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The Baby Game
A new attorney, Toby Dillon, hedges his bets by remaining the part-time tennis pro at the country club. Then his idyllic life changes when his two childhood friends, Brogan and Rita, Hollywood's glamour couple, ask his help in adopting a baby. The media's feel good story curdles into danger when the baby is kidnapped. When the expected ransom demand never arrives and the police turn up nothing, Toby and Brogan try to find answers on their own. First they think the baby's birth mother is responsible, but suddenly she's missing too, and their suspects start turning up dead. They soon learn there's more at stake than a kidnapping, and the answers may trace back to their shared childhood.
- GenresMystery
254 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 7, 2014
As an adoption attorney, Toby Dillon is in a unique area of the law. Generally speaking, he's exposed to a more positive side of things than the average lawyer. A woman who is unable to raise a child will arrange to have that child adopted; Toby makes sure the legalities are covered and a new, happy family is created. Some adoptions are more satisfying than others, as is the case when he connects a young pregnant woman with his best friends, Rita MacElroy and Brogan Barlow. Rita and Brogan are a celebrity couple, but they are completely down to earth as far as being people. Toby is well pleased to place their new daughter, Remy, in their arms.
But then things go awry. The birth mother, Samantha, disappears and there's a revelation that raises the stakes considerably beyond resolving the circumstances around her disappearance. Although the police are called in right away, Toby finds himself investigating, since there are ramifications for Rita and Brogan. He uncovers some shocking information, and strong relationships rapidly unravel.
Hicks has a wry and wonderful sense of humor that is integrated into the narrative. In the opening chapters, that humor seems a bit forced; but once the story gets underway, it's a natural and endearing element of the writing. Where he really excels is in the development of the characters; and in particular, Toby, Rita and Brogran. He writes of their childhood days as if he had been there; he brings the insecurities they faced growing up into their adulthood as well. Yet, even though Rita and Brogan are renowned celebrities, you can see the essence of what they really are as people, the teenagers who worked the pig section at the county fair. As Toby says, they share a history of childhood nerd-dom that became a lifelong bonding experience.
I loved THE BABY GAME. What at first seems to be a comic romp turns into a heartbreaking and very humane tale of love, loss, friendship and betrayal. There are some great plot twists; the ending is touching and sweet and optimistic. THE BABY GAME is quite an accomplished debut, and I highly recommend it.
But then things go awry. The birth mother, Samantha, disappears and there's a revelation that raises the stakes considerably beyond resolving the circumstances around her disappearance. Although the police are called in right away, Toby finds himself investigating, since there are ramifications for Rita and Brogan. He uncovers some shocking information, and strong relationships rapidly unravel.
Hicks has a wry and wonderful sense of humor that is integrated into the narrative. In the opening chapters, that humor seems a bit forced; but once the story gets underway, it's a natural and endearing element of the writing. Where he really excels is in the development of the characters; and in particular, Toby, Rita and Brogran. He writes of their childhood days as if he had been there; he brings the insecurities they faced growing up into their adulthood as well. Yet, even though Rita and Brogan are renowned celebrities, you can see the essence of what they really are as people, the teenagers who worked the pig section at the county fair. As Toby says, they share a history of childhood nerd-dom that became a lifelong bonding experience.
I loved THE BABY GAME. What at first seems to be a comic romp turns into a heartbreaking and very humane tale of love, loss, friendship and betrayal. There are some great plot twists; the ending is touching and sweet and optimistic. THE BABY GAME is quite an accomplished debut, and I highly recommend it.
September 23, 2015
I LOVED this book. I laughed out loud constantly throughout it. At the same time, the mystery that is the heart of the book is really good -- better than most mysteries I have read. I highly recommend it.
February 20, 2017
I won this book on Goodreads Giveaways. This book was soooooo good! There was a very good mystery with many twists and turns and very humorous passages, especially in the beginning. There are murders, kidnapping and big secrets. It is a very easy book to read, but so engrossing. It all starts with Toby Dillon trying to help his childhood friends Brogan and Rita (who are movie stars) adopt a child. The reader should hang on because this is a very bumpy ride. I loved it.
August 24, 2007
THE BABY GAME (Amateur Sleuth/Lawyer- So. California-Cont) – VG
Hicks, Randall – 1st in series
Wordslinger Press, 2005- Hardcover
Toby Dillon is the adoption attorney for his best friends, movie stars Brogan and Rita. The baby is born in a condo but, when taken to the hospital, is found to have a medical condition. When the doctor asks about the twin baby, Toby finds both the twin baby and the mother has disappeared. The search for the missing baby is on, resulting in murder and secrets uncovered along the way.
