June 2024 Group Read - The Murder Game by Rachel Abbott

[David]

"That’s the thing about old friends… they never let you forget.

The first time Jemma and Matt were invited to Polskirrin – the imposing ocean-view home belonging to Matt’s childhood friend Lucas Jarrett – it was for an intimate wedding that ended in tragedy. Jemma will never forget the sight of the girl’s pale body floating listlessly towards the rocky shore.

Now, exactly one year later, Jemma and her husband have reluctantly returned at Lucas’s request to honor the anniversary of an event they would do anything to forget.

But what Lucas has in store for his guests is nothing like a candlelight vigil. Someone who was there that night remembers more than they’ll admit to, and Lucas has devised a little game to make them tell the truth.

Jemma believes she and Matt know nothing about what happened to that woman… but what if she’s wrong? Before you play a deadly game, make sure you can pay the price…"

Discussion Leader: David Gooch

[David]

I am well under way with this one nearly three quarters through and I have to say it is well written and been a good story.

[Chris]

Given that I didn’t like the first one, surely things can only get better.

[Chris]

Finished. Gave it two stars.
I found the flipping between first person present for the narrator character and third party past for everyone else a tad annoying but at least it was consistent. The police finally turn up near the end despite it being listed as the second book in an alleged police procedural series.
I will gloss over the resolution.

[David]

Chris wrote: "Finished. Gave it two stars.
I found the flipping between first person present for the narrator character and third party past for everyone else a tad annoying but at least it was consistent. The ..."

I don't know where your getting police procedural from? On my copy of book it says it is "A brand new Stephanie King novel from the best selling queen of psychological thrillers."
On Amazon it is listed first as crime, mystery, thriller and as psychological thriller.

If you didn't like the book or style fair enough but it definitely isn't meant to be a police procedural.

[Chris]

Sorry.
When a book is advertised and listed as number whatever in a series named after the principal police officer in it, and is categorised as crime - amongst whatever else - then that mistake is almost inevitable.