I saw this book before it came on here and everyone was commenting on it.
I got annoyed at certain parts as it kept going from 1st name and then surname. This was a buzz kill for me
It never seemed to get started just a slow pace all the way through

I really enjoyed this one!!

I really got in to the characters, which made me get stuck in to the book. I loved the mystery around what was going on. And oh the twists! They got me! I managed to work out how it was going to end (ish) within the last 100 pages or so, but I had no idea how it would be exposed. Such a good read! .

This was an easy to read thriller thaylt kept my attention all the way through! Lots of twists and surprises I didn't see coming. Very good, would recommend! Absolutely brilliant!

Wow, what an intriguing story. I was quickly flicking through to find out what was going to happen next and before I knew it I had read the whole book. Very fast-paced and an unpredictable storyline. Cannot wait for the next one from this author.

What a book!! I read it cover to cover in 2 days. I really really enjoyed it. The premise of the book, a group of high functioning psychopaths playing a game, was great in itself, add that to characters who were so well-defined and believable it had me hooked immediately. The couple of twists and turns in the book kept me on the edge of my seat (no spoilers of course!). And I loved Augusta. Hoping there’s a second book to come!

An excellent debut novel from Leona Deakin, I look forward to reading more by this author. A fast paced plot with intriguing characters.

Enjoyed reading this book. However, I was disappointed in the ending. There wasn’t really much mystery either but an easy read.

This is one of around 50 books I read during an imposed 3 month quarantine. Clever and different take on finding missing persons - required a certain amount of 'suspension of disbelief' as I'm not sure the motivations were fully thought through. Will make you think twice about taking those innocuous quizzes to find out what type of person you are. Entertaining and thought provoking.

A fresh and fascinating psychological thriller, that had me gripped from its opening chapter!

Bloom & Jameson are both compelling, engaging characters who I thought were a great pairing and their exchanges brought some light humour to a serious plot.

It just missed out on 5⭐ because I guessed the twists before the big reveal but I still enjoyed this well-paced thriller.

Overall a fabulous debut, a completely original and creepy plot, with great characters. I can't wait to see where Deakin takes Bloom & Jameson next! If you are a fan of M J Arlidge this book is well worth a read.

Thanks to Black Swan & Netgalley for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved the premise and mystery within this story. The two parallel lines come together and it all snaps and makes sense.

I would say that in parts it was quite jumpy and confusing. Definitely kept me on my toes.

I did guess the ‘twist’ though, but it didn’t negate from how well it had been written.

I’m going for a 3/5 rating for this one. Not mind blowing but not a bad book!

Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for allowing me to receive an advance copy of this novel for review.

This is Leona Deakin's debut novel and the idea for the plot is an interesting one.

A woman receives a card on her birthday saying 'Happy 1st Birthday' and then she disappears.

Dr Bloom and her business partner Jameson are tasked with investigating the disappearance of this woman and find that she's not the only person who has disappeared after receiving one of these cards.

The main characters, Dr Bloom and Jameson are well developed and I liked them both and cared about what happened to them.

It's a fast paced thriller which I really enjoyed. Some parts were a wee bit predictable and I'd worked out parts of it about halfway through.

Nevertheless, I think it's an excellent debut which has obviously been well researched.

I hope there's more from Bloom and Jameson. :)

Loved the premise of this book and am only sorry that it took me so long to get around to reading it.
A lot of research went into this and it shows. There are flaws but to discuss them would be to give away spoilers and I can't do that whilst simultaneously recommending all thriller fans to read it! I love a psychopath. But I'm not one... Promise. The only downside I can discuss is the ending which was perhaps predictable? I still really enjoyed it and might even consider reading it again which I almost never do! Looking forward to more from Leona Deakin.

Stop everything you're doing and read this book. You won't regret it - I certainly don't. A riveting voice in contemporary thriller writing. Love it.

A gripping suspense novel investigateing a missing person case whilst studying psychopaths.

A gripping read which will have you reading at all hours of the night to know what will happen next!

Dr Augusta Bloom is a practising Psychologist and Private Detective.
Marcus Jameson is an ex MI6 agent and Private Detective.
Together they form an interesting duo who tackle a missing person investigation with a thrilling twist.

In this debut, Deakin brings to light an interesting and thrilling concept, one of which is packed with short, sharp and snappy chapters. The storyline for this debut is based around an anonymous birthday card, a secret invitation to an addictive game and four missing people with nothing in common. Just one question comes to mind… Would you “DARE TO PLAY”?

I found myself so engrossed in the plot developments that I didn’t work out who the mastermind was until towards the end. Deakin doesn’t give the reader chance to overthink and ploughs straight ahead, weaving past and present storylines into one another seamlessly.

The end left me with a few questions but I’m hoping book two in this new up and coming series will pick up where this left off. I’m looking forward to reading the next instalment from Leona Deakin and seeing where the character development goes.

A gripping suspense filled debut. Psychologist and Private Detective Augusta Bloom delves into the fascinating world of the psychopath whilst investigating a missing person case. A fast-paced story that will keep you turning the pages.

This is a chilling look into the world of psychopaths - super interesting.... and very chilling.

I found this a really interesting concept. So many crime books now blend into one but this stood out for me with a plot which I havent come across before.

Characters were great and the story fast moving. Couldnt put it down!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

An online game forcing a select group of people to walk away from their current lives.... what a hook!
this was a great, fast-paced (almost) thriller. It was easy to read and engaging. I became very attache to the characters and would have loved to see more of them. The book did feel somewhat rushed and could easily of have been fleshed out (150+ pages) or split into two books.
A brilliant read for fans of The One by John Marrs.

I loved this book, the characters were good and i really enjoyed the story, slightly disappointed i managed to guess the ending though - strong 4/5

This was an interesting take on the standard thrillers, although the twist ending was obvious from the mid-way point.

Dr Augusta Bloom, a psychologist and her partner Marcus Jameson an ex MI6 serviceman are helping police to investigate a series of disappearances where the only evidence left behind was a birthday card daring them to play a game.

What follows is a psychological thriller where the psychopaths of the world are uniting in order to gain control.

On the whole it was a page turner, and there was lots of action.

The only thing that really grated with me, in the second half of the book was the constant use of the term "psychopath" as if it was a distinguished club - used by everyone.

I'd read something by this author again - perhaps not the sequel - but a different set of characters as the character development is well done, and the story line fast moving.