The Killing Game

Carson Ryder #9

by J.A. Kerley

Detective Carson Ryder’s reputation is on the line when a sociopathic serial killer embarks on a personal vendetta, constructing his crimes to hit Carson’s weak spot.

He’s coming to get you…

After a humiliating encounter with a cop, Romanian immigrant Gregory Nieves launches a vendetta against the Mobile Police Department, Alabama. Nieves can’t fight a department, so he selects one man who symbolizes all men in blue: Carson Ryder, the MPD’s specialist in bizarre and twisted crimes.

Carson has never seen a killing spree like this one: Nothing connects the victims, the murder weapon is always different, and the horrific crime scenes are devoid of evidence. It almost seems he’s being taunted. Even laughed at.

Carson doesn’t know it yet, but he is caught up in a sadistic game of life and death. And there can only be one victor…

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Detective

416 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2013

About the author

AKA: Jack Kerley

Reviews

[Bookish Bluestocking · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars because the pacing, story, narration were excellent but the ending was a bit abrupt.

[Amber · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my god I disliked this book so much… and it was entirely my own fault. When I saw The Killing Game in my local charity shop, I thought I’d snagged a bargain copy of one of my new TBR additions. Little did I know the book I had intended to buy was in fact The Killing Lessons by Saul Black, and so I went into this not knowing it was the 9th instalment of the Carson Ryder police procedural series.

I know that I can’t be the fairest of reviewers as I haven’t read the previous books, but a lot of police procedural series are written with the intention that anyone can pick up a book regardless of its place in the series and still be able to make sense of it, as is the case with The Killing Game.

My main issues with this book were in the writing. Carson Ryder would randomly blurt out arrogant “cop talk” that sounded like ‘locker room chat’ as the saying goes, but it didn’t mesh well at all with the rest of his voice. I despised the romance in this book, the love interest Wendy was over-sexualised and one dimensional. There was an attempted suicide scene where Wendy distracts the guy by taking off her clothes? Definitely one of the most ridiculously male-gaze-y scenes I’ve ever read. And the ending was just awful – so rushed, disappointing and unsatisfactory. Now I know to check my TBR list on Goodreads before buying anything, but at least my £2.50 went to charity!!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carson is back! He finds himself teaching a class at the police academy whilst investigating several seemingly random and unconnected murders. Of course we, the reader, know different so we have to sit back (whilst occasionally shouting at the pages) and watch him stumble through the clues to his usual brilliant conclusion. Some nice extras about sociopathy and Romanian orphans contribute to a very enjoyable read.

[Dan Barbier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Another suspenseful Kerley Serial killer thriller. I love the team of Carson Ryder and Harry Nautilus. There's new characters joining in the ride and a killer who is a challenge for the duo. That ending is also very unpredictable and makes you wonder about all that came before.

[Paula Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Det. Carson Ryder gets roped into holding classes for new police recruits right about the time that Gregory Nieves, a former Romanian orphan, has a run-in with a couple of cops that leaves him feeling humiliated and swearing revenge against the "blue tribe". He sees Ryder as a representative of the police force and commits to a series of murders so difficult to solve that Ryder himself will be humiliated for not solving.

Pretty standard serial killer thriller that is more police procedural than actual serial killer thriller, complete with a "my boss wants my head on a platter" subplot. Sigh. The book largely just follows the pattern of being introduced to a character who is murdered shortly thereafter, followed by perspectives from Ryder and the killer. The fact that we know the killer's identity also contributes to the lack of suspense. We know who is doing the killings, so we witness a series of murders and then follow Carson as he tries to solve something we already know the answer to. It is not terribly exciting.

Also, what is it with Carson Ryder having a new love interest with each new book? This time it is Wendy Holliday, from his police recruit class. Why are we supposed to care, when whoever Ryder sleeps with isn't likely to be around when the next book comes out? This author just doesn't know how to write women unless they're sex kittens who want to have sex with Ryder. This is only confirmed when Wendy shows up at a hostage negotiation, is allowed to take part, and de-escalates things by taking off her top and showing her breasts. Seriously, Kerley? SERIOUSLY???!!!

All this silliness and drudgery is capped off with a complete fizzler of a climax (it's truly underwhelming), including a plot twist that doesn't make a great deal of sense. Kerley couldn't have managed an extra few pages to explain himself here?

Easily one of Kerley's worst books.

