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Bob Skinner #27
Game Over
GAME OVER is the twenty-seventh gripping Bob Skinner mystery from crime master Quintin Jardine, author of HOUR OF DARKNESS, LAST RESORT, PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS and many more. 'Another cracker from Jardine...There are plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep you engrossed' Scots MagazineWhen supermodel Annette Bordeaux is found battered and strangled in her Edinburgh flat, former Chief Constable Bob Skinner's old team instantly have a global case on their hands. The victim's husband, world-renowned footballer and recent Merrytown FC signing, is quickly discounted as a suspect. But there are others in the club with less watertight alibis... Two years out of the game, Skinner can't help getting his hands dirty. And as his old team work to convict the prime suspect, his own daughter, Alex, is the lawyer tasked with leading the defence. The opposing sides must work to find the culprit while the press watch on. But in this game, no one can be trusted, and there are murkier deeds still to uncover before the final whistle blows...
349 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2017
61 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Quintin Jardine
99 books244 followersQuintin Jardine (born 1945) is a Scottish author of three series of crime novels, featuring the fictional characters Bob Skinner, Oz Blackstone, and Primavera Blackstone. He was educated in Motherwell and in Glasgow where he studied at what was then the city’s only University. After career as a journalist, government information officer and media relations consultant, he took to the creation of crime fiction.
His first wife, Irene, with whom he shared over 30 years, from their teens, died in 1997. He is married, to his second wife, Eileen. They live in both Scotland and in Spain
His first wife, Irene, with whom he shared over 30 years, from their teens, died in 1997. He is married, to his second wife, Eileen. They live in both Scotland and in Spain
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 19, 2018
I can't believe this is book 27. Its been great following Bob Skinner for all these years, and I'm still enjoying the books now.
I was thrilled when this come through my letterbox, thrilled to receive a review copy.
Bob Skinner has always made me think of A Scottish Alex Cross only better. He's one hell of a character and it's been an amazing journey so far with him through 27 books, I'm certainly hoping this series continues for a long time to come.
This book features more of Bob's eldest Daughter Alexis Skinner. And it's brilliant to see her coming into her own now. I could almost see a spin off series featuring Alex. Now that would be awesome.
Bob is now officially retired from the police force. But that certainly doesn't stop him from being a formidable character and still getting involved in cases.
And this is certainly a difficult case, we are not looking for a killer, in this book. The police think they all ready know who it is. This is more a case of trying to prove why the accused didn't do it. In doing that Bob and Alexis are trying to figure out who really did. I have to admit I had no idea all the way through. Brilliantly written to leave you guessing right up to the end.
It's great also to see all the familiar characters from previous books, and all the mini Bob Skinner clones coming into their own.
This is a first class series of books and I have no problems recommending them to any crime fiction fan.
I do believe this book could be read as a stand alone, but for me it's always better to read a series in order.
Quintin Jardine certainly knows how to tell a story.
I was thrilled when this come through my letterbox, thrilled to receive a review copy.
Bob Skinner has always made me think of A Scottish Alex Cross only better. He's one hell of a character and it's been an amazing journey so far with him through 27 books, I'm certainly hoping this series continues for a long time to come.
This book features more of Bob's eldest Daughter Alexis Skinner. And it's brilliant to see her coming into her own now. I could almost see a spin off series featuring Alex. Now that would be awesome.
Bob is now officially retired from the police force. But that certainly doesn't stop him from being a formidable character and still getting involved in cases.
And this is certainly a difficult case, we are not looking for a killer, in this book. The police think they all ready know who it is. This is more a case of trying to prove why the accused didn't do it. In doing that Bob and Alexis are trying to figure out who really did. I have to admit I had no idea all the way through. Brilliantly written to leave you guessing right up to the end.
It's great also to see all the familiar characters from previous books, and all the mini Bob Skinner clones coming into their own.
This is a first class series of books and I have no problems recommending them to any crime fiction fan.
I do believe this book could be read as a stand alone, but for me it's always better to read a series in order.
Quintin Jardine certainly knows how to tell a story.
January 24, 2026
This is book 27 in the Bob Skinner series, and while it works well enough as a standalone, it didn't inspire me to go back and read the previous 26. I found the constant reintroducing of characters using titles or descriptors instead of names distracting and immersion breaking, particularly given how established some of them were. The very short chapters and frequent POV switching didn't suit my reading preferences, as I was repeatedly pulled out just as I was settling into scenes. There is a large cast of secondary characters, many of whom felt dull and forgettable. The book does improve in the final third, however, the ending and reveals felt rushed. Overall, not terrible, but fairly mediocre crime fiction and ultimately not a particularly memorable read.
January 31, 2020
Woooaaah it just blew my expectations. The way story progressed it never lost the track though few details were quite exaggerated but still one of the best crime thriller to read.
June 6, 2024
This is the first novel I've read by this author, so I don't know if his previous books featuring Bob Skinner cover crimes where he was still a serving detective. So I started off from a view that this was a book with a meddling retired police officer running rings around his former colleagues. But once you've accepted this stretch of the imagination, there's a lot to recommend it.
The characters really come to life, despite there being a whole cast of them. The plot is twisty and fast-paced and I like the short chapters which always advance events rather than slow the tale down. The dialogue-driven style is also my favourite because it keeps the momentum going and avoids long pieces of narrative which sometimes spoil what is supposed to be an engrossing story. The conclusion is well worked out too, even though Skinner's antics are becoming slightly annoying by then! Overall though, this is a very enjoyable read.
The characters really come to life, despite there being a whole cast of them. The plot is twisty and fast-paced and I like the short chapters which always advance events rather than slow the tale down. The dialogue-driven style is also my favourite because it keeps the momentum going and avoids long pieces of narrative which sometimes spoil what is supposed to be an engrossing story. The conclusion is well worked out too, even though Skinner's antics are becoming slightly annoying by then! Overall though, this is a very enjoyable read.
December 11, 2017
A detective without a warrant card
What life is there for Skinner post police, working on behalf of his daughter as an investigator he is pulled to the outer fringes of his old force, and while it may have been a recipe for ego bouncing disaster to begin with and even some of his legendary powers of deduction in need of a work out the old team get their prep in the end. This novel ties up the readers questions on who what and where did long standing characters within this series wind up , and takes the franchise forward to the next instalment.
What life is there for Skinner post police, working on behalf of his daughter as an investigator he is pulled to the outer fringes of his old force, and while it may have been a recipe for ego bouncing disaster to begin with and even some of his legendary powers of deduction in need of a work out the old team get their prep in the end. This novel ties up the readers questions on who what and where did long standing characters within this series wind up , and takes the franchise forward to the next instalment.
October 4, 2019
This is alright. Not too suspense enough for me. My first time reading court proceedings in UK so that's cool. The investigation is not slow which is good, but it's a back and forth meeting and interviewing everyone, and the discoveries are not too surprising. A few jaw dropping moments but not memorable ones. Again, I don't like it when there are a lot of chapters related to the personal lives of the characters. Feels like kinda killing the mysterious vibe. Not sure if I want to read another one but we'll see.
September 18, 2019
I listened to this as an audiobook in the car - I think it would make a better read than listen. So many characters, (most carrying past baggage) and the narator having much the same voice for all of them. A rather convoluted story in the Agatha Christie style. I see that this is the 27th book featuring detective Skinner so I guess I may have enjoyed this more if I had read a few of the earlier ones first.
October 28, 2019
Skinner is no longer Chief Constable, he retired and now is working for a Media consortium when he was approached by his advocate daughter Alex to help him with a new case.
The model wife of a Spanish football player for Merrytown FC has been murdered and the team’s manager Chaz Baker is in the frame.
Again lots of detail, people and toing and froing from Edinburgh to GLasgow to Dundee.
Of course all is resolved at the end and Baker is off the hook.
The model wife of a Spanish football player for Merrytown FC has been murdered and the team’s manager Chaz Baker is in the frame.
Again lots of detail, people and toing and froing from Edinburgh to GLasgow to Dundee.
Of course all is resolved at the end and Baker is off the hook.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2021
Great read
I’m a fan of Quintin. I love his Bob Skinner series the best. I’ve read the whole series several times. I enjoy how he develops the characters over the series. This book has a solid plot with twists and turns you don’t see coming. There is a bit of a super man facet to the nature of Bob Skinner. He seems to have super powers in over powering the bad guys and surviving beatings. It’s a great yarn even as a second read.
I’m a fan of Quintin. I love his Bob Skinner series the best. I’ve read the whole series several times. I enjoy how he develops the characters over the series. This book has a solid plot with twists and turns you don’t see coming. There is a bit of a super man facet to the nature of Bob Skinner. He seems to have super powers in over powering the bad guys and surviving beatings. It’s a great yarn even as a second read.
October 4, 2021
4 1/2 stars. Book #27 in the excellent Bob Skinner mysteries was another great read. A supermodel has been found strangled and it's a slam dunk for the team with a murderer caught. But Bob's daughter Alex is his lawyer and she asks her Dad to investigate the case and Bob discovers that there is much more to this case and Alex's client is innocent and has been framed. But who killed the supermodel? A really good read by an author at the top of his own game.
May 28, 2017
I managed to read and listen to book 26 and book 27 back to back and thoroughly enjoyed reading both. Every book in the Skinner series could be read on its own, but to have been fortunate enough to have read the whole series over the years, is an amazing read in a professional master class by an outstanding author.
Highly recommended
Highly recommended
Read
September 27, 2019Having read all the Bob Skinner series from Skinner's Rules to Game Over, I must say I am glad that for Bob Skinner the game is not yet over and hoping that there can be more than 31 Skinner's span. Every time I think that they can't get better, they just do, so much so that I'm no longer surprised.
April 1, 2018
It took me a while to get into this book, but when I did, I was hooked. Lots of twists and turns in the plot, right up to the very end. Now I find myself looking forward to the next installment to find out where Skinner will go from here.
April 10, 2018
Wow — #27 in the series. Bob Skinner’s career has gone through many changes. He’s now retired from the police, but not 55 yet and still winning fights and outsmarting everyone, so still room for more books.
This one was very entertaining. A virtually locked room mystery with several twists.
This one was very entertaining. A virtually locked room mystery with several twists.
November 23, 2019
Skinner moves on as Scotland's Police force is reconfigured. But he still seems to involve himself with investigating different crimes but still crosses paths with old police friends. Cant seem to disengage and even his past subordinates still answer to his concerns.
January 5, 2021
A good read, with some real page turner sections at times.
It's good to see Bob develop his role outside the police, but it does seem a little fanciful that he is (even as ex Chief Constable) able to get quite as involved in the case as he does. This sort of spolied it for me, just a little bit. In some ways it might have been better as a stand alone book.
Overall though, a great novel with a good story line and excellently developed characters.
It's good to see Bob develop his role outside the police, but it does seem a little fanciful that he is (even as ex Chief Constable) able to get quite as involved in the case as he does. This sort of spolied it for me, just a little bit. In some ways it might have been better as a stand alone book.
Overall though, a great novel with a good story line and excellently developed characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2021
I found this to be an overlong, boring, drawn-out affair that just wasn't all that engaging to the extent that reading it became more of a chore than a pleasure.
Too much filler and not enough thriller for my liking. A dull and flat effort from Jardine.
Too much filler and not enough thriller for my liking. A dull and flat effort from Jardine.
May 16, 2017
Brilliant, as always!
May 24, 2017
Absolutely fantastic. I love this author and I absolutely love the Bob Skinner series. Can't wait for the next one!!
July 2, 2017
As un-put downable as ever
July 14, 2017
Once again Quintin Jardine has produced an intriguing detective story using all the well known characters.
August 21, 2017
Skinner just keeps getting better!
September 10, 2017
Enjoyable, although I spent a good portion of the book worrying about everybody's conflicts of interest.
January 10, 2019
Don’t know how much of the investigation a retired policeman would get to do. Love a Skinner book and the style of writing
April 29, 2019
27, on to 28.
July 17, 2019
I enjoy Scottish police procedural novels. This one kept me guessing until the very end. I will definitely go back and start this series of novels.
December 31, 2019
A good read - this long living series reaches number 27.
November 22, 2022
Very good.
June 17, 2023
Found so hard to keep with it this
January 28, 2018
Excellent! Read in ebook form while away. Always looking forward to the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews