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!

Disgraced Detective Charlotte goes to a small town to help on a case. Little did she know a serial killer was hiding in this small town and is playing a sick and twisted game with the town's new Detective Mona. I enjoyed reading this book from the start so many puzzles and layers to this book. I liked trying to figure out the serial killer with Charlotte and Mona. This was not a quick read but more like a slow mystery but I loved it! If this was a series I would definitely keep reading about Mona. Great book! Recommend if your looking for a mystery!

Quite a slow starter but it livened up once they started investigating a case where a body was found by the river. Detective LaSalle is being bullied by her partner Ramsey, so it is good to see her come in to her own supported by Detective Charlotte Dawes, an experienced Chicago detective trying to save her career. I liked the chemistry between the 2 female leads and would like to read more of them working together in future. The reveal near the end was good, I hadn't seen that coming!
My first book from the author but I would read more.

This is a proper, keep-you-up-at-night psychological murder drama, which I absolutely loved. The characters took a while for me to warm to them, but that made it all the better as all their good and bad points were unveiled. There was no perfection, or 'best agent ever', just a group of people working hard to try and discover what is going on. The development of the two lead detectives, Charlotte and Mona, was lovely to read about, even if it was done with a backdrop of bloodshed. The kinks and twists of the plot were strong and kept me guessing. A tour de force.

This was an average read for me. I felt it was slow paced and didn’t pick up until about the 70% mark. From there on out, it moved quickly and loose ends were tied up by the last page. I enjoyed Charlotte’s character but didn’t connect with Mona. I quickly grew tired of Adam and found myself skimming through most pages that included him. The overall mystery was intriguing, but the story didn’t unfold as I imagined.

THE DARKEST GAME - This is an unexpected, delightful surprise. The subject matters are dark but the interesting characters, intriguing story lines and the author's writing style made for an immersing read. The two female detectives worked well with each other, and in a way, helped with healing themselves. Source: Netgalley. 5*

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Alex Sigmore for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for June 04, 2025.

I saw this one on NG with the tag lines She never asked to play… and An Oak Creek Thriller; and I thought to myself, there's no way I can pass on putting in a cheeky request. All the stars aligned that day for my request was approved.

The Darkest Game is my first read from this author, and, mind blown - all I can say is: Alex Sigmore, why haven't I read you before?

Detective Charlotte Dawes is a seasoned cop. With over twenty years on the force some might say she is on the way out, but for Charlotte, who has made this job her life's work, she isn't ready to join a community knitting group anytime soon. But that scenario seemed to be playing on a never ending loop in her head lately, as a series of bad luck and case results not falling her way was leaving her with an unfavourable reputation within the Department.

"She's had a series of bad cases lately, and this was her chance to turn it all around. This was how she showed them all that there was no expiration date on a good cop."

When she botched an undercover investigation into Victor Karkoff – the man with one of the biggest and most elusive drug running operations west of New York, Charlotte knew then that she would be forced to retire.

But lady luck was on her side in the form of a lifeline when her boss in Chicago received a call from a long-time friend and work colleague who was the Sheriff in a small town called Oak Creek. The decomposed body of a woman was discovered near a river bed in the small remote town. In an act of grace, he sends Dawes out to Oak Creek to assist the local police in one last case.

I'm kind of fangirling right now. Honestly; I had zero expectations going into this one and was blown away by how much I enjoyed it. Right now I'm wondering if (more like hoping) there will be more Detective Charlotte Dawes to land in this reader's lap – please don't disappoint and tell me this was a one-off!

This thriller was equally driven by its characters as well as the coded mystery elements. Although instead of coded numbers, the 'code' in this mystery was art – paintings done by one of the victims.

If I haven't tempted you to pick this one up yet, here's a quick list of my five Crime Solving Stars:

🌟Our main characters: Detective Charlotte Dawes and Detective Mona LaSalle – the old and the new – one with 20+ years of experience and the other, newly minted. I loved everything about these two and how the author paired them together. As the story progressed, the author filled you in on their backgrounds, how their thought processes worked and just how well they complimented each other.
🌟The secondary characters are integral to how the story plays out and as such, they are also well developed.
🌟This is a complex and fast-paced tale with layers and twists that will definitely keep you engaged.
🌟If you don’t mind the macabre, there are some shocking and disturbing scenes as the plot unfolds.
🌟The ending contains a surprise that caught me off-guard.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

When killing is a work of art and works of art turn into killings.
Not altogether a bad premise for a murder mystery, fairly clever and original but the pace didn’t really hold my interest until the last few chapters so I can’t wholeheartedly recommend this one. I did like the coded mystery and the action once the pace upped its game but the characters weren’t quite likeable or engaging enough for me to get very invested or involved. Good light read though.

5 Stars – A Brilliant New Series with a Gripping New Heroine

As a longtime fan of Alex Sigmore’s other series, I couldn’t wait to dive into The Darkest Game, and it absolutely exceeded expectations. Sigmore has a talent for crafting dark, atmospheric thrillers, and this new installment with Detective Charlotte Dawes brings that signature intensity while introducing a fresh, compelling protagonist I’m already hooked on.

Charlotte is sharp, intuitive, and carries the weight of her past cases with a quiet strength that makes her incredibly relatable. From the moment she arrives in Oak Creek, you can feel the tension simmering beneath the surface. The town may seem quiet, but it’s hiding layers of secrets—and the murders are as chilling as they are creative. The way the killer uses art to stage the crimes adds a disturbing yet fascinating dimension to the investigation.

I especially loved how the mystery kept me guessing, with eerie twists tied to haunting paintings that seemed to predict the future. Every chapter adds a new piece to the puzzle, and the sense of urgency builds perfectly. Sigmore knows how to draw readers deep into the setting, and Oak Creek comes alive as a character of its own—beautiful, mysterious, and dangerous.

This is the start of something special. If you loved Sigmore’s previous work, prepare to fall in love with this new world and its darkly addictive pace. I can’t wait to see where Charlotte’s story goes next.

Thanks to Ms Sigmore, NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Darkest Game is a good thriller that weaves elements of suspense, art, and small-town intrigue. From page one, we know that a killer transforms art into murder, merging the creative world with dark psychological twists.

Detective Charlotte Dawes is an engaging protagonist, bringing her own experiences and expertise into the investigation. Sometimes, she can be frustrating as she wants to prove herself, but she is on the edge of being pushed out of her job. Mona, the detective of Oak Creek, is also a good character. Charlotte and Mona played well off each other, and I would be interested to see if other books with these two characters are written.

The storyline is thought-provoking, especially as Charlotte uncovers the eerie connection between the murdered artist and her hauntingly prophetic paintings. Each murder feels like a piece of a puzzle, and as panic spreads through the town, I feel the urgency and tension that the author builds.

The character dynamics, particularly the interaction between Charlotte and Mona, plus other local police, add layers of complexity and intrigue to the plot. Overall, The Darkest Game is a very good page-turner filled with artful deception and suspense. I would recommend it for fans of crime fiction.

#TheDarkestGame #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co