[imiiii · Rating 4 out of 5]

Descriptions of food as a horrible food good in making the reader feel queasy and thus uneasy. Gregory calling people morons and robot highlights how much he feels above them and also back to his hypnosis / trauma as a child. Bit weird Carson is going after a student in his class.
Cool writing style that Gregory’s faces are named after ads etc. eg. Can I get a Fibre cereal that doesn’t taste like fibre, Happy #3, I have a Powerful New Detergent — different, interesting, creepy. Can see how G is deliberately acting as best to manipulate.
PLOT TWIST THAT EMA IS DRAGNA FROM THE ORPHANAGE ?!?! Mad !! We always thought Gregory was killing the cats but it turned out he was catching them and giving them to his sister to take to the pound but she was the one torturing them ?! And she changed the memory of Gregory pooing himself at the start — did think it didnt sound like how it had happened but I didn’t think to go back and check.
WHAT THATS HOW IT WNDS ?! NO I NEED ANOTHER HALF A BOOK AT LEAST

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book by the author that I've read so was not aware of the history of any of the characters. I enjoyed the style of writing as it has an easy flow to it and the story kept me involved. Random murders, a hot shot cop and his team and orphans from Romania with major psychological issues all play a part in the story.

[Honey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good but only good. I wasn't expecting the link at the end and I did go through it rather quickly eager to finish. The book provided a new perspective since a lot of it was from the perpetrator view which made it very interesting I look toward to read the rest of the series.

[Anne Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good murder mystery. Part of a series I have never read before. I liked the main characters on the police side. It was interesting to get inside the mind of the criminal! Great twists in the story too. I will definitely be searching for more books by this author.

[Mina I P · Rating 4 out of 5]

シリーズ９作目とのことだったが、前の刊を読んでいなくても問題ない。もしかしたら前作との繋がりなどがあり、より楽しめる可能性はあるが、今作を読むのに支障はない。
起承転結は練られていて面白かった。犯人側の視点もあるが、howとwhyについては最後の方まで明かされず、また納得のいくものだった。姉についてひとつ謎は残るが。
解決の仕方も、ラッキーや偶然に頼りすぎておらずよかった。
恋愛要素はあまりいらなかった。シリーズを通して読むには重要な人間関係なのかもしれない。

[Richard Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carson Ryder is finally talked into teaching at the Police Academy. During this he talks about his biggest fear, a random serial killer. Little does he know that this discussion will pull him into a killing spree line one he has never seen on the job.

[Hitomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

どんなに厳しい過酷な状況でも、弟はいまいちだな。お姉ちゃんにはかなわないね。
ＦＢＩにいっちゃうのかしら？次回作も楽しみです。

[emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5*

As always another brilliant read from J A Kerley. You can't go wrong picking up one of his novels. Brilliant

[Stella Dewey · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st one I've read by J.A Kerley
and it was very good will be looking for more.

[Zurks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the author either dislikes women or needs to improve on writing them.

This was my least favourite of the series. I would have liked an ending that solved the crime properly.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una novel·la negra basada en una venjança personal que destil·la odi en cada assassinat.

[Barbara Baglee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing!

A story with its own origins in the horror of the orphanges of Romania. I didn't expect the twist at the end and I felt a little dissatisfaction at the conclusion.

[Curlyhair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Number 9 in the series and not my fav by far. The characters great as usual and some new ones and the overall story was ok, but I didn’t care for the way it was written - no spoilers.

[Byslexic Ditch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ive rinsed this book out since i was 15 its too funny prefection too the killer crashing out two seconds

[Lainy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time taken to read - 7 days

Publisher - Harper

Blurb from the back cover

He's coming to get you...

After a humiliating encounter with a cop, Gregory Nieves lauches a vendetta against the Mobile Police Department, Alabama. Nieves can't fight a department, so he selects one man who symbolizes all men in blue: Carson Ryder, the MPD's specialist in bizarre an twisted crimes.

Carson has never seen a killing spree like it: nothing connects the victims, the murder weapon is always different and the horrific crime scenes are devoid of evidence. It almost seems like he's being taunted. Even laughed at.

Carson doesn't know it yet, but he is caught up in a sadistic game of life and death. And there can only be one victor...


My review

The story starts with our killer, a small introduction to him and how he tries to blend in to society and keep him reactions normal. Then we flick to Carson, under cover and about to get into a situation that will hail him hero or reckless. The story flips throughout from the killers view and then back to the police and Carson. We slowly learn more about why Gregory is the way he is and what sets him off on this killing spree.

