The Murder Game - Rachel Abbott

This is the second in the Sergeant Stephanie King series but I didn’t realise this when I started reading. And apart from one or two oblique references to a past that included another of the characters it did not impact on my enjoyment of this story. It’s not often I’ll say ‘I couldn’t put it down’ because life intervenes and you have to put it down. But - this book - I couldn’t put it down! Life had to wait!

It had a hypnotic quality to it as the premise became clear. It was one of those books where you thought you knew what was happening and decided no, it couldn’t possibly be and then when it did you were like I didn’t see that coming but you had seen it coming and decided it simply wasn’t possible. But it was!! Talking in riddles am I? Maybe, but if I told you what happened then I’d have to kill you!! And then I’d be playing The Murder Game!

Lets play the Blurb Game - 

‘A year ago today, we all gathered for Lucas's wedding at his glorious Cornish home overlooking the sea.

But no one was married that day.

Now Lucas has invited us back to celebrate the anniversary. But the anniversary of what? The wedding that never happened, or the tragedy that occurred just hours before the ceremony was due to begin?

He's told us that tonight he has planned a game. We have our costumes, we have our parts, and everyone must play. The game, he tells us, is about to begin.

What does Lucas want from us? What are we not being told? And what's going to happen when this terrible game is over?’

One thing that struck me was that although this is a series that features the same police officer she did not dominate the narrative as so often happens with series.  I liked the book better for that. It was a wonderful example of a character being used as the character they are supposed to be within the broader intent of the story, allowing the actual crime and fiction to develop organically.

There was something vaguely Du Maurierish about the story with the Cornish setting, the house, Polskirrin and references to boathouses! But I also felt an Agatha Christie like presence with a cast of characters sequestered in one place and all potentially under suspicion. 

The plotting is ambitious and impressive. I would love to see this writer’s plot notes!

But what is a good plot without the characters?! Plenty here to scrutinise. To like and dislike. To question and ponder. Lucas? He has a hold over his boyhood friends which felt claustrophobic. None of them wanted to defy him. Much of the narrative is told from Jemma’s point of view. Jemma is married to Matt, one of Lucas’s friends, so you feel you’re getting a more objective view. There is also the occasional perspective from Alex, Lucas’s mysterious sister.  There was a degree of mystery to all of the characters in a way which made it hard to like them especially Isabel who I would dearly liked to have slapped. But when that happens it allows the reader to remain objective about the unfolding events because there’s no bias towards any one character.

Yep, it’s a damn good yarn. I’m scared to say too much more in case I give anything away. But it is a gripping page turner.

Thanks to Rosie Margesson at Headline/Wildfire  for sending me a proof.