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Deadly Game
DCI Harry Taylor has no respect for red tape or political reputations – but he's great at catching criminals.
And all his unorthodox skills will be needed as an extraordinary situation unfolds on his a metal box of radioactive material is found at a dump in Stepney, East London, but before the police can arrive it is stolen in a violent raid.
With security agencies across the world on red alert, it's Harry and his unconventional team from the Met who must hit the streets in search of a lead. They soon have two wildly different suspects, aristocratic art dealer Julian Smythe in London and oligarch Vladimir Voldrev in Barbados. But the pressure is on. How much time does Harry have, and how many more players will join the action, before the missing uranium is lighting up the sky?
Deadly Game is a compelling, fast-paced novel of international intrigue and twisting suspense from a legendary actor and British icon, who now proves himself to be a first-rate thriller writer.
And all his unorthodox skills will be needed as an extraordinary situation unfolds on his a metal box of radioactive material is found at a dump in Stepney, East London, but before the police can arrive it is stolen in a violent raid.
With security agencies across the world on red alert, it's Harry and his unconventional team from the Met who must hit the streets in search of a lead. They soon have two wildly different suspects, aristocratic art dealer Julian Smythe in London and oligarch Vladimir Voldrev in Barbados. But the pressure is on. How much time does Harry have, and how many more players will join the action, before the missing uranium is lighting up the sky?
Deadly Game is a compelling, fast-paced novel of international intrigue and twisting suspense from a legendary actor and British icon, who now proves himself to be a first-rate thriller writer.
336 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2024
199 people are currently reading
863 people want to read
About the author
Michael Caine
39 books168 followersSir Michael Caine, CBE was born Maurice Joseph Micklewaite near Elephant and Castle in South London. His first major starring roles, beginning in the 1960s, include 'Zulu,' 'The Ipcress File,' and 'Alfie.' He is a major Hollywood film star and two-time Academy Award winner with a career spanning over sixty years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
February 27, 2024
If you are wondering why the author’s name is familiar, you are right to wonder. This is Sir Michael Caine, CBE the Oscar winning actor for the film “Hannah and Her Sisters.” He even had a movie out in 2023, the year he celebrated turning 90 years old.
I wanted to read this one, because of his notoriety and my curiosity about him as a writer. And this is his debut work of fiction.
But as I dove into it, I couldn’t help but wonder, would this have been published if it hadn’t of been written by a famous actor?
Premise: His protagonist hero is a 45-year-old DCI Harry Taylor. Old school cop. Tough with a good heart. And he happens to be on the trail of some missing uranium with a lot of suspects.
So how did it do?
I felt it was poorly written, predictable and contrived. Unfortunately, it did not keep me engaged.
Let’s just say, it was a slog read. Difficult to enjoy, despite the twists and turns thrown at us readers. I think it wanted to be an exciting thriller, but it was more of a yawner for me.
I wanted to read this one, because of his notoriety and my curiosity about him as a writer. And this is his debut work of fiction.
But as I dove into it, I couldn’t help but wonder, would this have been published if it hadn’t of been written by a famous actor?
Premise: His protagonist hero is a 45-year-old DCI Harry Taylor. Old school cop. Tough with a good heart. And he happens to be on the trail of some missing uranium with a lot of suspects.
So how did it do?
I felt it was poorly written, predictable and contrived. Unfortunately, it did not keep me engaged.
Let’s just say, it was a slog read. Difficult to enjoy, despite the twists and turns thrown at us readers. I think it wanted to be an exciting thriller, but it was more of a yawner for me.
November 30, 2023
Perhaps the best and most reassuring comment I can make about Deadly Game, the debut novel from legendary actor (and national treasure) Michael Caine, is that you soon forget it's by legendary actor (and national treasure) Michael Caine. I'm not really a fan of thrillers in general, considering them to a literary diet what a microwaveable hamburger is to a regular diet, and on the initial press release of Deadly Game I feared the worst. A 'pulsating' thriller. 'Globetrotting'. A Met detective who plays by his own rules – and he's an 'ex-SAS soldier' at that… It all sounded so cliché.
And, well, it is. But what is a relief – given my admiration for Michael Caine – is that it's not bad. It can't be scoffed at as a vanity project, at least not without being a tad churlish. It's tidy, it's honest, the pages turn easily, and the characters aren't irritating. There's no stodginess in the writing, though the plot itself does lose steam as it becomes more removed from reality. By the end, it tries to do too much and ends up providing little satisfaction on some pretty key questions the reader will be having.
Caine's name no doubt draws a lot more eyes to it than its objective value deserves, but reading Deadly Game quickly ceased to be a novelty and it can be recognised as a pretty decent, if unremarkable, thriller. It was probably too much to expect him to blow the bloody doors off, but Michael Caine's provided a perfectly respectable drop into a saturated market.