The story is well done although you are drawn in slowly. Carson soon realizes he has a dangerous killer on the loose and has to work out what has set him off and where he will strike next. An almost impossible task as his kills seem to have to actual motive, weapons and victims are different from one to the next and there is no killer more dangerous than one who strikes at random and with no pattern.

Carson eventually needs to turn to a source for help he would rather steer clear from, his brother who is incarcerated for murder. His brother can give insight that Carson will get nowhere else so he needs to in order to get clarity on the crimes and the killer. I was disappointed at how little Jeremy, Carson's brother, actually featured in this book.

The chapters are fairly short in length which I always like, I enjoy reading Carson's character as he is likable and this time he has a new relationship budding with Wendy, one of the girls from the class he has been helping out with. I felt we could have had more about those two and definitely more about Gregory, his childhood and the horrors he endured and survived that created the killer and psychopath he became. The ending is where the book dropped marks for me, I do enjoy a good twist but this one I didn't see coming at all and it annoyed me as there should have been more on this particular twist, even a few hints rather than shot out of the blue, I feel. I also think it was a tad short and left lacking in regards to Gregory when he is such a huge part of the story. However lots of people have loved it and it is a good story however for me it is a 3/5. Thanks so much to Harper for providing me with a copy and the fun crime competition that is going on to celebrate the book as well.

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must confess to being quite the fan of this brand of serial killer thriller, and would definitely cite Jack Kerley as one of the most accomplished exponents of the genre along with Richard Montanari and Chris Carter. In this, the latest outing for the mercurial Detective Carson Ryder and sidekick Harry Nautilus, the series continues apace with a particularly screwed-up killer who definitely instils an uncomfortable feeling in the reader with his peculiarly scatological nature…

If you are a regular reader of Kerley there is much to delight you here, and once again he plunders the darkest recesses of his imagination to bring us a suitably depraved and imbalanced killer. Gregory Nieves, struggling with the weight of his sociopathic tendencies and involuntary bowel problems, yes, I did say involuntary bowel problems, is a great construct. Here is a man who draws on other people’s facial expressions, garnered from TV an magazine adverts, practicing them daily, to try and give the impression that he is in some way close to normal- not a premise I have come across in a book and that leads to some lovely moments of humour. After a routine traffic stop that causes an extreme moment of embarrassment for Nieves, he declares war on the local police department, and naturally Ryder becomes a focus for our killer. As Nieve’s bizarre relationship with his own sister Ema comes to light and the disturbing nature of their childhood comes to light, it becomes apparent that Nieves is not the only problem for Ryder, as Nieves begins to exact his twisted revenge. Once again, Kerley has excelled in his characterisation not only constructing a truly creepy killer, but putting Ryder through the mill not only with his on-going challenging of his superiors, but also immersing him in a love triangle with a comely young student, and his long term on-and-off squeeze the brilliant pathologist Clair Peltier. As Ryder navigates the waters of office politics and affairs of the heart, along with determinedly pursuing a serial killer, there is much to hold the reader’s interest, and as always the interplay with Ryder and his larger than life partner, Harry Nautilus, remains a central strength of the book.

Yes, I would say the storyline is a little far-fetched and not the fare for the more delicate reader, with only a fleeting visit from Ryder’s intelligent and psychopathic brother Jeremy ( personally speaking my favourite character of the series overall), but Kerley just sucks you in completely, amidst the more nonsensical aspects of the plot and you enjoy the ride. The book ends with a tantalising prospect for a change of direction for our hero Ryder, so bring it on Mr Kerley. I can’t wait….

[Tracy Fenwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Killing Game is another book in the Carson Ryder series. I’ve really enjoyed all of his previous books so I was expecting nothing less from this one. Although I did enjoy this book, it didn’t really match up to some of his previous ones.

You got an insight into the killer right at the beginning of the book, except at the beginning he wasn’t a killer. It was only after an altercation with the police after a routine traffic stop that he decided to show the Blue Tribe up and specifically Carson Ryder. He was chosen after a video of a class he was teaching ended up on the internet. Gregory singled him out as the most worthy opponent to try and teach a lesson. He felt he was smarter and could show up the police by performing such random acts of killing that they could never hope to solve the cases.

Of course, this is a novel so the cases were going to be solved. However, the result was so unsatisfying and unfinished in my opinion. There was so much more to be resolved that it kind of felt rushed and just left up in the air. I had the same opinion about part of the ending to Gone Girl too. And despite enjoying the book up to this point it kind of ruined it for me. Although it did set up the location for the following book, where it seems that Carson has moved to Florida.

Throughout the book I kept feeling that not everything was as it appeared to be and was extremely suspicious about a lot of what I read with regards to Gregory. He was so incredibly damaged from his childhood growing up in a Romanian orphanage. The scary part of this was that some of what he experienced probably happened to a lot of kids at that time. It’s unbelievable that even in this day and age we can still treat others with such contempt and as less than human. Sometimes it seems like we have a lot to learn still. That being said, there are some amazing people out there who will always stick up for the little guy and help others in any way they can.

One thing I did love was the return of Jeremy – he is sorely missed in these books when he’s not in them. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he plays a more significant part in future books. Despite the disappointing ending it won’t stop me from reading the follow up books – hopefully they can be redeemed.

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 3 out of 5]

So it's been two years since the last JA Kerley release of a Carson Ryder Book. For those that don't know, or have never read a JA Kerley book before, the books feature Police Detectives Carson Ryder and his partner Harry Nautilus. I haven't read the early books from the series but picked it up from book 3 I think. In one sense, each book can be read as a standalone but I much prefer to have the history of characters from as early on as possible.

After a humiliating encounter with a cop, Romanian immigrant Gregory Nieves launches a vendetta against the Mobile Police Department, Alabama. Nieves can't fight a department, so he selects one man who symbolizes all men in blue: Carson Ryder, the MPD's specialist in bizarre and twisted crimes. From early on the reader knows who the killer is, but in a bizarre shift in books, it seems that it takes the majority of the book for Carson and Harry to figure it out. I would almost go as far as saying they seemed rather secondary to the main character; the killer!

I am really a big fan of Kerley and this series, but couldn't help feeling that we see less of Carson and Harry and too much insight into a sociopath! Don't get me wrong, I am as interested as the next reader into how these people (ie killers)have no conscience and why they turn like they do, but this time around I felt like it was overdone. Also, there was only fleeting mentions of both Jeremy, Carson's wacko but shockingly intelligent brother; and Harry's niece Rein. Both of these characters', I feel have earned places in the books and I kind of missed them both in equal measures.

Overall, the story was a decent enough one, but I missed the camaraderie between Harry and Carson, I missed other characters and felt like this time around the book was lacking its normal `oomph'. The ending gave way to a nice little opener for the tenth book in the series due in December 2013. I will as always really look forward to the next instalment. I just wish this latest book would have given me a little more than it did.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest Carson Ryder novel from Jack Kerley was one I had been looking forward to and wow, what a great addition to this series (Start with “The Hundredth Man if you are only just starting). In this instalment, Carson ends up embroiled with a killer who apparently kills randomly and without motive. Every investigators nightmare according to Carson…but is there really no motive?

These books are always brilliant but I have to say that this one is definitely a favourite. I won’t say over much because if you have not read Carson’s story so far I really wouldnt want to spoil it. For those of you who HAVE I will say – the usual suspects are back including the randomly brilliant Jeremy and the always entertaining Harry. The story as always is involving, exciting and will get the old brain cells working overtime. This is a cat and mouse game – and its not clear whether Carson will end up victorious and don’t you just LOVE books like that? The ending was stunning. I never saw it coming and yet it made perfect sense. I’m fairly sure that there are not many readers out there who WILL see it coming – Mr Kerley you are very clever and I see to my absolute delight that Carson will be back in December. Wow what a Christmas present that will be! And to finish this review I offer a very special thanks to Hannah and Kate. They know what for!

[Baz Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Killing Game by J.A. Kerley
Posted on October 28, 2013 by bazgriffiths

ImageThis physiological detective story is a real thriller indeed. Detective Carson Ryder is confronting his worst nightmare – a random serial killer without any pattern to the victims, the motives, the weapons or method. Little does Ryder know it is he who is being punished, as the killer’s chosen representative for the ‘Blue Tribe’: the Mobile, Alabama Police Department. From the enduring physiological trauma caused through the tragedies of the Romanian orphanages through 100 ways to kill a cat (or a human), the story keeps you gripped right the way through with an unexpected and horrifying twist right at the end.

