What do you think?
Rate this book
Mal and Jackie #1
A Numbers Game
An ex-addict is dragged into a high-stakes race for a missing lottery ticket. A gritty, high-heart novel perfect for fans of the Peculiar Crimes Unit series.
All Malachite “Mal” Jones wants is a quiet life as the foremost (fake) psychic medium on the Blades Edge estate.
Enter his new Janine, the widow of a man who hid away a huge amount of money. Mal is drawn into a mystery he never asked for in an attempt to help Janine find the cash and escape the estate once and for all.
Problem is, Mal’s not the only one hoping to get his hands on the cash. The crime lord of the estate to other criminals are all on the hunt. Plus adding to his worries, there are some corrupt cops after Mal's best and only friend, Jackie.
Aided by Jackie and Beryl, Mal's nosy secretary, Mal sets out to find the cash and a solution that pleases everyone. If he can’t, he’ll have to pay the price. After all, it’s a numbers game…
All Malachite “Mal” Jones wants is a quiet life as the foremost (fake) psychic medium on the Blades Edge estate.
Enter his new Janine, the widow of a man who hid away a huge amount of money. Mal is drawn into a mystery he never asked for in an attempt to help Janine find the cash and escape the estate once and for all.
Problem is, Mal’s not the only one hoping to get his hands on the cash. The crime lord of the estate to other criminals are all on the hunt. Plus adding to his worries, there are some corrupt cops after Mal's best and only friend, Jackie.
Aided by Jackie and Beryl, Mal's nosy secretary, Mal sets out to find the cash and a solution that pleases everyone. If he can’t, he’ll have to pay the price. After all, it’s a numbers game…
400 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2021
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 10, 2021
ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A Numbers Game was an enjoyable mystery read that has great emotions and the hallmarks of RJ's humour.
RJ Dark is the alter-ego of RJ Barker, who debuted with a stunningly phenomenal but criminally underrated fantasy trilogy, The Wounded Kingdom. I've also read the first book of his sophomore series, The Tide Child, and for the first time ever, absolutely loved a book that was predominantly about ships and seafaring. Safe to say, I've come to trust this Barker guy to write a darn good yarn anytime of the day.
So when I found out about his alter-ego writing modern crime mysteries set in his homeland, I naturally jumped at the chance of reading it. While fantasy has and will always be my favourite genre, I've been increasingly drawn to crime mysteries/thrillers of late. And I'm particularly to partial to those written by British authors (thanks to my late discovery of the wonderful Grand Dame of Mystery, Agatha Christie, and of course, Arthur Conan Doyle).
Anyway, back to RJ Dark and his debut mystery novel, A Numbers Game. The first thing that hit me as I read this book was that the humour was spot on and thoroughly RJ. I've followed the author on Twitter and also met him in person, and let me tell you that he is a gem. It was little surprise that I found the writing in this gritty modern British mystery setting to be vivid, engaging, funny and yet poignant at times. It was pretty much exactly what I would imagine RJ Barker will sound like writing non-fantasy fiction that pay homage to his roots.
I actually thought that the mystery wasn't as interesting as the interplay of the characters in the book. What made this book for me was the friendship between Mal and Jackie. While I liked Mal enough on his own with his self-deprecating, honest internal monologues, the scenes where Jackie was with him were the best parts of the story. The characterisation of Jackie was also more fascinating than Mal, and makes for a most unlikely pairing between the two of them. A trope which I've always loved, especially when combined with the rogue with a heart-of-gold.
This will be a relatively short review as I really couldn't say much about the plot save for what was already mentioned in the synopsis. All in all, it was an entertaining read and I think that anyone who enjoys British crime mysteries with some grit and humour will enjoy this book.
You can purchase the book from Amazon UK.
A Numbers Game was an enjoyable mystery read that has great emotions and the hallmarks of RJ's humour.
RJ Dark is the alter-ego of RJ Barker, who debuted with a stunningly phenomenal but criminally underrated fantasy trilogy, The Wounded Kingdom. I've also read the first book of his sophomore series, The Tide Child, and for the first time ever, absolutely loved a book that was predominantly about ships and seafaring. Safe to say, I've come to trust this Barker guy to write a darn good yarn anytime of the day.
So when I found out about his alter-ego writing modern crime mysteries set in his homeland, I naturally jumped at the chance of reading it. While fantasy has and will always be my favourite genre, I've been increasingly drawn to crime mysteries/thrillers of late. And I'm particularly to partial to those written by British authors (thanks to my late discovery of the wonderful Grand Dame of Mystery, Agatha Christie, and of course, Arthur Conan Doyle).
Anyway, back to RJ Dark and his debut mystery novel, A Numbers Game. The first thing that hit me as I read this book was that the humour was spot on and thoroughly RJ. I've followed the author on Twitter and also met him in person, and let me tell you that he is a gem. It was little surprise that I found the writing in this gritty modern British mystery setting to be vivid, engaging, funny and yet poignant at times. It was pretty much exactly what I would imagine RJ Barker will sound like writing non-fantasy fiction that pay homage to his roots.
I actually thought that the mystery wasn't as interesting as the interplay of the characters in the book. What made this book for me was the friendship between Mal and Jackie. While I liked Mal enough on his own with his self-deprecating, honest internal monologues, the scenes where Jackie was with him were the best parts of the story. The characterisation of Jackie was also more fascinating than Mal, and makes for a most unlikely pairing between the two of them. A trope which I've always loved, especially when combined with the rogue with a heart-of-gold.
This will be a relatively short review as I really couldn't say much about the plot save for what was already mentioned in the synopsis. All in all, it was an entertaining read and I think that anyone who enjoys British crime mysteries with some grit and humour will enjoy this book.
You can purchase the book from Amazon UK.
Read
September 2, 2026Cracking buddy crime novel with fake psychic Mal and lunatic hard man Jackie getting mixed up in gang wars over a missing lottery ticket. Clever mystery, brutal and funny, great voice, and a lovely heart to the central friendship. I look forward to the next one.
Read
April 29, 2021A Numbers Game introduces (and promises more of?) Malachite ('Mal') Jones and Jackie Singh Khattar. Mal is a bereavement counsellor/ con artist/ cold reader, basically a well-intentioned fraud who comforts those who've lost someone. Jackie is a 'legitimate businessman' who takes protection money and installs security for all the local businesses - all the easier to gain entry afterwards, perhaps. But he seems to have a heart of gold: as well as beating Mal up when they were kids, he systematically taught him self defence, and before taking money he checks that Mal can afford to eat.
The action takes place in and around the Blades Edge estate in Yorkshire, a place on the edge in many ways: scheduled for redevelopment till the money ran out, hosting problem families and grim sink districts as well as some prettier areas whose residents are desperately trying to keep from drowning. There are also crime lords and a school which has managed to claw its way up the rankings. I enjoyed how Dark shows this area in all its contradictions, revealing a fascinating array of opinionated and distinct characters.
At heart though this is a crime story. The hinge of the plot, which we are told early on, is a lost lottery ticket connected with a death, and you'd think that where there's a death, there's a mystery. However the actual nature of the crime, indeed the whole point of the mystery, is hidden for some while.
What kicks things off is Jackie wanting to help a recently bereaved widow whose husband died holding that ticket. If Mal can find it - whether he has to fake psychic contact with dead Larry or not - then it might help Janine and her son escape the Edge. You'd think that, and £8 million prize money, would be sufficient motivation for any amount of chicanery but actually, no. There is really a lot more happening here. To begin with, Larry's dad was 'Trolley' Mick Stanbeck, the gangster who runs the Edge, and his other two psycho sons, nicknamed the Kray Twins, soon take an interest in Mal, as do a pair of Russian ganstaers. None of them have his long term wellbeing at heart, and nor do DI Harrington and DC Smith. (There's a pattern here - if Mal hears a knock on his door and sees he has two visitors, he'd better watch out).
As things escalate, becoming more and more complicated both in terms of what's actually happened and of the depths of the fix Mal is in, Dark heightens the tension by showing where Mal's come from and what Jackie really means to him. The friendship between the two is genuine and it's clear that Mal owes him a lot. What's less clear is exactly how involved Jackie is with the mess they're now in, and whether his protection will be enough to see off the numerous threats, leaving he and Mal both alive and free.
Combining an ingenious plot with engaging and down to earth characters, A Numbers Game resists pigeonholing: at times I might be tempted to call it cosy crime, despite the starkly depicted violence, at others it seems too play by noir rules, and the fiendishly complex situation that develops even has echoes of PG Wodehouse though with bullets.
I would recommend, and I'll be interested too see what Dark does next. (I notice he's already lifted the antler motif from fellow writer and lord of literary misrule RJ Barker, so really anything is possible now).
The action takes place in and around the Blades Edge estate in Yorkshire, a place on the edge in many ways: scheduled for redevelopment till the money ran out, hosting problem families and grim sink districts as well as some prettier areas whose residents are desperately trying to keep from drowning. There are also crime lords and a school which has managed to claw its way up the rankings. I enjoyed how Dark shows this area in all its contradictions, revealing a fascinating array of opinionated and distinct characters.
