Murder, turned into a twisted game.
The first body was thought to be an accident, but the second one…. The second one was gruesome and the clue was left. This was just the beginning.


I read this in two evenings and I had to force myself to put it down and go to bed the first night.

Thank you to Storm Publishing, NetGalley and Alex Signore for the early read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A Suspenseful Ride with Just Enough Twists

The Darkest Game by Alex Sigmore is a solid, edge-of-your-seat thriller. Right from the beginning, it pulls you into a dark, intense atmosphere where secrets and lies are around every corner. The plot kept me guessing, and just when I thought I had it figured out, something unexpected happened.

The main character was relatable and well-written, and I liked how the tension built steadily throughout the story. There were a few parts where I wished for a bit more detail or depth, especially with some of the side characters, but it didn’t take away from the overall experience.

If you're into psychological thrillers with a shadowy vibe and lots of suspense, this one’s definitely worth a read.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

Who is killing seemingly unconnected members of a small community and leaving clues? Detective Mona LaSalle and Charlottes Dawes team up to find out.

This book was absolutely phenomenal! The character development of the two main protagonists throughout the book was an amazing addition to the wonderful twists and clues throughout the book. While I was able to guess who the main perpetrator was near the end of the book, I was still intrigued and enthralled by the ending. I absolutely recommend picking up this book next week (June 4th) when it is released and will be looking for more by this author in the future.

I loved this thriller, unexpected surprise

It was well written and easy read but slow at the beginning and then gets fast paced. The 2 female detectives worked really well together and helped each other to heal through a difficult and challenging serial case murder.

Wow I didn’t expect the ending to be xxxxxxx and made it all the better for me as I found it was unputdownable towards the end. Winner for me

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing

A compelling murder mystery, The Darkest Game (2025) by Alex Sigmore features Chicago detective, Charlotte Dawes. In trouble for ruining an ongoing investigation, Charolette is sent to assist, when a woman’s body is found in Oak Creek. Partnered with newly minted detective, Mona LaSalle, an engrossing investigation is begun with no forensic evidence or apparent motive. Then a local artist is murdered and the body is posed as one of her paintings, setting off panic amongst the town who fear it may be a serial killer. As the body count mounts, the detectives try to get ahead of the killer, leading to a bloody confrontation and surprising climax reveal. A quality police procedural and gripping tale that is a four and a half star crime read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Storm Publishing and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

Although Alex Sigmore is a well established author this is the first book he has written that I have read. The story of loss, loneliness and connection is well told and as with many authors has chosen the world of art to utilise in his story. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

This book sounded great, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me. It's so slow paced to start with. I've seen a lot of reviews that say it picks up around the 70% mark and is worth it, but it was a struggle to keep my attention so I DNF'd.

I want to start off by saying I liked the book overall and will read more of Alex's work in the future. The last 25% is way better than the first 50%, which I found fairly slow, especially for a thriller novel. The last 25% makes up for it though so I encourage you all to hang with it!

Ok, so i enjoyed the story, I loved the writing, the emotions, mostly most of the things in the story. The only thing I felt was the name of the culprit was just conveyed too directly, May be its just me but I needed more intense and tension filled story.
For the first half of the story it felt like nothing is happening, may be something more about the background of the other younger detective should have been written to feel some connection with her character. So, overall it was a 3.5 stars for me.
Thank you

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

I'm getting to the point in my reading career that nothing much surprises me any more. I've read a lot of books, mostly thrillers and suspense stories, and things start to get repetitive after awhile. I'm honestly tired of reading about serial killers, and I probably should stop.

This was a moderately interesting small town serial killer tale, and I won't ruin the twist. The relationship between Mona and Charlotte (the two detectives) was a little different, and added to the story. The writer can write a good story, and this will appeal to a broad market.

Unspectacular but solid.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

Okay, wow! This book was just… whoosh! Mind blown.

From the start, the story had a hold on me and didn’t let go. The pacing was tight, the tension building with every turn of the page. I thought I had it figured out but I couldn’t have been more wrong. That one twist? I never saw it coming, and it changed everything.

The characters were richly developed, full of depth and complexity, making them feel incredibly real and relatable. I quickly found myself deeply invested in their lives, emotions, and choices. The storyline was intricate and expertly woven, drawing me in until I was fully immersed.

This wasn't just a good thriller, it was a masterclass in suspense. Gripping, intelligent, and so compelling I reread it the moment I finished. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since.

First novel I have read from this author and it didn’t disappoint. Enjoyable from the first to last page. Plenty of twists and turns to keep me enthralled. Well rounded characters and very well written. Look forward to her next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Read in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
4.5 ⭐️

This book was short and punchy- a good example of how less can mean more, and I’d like to read more from this author.

Detective Charlotte Dawes is limping back from her worst case yet; a drug bust failure after a string of similar endings, and she’s desperate to save her job.

It’s all she has left.

When her sheriff friend of her boss needs a hand with a relatively tame case in his small town, Charlotte steals one last case- one last chance- to end her career with dignity.

There, she meets chirpy young Mona- just promoted and eager to impress on her first murder job, despite being bullied by her superiors.

Nothing is as it seems when a serial killer emerges from the shadows, taunting the police with his chosen victims in graphic settings.

Why does this case feel personal?

It’s easy to feel for both women as they battle their own demons whilst pushing back on the misogyny shown by the local cops, little by little.

They each have something to hide- and few to trust in this town- especially when the pile of bodies leads to resentment and scorn from the locals.

Can Charlotte rise to the challenge one last time?
Will Mona be able to prove her worth?

The authors note at the end of this story is also oddly sweet; I’m never not fascinated by the idea that writers can conjure up darkness and then pen a heartfelt message to readers.

Case closed- I’m in.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was an easy read which kept me wanting to keep going. The character growth of some of the detectives was wonderful to see and very well written. From the 31% mark I didn’t want to put the book down, the information given throughout the book was fed through well which made the pacing of the book and kept me guessing. This was the first book I’ve read by Alex Sigmore and I will definitely be looking forward to reading more!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own*

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my copy of The Darkest Game by Alex Sigmore.
In Chicago Detective Charlotte Dawes last case just blew up in her face, and she is seconded to the small town of Oak Creek where a body has been found. It’s not long before a second body turns up but as the body count rises Charlotte and local newbie.Detective Mona LaSalle have their hands full trying to find the answers before the town rips itself apart.
A really good read that will keep you reading late into the night.

This was a different type of crime novel. From the start, we know that the murderer is called John, but not much more information is given early. The focus is on the two detectives who are trying to solve four gruesome murders. Both have interesting backstories, and it is the unraveling of this that helps work towards the solution. I liked that they were both female and faced some discrimination at work, but that they were prepared to work hard at being the best they could be. It was also worthwhile exploring the dynamic of local cop versus someone from out of town, as well as the way John was able to incite the locals. All in all, a cleverly put together story and one that I enjoyed. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a copy to read and freely review. I’m surprised that I haven’t come across this author before, but hope to read more.

3.5* Enigmatic, with a low-key vibe that makes it interesting, but a tiny bit of a letdown of an ending.

This is a pretty decent tale of a burned-out detective and a rookie, working together to find a serial killer before the next victim is taken.

It was well done, with a toxic male side character who really, really needed to be hauled over the coals (hints that he'd be getting his just desserts at the end if the tale); with a young female detective that could've as easily been on the spectrum as the final reveal about her; a seasoned detective for whom life choices have ended up biting her bum; and a not-really-believable killer, sadly. The tale is engrossing because of the teases about Mona and her deceased bestie's relationship (was expecting a reveal about them being lovers), but the killer wasn't charismatic and the reason and M.O. of how he got his victims wasn't explained. That's what let the tale down somewhat.

Still, the dynamics between the 2 female leads made it a worthwhile read.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my reading pleasure.

This was a decent read, but I can’t say I was especially thrilled with it. I liked the pairing of the two main characters, and the writing was good. The plot didn’t really keep me enthralled. I think it was a bit too over the top, but I would like to read another book featuring Mona and Charlotte. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

Great book to keep you on your toes!

Forced into a retirement after a botched investigation Detective Charlotte requests to consult on an out of town case; letting her career go out on a good note.

Partnered with newly promoted Detective LaSalle, Charlotte discovers this case is not going to be wrapped up as easily as she hoped. I like the dynamic Charlotte and Mona have working together- experienced and fresh eyes looking for clues. Also, having the killer's perspective gives the story it's extra creepy factor!

Great work!