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Description
Dr. Dylan Reinhart wrote the book on criminal behavior. Literally--he's a renowned, bestselling Ivy League expert on the subject. When a copy of his book turns up at a gruesome murder scene--along with a threatening message from the killer--it looks like someone has been taking notes. Elizabeth Needham is the headstrong and brilliant NYPD Detective in charge of the case who recruits Dylan to help investigate another souvenir left at the scene--a playing card. Another murder, another card--and now Dylan suspects that the cards aren't a signature, they're a deadly hint--pointing directly toward the next victim. As tabloid headlines about the killer known as "The Dealer" scream from newsstands, New York City descends into panic. With the cops at a loss, it's up to Dylan to hunt down a serial killer unlike any the city has ever seen. Only someone with Dylan's expertise can hope to go inside the mind of a criminal and convince The Dealer to lay down his cards. But after thinking like a criminal--could Dylan become one?… (more)
User reviews
Dubbed “The Dealer” by the newspapers, the killer always seems to be a step ahead
Interesting characters, a clever premise, and a complex plot continually ramping up the suspense all combine to keep the pages turning while readers, on the edge of their seats, wonder who will be the next victim. As the narrative unfolds, each answer does little more than reveal a new mystery, leaving readers hard-pressed to set this one aside before the final unexpected reveal.
Highly recommended.
JAMES PATTERSON
HOWARD ROUGHAN
MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER Little, Brown and Company/Hachette Audio
PUBLISHED June 26, 2017
NARRATED Edoardo Ballerini
Murder Games is a riveting and fast-paced crime novel that plays right into your hands.
SUMMARY
A card playing serial
Dylan Reinhardt, Phd., is an Ivy League Psychology college professor with an attitude, who has written a book on abnormal psychology. That book, which is a introduction to psychopaths has arrived in the mail, and contained the first playing card, it was a blue harlequin-pattern king of clubs. Elizabeth Needham, the NYPD detective in charge of the case, asks Reinhardt for his help getting into the mind of the killer. As the killer continues his rampage and the media frenzy over the case reaches a fevered pitch, Dylan and Elizabeth must determine what the victims have in common in order to solve the case.
REVIEW
JAMES PATTERSON and HOWARD ROUGHAN have played all the right cards in MURDER GAMES. The plot is original, robust, unpredictable, and the pacing is perfect. The character development however, is what really makes the book. Reinhardt, 45, captures your attention immediately in chapter one, swaggering into a Yale lecture hall, with a narcissistic attitude who gets off on the adoration of his mere students. Outside of the classroom, he has a completely different persona, a much more likable guy. I really liked Detective Elizabeth Needham, who is quick-witted, feisty, smart, and prepared. But nothing really prepared her for the smug, acerbic college professor. The chemistry between the two of them was charged and delightful. Their quick dialogue was simply entertaining. I would have loved for Elizabeth to play a even larger role in the book, she is a great character and I love to see women in strong roles.
“Sometime you just know the sound of trouble before she walks in the room”
I listened to the audio version of the book and believe that Edoardo Ballerini’s narration was stellar. I enjoyed listening to his voice.
The mystery was a good one and kept me wondering if Dylan and Elizabeth would succeed in solving it in time. I think the book played fair and didn't depend on off-page discoveries. I was sad to find that there are no sequels. That makes me even happier that the characters are being continued on TV.
If you like the series, I think you will like the book. If you like mysteries, you should definitely try this one.
Dylan Reinhart is a brilliant professor and ex-CIA spook who lives with his partner in Manhattan and when his book is found beside a dead body and it
It kept me at the edge of my seat and wondering what was going to happen next. It does follow the storyline in the series quite well but I liked some of the twists and turns it took.
Light entertaining and engaging read.