It was a bit less than ok for me. It started out good and the ending was fast paced but the middle really lost me, there wasn't a lot going on and it was slow going. I didn't really click with any of the characters, and the conversations seemed stilted. The scenes with the killer reminded me of the movie Scream and I felt like this was more 90s slasher film when I thought it was going to be more psychological. I finished because I wanted to know who the killer was but didn't really think the reveal was that exciting.

Sadly it really had potential but I just didn't find it suspenseful and there were parts that didn't make sense.

This was my first book by this author but I had heard good things. I was definitely hooked on this story and finished it within 15 hours.
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Clay is a bartender and becomes romantically involved with one of his customers, Emily. One night after his shift he goes to meet Emily at a motel only to find out she doesn’t want to see him. The next morning he finds out Emily has been murdered. He later receives a text message saying there Emily’s blood is in his car and he better play along or he might whined up in trouble.
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Clay becomes the number one suspect in the murder but he didn’t do it and now must prove his innocence.
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As mentioned I really enjoyed this one and the way the story unfolded. Even though Clay was an adulterer I still found compassion for his character and thought he was a good person. I absolutely had no idea who actually committed the murder and the explanation of how the murderer committed the crime was enjoyable. I certainly recommend this to all thriller lovers.

Clay is a bit of a wanky bartender with a pretty average life when suddenly his "married woman with benefits" winds up dead with her throat cut and all the evidence points to him. The more he tries to clear his name, the more he seems to dig himself into a hole - someone is messing with him. Can he prove he's not a killer before it's too late?

This was my Boxing Day read and it was the perfect pacy thriller for when you just want to spend all day reading. The writing is easy to read and the pace doesn't let up. Perhaps there were times when I questioned the plausibility of some things, but if you can just suspend that part of your brain and enjoy the ride, it's a blast. I was kept guessing the whole way and the climax was pretty satisfying, even if it did make use of the "killer explains his own plan" trope.  It probably sounds weird to describe a thriller about people getting their throats cut as "a light fun read" but it honestly feels appropriate here, as far as thrillers go. I enjoyed it and would read more from the author.

With thanks to Netgalley for the eARC, all opinions are my own.

I read this for a blog tour.

This was a very twisted thriller, the killer is playing a dark game for his own reasons that aren't apparently clear to either Clay or the reader.

While Clay was playing with fire sleeping with a married woman, he certainly doesn't deserve to be framed for murder and forced to go on the run, following the orders of the real killer to keep himself and his friends alive.

A tense cat and mouse game ensues, with Clay determined to find the real killer and evade the police who think he's the guilty one.

Clay is a barman who is accused of murder. He needs to prove his innocence but the real murderer is playing a deadly game.

I enjoyed the style of writing, it was like Clay was having a conversation with you. I found the characters likeable and I wanted to find out what happened. There were a few unanswered questions for me but on the whole I enjoyed it!

I always looked forward to picking this book up when my reading time for the day came around, BUT it's so unsatisfying to me that the killer was just some rando that no one knew...

the plot, characters, and how everything unfolded was intriguing and really good, but it's a real let down that at the end the killer doesn't tie into the story at all and just ends up being some sick freak who randomly picked this group of people to terrorize. That's much more a TV plot than a book plot, and left me disappointed.

Wow, this was a good book! It was gripping, it was tense, it was terrifying and it creeped me out a few times. Fantastic!

Your Bartender knows everyone, knows their favourite drinks, their habits and can read their mood. Perfect cover for a murderer? Only Clay didn't kill them - someone is making it look that way. On the run from the police can he prove that is the case? Pacy thriller with good plotting and characters.

Clay is a bartender in San Francisco. When the married woman he is sleeping with is found murdered and the real killer is framing Clay, it's a race against time for Clay to find him and clear his name.

4⭐- I really liked Steve's previous novel, Nightingale House, so I was delighted to get to read this also! I honestly loved this book, it was a really fast paced, murder mystery thriller, with an extremely likeable main character in Clay. If you want something purely quick and enjoyable to read, it's worth picking up a copy!

4 Stars from me

Oh dear poor Clay! This is one of those books where the lead character is put into increasingly unimaginable and incriminating situations.

Clay and Katie are good characters and I have to say I warmed to Genevieve too, eventually.

I loved the pace of Deadly Games, it was a quick and exciting read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I haven't read anything by Steve Frech before and I am delighted to see he has other books - I look forward to catching up with them too.

This was a story of non stop action, with a complicated storyline., which kept my mind buzzing. Some really good characters, who kept the story interesting and a climatic conclusion. Heart stopping read!

A familiar USA story, well told. I did not take to the barman Clay and he began to annoy me by the end.

Thanks to Net Galley and HQ Digital for the chance to read and review.

While I enjoy reading Steve Frech books. This one was different from the other two I have read. Those were spooky, this was a thriller but sorta missed the thrill part for me. It was a great story and I enjoyed how the main character was talking to the reader at times. That was unique for me. I will continue to read anything Steve wrties because his writing is so unique and keeps me hooked!

This was a rollercoaster of a read. The action starts very quickly and the tension ramps up throughout the book. I was up until past 3am finishing it and it was worth it. I liked the barman Clay and was routing for him all the way through. I’ll be looking out for more by this exciting author.

I rarely finish a book in one sitting. I like to take my time and digest what I'm reading. Deadly Games is not made for that style of reading! In fact, I dare you to try and put it down, you won't be able to.
The basic gist is this: a bartender has a fling with one of his customers; a married customer. When he goes to meet up with her one night after work, she doesn't answer the door. Assuming she is asleep, he heads home for the night. He wakes the next day not knowing that his life will never be the same. His fling has been found murdered in the seedy motel in which they were supposed to meet. As you can imagine, it's not long before the cops are looking in his direction and things are only going to get worse from there.

This is a thrilling ride from start to finish. There's rarely a break in the action and never a moment to catch your breath. Each page keeps you thirsting for the next. Who murdered his fling? Who wants to frame him? How is he going to prove his innocence when everything starts pointing to his guilt?

Book three from Mr. Frech is his best yet and that's a pretty high bar to clear considering how great the first two were. He's an author to watch, no doubt about it.

This book had so much excitement going from the very beginning. It never got dull or boring with all the drama unfolding one event after the other. I will say though that I didn’t feel a great connection to the characters.

Deadly games by Steve Frech.
This was slow to start with but after a while it got so I couldn't put it down. The story was well thought off and the characters gelled well together. I really liked Clay. This is the first I've read of this author and I'm glad that I did. 5*.

Thank you netgalley, hqstories & Steve Frech for gifting me a copy of Deadly Games. ⁣
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Deadly Games is my second Steve Frech book and I really enjoyed the it. This is a 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 thriller with many 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 and 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬.⁣
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I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery in this book and I had many assumptions as to who the killer was but I never guessed it. ⁣
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If you enjoy a book full of 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 & 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬 then this is the book for you. ⁣
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Overall, While I truly enjoyed this book and 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭, I was not a fan of the ending as it was pretty predictable.

I love mysteries where the amateur sleuth has an unusual profession other than a detective, PI or journalist, so I was instantly intrigued by barman Clay, our main protagonist who finds himself caught up in a deadly game with a serial killer. Original and fast paced, the story soon swept me along in its wake, and kept me reading late into the night.

What a refreshingly original thriller this was! Not only was Clay an enigmatic and interesting character, but the constant sense of menace and danger that set a terrifying background to the story created tension and intrigue. Frech’s writing style moves the story along at a good pace, and sometimes I had to remind myself to stop and take a breath as things were happening at breakneck speed.

A good barman is observant – he will not only remember his customer’s drinking preferences, but he can also read them like a book and change his personality to boot. Clay is good at his job, and his clients love and respect him. So it comes as a surprise when he gets a visit from police to question him about one of his regulars, who has just been found murdered. A married woman Clay just happened to have an affair with. And just like that, Clay finds himself in the centre of a murder investigation, with a killer who is always a step ahead of him, determined to make Clay the prime suspect. He has no option but to play along – first, to clear his name, but soon just to stay alive.

DEADLY GAMES will appeal to readers who love a fast paced, atmospheric and suspenseful cat-and-mouse game, like the Jack Reacher series. And whilst Clay is no ex-army bad boy, he also shows a lot of initiative in trying to outwit his opponent. As the story nears its finale, there is plenty of action, suspense and bloodshed! I found the story original and captivating, and couldn’t put it down. I very much look forward to reading more from this author in future!

Deadly Games indeed. A barman is framed for murdering his married lover and her husband. He attempts to find the real killer with the aid of a journalist. However, somehow the killer knows everything and sends taunting messages meaning that the barman is forever on the run.

This is an exciting rush of a novel packed with constant action, which is sometimes a little too far-fetched but in keeping with this racy style. Witten in an informal manner in the first person, there is no time for character development. Reminds me a lot of films about warped serial killers who draw in their hunters in...yes, deadly games.

The theme is the grey servants, the people who are always there providing things for us, like the bartender, but who remain invisible themselves. Superficially psychological but definitely a thriller, this is a read with increasing tension towards the end and you will have no idea who the murderer is. Recommended if you like fast rides.