At heart though this is a crime story. The hinge of the plot, which we are told early on, is a lost lottery ticket connected with a death, and you'd think that where there's a death, there's a mystery. However the actual nature of the crime, indeed the whole point of the mystery, is hidden for some while.
What kicks things off is Jackie wanting to help a recently bereaved widow whose husband died holding that ticket. If Mal can find it - whether he has to fake psychic contact with dead Larry or not - then it might help Janine and her son escape the Edge. You'd think that, and £8 million prize money, would be sufficient motivation for any amount of chicanery but actually, no. There is really a lot more happening here. To begin with, Larry's dad was 'Trolley' Mick Stanbeck, the gangster who runs the Edge, and his other two psycho sons, nicknamed the Kray Twins, soon take an interest in Mal, as do a pair of Russian ganstaers. None of them have his long term wellbeing at heart, and nor do DI Harrington and DC Smith. (There's a pattern here - if Mal hears a knock on his door and sees he has two visitors, he'd better watch out).
As things escalate, becoming more and more complicated both in terms of what's actually happened and of the depths of the fix Mal is in, Dark heightens the tension by showing where Mal's come from and what Jackie really means to him. The friendship between the two is genuine and it's clear that Mal owes him a lot. What's less clear is exactly how involved Jackie is with the mess they're now in, and whether his protection will be enough to see off the numerous threats, leaving he and Mal both alive and free.
Combining an ingenious plot with engaging and down to earth characters, A Numbers Game resists pigeonholing: at times I might be tempted to call it cosy crime, despite the starkly depicted violence, at others it seems too play by noir rules, and the fiendishly complex situation that develops even has echoes of PG Wodehouse though with bullets.
I would recommend, and I'll be interested too see what Dark does next. (I notice he's already lifted the antler motif from fellow writer and lord of literary misrule RJ Barker, so really anything is possible now).
June 15, 2021
A gritty northern buddy crime novel where the heroes aren't the police or the criminals, but sit somewhere inbetween.
July 24, 2023
4/5 RJ Dark is a pseudonym for RJ Barker whose incredible fantasy trilogy The Bone Ships I read last year and thoroughly enjoyed. The author uses Dark for his thriller/mystery novels.
A Numbers Game isn’t as good as The Bone Ships but it was still entirely enjoyable. Both clever and humorous with a likable cast.
Mal is a recovered junkie who now works as a fake psychic medium. Mal’s best friend Jackie is a violent anti-hero who runs a protection racket. Jackie puts Mal on a case for a woman whose husband has died. Before he died he won $8 Million in a lottery and now the ticket is missing. She comes to Mal to to help find the ticket.
Shortly thereafter opposing groups of mobsters and police inspectors involve themselves.
The pace is steady not breakneck but the mystery is solid and compelling. I had fun with it and will read the next Mal & Jackie novel.
A Numbers Game isn’t as good as The Bone Ships but it was still entirely enjoyable. Both clever and humorous with a likable cast.
Mal is a recovered junkie who now works as a fake psychic medium. Mal’s best friend Jackie is a violent anti-hero who runs a protection racket. Jackie puts Mal on a case for a woman whose husband has died. Before he died he won $8 Million in a lottery and now the ticket is missing. She comes to Mal to to help find the ticket.
Shortly thereafter opposing groups of mobsters and police inspectors involve themselves.
The pace is steady not breakneck but the mystery is solid and compelling. I had fun with it and will read the next Mal & Jackie novel.
August 22, 2026
A Numbers Game combines a gritty urban mystery with crime procedural. With an odd duo at the helm, we are immersed in a story with fake ghosts, gang violence and surprising humour woven throughout.
The author pulls no punches with his character work, at times it's hard to like Mal especially, but Jackie as the brutal, yet intensely loyal sidekick bestfriend is gold. Their dynamic is the glue that holds this entire story together and while I enjoyed all of the pages, their interactions were the best part for me.
I'm really looking forward to more of this pair getting up to shenanigans!
Thank you to NetGalley and Datura for the opportunity to read and review this title. My thoughts are my own.
The author pulls no punches with his character work, at times it's hard to like Mal especially, but Jackie as the brutal, yet intensely loyal sidekick bestfriend is gold. Their dynamic is the glue that holds this entire story together and while I enjoyed all of the pages, their interactions were the best part for me.
I'm really looking forward to more of this pair getting up to shenanigans!
Thank you to NetGalley and Datura for the opportunity to read and review this title. My thoughts are my own.
May 3, 2021
I received an review copy from the publisher.
One of the best books I've read this year.
I know that this is RJs first venture into mystery/crime novels and it's a terrific debut.
Great off the wall characters, dark humour, and a plot that kept me guessing to the end.
And set in Yorkshire!
Mal and Jackie are two very unlikely friends, indeed when they were at school together they were more like enemies. Mal Jones is a reformed drug addict and alcoholic, who runs a business as a psychic medium. Jackie Singh Khattar is a ex special forces soldier who runs some very dodgy, perhaps criminal, businesses.
It's the variety of interactions, at different levels, between Mal and Jackie that make their relationship so interesting and enjoyable.
Can't wait for the next book.
One of the best books I've read this year.
I know that this is RJs first venture into mystery/crime novels and it's a terrific debut.
Great off the wall characters, dark humour, and a plot that kept me guessing to the end.
And set in Yorkshire!
Mal and Jackie are two very unlikely friends, indeed when they were at school together they were more like enemies. Mal Jones is a reformed drug addict and alcoholic, who runs a business as a psychic medium. Jackie Singh Khattar is a ex special forces soldier who runs some very dodgy, perhaps criminal, businesses.
It's the variety of interactions, at different levels, between Mal and Jackie that make their relationship so interesting and enjoyable.
Can't wait for the next book.
May 26, 2021
A rather brilliant start to a new crime series - funny, smartly plotted and two characters who when they are on the page promise sharp dialogue, humour and quite a bit of adventure. Well worth your time
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
June 4, 2021
This review was originially posted on Queen's Book Asylum.
Actual rating: 4.5*
I received an eARC via Netgalley from the publisher, Wavesback, in exchange of an honest review.
Look, it’s not really a secret that I developed a literary crush for RJ Barker‘s writing with The Tide Child series, so when I learned he was publishing a Mystery/Thriller series under the pen name RJ Dark, I knew I had to get my hands on that too. I’m on a bit of a Fantasy break at the moment and I always loved Mysteries. Plus, I know we happen to have one favorite author in common: C.J. Sansom, who writes historical fiction/murder mysteries. So, this was totally the right book at the right time situation and it did manage to get me out of my reading slump a bit.
A Numbers Game tells the story of an investigation after a lost lottery ticket that sets fire to the city as two warring gangs try to get their hands on it. Mal, a con man, and alleged psychic medium finds himself right in the middle of the events as everyone expects him to find the ticket. Luckily for him, he has an old friend, Jackie on his side, otherwise, this investigation wouldn’t have been too long-lived. Amid the chaos, Mal and Jackie do their best to unknot the threads that lead to backstabbing, treachery, and pissed-off psychopathic gang leaders. Welcome to Yorkshire, please mind your fingers as they might get lost.
The Good
Setting & worldbuilding: I’m totally partial to books set in the UK (and London), and Yorkshire as a background for Mal and Jackie’s investigation worked perfectly. Maaaybe I would have liked a bit more sense about the city itself, but I loved the details about the Blades Edge, where the bigger part of the novel is set. The rundown estate, the forest surrounding the place, the inner city locations, it all perfectly gave back this creepy, ominous feeling you have while reading/watching thrillers or real crim docu shows. Paired with RJ Dark‘s writing and skillful characterization, I felt right there as I was reading.
Writing and pacing: A Numbers Game is a relatively short book with less than 300 pages and events are happening within a week, so it’s fair to say that it’s pretty fast-paced. There is plenty of action, the characters are constantly moving – or at least seems like it – but it doesn’t feel too much. You don’t feel rushed or that things are happening too fast. It’s perfectly balanced with dialogues and quiet moments where we can get to know the characters better.
Characters: Talking of. I loved Mal and Jackie’s pair. Their friendship which I suspect has way more depth than it was shown within these pages. Honestly, I wanted more. I liked Mal from the first moment but it took me a while to get around to Jackie. And I’m still not quite sure I pinned down his personality. Where RJ Dark‘s writing really shines is in the side characters. In the first 20% or so all these people keep coming and normally it would be a bit hard to keep track, but they are all so indistinctive that it’s absolutely not an issue. Be it Trolley Mick, Russian Frank, Beryl (oh, Beryl, she is definitely something!), or Janine just to name a few. Most of the characters aren’t nice people and it’s still a joy to follow them on the paper – or screen.
