Murder Game, The

Steve Allen Mystery #6

by Steve Allen

America was ready for a nostalgic treat - or so the United Broadcasting System thought when it revived one of television's most popular game shows after a twenty-year absence from the air waves. Little did the network know that it was setting the stage for murder... A member of the original celebrity panel of "The Murder Game" show; Steve's vivacious wife, Jayne Meadows, was invited to a reunion with other show business personalities of the original cast to solve imaginary homicides on live, prime time television in a battle of wits and lively banter. But a series of murders that were anything but imaginary quickly turned lively banter into deadly threats and recriminations as, one by, one, the stars of "The Murder Game became very real victims of a killer whose motives were as mysterious as the murders themselves. And as the program's ratings soared with the discovery of each new body; Steve and Jayne suddenly found themselves in a race against time to figure out whodunit and why before their names were crossed off the killer's list! Written with wit and a stylish sense of fun, The Murder Game combines Steve Allen's show business savvy with all the charm and wry humor that readers expect from one of television's most familiar, talented and beloved personalities.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

244 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1993

About the author

Stephen Valentine Patrick William "Steve" Allen was an American television personality, musician, actor, comedian, and writer. Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best-known for his television career. He first gained national attention as a guest host on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. He graduated to become the first host of The Tonight Show, where he was instrumental in innovating the concept of the television talk show. Thereafter, he hosted numerous game and variety shows, including The Steve Allen Show, I've Got a Secret, The New Steve Allen Show, and was a regular panel member on CBS' What's My Line?

Allen was a "creditable" pianist, and a prolific composer, having penned over 14,000 songs, one of which was recorded by Perry Como and Margaret Whiting, others by Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Les Brown, and Gloria Lynne. Allen won a Grammy award in 1963 for best jazz composition, with his song The Gravy Waltz. Allen wrote more than 50 books and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Reviews

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve Allen and his wife, Jayne Meadows, were staples of the 50s, 60s, and 70s panel game shows. Steve was perhaps best known for his appearances on What's My Line? and later served as host on an updated version of the show. Jayne was a long-standing panel member of I've Got a Secret. In this sixth installment of his mystery series, Steve uses their experiences in the panel game show world to full effect.

In this fictional account, it is twenty years since the famous game show, The Murder Game, went off the air. Jayne Meadows and three other celebrity panelists would go head-to-head with a panel of guests in the grand-daddy of detective-based game shows. The teams would watch short skits that gave them the victim, suspects and general outline of the crime. The game would provide them with opportunities to earn clues. The fewer clue rounds needed to solve the mystery--giving both who and why--the bigger the prize.

That game rivaled What's My Line? and I've Got a Secret in popularity and now the network has been sold on the idea of reviving the show for a modern audience. The original host (and creator of the show) Peter Grover and all of the original panelists are brought on board for the revival--even Jayne, although she's very reluctant at first. But when a few "accidents" happen to those connected with the show, she and Steve can't resist being involved because they gotten quite a taste for real-life mysteries. Then the show's panelists start dying one-by-one and their amateur investigation becomes deadly serious...if they don't discover the culprit soon, then they may find themselves permanent losers of the murder game.

This was a lot of fun. A few years ago, I went down a Youtube rabbit hole and watched every available episode of What's My Line? as well as many episodes of I've Got a Secret. I enjoyed the latter well enough, but it didn't hook me quite the way What's My Line? did. I am well acquainted with how those panel shows worked and saw a lot of Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows. It wasn't difficult to picture the scenes on the set of The Murder Game and I heard Steve's voice in my head the entire time I was reading this. The banter between him and Jayne is true to their onscreen behavior and was delightful to read. They also make pretty decent amateur detectives--though I will say that Steve plays the clues a little close to his vest. There are a few details that aren't shared until the big reveal at the end. The other thing that keeps this from a slightly higher rating is that it goes on just a little bit too long. Jayne figures out who did it and is all set to reveal all. Then a new clue pops up and she (or she and Steve) are all set to go chat up a new suspect and somebody new dies. The somebody new may or may not be the suspect we were going to chat up. That, in turn, causes Steve to decide that he's figured out who did it and is all set to reveal all...and off we go into another round. Set that for about four more repeats and...well, it was just a bit redundant. It didn't prevent me from having a good time though and I'm definitely up for another round of mystery-solving with Steve and Jayne. Which is good because I've got another of his books sitting on the TBR shelves... ★★★ and 1/2. (rounded up here)

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.

[Jason R. Gross · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a great book i did not know that Steve Allen wrote mystery novels. It was a great novel a page turner from the first to the last page of a who done it. You will not figure out who killed all the people in this book until the last page or close to it. I figured out who killed everyone halfway through the book, so that is why I am only giving it 3 stars.

[Chazzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Meadows has been invited to be part of a resurrection of a TV game show. She and the other original cast members will introduce “The Murder Game: to the current TV watchers. Her husband, Steve Allen, is also invited. It is to be a big hit with a throwback to an earlier time in TV. The show is to be done live, to make it fresh and spontaneous.

Before it even hits the air, one of the originals dies in a suspicious car accident. One by one, other cast members die. Seems the show is jinxed with bad luck.

Jane is convinced it’s murder, but Steve is hesitant. When it seems things are getting close to Jayne and Steve, Steve becomes convinced Jayne is right and the both of them ramp up investigating who could be the killer.

There is the young, quick rising, ambitious producer, Phoebe North. Her focus is a hit show at any cost, and the jinx angle is feeding audience interest. There is Peter Grover, creator of the show and the charming host; a man who likes to play “games” and hates to lose. And why kill off the cast? To bring in new talent?

Even though the body count goes up, so do the ratings. It seems as if there is a big curiosity of the audience to see who is next.

Steve Allen’s books are fast reads and not complicated. There is name dropping and references to earlier programs and event Steve has been a part of. Something I grin at, as I’m of an age that remembers the shows and personalities he references. Think 50s – 60s.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book I have read by Steve Allen, I never knew he was an author in addition to all his other talents. Very enjoyable book, good plot and fun to get an inside glimpse of Hollywood.

[Tita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun and witty read. Lots of nods to Old Hollywood.

[Stephanie Tanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complex mystery with insight into the competitive world of Hollywood. Such a talented couple.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit convoluted, great Hollywood asides & inside stories. It is a good mystery and well worth the read. The ending and explanations are a little tough to swallow. Maybe with the technological shift in the mere 15 years since this book came out make some communication confusing. It sounds like something that could happen today if not for technological changes.

[Valerie]

I picked this up in a used bookstore. Steve Allen's unique perspective (as a former game show panelist) insures that the details ring true (right down to the assertion that Jayne Meadows was often mistaken for her sister Audrey).

[Ivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't even know that Steve Allen had written any books so was surprised to find this one at the used book store.

I found it slow in parts and Allen seemed to go off into left field at times. For the most part though it was a good story and well written.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun. Steve Allen and his wife Jayne Meadows solving crimes! The theme of this book is a game show about murder. Lots of laughs, interesting subject.

[Toesnorth's mom]

pretty good