And, well, it is. But what is a relief – given my admiration for Michael Caine – is that it's not bad. It can't be scoffed at as a vanity project, at least not without being a tad churlish. It's tidy, it's honest, the pages turn easily, and the characters aren't irritating. There's no stodginess in the writing, though the plot itself does lose steam as it becomes more removed from reality. By the end, it tries to do too much and ends up providing little satisfaction on some pretty key questions the reader will be having.
Caine's name no doubt draws a lot more eyes to it than its objective value deserves, but reading Deadly Game quickly ceased to be a novelty and it can be recognised as a pretty decent, if unremarkable, thriller. It was probably too much to expect him to blow the bloody doors off, but Michael Caine's provided a perfectly respectable drop into a saturated market.
January 15, 2024
This was a great debut spy/thriller book from Michael. It was a little slow at times which you'd expect from these types of books. I enjoyed all the chases and twists in this book and would read more from Mr Caine.
January 3, 2024
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
3.5 stars
🧨Penned by British film icon Michael Caine, the well-known and much-loved actor has retired from the screen but he has a new career in publishing, thanks to the release of his first novel Deadly Game. A high-octane thriller, headed by DCI Harry Taylor, this is a story of the underworld, drug lords, stolen goods and plenty more.
🧨DCI Harry Taylor is on the hunt for a lead relating to a stash of uranium in East London. The adventure and intrigue are immediately set in front of the reader, as Harry trawls the streets of London for those responsible for this global emergency threat. Along the way, Harry employs his team of detectives and encounters a few dogdy suspects, as well as some rather nasty villains. Deadly Game is a kind of classic cops and robbers style novel with a twist, thanks to the inclusion of a nuclear threat.
🧨In my opinion Deadly Game seemed to echo strong action-based novels such as the Jack Reacher series from Lee Child and Tom Clancy’s espionage themed military thrillers. Caine has clearly been inspired by some of his favourite authors and has produced a debut that fits well into this spy genre. Deadly Game is well paced and timed. It is easy to knock this off with some distractions in a couple of close sittings. I read this one as part of a readlaong experience with Tandem Collective and I have to say I enjoyed taking part in this buddy style read. I honestly don’t think I would have picked this one up as it’s outside my usual reading tastes. However, the lure of a readalong adventure and my sense of curiosity surrounding Michael Caine as a new writer reeled me in. I’m pleased I gave this one a go.
🧨A very visual read from cover to cover, with some full-bodied characters, Deadly Game is a blockbuster style action-adventure thriller that may signal the beginning of a new carry-on series for Michael Caine’s enigmatic lead DCI Harry Taylor.
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3.5 stars
🧨Penned by British film icon Michael Caine, the well-known and much-loved actor has retired from the screen but he has a new career in publishing, thanks to the release of his first novel Deadly Game. A high-octane thriller, headed by DCI Harry Taylor, this is a story of the underworld, drug lords, stolen goods and plenty more.
🧨DCI Harry Taylor is on the hunt for a lead relating to a stash of uranium in East London. The adventure and intrigue are immediately set in front of the reader, as Harry trawls the streets of London for those responsible for this global emergency threat. Along the way, Harry employs his team of detectives and encounters a few dogdy suspects, as well as some rather nasty villains. Deadly Game is a kind of classic cops and robbers style novel with a twist, thanks to the inclusion of a nuclear threat.
🧨In my opinion Deadly Game seemed to echo strong action-based novels such as the Jack Reacher series from Lee Child and Tom Clancy’s espionage themed military thrillers. Caine has clearly been inspired by some of his favourite authors and has produced a debut that fits well into this spy genre. Deadly Game is well paced and timed. It is easy to knock this off with some distractions in a couple of close sittings. I read this one as part of a readlaong experience with Tandem Collective and I have to say I enjoyed taking part in this buddy style read. I honestly don’t think I would have picked this one up as it’s outside my usual reading tastes. However, the lure of a readalong adventure and my sense of curiosity surrounding Michael Caine as a new writer reeled me in. I’m pleased I gave this one a go.
🧨A very visual read from cover to cover, with some full-bodied characters, Deadly Game is a blockbuster style action-adventure thriller that may signal the beginning of a new carry-on series for Michael Caine’s enigmatic lead DCI Harry Taylor.
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February 4, 2024
This is Michael’s first fiction book. It is a police thriller set in London, with the lead character DCI Harry Taylor, not a fan of red tape but loves catching the bad guys.
Now I wasn’t sure of the style that ai would be reading, and to be honest, I started reading it in Michael Caine’s voice…. It fits!!
The story starts with a metal box of radioactive material being found on a London dump, but before the police can secure, it is stolen in a raid.
The ongoing pursuit is a fast paced international thrill ride with easy to envision locations. It reads a little like a Bond Film at times but with some actual realism. No spoilers from me, it would make a great movie.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for the copy of this book to read.
Now I wasn’t sure of the style that ai would be reading, and to be honest, I started reading it in Michael Caine’s voice…. It fits!!
The story starts with a metal box of radioactive material being found on a London dump, but before the police can secure, it is stolen in a raid.
The ongoing pursuit is a fast paced international thrill ride with easy to envision locations. It reads a little like a Bond Film at times but with some actual realism. No spoilers from me, it would make a great movie.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for the copy of this book to read.
March 12, 2024
Getting the obvious out of the way first: unlike many ‘celebrity’ forays into fiction, Deadly Game was not ghost written. Sir Michael Caine will be the drawcard for this book, no matter they story line, however as a thriller, it is sturdy and ticks the right boxes, even with the Hollywood-esque essence to it in the latter chapters.
The storyline starts off quite simply: DCI, Harry Taylor is investigating the disappearance of a metal box containing radioactive material, initially dumped in Stepney, East London. Its disappearance is also questionable – who knew about it, who was watching it, who wants it, and why? And the potential suspects are on all parts of the suspect spectrum: an entitled London art dealer with too much money on his hands (Julian Smythe), a Russian business magnate based in Barbados who has lots of fingers in political pies (Vladimir Voldrev), a neo-Nazi gang members, and drug cartels from Colombia.
This thriller is part conspiracy theory debunking as it is finding the radioactive box. It was like following the Cluedo game but coming up with new weapons and motives each time a suspect was questioned. These layers and red herrings added a gritty realness to this story.
The storyline starts off quite simply: DCI, Harry Taylor is investigating the disappearance of a metal box containing radioactive material, initially dumped in Stepney, East London. Its disappearance is also questionable – who knew about it, who was watching it, who wants it, and why? And the potential suspects are on all parts of the suspect spectrum: an entitled London art dealer with too much money on his hands (Julian Smythe), a Russian business magnate based in Barbados who has lots of fingers in political pies (Vladimir Voldrev), a neo-Nazi gang members, and drug cartels from Colombia.
This thriller is part conspiracy theory debunking as it is finding the radioactive box. It was like following the Cluedo game but coming up with new weapons and motives each time a suspect was questioned. These layers and red herrings added a gritty realness to this story.
November 26, 2023
As a well-known and much loved actor, the author certainly has a built in audience for a spy thriller. No one expects such a thriller to necessarily be a literary masterpiece (with apologies to John le Carre), but neither the story nor the writing is good enough to keep the reader engaged. I will faithfully continue to watch any film Caine chooses to grace with is presence, but I'll skip any more novels.
December 2, 2023
I love Michael Caine, loved pretty much all the movies he has been. However, this novel wasn't bad but it wasn't good either.
Would be a two star but I'll give it an extra star purely for it being a legend who wrote it.
Would be a two star but I'll give it an extra star purely for it being a legend who wrote it.
September 12, 2024
A specialist dirty jobs unit of Scotland Yard – SO22, led by DCI Harry Turner – is called in to investigate when a mysterious box turns up on a London rubbish dump and is then whisked away by masked thugs shortly afterwards.
Written by veteran actor Michael Caine you can easily imagine the plot as a movie. It has a global sweep taking in a mysterious Russian oligarch, a wealthy London art dealer, a South American drugs baron and British far-right thugs. However, it feels rather slow paced in places, there are also regular big dumps of backstory, and not just in the early stages, which distract from the main plot. As a result I found it didn’t hold my attention very well sometimes.
The ending, by contrast, all goes a bit James Bond. It also has a few too many typos that should have been caught by a good copy editor.
I love Michael Caine as an actor and kudos to him for writing a novel in the first place but I’m afraid it doesn’t blow the doors off.
Written by veteran actor Michael Caine you can easily imagine the plot as a movie. It has a global sweep taking in a mysterious Russian oligarch, a wealthy London art dealer, a South American drugs baron and British far-right thugs. However, it feels rather slow paced in places, there are also regular big dumps of backstory, and not just in the early stages, which distract from the main plot. As a result I found it didn’t hold my attention very well sometimes.
The ending, by contrast, all goes a bit James Bond. It also has a few too many typos that should have been caught by a good copy editor.
I love Michael Caine as an actor and kudos to him for writing a novel in the first place but I’m afraid it doesn’t blow the doors off.
July 11, 2024
Oare ce subiect ar alege un actor ce a jucat în peste 160 de filme, de-a lungul a unei cariere de opt decenii, pentru primul său roman? Unul de spionaj, normal. Este vorba despre "Joc mortal" de Sir Michael Caine (traducere de Adina Pintea), celebrul actor britanic făcându-și debutul în ficțiune la vârsta de 90 de ani.
https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2024/...
https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2024/...