Plot: Well, obviously, I’m not going to talk about this too much, but A Numbers Game has a nice few twists that’ll keep you guessing until the end. The base conflict is pretty simple – dead man, lost lottery ticket, everyone wants it for their own reasons. I had my suspicions along the way, but I was pleased that it managed to surprise me, and really, what else can you ask for when it comes to a mystery?
The Bad
Dialogue: So, this is a minor thing, but I have this pet peeve of mine… It drives me crazy when characters name each other constantly in dialogue. I seem to have this issue mostly with British authors though, or so I noticed. It’s not such a bad thing per se, but it always takes me off the flow after a while.
Length: It was just way too damn short.
And The (Ugly) Truth
A Numbers Game came to me in a time when I literally craved to read a Mystery/Thriller novel, and it definitely filled up that hole. It reminded me why I fell in love with the genre in the first place. And it left me craving more. A Numbers Game has everything you can ask for: great characters just short of walking off the pages, twists, treachery, a murder mystery, fast cars, and a good dose of blood and pain just to make it interesting. A book that gives just as much joy to the reader as it gave to its author, because it’s pretty obvious from the first page, that RJ Dark had one hell of a time writing A Numbers Game and that comes through loud and clear. Impossible not to be swept away by Mal and the whole atmosphere.
A Numbers Game is a must read for every Mystery/Thriller fan. It should be illegal for someone to be so damned talented as RJ Barker/Dark is.
Actual rating: 4.5*
I received an eARC via Netgalley from the publisher, Wavesback, in exchange of an honest review.
‘Could be wireless?’
He nodded. ‘Could be. Anyway, I got the box plugged in off my friend George, he calls it The Fuckenator.’
‘What does it do?’
‘Fuckenates things.’
‘Thanks.’
Look, it’s not really a secret that I developed a literary crush for RJ Barker‘s writing with The Tide Child series, so when I learned he was publishing a Mystery/Thriller series under the pen name RJ Dark, I knew I had to get my hands on that too. I’m on a bit of a Fantasy break at the moment and I always loved Mysteries. Plus, I know we happen to have one favorite author in common: C.J. Sansom, who writes historical fiction/murder mysteries. So, this was totally the right book at the right time situation and it did manage to get me out of my reading slump a bit.
A Numbers Game tells the story of an investigation after a lost lottery ticket that sets fire to the city as two warring gangs try to get their hands on it. Mal, a con man, and alleged psychic medium finds himself right in the middle of the events as everyone expects him to find the ticket. Luckily for him, he has an old friend, Jackie on his side, otherwise, this investigation wouldn’t have been too long-lived. Amid the chaos, Mal and Jackie do their best to unknot the threads that lead to backstabbing, treachery, and pissed-off psychopathic gang leaders. Welcome to Yorkshire, please mind your fingers as they might get lost.
The Good
Setting & worldbuilding: I’m totally partial to books set in the UK (and London), and Yorkshire as a background for Mal and Jackie’s investigation worked perfectly. Maaaybe I would have liked a bit more sense about the city itself, but I loved the details about the Blades Edge, where the bigger part of the novel is set. The rundown estate, the forest surrounding the place, the inner city locations, it all perfectly gave back this creepy, ominous feeling you have while reading/watching thrillers or real crim docu shows. Paired with RJ Dark‘s writing and skillful characterization, I felt right there as I was reading.
Writing and pacing: A Numbers Game is a relatively short book with less than 300 pages and events are happening within a week, so it’s fair to say that it’s pretty fast-paced. There is plenty of action, the characters are constantly moving – or at least seems like it – but it doesn’t feel too much. You don’t feel rushed or that things are happening too fast. It’s perfectly balanced with dialogues and quiet moments where we can get to know the characters better.
Characters: Talking of. I loved Mal and Jackie’s pair. Their friendship which I suspect has way more depth than it was shown within these pages. Honestly, I wanted more. I liked Mal from the first moment but it took me a while to get around to Jackie. And I’m still not quite sure I pinned down his personality. Where RJ Dark‘s writing really shines is in the side characters. In the first 20% or so all these people keep coming and normally it would be a bit hard to keep track, but they are all so indistinctive that it’s absolutely not an issue. Be it Trolley Mick, Russian Frank, Beryl (oh, Beryl, she is definitely something!), or Janine just to name a few. Most of the characters aren’t nice people and it’s still a joy to follow them on the paper – or screen.
‘I am going to break every one of your fucking fingers, lad,’ Billy said.
I had no reason to doubt him, and the thought of it made me feel like throwing up. Maybe if I vomited on him, it would scare him away. I’d heard that worked for seagulls.
Plot: Well, obviously, I’m not going to talk about this too much, but A Numbers Game has a nice few twists that’ll keep you guessing until the end. The base conflict is pretty simple – dead man, lost lottery ticket, everyone wants it for their own reasons. I had my suspicions along the way, but I was pleased that it managed to surprise me, and really, what else can you ask for when it comes to a mystery?
The Bad
Dialogue: So, this is a minor thing, but I have this pet peeve of mine… It drives me crazy when characters name each other constantly in dialogue. I seem to have this issue mostly with British authors though, or so I noticed. It’s not such a bad thing per se, but it always takes me off the flow after a while.
Length: It was just way too damn short.
And The (Ugly) Truth
A Numbers Game came to me in a time when I literally craved to read a Mystery/Thriller novel, and it definitely filled up that hole. It reminded me why I fell in love with the genre in the first place. And it left me craving more. A Numbers Game has everything you can ask for: great characters just short of walking off the pages, twists, treachery, a murder mystery, fast cars, and a good dose of blood and pain just to make it interesting. A book that gives just as much joy to the reader as it gave to its author, because it’s pretty obvious from the first page, that RJ Dark had one hell of a time writing A Numbers Game and that comes through loud and clear. Impossible not to be swept away by Mal and the whole atmosphere.
A Numbers Game is a must read for every Mystery/Thriller fan. It should be illegal for someone to be so damned talented as RJ Barker/Dark is.
June 9, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Wavesback for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is an explosive (sometimes literally) crime debut by RJ Dark – also known as RJ Barker, who I feel like I mention every other blog post because his books are incredible… anyway, where was I? Oh yes, A Numbers Game by RJ Dark is the first ‘Mal & Jackie’ novel, and I, for one, cannot wait for the next one. Going into it, I wasn’t quite sure how I’d find it, because when I read crime I tend to like it a bit cosier, and I was worried some of the references might go over my head. I needn’t have worried though. With the first page, I was sucked in.
Mal and Jackie feel as if they step right off the page and into your room, I felt as if I was watching them rather than reading about them. I usually take notes as I read books, especially when I know I’ll be reviewing them, but for A Numbers Game I just let the story carry me forward, fascinated by it all. As you might have read in the blurb, the premise of the story is that Larry Stanbeck, son of the biggest gangster on the estate, has died in a motorbike accident, and the lottery ticket he had won but not cashed in went missing. His wife wants to find it to get her and her son out of Blade’s Edge, and Larry’s father Mick wants the money for his operations. Add to that the Russian mafia and the police trying to frame someone for increasing violence, and poor Mal can’t go two steps outside his house without someone threatening him.
Mal – aka Malachite Jones (but please don’t call him that) – is a psychic medium who provides comfort to his clients by telling them what they need to hear about their deceased loved ones. He’s a really interesting character, with a solid quietness to him. He’s the point of view character, and I think he’s the perfect viewpoint into the world of Blade’s Edge, as he grew up there and is a product of it, but has distanced himself somewhat from it. Jackie is the loud to Mal’s quiet – boisterous, always wearing extremely colourful outfits, driving expensive cars. He’s an ex-army man with his fingers in many different pies, and he provides protection for Mal’s neighbourhood, for a fee. For all his violent impulses and strong will, Jackie is kind, and complex. I can’t wait to see their next adventure.
What I really enjoyed about the story, apart from the vivid characters and gritty humour, was the puzzle. Seems a bit obvious, for a crime book, but some mysteries are more satisfying to unravel than others, and I have to say this one was a treat. As the reader, I felt very much like Mal for most of the book, as he scrabbles to make sense of all the disparate threads he’s uncovered, trying to see a bigger picture, and towards the end there was one twist I definitely didn’t see coming, and one that I had anticipated, and both were very satisfying to read.
I can’t recommend A Numbers Game enough, it’s a fun ride, and a quick read (unless, like me, you’re reading it during a house-move). Dark’s style of writing is simple, yet full of little bursts of sentences that gave me pause; this, combined with the excellent character work, compelling mystery, and fast-paced feel made me sprint through it, picking it up whenever I had a spare moment to see what would happen. Truly excellent!
This is an explosive (sometimes literally) crime debut by RJ Dark – also known as RJ Barker, who I feel like I mention every other blog post because his books are incredible… anyway, where was I? Oh yes, A Numbers Game by RJ Dark is the first ‘Mal & Jackie’ novel, and I, for one, cannot wait for the next one. Going into it, I wasn’t quite sure how I’d find it, because when I read crime I tend to like it a bit cosier, and I was worried some of the references might go over my head. I needn’t have worried though. With the first page, I was sucked in.
Mal and Jackie feel as if they step right off the page and into your room, I felt as if I was watching them rather than reading about them. I usually take notes as I read books, especially when I know I’ll be reviewing them, but for A Numbers Game I just let the story carry me forward, fascinated by it all. As you might have read in the blurb, the premise of the story is that Larry Stanbeck, son of the biggest gangster on the estate, has died in a motorbike accident, and the lottery ticket he had won but not cashed in went missing. His wife wants to find it to get her and her son out of Blade’s Edge, and Larry’s father Mick wants the money for his operations. Add to that the Russian mafia and the police trying to frame someone for increasing violence, and poor Mal can’t go two steps outside his house without someone threatening him.
Mal – aka Malachite Jones (but please don’t call him that) – is a psychic medium who provides comfort to his clients by telling them what they need to hear about their deceased loved ones. He’s a really interesting character, with a solid quietness to him. He’s the point of view character, and I think he’s the perfect viewpoint into the world of Blade’s Edge, as he grew up there and is a product of it, but has distanced himself somewhat from it. Jackie is the loud to Mal’s quiet – boisterous, always wearing extremely colourful outfits, driving expensive cars. He’s an ex-army man with his fingers in many different pies, and he provides protection for Mal’s neighbourhood, for a fee. For all his violent impulses and strong will, Jackie is kind, and complex. I can’t wait to see their next adventure.
What I really enjoyed about the story, apart from the vivid characters and gritty humour, was the puzzle. Seems a bit obvious, for a crime book, but some mysteries are more satisfying to unravel than others, and I have to say this one was a treat. As the reader, I felt very much like Mal for most of the book, as he scrabbles to make sense of all the disparate threads he’s uncovered, trying to see a bigger picture, and towards the end there was one twist I definitely didn’t see coming, and one that I had anticipated, and both were very satisfying to read.
I can’t recommend A Numbers Game enough, it’s a fun ride, and a quick read (unless, like me, you’re reading it during a house-move). Dark’s style of writing is simple, yet full of little bursts of sentences that gave me pause; this, combined with the excellent character work, compelling mystery, and fast-paced feel made me sprint through it, picking it up whenever I had a spare moment to see what would happen. Truly excellent!
August 16, 2026
Book Review: A Numbers Game by RJ Dark
4/5 stars. The first book in a new mystery/thriller series by fantasy writer RJ Barker, writing under the pseudonym RJ Dark. This story has an interesting mystery featuring local gangsters and the Russian mob in the northern part of England, but the best part of this story are the characters. In particular, the two main characters who are investigating the mystery, Malachite Jones and his friend Jackie Singh Kattar, make for an unusual friendship. Mal is a recovered addict. Jackie is former military and currently an independent ‘businessman’ running protection for the local community, and perhaps much more. They are friends from their youth, growing up in the Edge, a low-income community rife with crime.
Mal is a paranormal investigator, a ‘psychic’ who helps clients through their grief. His newest client is a local woman whose husband recently died in a motorcycle accident who hires him to find her husband’s missing lottery ticket worth millions. Unfortunately for Mal, both the local gang boss and the Russian mob want possession of the missing ticket.
The mystery and its solution become intricate, and we get some backstory about Mal, Jackie, and other people of the Edge. I look forward to reading more of this series. I recommend checking out this book and this series. This book releases on August 18, and the second book will be released in January 2027.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the eARC. #ANumbersGame #RJDark #DaturaBooks
4/5 stars. The first book in a new mystery/thriller series by fantasy writer RJ Barker, writing under the pseudonym RJ Dark. This story has an interesting mystery featuring local gangsters and the Russian mob in the northern part of England, but the best part of this story are the characters. In particular, the two main characters who are investigating the mystery, Malachite Jones and his friend Jackie Singh Kattar, make for an unusual friendship. Mal is a recovered addict. Jackie is former military and currently an independent ‘businessman’ running protection for the local community, and perhaps much more. They are friends from their youth, growing up in the Edge, a low-income community rife with crime.
Mal is a paranormal investigator, a ‘psychic’ who helps clients through their grief. His newest client is a local woman whose husband recently died in a motorcycle accident who hires him to find her husband’s missing lottery ticket worth millions. Unfortunately for Mal, both the local gang boss and the Russian mob want possession of the missing ticket.
The mystery and its solution become intricate, and we get some backstory about Mal, Jackie, and other people of the Edge. I look forward to reading more of this series. I recommend checking out this book and this series. This book releases on August 18, and the second book will be released in January 2027.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the eARC. #ANumbersGame #RJDark #DaturaBooks
November 5, 2021
The Numbers Game takes place in and around the fictitious Blade’s Edge estate in Yorkshire where the main characters, Malachite Jones and Jackie Singh Khattar, grew up. We get a warts and all portrait of life in one of the roughest council estates in the area, but tempered with nostalgia and affection. Mal is tasked with finding the £8m winning lottery ticket that disappeared after the death of Larry Stanbeck, a member of the most powerful criminal family in the district.
Everywhere Mal turns someone is threatening him with violence as he tries his best to find the ticket. It’s a good job Jackie has got his back. The relationship between Mal and Jackie is at the heart of The Numbers Game. It also features a large cast of interesting supporting characters that are well drawn and easily differentiated. The story is fast paced as the action takes place over the course of just a week. I understand that the author usually writes fantasy novels and this is his first foray into crime fiction. I really enjoyed this introduction to Mal and Jackie, with its dark humour and vivid sense of place, and look forward to reading the next book in the series, Incy Wincy.
Thanks to Wavesback and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.
Everywhere Mal turns someone is threatening him with violence as he tries his best to find the ticket. It’s a good job Jackie has got his back. The relationship between Mal and Jackie is at the heart of The Numbers Game. It also features a large cast of interesting supporting characters that are well drawn and easily differentiated. The story is fast paced as the action takes place over the course of just a week. I understand that the author usually writes fantasy novels and this is his first foray into crime fiction. I really enjoyed this introduction to Mal and Jackie, with its dark humour and vivid sense of place, and look forward to reading the next book in the series, Incy Wincy.
Thanks to Wavesback and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.
August 29, 2021
This really was a great book to read , it had everything you need in a crime thrillers book like this !
We meet Malachite Jones , a great character to read about , he is the only psychic medium in the Blade Edge Estate, he wishes for a quiet life ... like we all do ! He is employed to find the winning ticket of a ladies dead husband so she can escape the rough estate with her son ! But she isn't the only person who is after it...so are the crime bosses !
This was brilliantly written , it had moments that had you desperate to find out what was going to happen next , it kept hold tightly of your attention. I did quickly devour this book and would definitely recommend it to fans of crime thrillers books ! It was a brilliantly described setting with characters that you enjoyed so much to read about . I can't wait for more !
We meet Malachite Jones , a great character to read about , he is the only psychic medium in the Blade Edge Estate, he wishes for a quiet life ... like we all do ! He is employed to find the winning ticket of a ladies dead husband so she can escape the rough estate with her son ! But she isn't the only person who is after it...so are the crime bosses !
This was brilliantly written , it had moments that had you desperate to find out what was going to happen next , it kept hold tightly of your attention. I did quickly devour this book and would definitely recommend it to fans of crime thrillers books ! It was a brilliantly described setting with characters that you enjoyed so much to read about . I can't wait for more !
October 28, 2021
Man, this was a load of fun. Twisty Yorkshire noir, stuffed full of mordant humour and the most memorable characters - I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.
September 6, 2021
Yeah, this was quality. Really interesting set up and characters and a very complex plot. I consume a lot of crime fiction so I know what works and what I like. This works and I like it and without wanting to spout clichés, I'd definitely watch it as a show.
May 3, 2021
Shameless meets gritty gangland noir in RJ Dark's story of the criminal underbelly in the Wilds of a Yorkshire council estate.
'A Numbers Game' is the first book in a new Northern Noir series written by RJ Dark, the once underground musician and club promoter, who now spends his life tottering around his ancient mansion.
If you have seen interviews with RJ Dark, you will be familiar with the fact that most his personal reading revolved around crime novels that he got from local second hand shops and that this is the type of fiction that he gravitates towards, and I have to say that I enjoyed his inaugural foray into a fictional Yorkshire gangland immensely. It seems that whatever RJ Dark writes, he spins pure gold.
Now, let's get to 'A Numbers Game'. The story is based around our two main characters, Malachite Jones, or Mal as he prefers to be called, and Jackie Singh Khattar. A borderline sociopath, with a rigid ethical code and a heart of gold at his core.
On top of that, there is a whole host of characters that provide a depth to the story.
There's 'Trolley' Mick Stanbeck. The main gangster of the piece, who whilst being an absolute brutal shit of a man who rules the Blades Edge with an iron rod of fear, he also has a penchance to look after his family.
