A fast-paced gripping thriller. Well conceived and no character is safe nor immune from being chosen as a player. The only question then is will they survive the experience or can they perform what is asked of them..

What a great read.

This is an edge of the seat fast paced, scary in parts thriller.

Cleverly written I could not put this book down and it played on my mind.

Brilliant

I requested this book on netgalley as it looked right up my street, then I read several reviews saying how good it was, and then found out that the author lives local to me and that the whole story was based in my home town, so that bumped it to the top of my tbr pile.
I am a huge fan of the Saw franchise, and this book really reminds me of those films - where the host doesn't actually do any of the killing, but it is him that sets up the games.
Great book that really pulled me in - which in all honesty hasn't happened a great deal over the last month or so with books.
For me it was a solid 4 stars all the way through, but the ending seemed to go up a notch, and it built up so that I literally could not put it down until I had finished reading it, so that has bumped my review up to an easy 5.
Had never heard of this author before, despite him being local, but based on this book alone, I now want to read all his previous books, and will definitely be looking out for all others in the future too.

The players by Darren O’Sullivan was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read!! This book was really pacey and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I loved the different perspectives it kept the book really interesting.I found myself constantly trying to guess where the story was going but I did not see the ending coming. I loved the ethical focus of this book. It had a really interesting theme.
I can't recommend this book enough!

The Players is an adrenaline rush! I loved the simple yet captivating setup where a person is given the choice - kill or be killed. The book looks at morality, survival, and guilt in an entertaining and suspenseful way. The trolley problem gets a mention! But what I enjoyed most is the emotional depth. Each character is given the proper consideration and respect they deserve, even when we meet them during the worst moment of their lives. I believed that they have full lives beyond the incident and I was rooting for them to survive.

I also loved the representation in his book. How refreshing to get a gay protagonist who is not reduced to her sexuality! We get a married lesbian couple who everyone accepts and don't treat differently. While I'm not usually a fan of police misconduct storylines, I thought the book handles it well. We get to see the consequences of Karen's actions and how her behaviour affects her career and her marriage. I really liked her friendship with her work partner Howard, and it led to some poignant moments. I'm not sure I completely believed in the resolution and how the perp managed to plan everything. But this is a thrilling ride nonetheless and a fun fast-paced read for the summer!

This book plays with your mind, its an brilliant mix of crime thriller, police procedural and scary horror. I loved it. This is the first book I have read from this author and definitely wont be the last. I enjoyed the characters and their story. DI Karen Holt currently suspended just can keep away from a new crime scene, The Host is causing havoc on and offline. Its not for the faint hearted with its action packed, violent and somewhat gruesome chapters but if you love all these things then its well worth the read.

The Players is a psychological crime thriller by Darren O'Sullivan and it is a chilling, sinister and riveting tale.

In Peterborough, a man calling himself 'The Host' is roaming the city leaving a mass of havoc and devastation in his wake. To kill or be killed - the Host chooses the players for his game and this will be their choice to make - no other outcome is possible. If the players refuse to play by the rules, the Host threatens to target their family; a very tough moral dilemma.

DI Karen Holt, a former DCI who has been demoted, is currently suspended from duty pending an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Now despite officially being away from work, Karen, alongside her partner, Detective Howard Carlson, investigates and tries to bring down The Host. A video is put on social media creating fear and panic in the area with people wondering if they might be next. Can Karen get to grips with the motive, warped psychology and pure evil of the perpetrator before he commences another fatal game?

This is a compulsive, sinister and menacing thriller right from the off. The twists are incessant as is the drama and action. An interesting blend of horror, thriller and police procedural, I liked the steadfastly determined protagonist, Karen Holt. I found this disturbing and thought-provoking tale immensely difficult to put aside even for a few minutes. The Players is a violent, gruesome, though highly entertaining read that I certainly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Wow, this was a really intense and scary thriller. Such a great storyline that left you questioning your own online activity. Definitely one I would recommend.

The Players

This is a really scary thriller. It feels so real.
It is a real rip roaring ride with lots of feeling and action in it.

The trolley problem is a well know moral debate and features heavily in this book. It definitely gets you thinking and debating and think this would be a great book to read at book clubs where you can debate the morality of the themes afterwards.

All the murders are shocking, horrific and have the ability to make you really feel. I was overwhelmingly sad reading this and acknowledging how evil people can be (namely The Host). The writing is really incredible and the concept is very well thought out and drawn.

I really enjoyed this book.

Why not 5 stars then? Literally because I was disappointed with the last quarter of the book. I thought it went a bit awry and the impact was less due to this. The conclusion was action packed but didn't have the fear that the earlier parts brought and the conclusion felt rushed after so much build up.

Also Karen was just too perfect. Only she could see clues, only she could do certain things, only she was irreplaceable.. they had a whole department working on this case....did the whole investigation really hang on just Karen?! It was just a bit too easy that she was the only one who could put things together, even over her bosses boss!

Overall this is a really great read, that although had similar themes to other stories, felt really original and fresh. The writing is excellent and it is most definitely a page turner that is hard to put down and had lasting ideas that will leave you thinking about them and wanting to discuss them a long time after you have finished the book!

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of the best books I've read in a long time, and kept me gripped all the way through.
There were sections I just did not see coming and shocked me, something I always love when I am reading.
Before I had even finished The Players I went online and bought all of Darren O'Sullivans previous books, I can't believe I've missed this author.
The Players opens up a very interesting debate, Live or Die, Kill or be Killed, which one would you choose in the moment.

Seriously messed up. Seriously compulsive reading. The premise behind this book is dark as night yet the author manages to somehow weave these dark strands into an absolutely fascinating book that I couldn't put down. Highly recommended.

TL;DR Recommendation:
Good wee thriller that’ll make you want to consider how much you’re giving away online 👀

I’ve been on social media since the dawn of time (yes I’m old) and I reckon that’s what makes this book so utterly creepy because I’m honestly surprised it’s hasn’t happened yet. Here’s what you can expect:

✨ One nice lady (otherwise known as Detective Inspector Karen Holt) who’s been plonked off duty after an arrest went very badly
✨ ‘The Host’ and his wee game of kill or be killed with Saw vibes
✨ A town terrorised by blackmail
✨ Facebook Boomers trying to solve everything

Karen shouldn’t be working. Her career actually depends on her butting out of this case, but she just cannot stay away from it because the rest of her team are eejits. You see, Karen has big brain energy and is picking up the clues that ‘The Host’ is leaving for them in plain sight.

So what’s our illusive pal ‘The Host’ doing? Well, the prick is stalking his victims, mapping out their every move and making sure he knows their entire life history before pushing them to play what he calls The Game. Frankly, he needs to be more creative with his branding but I get what he’s going for. After setting a time for his games (I legit have no idea why people wouldn’t avoid being alone at this time tbh), Mr Host corners two ‘players’ in a quiet place. There they must choose what to do – kill the other person or be killed and then have it broadcast all over the Internet. There is no third option. Go against his plan and your family/friends/pets/secret lover will get your punishment instead. Basically, the prizes really suck.

After a few traumatic murders, wee Karen just can’t sit on her hands and watch innocent people die at the hands of their friends.

Fantasy books are 100% my jam but the thriller category is definitely winning my heart over right now. This is an insanely fast-paced book that’ll have you yelling SHUT THE FUCK UP at Facebook and glaring at Karen for being a shitty wife at times all whilst on a rollercoaster of mental twists and turns.

The only bit that bugged me? I could see how this was going and I just expected a little more. Vague, I know, but spoilers etc. etc.

Solid book that’ll make you terrified of social media. Perhaps that’s a good thing…

Well what a read.

It is fast paced, gripping, with twists and turns throughout that keeps you page turning.

Kill or be killed, what would you do!.

Such a surprising and interesting read. I really enjoyed it! It made my brain do so much work, and i was addicted to it. Very cleverly written, with the perfect amount of dark spots. Gripping plot and fantastic writing. Completely different to anything i've ever read which i loved.

Disturbing, poignant, and utterly brilliant! “The Players” is a must read thriller this spring!


I adored the characters, so much so that I hoped this was the beginning of a new dark police procedural series and not a standalone thriller. O’Sullivan knows how to draw you into his world and capture the reader’s emotions as he takes you on a rollercoaster adventure with a serial killer.


There are a few truly heart-breaking moments along the way and a philosophical question that challenges the way you view humankind. “The Trolley Problem” is an ethical dilemma that challenges you to consider sacrificing the one to save the many. This is the focal point for “The Players” and is disturbingly both thought provoking and chilling.


Read this and ask yourself – What would you do if you had to play the game?


Cracking read by Darren O’Sullivan – 4.5 Stars


#KillOrBeKilled – #TheGame – #TheHost


Thank you to #NetGalley, #HQ, #HarperCollinsUK, and #DarrenOSullivan for an ARC of #ThePlayers in exchange for an honest review.

After previously reading Dark Corners, I was looking forward to reading another of this authors books.

It didn't disappoint at all.

With short and snappy chapters, and action that keeps you on the edge of your seat, the author wasn't afraid to take this book in a direction where others may have been. The characters were easy to like and I felt fully consumed by the plot.

A really incredible book, I'm looking forward to reading more from the author.

Thank you to @hqstories and @netgalley for the copy of the book. Apologies that my review is a little late!

I really did not like this book - just couldn't get into it. I was excited to read this book as the premise sounded right up my street - but maybe I had too higher hopes!

I found the plot to be incredibly slow to begin with, and with a thriller I want to be hooked from the start. I also couldn't connect to the characters and found it difficult to follow at times. Maybe it's O'Sullivan's writing style that I just didn't like.

