Thank you NetGalley and HQ for my ARC. This thriller is written with Hitchcockian undertones. When a bartender is framed for a murder and gradually is made to look like the prime suspect, events spiral out of control. The story is fast paced toward the end where all of the pieces expertly fall into place. Great noir mystery thriller!

This book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the 2nd book that I have read by this author, and again I was not disappointed. Clay, a bartender knows everything about his regulars. But when one of them is murdered and he is framed for it, he has to find out who knows more about him. He decides to go on the run from the police to catch the killer. Clay runs into obstacles at every turn, and with the help of Genevieve, a reporter, he is able to stay on the run a little bit longer. I would definitely recommend this action packed novel. Thank you NetGalley, Steve Frech and HQ Digital for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Great book! I was hooked from the start, thank you so much for providing me a copy of this book to read. This is something I would love to purchase.

This is a good book. It just is. Though it’s got some issues, it really is well read and well written. A very quick, twisty read.

That being said, I’m kind of underwhelmed by the ending. The “bad guy” is just an asshole ride share guy? I was set up for all these turns twists to end up there? It was odd, and like I said, underwhelming.

Thank you to Net Galley, Harper Collins. And Steve Frech for providing me with an advanced copy of “Deadly Games” in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fast paced mystery, I was able to read it in just two sittings, the plot moves extremely fast without any dull moments.
I really loved this book, it was a fun interesting story, just the perfect book to sit and unwind from the day.

All I can say about this author and book is what a brilliant storyline well written suspense and worth reading.

A fast paced thriller, a quick and easy read. There is not much to like with the characters, the run becomes a bit too much and monotonous, with the police always one step behind, the plot predictable. Suitable for a quick airport read. This is not a story that would stay with us. 3.5 stars

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

3.5 Hearts This is one of those books that I just do not know how to rate. I liked it and yet I didn’t.

I really liked the characters. I found them very detailed and seemed as though if they were real I might go to the bar and meet up with them. I liked Clay and Genevieve a lot.

BUT… I really wasn’t overly impressed with the story. I found the story to be a bit draggy in some parts and quite a bit obvious. I had the murderer pretty much narrowed down to two and then once I decided “who-dun-it” I was right. And honestly I prefer to be surprised.

Maybe if I didn’t read as much as I do I would have enjoyed it more but it just seemed all too familiar of a story.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Deadly Games


Main character and narrator Clay, who is a bartender, is being suspected of a triple murder and all the leads point to him. The story seemed like a typical cat and mouse game, which I enjoy. “Deadly Games” started out fast until the center of the book, when the action seemed to slow down.

I enjoyed the characters and their dynamics so the slower pacing really did not affect my experience. The book had an interesting writing style. At times, it felt like the narrator was speaking to me and other times he was narrating other events. There were moments where the narrator would stop the book to tell you a back story and then flawlessly continue with the current story.

I was formulating ideas as to how the book would end. I really needed to know who the killer was and it seemed like the killer was always one step ahead, which I liked. Unfortunately, the ending was a slight disappointment for me because it seemed a little rushed. I was expecting a little more. I was also looking for a little more suspense which seemed lacking a little. Nevertheless, the story moved along in a manner that had the reader flipping pages. Each chapter not only provided new information but seemed to end on a cliffhanger propelling the reader to continue with the story.

I enjoyed the journey and was pleasantly surprised that I was able to finish the book in one day. “Deadly Games” is definitely a binge worthy book. I definitely see myself reading more of his books.

Bartender Franklin “Clay” Davis knows how to finesse his customers for the best tips. Easy on the eyes, he’s an excellent listener who also puts on a great show.

Regular Emily Parker, unhappily married to a business mogul, also enjoys extracurriculars with Clay. . . until she is found murdered in a seedy motel.

Forensic and circumstantial evidence implicate Clay, but he’s innocent and being set up by someone who seems to know everything about him and is always at least two steps ahead. To exonerate himself, he must find the real killer, and he needs to approach the unlikeliest of partners for help.

The action in this high octane thriller begins immediately and doesn’t let up! I was highly entertained I was so engaged by the story I read the book in a near single sitting. The compressed time period and intense course of events gave the book a furious pace.