*** Hicks has written a particularly engaging character in Toby. I also appreciated his making the celebrity couple real, grounded people. There was interesting legal information which didn't bog down the story, and some good twists along the way. But it was Toby's relationship with his grandfather was particularly touching. The book is a bit mystery light, but is an entertaining first book and a series I shall definitely follow.
Hicks, Randall – 1st in series
Wordslinger Press, 2005- Hardcover
Toby Dillon is the adoption attorney for his best friends, movie stars Brogan and Rita. The baby is born in a condo but, when taken to the hospital, is found to have a medical condition. When the doctor asks about the twin baby, Toby finds both the twin baby and the mother has disappeared. The search for the missing baby is on, resulting in murder and secrets uncovered along the way.
*** Hicks has written a particularly engaging character in Toby. I also appreciated his making the celebrity couple real, grounded people. There was interesting legal information which didn't bog down the story, and some good twists along the way. But it was Toby's relationship with his grandfather was particularly touching. The book is a bit mystery light, but is an entertaining first book and a series I shall definitely follow.
February 16, 2010
I play tennis and I enjoy legal thrillers. The Baby Game combines the two into a well written story. The writing is engaging and the main character is one I can root for. Toby Dillon is an assistant tennis pro that makes a few bucks and also an adoption lawyer that helps the person giving up their baby through the legal process and helps the adoptive parents as well. Unfortunately Toby seems to run into all kinds of problems along the way with babies being kidnapped, himself threatened, and friends dying. The self deprecating humor keeps the story moving and the action rapid fire on the tennis court and on the mean streets. A great read.
December 10, 2021
This was a surprise hit for me! Like, if you like dad humor and mysteries, this is a good one! I actually have my copy to my dad when I finished.
January 23, 2022
Quick read, I wanted to know what would happen…but…the humor got old. There were twists and turns…but…it was just ridiculous. Kudos to this person for getting a story out there though.
February 24, 2017
Thank you to Goodreads for this giveaway. I genuinely liked the book and found the tennis player/attorney/narrator a likeable character with whom I could laugh and follow along with his adventures. I almost gave it a 4-star rating, but I figured since the copyright was 2005, the many typos should have been fixed by now.
October 8, 2007
08/11/05 #138
TITLE/AUTHOR: THE BABY GAME by Randall Hicks
RATING: 5/A
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PAGES: Mystery, 2005, 254 pgs
TIME/PLACE: Present, Fallbrook, CA
CHARACTERS: Toby Dillon/adoption attorney part-time Tennis pro
COMMENTS: Excellent debut! Charming characters, delightful sense of place, entertaining humor and a plot w/ twists that will keep you guessing until the end. Toby, is a young man just getting started in his career -- his best friends from childhood are Hollywood stars Brogan and Rita. He is handling their adoption which started out smoothly until the
birth mother goes missing and the baby is kidnapped. LOVED IT!!
TITLE/AUTHOR: THE BABY GAME by Randall Hicks
RATING: 5/A
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF PAGES: Mystery, 2005, 254 pgs
TIME/PLACE: Present, Fallbrook, CA
CHARACTERS: Toby Dillon/adoption attorney part-time Tennis pro
COMMENTS: Excellent debut! Charming characters, delightful sense of place, entertaining humor and a plot w/ twists that will keep you guessing until the end. Toby, is a young man just getting started in his career -- his best friends from childhood are Hollywood stars Brogan and Rita. He is handling their adoption which started out smoothly until the
birth mother goes missing and the baby is kidnapped. LOVED IT!!
March 4, 2014
Adoption lawyer Toby Dillon is helping his best friends, two movie stars, adopt a baby. But just as things should be settling down, they get startling news. This debut is full of twists, turns, and laughs. A thriller with humor. I couldn't put it down.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
July 5, 2015
Two stars means "it was OK." And this book was just OK. At first, the humor--slightly ribald--had me laughing, but it got old really fast. Then there were the main characters--reminded me of a late 70s/ early 80s soap opera. I'll admit that I've never met a book with actors and actresses as main characters that I liked, so this could just be a personal issue. The overall mystery was pretty good. It's not a book that's going to stay with me or one that I'd recommend.
May 9, 2012
Transferring the books on my spreadsheet to Goodreads
August 14, 2013
Written by an adoption lawyer. Girl gives baby to Brogan and Rita, his friends, but she has twins and doesn't tell them.
August 20, 2016
A humorous mystery made all the more fun by the fact it takes in my home of Fallbrook, Ca. I think my fellow Fallbrookians especially would enjoy it!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews