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The Drowning Game
A woman’s investigation into her sister’s death exposes the dark side of a secret life in a gripping novel of power, money, and murder by a Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
Sisters Nadia and Cass Brenner are heirs to Ocean House, a decades-old empire that builds superyachts for the rich and emirs, oligarchs, and titans of industry throughout America and Europe. They’re a next-generation success with the design of their soon-to-be-commissioned megayacht for a Chinese billionaire. But the sisters’ entrée into the coveted Asian market is tragically cut short when Cass falls from a fortieth-floor hotel window.
A Singapore detective rules suicide. Nadia’s been in the yacht business too long not to be suspicious. Especially when she discovers Cass’s involvement in dangerously illicit activities. Pulled into the same web of betrayal, lies, and secrets that trapped her sister, Nadia is on the most perilous mission of her life. Because uncovering the truth behind her sister’s death could tear the Brenner family apart—and it just might get her killed.
From Seattle to Austria to the South China Sea, Nadia must hold on to the one thing that can keep her safe. It’s the Brenner family Trust no one.
Sisters Nadia and Cass Brenner are heirs to Ocean House, a decades-old empire that builds superyachts for the rich and emirs, oligarchs, and titans of industry throughout America and Europe. They’re a next-generation success with the design of their soon-to-be-commissioned megayacht for a Chinese billionaire. But the sisters’ entrée into the coveted Asian market is tragically cut short when Cass falls from a fortieth-floor hotel window.
A Singapore detective rules suicide. Nadia’s been in the yacht business too long not to be suspicious. Especially when she discovers Cass’s involvement in dangerously illicit activities. Pulled into the same web of betrayal, lies, and secrets that trapped her sister, Nadia is on the most perilous mission of her life. Because uncovering the truth behind her sister’s death could tear the Brenner family apart—and it just might get her killed.
From Seattle to Austria to the South China Sea, Nadia must hold on to the one thing that can keep her safe. It’s the Brenner family Trust no one.
371 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2025
5268 people are currently reading
12544 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Nickless
13 books1,002 followersBarbara Nickless is the Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of two award-winning crime series. Her first series has been optioned for television. A teacher and activist, she uses the healing power of writing to support combat veterans and civilians in the U.S. and Ukraine. She’s a three-time winner of the Colorado Book Award and a six-time winner of the CAL awards. A former fencer and falconer, Barbara lives in Colorado where she loves to hike, cave, snowshoe, and drink single malt Scotch. Not at the same time. Her most recent research travel involved taking cover from rocket fire and being grilled at military checkpoints. Her latest novel—The Drowning Game—is a spy thriller. It dropped January 1, 2025.
Sign up for Barbara’s newsletter at www.barbaranickless.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 428 reviews
July 16, 2024
ARC for review. To be published November 19, 2024.
Barbara Nickless is the author of the Sydney Rose Parnell series (about a railroad detective which is very intriguing subject matter,) and the Dr. Evan Wilding series (which is ongoing, and features a professor at the University of Chicago whose specialty is symbols. The first one was fabulous and those since have been OK.).
This standalone thriller features sisters Nadia and Cass Brenner, who will be heirs to Ocean House, THE builder of superyachts for the rich and powerful. They are preparing for their debut in the Asian market when Cass falls from a fortieth floor balcony.
The Singapore police rule her death a suicide but Nadia doesn’t buy it, especially when she discovers that Cass had secrets. In fact, everyone has secrets. Secrets all round. Can Nadia figure out what happened and save her own life?
Ok, this book was not for me, and had a major, unexplained plot hole. However, I think there are people out there who may enjoy it. It really depends on how willing you are to swallow all your disbelief and just let it all unfold. That’s not really my style, but lots of people go into books to be swept into a whole new world. So, does it sound like something you would like? Nickless is a good writer, it’s just the plotting that, for me, got away from her this time. More railroad mysteries, please!
Barbara Nickless is the author of the Sydney Rose Parnell series (about a railroad detective which is very intriguing subject matter,) and the Dr. Evan Wilding series (which is ongoing, and features a professor at the University of Chicago whose specialty is symbols. The first one was fabulous and those since have been OK.).
This standalone thriller features sisters Nadia and Cass Brenner, who will be heirs to Ocean House, THE builder of superyachts for the rich and powerful. They are preparing for their debut in the Asian market when Cass falls from a fortieth floor balcony.
The Singapore police rule her death a suicide but Nadia doesn’t buy it, especially when she discovers that Cass had secrets. In fact, everyone has secrets. Secrets all round. Can Nadia figure out what happened and save her own life?
Ok, this book was not for me, and had a major, unexplained plot hole. However, I think there are people out there who may enjoy it. It really depends on how willing you are to swallow all your disbelief and just let it all unfold. That’s not really my style, but lots of people go into books to be swept into a whole new world. So, does it sound like something you would like? Nickless is a good writer, it’s just the plotting that, for me, got away from her this time. More railroad mysteries, please!
January 11, 2025
I listened to the audiobook of this one and the narrator did a good job. Despite the good narration this book didn’t really grab me and I found myself speeding it up to the max speed so I could be done. I’m not totally sure why I didn’t enjoy this book more since it had some great elements. The writing was ok, but I think the plot could have been pieced together better maybe? I didn’t like the ending but I wasn’t enjoying it long before that. Nadia has to go to Singapore after her sister is found dead and the hope of their family business yacht needs to be completed. But Nadia learns the hard way that she can’t trust anyone and there are secrets beyond secrets in Singapore. This spy thriller isn’t bad, and if you love espionage you may want to give it a try.
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February 15, 2025Dnf at 36%. This book was so boring and it felt like a chore to read this.
January 1, 2025
Cass and Nadia Brenner are sisters and heirs to Ocean House, prestigious maker of superyachts. It’s a family business that has been around for generations, but they are now trying to break into the Asian Market. When Chinese billionaire Mr. Mèng asked them to build a megayacht for him, Ocean House jumped on the chance. And then, Cass jumped to her death.
Nadia immediately heads to Singapore to find out how her sister fell over 400 feet. The police say it’s suicide, but that doesn’t make sense to Nadia. Something nefarious must be happening - and it definitely is, with a slightly convoluted story about international crime, the CIA, artificial intelligence, the Chinese government, and perhaps most oddly, German Nazis.
Unfortunately that’s when the book took a turn for the worse, at least for me. I’m not super into action/crime thrillers, and this had so many facets and sides that didn’t seem to make sense. The characters were all over the place, there were a few odd subplots that didn’t make a difference in the outcome, and the whole story became jumbled as the ending approached. The ending was good, as was the beginning, but the meat of the book just wasn’t my style. However, if you like action-packed international intrigue, you may really like this one! Three stars.
(Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Barbara Nickless and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
Nadia immediately heads to Singapore to find out how her sister fell over 400 feet. The police say it’s suicide, but that doesn’t make sense to Nadia. Something nefarious must be happening - and it definitely is, with a slightly convoluted story about international crime, the CIA, artificial intelligence, the Chinese government, and perhaps most oddly, German Nazis.
Unfortunately that’s when the book took a turn for the worse, at least for me. I’m not super into action/crime thrillers, and this had so many facets and sides that didn’t seem to make sense. The characters were all over the place, there were a few odd subplots that didn’t make a difference in the outcome, and the whole story became jumbled as the ending approached. The ending was good, as was the beginning, but the meat of the book just wasn’t my style. However, if you like action-packed international intrigue, you may really like this one! Three stars.
(Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Barbara Nickless and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
September 2, 2024
Tremendous - Dazzling!
Whoaaa - I just finished Barbara Nickless's new novel The Drowning Game, and needed to sit for a bit digesting... This author is always full of surprises, in such rich & researched detail, that it was necessary to take a beat to catch my breath in amazement. My head is still reeling with how cohesively & compassionately she spins this tale!
Always a huge fan of her creative mind & masterful storytelling, I really enjoyed the command she took in pivoting from police procedural into this most timely and vast world of Global Espionage & AI, while being tethered to a family saga both inspirational and revealing of - the Devil within.
For me, TDG is a tour de force of true ingenuity, combined with writing so crisp, clear, and fascinating, that I felt myself held (gratefully) captive.
I LOVED It!!
Thank-you Ms Nickless, for yet another fearless work of creative art ~
And Thanks also to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the advance copy.
I felt so lucky in not having to wait!