Additionally, I liked that Genevieve, a journalist who chases the story, was savvy and didn’t let down her guard. Both the dialogue and Clay’s narration are on the biting, sarcastic side which I consider a plus.

I recommend for readers wanting a fast-paced page-turner.

This book really wasn’t for me but that’s not to say I can’t imagine it being a favourite of anyone who enjoys this genre. Fast paced thriller with fairly un-admirable characters who on the whole get what they deserve. You have to really suspend belief but the pace makes that quite easy to do. I read it quickly and found it easy to read but I think it will be easy to forget.

Firsr of all, I want to thank NetGalley and HQ Digital for the advanced readers copy. And thanks to Steve Frech for writing such a great book! I loved Deadly Games! It was so good! Steve Frech knows how to write a good thriller and this did not disappoint! This book kept me wanting more. I was sucked in from the first page and couldn't put this down. I needed to find out how things were going to work out, I needed to know who the killer was, and why/how they did it! I didn't know how it was going to end! I can't wait to read more of Steve's books!

It's the third novel by Steve Frech, where you really feel he is getting into his stride with his storytelling-breathless, fast paced thrillers with a first person narrative that drives the story forward.

Bartender Clay, is pulled into a cat and mouse game with an unknown protagonist who seems determined to set him up for murder. His occasional bed partner, Emily, an unsatisfied wife of a millionaire who likes to hang out at the bar Clay works in, turns up murdered, with all the forensics pointing to Clay.

Desperate to prove it wasn't him, he initially co-operates with the police in order to get himself out of trouble, however, when the burner phone Emily used to set up dates with him begins to churn out annoymous messages , demanding Clay's participation in his deadly game...

The bodies begin to pile up as Clay finds escape routes cut off, one by one, leaving him with little option but to go on the run with a journalist who is trying to get the inside scoop on Emily's murder. But can he really trust Genevieve, or is she after the scoop of a lifetime? As the net tightens around Clay, it becomes increasingly difficult to work out how he will clear his name, escape and get on with his life.

It's an interesting story ,Clay is a bit of a one dimensional character who puts himself and his casual affairs, his rootless and responsibility free lifestyle ahead of taking accountability for himself. His job allows him to peacock every night and affords him the bed partners of his choosing until he has to think about people other than himself due to circumstances beyond his control.

As a reader, I had to suspend a bit of belief and just allow myself to be swept away with the story, not thinking about it too deeply. Some parts don't hold up to scrutiny and Clay does some really silly things that are the equivalent of a horror movie trope like going into the cellar. He's not the most immediately likable protagonist and is pretty shallow, but over the course of the story he finds a sense of inner strength and resilience to do the right thing. I read this in one sitting, it's the kind of book where you kepp going to find out what happens, nearly every chapter ends on a cliffhanger which propels the story forward.

I would recommend this novel for those who want a one shot read, it's an engaging thriller with plenty of suspense.

This sounded like it was going to be a brilliant book but unfortunately it didn’t turn out to be as great as I thought it would be. I found the pace to be slow and at times it felt like everything was being dragged out at a snails pace.

I liked the storyline and thought that it was interesting but it needed a lot more twists. There was definitely mystery throughout the story and I spent the whole time trying to figure out who the killer was. I thought the killer would have been someone else and I didn’t guess who it was because I don’t think that it was that obvious.

I liked Genevieve because I thought she was intelligent and at times funny. With Clay I found myself saying “oh Clay no” a lot of the time. I liked him the majority of the time. I liked the bit of loyalty that his friend had but everyone was so trusting.

I would be interested in more of this authors work because I did like the storyline and I’m interested to see what else he can write.

Another well-plotted, Hitchcockian, witty noir mystery by Steve Frech! This one focuses on a bartender, Clay, who is having an ill-fated affair that ends in murder.

Now, when I say Hitchcockian, let me tell you, Frech does it right. It’s all happening in Northern California, and there’s a seedy off-the-beaten-path motel, a character named Loomis, and of course, a total Psycho.

The story focuses on our two amateur sleuths — Clay and an unexpected ally. The pair are trying to track down the psycho, who is playing games with Clay. The psycho has of course framed Clay with his lover’s murder, so the crime must be solved - with proof! - while Clay is constantly on the run.

