If This is a Game, it's Pretty Lame... (Reviewing the mystery novel, The Game is Murder)

There’s something that feels really... squicky, about leaving a negative review.

Regardless of what the something being reviewed is, any unflattering remarks reflect poorly on someone’s service, skills, manners, or—in the case of a book—their art... and that’s a hard thing to do (let alone, be the recipient of).

 

Nonetheless, a not-so-great review has a purpose. It’s essentially a warning sign, letting others know to proceed with caution (and why).

 

So consider this, at best, a triangular yellow yield sign... to stop, and look both ways, before proceeding with Hazell Ward’s The Game is Murder.

 

 

From the synopsis, it sounded like a slam dunk. 

There were comparisons to Netflix’s Glass Onion and Agatha Christie. The promise of “razor-sharp twists” and “sly misdirection”. It’s also a period piece—set in the 1970s—which, in theory, put a cool, interesting spin on things.

 

And, perhaps the most enticing, was the novelty of its main hook—actually playing detective, as the reader... tasked with divining the murderer when given the facts, clues, and observations much as a detective on-scene would have at their disposal.

 

(What mystery reader hasn’t put themselves in the shoes of every fictional detective, ever?!)

 

But alas—for me, at least—The Game is Murder landed with a crashingly-dull thud.

 

And a frustrating one, at that.

 

So enamored of its own Big Idea—the “YOU’re-the-detective!!” schtick—the story immediately gets bogged down by way too much story-setting.

 

It’s not only tedious to follow/keep track of, but, frankly, an absolute slog. The exact opposite of fun, which is what I usually expect from something calling itself a "game". 

 

(So much not fun, in fact, that I didn’t even finish the entire book... and that’s something I very rarely say.)

 

There are bound to be redeeming qualities in this book. I mean, a novel (har-dee-har) idea ought to be applauded, right?

 

Well... yes, and also no. 

 

Because an idea has to land right, needs to work, and, in the case of a book (or a program or movie), should absolutely keep its audience fully engaged, throughout.

 

And The Game is Murder sadly didn’t nail any of that, for me.

 

But if, after all of this, you decide to read it, I’d love to hear your reaction... so please do LMK what you think, eh? This one’s bound to find an audience out there... somewhere(?).

 

As for me, well... I’ll be on to my next read. 

 

~GlamKitty

[Thanks to Berkley for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are, as always, entirely my own.]