Raised in the shadows of foster homes across Hawaii, FBI Special Agent Olympia Smith has fought her whole life to prove she belongs. But graduating at the top of her class at Quantico only half-prepared her for what she faces on her very first case. Inside a Honolulu art museum, a body has been arranged postmortem like the museum’s newest exhibit.
It’s less a crime scene than a gallery of horrors.
Although two valuable pieces of art vanished the same night, the violence seems too personal, too savage, to be written off as a heist gone wrong. Now, with two key employees missing and the body count rising, the investigation is starting to resemble the painting the corpse was staged to echo...
Eerie, foreboding, and dripping with menace.
Olympia and her new partner are convinced the key to the murders lies not in evidence bags but in the canvases themselves. Each brushstroke whispers of obsession, betrayal, and secrets too dark to remain buried. But the closer she looks, the more she realizes the killer isn’t just copying art...he’s composing a masterpiece of death, and every move she makes may already be part of his design.
The Killing Game is the first book in the gripping new Olivia Smith FBI series by bestselling author Mary Stone and Matt Giegerich, where art doesn’t just imitate life. It defines it. And ends it.
Nestled in the tranquil Blue Ridge Mountains of East Tennessee, Mary Stone has transformed her peaceful home, once bustling with her sons, into a creative haven. As her family grew, so did her writing career, evolving from childhood fears to a deep understanding of real-life villains. Her stories, centered around strong, unconventional heroines, weave themes of courage and intrigue.
Mary's journey from a solitary writer to establishing her own publishing house marks a significant evolution, showcasing her commitment to the literary world. Through her writing and publishing endeavors, she continues to captivate and inspire, honoring her lifelong fascination with the mysterious and the courageous.
Another well thought out mystery from Mary Stone. Rookie Agent Olympia Smith has been transferred back to her home state of Hawaii to work. She no sooner steps into the door than she is paired to Cody as her partner and sent out on a new case, a death at the local art museum. What should have been a case of tracking down the killer turns into a three fold case - murder(s), art heist and a stolen ruby.
Agent Olympia Smith and Agent Cody Madison have landed a doozy of a case. A madhouse of art theft and murder in the well known art community of Hawaii. The issue at hand is it's Olympias first case with the FBI. Go big or go home I suppose. Another Issue is the art theft and murder are two separate crimes and two separate cases. Murder and Mayhem abound. The writing is very good and very exciting in this First book of the series. A lot of suspects and everyone looking guilty, your minds on a swivel in this one. It's much harder than normal to figure out who the guilty party is. I got stumped on this one myself this time. Kudos to the authors on a job well done. A murder mystery of the best kind. I highly recommend this one.
3.0 stars. Fans of these co-authors will enjoy this new series. A murder/art theft mystery that takes place in Hawaii. Fast moving story has new FBI Agent Olympia Smith and her partner Cody racing to solve the case.
THE KILLING GAME is the first installment in Mary Stone's and Matt Giegerich's gripping Olympia Smith FBI Mystery Series. This new series is set in Hawaii and presents us with a whole new setting for a suspenseful thriller.
As new FBI partners, Agents Olympia and Clay have a gallery heist and multiple murders to solve. At the same time, they're getting a chance to learn each other's investigative ways and to build trust between each other. The artists involved slowly reveal their true selves as Olympia and Clay work to solve the murder and art theft. Then, more murders among the artists just complicate the clues and leads. You'll be kept guessing who's doing what and why right up to the end. Then there is Olympia's obsession over a painting. Could it be a clue, or as Clay insists, just a painting. While a little slow in the beginning and definitely not as dark and chilling as the Winter Black series, I'm still looking forward to the next installment, The Collector's Game.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, and the above is my voluntary and honest review.
The Killing Game by Mary Stone & Matt Giegerich 11/19/2025 Kindle
FBI Special Agent Olympia Smith graduated at the top of her Quantico class, but here in Hawaii, she has to prove herself. When a brutal murder occurs in an art gallery, the theft of two paintings seems secondary. The fact that the body is positioned as a specific painting is a primary clue in Olympia’s mind. Her investigation becomes complicated when two persons of interest become unavailable.
I enjoyed this new series as the plot and the lead character. I’d have no difficulty recommending the book to other mystery readers
A terrific start to a new series. Olympia Smith, a new FBI agent , struggled through foster homes & now is able to prove herself as a qualified criminologist. A murder in a well known art museum leads to an investigation in the art world. As Olympia & her partner, Cody, dwell deep in the art community, more suspects are adding up. Can she use her special skills to find the murderer? Don’t miss this new series!
I love this start story to the new series. I know , it will be my favorite. It so smoothly flowing with the danger and tension building. The characters are very catching and very well developed. I did not stop reading till I was done. I appreciated the prequel too. It helped! Thank you Mary This will be another hit series for sure. Unique story and the end. I cannot spoil it for others to write more. Do not miss it. It’s excellent. Bravo
I read this book as part of an ARC team. Olympia Smith is an FBI agent with a gift for solving puzzles and cases. And she will need all her talents to untangle this mystery. Bodies are piling up, and famous artwork is going missing. Olympia needs to figure out why these people and why these paintings. The clues are there but it will take time to untangle them. And Olympia has her own ideas on how to get to the bottom of this. It is a good read with lots of corners to peak around.
The Killing Game is the first book in a new series by Mary Stone. Olympia Smith was raised in a series of foster homes and is now a member of the FBI in her home state of Hawaii.
Olympia and her partner Cody are assigned to a case where there is a murder in an art museum. There also are several missing paintings.
The book is full of mystery and suspense and I can hardly wait for the next book in the series.
New FBI agents, new location. In the tropical beauty of Hawaii we meet Special Agent Olympia Smith, a smart & determined rookie whose first case is a perplexing art heist & murder. Through many twists & turns Agent Smith & her colleagues follow the myriad of leads to catch their perpetrator.
Olympia and her new partner Cody are assigned to a case at a local museum where the curator , Keoni Pabb found murdered and several pieces of valuable art are missing. This book has lots of twists and turns on who is responsible for this death and why it done. About the time you think you know the answer things change. It’s fast paced and very interesting.
A new series from Mary Stone and Matt Giegerich with great new FBI agents. Fast paced story with lots of twists and turns, easy to follow and has a great plot that keeps you guessing. If you liked the Stella Knox series, you will definitely like the Olympia Smith series. Can't wait for the next book. I am ARC member, and this is my honest review.
Like many of Mary's books, this is part of a new series along with Matt Giegerich. They have weaved together a complex.storyline. This has p!entry of intrigue and drama centered around the art world. I knew nothing about that world so this book was eye opening and interesting.
The Killing Game(Olympia Smith FBI Mystery Series Book 1) Mary Stone, Matt Giegerich
What an incredible read. Murder and mayhem. A search for the killer, the thrift and possible who stole an artifacts! The hunt was great and possible ongoing mystery still to unravel. I can't wait for the next in this series.
This is a great start to a new series with Olympia Smith and her partner, Cody Madison. I like that it's set in Hawaii. This first book is about murders in art museums and stolen art. Olympia is drawn to one stolen painting. Not a spoiler but a mystery most likely to continue in the next book.
Wonderful start for the Olympia Smith series! -very descriptive storytelling -loved the characters -complex mystery, keeps the reader guessing -the ending was clever and fascinating which makes this a must read!
The Killing Game : Olympia Smith FBI Mystery Series By: Mary Stone and Matt Giegerich. FBI Special Agent Olympia Smith reminds me of Winter She is talented, enjoys the challenge of solving a mystery. It’s a fast pace read suspenseful. Loved it
The Killing Game is the first book in the Olympia Smith series. She and her partner, Cody, investigate missing art and murders in the art community. It’s fast paced and full of twists and turns. A great start of a new series.
This new series has all the great things murder, mystery and suspense. Olympia new FBI agent and her partner are trying to figure the murder at a art museum. Paintings missing man dead and no clues. I so far love the new series, going to read book 2.
Interesting setting in the art world of Hawaii. Great realistic characters for the 1st book in the series with interesting backgrounds. A lot of twists and turns and many suspects in the plot. Looking forward to the next book.
Mary stone has come up with another super series. Ive list track of her books ive read, she just keeps co m ing up with more Olympia, although bejng a rookie, is going to be a super agent. Great reading
Olympia is a complex character, as is her FBI partner, Cody. An introduction to the mysteries of the art world. Beautiful similes and metaphors engage the reader. This is only the beginning.
Just when you think you have it figured out, the author takes you down another path and you have no choice but to keep reading.A great read. Looking forward to the next one
This was a great start to a new series about Olympia Smith and team looking into murders and finding out who did it and why. There was lots of suspense and action. Thank you for this excellent story.
Dear author, you have once more written a most excellent book. Your characters are well composed. You left this with enough to cause me to want more. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Giegerich loves metaphors. Really loves them. Fortunately they're not the old cliches, even though they sometimes stretch way too far then make a reasonable connection. At least they're interesting. So are the plots. But ... talk about a cliffhanger! I do dislike such cliffhangers, especially when the next book is months or more away from publication. But it's a doozy.
In this 1st book of the new Olympia Smith series this set of characters took a little getting use to because of their unusual names but they have promise and are off to a good start. Set in Hawaii, a new FBI team staring Olympia and Clay, take over a gallery heist and multiple murders. From there the story unfolds. It runs you through a myriad of emotions as secrets are unveiled and you discover who and why people are being killed. A good start to a new series that I gladly recommend.