Whoaaa - I just finished Barbara Nickless's new novel The Drowning Game, and needed to sit for a bit digesting... This author is always full of surprises, in such rich & researched detail, that it was necessary to take a beat to catch my breath in amazement. My head is still reeling with how cohesively & compassionately she spins this tale!
Always a huge fan of her creative mind & masterful storytelling, I really enjoyed the command she took in pivoting from police procedural into this most timely and vast world of Global Espionage & AI, while being tethered to a family saga both inspirational and revealing of - the Devil within.
For me, TDG is a tour de force of true ingenuity, combined with writing so crisp, clear, and fascinating, that I felt myself held (gratefully) captive.
I LOVED It!!
Thank-you Ms Nickless, for yet another fearless work of creative art ~
And Thanks also to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the advance copy.
I felt so lucky in not having to wait!
January 28, 2025
This book had great narration, but unfortunately it also had too much of everything else: AI, Nazis, the triads, Chinese spies, double and triple agents. It was way too over the top. The writing itself was good, the plot was just too busy to follow and to be at all believable.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Barbara Nickless, and Brilliance Audio for my advance copy of this audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Barbara Nickless, and Brilliance Audio for my advance copy of this audiobook.
February 15, 2025
Am I officially obsessed with Barbara Nickless? Yes, yes I am. The Drowning Game was nonstop action and suspense and I loved every dang minute of it! It is embarrassing that it took me so long to read a book by Nickless considering she is a local author to me, and I have actually gone to multiple events with her at them. I also own many of her Sydney Rose Parnell series books and even won a little K9 dog at one such event. 🥺 I am clearly going to stop putting those off and will now read anything and everything she writes. Anywho, sorry for the tangent but I feel dumb now lol. Back to the book! This had many elements that wouldn’t normally make me pick up a book, but they all worked perfectly here and upped the tension as well as my anxiety. 🤣 I also loved the sister and familial aspects, and it was just a great blend of many things.
This is a Kindle Unlimited title, so I grabbed the audiobook on Audible and didn’t look back. Natalie Naudus was seriously the perfect narrator for this book and did extremely well with all of the different viewpoints. I loved listening to her voice, and she made it a lovely listening experience. I’ve never read a book with a focus on superyachts before and it was a fascinating experience. I loved that I got to learn new things while also being obsessed with the characters and what was happening. The setting was mostly in Singapore which was another bonus since I’ve never been. Each character was perfectly executed, and Nickless’ writing was so easy to get lost in. She is truly a talented storyteller.
Read this if you are looking for a book rooted in family ties, espionage, and have the ability to suspend disbelief.
This is a Kindle Unlimited title, so I grabbed the audiobook on Audible and didn’t look back. Natalie Naudus was seriously the perfect narrator for this book and did extremely well with all of the different viewpoints. I loved listening to her voice, and she made it a lovely listening experience. I’ve never read a book with a focus on superyachts before and it was a fascinating experience. I loved that I got to learn new things while also being obsessed with the characters and what was happening. The setting was mostly in Singapore which was another bonus since I’ve never been. Each character was perfectly executed, and Nickless’ writing was so easy to get lost in. She is truly a talented storyteller.
Read this if you are looking for a book rooted in family ties, espionage, and have the ability to suspend disbelief.
July 17, 2024
Superyachts, spies, exotic locales -- this book has it all!
Nadia Brenner does not think of herself as a courageous person. Her sister Cassandra is the bold and fearless one. Co-heirs to Ocean House, the family's business designing and building superyachts for the ultra-rich, the sisters have always been close. When Cass dies in a fall from a luxury hotel in Singapore the police rule it a suicide. Nadia is left with questions and a determination to find the truth about her sister's death. As she peels back the layers of her sister's life in Singapore and the superyacht project that will be Ocean House's entry to the Asian market, she discovers hidden agendas, secrets, and threats to her own life. What is she willing to risk for her sister's memory, for her family's future, for her own principles?
With a slight shift in genre from her previous books, Barbara Nickless dives into a world of international espionage and intrigue. She has once again delivered a compelling, tightly-plotted story in her usual exceptional prose. The details of the superyacht business, China and geopolitical tensions in East Asia, and developments in artificial intelligence all reflect her flair for research and getting the details right. Also unchanged is her ability to create characters that capture our hearts and locales that come alive. The Drowning Game is a captivating read from start to finish.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advance review copy of this book. The scheduled release date is November 19, 2024.
