The Murder Game by Rachel Abbott.
Friends gather at Polskirrin stately home for Lucas’s wedding to Nina.
Unfortunately his sister is drowned that evening and the wedding is cancelled.
One year later Lucas has all his friends gather at his house once more.
He is sure that one of the guests has murdered his sister and he has devised
a weekend where they play The Murder Game in the hope of finding the killer.
Most of the guests have known each other for years and have past grievances, secrets and have something to hide.
There were plenty of clues to digest and I had figured out how this was going to end.
I enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Im a fan of Rachel Abbott and love her Tom Walker series of books! So I was delighted to be given the chance to read something a bit different! I was slightly disappointed the story didn’t grab me as much and in fact I think it could have been 100 pages less. I continued to read it and towards the end there were some twists in the story line ( I wasn’t expecting) an overall good read!

Rachel Abbott is on a league of her own. What I find most refreshing about her novels is her unique way of going about plot - she has her own signature style of story that takes you by the sleeve and hurtles you along a twisted path of delicious mystery.

This book was no different. When I found out I had been accepted to read The Murder Game, I immediately read the book's predecessor, And So It Begins, which wowed me, and which made me all the more eager to start this one.

Before I even begin my review, I must first praise whoever wrote the blurb, because it masterfully sets up the rest of the book. I find myself reluctant to discuss the plot, because I think going into it with just the blurb is the way forward.

For the first 20% of the book, we follow Jemma Hudson on the eve of Lucas Jarrett's wedding to Nina at his beautiful Polskirrin estate. Jemma had never before met the wealthy Lucas, her husband Matt's childhood best friend, or indeed his other friends: Andrew, Nick, or Isabel. Several mysteries present themselves by way of reclusive sisters and buried tensions, and by the time Act One closes with a bang and the wedding does not go forth, we are fully invested in what is to come - the eponymous Murder Game. Detective Sergeant Stephanie King makes her appearance at Polskirrin, and then again a year later, as Jemma and the rest of the wedding guests are invited back to Polskirrin to play a dangerous game of whodunnit.

As aforementioned, I am reluctant to say more. All I can say is this story did not, at first, go as I thought it would, but I'm glad it took the direction it did - a classic Abbott story.

Although I was able to figure out the whodunnit aspects of the book - albeit that might be because I am a murder mystery fiend - I was shivering throughout the entire novel, anticipating the next terrible move. And that is exactly what makes Abbott a master; that we can figure out some aspects of the story and be completely blindsided by the others, that even when we think we think we know what's going to happen, the apprehension does not abate, the yearning to read more does not dwindle.

The only gripe I have with this book is Chandra, Andrew's partner. I mean, really? A Korean-Nepalese woman who only eats Kimchi while others enjoy the set menu? The only one who says mysterious spiritual things, dwells silently by fountains, and gives people special bracelets? Really? Kimchi is to food as French Fries is to food. It's a side dish, and not one people will have everyday as their main meal. It comes across a little silly, a little stereotypical, and a little too 'othering' - though not too big a dealbreaker, it did admittedly slightly bother me.

I highly recommend this book to any mystery lover, with the caveat to have a look at content warnings if there are any of you who would like to avoid certain sensitive subjects.

I loved reading this book it really kept you on your toes as to the crime that was committed
Will defo recommend it for anyone to read.

I know I will always enjoy any book by Rachel Abbott and The Murder Game was no exception.
On the one-year anniversary of Lucas Jarrett and his wife Nina’s wedding anniversary, Lucas invites his guests back to his luxurious home, Polskirrin, for a reunion and a rather elaborate game, which is no fun at all and rather macabre.
There were some great characters but some I found rather annoying and weak due to the fact that they couldn’t seem to say no to Lucas and all they wanted was to please him.
A great story line and some twists that as much as I guessed, I still never saw coming.
I would have liked to see a bit more at the end and therefore a 4* instead of 5* but still a book I will highly recommend.

I was very pleased to be given a chance to read this book early. Rachel Abbott never disappoints and this one was just as gripping as all her previous books. Thoroughly recommend!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I did not realise that this was book No.2 in the series but it did not stop me enjoying this thriller

I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of Rachel’s new book.

This didn’t disappoint & had me hooked from the outset. It reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel but with a modern day slant to it.

The dynamics of the group of friends was intriguing. Plenty of twists to keep you guessing. Finished this in a day as it had me captivated.

A group of friends gather at a Cornish mansion for the wedding of the house's current owner. But instead of a wedding, there's a death.

A year later, the survivors reassemble. The house owner is convinced that the death is not all that it seemed, and the house party are drawn into a bizarre attempt to discover the truth.

Annoying, self-absorbed characters.

Prologue, let the game begin... it starts in the game, then it's split into two parts..

