Good thriller, engaging throughout and kept me awake into the night. Will read more by this author and recommend to family and friends.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This book compares a lot to YOU and it was hard to stop comparing it to it. I am glad I read it but YOU is still better

Thank you for providing me with an advance review copy of this book. Enjoyed reading, would recommend....

Bartender Clay gets caught up with a murderer and finds himself the suspect. He goes on the run, accompanied by a journalist trying to make a name for herself, and the pair track down the real killer.
This is an exciting and gripping novel, and great fun to read. I did enjoy it. It’s well-written, and is an easy read. The denouement (which is not quite the ending) is great, very well-executed.
That said, there were a few things that I didn’t like so much. There were grammatical errors that were hard to avoid. I also didn’t really buy the involvement of Clay’s best friend and her new boyfriend. Why would they risk helping him? And their involvement didn’t amount to very much, even though it put them at a huge risk, so I wasn’t sure why that particular plot line was necessary; the novel would have worked better without it.
So overall, not perfect, but very definitely worth reading.

Clay tries to hide an affair. The lady involved has been murdered, and he is now the main suspect. This was a thrilling, suspenseful read, will read more by the author in future.

A really enjoyable read ! Had you gripped from the first page and a very clever plot with lots of twists and turns. Will definitely read more from this author.

Interesting and fast paced. The plot isn't brand new in terms of thrillers but what is unique is how the actual culprit is not your usual suspect and turns out to be somebody who, if it hadn't been sheer luck on Clay's (the protagonist) part, no one would have figured out is the person responsible for the crimes.

I received an e-Arc of the book from the publisher HQ and the author Steve Frech via NetGalley.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫

Deadly Games Steve Frech
I really enjoyed the cat and mouse aspect of this book. I had no idea where it was going and really enjoyed being along for the ride.

I absolutely loved Nightengale House so Deadly Games was an obvious choice for me! I enjoyed this incredibly fast paced thriller. I appreciated Clay as a character and his place at the center of this novel accused of his lover’s murder.
The pages flew as I followed Clay and his attempts to figure out who framed him and why, all while he’s running from the police. This definitely fits the cat and mouse game theme and I was here for every second of it!
Thank you to Netgalley, Frech and HQ for my advanced digital copy of the book to review!

This is the third novel I’ve read by Steve Frech. I definitely enjoyed the first two more, but I’ll still check out his newest release. The beginning was very fast paced but then the story slowed way down and even began to drag. It wasn’t even a long book.

Clay is a bartender who is very good at his job. He likes his customers and he really relishes all the perks ... especially the ladies.

One of his regulars, Emily, leaves a napkin with an address and a time. They've been having an ongoing affair; doesn't seem to matter that she's married to a very well known business man. When his shift ends, he heads for the sleazy motel where they usually meet, only this time there's a surprise waiting for him.

Emily is dead.

What he does is run ..and then lies to the police. But someone knows his secrets. He receives a text from someone who knows who he is, where he lives, and all his secrets. His closest friend says she won't lie for him ... she will answer any questions they have truthfully.

Clay is being framed .. but why? and by who?

Becoming the prime suspect, and as the police aren't really looking at anyone else, he sets out to prove his own innocence and find the real killer .... before he's the next target.

It's suspenseful from start to finish. It does seem to bog down in the middle, but the pace picked up leading to an unexpected ending. Characters are deftly drawn ... Clay is really not a likeable character, but by the end of the plot, I found him more palatable. DEADLY GAMES is hyped as a psychological thriller .. I found it better described as a crime fiction.

Many thanks to the author / HQ Digital / Harper 360 / Netgalley for the digital copy of DEADLY GAMES. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Clay is a bartender trying to hide an affair he’s been having with a woman who has been murdered. Clay is being framed by someone who wants to “play a game.” I thought this was a good, fast paced, suspenseful mystery.

Deadly Games is the second book that I read by Steve French. However, I think I liked the first book I read by him a little more than this one. Don't get me wrong though Deadly Games is a really good thriller and it keeps you interested. Clay, the main character, is pretty awesome. He stands off the page and I found myself rooting for him through the entire book.
I think what disappoint me with the story is how the book ended. I always love thrillers that leave bread crumbs. There are some through the story and there are times that you think you know who the "bad guy" is but the bad guy pretty much comes from left field. His presence does make sense but he's not someone you're going to be able to guess.
I do think the book is worth reading though!

This is a good easy flowing book that keeps you intrigued, the story is about a bartender Clay that is having an affair with one of the bars customers, when his lover is found murdered in the seedy hotel room they had arranged to meet Clay quickly realises that someone is framing him for her murder. The book keeps a good pace throughout and keeps the reader interested and wanting to find out how it will all end.

Thank you so much for the advance copy.

This was an enjoyable read for me but nothing completely new.

Clay is a bartender in a small town near San Francisco. He enjoys his job and he enjoys his customers. But, when one of them is murdered, Clay is the primary suspect. As the evidence mounts against him, he realizes he is the only one who can identify and find the real killer.

Deadly Games is a twisty, fast-paced, and action-packed ride. The writing style makes it easy to read and easy to enjoy. This book is a quick read, although there are a few parts that seem to drag just a bit. There are also times that Clay’s behavior doesn’t seem to make sense so it’s best not to analyze it too deeply. Instead, enjoy the suspense and the twists. I would give it 3.5 stars but will bump it up to 4.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Deadly Games by Steve Frech was a fast-paced thriller that I won't soon forget. Clay is a bartender in Avalon, a small town outside of San Francisco. He loves his job and enjoys his interaction with his customers, especially with a woman named Emily. She is a rich trophy wife and her and Clay have a secret relationship. One night she comes to the bar and leaves a motel name and room number on it for Clay to meet her at when he gets done with his shift. When he arrives she won't answer the door and texts him to leave her alone. Dumbfounded, Clay goes home. The next day he is questioned by police. It seems Emily has been murdered and they are interviewing people who knew her. Clay feigns ignorance. As he is leaving the police station he reads a text message that he received. It is from someone unknown warning him not to talk to the police. It seems this anonymous texter knows everything about Clay and wants to play a game. From here the story goes into high gear! No one is to be trusted and everyone may be in on the game. I don't want to say anymore about the plot but it was such a fun read. I liked the characters and the way the mystery was slowly revealed until the final showdown. I will definitely read more books by this author. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Steve seems to be smashing it at the minute with every book he writes and this one is no different, fast paced and edge of your seat stuff, just what you need to while away the lockdown hours! Brilliant loved it!

This started out as a good story but kept going off the boil and I just wanted to skim pages. I did not find the ending good either.