Another hit from Jennifer Giacalone!
After reading Jennifer Giacalone's first book, Art of the Chase, I was eager to read more of her stories. Verity's Game has a cat and mouse dynamic where both main characters are evenly matched in skill sets, there's loads of action and humor, and it's set in Mexico City. I loved getting to see parts of Mexico City thru the story, experience the energy of certain neighborhoods and really appreciate the choice of this location. Similar to Art of the Chase, art does feature in Verity's Game as well, with artists and artwork that may be new to readers; the artwork itself is nearly a character, as is an unusual vehicle that may stir emotions and become a favorite for some readers for its use and meaning. I anticipated the plot reveals ahead of time but the fun was in getting to them, seeing what happened in the meantime. I suspect this book might have been intentionally written to be somewhat less complex than Art of the Chase in terms of the plot, but it does have lots of twists and turns to keep you engaged and interested in order to see how all the pieces fit together. Both books have a cinematic feel to them that enlivens your imagination and feeds your senses like only a truly great masterpiece of a movie can do.
Part of the winning combination in Giacalone's writing so far is that you'll be entertained but also educated about art and social issues among other things along the way, without any of it being preachy or too deep in the weeds for none but the most ardent nerds to happily immerse themselves in. You'll get incendiary chemistry between main characters and it will come out in every interaction no matter where they are (yes, in the bedroom too); you'll laugh and chuckle and smile and smirk while reading, possibly tear up; and you'll get to the end feeling so satisfied that the only downside is having to wait for her to publish another book to put you thru this kind of rollicking good time rollercoaster all over again.
I highly recommend both of her books and suggest planning your reading so you have leeway to read longer than you originally scheduled, so the feel gooded-ness this story will give you (from your brain to your funny bone and other places too) can be prolonged as much as possible. Be sure to give both books your full attention so you can take in all the details and clues. And check out the art mentioned in both books so it can be seen, known and appreciated by a larger audience.
I look forward to reading her next book whenever it's published.

This was an enjoyable thriller-romance, perfect for a quick read if you don't mind the main characters being assassins for hire.

The main characters are Verity and Reina. Verity is on a mission to carry out a hit on a politician when she meets a woman she's immediately taken with. It's not until the next day when said woman, Reina, holds her at a gunpoint that Verity realises they were hired to get rid of the same man.

I think the characters have a fun chemistry and there's enough drama going on to make the story interesting and fast paced enough for a thriller. There's probably some suspension of disbelief when it comes to some plot points (I mean one of the characters literally sucks a bullet out of the other, which made me stop reading for a long minute just to wonder... Why) but that comes with every book in this particular genre.

It's a good book for a a bit of mindless relaxing.

Verity is a hit woman, working for a Mexican cartel. She tracks a target to a gay club, kills him and makes it look like sex play.

There she dances with the gorgeous Reina, who takes her home for a hot, sexy night.

Next morning, each makes a startling discovery: BOTH are hit women, assigned the same target. Worse, they each botched the others hit.

What follows is a fun, enjoyable caper novel, with lots of clever banter and humor. I liked both Verity and Reina, and the storyline kept me reading eagerly.

**Review: "Verity's Game"**

"Verity's Game" is a gripping thriller that hooks you from the very beginning. The story follows Verity, a smart and mysterious character, who faces intense challenges that push her to her limits.

The plot is full of unexpected twists and turns, keeping you guessing until the very end. Verity is a well-developed character, making her journey both exciting and thought-provoking. The book raises interesting questions about ethics, trust, and power.

The pacing is perfect, making it hard to put the book down. The supporting characters add depth to the story, and the author's descriptive writing makes you feel like you're right there with Verity.

Overall, "Verity's Game" is a fantastic read for anyone who loves psychological thrillers. It’s a thrilling and unforgettable book that explores the darker side of human nature.