As always, I enjoyed Frech’s chatty tone, well-drawn characters, and fast-paced plot. As a Hitchcock buff, I was definitely the intended audience, and this page turner was lots of fun and kept me invested on every page. This is my third book by Frech and my second favorite of his after Nightingale House. I’ll keep reading Frech’s books as long as he keeps writing them, which I hope is a very long time.

Thanks to NetGalley, Steve Frech, and HQ for this fun and twisted romp, which is a “Psycho” for the digital era!

This is the first book by Steve French, that I have read.
I finished it so it can't be too bad.

There are two things that kept me reading, the first being that the book has a rapid pace.
The second being the frenetic and exciting denouement.
If you like a fast paced crime thriller, then this may be a book for you.

Would I read other novels by this author? Well I wouldn't rule it out if I was looking for a quick book to read.

I give thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for a copy in exchange for this review.

In Steve Frech's Deadly Games, we enter into the story of a bartender who lives in a California coastal town and gets framed for murdering the women he was having an affair with. We follow his journey as he hunts the killer while the death count rises.

The book started off strong and I took an instant liking to the characters. The authors writing style was fun and light hearted, which helped with the very dark theme of the book. As much as I enjoyed the characters themselves, I did wish for a deeper relationship or connection between the characters. Clay and Katie seemed like close friends from how they talked, but I didn't feel the closeness. The same happened with Clay and Genevieve (Although they didn't seem as close as I thought after going through what they did). The middle of the book did get a little slow - It also seemed far fetch the cops had such a hard time catching Clay. The who done it question had me guessing until the end - which is always a win in a mystery book!

Overall this was a fun read, and I enjoyed the mystery. Not all of the details seemed as realistic as I would have wanted, but I would recommend!

Such a good book full of suspense throughout. Solid 4 stars for me!
The basic premise of the plot revolves around a bartender called Clay getting framed for murder and hunting down the real killer. I love how as a reader the murderer's identity isn't revealed until late into the book and the little twist makes it even better. I also enjoyed how it was all tied up in the end and how the detective is linked to another novel (Dark Hollows) written by the same author.

Thank you to Net Galley and Steve Frech for the advanced copy in return for my honest review. Deadly Games is available December 4, 2020 – be sure to get yourself a copy!

Clay is a bartender at a local hot spot and it’s the ideal job. He works alongside one of his best friends and gets numbers of attractive women each and every night. Clay has started up a relationship with one of his regulars, Emily, but they have to keep it secret because she’s married. After his shift one night he goes to meet up with Emily who texts him at the last minute refusing to see him. The next morning Clay wakes up to find that Emily was murdered and he’s at the top of the suspect list. The remainder of the book is following Clay’s story of being on the run and trying to prove his innocence before another person is murdered.

This book had me hooked! The author kind of just throws the reader into the story and from there we get to know the characters, which was enjoyable. The twists and turns of the book had me wondering if what I thought was true or I was going to be fooled again. The only reason that I gave this book 4 stars is because the ending fell a bit flat for me. I really had no idea who the killer really was but thought that the story just kind of ended with no real rhyme or reason as to why the killer did what he/she did. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book as a must read!

He knows your secrets... and he's not afraid to use them.

Clay Davis is a bartender in a popular but laid-back bar, The Gryphon. He loves bartending, he's good at it, and he knows that no matter where life takes him, he will always be able to find a job. As he says, there will always be people out there looking to have a drink, no matter where you go. When a regular patron of The Gryphon is brutally murdered, the evidence quickly begins stacking against Clay. In a race to prove his innocence and find the killer with an unlikely ally, who can he trust? Will his loved ones believe his innocence? Everyone is a suspect in this twisted and deadly game...
I started this book with high hopes after reading the description, and I have to say, I was not disappointed. In fact, I was absolutely blown away by Deadly Games. I was unable to put it down as I desperately wanted answers to all of my many questions and theories. I was delighted to find that none of my theories were right, which is something I love while reading a thriller. I love holding my breath as I read page after page, especially in books like this where the events take place in real-time. This was a very fast-paced and exciting thriller, with so many twists and turns it felt like I was on a paper roller coaster. The anticipation eventually boiled over into a shocking and nail-biting ending and I would 100% recommend this book to any thriller or horror lovers! I am so excited to read Steve Frech's other two novels!