‘I know your name, your birthday, your kids’ names, where you live, where you work. I know when you get that big promotion or when you argue with your spouse.
But someone knows everything about me too. Someone knows all my secrets, and they’re using them against me…’
DEADLY GAMES by Steve Frech was an engaging whodunit that kept me invested and intrigued in the storyline throughout, though the ending felt more predictable than the well-placed twist I believe it was meant to be, I still recommend this book.

My next Frech read, DARK HALLOWS or NIGHTINGALE HOUSE, I haven’t decided yet.

Thank You, NetGalley and HQ Publishing (HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.), for providing me with an eARC of DEADLY GAMES at the request of an honest review.

If you need a palate cleanser book after a really heavy or long read this is the perfect book.
I read this in one sitting!
It was exciting and fast paced without being overly heavy so it was fun!
Perfect for a plane or long car ride where you need a fun read to get lost in,

I really didn't know what to expect at first. When we met Clay, I thought he was kind of a jerk. I mean, he is, but he's a likable jerk.

The mystery is a good one. I really didn't know who our murderer was and was definitely surprised by the answer!

The book was highly suspenseful and kept me guessing.

Happy I read it!

This is my 3rd book by Steve Frech and my favorite!
I was not expecting this one! Well-plotted mystery!
I took away one star because there were some parts that didn’t make total sense.
I really enjoy his creepy and suspenseful atmospheric novels.
I will keep reading Frech’s books as long as he keeps writing them!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Steve French is a wonderful writer. I've enjoyed every book I've read by him. With that said, this one didn't quite do it for me.

The beginning was fast-paced and compelling, but it quickly went downhill. The plot just got too slow and muddled for my tastes. I hope you enjoy it more than I did. I definitely can't wait for French to put out another book!

I absolutely love Steve Frech but I must say this one was not one his better books so this is a 3.5 for me. The premise sounded great but I found the main character, Clay, to be really annoying. He was trying to get himself out of a mess and had help from a very saavy reporter but he just kept making bad decisions and not listening. I also felt that the killer's motivation wasn't all that clear or logical. He went to a lot of trouble to set everything up and the reason given was lacking.
Overall I enjoyed this book and Steve Frech is still one of my favorite authors but it wasn't his best.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book left me speechless. I did not see that coming. It kept me flipping pages the entire time. I definitely recommend this book.

THIS BOOK WAS AWESOME!
I am SO glad that I ended up reading this one!
This book had me hooked from the very first chapter.
I swear, the way Frech writes, it was like a movie.
I legit felt like I was watching a thriller.
In fact, it SHOULD be a movie.
Frech - how can we make this happen? And also, can I play Genevieve the annoying reporter? I feel like I could really do her part justice. (Just saying)

Clay Davis is a bartender.
He’s really good at talking to people and knowing what they want.
He works at a bar that tends to serve some wealthy clientele.
As with any bar, there are the usual regulars… the patrons that are always there.
One of these regular patrons happens to be the beautiful Emily Parker, wife to the incredibly wealth businessman Henry Parker.
When Emily Parker is discovered murdered all signs point to Clay as the main suspect.
Yes… Clay was having an affair with Emily.
Yes… He WAS technically at the location she was murdered.
Yes… He is aware that his DNA evidence is everywhere.
But NO! He is adamant that he did not kill Emily Parker.
Someone set him up.
Can he figure out who is playing games with him before the police catch up to him?

THIS IS A MUST READ FOR ME!
So. Freaking. Good

Interesting and intriguing plot but not one I could get fully invested in. There is some suspense though the going is slow.
Overall, a ok read.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a decent, compelling mystery. I think the resolution ended up being a bit of a downer for me, though.

Clay is an experienced bartender and makes sure he knows his regulars backwards and forwards. And some of them, he knows too well. When his affair is cut short by his lover’s murder, all the evidence points to Clay. To prove his innocence, Clay must track down the killer and beat him at his on game.

Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins 360 for the E-ARC! When I say I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, I’m not joking 😅 This book was a roller coaster ride! Just when you think Clay’s situation couldn’t possibly get any worse, it does. What I thought was really cool about Frech’s writing was how Clay would make comments or talk to the reader about what was happening. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author!

It all started with a text. Ping!

He knows everything about you. He knows your secrets, and he’s using them against you. He knows everything about everyone in your life, and your life will never be the same.

Bartender Clay is accused of murdering Emily Parker, a wealthy woman he was having an affair with. A cat and mouse game ensues between Clay, a mystery ally, and person who has orchestrated it all.

I really loved this book. I couldn’t put it down and it’s probably one of the best and my favorite for the year!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

3.5 Hearts This is one of those books that I just do not know how to rate. I liked it and yet I didn’t.

I really liked the characters. I found them very detailed and seemed as though if they were real I might go to the bar and meet up with them. I liked Clay and Genevieve a lot.

BUT… I really wasn’t overly impressed with the story. I found the story to be a bit draggy in some parts and quite a bit obvious. I had the murderer pretty much narrowed down to two and then once I decided “who-dun-it” I was right. And honestly I prefer to be surprised.

Maybe if I didn’t read as much as I do I would have enjoyed it more but it just seemed all too familiar of a story.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Deadly Games starts out with "Clay" who works at as a bartender being questioned about Emily Parker, wife of a wealthy man. He knows a lot about people, he's a bartender, he listens, he remembers, he's having an affair with Emily. Now she is dead and someone wants to play a game with "Clay". Clay becomes a pawn during the game as more people are murdered and he is playing into the killers hands, or game as he is now the person being accused of murder.

This book is more of a cat and mouse hunt, but who will get the cheese remains to be seen.

This is the third novel I’ve read by Steve Frech. I definitely enjoyed the first two more, but I’ll still check out his newest release. The beginning was very fast paced but then the story slowed way down and even began to drag. It wasn’t even a long book

Clay is use to knowing a lot about his customers as he is a bartender. People regularly talk to him without pause as he is serving them drinks and Clay is very good at his job. That is until a regular at the bar, Emily Parker, is found murdered and Clay is the #1 suspect. He needs to clear his name and find out who is framing him as other bodies are discovered. Along with a noisy reporter, Clay will solve this mystery or die trying.

This book was a page turner from the very start. It was dark and twisty and had my mind racing to find out who is this mystery murderer. You definitely don’t want to start this book right before bed because you will have a hard time putting it down.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper 360, HQ Digital for the arc of this book. This author's books are going to take off, and my only regret is when that happens I probably won't get arcs any more.
Do not make the same mistake I did! I started this book right before bed and could not put it down. I stayed up way too late and finally had to put it down because I get up early for work. Then I couldn't sleep, thinking about the book.
I expected great writing since I read Dark Hollows and loved it. I didn't expect a story that moved at breakneck speed and really made me wonder what really happened. Clay was not my favorite character-he was hard to like and even though he was proud of his job and people skills he made some really stupid mistakes.
If you like an intriguing plot and lots of surprises, read this book!

I have read two other novels by Steve Frech. I found both Nightingale House and Dark Hollows to be very atmospheric and creepy and I love the covers of all three books. Deadly Games continues in Mr. Frech's usual vein of an absorbing, suspenseful writing. This particular story reminded me of The Fugitive and many times I caught myself holding my breath in anticipation.

This was a creepy, atmospheric thriller with a psychopath playing deadly games. It dragged in a couple of spots but most of the story was downright chilling. I especially liked the ending twist. I highly recommend if you like psychological thrillers.

It had a good plot idea, Clay is a bartender that is framed for a murder and his troubles keep getting worse from there. He is racing against time to find out who the killer is before more people die and as time goes on, he is becoming the prime suspect. There could have been a little more suspense in the book. Other then that it was an amazing book

What a ride! Deadly Game by Steve Frech is a fast-paced, chilling adventure. I have not read this author before, but will add to my list now.
This story is a race to find the killer who is framing bartender, Franklin Davis, nicknamed Clay. The setting is in oceanside Avalon, CA. This is a murder/crime story, so there is obviously violence.
Emily Parker is an occasional patron of the Gryphon bar where Clay works. She's unhappily married to wealthy, arrogant Henry. Her murder sets off a chain of events all pointing to Clay as her killer. The overwhelming evidence against him has detective Mendez ready to arrest him early in the investigation. Even his friend and Co-worker, Katie, will begin to doubt his innocence.
Clay adamantly proclaims his innocence and attempts to prove it by finding the real killer. The murders don't stop with Emily and they all lead back to Clay as the perpetrator. He's now hiding and running from the law and a killer. I read lots in the fictional murder/suspence genre. It can be disappointing to figure the plot out early on. I got so caught up in this psychological thriller that I must have missed clues. I didn't guess the twists or see the surprises coming. It was fast-paced and easy to read, while full of secrets, deceit, lies and drama.
Thanks to Netgalley, HQ Digital, and Steve Frech for the advance digital copy. The opinions stated here are mine alone, given voluntarily.