Thankfully, the darkness of the killer is tempered by a well portrayed detective and a surprising number of interested ladies set in what seems to be a wonderful location. But Ryder is still the department’s maverick and despite his lauded achievements with PSIT, the Psychopathological and Sociopathological Investigative Team, his card is still marked by his boss. Ryder, however, doesn’t give up easily and he is soon following lead after unrelated lead to try to find a clue to the killer’s identity.

Don’t read this late at night but do enjoy this well crafted detective novel, its certainly one for keeping on the shelf rather than consigning to the spare room.

[Edel Waugh Salisbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story pulls you in slowly and is told in two ways, by the officers trying to apprehend a killer and from the killers point of view. The story starts gentle giving you little titbits about the killer and his life and habits. His point of view throughout the story is chilling on many occasions where as things that would not rattle most people , would annoy him beyond belief. It was really alarming which made it a thrilling and gripping read. The killer is showing no sign of a pattern to his murders which makes it a lot harder to catch him , the MPD specialist for bizarre and twisted crimes Carson Ryder in charge of the case does not even know where to begin and it causing him a lot of frustration , it does not help that he is also being taunted . As the story goes on we get glimpses into the killers past and those in themselves are enough to give you goosebumps . The parts of the story that we are seeing though the eyes of the killer are very dark times ,his thoughts are very disturbing! I was very surprised by the ending of the story as I thought it may have gone another way but it was a satisfying ending nonetheless. Highly recommend to those who like their fiction on the disturbing side.

[Julia Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great plot in this series. If I have a criticism it is that the main character coasted along without any further development, but perhaps it's inevitable in a series of books that character development occasionally takes second place to a really outstanding plot.

I am particularly fond of Jeremy and would have liked to see more of him in this book - he was spot on in his comments that Carson only contacts him for help. He needs more to do! The man is a genius and his observations on life and his brother are always fun to read.

The protagonists are very cleverly drawn and have great depth. The winding thread that binds the victims was subtle but the reader is given enough to join the dots and come to a realisation around the same time (or maybe a little earlier) than Carson.

The use of narrow-minded bureaucracy played into the plot well - probably the most terrifying aspect of the book. Way more scary than the thought of serial killers and sociopaths because it is almost certain that readers know and have encountered those people in their everyday lives. Maybe we have also encountered serial killers and sociopaths but they rarely announce themselves as publicly and obviously as the blinkered bureaucrat.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent a free advance copy of this book to review for Lovereading.co.uk

The Killing Game is an unusual ‘Whodunnit’ as the killer is revealed to the reader at an early stage, allowing you to sit back and observe the police investigation smug in the knowledge that you know all the answers – but do you?
The author has enough red herrings, twists and turns to keep the reader’s interest and leaves one final twist until the end – no peeking!
The characterisations and plot made me want to read on to find out what happens next all the way to the end of the book. There is a nod to the nature/nurture debate by making the killer a product of his earlier abuse in a Romanian orphanage.
Clever use is made of the influence and impact of social media. The killer turns the tables on the police by embarking on their ‘nightmare scenario’ – using a purely random victim selection process – after a video of a police lecture is posted on YouTube.
Although this book is part of the Carson Ryder series it can be read and enjoyed, without having any knowledge of the other books. This is a fascinating, well-written, thriller.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see a real development in the plotting and writing style of Kerley from his awkward and lacking first forays to the last three or so novels.

There hasn't been an awful lot of character progression, which I would like to see more of, but the individual novel plots are definitely getting stronger, along with a more fluid writing style.

I just want to see more from Carson beyond embarrassment directed at his brother, and seemingly meaningless relationships with any number of women. I want him to explore his relationship with his brother, or fall in love or do something other than solving crimes and going back to emotional square one. More progression please!

Would absolutely recommend this novel as a good crime thriller.

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it love it love it !! I can't figure out that the real evil is the sister !!
Now that's what I call a good crime mystery story.
The main character here is obviously mentally ill. Can't blame him for that. But through the whole book, the story is seen through the killer point of view.
There's a fact here and there about the sister, but not so much. Although it's mention that he met the "sister" character in the past.
The sad thing is, he doesn't realize that it wasn't his sister at all, and it turns out that he's been abused and hypnotized all this time.
Unfortunately, the killer died (looks like a suicide which doesn't makes sense) and the so called "sister" lives on.
Always love a surprising ending of a story. Love this author, I'm on a reading marathon of his books.