Nadia Brenner does not think of herself as a courageous person. Her sister Cassandra is the bold and fearless one. Co-heirs to Ocean House, the family's business designing and building superyachts for the ultra-rich, the sisters have always been close. When Cass dies in a fall from a luxury hotel in Singapore the police rule it a suicide. Nadia is left with questions and a determination to find the truth about her sister's death. As she peels back the layers of her sister's life in Singapore and the superyacht project that will be Ocean House's entry to the Asian market, she discovers hidden agendas, secrets, and threats to her own life. What is she willing to risk for her sister's memory, for her family's future, for her own principles?
With a slight shift in genre from her previous books, Barbara Nickless dives into a world of international espionage and intrigue. She has once again delivered a compelling, tightly-plotted story in her usual exceptional prose. The details of the superyacht business, China and geopolitical tensions in East Asia, and developments in artificial intelligence all reflect her flair for research and getting the details right. Also unchanged is her ability to create characters that capture our hearts and locales that come alive. The Drowning Game is a captivating read from start to finish.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advance review copy of this book. The scheduled release date is November 19, 2024.
January 15, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was masterfully plotted, with lots of surprising but totally believable twists and turns, and heart clutching suspense. And every reader will be able to identify with the reluctant hero Nadia in whom we'll all find something to relate to. In fact all of the characters are artfully drawn, with no stereotypes or being all good or all evil. They're all a mix of good and evil and their actions are motivated by who they are. Author Nickless was diligent about her research, too, and I learned a lot about yacht building, Chinese espionage and more. And, I had fun visiting exotic locations and mingling with the super rich, too. Even though I love Nickless's mystery thrillers, this espionage thriller kept me up late at night reading, too. I hope she writes more!
December 20, 2024
I just could not get into this book, I was bored and did not grab me in at all. To me, not worth the read.
February 4, 2025
i am surprised i enjoyed this book as much as i did. the narrator did an awesome job. not my favvv but definitely not the worst. by the end of the book i was ready for it to wrap up.
December 26, 2024
The truth will set you free. NOT! What was seemingly a novel about Chinese repression and the CIA turned into a morality play.
Too many plot holes. There was no reason for Nadia to reveal her company's Nazi past. Cass's reappearance at the end is not well explained, especially after her being positively identified as dead according to her matching tattoos. And what woman easily walks away from her loving billionaire boyfriend.
I did learn a lot about ship building and the yacht business. Nickless certainly has done her research.
Too many plot holes. There was no reason for Nadia to reveal her company's Nazi past. Cass's reappearance at the end is not well explained, especially after her being positively identified as dead according to her matching tattoos. And what woman easily walks away from her loving billionaire boyfriend.
I did learn a lot about ship building and the yacht business. Nickless certainly has done her research.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2025
This is a unique thriller that's unlike anything I've ever read. I liked how fast paced this is and I was engrossed in the story. If you enjoy thrillers, I would recommend this. Special Thank You to Barbara Nickless,Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2024
This book was not for me. The writing was very awkward, to the point where I had to double check that it was originally written in English due to so many oddly phrased sentences.
December 27, 2024
The Drowning Game makes for a fascinating read. It is exceptionally well-researched, offering plenty of information about the luxury yacht building industry and insights into the inner workings of the Chinese Communist Party. Paired with a historical examination of companies that prospered in Nazi Germany through genocide and slave labor—and continue to exist today without facing repercussions—this book forms a compelling historical tale. Additionally, it incorporates a spy thriller plot that adds an edgy dimension to the story.
Nadia receives a call no twin wants to hear: her sister Cass has been found dead from an apparent suicide. Recently, Cass had been secretive, working on a critical yacht build in Singapore for a highly influential Chinese tech inventor. When Nadia arrives to identify the body, she is harassed by the Chinese version of the CIA, a group of thugs doing the CCP's dirty work, as well as agents from the actual CIA. Confused about whom to trust and unaware of her sister's true involvement, Nadia finds herself navigating a perilous situation that could cost her life as well.