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July 24, 2024Joc mortal este o carte excelenta, foarte potrivita actualului context geopolitic. Eu am TRAIT-O foarte intens, lucru care cred ca se va intampla multor cititori. Majoritatii lor, ca sa fiu mai precis.
https://citestemil.ro/joc-mortal-mich...
https://citestemil.ro/joc-mortal-mich...
July 12, 2024
I've long been a fan of Michael, and also loved his two autobiogs.
So I was intrigued to hear he'd written a novel, and also so late on in his life.
But it turns out that it's pretty good! I loved the first chapter and, if the story slows a little after that, it soon builds into an intriguing (if slightly far-fetched) thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the end.
Chief protagonist DCI Harry Taylor def has elements of Harry Palmer - and Caine is clearly a fan of crime thrillers, which have obviously given him plenty of inspiration over the years to create his own.
The story is well-written and has good strong characters, and feels modern in its feel. It def doesn't feel like a book written by someone who was in their nineties!
I actually enjoyed this story more than I thought I would, and well done to Michael for coming up with such a strong and memorable book - a great addition to a remarkable career.
So I was intrigued to hear he'd written a novel, and also so late on in his life.
But it turns out that it's pretty good! I loved the first chapter and, if the story slows a little after that, it soon builds into an intriguing (if slightly far-fetched) thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the end.
Chief protagonist DCI Harry Taylor def has elements of Harry Palmer - and Caine is clearly a fan of crime thrillers, which have obviously given him plenty of inspiration over the years to create his own.
The story is well-written and has good strong characters, and feels modern in its feel. It def doesn't feel like a book written by someone who was in their nineties!
I actually enjoyed this story more than I thought I would, and well done to Michael for coming up with such a strong and memorable book - a great addition to a remarkable career.
February 6, 2024
52 Book club: Published by Hachette
2.5 stars
There were some lines that I literally laughed out loud at, and I did enjoy the story overall. The descriptive elements of the book are it's biggest plus and minus though. The author has a good eye for detail and can pick out these in everyday life quite well. However, this is then indulged with many long, descriptive passages and back story. Equally, there is a lot of dialogue in the book, often two handers that go on for long stretches, that I felt like skim reading. Overall, a fun, if not always intentionally, light read.
2.5 stars
There were some lines that I literally laughed out loud at, and I did enjoy the story overall. The descriptive elements of the book are it's biggest plus and minus though. The author has a good eye for detail and can pick out these in everyday life quite well. However, this is then indulged with many long, descriptive passages and back story. Equally, there is a lot of dialogue in the book, often two handers that go on for long stretches, that I felt like skim reading. Overall, a fun, if not always intentionally, light read.
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September 5, 2024I loved Michael Caine in his earlier movies - he was so handsome, engaging and charismatic. When I saw his name I could not resist picking this up from the returns trolley.
Unfortunately it didn't take too long to realise that this would be a DNF. The characters and action seemed to have been lifted from the seventies. Perhaps if you read the thing out loud in that well-known flat cockney voice, it might catch.
Other library goers will thank me for the early return.
By the way, it won't stop me from watching The Ipcress File or Zulu whenever I get the chance.
Unfortunately it didn't take too long to realise that this would be a DNF. The characters and action seemed to have been lifted from the seventies. Perhaps if you read the thing out loud in that well-known flat cockney voice, it might catch.
Other library goers will thank me for the early return.
By the way, it won't stop me from watching The Ipcress File or Zulu whenever I get the chance.
February 20, 2024
I’ve always enjoyed Michael Caine as an actor and thought I’d try reading his first novel. Not bad, with a lot of interesting details about the U.K. Surprised to learn he was 90 years old when he wrote it.
December 30, 2023
3.5 stars … a solid read.
June 2, 2024
A good fast paced thriller with as many twists and turns as a Swiss mountian road. Well done, Sir Micheal, now you've retired from acting I think writing might be your next career.
January 25, 2025
A good read, thrilling right to the end.
Liked all the twists and turns.
Was a bit slow sometimes but ending was good.
Looking forward to reading his next book 📖
Liked all the twists and turns.
Was a bit slow sometimes but ending was good.
Looking forward to reading his next book 📖
April 13, 2025
Finally finished, found this so hard to read
March 10, 2024
Wat een heerlijk debuut van Sir Michael Caine (inderdaad: dié Michael Caine). Veel twists en bijzondere wendingen. Heerlijk om te lezen.
May 23, 2024
A little choppy but still entertaining!
June 20, 2024
"Joc mortal" este un thriller captivant al cărui personaj principal este detectivul Harry Taylor care are un singur scop - să prindă cât mai mulți răufăcători. Ocazia nu se lasă așteptată atunci când o cutie metalică radioactivă este găsită la groapa de gunoi. Din acel moment, avem de-a face cu un păienjeniș de personaje, descoperiri uluitoare legate de cei doi suspecți principali și un final care vă va surprinde!
Citind romanul, de multe ori am simțit că văd un film în care acțiunea se succede rapid în fața mea. Mi-ar fi plăcut ca personajele să fie dezvoltate mai mult, să descopăr trecuturile lor, dar, poate, voi avea șansa de a face asta într-un viitor roman al actorului.
Nu uitați că este vorba de un roman de debut și încă unul foarte bun, plin de acțiune, intrigă, un personaj principal cam arogant, dar bun în meseria sa și niște băieți răi care devin, rând pe rând suspecți! V-am zis de final, da? Că este de-a dreptul surpinzător și neașteptat? Ok, vă las să citiți romanul și să îmi spuneți ce credeți despre el!
Citind romanul, de multe ori am simțit că văd un film în care acțiunea se succede rapid în fața mea. Mi-ar fi plăcut ca personajele să fie dezvoltate mai mult, să descopăr trecuturile lor, dar, poate, voi avea șansa de a face asta într-un viitor roman al actorului.
Nu uitați că este vorba de un roman de debut și încă unul foarte bun, plin de acțiune, intrigă, un personaj principal cam arogant, dar bun în meseria sa și niște băieți răi care devin, rând pe rând suspecți! V-am zis de final, da? Că este de-a dreptul surpinzător și neașteptat? Ok, vă las să citiți romanul și să îmi spuneți ce credeți despre el!
July 24, 2024
Really enjoyed it, great plot twist at the end
January 20, 2024
Not too shabby a book, to be honest. It clipped along at a healthy speed, was action packed and had minimalist character development. But it didn't need more characters, either. I thought the premise of the story was very well done. And it was very cinematic in the writing. I could picture this in movie format. Kind of like a very intense episode of '24'. But that's not to detract from the story itself. There was so much information packed into this book, as well.
We have a 'rogue' type unit embedded with the London Police, but with tentacles into the other police agencies. They're like a special-ops type group, very small with only 4 members. Harry, the main point of view, is the leader of this group. Very experienced, high skill level, very intelligent. And a bit belligerent, but just enough. Throw in some misplaced nuclear material and you get the idea.
There is a big twist in the story at the end, which was a nice surprise. But I'm kind of hoping that Harry headlines another book from Mr Caine.
We have a 'rogue' type unit embedded with the London Police, but with tentacles into the other police agencies. They're like a special-ops type group, very small with only 4 members. Harry, the main point of view, is the leader of this group. Very experienced, high skill level, very intelligent. And a bit belligerent, but just enough. Throw in some misplaced nuclear material and you get the idea.
There is a big twist in the story at the end, which was a nice surprise. But I'm kind of hoping that Harry headlines another book from Mr Caine.
March 23, 2024
Sir Maurice Micklewhite aka Michael Caine has been one of my favourite actors for most of my life, and his autobiography I believe was the first biography I read when I was 13. So I'm speaking as quite a fan when I say this is a frustratingly poor thriller.
Thankfully, it at least isn't a cynical cashgrab. You can tell he's brushed up on the technical requirements of a thriller and is making a fist of punchy storytelling, building mystery and suspense, when to introduce twists, et cetera. Unfortunately the book regularly fails at the meat and potatoes of good storytelling and the central premise (as opposed to the hooks) is fundamentally weak, so there's nowhere really for it all to go. Frankly, if this wasn't Academy Award winner and national treasure Michael Caine, this is very unlikely to have been published.
The hook of the story tries to bring the outlandish into the mundane - a sizeable payload of Uranium 235 is found, of all places, ditched in a Stepney dump before vanishing again. It is a good solid hook. And then we are introduced to the investigator, Harry Taylor, and reality starts vanishing as it turns out he's part of the fictional SO22, which is basically an intelligent unit who aren't directly answerable to any other department and are just meant to go around like Dirty Harry shaking people up and shooting them. This conceit is pretty fantastical, and also, I'd say, not used that well since Harry Taylor is constantly getting hemmed in by the orders of his boss during the investigation anyway.
The biggest problem of the book, though, is that for a thriller starring police officers, there really isn't a lot of investigation involved, clues, leads, that sort of thing. There are a few bits and pieces early on, but for the most part Harry and crew already know the villains in play, and when the plot needs to advance they will receive a cryptic tip off, or someone will tell them about something that was discovered in a parallel investigation, or someone will commit a bungled act of violence against the team, giving themselves away.
The second biggest problem is that despite having a cast of armed coppers who take no nonsense and largely have military training, there amazingly isn't that much in the way of action despite a lot being promised. The climax of the book actually largely involves large expositional dialogue that runs a bit too long and feels quite circular. When you've got two former SAS officers and one of the best snipers in the met in a case involving international drug dealers, imo it feels almost criminal to write a thriller that doesn't climax in a shootout on a freighter/in a warehouse with a bomb ticking somewhere, but this book doesn't have anything like that.