Alongside Trolley Mick,.there's 'Russian' Frank. The other antagonist of the story who Mal and Jackie come into contact with when they are tasked to find a missing lottery ticket that is worth 8 million pounds and everyone thinks they have a stake in.
As I said earlier, the story revolves around Mal and Jackie. Mal is a medium/conman who communes with the dead. Well, not really, as most of his work is pretty much a community service that he does for various people around the infamous Blades Edge Estate, a council estate in an unnamed town in Yorkshire. Whilst Jackie is a 'legitimate businessman' who works a small time protection racket in the local area.
After the death of Lawrence 'Larry' Stanbeck, Mal is visited by his widow (a job set up by Jackie) to find a missing lottery ticket that could, if you will pardon the pun, be her ticket off the Blades Edge Estate. As the search for the missing lottery ticket ensues, the danger to Mal and Jackie increases as the stakes become higher and higher.
I absolutely adored the mismatched pairing of Mal and Jackie. Mal has a past, and one that he struggles with everyday, whilst for some reason, the local school bully, now medium sized hardman, Jackie looks after him like a mother hen. Always magically turning up whenever he is in trouble.
One of RJ Dark's skills (amongst many) is that he writes utterly compelling characters that you cannot help falling in love with. And 'A Numbers Game' is packed full of them.
As well as the main ones that I talked about earlier there is a plethora of supporting characters that are both comedic and relatable. For instance, there's Mal's assistant, Beryl, who is an overbearing she bitch with mysterious talents, who yet again, looks out for Mal and has his best interests at heart, even though he drinks coffee. And then there's Mick Stanbeck's twins (named 'The Kray Twins, but don't call them that to their face) who only have one brain cell between the both of them and carry a dictionary in their back pocket so that they can 'better' themselves. Like their dad told them they should!
For me, one of the standout aspects of this book is that it is filled with utter warmth towards the characters and to the world that Mal & Jackie live in. Whilst, Dark pokes fun at the council estate mentality and it's inhabitants, there is never any spite towards them. Yes, at times he can make some cutting observations about life on a council estate, yet you always get the impression that he is willing to forgive the characters their faults.
As well as this, the book is full of RJ Dark's unnerring silliness, which at times sails very close to being pythonesque parody, and had me laughing out loud on a number of occasions, but he pulls it back enough to maintain the reality of the situation, and the jeopardy of lead characters situation.
However, don't think that the book is all comedy and innocent tomfoolery, because it's not. It goes to some pretty dark places at times and there is plenty of violence in there. And, the inclusion of this violence serves to increase the sense of danger that face our heroes and gives a palpable feeling of menace to the various gangsters that are present in this book.
As this is a crime thriller, we have to mention the plot. Yep it's twisty and turny and keeps you guessing right to the very end. That's what you expect right! You don't want a plot that goes from A to B in a straight line. You expect that it will take a detour to b,c & d and back again, and in this Dark does not disappoint, but the main point is that the end is believable.and that it ends in a way that does not bring in inexplicable plot revelations.
If you haven't got it yet, I enjoyed this Northern Noir crime caper with its inimatbale sense of fun and warmth, I think it is up there as my favourite RJ Dark (but don't tell that Barker bloke) novel and I cannot wait to see what Mal & Jackie get embroiled in next?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to review 'A Number's Game'. The enjoyment was all my own! Welcome to the Dark side!
'A Numbers Game' is the first book in a new Northern Noir series written by RJ Dark, the once underground musician and club promoter, who now spends his life tottering around his ancient mansion.
If you have seen interviews with RJ Dark, you will be familiar with the fact that most his personal reading revolved around crime novels that he got from local second hand shops and that this is the type of fiction that he gravitates towards, and I have to say that I enjoyed his inaugural foray into a fictional Yorkshire gangland immensely. It seems that whatever RJ Dark writes, he spins pure gold.
Now, let's get to 'A Numbers Game'. The story is based around our two main characters, Malachite Jones, or Mal as he prefers to be called, and Jackie Singh Khattar. A borderline sociopath, with a rigid ethical code and a heart of gold at his core.
On top of that, there is a whole host of characters that provide a depth to the story.
There's 'Trolley' Mick Stanbeck. The main gangster of the piece, who whilst being an absolute brutal shit of a man who rules the Blades Edge with an iron rod of fear, he also has a penchance to look after his family.
Alongside Trolley Mick,.there's 'Russian' Frank. The other antagonist of the story who Mal and Jackie come into contact with when they are tasked to find a missing lottery ticket that is worth 8 million pounds and everyone thinks they have a stake in.
As I said earlier, the story revolves around Mal and Jackie. Mal is a medium/conman who communes with the dead. Well, not really, as most of his work is pretty much a community service that he does for various people around the infamous Blades Edge Estate, a council estate in an unnamed town in Yorkshire. Whilst Jackie is a 'legitimate businessman' who works a small time protection racket in the local area.
After the death of Lawrence 'Larry' Stanbeck, Mal is visited by his widow (a job set up by Jackie) to find a missing lottery ticket that could, if you will pardon the pun, be her ticket off the Blades Edge Estate. As the search for the missing lottery ticket ensues, the danger to Mal and Jackie increases as the stakes become higher and higher.
I absolutely adored the mismatched pairing of Mal and Jackie. Mal has a past, and one that he struggles with everyday, whilst for some reason, the local school bully, now medium sized hardman, Jackie looks after him like a mother hen. Always magically turning up whenever he is in trouble.
One of RJ Dark's skills (amongst many) is that he writes utterly compelling characters that you cannot help falling in love with. And 'A Numbers Game' is packed full of them.
As well as the main ones that I talked about earlier there is a plethora of supporting characters that are both comedic and relatable. For instance, there's Mal's assistant, Beryl, who is an overbearing she bitch with mysterious talents, who yet again, looks out for Mal and has his best interests at heart, even though he drinks coffee. And then there's Mick Stanbeck's twins (named 'The Kray Twins, but don't call them that to their face) who only have one brain cell between the both of them and carry a dictionary in their back pocket so that they can 'better' themselves. Like their dad told them they should!
For me, one of the standout aspects of this book is that it is filled with utter warmth towards the characters and to the world that Mal & Jackie live in. Whilst, Dark pokes fun at the council estate mentality and it's inhabitants, there is never any spite towards them. Yes, at times he can make some cutting observations about life on a council estate, yet you always get the impression that he is willing to forgive the characters their faults.
As well as this, the book is full of RJ Dark's unnerring silliness, which at times sails very close to being pythonesque parody, and had me laughing out loud on a number of occasions, but he pulls it back enough to maintain the reality of the situation, and the jeopardy of lead characters situation.
However, don't think that the book is all comedy and innocent tomfoolery, because it's not. It goes to some pretty dark places at times and there is plenty of violence in there. And, the inclusion of this violence serves to increase the sense of danger that face our heroes and gives a palpable feeling of menace to the various gangsters that are present in this book.
As this is a crime thriller, we have to mention the plot. Yep it's twisty and turny and keeps you guessing right to the very end. That's what you expect right! You don't want a plot that goes from A to B in a straight line. You expect that it will take a detour to b,c & d and back again, and in this Dark does not disappoint, but the main point is that the end is believable.and that it ends in a way that does not bring in inexplicable plot revelations.
If you haven't got it yet, I enjoyed this Northern Noir crime caper with its inimatbale sense of fun and warmth, I think it is up there as my favourite RJ Dark (but don't tell that Barker bloke) novel and I cannot wait to see what Mal & Jackie get embroiled in next?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to review 'A Number's Game'. The enjoyment was all my own! Welcome to the Dark side!
June 7, 2021
This start of a new series was really enjoyable. If you liked early Brookmyre this has a similar feeling, great cast of characters, violence and a really strong sense of setting.
RJ Barker needs to watch out, his evil twin is pretty good!
RJ Barker needs to watch out, his evil twin is pretty good!