Not for me! But based on the reviews already on here I appreciate I'm in the minority with my views.

Kill or be killed. Which would you choose?

The Host traps you with one other person and gives you a weapon. You’re now a player in the game and only one of you can leave. Except in this game, no one really wins.

Peterborough is being terrorised by a man that calls himself ‘The Host’. Players are blackmailed into participating when their families safety is put on the line. All fights are recorded then posted on social media stating the time the next ‘game’ will commence. As the city goes into panic mode it’s up to DS Carlson to try and crack the case. DI Karen Holt is currently suspended but can’t resist getting herself sucked into the case. However, has she bitten off more than she can chew?

This book is immersive and gripping! I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading into the early hours of the morning to get it finished. The situations the Host puts Players in are unthinkable and to think it’s inspired by Darren’s true life experiences makes it all the more thrilling. This sinister tale really makes you think what you would do in this situation and it’s sparked a lot of thought provoking conversations for me afterwards. I’d definitely recommend this book and will be looking up Darren O’Sullivans previous work!

In this twisted offering from O’Sullivan, victims are placed in a horrific situation: either choose to kill, or be killed instead. Refuse? You are putting your loved ones at risk. How will you survive this game?

I loved this gripping read as I could not predict the next round of the Game. Just like the police, I felt one step behind the Host, unable to determine what the clues meant in where the next crime scene would occur. The narrative switches between Carlson, Karen and the Host; the former two are police detectives who are trying to work together on this case but without their superiors knowing. This is because Karen has been temporarily suspended from the force due to a recent incident. Through several chapters, readers learn that Karen is struggling to deal with what resulted in a victim’s death as the possible result of her own actions. However, Karen cannot stay away from this developing crime in which it is evident that the Host has evidently been planning this Game for a while. Through some covert discussions with Carlson, Karen is able to offer her assistance to trying to find the Host, although this is not before some serious Games have been played.

Although I really enjoyed this nail-biter, I did find that there were some elements that could have been more imaginative to the story. A suspended police officer, for example, that satellites around the case and offers their interpretations of potential clues does not feel very original and I’ve seen in several crime books previously. I would have liked to have seen more flashbacks to the police incident that causes Karen to be suspended, rather than readers just learn of this through Karen’s accounts with her therapist.

Furthermore, the catching of the Host did feel just a bit too convenient for my liking. The whole ‘distract them whilst the police were on the way’ lacked the flair and drama that came with the rest of the novel. I wanted O’Sullivan to conclude this race against time with scenes full of suspense and tension; in my opinion, the arrest came all to easily for what had been such a difficult perpetrator to find in the first place.

Yet, despite these misgivings, I appreciated the dilemma that O’Sullivan raises in this Game. If you were forced to play this Game, would you be able to live with the guilt of killing someone else in order to protect your family? Or would you be willing to sacrifice yourself for the sake of another person – who might be known to you? It’s such a difficult, life-changing decision and I thought the Facebook discussion threads that were included added an extra insight to this – particularly the one at the very end.

As the Games mount, the Host moves ever closer to the police. I could not anticipate where or who would be the next player and the scenes made my heart break in two, especially for the Game featuring a man and wife. The tenderness in this scene was truly emotional and I think this intensified the horror of the Host and his manipulations. Occurring about half-way through the book, I think this added fuel to the fire and caused Carlson, Karen and the Host to up their Game… quite literally.

An enjoyable, gripping read from O’Sullivan that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. I could not put this book down, desperate to know how these Games would finally conclude. A race against time where you feel so powerless and lacking intelligence about the Host’s next moves, I could not predict whether he would actually be found or not.

With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The players is a psychological thriller written by Darren O’Sullivan. Peterborough is the unassuming town for the setting of the games no-one wants to play and the horror that ensues.
The premise is simple, a man who’s self named ‘the host' has chosen two ‘players’ for his game. These players then have 4 minutes to complete their challenge, kill or be killed. Rather gruesome but the stakes are high so an attack takes place. One dead, the game is complete, but who is the guilty party?
The host is thirsty for more, he won’t stop until everyone will kill. Luckily for the town DI Karen Holt is here to save the day. Despite her recent suspension and anxiety attacks she gets involved in finding out who the host is and how to stop him. Putting her colleague DS Howard Carlson in increasingly precarious predicaments with talking to suspects and sharing police info, she seems to be the only one who has any idea how to police.
The plot is good and well executed, a fresh idea is nice to read even though a little twisted. The characters are well written and believable but DI Karen Holt is very irritating. She is repeatedly told not to do something yet carries on anyway, she’s a liability and a rubbish wife. It reads from both the hosts viewpoint and Karen’s which I like, giving some of the reasoning behind his crimes does make you empathetic even if you don’t agree with what he’s doing.
A fast paced, graphic, thriller with an interesting plot and well written characters. A solid 4* from me as Karen was really irritating! Thanks to HQ HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC.