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There are currently 28 member reviews
for Serial Killer Games
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Karen K. Illinois, USA
Seat of the Pants Dark Humor Delight
OMG! I had to steel myself to get through the first quarter of the book because it startled me with the serial killer references and tightly held tension. I was afraid it was going to be a disturbing book, the kind I avoid because of bad dreams! I did Not know who was prey and who was predator and was constantly feeling off balance, not knowing where to put my loyalties.
I put it away for the holidays and was almost afraid to get back to it after a week. Knowing I was on a bit of a deadline I picked it up again and forced myself into the discomfort of reading outside my comfort zone. I am so glad I did!.
The remaining chapters of the book are where the humor steps up and the fear and anxiety settled down for me. I chose the book because of the description of dark/funny. It is a rom-com and a delightfully funny one at that. I am a sensitive person and avoid graphically violent books and I was so afraid that this was where the story was going but instead it set me up and made me laugh at myself and who doesn't enjoy that?
I highly recommend this takedown of corporate culture and consumerism and sexism and harassment in the workplace. The writing is fresh and witty and the characters are well developed and perfectly imperfect. The chapters alternate voice and flip flop the point of view in each chapter. I found it a warm and refreshing story with a lively sense of humor.
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Teresa H. (Mechanicsville, VA)
The Unexpected
I started this book expecting one thing and got a totally different reading experience. It started out slowly for me but once I got into it I was hooked. The story is quirky and kept me turning pages to see what was going to happen next. Dark humor and the banter and maneuvering between the characters was entertaining.
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Susan L. (Alexandria, VA)
Mixed bag
While I ended up enjoying this book, the start of it felt like setup, setup, setup with no real payoff. Then halfway through, the story took a decided turn and became something else far more interesting. This was at heart a character-driven story, not a mystery as the title suggests (though there were aspects of that genre and true crime mentioned throughout). The characters were well written and deep. I loved their conversations and twisted sense of humor. Overall, I ended up liking the book, but it took a bit and it wasn't what I expected from the title and blurb.
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Holly B. (Phoenix, AZ)
Surprisingly Wholesome
Thank you to BookBrowse for the advance copy of this book.
Jake Ripper enjoys being invisible at his corporate temp job. He enjoys people watching and tracking their behavioral patterns from the camouflage of his bland clothing and nondescript hairstyle. Until he spots her: the black-widow-clad mystery woman who captivates his attention. Could she be the serial killer who is pushing execs off the building? Unfortunately, mystery woman also wants to be unnoticed. And when she turns her attention back on Jake, the hunter becomes the hunted.
But lovers of serial killer lore and mystery, beware. This is not a book about serial killers. It is a romance with twists, surprises, and plenty of serial killer innuendo. If you like cat and mouse tropes or Spy Versus Spy, you will probably enjoy the first third of this book. After that, you may wonder what just happened to the dark. There is a lot going on in this book, maybe too much at times. Nevertheless, it is a fast-paced, unpredictable romance with plenty to keep you interested.
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wilderhaven
a page-turner
Serial Killer Games grabbed my attention immediately and kept me turning pages to the end. From the beginning, there’s a suspicion that a series of deaths in the business center of the city might be the work of a serial killer. When the two protagonists meet, that suspicion is quickly embedded in their flirtation. Their first interaction and all that follow are suggestive and just weird enough that I wondered if he was the serial killer—or was she?
The weirdness grew to the point that I was beginning to think it was becoming weirder than I was up for. Then, at about the 40 point, the tone shifted abruptly when the protagonists began to open up to each other. The sudden shift felt like slamming on the brakes after a one minute 0-80 acceleration. From there, the story was a fairly normal romance, with all the misunderstandings and bad assumptions that implies, as the author proceeded to work in nearly every trope of the genre.
One odd point that bugged me was the location. In the second half, a reference to a relative “in the States” made it clear that it wasn’t in the US (Canada? England?). But it wasn’t until the characters flew to Las Vegas in just a few hours that the setting appeared to be Canada, probably Vancouver. A (much) later reference to the Canadian legal system cemented the country, but not the city. It’s a small point, but one I found annoying.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel. After all, I stayed up to 5 AM to finish it.
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Mary G. (Greensboro, GA)
Serial Killer Games was ultimately worth a read.
When I started this book, I wasn't too sure I would finish it. I found it difficult to figure out what was going on: was Dolly a serial killer or was Jack? Or were both serial killers, or neither? I was getting exasperated by the length of time it was taking for the story to develop.
Fortunately, I persevered. And, since I don't want to give too much away, I will say I wasn't enthusiastic about the beginning of the book, I was engaged by the middle of the book, and I loved the ending. So go ahead and add Serial Killer Games to your reading list. Be patient with it and you will be rewarded.
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Debbie C. (Sun Lakes, AZ)
Mystery and thriller
Did not really enjoy this book. I jumped around trying to find the love story and it was in there, but the planted seed of a serial killer was always foremost. I am a believer in always looking for the good in things, but the idea of a serial killer is something I couldn't get my head around as being very positive.
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