A combination of psychological thriller and legal drama, The Murder Game pulls the reader into the lives of four friends who were close-knit in law school, but have largely gone their separate ways since. Apple/McKenzie quickly establishes that atmosphere of slight unease that continues to increase.
Alternating chapters switch back and forth from the present to a decade or more earlier during the law school years, giving the reader some necessary background about personalities and situations. Was it just a game at the time of its conception? Julie's account obviously omits certain information that leaves both past and present somewhat ambiguous.
The characters remain sort of clinical despite the details given to "warm them up," and yet that is precisely what is required in this type novel--a since of distance.
Read in Sept.; blog review scheduled for Oct.
NetGalley/Lawsome Books
Mystery/Suspense/Legal Thriller. Nov.1, 2016. Print length: 303 pages.
I've always liked books set at a university or college, so I'd probably like that part of the story best.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the way the college friendships influence the present is one of the interesting aspects of the book. :)
DeleteI have this book on my To Look For list, but don't have it yet. I do want to read it sometime. Something about the plot caught my interest, though there is enough vagueness about what happens in the blurb and people's reviews to make me curious about how entertaining it is. Thanks for your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI think the vagueness in reviews is to keep from giving too much away. It is certainly compulsive reading; there is an air of secrecy from the beginning. It is clever and entertaining!
DeleteSounds good, Jenclair. Is this part of a series or a standalone?
ReplyDeleteIt is a stand alone, but there is a connection to McKenzie's new novel Fractured. Wendy reviewed Fractured here.
DeleteI might like this one even more than Fractured. Until you mentioned it, I hadn't even known she'd actually written The Murder Game. I've heard of authors writing books within books in cases like this, but never actually a murder mystery novel written by a character in another book.
ReplyDeleteThe Murder Game was well-written and suspenseful! I tried to read Fractured afterwards, but could not get into it. Such an interesting dynamic, though, having a character write a book. :)
DeleteDefinitely one I want to check out! I just can't get enough of mysteries and thrillers you know :)
ReplyDeleteI know, and there are so many to choose from!
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