Of all the Jefferson Tayte mysteries, this was my least favorite. The last book "Kindred" was a bit dark in the story line. It made me uncomfortable. This book had a modern day serial killer and it just hit too close to home for me to enjoy it.

While in the past, I have had a hard time NOT reading Robinson's genealogical mysteries, this time I had a hard time making myself go back to it. I found myself looking for excuses not to read. But I did finish it and the ending was satisfactory, so it wasn't all bad.

I do hope that the author returns to his previous style. I realize that there must be evil in a book or the good can't be shown. But the last two have been much darker than the Jefferson Tayte that I grew to love. I don't think I can do another book like this one.

Jefferson has been called to Washington by the FBI because of the deaths of a pair of brothers. It seems that the leads point to him as the murderer, but he has an iron tight alibi since he was in England with Jean. As more murders unfold, it becomes clear that there is a serial killer who uses genealogical clues to give JT information about the next victim. He has to solve a riddle about who was killed, where, and the method of the death in an attempt to prevent it from all happening again. The victims are all family members of his previous clients. That is Part One of the book. I shan't say anything about the story line in Part 2. That you will have to read for yourself. I will only say that it was easier reading than Part 1.

This is a wonderful roller-coaster ride of a book! As my genealogical friend Peter Calver (http://lostcousins.com) says, this is "Jefferson Tayte meets CSI"!

I have been steering clear of suspense thrillers lately - life is stressful enough at the moment, without adding to it... And I won't bore you with an outline of the plot: I find it more useful to read how someone actually reacts to a book, without any spoilers. True, there is a lot of action and suspense in "Dying Games", but the plot is so well-paced and interesting that I found I couldn't put it down until the very last paragraph. Totally hooked, I wanted to shut out everything happening around me to find out what would happen in the end.

I have witnessed Steve Robinson's writing progress from the self-published "In the Blood" in 2011 to this, his latest novel in the Jefferson Tayte series, and I can honestly say that he has become a master-storyteller in both the Genealogical Mystery genre as well as the Suspense-Thriller genre. And for the lily-livered readers like myself, I will add that although there are lots of horrific murders in this novel, they are not nearly as gritty and gruesome as they are in, for example, Stuart MacBride's novels.

This is a total MUST for anyone who likes family history and thrillers, and definitely an author to follow! Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for sending me an advanced copy to review.

It was like CSI meets who do you think you are. .it was excellent mystery novel. The only downside is that it was connected to another book in the series. It makes me want to buy that book when I find it

When twin brothers are found drowned in a Perspex box in Washington D. C., and a family history chart is left at the scene, the police realise that this is one of several recent murders with a link to genealogist Jefferson Tayte. Knowing that his experience will be invaluable, Tayte is summoned by the FBI to assist in catching the ruthless killer who always seems to be one step ahead. With his reputation at stake and the body count rapidly rising, will Jefferson have to pay the ultimate price to stop the sadist in his tracks?

I have become a big fan of Steve Robinson’s Jefferson Tayte books over the years and I await each new instalment eagerly. I was excited, therefore, to receive Dying Games through Net Galley, telling myself that I would wait until nearer publication day before I would read it. This resolution lasted a whole day before I found myself clicking on it on my kindle!

The book begins in a very macabre fashion as a woman is burned to death inside a dolls’ house. This sets the tone for the rest of the book as the twisted killer re-enacts deaths that have appeared in the family trees of the victims. From quite early on, JT realises that the killer is someone he has encountered in his professional life but is finding it impossible to convince the FBI that the man cannot be working alone. In Frankie Mavro, JT has the perfect sidekick – someone who provides him with the necessary authority to undertake his research but who is also genuinely on his side.

Like the rest of this series, once I started on this book, I found it difficult to put down. I do feel, though, that this one is different to the others as it had an almost Dan Brown feel to it with our hero solving clues against the clock in order to prevent a tragedy. The ‘race against time’ element made it a very fast-paced, exhilarating read and I really liked the fact how, in many of the cases, there was no happy ending, as this helped JT to develop a true hatred of the unknown man.

Dying Games is a superb addition to the Jefferson Tayte franchise and I hope this is a series that continues to run and run: the ending of this book has certainly changed the direction of any future plots!

Dying Games is a great entry in the Jefferson Tate genealogical mystery series. Called back to Washington, DC by the FBI, Jefferson soon finds himself involved with a serial killer (the Genie) who is killing people connected to past clients. Recently out of jail, the Genie wants revenge against Tate and won't be happy until Tate loses everything like he did. The Genie is kidnapping people and killing them in horrific ways that mimic the deaths of an ancestor. Tate and the FBI must figure out who the next victim is, which ancestor's death is being re-created, and where the death is to occur while racing a clock. Is the Genie working on his own or is there a puppet master pulling his strings? This book has lots of twists and turns which kept me guessing throughout the book. When Tate has to face losing everything that matters, he finds a reserve of strength he never knew he had. I'm hoping that there will be many more entries in this series; I enjoy the way the stories mix history, genealogy, and mystery.

4 stars

SAC Jordan Reese of the FBI meets Jefferson “JT” Tayte as he gets off a plane from London where he was spending time with his fiancée, Jean. Reese has a problem on his hands. There have been murders committed and the evidence ties them to JT in some way. It turns out that the four people murdered so far are related to persons for whom JT has done genealogical work.

As JT tries to understand just who is doing this, the killer commits more murders. The murders are all committed in creative, different and diabolical ways. JT doesn’t understand who he could have upset so badly that they have resorted to murdering innocent people. He is perplexed and tortured with guilt. As JT tries to piece the evidence and clues together, the tension in the story mounts.

It’s nice to have a new Jefferson Tayte novel. It is well written and plotted. The story progresses along at a good pace and is suspenseful. Having read the previous Jefferson Tayte novels, I know enough about JT’s past that this book only enhances. I really enjoy reading Steve Robinson’s books and look forward to reading the next in this series.

I want to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for forwarding to me a copy of this delightful book to read.

Jefferson Tayte is summoned home to DC because the FBI want his help. Someone well up in genealogy and its research methods is killing people in a manner to echo the death of one of their ancestors. Tayte is involved because they are all related to past clients of his. The killer is leaving clues – it’s a sick game and if Tayte doesn’t play it, they die. If he’s clever, he might get there before the deadline and save the victim.

Because of the structure of the story – the fact that there are several families and puzzles to sort out from Tayte’s old files, the story builds in excitement. Will he solve it? Imagine failing to solve a puzzle in time to save a person’s life. You’d feel terrible about yourself. At least he’s happy that Jean is safe in England. Tayte has more than a suspicion he knows who’s behind it but the FBI think differently. This story touches on JT’s personal life and previous contacts more than any other and I found it exciting and terrifying in equal measure. It’s a dead sure winner and I enjoyed it immensely.

Another riveting genealogical mystery for Jefferson Tayte (JT). Dying Games is the sixth book of a fascinating series involving murder, mystery and genealogy, all cleverly blended with a sprinkling of suspense to keep you reading into the early hours.

JT is in England and about to go away with his fiancée Jean when he is asked to return to DC to assist in a murder investigation. It is quickly established that someone is targeting his ex-clients. Relatives of his clients are being murdered by methods closely replicating the manner in which one of their ancestors died. The murderer involves JT in the build up to each one, providing clues and a deadline by which the mystery must be solved if he is to stop the crime. JT works with FBI analyst Frankie Mavro to decipher the clues against the rapidly ticking clock.

As the bodies pile up JT is devastated and feels solely responsible for the murders and is convinced he knows who is behind them and that it is not the person performing the evil deeds.

I don’t want to say any more as it will spoil the plot, suffice to say that it gets more exciting with every page and if you have enjoyed the previous five books you will definitely enjoy this one.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a preview copy.

I enjoyed this book, but feel like it could have been tighter in some spots, too much detail in irrelevant passages. While I think it is another well done book, it's not as sharp as the previous books in the series.

I have waited almost a year for the next instalment of Jefferson Tayte (JT) and his epic adventures and it was well worth it. As always the events get off to a dramatic and tragic start which do not stop until the very last page. This time things get very personal with a character we only know as ‘the genie’ at the start, controlling every second of JTs life. The FBI summon JT back to Washington to help them identify the killer of several relatives connected to some of the genealogical cases he has investigated in the past. On each occasion, a relative is murdered in the same place and by the same method as one of their forbearers. Following the discovery of each body JT is given a clue and we follow him in his rush against time to determine who the next victim will be and where the murder will take place. Unfortunately for the victims it is some time before JT manages to work within the perilous time frame involved with the investigations and he gets frustratingly close to stopping the next tragedy on several occasions. As always the last few chapters have you on the edge of your seat wondering if JT will make it out of trouble this time. So far he has been lucky and made it in the nick of time, but will it be the same this time or are we heading for the ultimate tragedy? Sorry, I am obviously not going to tell you, but you will have to read the book to find out.

I have been a big fan of the work of Steve Robinson since his first book and have never been disappointed with any of the titles. This is yet another masterpiece of genealogical discovery, with several tragic deaths along the way. As always with these books I pick one up with the intention of reading for a few minutes, but I become so engrossed in the characters and events that a couple of hours have passed, which I am not complaining about at all. You become totally engrossed in the story and can’t be left waiting to discover the next instalment. This book can be read as a stand alone book, but personally I think any reader will get far more from the story if they read the previous books in order to understand the character of JT and his many nuances, from his indulgence of Hershey’s chocolate to his obsession with copious amounts of coffee, his ever present cream linen suits and briefcase which goes everywhere with him.

I would recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a gripping mystery with several heart in the mouth moments and a high degree of tension.

I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in advance.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of Dying Games, the sixth novel in the series featuring genealogist Jefferson "JT" Tayte.

JT is in England with his fiancée, Jean, when he is contacted by the FBI and asked to return to Washington to discuss a death with links to him. They are unsure if he is responsible or if someone is trying to get to him. Soon it becomes clear that there is a serial killer on the loose with a grudge against him and a novel way of showing it.

This is the first novel in the series I have read so I have no preconceptions. The plotting is good and well paced. It is a fairly high octane read with JT and his sidekick, FBI analyst Frankie Mavro, constantly fighting the clock to solve the killer's clues and save a victim. The clue solving seems to come easily to them but it doesn't detract from the hectic pace.

The level of complexity the killer goes to to destroy JT seems a bit OTT to me but it makes for a good read and fits in well with the glimpses the reader is given of his mindset and thinking.

JT is a pleasant protagonist and refreshingly normal. He is smart and driven in his career but now that he has found love, later in life, with Jean he is happy to give it and his customary aloneness up.

Dying Games is not a challenging read as it follows a linear, logical timeline and has a a fairly straightforward plot but it is action packed, tense and gripping so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

Jefferson Tayte returns in another genealogical thriller, and this time the murders appear to be personal. The murders are sadistic and bizarre and at each scene is a family history, linking all the victims to Tayte. The FBI calles him in for insight, it wouldn’t be the first time he’s helped solve a case like this. Nut even as he struggles to understand the clues left behind, more murders occur. While the cops are wondering of Tayte has lost his touch, the genealogist is only worried about stopping the killer before he can strike again. This is a fascinating mystery series, and while I think that it is best enjoyed that way, this book can be read as a standalone