Beyond Cass’s death, Nadia discovers that her family has been harboring a horrendous secret. Her grandfather came to own their company Ocean House through participation in the Nazi Party. He appropriated the yacht company by betraying his Jewish bosses. He also played a role in their deportation to death camps and sold out the youngest survivor to the SS. Nadia is determined to expose these crimes on a world stage and offer reparation to the surviving descendant.
This narrative feels like two distinct stories intertwined. While there are slow sections regarding the thriller aspect in the middle, the wealth of historical information compensates for it. I have researched the disturbing number of German companies that benefited from appropriating Jewish businesses and participating in slave labor and genocide, many of which still exist today. Some of these companies have yet to provide any restitution to the surviving victims' families or admit to their guilt nor participation in the Holocaust. These historical acknowledgements are incredibly important, even if presented through works of fiction, and for this reason, I would highly recommend this story. The insights into the CCP and the thrilling conclusion are simply added bonuses.
Nadia receives a call no twin wants to hear: her sister Cass has been found dead from an apparent suicide. Recently, Cass had been secretive, working on a critical yacht build in Singapore for a highly influential Chinese tech inventor. When Nadia arrives to identify the body, she is harassed by the Chinese version of the CIA, a group of thugs doing the CCP's dirty work, as well as agents from the actual CIA. Confused about whom to trust and unaware of her sister's true involvement, Nadia finds herself navigating a perilous situation that could cost her life as well.
Beyond Cass’s death, Nadia discovers that her family has been harboring a horrendous secret. Her grandfather came to own their company Ocean House through participation in the Nazi Party. He appropriated the yacht company by betraying his Jewish bosses. He also played a role in their deportation to death camps and sold out the youngest survivor to the SS. Nadia is determined to expose these crimes on a world stage and offer reparation to the surviving descendant.
This narrative feels like two distinct stories intertwined. While there are slow sections regarding the thriller aspect in the middle, the wealth of historical information compensates for it. I have researched the disturbing number of German companies that benefited from appropriating Jewish businesses and participating in slave labor and genocide, many of which still exist today. Some of these companies have yet to provide any restitution to the surviving victims' families or admit to their guilt nor participation in the Holocaust. These historical acknowledgements are incredibly important, even if presented through works of fiction, and for this reason, I would highly recommend this story. The insights into the CCP and the thrilling conclusion are simply added bonuses.
September 23, 2024
THE DROWNING GAME is everything I want in a thriller. Nickless was already one of my favorite authors with her captivating mysteries, compelling characters, and gorgeous prose, and I was not disappointed with her debut into the Thriller genre. The Drowning Game took me into several unfamiliar worlds--luxury yacht building, southeast Asia, and civilians being recruited into espionage--and I loved every minute. Nickless is masterful at painting complex settings with a few deft strokes of her brush, immersing me in the environment with just a handful of the exact right words. She is equally adept at creating multi-faceted, complex characters who feel like real people to me long after I've finished the story. The plot and pacing of this novel were also on point, keeping me guessing, hoping, swearing, and praying. The ebb and flow of tension got my heart rate up and let me breathe at exactly the right times to keep me fully engaged and on the ride all the way to the end. And what an end! Nickless struck the perfect balance where the twists and turns surprised me, yet at the same time felt organic and logical. This book scratched all the itches for a thriller and left me not only breathless from the ride, but also feeling all the emotions. Plus it's flawlessly written in that gorgeous Nickless prose I love. Highly recommended.
December 13, 2024
I have been a big fan of Barbara Nickless for many years now and have enjoyed her Sydney Parnell and Evan Wilding series. When I discovered she had written a stand-alone novel, I was really excited to read it. This book is one of those that entices you into a different world and totally enthrals you from beginning to end. What’s more it is an extremely thought-provoking and well researched story which has been expertly written. The plot is complex and yet interesting. It takes the reader into a world of the super-rich – the sort of people who can afford to commission bespoke built super yachts and who chose the best company in the business to help them achieve their dreams. This is a totally different sort of story to her normal novels, and yet she handles it very well, creating believable and interesting characters that manage to engage the reader. We find ourselves immersed in a world of spying, family secrets and the politics of the East. There is plenty of excitement, lots of sadness and grief, and a huge number of twists and surprises. This was most certainly a book that I enjoyed reading and I highly recommend to anyone who likes gripping thrillers and carefully woven and intense plots – you won’t be disappointed.
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April 1, 2025Life is simply too short to reading boring books. Felt like this was a school assignment that I was drudging through.
DNF @ 39%
DNF @ 39%
June 23, 2025
took me forever to read because it was boring. the stakes felt low but you could tell the author wanted them to feel high. also, the protagonists entire motive is torn apart in the last twenty pages and given no further explanation
March 3, 2025
If you like thrillers with twists and turns and lots of action set primarily in an exotic locale (Singapore) this may very well be the book for you. When her sister Cass is murdered in Singapore, Nadia has to finish the work Cass has started on the super luxury ship their company was building for a rich businessman. Well- written with great character development, I rounded up this 4.5 story because I enjoyed it so much.
March 1, 2025
It's a real power story. A woman investigating her sisters death. Story about power, money, and deception .
January 25, 2025
Clunky. Thank goodness that’s over. Too many characters without depth. No one cares about the plight of yacht owners & designers. Boo hoo.
August 11, 2024
The Drowning Game is a gritty thriller/mystery set against the world of billionaires and super-yachts, where the dangerous waters of East Asia become the latest battleground for boat building supremacy.
The story centers around Ocean House, a U.S. based boat builder, and their contract to build and launch the biggest and most luxurious ever super-yacht at their dock in Singapore. Cass Brenner, the lead on this build, dies under mysterious circumstances and her sister, Nadia, steps in to finish the pressure-filled project and uncover what happened to her sister. Spies, thugs, and double agents, from the CIA and a variety of Chinese agencies make for duplicitous relationships, not knowing who to trust, and danger that lurks around every corner and behind every back.
It is a high stakes game, however, the author often asks the reader to suspend belief in order to make certain elements of the plot work. The setting is interesting and well developed, which helps make the book an enjoyable escape.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story centers around Ocean House, a U.S. based boat builder, and their contract to build and launch the biggest and most luxurious ever super-yacht at their dock in Singapore. Cass Brenner, the lead on this build, dies under mysterious circumstances and her sister, Nadia, steps in to finish the pressure-filled project and uncover what happened to her sister. Spies, thugs, and double agents, from the CIA and a variety of Chinese agencies make for duplicitous relationships, not knowing who to trust, and danger that lurks around every corner and behind every back.
It is a high stakes game, however, the author often asks the reader to suspend belief in order to make certain elements of the plot work. The setting is interesting and well developed, which helps make the book an enjoyable escape.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2024
This is the fifth book I've read by this author, and while they have each been engrossing and well constructed, this is by far the best. It is a stand-alone story that will grip you immediatey and not let go until the thrilling conclusion. Set in Singapore, Moraco, the South china Sea and Seattle, the story line follows a young woman soon to be at the helm of a luxury yacht building firm. She is faced with tragedy in Singapore and runs afoul of various competing assets including the CIA and Chinese Intelligence. I am always awed by the authors ability to bring the reader into her locations and weave complex strands through her novels. This one covers the yacht building industry, international intelligence organizations, and the geoplitical conflict in the South China Sea. The book is meticulously researched and has a stunning action-packed conclusion. You will not be able to put it down. Congratulations Barbara on a superb thriller. I would dearly love to see this continue as a series.
January 14, 2025
Buckle up because THE DROWNING GAME kicks the adrenaline into high gear.
I don’t normally gravitate toward political or espionage thrillers. But I do love Barbara Nickless’s writing style, and the plot for this one intrigued me. I’m so glad I let my greedy little grabby hands win out when this book was offered to me!
The realistic characters and their relationship dynamics had me invested from the beginning. I wanted to spend time with them and get to know them better. I especially love a badass female MC, which we have here.
The plot is complex and nonstop, but also easy to follow. Nickless must have done a crazy amount of research to get all the details right, though the story never feels weighed down. We get breadcrumbs scattered throughout as needed.
This story sent my brain into overdrive. I’m still thinking about it all.
*I received a free copy from Kaye Publicity.*
I don’t normally gravitate toward political or espionage thrillers. But I do love Barbara Nickless’s writing style, and the plot for this one intrigued me. I’m so glad I let my greedy little grabby hands win out when this book was offered to me!
The realistic characters and their relationship dynamics had me invested from the beginning. I wanted to spend time with them and get to know them better. I especially love a badass female MC, which we have here.
The plot is complex and nonstop, but also easy to follow. Nickless must have done a crazy amount of research to get all the details right, though the story never feels weighed down. We get breadcrumbs scattered throughout as needed.
This story sent my brain into overdrive. I’m still thinking about it all.
*I received a free copy from Kaye Publicity.*
December 31, 2024
The Drowning Game
One of the best mystery/ thrillers I have read in years.
One of my complaints about the current crop of mysteries is that the plots are recycled again and again. That is not the case with The Drowning Game, not at all. In addition, the writing is top notch, pushing you to read more and faster.
I wasn't pleased when I started the book and found that it was centered on a family of avid capitalists. I'm not a fan of capitalism much less the avaricious type of harsh American capitalism. However, it was a great story that unwound with one surprise after another. I look forward to reading more of Barbra Nickless's work.
One of the best mystery/ thrillers I have read in years.
One of my complaints about the current crop of mysteries is that the plots are recycled again and again. That is not the case with The Drowning Game, not at all. In addition, the writing is top notch, pushing you to read more and faster.
I wasn't pleased when I started the book and found that it was centered on a family of avid capitalists. I'm not a fan of capitalism much less the avaricious type of harsh American capitalism. However, it was a great story that unwound with one surprise after another. I look forward to reading more of Barbra Nickless's work.
January 29, 2025
pleasantly surprised!
I began reading this and about a third of the way through decided I didn’t care for it. Too much technical information about shipping, yacht design and espionage. I love a good spy movie, but for reading Chinese espionage just isn’t my preference. However, I was intrigued by the story of Nadia and her sister, so I kept going. A book has to be really bad for me to stop reading. About half way through, I found that I couldn’t stop thinking about the story and binge read the rest within hours! The writing is really good, character are well developed and I truly enjoyed the read.
I began reading this and about a third of the way through decided I didn’t care for it. Too much technical information about shipping, yacht design and espionage. I love a good spy movie, but for reading Chinese espionage just isn’t my preference. However, I was intrigued by the story of Nadia and her sister, so I kept going. A book has to be really bad for me to stop reading. About half way through, I found that I couldn’t stop thinking about the story and binge read the rest within hours! The writing is really good, character are well developed and I truly enjoyed the read.
December 10, 2024
Nadia and Cass work for their dads company that builds luxury yachts in two locations- Seattle and Singapore. After their father falls ill, in preparation to take over the company Nadia flys out to Singapore to help her sister on her current project. When she gets there she learns her sister has been murdered. In an attempt to get answers Nadia gets tangled up in a mess that Cass was either apart of or running from. I enjoyed that this book had some hints of historical fiction and loved the journey of what happened to Cass.
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!
December 23, 2024
A Rare Gem
This book is so many things - informative, educational, and fast-paced with a good story line and interesting characters. Ocean House is a ship building company for very wealthy people. Nadia Brenner is the daughter about to inherit the company from her father. She designs Red Dragon for a Chinese inventor of Ai technology who plans to escape from China with his family. Throw in CIA agents, Chinese governmental agents, a dead sister and a body guard, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, very different from my usual who dun it genre. I highly recommend the read.
This book is so many things - informative, educational, and fast-paced with a good story line and interesting characters. Ocean House is a ship building company for very wealthy people. Nadia Brenner is the daughter about to inherit the company from her father. She designs Red Dragon for a Chinese inventor of Ai technology who plans to escape from China with his family. Throw in CIA agents, Chinese governmental agents, a dead sister and a body guard, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, very different from my usual who dun it genre. I highly recommend the read.
December 19, 2024
A lot of truth
This is the first mystery I have read about the emerging powers of AI and it was really excellent. Set in Singapore, a city that I have visited, and that has always intrigued me, the mystery is built around great power competition, the high stakes of artificial intelligence and its potential misuse, and very interesting characters in a world new to me – bespoke mega yachts.
This is the first mystery I have read about the emerging powers of AI and it was really excellent. Set in Singapore, a city that I have visited, and that has always intrigued me, the mystery is built around great power competition, the high stakes of artificial intelligence and its potential misuse, and very interesting characters in a world new to me – bespoke mega yachts.
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