Lethal Game: An absolutely gripping crime thriller packed with suspense

LETHAL GAME is eerie and heart-racing from the very start, followed by a gruesome discovery. Terror rises in a nightmarish scene. Secrets and lies complicate the cryptic mystery raising tension. It's like a sinister and diabolical rollercoaster ride into a house of horrors. Another grisly find precedes a hellacious maze of mirrors making this mystifying conundrum unsolvable. When new information comes to light, a fast paced, action packed race against time ensues. Spine-chilling, edge of your seat suspense permeates every page keeping them flying by right through to the hair-raising dynamite, explosive finish.
DO NOT MISS THE CHILLING LETHAL GAME!

I found this book, its plot and characters, engaging and well developed. Gallagher certainly knows policing and crime and that shines through the suspense, twists and turns, and development of the story. Occasionally the deep knowledge combined with the British English to be a hiccup in smooth reading, but not seriously so.

I might even say this is his best yet! Who thinks of things like this? There are many reasons I love British Police Procedural's more than the US of the same. And to have it written by an actual ex-detective of the British for brings it all home for me. But this plot was so much more than that. The twists, the turns, the intensity, and the oh so lovely descriptions of violence, (insert sarcasm here) all made this a book that was almost impossible to put down. I have loved his other two series, I really liked the DI Maddie Ives series, but I do have to say that Joel and Rose have an edge to them that was not seen in his other series. Especially Joel! I can hardly wait for the next installment to this series, or any of the series Charlie has written. To say that I highly recommend this book is an understatement!!!

Lethal Game by Charlie Gallagher is shocking, suspenseful, and heartbreaking. It has aspects of both a crime thriller and a police procedural. Detective Inspector Joel Norris and Detective Sergeant Lucy Rose are assigned the case investigating the death of a young woman murdered in a rural area in England. The killer is playing a game with people’s lives. Can Norris and Rose catch him before more innocent people die?

Joel and Lucy along with analyst Eileen Holmans are likeable characters that are easy to connect with quickly. Joel and Lucy have more depth and are featured more in the novel. Readers get insight into their personal lives as well as their professional lives without detracting from the investigation. They seem to balance each other professionally. Joel is more headstrong and fiery and Lucy is more controlled most of the time. Both have flaws and strengths that affect their interactions and lend believability to the story. The secondary characters are a good mix and provide the needed professional and personal conflict or support. How will the new Detective Chief Inspector Jim Kemp affect the team dynamics? The antagonist is crafty and evil, reveling in anticipation of the victims’ fears and struggles.

What a prologue! Will you guess what happens next? It hooked this reader immediately. This author knows how to pull readers into a story and keep them turning the pages. The plot is well developed, the pace fast, and the story line is action-packed. The twists and turns take readers on the journey with Joel and Lucy. Will you guess who the killer is and what his motivations are or will you go down the wrong path? Everyone in the novel experiences a variety of emotions from frustration, disdain, fear, and anger to hope, excitement, and glee. Readers may be surprised by who is experiencing which emotion and why.

This book is exactly what you would expect from a well-written crime thriller. It’s dark, clever, and gripping with great good and evil characters as well as a tense and twisted story line. Readers should be aware that there are some gruesome details and some chilling and emotional scenes. The author’s experience as a U.K. police officer lends realism to this novel.

Overall, this book was suspenseful, intense, riveting, fast-paced, action-oriented, and entertaining. If you enjoy crime thrillers and police procedurals that have both strong male and female characters, then this may be the novel for you. While this is the first book I have read by this author, it is the second book featuring DI Norris and DS Rose. I can’t wait to read the first one and continue with the series.

Avon Books UK - Avon and Charlie Gallagher provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for November 11, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

What a thrilling & sinister read!  It starts off with a bang - a life or death race - and never really lets up.  There's a few twists that keep you on the edge of your seat, and the fast pace of the story keeps you hooked.  I thought DI Joel Norris & DS Lucy Rose were great characters- this is book two in the series, and based on this, it's going to be fantastic.

Thanks to Avon Books UK & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Charlie Gallagher creates another complex and detailed plan for murder. Thank goodness he writes fiction! This time Joel and Lucy face a murderer playing a complicated game, and they end up as players too. As the plot unwinds, Gallagher plays fair: all the clues are given so when the twist comes, it is startling, but makes perfect sense to the reader. He also is realistic: don't expect miraculous happy endings. Trauma has lasting consequences, and his characters do suffer.
In the first book in the series the focus was primarily upon the victims and their friends and family. The detectives took a back seat. In this book we get a better view of how Joel thinks and some details of Lucy's life. There is still a lot to learn about them, and the dynamic between them is still evolving: an encouraging sign of a good series.
This is an intelligent book: complex but extremely well-constructed with a constant tension as Joel and Lucy race to try and get ahead of the killer. It is sure to satisfy. If you have not previously discovered Charlie Gallagher, you could start here. This book could stand alone although there are references to the previous volume so it would probably be better to read the first book first. But then checkout his other series. He maintains a consistently high quality in all.

What a book!!! What a game!!!
A killer who moves people like pieces of a puzzle in a game.
Detectives Norris & Lucy investigate the murder of a young woman.
Can they find the murderer before the next game?
You will want to grab this thriller!!!

This is my first book by this author and will not be my last, it was a great thriller and will have you on the edge of your seat, when you pick up this book you will be turning the pages to find out what happens next, the story flows great the characters are good I really enjoyed this one. Will be checking out the other books by this author.