I don't want to go into details about the ending, but sadly it's the point where what there is all falls apart. A lot of the best thrillers, I suspect, begin with the great twist ending (I'm thinking of things like The Odessa File, The Boys From Brazil, The Woman in the Window). The twist in this book is, um, detached from reality and as much as it changes things largely trivialises the events of the story.
As I said, I never got the feeling Caine didn't care about telling a good story, but this is a clunky first attempt that nearly no one else could have gotten published. I feel like he is capable of doing much better.
Thankfully, it at least isn't a cynical cashgrab. You can tell he's brushed up on the technical requirements of a thriller and is making a fist of punchy storytelling, building mystery and suspense, when to introduce twists, et cetera. Unfortunately the book regularly fails at the meat and potatoes of good storytelling and the central premise (as opposed to the hooks) is fundamentally weak, so there's nowhere really for it all to go. Frankly, if this wasn't Academy Award winner and national treasure Michael Caine, this is very unlikely to have been published.
The hook of the story tries to bring the outlandish into the mundane - a sizeable payload of Uranium 235 is found, of all places, ditched in a Stepney dump before vanishing again. It is a good solid hook. And then we are introduced to the investigator, Harry Taylor, and reality starts vanishing as it turns out he's part of the fictional SO22, which is basically an intelligent unit who aren't directly answerable to any other department and are just meant to go around like Dirty Harry shaking people up and shooting them. This conceit is pretty fantastical, and also, I'd say, not used that well since Harry Taylor is constantly getting hemmed in by the orders of his boss during the investigation anyway.
The biggest problem of the book, though, is that for a thriller starring police officers, there really isn't a lot of investigation involved, clues, leads, that sort of thing. There are a few bits and pieces early on, but for the most part Harry and crew already know the villains in play, and when the plot needs to advance they will receive a cryptic tip off, or someone will tell them about something that was discovered in a parallel investigation, or someone will commit a bungled act of violence against the team, giving themselves away.
The second biggest problem is that despite having a cast of armed coppers who take no nonsense and largely have military training, there amazingly isn't that much in the way of action despite a lot being promised. The climax of the book actually largely involves large expositional dialogue that runs a bit too long and feels quite circular. When you've got two former SAS officers and one of the best snipers in the met in a case involving international drug dealers, imo it feels almost criminal to write a thriller that doesn't climax in a shootout on a freighter/in a warehouse with a bomb ticking somewhere, but this book doesn't have anything like that.
I don't want to go into details about the ending, but sadly it's the point where what there is all falls apart. A lot of the best thrillers, I suspect, begin with the great twist ending (I'm thinking of things like The Odessa File, The Boys From Brazil, The Woman in the Window). The twist in this book is, um, detached from reality and as much as it changes things largely trivialises the events of the story.
As I said, I never got the feeling Caine didn't care about telling a good story, but this is a clunky first attempt that nearly no one else could have gotten published. I feel like he is capable of doing much better.
May 5, 2024
pleasantly surprized, and to some degree, amazed -- I did not expect this book to be SO GOOD. Mr. Caine probably channeled Tom Clancy to some extent -- and has come up with "the main guy" who, little doubt, will figure in future stories.
Mike acknowledges that he had help with the research (with one facet of the story that (fissionable?) uranium was (true) found in a London-area dump) -- he knows the jargon (as far as this non-limey person can tell), the relations of whatever departments/offices/branches of law-enforcement, etc. to each other -- and, yes, some of the particulars of atom bombs.
The characters are 'relatable' -- even the (no spoiler here) "bad guy(s)" -- the author provided plenty of detail, description, and almost none of what I'd call "down time" when I read a book -- very little, nay, practically no "bogged down" parts of this book.
and an esoteric comment/question --> on page 271 the phrase "headless chickens" appears. totally left-field perhaps -- was the author influenced by the Headless Chicken Festival, occurring annually in Fruita, Colorado?
Mike acknowledges that he had help with the research (with one facet of the story that (fissionable?) uranium was (true) found in a London-area dump) -- he knows the jargon (as far as this non-limey person can tell), the relations of whatever departments/offices/branches of law-enforcement, etc. to each other -- and, yes, some of the particulars of atom bombs.
The characters are 'relatable' -- even the (no spoiler here) "bad guy(s)" -- the author provided plenty of detail, description, and almost none of what I'd call "down time" when I read a book -- very little, nay, practically no "bogged down" parts of this book.
and an esoteric comment/question --> on page 271 the phrase "headless chickens" appears. totally left-field perhaps -- was the author influenced by the Headless Chicken Festival, occurring annually in Fruita, Colorado?
December 1, 2023
Equal parts secret agent spy-thriller and beat copper mystery, Caine's "Deadly Game" was written about the blue collar sleuth for the blue collar sleuth...reader. Devoid of the polish and charisma of a double-0, our gumshoe works the dark alleys and streets like a professional, a native, his finger on the pulse of the local criminal underworld.
Caine's ability to paint a troubled and storied protagonist is not in the least contrived - in many ways, the most realistic and believable character I've encountered in print. An everyman without saying so, "one of us" without liking all of his qualities, a cussing and beat up copper without superpowers.
In short, I need more Harry Taylor.
This one was a real treat, and proved exciting to the last. Thanks to Hatchet Book Group, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for this ARC.
Caine's ability to paint a troubled and storied protagonist is not in the least contrived - in many ways, the most realistic and believable character I've encountered in print. An everyman without saying so, "one of us" without liking all of his qualities, a cussing and beat up copper without superpowers.
In short, I need more Harry Taylor.
This one was a real treat, and proved exciting to the last. Thanks to Hatchet Book Group, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for this ARC.
January 13, 2024
I received a copy of Deadly Game from Hachette Australia to review.
Legendary actor Sir Michael Caine presents his debut novel, the fun and ultra-exciting thriller, Deadly Game, which follows a maverick cop investigating a case with world-changing implications.
I’m sure I’m not the only person who was surprised when they saw that Michael Caine was releasing a novel in late 2023. While I absolutely love Michael Caine as an actor, I didn’t realise he had any aspirations as an author, so Deadly Game was easily one of the more interesting releases of last year. As I am a fan of unusual thrillers, I naturally had to get my hands on a copy of this book, especially as it had an interesting plot behind it. While I was mainly intrigued by its author, Deadly Game proved to be a wonderful and compelling book that I had a great time reading.
Caine had an interesting story idea for Deadly Game that I think worked quite well. The mysterious and violently taken radioactive material amps the stakes of the book right off the bat, and it perfectly sets up the story about DCI Harry Taylor’s team being let off the leash to hunt down the material without any oversight or restrictions. The early goings of this story are a lot of fun, and I liked the build-up of different villains who might be involved in the theft. The book got particularly fun when Caine introduced the two rival crime lords, Julian Smythe and Vladimir Voldrev, who come in as major suspects to the crime. Due to their connections, it is likely that at least one has the material or knows where it is, and their extreme hatred for each other means that they are willing to trade stories about their rival to the police. I loved the fantastic way that Caine portrayed both these over-the-top villains, and their introductory scenes with the protagonist, as well as some of the fun background that went into them, were highly entertaining, especially as they both played off the serious protagonist extremely well.
The second half of Deadly Game is where the fun really begins, as Taylor and his team get close to finding the material, only for their various opponents to get the drop on them in several ways. There are some great scenes here, and I liked the efficient way in which Taylor and his team deal with the neo-Nazis for example. However, things take a pretty major turn near the end, and it was a bit surprising just how far Ciane took this part of the story. I loved the sudden darker tone that resulted, and it made for quite an intense final third of the book. Everything leads up to the big confrontation with the hidden antagonist of the novel, and I really loved the fun, well-planned out and utterly over-the-top twist that resulted here. It was somehow simultaneously smart and ridiculous, and I loved everything about it. The story wraps up quite nicely from there, and there are hints that Caine might have some sequels in the works, which I personally wouldn’t mind, as I had a lot of fun with the outrageous narrative in Deadly Game.
Deadly Game had a quite a unique feel to it that revels in its roughness and over-the-top nature. Something about how the characters talked and acted felt very cockney, and it honestly reminded me a lot of some of the author’s tough-guy roles in film. While certain elements of this writing style aren’t going to appeal to everyone, I had a fun with it, and particularly enjoyed the amazing action scenes, the intriguing characters, and the elaborate and fun scenarios that emerged. While some of the characters, both protagonist and antagonist, are a little silly and weird in places, they still proved to be a fantastic group of people to follow, and the resulting chaos from their actions makes for an excellent story. The main character’s portrayal as a cop who hates politics and red tape and just wants to get the job done wasn’t amazingly original, but it worked for the story being told, and Caine did try to make him somewhat nuanced. I think that Caine got the right balance of intrigue, mystery, suspense and action throughout the course of Deadly Game, and I was very interested in finding out who was behind the events and how things unfolded. There was something cinematic in a lot of the resulting scenes, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Caine had a film adaptation in mind whilst writing it. Indeed, a Guy Ritchie directed version of Deadly Game could be pretty fun, especially if they got Hugh Grant in to play either of rival gangsters.
Overall, I had a great time with Deadly Game, and it proved to be an awesome and interesting debut from the legendary Michael Caine. While not everyone is going to love this novel, I felt it was really entertaining, and it was great to dive into its outrageous plot, especially with some of the big moments and twists towards the end. As such, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something exciting, and if the idea of a thriller written by Michael Caine appeals to you, then you’ll probably enjoy Deadly Game. It will be interesting to see what happens to this in the future, and I personally wouldn’t mind some sort of adaptation or sequel at some point.
An abridged review of this book also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 11 January 2024:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/01/13/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Legendary actor Sir Michael Caine presents his debut novel, the fun and ultra-exciting thriller, Deadly Game, which follows a maverick cop investigating a case with world-changing implications.
I’m sure I’m not the only person who was surprised when they saw that Michael Caine was releasing a novel in late 2023. While I absolutely love Michael Caine as an actor, I didn’t realise he had any aspirations as an author, so Deadly Game was easily one of the more interesting releases of last year. As I am a fan of unusual thrillers, I naturally had to get my hands on a copy of this book, especially as it had an interesting plot behind it. While I was mainly intrigued by its author, Deadly Game proved to be a wonderful and compelling book that I had a great time reading.
Caine had an interesting story idea for Deadly Game that I think worked quite well. The mysterious and violently taken radioactive material amps the stakes of the book right off the bat, and it perfectly sets up the story about DCI Harry Taylor’s team being let off the leash to hunt down the material without any oversight or restrictions. The early goings of this story are a lot of fun, and I liked the build-up of different villains who might be involved in the theft. The book got particularly fun when Caine introduced the two rival crime lords, Julian Smythe and Vladimir Voldrev, who come in as major suspects to the crime. Due to their connections, it is likely that at least one has the material or knows where it is, and their extreme hatred for each other means that they are willing to trade stories about their rival to the police. I loved the fantastic way that Caine portrayed both these over-the-top villains, and their introductory scenes with the protagonist, as well as some of the fun background that went into them, were highly entertaining, especially as they both played off the serious protagonist extremely well.
The second half of Deadly Game is where the fun really begins, as Taylor and his team get close to finding the material, only for their various opponents to get the drop on them in several ways. There are some great scenes here, and I liked the efficient way in which Taylor and his team deal with the neo-Nazis for example. However, things take a pretty major turn near the end, and it was a bit surprising just how far Ciane took this part of the story. I loved the sudden darker tone that resulted, and it made for quite an intense final third of the book. Everything leads up to the big confrontation with the hidden antagonist of the novel, and I really loved the fun, well-planned out and utterly over-the-top twist that resulted here. It was somehow simultaneously smart and ridiculous, and I loved everything about it. The story wraps up quite nicely from there, and there are hints that Caine might have some sequels in the works, which I personally wouldn’t mind, as I had a lot of fun with the outrageous narrative in Deadly Game.
Deadly Game had a quite a unique feel to it that revels in its roughness and over-the-top nature. Something about how the characters talked and acted felt very cockney, and it honestly reminded me a lot of some of the author’s tough-guy roles in film. While certain elements of this writing style aren’t going to appeal to everyone, I had a fun with it, and particularly enjoyed the amazing action scenes, the intriguing characters, and the elaborate and fun scenarios that emerged. While some of the characters, both protagonist and antagonist, are a little silly and weird in places, they still proved to be a fantastic group of people to follow, and the resulting chaos from their actions makes for an excellent story. The main character’s portrayal as a cop who hates politics and red tape and just wants to get the job done wasn’t amazingly original, but it worked for the story being told, and Caine did try to make him somewhat nuanced. I think that Caine got the right balance of intrigue, mystery, suspense and action throughout the course of Deadly Game, and I was very interested in finding out who was behind the events and how things unfolded. There was something cinematic in a lot of the resulting scenes, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Caine had a film adaptation in mind whilst writing it. Indeed, a Guy Ritchie directed version of Deadly Game could be pretty fun, especially if they got Hugh Grant in to play either of rival gangsters.
Overall, I had a great time with Deadly Game, and it proved to be an awesome and interesting debut from the legendary Michael Caine. While not everyone is going to love this novel, I felt it was really entertaining, and it was great to dive into its outrageous plot, especially with some of the big moments and twists towards the end. As such, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something exciting, and if the idea of a thriller written by Michael Caine appeals to you, then you’ll probably enjoy Deadly Game. It will be interesting to see what happens to this in the future, and I personally wouldn’t mind some sort of adaptation or sequel at some point.
An abridged review of this book also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 11 January 2024:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/01/13/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
November 4, 2024
I’m sorry but this was a real slog and I actually gave up 71% of the way through. I only tried and kept going as long as I did because I love Michael Caine. He is an absolute legend and I’m happy he’s got a book out there. I’m sure the publishers wouldn’t have touched this if it was anyone else’s book though 😬
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