Part one ⏪ Rewind one year to the build up to Lucas and Ninas upcoming wedding. Jemma and her husband Matt's drive to Lucas's house, Jemma's looking forward to meeting Matt's friends and the celebrations to follow. Matt and Jemma are very much in love, which is evident.

It's based mainly around Jemma's perspective, her view on his friends, with some of Alex's thoughts, in the mix.

Part two, fast forward ⏯ goes back the year later/now... Lucas arranges a reunion for his friends who attended the previous year, when tragedy struck, to celebrate his first wedding anniversary. A very different drive for Jemma and Matt's visit, trepidation due to the previous years events.

It seems they all have their secrets, that they do not want to divulge even to their closest friends. Some characters, seem more cagey than others, it feels to me like a murder mystery/whodunnit kind of read.

Whilst this book notes, Stefanie King book 2, if you've not read the first, this will not affect your reading of the book. I've read books by this author before, but not with this character in. Overall great read, you're suspicious, intrigued and I didn't see the twist until later on.

Like a real life, modern day murder mystery break, with a reluctant group of participants, a hint of deja vu, with a final twist... 🔎

The Murder Game by Rachel Abbott quite simply had me hooked from the very first page. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy and I literally could not put it down.

The story starts as many murder mysteries do with a group of people gathered in a beautiful setting for a celebration. In this case the wedding of wealthy philanthropist Lucas Jarrett to the lovely Nina in the stunning setting of Polskirrin in the South West of England. We see the goings on mainly through the eyes of Gemma Hudson, an outsider and the wife of one of Lucas’s oldest friends.

It’s not long however before a body washes ashore, that of Lucas’s introverted and enigmatic sister Alex. With no real evidence to support foul play her death is ruled as suicide. Lucas can’t accept the ruling and invites the guests from that ill fated night back to Polskirrin on the first anniversary of her death. They soon find out this is no memorial - he’s planned a murder game to find Alex’s killer and they are all suspects.

What I liked most about The Murder Game by Rachel Abbott:

1. I loved how the author has stuck closely to the murder mystery framework we all love but added twists here and there to maintain the readers guessing game.
2. The character dynamics and relationships - so much tension is built between the reunion of these old friends, with undercurrents of so much shared history - not all good - that has you believing any one of them could be a murderer.
3. The setting - from the Japanese garden to the boathouse and the main house - Polskirrin is a wonderful setting for a murder mystery.
4. Our detective - Stephanie - honest, kind, blunt, believable she is everything you want your murder mystery detective to be.
5. The ending - I loved it. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

Easily five stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3 - 4 stars.

A group of old friends gather at Polskirrin, a gorgeous mansion in Cornwall for the wedding of wealth Lucas Jarrett to Nina Belanger. Matt, Andrew, Nick and his sister Isabel have been friends for years. The night before the wedding Lucas troubled younger sister Alex drowns in an apparent suicide. One year later Lucas summons them all back to Polskirrin where he forcefully insists on the group taking part in a game. they are given costumes and roles based on information he provided and they have to tell the truth. This is a more deadly version of the party murder mystery game that is played to entertain. What does Lucas wish to achieve? Will the friends go along with it? The story is told by Jemma who is Matt’s wife in the first person and from the perspectives of Nina, Alex and DS Stephanie King.

The characters are well portrayed although not all likeable. I confess to imagining Lucas as Aidan Turner partly because it a lovely thought and partly because it’s Poldark country! I really like the exploration of group dynamics with Lucas at the centre with most of the cast dancing to his tune. Polskirrin is one of the stars of the book as far as I’m concerned! The beautiful house comes alive and I could picture the cove so typical of this county which I love and there are some very good descriptions that transport you to Cornwall. The premise feels rather ‘Christie-esque, there is pace, increasing tension between some characters and plenty of twists in the storyline. There’s intrigue to keep you interested in the plot with blackmail, abductions and there is a character that is raped but that is dealt with carefully and sensitively.

My reservations about the book lie with lack of flow at times, there is some repetition and the end seems abrupt and lets down the what precedes. It is described as a Stephanie King novel and yes, she’s certainly in it but she’s peripheral to the events at Polskirrin in many ways.

Overall, I like the premise, the setting some interesting characters but there are some reservations hence 3 -4 stars but I’ve rounded up as there’s more to like than dislike.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC.

A new experiment from Rachael Abbott and she's succesful in doing so. I read her previous books but this one was above them all. She has improved her writing and narration style.
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
This book was like a siren. It blew out my mind. I can't expect more from this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a copy.

Rachel Abbott is one of the best crime thriller writers out there.

I literally love reading her work and I get so excited when her new books come out.

I was over the moon to receive an advanced review copy of this novel.

This book blew my mind yet again and I am already ready for the installment.

This book is unputadownable and Rachel knows how to write a great book!