Several random people across the world receive mysterious invitations to a game that they cannot refuse to play. The game is deadly and the rules are hard to follow.

I really liked The Game. It took me a few chapters to fully understand which player was which, but Kershaw is able to create individual characters so it wasn't a problem. It is a fast-paced thriller with twists and turns.

I felt that the finale could have been padded out a little more, but this doesn't stop The Game being an exciting novel. I'd recommend.

Many thanks to Scott Kershaw, NetGalley, and HQ for this copy.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book, so I took the chance on a debut author.
I’m a little torn on how I feel about it. On the one hand, I rushed through it, desperate to know why and who was orchestrating The Game. Why were those five players chosen, and how would it end? On the other hand, some parts were hard to read, and I’m not entirely sold on the conclusion.
It is told from the perspective of the five players with an odd chapter thrown in of the Pregame. To begin with, it is fine calling the players by their numbers; however, once you are into the story and know their real names, it is hard to remember who has which number. So, when starting their chapter, it only tells you the player number, so you have to remind yourself every chapter who is who. The timeline could get quite messy, too, as there are past events thrown into the mix. Although, these are quite easily identified as they are set in completely different settings to what you know the players are currently experiencing. Looking back, the timeline was cleverly orchestrated, and it really does help with how the book comes together.
A few scenes were challenging to envisage, such as when they were all running along the motorway. Why did so many of them keep ending up in the middle lane? It was just hard to follow what was happening.
I liked that many nationalities were thrown in the mix of the book and had scenes in America, Paris, and the UK. It made a pleasant change from reading a book based in one of these countries. The author did a great job of appearing knowledgeable about each country.
The conclusion was a little disappointing; I expected the reason behind why this was happening to be more significant. It was all a shock, and I hadn’t worked anything out. So this made for great reading; however, it does peter out a little once it is revealed. The very last couple of pages made no sense. I’m not sure if I was missing something, but it bore no relevance to the rest of the story; it just wasn’t needed.
So, overall, even though I did enjoy reading this, there were many problems with the story as a whole. So, if I did half stars, it would be three and a half. However, I did make for a different read from anything I’ve read recently. For that reason, I am giving it a generous four stars!

5 strangers all find themselves in an unimaginable situation. This book will keep you hooked from beginning to end. Full of twists and turns, it’s difficult to decide who you trust as the story unravels. Each chapter focuses on a different character, so sometimes the story can become convoluted when trying to remember which player was who. The final 20% of the book felt slightly rushed compared to the other 80% that was very drawn out. Overall some compelling characters and a good debut novel.

A very exciting, tense read where the tension keeps on increasing. I like the way each of the initial five players are introduced via short chapters outlining their character and background. This happens throughout the book so you gradually find out more and more about each player. It is some time before you find out exactly what “the game” is and this helps make the book more interesting,; it keeps the tension build as you ask yourself, “Where is this going?” I found the whole storyline and plot very original although in part of the book comparisons are made to certain films which I have not seen. Some might think, therefore, that the plot is not particularly original if they have seen those films (I’m not naming the films as this might give something away). All in all, I enjoyed the book and would definitely read more by this author.

I really enjoyed this - it was totally original and very cinematic. It was also an easy read with short chapters alternating between the five players - "a very pretty blonde who looks almost like a teenager, a frenchman, a chubby suburban housewife, a well groomed man in thick designer spectacles and an old British lady. Unsurprisingly all of the players turn out to be connected, although player four's connection was understated or under-explained as it felt a bit tenuous compared to the others. I loved the game of chicken and would've liked more levels like that with the players competing rather than working together. There were just a couple of things that stopped this being a 5 star read - the climax turned into a bit of a blood bath and I didn't get the actual ending.

I loved this book from the very first page. It had me gripped and I couldn't breathe until I finished it. I thought it was very well written and the characters were vivid and jumped off the page. I will definitely be reading more from this author. Simply brilliant!

A debut thriller that kept me guessing til the end. Gruesome in places and careful editing should have removed the incident with the dog as it was unnecessary to the plot. A good twist and we'll written characters.

Hooks you from the beginning, I didn’t put it down until I finished it.
I liked the initial format, loved ones taken and how will these strangers come together to save them.
It was clever to see how these strangers lives were intertwined but for me personally I did not like how the story came together in the end, but it kept me reading to the end

A debut thriller by Scott Kershaw. And what a thriller it was!

This book really hits the floor running. Wow. Heart in mouth, you read as each of the five players are introduced to you, with one of their beloved family members, friends, children, husbands and wives are taken. One for each player. And they must enter the game to get them back. Caveat? Only one of them can win. Oooo shivers.

I loved how the book opened. With one character each getting their own chapter and an intro to who in their lives are important to them and hints who may be taken. It was the perfect sum up and start to the book and I found myself devouring the chapters and the pages to find out more.

I loved how the book was separated into ‘levels’ and subsequently we got a chapter from each of the perspectives of players. It was so different and so entertaining to read. It moves steadily on, as the players are faced with more tasks they just complete in order to keep their loved ones safe. Fail a task? They won’t want to find out what happens as a consequence…

I literally couldn’t stop reading and couldn’t believe how quickly I flew through the book. The twists, the turns. It was a true suspense. What a great thriller and definitely a very thrilling read!

This book took me on a ride.

This follows 5 people whose loved ones have been kidnapped, they must play a mysterious game where the rules and game master are all a mystery to get them back.

I thought this book was going to be more fast-paced than it was. I think that was my main issue with the book as a whole. It felt like there were a lot of bits, especially in the beginning that dragged a little and at times I did find myself skimming.

Despite this, the plot was absolutely worth it. The twists and turns it gave were insane and the ending I was not expecting at all. It also made a lot of sense, there was no point during the ending where I thought it came completely out of the blue.

I did have questions that I don't think we're addressed at all or very little at the end as well but honestly, that's me being a little nitpicky.

The characters I didn't feel too much for and for some didn't particularly like but I felt that it didn't matter or mattered very little to my enjoyment of the book. I didn't need to like everyone to feel for them and I think that's impressive to a point.

Overall I loved the ride this took me on and I would recommend it as a decent thriller.

When I read the synopsis for this book, I was attracted to the concept, which has a ‘Saw’ like feel. I liked the authors style of writing but admit to finding some parts confusing as there were 5 ‘players’ to become familiar with, as well as their backstory including details about the loved one who had been kidnapped, and those involved in the ‘pre-game’. The characters are all very well-developed, each having their own flaws and insecurities, which made it easy to care about them and their plight. For me, the switching from past to present felt slightly clumsy in places.

Unfortunately, I have had to drop one star due to the murder of the dog, I felt this was an unnecessary addition, there to simply shock the reader. (Animal cruelty of any kind is a no-no for me.)

The ending was very good - I enjoyed the twist which I hadn’t worked out.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel. A very clever and original plot that kept me guessing right up until the end, unlike other thrillers I have read recently which have been very predictable. I found the start intriguing, five players all linked somehow and being forced to take part in a macabre game. I can see that some readers may struggle with following the five different stories of each main character, but that was the bit I liked. As a fast reader, it is refreshing when a plot is intense and complicated and I have to be fully immersed in the story to unravel it. I can see this book being very successful when published and would make the perfect read for anyone needing to be entertained on a flight or a sun bed this summer!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher HQ and the author for allowing me to review this e-advance copy.

The game by Scott Kershaw is an action-packed thriller and I got drawn in by the premise of the story.
Five people with different countries and circumstances are drawn into a game when their siblings have been kidnapped. None of them want to play. But if they don’t one of their siblings will die. Who will win and who will lose?
Thank you, HQ, for a copy of The Game by Scott Kershaw. Firstly, this is a great first novel by the author and I liked the concept of the storyline and well-developed characters. I liked that it kept you guessing and asking why is someone doing this and what is their agenda? The sheer terror of what is happening to themselves and hope their siblings are okay. But I sometimes find it confusing at times as there was not a lot of differentiation between the game itself and their back story of each player and the ending, I was expecting more than it delivered. Although saying all that, I still think it is worth a read. 3.5 stars from me.

DNF - I still wanted to write review because I don't believe this is a bad book the writing style just wasn't for me but I'm sure other people would love this story

With the story dotting between each of the 5 players and jumping between their past and present situations this was initially a bit tricky to follow but I soon got into the swing and pace of the story.
With each player fighting for the freedom of a loved one the book follows the group racing across the country or indeed across the world to the mysterious coordinates where the game will finally play out.
Full of intrigue and suspense the final twist is totally unexpected!

Not quite what I expected, then again I didn't know what to expect really! Reading the description it conjured ideas of the Saw films and the Jigsaw killer so I was curious to see where it went.
My only complaint is a lack of context here and there, unless you're really paying attention to life it's easy to get a little lost and confused.

Kershaw really plays the long game and despite it taking the majority of the book to wrap up, I genuinely think it was worth the wait. There really was no unravelling what was going on until the very end and that's impressive for me. I'm known for figuring out the twist faster than most.

A little messy a conclusion for my taste, a few more pages to draw it out and explain things and it would immediately become a 5 star book for me.

There are plenty of things that drew me to this book, the log line being one of them; "to save their life, you have to play". What's not to love about that. Straight away, this book was giving me the same vibes as the Saw and Escape Room film franchise's, which was an instant win for me, I knew I would love the book. For a debut novel, I can only commend Kershaw for writing such a compelling piece that kept my constant attention. The chapters were short enough for me to fly through the entire book in about four days, which is something I tend to seek out in books I want to read, but it's not always a requirement, just a bonus. Another thing that I liked about this book was how the books followed the five main characters from their perspective. There are not a lot of books that I can think of that do this, but I love it whenever I come across it. I would highly recommend The Game to anyone who wants a tense read that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

(Will update with blog and social media links when live.)

The Game is a high-octane unique thriller by Scott Kershaw.

It follows what seems a simple premises. Across the globe, five strangers receive a horrifying message from an unknown number. The Person you love most is in danger. To save them, each must play The Game – a sinister unknown entity that has a single rule: there can only be one winner. If you lose, your loved one will die. But what is The Game – and why have they been chosen? There’s only one thing each of them knows for sure: they’ll do anything to win. Welcome to the game. You’ve just started playing.

I was intrigued by this premise. It gave me a sort of vibe of the movies Would You Rather? Or Saw and perhaps with a hint of Battle Royale. Unfortunately in some parts I felt it lacked a little for me. The suspense is fantastic, although it can get a little dark at times but I expect that. Unfortunately, the pacing got to me a little – there were a lot of points of view and jumping between past and present that sometimes jarred you out of the story. It also hit one of the down markers for me by potentially using animal death/cruelty for shock-value. It was obvious it was going to happen, I mentally called it as soon as the dog was introduced but it seemed unnecessary.

I also found the reveal at the end a little….lacking. It didn’t make a lot of sense, or rather there was no real explanation of how the person in charge of The Game could have managed to pull everything off they had. I realise we as readers are sometimes meant to invoke a suspension of disbelief when reading and while the person's motivation did make sense the execution just seemed unbelievable, especially given such a short period of time to set everything up. Again it jarred me from the book. The ending for that character was somewhat fitting but again – they seemed to ultimately get away with everything and it was almost as if the actions and consequences of The Game are just forgotten.

I had hoped to get more closure and more focus on the idea of consent and the growing issues surrounding the internet, pornography and punishment for those who stay silent or do not help when they can but it seemed to lack a little. It’s a shame since the writing is good but I felt some of it was more shock value i.e. killing the dog, some of the darker aspects rather than building to the plot as a whole

Thank you though to netgalley and HQ for the ARC.

The Game - Scott Kershaw

Publication Date: 12/05/22

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The person you love most is in danger. If you lose, your loved one will die. Welcome to the game, you’ve just started playing.” Five seemingly random strangers from across the globe have their worlds shattered when their loved ones are kidnapped. How far would a normal person go to save someone they really love?

I had this book recommended via an email from NetGalley and with one look at the cover knew I had to request it! I actually had to bump this up my TBR pile because of all the growing hype. Scott has absolutely defined what a psychological thriller is with The Game. Each chapter is split into a players perspective and personal journey, with the players eventually coming together as a collective. As it neared the end I was still questioning how everyone was still actually playing the game, how the game had been created and how the underlying storyline would tie into it. Couldn’t have spotted the plot twisting ending if I’d tried any harder! Read within one sitting and would happily read it again.

A fast paced, easily devoured thriller, that leaves you unable to put it down. Huge thanks for NetGalley and HQ Books for the ARC, and to Scott Kershaw for writing this thrilling book.

The game...5 participants who will wish they had never been chosen to take part. 5 strangers are brought together to take part in a game where they all have something to lose. This book sucked me in straight away and while I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable I was rooting for them all. Brilliantly written the ending totally surprised me, how they were all linked and who was behind this game I had not figured out.
On the whole I really enjoyed it and feel one of the characters stories is not over yet, could there be a sequel in the making?