The Vigilante Game

The Golden Arrow #3

by Meghan Scott Molin

What do you do when the hero turns out to be the villain?" The events of the past summer have made MG Martin somewhat of a public figure, seeing as she chased a murderer on Halloween and her roommate confessed to being LA's vigilante hero, The Golden Arrow. Only, Genius Comic's fan-base isn't so sure they approve of her conduct. When MG is placed on a leave of absence by her boss, she has the opportunity to choose between carrying out her sentence in public time-out or quitting and being done with the Hooded Falcon forever. Something changes the moment Casey Junior calls her back into his office. Instead of asking for her decision, he's desperate for her help. A new wave of crime is sweeping Los Angeles, and this time it seems to be personally aimed at Casey Junior. He wants her to figure out who is threatening him, and put a stop to it. Throwing caution to the wind, she accepts…plunging MG straight into a new adventure where she is the hero in the cape and costume. Things take a chilling turn when crime scenes turn up matching scenes in MG's own personal comic project, throwing her directly in the spotlight of police suspicion. Someone in her life is playing double agent, framing MG to take a public fall. A whirlwind of comic-inspired cat and mouse leads to a startling the Golden Arrow may have been the villain all along. On the Eve of Christmas, everything's on the line, including her safety and Ryan's ticket for a plea deal. Forget the eight-tiny reindeer. MG would give anything for Santa's slaying ability as she and her friends find themselves dashing through a winter wonderland, up Christmas Tree Lane and down, in search of the truth.

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Fiction

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 13, 2020

Reviews

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't get invested in contemporary realistic fiction, but I GOT INVESTED in this series. My kindle notes for most books are around 14-20. The first 2 in this series have over 100 each and this one got 60. I was straight up having conversations with the characters in the notes, lol. And when I finished the second book, it didn't actually seem like there was going to be a third so I found this one by complete accident. Right in the middle of filming a video. Lost my mind on camera XD

This was an excellent ending to the series. MG's growth arc completes nicely, Matteo has the patience of a saint, we get some on-the-street crime fighting but unprepared MG style which made it better, there's a Kevin - what's not to love? If you liked the first two books, you'll like this one. The quality stayed consistent throughout this whole series. No sagging middle, no start with a bang and fizzle out. Although in this one there are numerous cosmetic errors like wrong/missing words and having two people speak in the same paragraph a few times, but not distracting and ultimately 2020's fault I'm assuming. If you made it this far into the series, just buy this book.

[Denise G. Wilkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is awesome!

I love all the nerdy references. The characters are engaging. MG and L are favorites. The story was great, I enjoyed reading it. One of MG's friends lends her a stack of books to read. One has a blue cover with a mobius strip on the front, about time travel and set in San Francisco with a lot of heart. I'm thinking I have a book just like that -Mike Chen's 'Here and Now and Then'. Also a great read!
Even if you haven't read a comic there is enough friendship, love, catching bad guys, a Christmas party a Corgi, mysterious characters for anyone to enjoy.
Looking forward to the prequel.

[Emma Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a high-octane conclusion to the series, and I'm honestly quite satisfied. Things certainly got a little weird at times, but it's a vigilante series so I'm willing to just let it slide. I'm glad that MG's story ended the way that it did and I was happy to see some twists that I didn't see coming. Overall a really fun book, great for fans of comics, cosplay, and drag queens.

[Meghan Kleinschmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series!

As I suspected, this final book in the trilogy did not disappoint. As a nerd girl myself, I was thrilled to find MG and her friends in the first book, and then again in the two following. These books are brilliantly written and so much fun! I'm only sad that this was the final book in the series. But I can't wait to read more from Meghan Scott Molin.

[Lori McMullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Frame Up #1
The Queen Con #2
The Vigilante Game #3

Drugs. Queens. Comics. What more could you ask for? The Golden Arrow. The Hooded Falcon. The Sassy Dragon. Superheroes en masse. The plot line had as many twists and turns as Lawrence has stage costumes. Secret rooms. Double “agents.” Coded messages hidden in a graphic novel. Loved all the references to movies, tv, and comics. Molin tied up loose ends and gave me the happily-ever-after ending I was hoping for!