August 7, 2023
i said it before and i'll say it again. rj dark [barker] could write one of those adult romance books and i'd probably love it.
i have to admit, i read the first page and was slightly disappointed in the 1st person pov. i didn't think rj could pull it off. but oh boy did he, and how i loved being in mal's head. honestly, the 1st person pov enhanced the book and i think added to its humor. because this book is funny! it's dark of course but there were moments where i had to smile to myself (and i don't usually actually lol at books).
this plot was so fun. i genuinely couldn't put it down, i just kept turning pages, wanting to know more. full of twists and turns that kept me on my toes and little hints here and there that as a reader, we're trying to string together alongside mal. what made this book so good, kept me turning pages late into the night was that feeling that something was wrong. it was unease. whatever was wrong had to be fixed and so i just had to know what came next. a good old-fashioned agatha christie mystery.
i've now read enough of rj to know his main characters. they are some of my literary favorites, i just love them so much. mal is. no exception. they're not the main loud guy, they're the characters that are quiet, smart, and always do their best to do the right thing. even at the stake of themselves. they also struggle within themselves and against a past they're trying to escape. i can feel the author speaking through his main characters and i just love it.
mal jones: he's a conman and a pretty good one at that. his talents are enough to lie to his customers and get through the day. i'd love a better look at his past to see how far he's come since then. being in his head was a fun experience. we got to see blades edge through his eyes, the people he interacted with, his fears, his laughs, everything. and rj wasn't afraid to let him mess up. over and over again, just like girton, joron, and cahan have. because even though it got him into scraps, into sticky places, but it always ended up being ok. and the thing about rj's main characters is their larger than life friends.
jackie singh khattar: larger than life! jackie was a handful. the best part of jackie was the little blurbs into the past that mal provided. every new day chapter began with jackie teaching mal how to defend himself and it was actually Great! *chefs kiss!* i'm totally normal about it. i'm also totally normal about That scene when he locks mal in and drags him through his addiction. and then lets him make his own choice of moving forward. he's dangerous and he's smart and i think i want a friend like jackie to be honest. also loved that he'd do anything to protect the people he promised to protect and that he always turned up for mal.
beryl: what a gem. her talent is something i'm sure we'd all like to have. her humor too was just so blunt it was great.
mal and jackie is one of my favorite dynamics and rj even mentioned in his note he tried to create that typical detective duo and he really knocked it out of the park here. i could read like 500 books about them and not get bored of their antics. what a fun read!
i have to admit, i read the first page and was slightly disappointed in the 1st person pov. i didn't think rj could pull it off. but oh boy did he, and how i loved being in mal's head. honestly, the 1st person pov enhanced the book and i think added to its humor. because this book is funny! it's dark of course but there were moments where i had to smile to myself (and i don't usually actually lol at books).
this plot was so fun. i genuinely couldn't put it down, i just kept turning pages, wanting to know more. full of twists and turns that kept me on my toes and little hints here and there that as a reader, we're trying to string together alongside mal. what made this book so good, kept me turning pages late into the night was that feeling that something was wrong. it was unease. whatever was wrong had to be fixed and so i just had to know what came next. a good old-fashioned agatha christie mystery.
i've now read enough of rj to know his main characters. they are some of my literary favorites, i just love them so much. mal is. no exception. they're not the main loud guy, they're the characters that are quiet, smart, and always do their best to do the right thing. even at the stake of themselves. they also struggle within themselves and against a past they're trying to escape. i can feel the author speaking through his main characters and i just love it.
mal jones: he's a conman and a pretty good one at that. his talents are enough to lie to his customers and get through the day. i'd love a better look at his past to see how far he's come since then. being in his head was a fun experience. we got to see blades edge through his eyes, the people he interacted with, his fears, his laughs, everything. and rj wasn't afraid to let him mess up. over and over again, just like girton, joron, and cahan have. because even though it got him into scraps, into sticky places, but it always ended up being ok. and the thing about rj's main characters is their larger than life friends.
jackie singh khattar: larger than life! jackie was a handful. the best part of jackie was the little blurbs into the past that mal provided. every new day chapter began with jackie teaching mal how to defend himself and it was actually Great! *chefs kiss!* i'm totally normal about it. i'm also totally normal about That scene when he locks mal in and drags him through his addiction. and then lets him make his own choice of moving forward. he's dangerous and he's smart and i think i want a friend like jackie to be honest. also loved that he'd do anything to protect the people he promised to protect and that he always turned up for mal.
beryl: what a gem. her talent is something i'm sure we'd all like to have. her humor too was just so blunt it was great.
mal and jackie is one of my favorite dynamics and rj even mentioned in his note he tried to create that typical detective duo and he really knocked it out of the park here. i could read like 500 books about them and not get bored of their antics. what a fun read!
August 26, 2021
I was interested in this book mainly based on the fact it's based in my home country; Yorkshire - yes, I am that fickle, I do love reading novels which are set in my beautiful part of the country. I liked the hint of Yorkshire dry wit, some very funny, quite darkly humorous scenes made me chuckle a fair few times.
A Numbers Game is the first instalment in the new; Mal and Jackie series and judging by this entertaining and engaging book I know that this series is going to be a real winner, effect for anyone who loves an edgier, darkly witty and exciting mystery and I a looking forward to seeing where this series goes and what comes next.
A Numbers Game is predominately a crime mystery; a missing lottery ticket the hold of the ticket dies and his widow goes to Mal for help. What happened to the ticket? Will Jackie and Mal help the widow and her son escape the estate? I enjoyed the premise of the mystery, but I did think that A Numbers Game is far more about the characters and their interactions, I enjoyed seeing how Mal and Jackie and the secondary characters entwined together to create an intelligent and very entertaining story.
I liked the characters, Mal and Jackie are a great double-act in a weird way these two and the overall book itself remind me of With Nail and I (which is - in my opinion - one of the greatest British films, if you haven't seen it then why not?) They are such different people and yet they do work well together, I liked how each of their different traits and personalities brings out the best (or worse) in the other.
Mal is a complex creature, he is a con artist and in any other scenario I probably wouldn't like him at all but he uses his abilities and his charm to help people when they are at their lowest - so I can't say anything about that, if the people who hand over their money to him gain comfort from his words and he doesn't exploit them in any way then that's OK. His friend Jackie is a bit of a gangster, he seems to have a really good heart and genuinely cares as long as they don't mess with him or his friends, he is in the 'protection' business where he looks after the local population - what you make of that is up to you, and all I will say is don't judge these two until you have properly met them because they will surprise you and charm their way in.
I liked that A Numbers Game is pretty much set in a poorer more realistic part of Yorkshire than most other novels I've read, it's set around the little town of Blades Edge which is a run-down, poor, council estate where crime and poverty are rife. The realism and the way it's written stirs your emotions, it's thought-provoking and I liked the mix of varying opinions with culminate with having such different personalities in one place.
Overall, A Number's Game is a highly enjoyable and interesting book that places itself into a multitude of genres, it's part crime noir, part cosy mystery, part thriller, part black comedy.
A Numbers Game is the first instalment in the new; Mal and Jackie series and judging by this entertaining and engaging book I know that this series is going to be a real winner, effect for anyone who loves an edgier, darkly witty and exciting mystery and I a looking forward to seeing where this series goes and what comes next.
A Numbers Game is predominately a crime mystery; a missing lottery ticket the hold of the ticket dies and his widow goes to Mal for help. What happened to the ticket? Will Jackie and Mal help the widow and her son escape the estate? I enjoyed the premise of the mystery, but I did think that A Numbers Game is far more about the characters and their interactions, I enjoyed seeing how Mal and Jackie and the secondary characters entwined together to create an intelligent and very entertaining story.
I liked the characters, Mal and Jackie are a great double-act in a weird way these two and the overall book itself remind me of With Nail and I (which is - in my opinion - one of the greatest British films, if you haven't seen it then why not?) They are such different people and yet they do work well together, I liked how each of their different traits and personalities brings out the best (or worse) in the other.
Mal is a complex creature, he is a con artist and in any other scenario I probably wouldn't like him at all but he uses his abilities and his charm to help people when they are at their lowest - so I can't say anything about that, if the people who hand over their money to him gain comfort from his words and he doesn't exploit them in any way then that's OK. His friend Jackie is a bit of a gangster, he seems to have a really good heart and genuinely cares as long as they don't mess with him or his friends, he is in the 'protection' business where he looks after the local population - what you make of that is up to you, and all I will say is don't judge these two until you have properly met them because they will surprise you and charm their way in.
I liked that A Numbers Game is pretty much set in a poorer more realistic part of Yorkshire than most other novels I've read, it's set around the little town of Blades Edge which is a run-down, poor, council estate where crime and poverty are rife. The realism and the way it's written stirs your emotions, it's thought-provoking and I liked the mix of varying opinions with culminate with having such different personalities in one place.
Overall, A Number's Game is a highly enjoyable and interesting book that places itself into a multitude of genres, it's part crime noir, part cosy mystery, part thriller, part black comedy.
August 26, 2021
The story centres around Malachite (Mal) Jones and his best friend Jackie Singh Khattar. On the face of it, they appear to be two completely different sorts of people, but deep down they share a bond from childhood and a strong friendship. After serving time in the army, Jackie has demonstrated some tough love and tried to teach Mal to defend himself, usually involving a lot of bruises along the way, but he'll never let anyone hurt his friend. Mal is basically a con artist, posing as a psychic medium whilst cold reading his clients. Jackie poses as a legitimate businessman, fitting security systems he can later make good use of and renting out property whilst extorting protection money, even from Mal (although he does take care to make sure he has money for food first!). Mal grew up on the Blades Edge estate, one of the roughest council estates in the north of England, and has no desire to get involved with most of the people there again. Unfortunately his present client is the widow of Larry Stanbeck, son of the leader of the family that controls most of the crime there. Larry recently hit the big jackpot on the lottery, 8 million in fact, but refused to cash in his ticket. Then he suffered a highly suspicious accident on his motorbike and was killed. Janine wants Mal to ask Larry where the ticket is so she and her young son can leave the estate. However it soon transpires that Larry’s dad, Trolley Mick, aided by his Kray twin sons Kyle and Ronaldo, also wants it. And so does his right hand man, leader of the travellers Benny Callaghan. And then the Russians Frank and Harry pay Mal a visit and guess what? They want it too! Throw in DI Esther Smith and her sidekick DC Sarah Harrington, a pair of detectives keeping a close eye on everyone, and life has very quickly turned extremely complicated and dangerous for Mal. Even if he manages to locate the missing ticket, just who is he the most scared of? And what else will the pair discover as they dig deeper into the life of Larry?
I did guess what had happened to the missing ticket right at the start, and it was great to be proved right, but in no way did it spoil what proved to be an exciting and thoroughly enjoyable journey for Mal and Jackie! With a touch of black comedy in places, and jam-packed full of the very people you’d expect to find on the Blades Edge, this is the first very clever story in a great new series featuring an unusual and highly original pairing of very likeable characters. I loved Beryl too, a great character, full of cracking put downs and a woman of many talents. I am definitely looking forward to book 2! 5*
I did guess what had happened to the missing ticket right at the start, and it was great to be proved right, but in no way did it spoil what proved to be an exciting and thoroughly enjoyable journey for Mal and Jackie! With a touch of black comedy in places, and jam-packed full of the very people you’d expect to find on the Blades Edge, this is the first very clever story in a great new series featuring an unusual and highly original pairing of very likeable characters. I loved Beryl too, a great character, full of cracking put downs and a woman of many talents. I am definitely looking forward to book 2! 5*
September 4, 2021
There is a real skill to delivering a thriller which has lashings of tension, violence and murder but also keeps fun in its soul and gives the readers laughs and empathy and two lead characters you will want to see return as soon as possible. Kudos, therefore, to RJ Dark for the hugely enjoyable A Numbers Game; first in a new series to feature “psychic medium” Mal Jones and his extremely deadly best friend Jackie Singh Katter.
Jackie sends Mal a new client: Janine Stanbeck. Her husband recently died in a motorcycle accident and Janine wants to know if Mal can communicate with her late husband as she needs to know where he hid his winning lottery ticket. Janine is very cynical and does not believe Mal can help her but desperate times call for desperate measures and Mal may well be her last chance to get her hands on the unclaimed millions.
Unfortunately for Mal, Janine is the daughter of the local crime kingpin and the Stanbeck family is to be feared and (if possible) avoided. And Janine is not the only person looking for the missing ticket – her father would quite like to get his hands on it too…as would the Russian gangsters who would also like to see the Stanbeck family taken out of the picture so they can extend their own influence. All these interested parties would like Mal to find the missing ticket. Actually they all expect him to find the ticket and they all expect Mal to ignore any other people who may want the ticket and pass control of the money to them. Mal, caught up in the middle of the mix,would really like everyone to leave him alone but that does not seem likely.
Mal will need to rely upon Jackie to keep him safe and help him out when the going gets heavy, which it does. Jackie is the violent part of the duo and when the pair are backed into a corner the fists will fly and Jackie frequently surprises the larger and more intimidating thugs who will cross their path.
I had a blast reading A Numbers Game. Mal needs to understand the man at the heart of the problem and to know the secrets of a dead biker who seemed to be forging a path away from the criminal background the rest of his family. Jackie has to keep Mal alive. Together the pair are fantastic fun to read about and it’s one of those books you zip through as the action comes thick and fast.
Characters are brilliantly developed, nobody likes Mal and the police are determined to lock up Jackie; just how the pair keep it together is something of a minor miracle. More books in this series would be very welcome, no better feeling for a reader than getting characters you instantly like and want to read again.
Jackie sends Mal a new client: Janine Stanbeck. Her husband recently died in a motorcycle accident and Janine wants to know if Mal can communicate with her late husband as she needs to know where he hid his winning lottery ticket. Janine is very cynical and does not believe Mal can help her but desperate times call for desperate measures and Mal may well be her last chance to get her hands on the unclaimed millions.
Unfortunately for Mal, Janine is the daughter of the local crime kingpin and the Stanbeck family is to be feared and (if possible) avoided. And Janine is not the only person looking for the missing ticket – her father would quite like to get his hands on it too…as would the Russian gangsters who would also like to see the Stanbeck family taken out of the picture so they can extend their own influence. All these interested parties would like Mal to find the missing ticket. Actually they all expect him to find the ticket and they all expect Mal to ignore any other people who may want the ticket and pass control of the money to them. Mal, caught up in the middle of the mix,would really like everyone to leave him alone but that does not seem likely.
Mal will need to rely upon Jackie to keep him safe and help him out when the going gets heavy, which it does. Jackie is the violent part of the duo and when the pair are backed into a corner the fists will fly and Jackie frequently surprises the larger and more intimidating thugs who will cross their path.
I had a blast reading A Numbers Game. Mal needs to understand the man at the heart of the problem and to know the secrets of a dead biker who seemed to be forging a path away from the criminal background the rest of his family. Jackie has to keep Mal alive. Together the pair are fantastic fun to read about and it’s one of those books you zip through as the action comes thick and fast.
Characters are brilliantly developed, nobody likes Mal and the police are determined to lock up Jackie; just how the pair keep it together is something of a minor miracle. More books in this series would be very welcome, no better feeling for a reader than getting characters you instantly like and want to read again.
August 28, 2021
[Blog]::[Youtube]::[Twitter]::[Instagram]::[Pinterest]::[Bloglovin]
“A Numbers Game” is a gripping crime fiction novel that starts with searching for a missing lottery ticket but turns out to be much more!
The central aspect that stood out for me in the story was the bond between Jackie and Mal. The author wrote the dynamic between the two so nicely, and you feel they have protective nature over each other. I also enjoyed the scenes where Jackie physically trains Mal by showing her how to throw a punch, dislocate an arm, perform a chokehold, and whatnot. What’s also nice is how the author added a touch of humor to Mal’s dialogues. I liked how the author told the story from Mal’s perspective, where you feel like you have a connection with the character. Even minor characters like Beryl made me chuckle with her behavior.
While the mystery/crime element of the story was secondary for me, I did enjoy many moments that the author included. One of the shocking moments was when someone places a black bag over Mal’s head and kidnaps her. The author consists of quite a few twists and turns as Mal investigates Lawrence’s death. Other moments also excited me, like when they check out the lockers or find out about the Russian gangsters. Also, some exciting side arcs, like Benny Callaghan, Trolley Mick, and Kev, added well to the storyline. The author also ends the story in a bitter-sweet manner that makes you curious about how the next book in the “Mal and Jackie” series would continue.
Overall, “A Numbers Game” turned out to be an entertaining crime fiction novel, and I am excited to see how it continues.
August 28, 2021
A Numbers Game by R.J. Dark is a crime fiction novel set in Yorkshire, on a fictional council estate called Blades. A novel that I started and was immediately there, with the characters.
We meet Malachite Jones and Jackie Singh Khattar. Malachite first of all hates his name and also wants a quiet life. He is a 'psychic' who really wishes he was actually one! He is a man with sadness in his past and his own code of honour which doesn't include the laws of the land. Jackie takes protection money and fits security alarms...a 'sort of' business man who may or not keep a note of the details of said properties with his alarms fitted.
Grieving widow, Janine Stanbeck wants to find her dead husband Larry’s winning ticket and escape Blades Edge with her son. And she thinks Mal can help her.
But Larry’s dad is the crime lord of the estate, and he wants that ticket for himself, and worse for Mal, he's not the only criminal with his eyes on it. Add in two coppers desperate to nick Mal's best, only, and admittedly quite dangerous, friend, Jackie Singh Kattar, and Blades Edge is getting pretty crowded.
A novel that I felt right at home with. The setting of the council estate in Yorkshire took me back to my own childhood upbringing on a council estate in the next county over from Blades Estate. I could picture everything and everyone. Such relatable characters that are as dodgy as you find on the estates anywhere in our country. The grim reality of the housing that the money never manages to quite finish the improvements to. The poverty, the problem families, the sense of place was just right there.
The mystery of the ticket is just the tip of the iceberg. The story is about more than that. The characters are such an unlikely duo but they really make this story what it is. I read this book so fast, I didn't want to leave these 'friends' I had made without knowing the outcome. A dark, gritty and gripping book which I highly recommend. I am hoping we will have a second book in the future.
Thanks to Zoé of ZooLoo's Book Tours and R.J Dark for the gifted copy of the book.
We meet Malachite Jones and Jackie Singh Khattar. Malachite first of all hates his name and also wants a quiet life. He is a 'psychic' who really wishes he was actually one! He is a man with sadness in his past and his own code of honour which doesn't include the laws of the land. Jackie takes protection money and fits security alarms...a 'sort of' business man who may or not keep a note of the details of said properties with his alarms fitted.
Grieving widow, Janine Stanbeck wants to find her dead husband Larry’s winning ticket and escape Blades Edge with her son. And she thinks Mal can help her.
But Larry’s dad is the crime lord of the estate, and he wants that ticket for himself, and worse for Mal, he's not the only criminal with his eyes on it. Add in two coppers desperate to nick Mal's best, only, and admittedly quite dangerous, friend, Jackie Singh Kattar, and Blades Edge is getting pretty crowded.
A novel that I felt right at home with. The setting of the council estate in Yorkshire took me back to my own childhood upbringing on a council estate in the next county over from Blades Estate. I could picture everything and everyone. Such relatable characters that are as dodgy as you find on the estates anywhere in our country. The grim reality of the housing that the money never manages to quite finish the improvements to. The poverty, the problem families, the sense of place was just right there.
The mystery of the ticket is just the tip of the iceberg. The story is about more than that. The characters are such an unlikely duo but they really make this story what it is. I read this book so fast, I didn't want to leave these 'friends' I had made without knowing the outcome. A dark, gritty and gripping book which I highly recommend. I am hoping we will have a second book in the future.
Thanks to Zoé of ZooLoo's Book Tours and R.J Dark for the gifted copy of the book.
October 16, 2026
A Numbers Game is fun crime mystery which is my bread and butter. I think what works best for me is the voice of the story. The main characters inner monologue when describing things or going through flashbacks never feels over done. The adjectives and metaphors used to describe the town and the people are funny and realistic without trying too hard
The story focuses on Mal who is a “medium” and him helping out a client that his colorful friend Jackie introduced him too. Mal is the highlight of the story . His way of looking at people and situations felt like a con man version of Sherlock Holmes 😂. He’s observant, flawed, and funny. He’s constantly getting himself into situations that are ill advised by the reader’s standards but also the characters in the story. I liked that the stream of consciousness style would slide into memories of his friendship with Jackie. Those flashbacks add a lot to the dynamic and made it easy to understand why Mal would stay loyal to flawed people throughout the story.
The dialogue between Mal, Beryl (Mal’s resourceful assistant) and Jackie was great too. Their back and forth kept the story funny even when things get violent or messy. I loved the mismatched crime duo energy between Jackie and Mal too.
The mystery itself kept expanding which is fascinating too. There are mob connections,, old friendships, family drama, and missing money. Some of the later reveals genuinely caught me off guard even once I thought the threads were starting to connect .
I also appreciated how easy the formatting is to follow. The changes between internal monologue, dialogue, action, and flashbacks all flowed well.
Overall, I had a really good time with this one and would recommend!
Thank you to R. J. Dark, Datura Books, and NetGalley for the eARC!
The story focuses on Mal who is a “medium” and him helping out a client that his colorful friend Jackie introduced him too. Mal is the highlight of the story . His way of looking at people and situations felt like a con man version of Sherlock Holmes 😂. He’s observant, flawed, and funny. He’s constantly getting himself into situations that are ill advised by the reader’s standards but also the characters in the story. I liked that the stream of consciousness style would slide into memories of his friendship with Jackie. Those flashbacks add a lot to the dynamic and made it easy to understand why Mal would stay loyal to flawed people throughout the story.
The dialogue between Mal, Beryl (Mal’s resourceful assistant) and Jackie was great too. Their back and forth kept the story funny even when things get violent or messy. I loved the mismatched crime duo energy between Jackie and Mal too.
The mystery itself kept expanding which is fascinating too. There are mob connections,, old friendships, family drama, and missing money. Some of the later reveals genuinely caught me off guard even once I thought the threads were starting to connect .
I also appreciated how easy the formatting is to follow. The changes between internal monologue, dialogue, action, and flashbacks all flowed well.
Overall, I had a really good time with this one and would recommend!
Thank you to R. J. Dark, Datura Books, and NetGalley for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received a free copy of the book for a free and unbiased opinion
This is a book I requested as I thought this featured a real psychic and the genre was urban fantasy set in a Northern English city. But even though this wasn’t the book I wanted ( please can someone write this book!), A Numbers Game was still an enjoyable read.
This is a crime thriller featuring a murder. a missing lottery tickets. English gangsters, Russian gangsters, not—so nice police officers, and a lead with a traumatic past with a very emmeshed best friend but while there is so much happening right from the start- this tempered with a good dose of typical British humour. Anyone who lives in Britain who has had to nip to the local corner shop in emergency will truly appreciate the humour in this book.
This was a fast-paced book with plenty of violence, and I did not guess who the murderer was.
My only gripe with the book is the repeated casual racial slurs, it feels like almost everyone who lives in the Edge( and beyond) is some sort of hidden racist and portrays a hugely negative view of urban council estates.
This does look the start of a new series and while the original murder has been solved, the underlying mystery of a Mal’s and Jackie’s past and their relationship remains.
This is a book I requested as I thought this featured a real psychic and the genre was urban fantasy set in a Northern English city. But even though this wasn’t the book I wanted ( please can someone write this book!), A Numbers Game was still an enjoyable read.
This is a crime thriller featuring a murder. a missing lottery tickets. English gangsters, Russian gangsters, not—so nice police officers, and a lead with a traumatic past with a very emmeshed best friend but while there is so much happening right from the start- this tempered with a good dose of typical British humour. Anyone who lives in Britain who has had to nip to the local corner shop in emergency will truly appreciate the humour in this book.
This was a fast-paced book with plenty of violence, and I did not guess who the murderer was.
My only gripe with the book is the repeated casual racial slurs, it feels like almost everyone who lives in the Edge( and beyond) is some sort of hidden racist and portrays a hugely negative view of urban council estates.
This does look the start of a new series and while the original murder has been solved, the underlying mystery of a Mal’s and Jackie’s past and their relationship remains.
October 7, 2026
A Numbers Game by R.J. Dark is a fast-paced, violent, and darkly humorous northern noir thriller about a fake psychic medium dragged into a high-stakes gang war over an uncashed £8 million lottery ticket. Set in a fictional, rundown council estate in Yorkshire, the book paints an authentic, visceral portrait of working-class northern life.
The environment feels heavy, ominous, and raw, perfectly blending crime procedural grit with local neighborhood dynamics.
Despite the heavy violence and high stakes, the book stays buoyant through sharp, witty dialogue and the warm, undeniable bond at the heart of Mal and Jackie's friendship.
The environment feels heavy, ominous, and raw, perfectly blending crime procedural grit with local neighborhood dynamics.
Despite the heavy violence and high stakes, the book stays buoyant through sharp, witty dialogue and the warm, undeniable bond at the heart of Mal and Jackie's friendship.
October 19, 2026
This starts out really slow, like the first forty plus percent felt like a bit if a slog, but I really liked Mal and Jackie so I kept going. I also have to say that there are weaknesses in the plot, like Mal's supposed/fake psychic ability being almost entirely dropped and the fact that I figured out who killed one of the characters almost immediately. But once this picked up I had a difficult time putting it down.
Is this an amazing book or one of the best I've read? No, but I kept reading because I really ended up loving Mal and Jackie. I'm looking forward to the next book and I'm sad to see there are only two books.
Is this an amazing book or one of the best I've read? No, but I kept reading because I really ended up loving Mal and Jackie. I'm looking forward to the next book and I'm sad to see there are only two books.
February 10, 2022
I loved A Numbers Game from start to finish. I had several late nights reading this because I just didn't want to stop reading. Without giving away any spoilers, the plot twists and turns so you never quite know what's coming next. Mal & Jackie are the most unlikely double act yet are totally convincing and the motley collection of characters they encounter are fascinating, terrifying & entertaining. The writing is excellent and swings from dry humour to grim and dark situations. Can't wait for the sequel.
July 14, 2021
Genuine page-turner with engaging characters - great holiday read
Fast-paced, empathetic characters, atmosphere, humour. Rare treat to get all of the above. Shades of Hugh Laurie's 'The Gunseller', with an unconventional but still relatable narrator. Malachite's self-depracation lending humour, but not at the expense of drama and emotion. Real page-turner. Looking forward to seeing more of them.
Fast-paced, empathetic characters, atmosphere, humour. Rare treat to get all of the above. Shades of Hugh Laurie's 'The Gunseller', with an unconventional but still relatable narrator. Malachite's self-depracation lending humour, but not at the expense of drama and emotion. Real page-turner. Looking forward to seeing more of them.
August 29, 2021
Gritty, gripping and highly entertaining. It's bit different from my usual read but i had a lot of fun in reading it and hope that the author will write other thriller.
The violent and criminal underbelly of Yorkshire, two great characters and a solid plot full of twists and turns.
Even if the book is quite violent there's plenty of humour that I appreciated.
An excellent story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The violent and criminal underbelly of Yorkshire, two great characters and a solid plot full of twists and turns.
Even if the book is quite violent there's plenty of humour that I appreciated.
An excellent story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews