The Murder Game by Rachel Abbott quite simply had me hooked from the very first page. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy and I literally could not put it down.
The story starts as many murder mysteries do with a group of people gathered in a beautiful setting for a celebration. In this case the wedding of wealthy philanthropist Lucas Jarrett to the lovely Nina in the stunning setting of Polskirrin in the South West of England. We see the goings on mainly through the eyes of Gemma Hudson, an outsider and the wife of one of Lucas’s oldest friends.
It’s not long however before a body washes ashore, that of Lucas’s introverted and enigmatic sister Alex. With no real evidence to support foul play her death is ruled as suicide. Lucas can’t accept the ruling and invites the guests from that ill fated night back to Polskirrin on the first anniversary of her death.
They soon find out this is no memorial - he’s planned a murder game to find Alex’s killer and they are all suspects.
What I liked most about The Murder Game by Rachel Abbott:
1. I loved how the author has stuck closely to the murder mystery framework we all love but added twists here and there to maintain the readers guessing game.
2. The character dynamics and relationships - so much tension is built between the reunion of these old friends, with undercurrents of so much shared history - not all good - that has you believing any one of them could be a murderer.
3. The setting - from the Japanese garden to the boathouse and the main house - Polskirrin is a wonderful setting for a murder mystery - or a spa - I’d certainly go!
4. Our detective - Stephanie - honest, kind, blunt, believable she is everything you want your murder mystery detective to be.
5. The ending - I loved it. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.
Easily five stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️