More book reviews on my blog @ mytossiecup.blogspot.com

[Shian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is one of my favorite series of all time. MG is something I always aspired to be, a complete bad ass nerdy chick that's killing it in the Comic Book world.
I could read these books over and over for the character and nerd references alone, the amazing story just is the cherry ontop.
I seriously hope that we get more MG stories in the future.

[Georgia Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nerd Girls Unite!

If you are a nerd girl in any way, you have to read these books! Not only does she speak our language, but she proves that girls, nay women(!) can have it all! Each one is can’t-put-downable and the characters are full fledged and I wish they were my best friends too! Take a break from recovering from the pandemic and enjoy these books!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the conclusion to this amazing series! MG and the gang didn't disappoint. The Vigilante Game was packed with all the fun and action and laughs I've adored throughout this series. Sad to see it end!

[Elesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series. It's my new favorite comfort read. I love the characters and wish I could be best friends with them, and I love the nerdiness.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never been into comic books at the level the main character, MG, has. Every now and again, I borrowed some out of my brother's collection to read if a storyline looked interesting, but that was the extent of it. I have a very superficial knowledge at best. That has never stopped my enjoyment of this series. While I don't get every geek/nerd reference in the stories, there are enough that I do understand.

The trilogy wraps up in a fairly satisfying manner. The main mysteries of this series are wrapped up, although there are one or two still unanswered questions. Is Leilani a superhero or supervillain? Will she be coming back? Why does Rideout dislike MG so much? That leaves the door open for another arc in this series, should Molin choose to continue.

I hope she does. MG and her crew are entertaining characters without being caricatures of the segments of society they represent - drag, gamers, comic book writers, tech geniuses, police detectives, etc. Even if this specific arc is over, there are still plenty of opportunities in MG's world for there to be mysteries to solve with appropriate costuming.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

The writing style is delightful. My problem is the story development. You can see the "major reveals" coming many chapters before (an issue I had with all the books in the series). The main character, MG, is supposed to be clever. When the "aha" moments are made so obvious to the reader, but MG remains oblivious, it makes her seem dense. Essentially it negates all the character development done for MG that tells us she is intuitive and clever. The success of the series lies in the writing style and many, sometimes heavy-handed, references to geek culture. It could be much improved if the clues were better disguised from the reader.

I also lament that Molin did not provide her readers with closure. Several things are left unexplained, and at the end, she includes a Thank You to readers that indicates that this was intentional. Molin plans to write a fourth book that retells the events of book one from the Golden Arrow's perspective. IMHO, this should be book 1.5 and an optional read. However, if you want all loose ends tied up, you will have to buy and read the upcoming book.

[Hobart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a quick takes post is to catch up on my "To Write About" stack—emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.
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MG has so much to accomplish in this book--she has to get her bestie out of jail, uncover the vigilante running around as The Golden Arrow, keep the Hooded Falcon movie on track, and secure her career in comics--oh, and maybe embrace adulthood and a real relationship.

It was...fine. It was enjoyable, a little mad-cap, and frequently sweet. While better than the second novel, I don't think it achieved the levels of the first novel. I had such high hopes for this series--and I'm not saying I'm disappointed by the way it ended, because Molin wrapped up everything nicely and sent our characters off with happy endings. but I was underwhelmed. Still glad I read the series, just not as glad as I expected.

[Juniper Homewood · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome finale to one of my favourite series.
Over the couple of years spent reading and waiting on this series, I’ve grown attached and to love MG and the crew. Knowing that this would be the last book of the series, I was truly worried that is would fall flat, but it truly fulfilled my expectations. Lelani was truly the perfect vigilante turned evil that I never suspected. At every turn I would have guessed anyone else, (I had my own vendetta against Rideout all three books I must admit), and Ryan was truly the perfect stepping stool for her fame. The ending gives you just enough closure to feel like the story truly and fully ended, but left enough mystery of Lelani’s disappearance to leave you curious and excited. Truly a “you love to hate her, and you hate to love her” villain.
Reading the end note gets me giddy all over again on the potential for a prequel, but this is a series that will forever live on in my library.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I finished this third book in the series, which is the conclusion to the long-running mystery of who is posing as a vigilante around Los Angeles. While this third book is notably better tuned than the first one, with a smoother storyline and characters that are well crafted, I still don't know the answer to that question. Or to who was dealing drugs or how they fit into the first two books. My enjoyment at reading the antics in these books outweighed my confusion of the overall plot. I think the individual subplots and events of each book were fun and written well, but putting them all together into an overarching vigilante/drug cartel/police mystery with romance needs some additional work. So for all three books I would give them 3 and a half stars. Read them on the beach if there's no other books you've been dying to sink your brain into.

[W.A. Ashes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect ending to this series and sets up the opportunity for more books in the universe. I've loved seeing MG's character evolve. I didn't care much for her in the first book, but by this one she was my favorite character, outside of Matteo and L.

The twist in here, involving the Golden Arrow, wasn't what I saw coming. I honestly thought someone else was the Golden Arrow. If you're a geeky girl or guy, you HAVE to read this book. It's like a dream come true for those of us who grew up watching/reading comics. I think every little superhero has wished something like this would happen to them at one point in their lives.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this book as well as I did the 2 previous ones in the series. I guess because it moved a bit slowly. Or seemed to to me. The last 1/3 did really pick up and take off.
Love the strong, yet still feminine, female main character. I also like her relationship with a cop.
It sounds like there will be no more in the series except maybe a couple prequels? hmmm. ok A sequel would be fine too, please.

[Suanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vigilante Game by Meghan Scott Molin is a humorous contemporary mystery/romantic comedy with diverse characters: a geeky female main character (Michael-Grace), her straight-laced cop boyfriend (Matteo), and her drag-queen best friend (Lawrence) along with beaucoup geeksters as secondary characters. It is the third in the Golden Arrow series but works well as a stand-alone read. The tone is slightly snarky, and the pace clips along rapidly, keeping me fully focused on the novel. Most enjoyable is that MG, who in prior books in the series is tired of men trying to change her and has given up on relationships, yet remains a woman fully-functioning on her own. She is courageous and determined, doesn’t wait around to be “saved” by a man, and remains delightfully geeky and, though comfortable with herself, a bit out of place in the real world. The slow-burn sexual tension between MG and Matteo is charming and has progressed nicely from their first meeting in The Frame-Up. The blend of romance and mystery is deftly woven. People who enjoy Star Trek, classic comic books, mysteries, and contemporary romances will enjoy this book.

[Veronica Apilado]

Great ending to this trilogy

While my husband is the comic geek of the family, I’ve come to appreciate all things superhero through his eyes. MG was an amazing mess, and so a rather lovable heroine. I’d love to hear the story from L’s POV, or, get a look at the journey of The Sassy Dragon, too.

[Kacy Lypka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the first book better than the second book, and the second book better than the third, but I still enjoyed finishing the series. My favorite parts are the geeky bits and references. MG is a good character narrator. Her life is too crazy sometimes. I can feel worn out just reading about it.

[Kaitlin Eckenrode · Rating 2 out of 5]

So disappointing. I really enjoyed the first 2 books and all the lovely need references. This third one was just so messy and overwritten, it was a struggle to get through. And I know it may be a personal pet peeve, it irritates me to now end when an author clings to a word and uses it repeatedly. I don't want to see "goggled" every again.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series and this was a great ending to it! Nice to see the characters develop and grow over the course of the three books. Sad to see it end but hopeful for a prequel or other spin offs with the characters (L would be such a good lead character!).

[Garnett Zamboni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best yet!

So much fun I had trouble putting it down. The story was fantastic! I savored every chapter. What's next? Meghan Scott Molin has joined the ranks as a gifted story teller!

[M E Rooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fitting and fun way to end the story arc

I hope there are more stories to come from MG and friends in the very near future. Nerdy fun for all.

[Elysa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the plot and think it was a great way to wrap the Golden Arrow story. The pacing was a bit slow in the middle.

[Melissa Loucks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wrapped up this series pretty well. It still had a good plot twist. I absolutely loved the ending.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good and I am going to miss MG and her band of merry men/women/he/she! Meghan is a talented writer, she wove a rather complex story to a finale. So glad I experienced the journey!

[September Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun. Nerd culture. With a mystery, romance thrown in. Very enjoyable.

[Mishell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doufám že to přeloží páč to potřebuju do sbírky xD

[Cami Eslick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who is a fan of mysteries and kind of a comic world nerd, this is up your alley!!

[Jaynie Shorb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

I was taken with the story of MG and L. Such a great continuation of these fun characters. Another hit from Meghan Scott Molin!