Wicked Games

Detective Parks #2

by Tyler Compton

Professor Fredrick Knott was known for his controversial yet successful teaching methods—gaining him both supporters and many enemies. When he and one of his female students are found stabbed to death in his office one night, the rumors spread through the campus like wildfire.

Gossip of a clandestine affair was nothing new. But why murder, and who did it? Was it a student the professor had flunked? An angry parent? A former patient from his days as a therapist? Maybe his wife, who long knew about his co-ed exploits... or perhaps Knott wasn’t even the intended target.

Despite being on “borrowed time”—soon to be separated into different departments of a newly organized LAPD—Detective David Parks and his team are assigned the high profile case in hopes of quickly solving the murders and saving the reputation of the esteemed college.

But fact and fiction begin to blur when a witness claims the good professor had been practicing an unspeakable horror on the campus grounds—greatly expanding the list of potential suspects with a strong motive.

With the pressure building to find a killer hidden in a maze of blackmail, betrayal and lies, Detective Parks soon discovers the deadly lengths people will go to keep an enticing world and its secrets a mystery.

Genres: Mystery

369 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2013

About the author

Tyler Compton graduated from CSU, Sacramento in 2002 with a BA in Theatre Arts and a minor in Film Studies. He has worked in the pool industry, as a server, bartender, and (for one hilarious evening) as club security.

He currently resides in Los Angeles where he's witnessed various forms of crime, including someone breaking into his apartment while he was in it.

His first novel, The Poisonous Ten, was recently an Award-Winning Finalist in the Fiction: Mystery/Suspense category of the 2013 USA Best Book Awards, sponsored by USA Book News. His second novel in the Detective Parks series, Wicked Games, was released in December of that same year. The third book in the series, The Blue Condition, was released in June of 2016.

He has just finished his first YA novel, a mystery titled The Fast out, due for release in May of 2018.

Reviews

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reads somewhat like a first novel, with awkward sentences and the occasionally editing slip-up (such as when a character finishes his drink and sets down the glass twice during a conversation without getting a new drink). The story is compelling, however, and draws the reader in. Once the story really gets rolling about a third of the way in, I wasn't able to put it down. I found the dialogue fairly well written and realistic. It served to move the story along and introduce a number of plot twists and misdirections. Everyone in this book has secrets and you'll keep guessing who killed, framed, blackmailed, etc all the way til the end.

[Vykki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant ? Brilliant? Brilliant? This book was the best of the best It had every element I looked for. Wonderful story and great character I recommend this book to everyone. This book would grab from the beginning and keep you to the very end. I will look for other books by this author. I won this book on Good reads Thank you.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the second installment of this series! It was nice to see some returning characters and get to know them better. I like the college campus setting because it gave it a unique environment without losing the LA appeal. This is a trilogy and now I can't wait to read the next one!

[Sabrina Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I really liked this book. It kept me on my toes trying to figure out who done it.LOL...then the ending shocked me. Thank you for giving away book for us to read on Goodreads.

[Christine Duerksen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book! I like that I don't know who committed the crime until the end. I can't wait for his next book.

[Michael E. Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reading and kept your attention

I gave it 4 stars becausee i had fun reading it... it had too many characters and it was somewhat confusing but overall i would recommend it ... i will read this authors next book because i do enjoy his writing

[Mary Cokenour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won this book via a Goodreads Giveaway; and glad I did! This is a whodunit with loads of twists and turns to keep the reader thinking, and wondering who actually did it. Like the detective, Parks, you kind of get an idea of who did it, but how to prove it? It all gets wrapped up neatly at the end, but it's disappointing to find out....oops, almost gave away a spoiler.