some fantastic new characters in this book, my favourite being Toni Fellows; I would like to learn more about her in the next book. Deadly Game definitely had more of a spy theme to it than the previous book, and the scenes in which Robert was abroad, took me back to watching The Night Manager last year. Matt opens the story painting a painful illustration of what life is like for some people in Eastern Europe, particularly young women who are desperate for a better life and who are willing to trust strangers to achieve their dream. In one short chapter I felt that I really connected to the character Relia Stagna who falls into the hands of sex traffickers and I really wanted to find out more about her and what happened to her next. ‘One day . . . with luck, she would find a new life.’ It makes my blood boil to think that this is happening to vulnerable and desperate people in the real world.

When Robert returns from his break he is assigned to investigate the Eastern European sex-slave industry. He is teamed up with Nina Brasov who I thought was another excellent addition to the series.

As it is in Wicked Game, Deadly Game is told from several viewpoints. From Robert’s viewpoint it is told in the first person narrative and in the voices of other characters it is told in the second person. Matt moves between these transitions really well, it is a great way of keeping the reader turning the pages and it certainly did with me.

I think what really helped with the pace in this book was the short chapters and brilliant dialogue. Some of my favourite scenes in the book were actually between Jenny and Robert but I also liked Robert’s conversations with Nina and Toni Fellows.

The Robert Finlay series is turning into something very exciting; I’ll definitely be reading the next one. Thank you to Karen at Orenda books for sending me a copy to review.

[Nerdish Mum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from page one I could tell the quality of the writing and I knew I would enjoy this book. The standard of writing continues throughout the whole of the book and the author shows his skill with the written word.

Robert Finlay, the main character, is a very complex and well developed character. He is suffering greatly from previous occurrences and you can really feel how close he is to breaking due to the stress. He is a likeable character though and you really feel for him as he deals with that along side of dealing with his hard work life. I felt the authors real life experience really showed in the work side of the story and added an authenticity to the investigation.

Deadly Game deals with sex trafficking which is a very real and serious problem around the world today so it is very important that we talk about it no matter how hard it is, I feel it was covered realistically and definitely in no way glamorises anything about the industry. It shows how very easily someone can get caught up in it because of how clever the traffickers are,

Though Deadly Game is the second book in the series, it can very easily be read as a stand alone, my only warning would be that if you do plan on reading book one, Wicked Game, (which I fully recommend that you do) then do that first as during Deadly Game it does give away what happens throughout the first book.

The plot twists and turns and the story is incredibly planned out. There's very little I can say without giving spoilers as so much happens in Deadly Game. It's fast paced and keeps you on your toes till the very end.

A definite recommendation from me and I will be looking forward to the next instalment in the Robert Finlay series.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com


This is the second book in a series following Robert Finlay and though I didn’t have the time to read the first book in the series, it read just fine on it’s own. There was enough relevant background information provided that I felt caught up on what had happened to Finlay in Wicked Game. After an attempt on his life and that of his family’s, Robert is trying to regain some normalcy and balance. They are living in a safe house and though things are less complicated, he’s suffering from night terrors and PTSD. His new job finds him investigating the sex trade industry and partnering up with Nina, who was a character that I really took to.

This book packed quite the punch as it was multifaceted and covered a wide variety of issues. It’s set in the months following 9/11 when tensions are high and there is always a sense of danger lurking in the shadows. There was espionage, sex trafficking, terrorism, political intrigue, conspiracy theories and military operations. I don’t generally read books with this type of subject material, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it! Toni is the Finlay families liaison officer, she works for M15 and was very interesting, she kept me on my toes. When you’re reading a book with so many spies it was almost impossible to know who had a hidden agenda or who was trustworthy, completely intriguing.

The pacing was spot on, it was fast with brief chapters that entice you to keep reading for just one more chapter. Johnson’s writing style is tight, sharp and full of authenticity based on his own personal history as a police officer. Finlay as a character was well developed and easily likable to me and the secondary characters were also richly developed adding fantastic depth. The scariest part of the plot, for me, is that the sex trade industry is really happening and the scenes with these poor young woman were heartbreaking, shocking and harrowing.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

eadly Game is going to drag you screaming and kicking right into a multi-layered, fast-moving and a terrifying plot that will have all your senses on high alert right the way through to the last page! I read the last few chapters that fast that I had to read them all over again, such was I caught up in the pace of the book. The book picks up from the end of Wicked Game (the first in the Robert Finlay series) with Robert and his family in a safe house following attempts on his life which left some of his SAS colleagues murdered. I hadn't read Wicked Games prior to this but there was enough information provided that made it possible to read this as a standalone. Having read Matt's bio, his personal knowledge and understanding shine through in this book and work to place the reader smack bang in the middle of the plot no matter where in the world we are with Finlay as we read. This is not a high-octane espionage thriller but political subterfuge is high on the agenda and if you are anything like me then your levels of paranoia are going to be through the roof by the end of this!

Despite having no prior knowledge of Finlay, I immediately warmed to him; despite his career he appears to have a level of sensitivity and dignity that can sometimes be missing in similar characters; as a reader I could feel the world on his shoulders and the impact of PTSD and the danger his family and friends were under had on him. I got the feeling he felt a bit like a fish out of water in his new posting and that there was an internal struggle going on between his desire to ensure the safety of his family against his passion for his life in active service. While his wife, Jenny, did not play a major part in the book, I warmed to her immediately and her influence on Finlay is very real and strong.

Deadly Game explores the topical and horrific subject of human trafficking and sadly the plot reflects what is happening more and more across the world. Despite the harrowing nature of the topic, it is approached with a sense of realism as opposed to sensationalism and this is to be applauded. Again it is clear that Matt is writing this book with a sense of authority and although I know it is a work of fiction, at times, I read it thinking that it could, in fact, be a true story that I was reading.

I did find myself getting tangled up in knots at times with the M15/16 secret service narrative, but that was more about my lack of knowledge in this subject matter and that the terminology was unfamiliar to me. Despite this, it still had me hooked! I didn't know who to trust!

Well, even though I hadn't read the first book, Wicked Game, Deadly Game had me hooked from the start - with short action packed chapters (ideal if you are one of those people who cannot put a book down halfway through a chapter) the twists and turns throughout are going to have you spinning; the sense of realism and reality was spot on - I really did think I was an observer in a real life case! The human element of the book appealed to me the most - Finlay's reaction to events as opposed to gun-toting action; the horrific nature of human trafficking and the ripple effect of PTSD were all true to life and are what attracted me to this book. My head was spinning by the end of it and my paranoia levels are sky-high! This book is going to rock your socks; blow your mind and have you reeling!

[Bodo Pfündl · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5!

„Deadly Game“ is even better than it’s amazing predecessor, with a complex and multi layered plot, very vivid characters and one of the most likeable heroes of the genre!

In Robert Finlay, Matt Johnson created a truly unique character, you just have to root for! He is no loner badass, who seems virtually untouchable, but a very quiet, sensitive man with a smart brain and a good heart
I have read on the author’s side, that he had some concerns that he might not reach the quality of the first one. I would like to tell you that those concerns were unfounded, as “Deadly Game” not only matches but outruns “Wick, who would do anything for his family.

The plot involves the very relevant topic of human trafficking and also continues to shed light on the reasons for the attacks on the ex-SAS soldiers, which happened in the previous book.

The action is not as present as in the first book, but therefore suspense and mystery are dominating and make for an unforgettable reading!

I’m looking forward to the trilogy’s conclusion, which will be called “End Game”!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I love me a good action thriller, I really do. I adored the first book in the series, Wicked Game, because it gave me everything I wanted from a book. Tension, action and a central character I could really get behind. It was a stunning debut from an author who has been through so very much in his life and career that the authenticity simply rang through the narrative. So, with all that being said, I had really high hopes for book two. I was not disappointed.

Picking up just after where book one left off, Robert Finlay and his wife Jenny are trying hard to return to a normal life. That’s not easy when you’re a Police Officer who’s had a terrorist target on your back. Understandably it can make your colleagues nervous. So when Grahamslaw offers Finlay a lifeline and a transfer to a new Sex Crimes Unit, there really is no way he can pass it up. It means a move to plain clothes as a Detective, something he has no experience of, but at least he still has a job.

Now because of this, because the terrorist threat has been all but eliminated, and Finlay will be investigating people dealing in sex trafficking, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it would be hard to keep up the same level of action and tension that was found in the first book. It is absolutely still there. It’s a different kind of action, of tension, there’s no denying that, but it still grabs you, jangles your nerves and makes the heart pump that little bit faster.

Far from the bombings and assassinations which dominated the first story, this book feels almost, I don’t know, somewhat more controlled. Instead of facing terrorists who want their message to be heard loud and clear, for whom the violence had become personal, Finlay is now dealing with criminals who specialise in a different kind of terror. People who on the surface are completely respectable and yet who hide a core of pure evil. They may be more private in their retribution, yet are no less clear in their message. They are driven by greed, by a complete lack of respect for human life and by the absolute need for power.

Despite this being a seemingly straightforward job, Finlay is still drawn into rescue missions (above and below both land and sea), gun fights and some real old fashioned espionage with the Spooks of MI5 and MI6 both starting to feature more heavily within the story. We also start to learn more about what really led to the events in Wicked Game and whether Finlay and Jones can finally sleep soundly at night, all threats extinguished. I am loving the central thread, the conspiracy which is building behind the scenes, and which holds both threat and promise for future books.

With Finlay, Matt Johnson has developed a brilliant central protagonist. Not the archetypal action hero, but still someone I was more than happy to go on this journey with. He is human, fallible; he makes mistakes. He suffers from night terrors brought on by his time in the Armed Forces and exacerbated by the recent attempt on his life. Even his attempts at relaxation don’t go particularly smoothly, leading him into danger, partly of MI5’s making, but certainly setting up a thread of conflict perfect for future plot lines. Finlay loves his family, respects his colleagues and just seems to be a genuinely nice bloke. He has a real essence of reluctant hero about him, and an enquiring mind which never really accepts things on face value. He is an all round good guy and an overwhelmingly endearing kind of hero. I love him.

While we see less of Jones in this book, Finlay is ably supported by Nina Brasov, a formidable Detective Sergeant who is as strong of mind as she is of body and who is a refreshing change to the usual stereotypes of female Detectives. And then there is Toni Fellowes, assigned as Finlay and Jenny’s liaison officer from MI5, but as ruthless as anyone else when it comes to using Finlay to further her own career. These are two characters who act as a contradiction, a counter almost, to what could easily have become a portrayal of women only as victims. Even Finlay’s wife Jenny has a true strength and presence of mind, is amazingly astute and provides emotional support and logical thinking for Finlay, making her his perfect match. This pairing adds a certain something to the book and Jenny is every bit as endearing and engaging as Finlay.

The book started out with a really strong focus on the sex-slave trade which has been growing out of Eastern European countries, and which has become more and more prevalent in the consciousness of the public today than it was back when the book as set. Bear in mind this is set in the immediate aftermath of the 911 bombings and we (the public) were probably still relatively ignorant of the scale of the problem facing young European women even back then. By and large this plot played out throughout the whole book, resulting in an almost siege like rescue scene at the end, the tension palpable as Finlay desperately fought to save a colleague. But by the end of the book it felt like there had been a real shift in direction, particularly from where we first met Finlay and Jones, just weeks before in Wicked Game. There is the promise of so many secrets yet to be revealed; of a story which is not ready to let the reader go just yet, and I for one can’t wait to read more.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deadly Game is the second book in the Robert Finlay series, the first being Wicked Game. I have to confess to not having read the first book and I did worry initially that Deadly Game wouldn’t work as a standalone. I didn’t have to worry as Johnson has written the book in such a way that you get enough information about what happened in the first book making it easy to pick up and follow.

Police Inspector Robert Finlay has been assigned to a new team to investigate people trafficking and the sex-slave industry. This brings him, inevitably, into contact with a ruthless Eastern European gang intent on keeping their business going. This becomes personal when the life of a fellow police officer comes under threat. We learn that in the previous book attempts were made to take Robert and his family’s life and this threat has not yet fully diminished, leading you into a world of spies, terrorism and conspiracies.

The prologue draws you in immediately and sets the tone for the rest of the book. The tension you initially feel does not let up as Deadly Game twists and turns its way through to its dramatic and breath taking conclusion. The writing is slick and smooth with short chapters that tease and keep you turning those pages. I found myself muttering ‘oh my God’ frequently to the book. I could really see Deadly Game on the big screen, it would make a great movie!

Characters, whether good or bad, are really important to me in a book. Robert Finlay comes across as real and authentic, and Johnson has done a great job in creating a believable character. As ex-SAS and recently having had his and his family’s life on the line he is suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite the dark and frantic nature of the book, Johnson has portrayed this aspect in a sympathetic, knowledgeable way. It does not get in the way of the character, rather the subtle way it is dealt with adds to the character and those around him. Finlay is really likeable and I will definitely be following his story throughout the rest of the series.

There is so much going on in Deadly Game, and with dual storylines it could easily get muddled and confusing but Johnson pulls it off seamlessly. This is not your straight forward detective story and I really enjoyed the thread involving MI5 and MI6 which gives it a real edge. With conspiracies, cover-ups and doubts over who is to be trusted, Deadly Game is fast-paced and keeps you on your toes throughout.

Johnson has created a gritty and current novel dealing with, sadly, very real issues. It is disturbing yet credible and has a real intelligence behind it. Days after finishing the book I still find myself worrying about one of the characters demonstrating just how immersed you become in this book. I eagerly anticipate the next book in the series.

Highly recommended, Deadly Game is tense, topical, exciting and gripping. More than ‘just’ a detective novel it really packs a punch and leaves you breathless!

A huge thank you to Matt Johnson and Karen Sullivan at Orenda Books for the copy in exchange for my fair and honest review and for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.

[Linda Boa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5, rounded up to a 5. Catch up with me on the Blog Tour for this on Friday 31st March at https://crimeworm.wordpress.com/

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly Game - as addictive as heroin

If you were blown away by Matt Johnson’s 2016 debut Wicked Game, then Deadly Game will leave you breathless, as this new Robert Finlay is as addictive as heroin, but without the needles or the need to smoke. Deadly Game, and Matt Johnson has raised his game, this book has a multi-layered narrative, the plot is mind blowing creating a tense and very exciting thriller you will not want to put down.

I was blown by Matt Johnson’s writing when he debuted 2016, the characterisation, the plot, the pace, and the knowledge make for an exhilarating, at times twisted and dark thriller, where you really do want to cheer on for Team Finlay. What this guy has been through and still in the police and still being treated like a mushroom by both Mi5 and Mi6. Deadly Game is most definitely a stunning thriller touching on one of the great crimes of our age, human trafficking.

Robert Finlay is current living in an Mi5 safe house in London with his family, and all he wants to do is get back to work as a Police Inspector with the Met. The problem is his colleagues see him as a bullet magnet, and do not want to work near him, but his Mi5 liaison officer Toni Fellowes is trying to find him a place back in the force. When he gets a message to contact the commander of the Anti-Terrorist Branch who is willing to take him back but he will have to become a detective inspector and learn on the job, but he is going to an ant-trafficking investigation.

Teamed up with a highly efficient DS Nina Brasov he is going to be looking into trafficking of people in to the UK from Eastern Europe. When he and Brasov go to check on a witness and find her dead they are drawn in to the murder investigation and stumble on the killer. A killer who Finlay recognises from a recent wedding he has attended and he realises that this is not going to be an easy case.

When the trafficking gang take an off-duty police officer out of her car, Finlay knows he is in a race against time, and he does not know who to trust. With Mi5 and Mi6 interested in what he is doing but providing little help when needed, with corrupt police officers, he turns to the only people he can really trust, members of the SAS.

Will he be able to get back a Met colleague alive, will he be able to move on and know that he is finally free from the spooks in his life. Robert Finlay is complicated person who you cannot help but like, he is human and makes poor decisions but will he be able to rescue a colleague and save trafficked women before they are murdered when they are no longer useful.

A stunning thriller, a real page turner, well researched and written by a brilliant storyteller.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you begin a new series and come to read the second book sometimes you have to recap about what happened before. That isn’t the case with this one. Wicked Game has stayed firmly in my memory as an absolutely unforgettable book. Deadly Game, I am sure is going to do just the same.
Police Inspector Robert Finlay’s life had been literally blown apart resulting in him, his wife Jenny and daughter having to move to a safe house and start again. I absolutely loved Jenny from the last book and although she only plays a minor role really in Deadly Game, she still remains a favourite of mine. Jenny would be more than happy for Robert to bow out of the service as his past is not willing to give him up. Robert certainly can’t return to the role he had before and there isn’t a lot of jobs that sort of fits his CV. Robert’s past had brought tremendous danger home to his family but he just can’t hide away, if he does the bad guys win. Suffering from night terrors and PTSD, he ritually has to check under and round every car before he gets into it but he is determined to work again.
When MI5 liaison officer for the family Toni Fellows arranges Robert a little R & R time in Egypt including a cover story for his past, it seems it may be just what he needs but circumstances fling him into the lime light and clutches of a family best to be avoided. Back home Robert is offered a new role in a completely different direction than he has had experience of before, investigating the harrowing, brutal sex trade that is pouring into the UK from Eastern Europe. His is partnered with the brilliant DS Nina Brasov, ace character.  Unfortunately Robert begins to recognise familiar faces.
Matt Johnson has once again produced a belting read. I loved the short chapters in the book. to begin with the scenes have a gentle build with them progressing to the more hard core details much later on, some which are very harrowing. Due to Matt Johnson’s own career he creates characters that feel like they exist. They are not all good people even if they are on the same side. Sadly because of the type of work which these officers  are involved in they can become damaged themselves and find it hard to cope. This isn’t the made up bits, this is the risks they really face daily. It does make you respect the work which these people do to protect us. A brilliant read again, so looking forward to a third book.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the sheer brilliance of Wicked Game, I had a feeling it wouldn't be long until I picked up the second book in the Robert Finlay series and I was right.

Picking up where Wicked Game left off, we find Robert struggling with nightmares in the aftermath of the attempts on his life. His new family liaison officer suggests a week in Egypt but she has ulterior motives.

I don't want to give away too much about the plot. Suffice to say it is as tightly woven as its predecessor. There are still some lingering questions dealing with events from the previous book. Robert is seen as somewhat of a bullet magnet and few people are looking forward to working with him. He ends up with a department that deals with the harsh realities of modern day slavery.

Once again, I was hooked from the very first page. There's something about Matt Johnson's writing that just draws you in right from the start. It's incredibly obvious that he fully well knows what he's talking about.

This intelligent plot is amazingly well constructed with multiple layers. It doesn't just show the dark and disturbing world of criminals but also the games people in government and secret services play and that right there is scary as hell all on its own.

Just like the first book, Deadly Game is gripping, compelling, authentic and highly realistic. It's a nailbiting ride of a thriller and if this was a movie, I'd be on the edge of my seat. (Speaking of which, just reiterating my vote here for Richard Armitage to play the character of Robert Finlay. Who do I contact to make that happen?)

There may very well be a third book in the pipeline and if that is the case, I will be first in line! I have no doubt it will be every bit as brilliant as this one.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having recently read (and loved) Wicked Game, I was thrilled to be asked if I wanted to be a part of the blog tour for its follow up, Deadly Game. With it still being fresh in my mind. I feel that really made a difference to my reading of the second book. It was much easier to follow!

Deadly Game, as I said, picks up soon after where we left Robert Finlay at the end of Wicked Game. Finlay still seems to be suffering the effects of previous attempts on his life, and along with a change of location and PTSD, his world and family life seems to be up in a bit of a heap.

Deadly Game has very serious subject matter. Murder, corruption and sex trafficking are all within its pages and at times it makes for harrowing reading. This book isn’t as fast paced as Wicked Game. It is more of an examination of the psychological effects that the characters are experiencing from past and present events. Matt Johnson has done a great job in capturing the tortured psyches and the damaged and fragile minds that are caught up in the story.

I don’t want to go into detail with Deadly Game because it is layered and full of interesting characters which will keep the reader engaged from beginning to end. It is dark, it is twisty, and it is great!

Highly recommended!

[Ronnie Turner]

There are so many wonderful elements that conspire in the making of Deadly Game. One of which is it’s ability to give you action and excitement without losing something that is crucial, I think, to the plot and to making this book stand out from the crowd – the emotion behind it. As with some books in this genre, the human emotion in a book can be lost within a tide of action and moments specifically designed to thrill, but not with Deadly Game – it has that and more. It has a heart. And I really loved that about it. Deadly Game picks up right where it left off in Wicked Game, which is equally as fabulous! I thoroughly recommend.

The first chapter opens in 1999 with Relia Stanga, a seventeen-year-old girl living in Romania. Working at a shoe factory as a glue mixer, Relia dreams of a better future for herself. When men come to her factory offering beautiful girls there a new life in the city with better jobs, she sees her opportunity and takes it. But what she hoped would be a bright future for herself, quickly turns into a bleak nightmare far from what she could ever have imagined.

“The old ‘game’, in which punters paid individual girls for services, was now a deadly game, one in which life was cheap; girls expendable.
It was a game our small team was about to join.”

2001: Robert Finlay is suffering from PTSD following the traumatic attempt on his life. Assigned to investigate the Eastern European sex-slave industry with new partner Nina Brasov, Finlay’s safety and that of his family become ever more precarious, just as an MI5 officer uncovers a covert secret service operation that could blow everything apart…

“Like many prisoners, he spent a lot of time reading, it was the only way to escape to another place – like dreaming with his eyes open.”



This book is so engrossing. I loved how it delved into the world of the secret service. It’s authentic and very, very enjoyable. I had a great day reading Deadly Game on the beach at Loe Bar.

I can’t recommend this book enough. I think this is a PERFECT read for thriller fans. And like I said before, this has lots of thrilling moments but it also has lots of emotion at its core. Robert is desperately trying to protect his beloved family, he is suffering with PTSD AND he is assigned to investigate the horrendous world of sex trafficing.

There is so much going on in this book. I loved it. You’ll see when you read it. Just the first chapter is enough to break your heart.

Engrossing. Authentic. Emotional.



I received my review copy via the publisher.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Deadly Game” a high-powered thriller which I won through Goodreads Giveaways begins when Police Inspector Robert Finlay suffering the trauma of being the target of a personal terrorist attack has recurring flashbacks and nightmares that undermine his sleep and congenial nature. Before being assigned to the Sex Trafficking Unit at New Scotland Yard he’s ordered to relax and unwind on a free trip to Egypt where he takes an advanced diving lesson, saving the life of Marica Cristea and acquiring an invitation to her wedding. What Finlay doesn’t realize is that the Cristea family is connected to the Eastern European sex-slave industry and his current assignment investigating the death of a Romanian female informant.

As Finlay with his partner Police Sargeant Nina Brasov investigate the death of the young female informer, the sex trade in London and eventually a kidnapped policewoman, intensity and suspense escalate as events unfold that expose a connection to the Cristea family in Romania, to Marica’s bodyguard and a man he disarmed at her wedding. Woven into an already thrilling and intense main plot is M15’s officer Toni Fellowes' inquiry into the motive behind the attack on Finlay and his family as well as former SAS soldiers found murdered. Quickly her probing uncovers a deadly covert secret service operation that not only could undermine Toni’s job, but threaten them all.

Fast-paced and action-packed the plot is filled with intriguing twists that keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to the end. Skilfully Matt Johnson weaves a realistic and emotionally-charged story filled with danger, dishonesty, subterfuge, espionage and conspiracy which breeds an ominous atmosphere of anxiety and fear. In a writing style that’s stark, tight and authentic because of the author’s background, the plot moves smoothly and quickly to an explosive confrontation at the end.

Robert Finlay is a complex man who’s amiable, pragmatic and dedicated to his job and family but is also paranoid, impatient, and agitated after an experience that threatened his life and family. Jenny is his strong, caring wife who’s proud and supportive of her husband but fearful when he takes undue risks. Toni Fellowes is their M15 liaison officer who’s clever, shrewd and undaunted when she has an objective. All these characters and a host of others add excitement, power and depth to this gripping story.

I thoroughly enjoyed “Deadly Game”, rate it highly and intend to read the first book in the Robert Finlay series.

[Nancy Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this book in three short sittings. Life is tough when you have a full time job and one of your favorite authors releases a great book. This is a suspenseful tale of human trafficking and the complicated life of a man who has had an eventful military career which spills over into his next occupation as a policeman. On a personal note, protagonist Robert Finlay's view of women is refreshingly devoid of contempt or patronization. This is the second book by Matt Johnson, and it was worth the wait. Now I am off to pester Mr. Johnson about whether he is writing another!

[David Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm grateful to Orenda books for a review copy.

First, full disclosure. I reviewed Johnson's first book, Wicked Game, on a blogtour last year and my review is quoted inside this one (Yay! Fame! Fortune! Prizes...) I also attended the launch of that book at which the author spoke very movingly of his experiences in the Met Police and the PTSD which was part of his reason for writing these books.

I'm also reviewing this on 22 Match 2017, the day of a terrorist attack in Westminster close to where I work, and I spent this afternoon watching the incredibly brave and professional police managing the situation.

So I may seem a teensy bit biased about this book, which I enjoyed greatly, but I'll try not to be.

In fact, it's actually quite a hard book to write about. Johnson's writing isn't perfect but it has something, a distinctive voice, a blend of the matter of fact and the down right incredible, which makes it compulsively readable.

I'll say a little bit more about both these aspects in a moment. First, in case you haven't read Wicked Game, the setup.

Inspector Robert Finlay is a bit of a misfit. Ex SAS, then Royal Protection, he had just moved into uniformed policing - with a lot to learn - when he got caught up in a terrorist campaign that seemed to target him and a group of his ex-Regiment comrades. Johnson pursued this thrillery concept with zest, having Finlay dust off a cache of weapons and mix it with the bad guys, including, at one stage, taking pot shots at SO19, the Met's armed response specialists. (Bit awkward in the canteen afterwards, obviously).

Things got straightened out and blame for the killings laid at the door of Monoghan, an MI5 maverick. In Deadly Game, the Met are trying to find a role for an Inspector who's now shunned by his uniform colleagues as a bullet magnet but isn't qualified to be a detective. In the end he's attached to a human trafficking taskforce. (Johnson refers throughout to the trafficked women as 'slaves' which is either a bit quaintly old-fashioned or plain non-PC: take your pick. See also references to a WPC, a top firearms officer, as a 'girl').

At the same time, he has business remaining with MI5 over the Monaghan debacle, and his liaison there also tries to use him to get a line on an ex SAS man who's just published his memoirs. Involvement in that inevitably leads Finlay into deep trouble, in a fast paced adventure blending conspiracy theories, a 'state of the world' sub-plot reminiscent of a Richard Hannay story, and an expose of the human trafficking racket.

It's all unbearably tense, with what I'm coming to see as Johnson's characteristic blend of deeply credible detail (weapons, procedures, tactics, inter-Service relationships, personalities) with some frankly fantastic twists of fate, actions, and events. If one wanted to criticise, the latter might be a sufficient excuse, although I think that would be unfair as they don't in any way hamper enjoyment of the story. I'll only give one example - because I don't want to spoil the story - which is when a key fact becomes known because, at just the right moment, one of the trafficked women escapes and is picked up by the police.

If you want every last detail of your books believable, things like this - and there are more - may be a problem for you. Yet I find myself not particularly bothered about these things. Why? Is it because I'm biased (see above)?

I don't think so. I think the reason is rather different and goes to the heart of the appeal of Johnson's writing.

First, I've learned to be wary of saying 'X is just not believable'. It seems to be a fact in today's world that the unbelievable happens more often than you would think, and that a writer striving simply for believability might actually have to tone down the real world rather to write something convincing - and where's the fun in that?

Secondly, Johnson is, simply, a born storyteller. He does it all with such verve, switching between Finlay's first person narration and as much third-person following other points of view as is needed to paint the background - but without ever getting bogged down. In so doing we are introduced to facts Finlay doesn't know (and never learns), characters he hardly meets (but who populate the pages of the book like figures in a soap opera, suggesting there's a whole world out there beyond what we're told) and events that took place long before. It all creates such a convincing impression of depths, of a teeming community of spies, police and crooks, that you can - well I could - forgive the odd apparently far fetched plot feature.

Finally - Johnson has been there. He won't, obviously, talk about stuff he shouldn't, but perhaps we can take on trust that, yes, the unlikely does happen, cases are moved on by strokes of luck, and both criminals and spooks do indulge in baroque extremes of behaviour from time to time (I'm looking at you, MI6 man Howard Green...)

So, to sum up: this isn't a slick book, it has a raw quality such that the unlikely events described actually seem to make the story more credible. Again I go back to John Buchan and his 'shockers'. They weren't elevated literary writing perhaps but they were - and are - cracking good stories, still readable after a hundred years or more. For sheer readability and entertainment I'd see Johnson in that tradition. But unlike Buchan, at the same time, he's exploring Finlay's slow recovery from PTSD - not at all a quick or easy theme, but a journey I'm looking forward to him continuing in future books.

To sum up even more: READ THIS BOOK!

[Segnalibro Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I owe Matt Johnson a great deal of gratitude. He was one of the earliest supporters of Segnalibro.co.uk and it was after reading his début novel that I decided to try my hand at book reviewing. I used my experience of reading Wicked Game, alongside Dance with the Enemy by Rob Sinclair to show how I decided not to discount the idea of reading any particular book simply because of the genre it fell into. (www.segnalibro.co.uk - A New Approach to Reading – 1st April 2015) I really enjoyed Wicked Game despite expecting that I would not and I had been eagerly awaiting the sequel. I wasn’t disappointed. I promised Matt an honest review, and here it is.

At the end of Wicked Game, Robert Finlay was left reeling after he had almost been killed in a revenge plot where a number of his SAS colleagues had been murdered. His preoccupation with his own troubles is short-lived as the 9/11 terrorism attacks shock the world to its core. Deadly Game picks up with Finlay a few weeks later, as Finlay and his family have been put into a safe house while the Security Services investigate previous events to make sure that they are out of danger. Finlay has a new job on a CID team that is investigating the sex trafficking trade and the events of Wicked Game are still resonating as MI5 and MI6 try to bring the investigation to a close to suit their own agendas. Finlay also makes some new friends in Romania which may not be all that it seems. However, the main storyline of this novel is Finlay’s state of mind as he is overcome with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These symptoms were present to an extent in Wicked Game, but following recent events, Finlay finds himself battling the symptoms and struggling to keep it under control.

Anyone hoping for an action-packed novel similar to Wicked Game may be a little disappointed, as Johnson changes his approach, focusing more on Finlay’s reactions to the action rather than the physical action itself. Personally, i think that this makes for a truly brilliant narrative. In fact, if the focus had been on big action scenes, Finlay’s P.T.S.D. would have been overshadowed, and that would be a real shame, as Johnson seamlessly embroiders the symptoms of this disorder throughout the narrative showing how it creeps into every little nuance of everyday life. Deadly Game is more about strategy, mind games and the hidden agendas of the military, the security services and the criminals; ultimately it is a tale of how the hero manages to overcome his demons (to an extent) for the greater good.

The way that Johnson shows how Finlay’s P.T.S.D. is developing throughout this book makes the reader question Finlay’s responses and judgements which adds an extra layer of suspense as to what is going to happen next, as Finlay himself becomes an unknown quantity. The responses of those around him, particularly his wife, Jenny, who knows him better than he perhaps knows himself, enhances the sense that Finlay is becoming his own worse enemy. As Jenny points out, he is brilliant at reacting on the spot, less so when sensing and avoiding potential danger. This is demonstrated most obviously when Finlay and Jenny are invited to a wedding in Romania as a thank you to Finlay when he saves the life of the daughter of a rich Romanian publisher. He doesn’t check the family out first and this error of judgement almost becomes his undoing.

There are a couple of familiar characters from Wicked Game and a few new ones too that I hope will have a place in future Robert Finlay novels. In Wicked Game, I loved Finlay’s wife, Jenny. She doesn’t feature in a lot of the action but when we are privy to her thoughts on any given situation, her analysis is fundamental to understanding Finlay. Behind every great man is a great woman, and Jenny is certainly that. She is ever-present in Finlay’s thoughts and she grounds him. She is understanding to Finlay’s plight and she recognises that something isn’t right as his symptoms take hold. She loves him despite his inability to discuss his worries with her and he loves her. Her happiness and that of his daughter, Becky is paramount to him. Johnson displays this well in their actions and reactions to each other. Their ultimate goal is a shared one: they are both determined to keep their family together.

Kevin, Finlay’s former colleague and friend, is also back as Finlay’s partner-in-crime. Kevin is loyal to Finlay and will be there for him whenever Finlay needs him. As he recovers from his injuries after he was shot in Wicked Game, he is ultimately Finlay’s go-to guy if he needs the help of someone he can trust.

We are also introduced to a number of strong female characters in this novel. Toni Fellowes is the MI5 agent who is writing a report on the incidents that occurred in Wicked Game and she is investigating whether there is any danger to Finlay and his family. She is determined to uncover the hidden political agendas and find out why the S.A.S. soldiers were really targeted. Was it an act of revenge as originally suggested or is there a political agenda? Her assistant, Nell, certainly thinks there is more to it. Nell has Asperger’s Syndrome and although her role in the novel is as a super-investigator who compiles information that is invaluable to Toni’s investigation, she could also be seen as an antithesis to Finlay. She is someone who doesn’t let emotion get in the way, while Finlay is struggling to keep his emotions in check.

In terms of the sex trafficking storyline, we are introduced to three very strong female police officers. The first, WPC Lynn Wainwright, is a dedicated police officer who has overcome prejudice from her male counterparts to get to where she wants to be. She is a tough cookie and her inner strength becomes crucial as she finds herself in grave danger. The second is Superintendent Wendy Russell. She is a blast from Finlay’s past and perhaps another confusion for Finlay in his turbulent state. I’m not going to elaborate further but she is instrumental in the latter half of the novel. Finally, DS Nina Brasov is an abrasive but talented detective who guides Finlay through the investigation and she is an expert on the sex trafficking industry. He relies on Nina heavily at times and she seems to have the measure of Finlay from the start.

Deadly Game is a really clever sequel to the brilliant Wicked Game. Its multi-faceted storyline gives the reader a lot to think about. At a time when we hear of the occurrence of terrorist attacks around the world throughout the media with increasing regularity, this novel has a particular resonance. As an illustration of the effects of P.T.S.D., Deadly Game is particularly effective, and while it was definitely a risk on Johnson’s part to change his approach from the first book, it really has paid off. There is enough action to capture the imaginations of those readers who enjoyed this aspect of Wicked Game, but the build up to the action is where this novel comes into its own, as we are informed of Finlay’s mindset throughout. I enjoyed Wicked Game and I enjoyed Deadly Game. I’d be struggling to pick a favourite as they are both really great reads but for different reasons. What I do know is, I can’t wait to read the next one!

Www.segnalibro.co.uk

[Sooz (P.Turners Book Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When writing this review, I couldn’t help but wonder whether I enjoyed this book more because I understand how and why it was written. After understanding the story of the author – I wonder whether Finlay is an extension of Matt Johnson. After meeting Matt at the Orenda Roadshow in Leeds (March 2017) and hearing him speak. You understand where the words have come from and how much of him and his experiences went into writing Finlay and this book.

As the blurb suggests – we pick up directly after events in WICKED GAME and Finlay is ready to get back to work. My only regret is that I was unable to finish WICKED GAME before I delved into DEADLY GAME – so the twist that takes place at the end of WG is no longer a surprise. I don’t mind this though. I am still keen to go back and read the events leading up to this.

As well as being a crime fiction novel, I thoroughly enjoyed the added element of the military and how they play their parts. It made for me a really thrilling read! The pace for me was perfect. Not slow – but then not too fast that we lose the

What Johnson has been able to create so beautifully are characters that make you sit and wonder how they are doing in the real world – as if they were real people in your life. You really do care for these characters and want nothing by good for them.

I for one am keen to read more about Robert Finlay and wait with baited breath to see where Johnson takes Finlay next!

[Xanxa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the first book in this series but events from it are referred to frequently throughout this second book, so I've got a good idea of how the first one went.

It's a police/military procedural. The storyline is gritty and seems realistic enough for my limited understanding of military operations. The characters are compelling and well-developed.

My main criticism is that large sections of the story tend to read like a synopsis rather than a full novel. I understand this is necessary for summarising the results of research done by various characters within tbe context of the story. However, many conversations are reported rather than being actual dialogue. I feel proper interactions between the characters would have made for a deeper and more interesting development.

I did enjoy it for the most part. The subject matter is on the dark side and might be distressing for some readers.

[Tracy (The Pages In-Between) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never read anything about sex trafficking, I usually tend to stay away from books with story-lines as such. So I was a bit nervous to start this book. With it being a second in a series I wasn't sure if I would be able to follow along. However, I am glad I did read it, and I was very pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it, and how much I really loved Robert Finlay. There is enough back story, to allow you to read it, without feeling entirely lost.



The writing is superb, and the very first page had me sucked in. I feel like the subject matter was tastefully done, as well as the subject of P.T.S.D. which sometimes is written about so terribly. I have first hand experience dealing with someone who suffer's from it, So Kudos to Matt for writing about it so well, without the over or under dramatization of it.

Deadly Games, had my heart racing, it gave me the "I want to stay up all night, just to see how it ends, Please Just One More Chapter" feeling, that makes a book an instant favorite. If Crime, and Thrillers are your favorite Genre, (and even if it isn't) you guys need to give this book a read! Release June 1st, 2017

[Jamie Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having survived the threat on his life, he needs to rebuild his relationships, his life and his career but also finds himself being used in a dangerous power within the Secret Service. Allocated to investigate Eastern European Modern Slavery, Finlay finds that his family and him have become targets again and now he has no idea of where the attack might come from, it really is a deadly game.

The second book in the Robert Findlay and this follows on from the dramatic events of book one. A great thriller series.

[Clair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deadly Game is the second book in the Robert Finlay series and follows Wicked Game. Deadly Game is able to be read as a standalone (as I did) because there are enough references to the past events to catch the reader up. Although I feel that you would probably have more of an appreciation as to what Finlay has been through if you've read Wicked Game first.

In this instalment, Finlay is assisting with the investigation into the Eastern European sex-slave industry and is partnered up with the knowledgeable Nina Braslov. Finlay is still coming to terms with the attack on himself and his family so is struggling with sleep, is still living in a safe house and paranoid of a further attack.

This is one hell of a tension filled and gripping ride. This is achieved through well developed characters and a complex, intricately woven plot that reveals more and more secrets from the life of MI5, MI6 and the SAS. This plot is so realistic it is terrifying and really makes you think.The author's personal experiences have clearly been set to good use in this novel and creates an extremely credible thriller. The attention to detail is phenomenal which makes the reader feel like they are also on the journey. No spoilers but the ending is fantastic; which is a credit to the build up in the previous 300 or so pages!

However I will be honest, I did struggle at times with this book due to the military and political references but at the same time, I couldn't put it down!! If anything, it slowed down my reading so I could really take in what was happening and as a result I was constantly being pulled further and further into this murky world where it is difficult to trust anyone!

A brilliant, credible thriller with a tight, multi-layered tension filled plot that comes together brilliantly.

[Robert Scragg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Finlay isn’t your average Policeman. He’s ex-SAS, formerly with Royal Protection, and recently targeted by a terrorist campaign that threatened him and his former colleagues.

Finlay has barely had time to recover from the terrorist attack, when he’s thrust into a new case, with a new partner. Nina Brasov. The case relates to an Eastern European gang who control a flow of women into the UK; forced to work as sex slaves. When a key prosecution witness is killed, Finlay and Brasov are left to pick up the pieces of the case before it falls apart; and before dozens more women are forced into a life of sexual-slavery. As if that wasn’t enough, the aftershocks of those prior threats to Finlay’s life just won’t go away. His MI5 liaison seems intent on steering him towards another ex-SAS man, who has just published his memoirs [co-incidentally financed by the very same family suspected of running the trafficking business].

Finlay’s wife just wants him safe, but his sense of duty keeps pulling him back into harm’s way; but can he stay out of danger long enough to take down the people responsible? Finlay also suspects that some of his own colleagues may not be who they appear to be.

The first thing that strikes you about Deadly Game is its authenticity. Matt Johnson clearly knows his stuff, as well as being able to tell a good tale as it shows through in a compelling mix of highly credible detail, tactics, procedures, and all striated into the political games that the intelligence services play.

Finlay’s first person narrative voice is punchy and to the point, and the switching between him and the third person points of view carries the story along smoothly. Mention should be made of the interesting supporting cast that add layers of intrigue into the narrative and compels the reader to look out for these thrillers from Matt Johnson.

Highly Recommended

[Thebooktrail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visit the locations in the novel - Deadly Game


A gripping novel that’s for sure. From a heartbreaking first chapter, this makes a very topical read due to recent horrific events in London and even though I’d read the book before that, it all came back to me and made it even more real. I think it makes a real difference that Matt has such a background in the very area he’s writing about. It all comes across as more than authentic and in a world that we know nothing of due to the secrecy, it feels exciting to have this kind of insight.

This novel is less action packed than the first but that for me made it all the more intriguing – ok not as many locations for a booktrail point of view, but the landscape of sex trafficking is all the more horrific. When a problem deemed to ‘happen elsewhere’ comes closer to home, it feels all the more horrific and that first chapter really got me – setting the scene for what was to come.

Deadly Game read as great physcological thriller with the trauma of PTSD really adding a new and unusual twist to events. I really felt as if I got to know Finlay better here, got inside his mind (and what a chaotic place that is!) and got stuck into the crazy, unstable and dangerous world of the secret service and the problems it faces.

There were many more threads to this book than I first thought and even afterwards, as it all came together, like a time delay of sorts, it’s then that I fully appreciated what I’d just read. I’m not your typical spy/thriller reader, but it got me good.

[Rose Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow Matt, I just don't know what to say Deadly Game is a brilliant story, l don't think I can do a review good enough that this book deserves. l am lost for words, l have read many a book in my life time, but this one hits every spot. I have held my breath a few times on some of the stories, it's been so gripping, and the characters from Wicked Games, Robert Finley and Kevin Jones and many more are great, you also kept us guessing with your twists and turns, you couldn't have put anymore in the book, as it was brimming with different stories, well done Matt hopefully we will have book 3,

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the author’s second novel and follows on from his debut Wicked Game. Once again, we join ex-SAS officer and Metropolitan Police Inspector Robert Finlay, who in the aftermath of the murder of former SAS soldiers in the first novel, is something of a toxic quality in the Met. Colleagues see him as a bullet magnet and many don’t want to work with him, while some of his superiors guess that he took it into his own hands to put a stop to the murders and don’t fully trust him. So not sure what to do with him, he’s assigned to a unit investigating sex-trafficking. This isn’t only the decision of the police, for Finlay’s MI5 liaison, Toni Fellowes, has her own agenda. She helps engineer his transfer to the unit, and his choice of holiday destination for a recuperation break to deal with his PTSD, as she needs help infiltrating a Romanian family who own the publishing house that has printed a controversial tell-all memoir by a former soldier.

To say Deadly Game is brilliant would do it an injustice. This is one of the best thrillers I’ve read in years. I subscribe to the author’s round-robin email and in one he expressed his fears about writing a second novel. Could it ever live up to the first? Might it be a disappointment? I reviewed Wicked Game and while it was very good, it suffered from certain problems. Most noticeably it was a novel of two halves, the first half reading like a memoir, the second like a thriller. Deadly Game has no such qualms, it knows exactly what it is: a thriller. While it is undoubtedly based on the authors long experiences as both a soldier and a police officer and Johnson has clearly researched the issues well, the book is all the better for having a strong narrative purpose from the outset.

There are several threads running through Deadly Game which ring remarkably true. Operation Cyclone features strongly, the CIA-led effort to arm and train the Afghan mujahedeen in their fight against the Soviet occupation. While a character called Chad Collins, the author of the tell-all book MI5 want to put a stop to, is clearly modelled on Philip Sessarego, aka Tom Carew, the author of a book called Jihad! Sessarego had claimed he was a member of the SAS who in the eighties was tasked with infiltrating Afghanistan and training the mujahedeen, only to be exposed as a fake. As with the character of Collins in Deadly Game, Sessarego had in fact never passed SAS selection.

This brings me to an issue with Deadly Game, one that plagues many a thriller. In the novel, the intelligence services are desperate for Operation Cyclone not to be known to the wider public, fearing the consequences. This is a feature of many a thriller – the intelligence services/government’s fear of exposure and a willingness to do anything to prevent it. But due to a combination of public apathy and cynicism, the public rarely react to such things. Operation Cyclone is now well known and has caused hardly a stir. Similarly, as far back as 1998, revered SAS legend Ken Connor, published a history of the SAS in which he revealed members of the service had trained mujahedeen fighters in Scotland. This again features in Deadly Game as something the public must never know, but upon publication of Connor’s book, reaction was muted. More recently, we’ve had inquiries which revealed the Government misled us over Iraq and Libya, once again with little public reaction. While Mervyn King the former governor of the Bank of England, is on record as saying he can’t understand why there hasn’t been a greater reaction to the banks malfeasance in the financial crisis. Yes, people have been angry, but there has been very little in the way of actual action. 

So, reading Deadly Game, as with other thrillers, I wondered whether the intelligence services really would go to such efforts to prevent the truth from coming out. If recent history teaches us anything, it’s that the establishment really has little to fear. Though perhaps this is to look at things the wrong way. As Mervyn King’s comments show, perhaps the establishment expects more and are as surprised as the rest of us when they get away with their wrongdoing. And maybe the public has the last laugh after all, for what was the rise of Farage, Brexit, the election of Donald Trump, if not a reaction to all the illegality and lies told us over the years? Perhaps the intelligence services, while not knowing the exact form the anger will take, are right to fear exposure, knowing that in some way the drip, drip, drip will come back to haunt us all.

One niggling point I must mention, and really this is the only flaw I found in Deadly Game, the author repeatedly referred to a female firearms officer as a “WPC”. With respect to the author, it shows how long he’s been out of the service as female police officers are now simply PCs like their male counterparts. This is a minor criticism and does not reflect the author’s portrayal of women in the novel. There are numerous, strong female characters in Johnson’s books and in fact it was for this reason the use of WPC was so galling. The anachronism stuck out because the book is so good and I only mention it in the hope he will take notice for the third title.
 
As I hope that I have conveyed in this review, Deadly Game is a fantastic novel. It is a page-turning thriller but so much more. It really made me think about the world, not just terrorism, but the lengths the secret state will go to to prevent secrets from spilling, whether they are justified, the implications on public life. I can’t recommend this book enough and can’t wait until the third instalment.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deadly Game starts off just a short while after the events of Wicked Game. I was told this book could be read fine as a standalone but I went back and read the first book in the series before starting Deadly Game anyway, and I’m glad that I did, not just because it’s a great book but also some of the events in book two were much clearer having read Wicked Game.

The beginning of Deadly Game cleverly and quickly gets the reader up to speed with a report of what has taken place previously and so it doesn't take long to get into the story of what is to unfold next. This isn't a book that instantly had me hooked but I found I was intrigued from the opening chapter and this kept bringing me back to the book. I picked it up a few times to read the first hundred or so pages and then I didn't put it down once until I finished the book. So it had gripped me after all.

Robert Finlay is not the most popular man with his fellow police force as he returns to work. His involvement in a high-profile case before this book begins has turned him into a bit of a liability. He is known now, and targeted, so it is impossible for him to continue down a similar case while he has a target above his head. Instead he is put on a case, along with his new partner Nina Brasov, investigating sex trafficking and the sex slave industry in Eastern Europe. In the opening chapter we meet Relia in 1999 Romania and this introduction to her character and the horrific situation she is placed in made for impactful reading and she was a character that remained on my mind even when I wasn’t reading.

Matt Johnson packs a hell of a lot of content into one book and delivers an interesting, shocking and thrillingly layered story with style. Deadly Game has a lot to offer and there was not one aspect of this book that didn’t engage me. One thing I loved about this book was that right from the first page, the scene is set, the atmosphere is built and with every little detail and every action, the words on the pages develop into events which are actually happening right in front of your eyes thanks to how easy the author makes them to picture. The writing is realistic and so even when the action isn’t rolling, the suspense is constantly raising and Deadly Game is one extremely tense novel.

It’s hard to review anything that happens in this book without not only spoiling Deadly Game but also spoiling the events of Wicked Game for anybody who hasn’t read that yet. I highly recommend you do pick both these books up though. If I’m honest I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy them myself as the military theme is not something I would often read, but now I’m in high anticipation for the third book.

The chapters here are short and snappy so once this book had me engrossed I soon found that “one more chapter” became “just a few more chapters” and then just a few more until the book came to an end. And what an end it was. There’s a dangerous feel to the plot in Deadly Game and come the end of every chapter I had that sense that I was closer to a twist or a betrayal or something that was going to surprise me, shock me or have me even more paranoid and questioning of people’s motives than I already was.

Having read both Wicked Game and Deadly Game I’ve found that the former was more action-packed whilst the latter was more suspenseful. Both are strong, credible thrillers. Through both darkly-lit novels, Finlay’s character shines as one who is, somewhat surprisingly in this genre, just a nice, decent family guy who to the reader comes across as a hero but I got the feeling that to himself personally he would find that flattering and almost unjustified. But I think he’s a great character and one that I really want to read more from. I can’t wait to read what’s next.

[Jackie Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly Game, by Matt Johnson, is the second book in the author’s Robert Finlay series of crime thrillers. This latest instalment contains all the intrigue and adrenaline inducing action that made the first book, Wicked Game, so compelling. It is another ‘just one more chapter’ type of read.

There are a large cast of characters to get to know from the army, police, and intelligence services as well as the victims and bad guys central to the action that unfolds. The theme is one of international sex trafficking but includes an investigation into historical middle eastern terrorist activity, with a potential link to Finlay’s past.

The story opens in Romania where a cold and hungry young village woman is putting herself forward for a lucrative job in the city. This offers an explanation as to how traffickers obtain their human cargo. The action then jumps forward a couple of years to the aftermath of 9/11 and the final report into events recounted in Wicked Game. A job must be found for Finlay who is suffering PTSD. He has crossed the radar of both MI5 and MI6. The police consider him a liability.

To get him back to work Finlay is assigned to a new unit being set up by The Met to investigate European sex trafficking. With no experience in the CID he is not a popular recruit. When one of his first assignments results in the discovery of a murder victim he is able to demonstrate his particular talents. He is also recognised by a suspect which puts him in danger.

The early background and scene setting chapters felt bitty in places but this was soon overcome as the ongoing action and pace of progression ensured reader engagement was grasped and maintained. The twists and turns were masterfully presented engineering doubts over who could be trusted and what their end game might be.

Unlike many in this genre I warmed to the protagonist. There are also a slew of strong female characters, there for their skills rather than for the men to win or save.

A full-flavoured addition to a series that I look forward to following further. This was an immersive and entertaining read.

My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher.

[Drew Johnson]

Following on from reading book 1 in the Robert Finlay series, “Wicked Game” – and after replenishing my beer glass – I returned to my sun lounger to immediately begin reading book 2, “Deadly Game”.

The gist of the plot (or should I say the first one of the interconnected plot lines, as you can’t assume anything when reading Matt Johnson) is laid out for us at the beginning, and it’s a story that’s all too familiar, sadly, in this cruel crime-ridden world we inhabit. With the prologue behind us, it was then great to reacquaint myself with some of the key characters that had such an influence and guiding hand on Finlay in book 1.

As with the first book, the story skips along briskly and introduces us to more loose threads than we have answers to as our hero finds his life is still in danger. There are great new characters introduced to us, such as MI5 officer, Toni Fellowes, and her socially challenged assistant Nell. From our first meeting of Toni, you’re never really sure whether or not she will ultimately be a positive or negative influence on Finlay’s life – she has her own agenda, and appears pretty ruthless in pursuing it.

Finlay finds himself repeatedly unsure who he can trust, and he continues to live life on the edge in his pursuit of the truth. When I reached the end of the book, it was clear that there was more to come, and that a third book in the series was needed to close out the loose ends, and the new teaser posed in the final chapter.

Ah well, that would have to be for another time, I thought. It was only when I messaged the author to get on with writing book 3 that I learned it was already available – what a bloody relief! A few minutes later, it was on my Kindle, and with a fresh beer in hand, I was eager to read the concluding part of the trilogy, “End Game”.