As a parent, this was an incredibly horrifying and terrible concept to consider. Of course, since, barring an accidental best-seller, I’ll never be a billionaire, it’s all empathy, because my child would never be kidnapped in a bizarre situation like this. Let me quickly knock on wood, here. Not that it couldn’t happen for some other horrible reason. My anxiety game is plenty strong.
About the Book
Five heirs. One island. A deadly game.
When the adult children of five billionaires are abducted by a shadowy group, their parents face an unthinkable ultimatum: pay the highest price, or lose their loved ones forever. But as fortunes crumble and alliances fracture, secrets rise to the surface.
On a remote island prison, the hostages are pushed to their limits, uncovering betrayals while the manipulative mastermind pulls the strings. Time is running out, and the stakes are higher than anyone imagined.
How far would you go to save your child? What is the price you’d be willing to pay?
My Thoughts
This is such a stunning debut novel. A brilliant detective, a cunning villain, and smashing social commentary. Twists and turns that made me gasp in horror and delight. This author understood the assignment, and I hope his awesome book gets into the hands of all the lovely people who will love it as much as it deserves to be enjoyed!
This is a heart-pounding thriller that explores greed, secrets, family, and much more, featuring a delightful – if also sometimes annoying – ensemble cast. While I could somewhat tell that it was trying to hone in on the detective character, it really did well at focusing on everyone a little. Just when I thought maybe it was going to focus a little more on one character, it would jump around a bit. It absolutely kept me guessing, but as all pieces of art are open to interpretation, you might decide that the detective and one or more of the other characters were clearly the main characters. As it happens, I’d be excited to read more about the detective-for-hire someday and his adventures, but the standout experience here wasn’t the detective parts of the story. Instead, it was the twists and turns and setup of the so-called “Game.”
While the idea isn’t wholly unique, various stories have been written about rich kids finding themselves kidnapped and put through horrible experiences. At this point, beyond just a trope, it’s almost its own genre. But this is a fresh take on it. Both incredibly cruel to those involved and oddly altruistic in so many ways. However, I prefer not to write spoilers, so you’ll have to read to learn more about the altruism. And I encourage you, if you can stomach the darker parts of the story, to read. It is an interesting commentary on social aspects. And, while as a parent, I found it particularly hairy at parts, I could stomach it. Though, as someone who could never imagine being in the 1 percent, maybe that’s because this particular thriller remains almost just as much of a fantasy to me as a tale of dragons and elves.
I am grateful to the author and LBT for including me in this tour, and I really look forward to more books by this author.
Who’s It For?
If you enjoy twisty thrillers with strong social commentary themes, and especially some that are close to the real-world issues of the day, you’ll really enjoy this book. Be sure to check the content warnings.
Content Warnings: This book contains topics that may disturb some readers, including, but not limited to, Kidnapping, Cancer, Mental Illness, Violence, Murder, Egregious Wealth, Classism, Class Warfare, Spying, Terrorism, Betrayal, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Hints at Incest, Sexual Abuse (Including Teen – Off-page), Bomb Threats (Off-page), Alcohol/Drug Use.
About the Author
Danny Dagan is a law school graduate and web expert who always preferred writing fiction. After a corporate career in London, he moved to Northumberland, where he finally found his perfect writing spot: a garden shed with views of the sea and a castle.
Danny writes fast-paced, twisty thrillers that often touch on social issues. He lives with his partner on a small North Sea island.
Purchase Links
Amazon US: https://a.co/d/fohrcN6
Amazon UK: https://amzn.eu/d/8XIYgXv
Bookshop US: https://bookshop.org/a/25511/9781917449663
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/224208372-the-game
Author’s Website: https://dagan.co.uk/about-danny/
Other Reviews & More
Birbeck University of London News: https://www.bbk.ac.uk/news/2018the-skills-i-learnt-studying-law-allowed-me-to-realise-my-dream-of-becoming-a-writer2019
Making Sense of Work Podcast: A Tech Consultant’s Journey to Becoming a Bestselling Novelist – Danny Dagan: https://podcast.baileybalfour.com/1894001/episodes/16777587-ep-97-a-tech-consultant-s-journey-to-becoming-a-bestselling-novelist-danny-dagan
As a Bookshop.org (US) Affiliate, I may earn on qualifying purchases. Bookshop.org purchases support local, independent bookshops. My chosen affiliate bookshop is Tubby & Coo’s Traveling Bookshop, a local, queer-owned bookshop in New Orleans.
Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.