The Game - Scott Kershaw

Across the globe, five strangers receive a horrifying message from an unknown number.

THE PERSON YOU LOVE MOST IS IN DANGER.

To save them, each must play The Game – a sinister unknown entity that has a single rule: there can only be one winner.

IF YOU LOSE, YOUR LOVED ONE WILL DIE.

But what is The Game – and why have they been chosen?

There’s only one thing each of them knows for sure: they’ll do anything to win…

WELCOME TO THE GAME. YOU’VE JUST STARTED PLAYING.

Genre: Thriller

Rating: 5/5

Favourite Quotes:

"...too terrified to look, her thoughts a siren, a wailing litany."

"He'll do anything for her and he'll do anything to keep her. Anything."

"Her sense of dread is deep and ultimately inescapable, but she also feels hypnotised as she shuffles forward, a passenger lost in the zone."

Review:

This book was a damn good thriller and I couldn't put it down. I love a book that keeps you up late at night in a dire attempt to finish it! This was one of those books. It's a story about five individuals blackmailed into participating in The Game when the one person they each love the most is abducted. The rules are simple - follow each step, don't deviate and no police. I loved that each chapter was told from the perspective of Player One, Player Two etc and how the sections of the book referenced gaming. As the story unfolds you learn more about each of the players and how they've come to be in this position. While they all have their pro's and con's I found it an interesting takeaway that the men in this book seemed particularly shitty, with the reasons for their involvement due to consequences for their actions, while I felt the choices that had led the women to this point weren't necessarily of their own doing (at least not entirely - no spoilers!) If you enjoy fast paced thrillers with a good twist, this is a must read for you! The ending was fantastic, and I loved that it was perfectly imperfect - it didn't feel forced or rushed or too clean/happy after everything that had happened. Will definitely read more of this author's work.