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A dead body concealed high up in a tree.
A dark forest that holds many secrets.
One man determined to discover the truth.

Deep in the New Forest, a body is hidden in the branches of a towering fir tree in an area known as Dead Maids Wood. When John Savage learns that the body belonged to an old school friend, he sets out to discover who was responsible.

Together with brilliant computer hacker Tannaz, he discovers his friend was down on his luck, living among those who society would rather forget – the dregs, the desperate and the homeless. Entering this dark and hidden world, Savage soon discovers that the death of his friend was just the tip of the iceberg…

Savage Games is a fast-paced action thriller for fans of Lee Child and David Baldacci.

What readers are saying about the John Savage Series:

“Great book!!!! I couldn’t put it down. If you like David Baldacci’s Amos Decker/Memory Man, this will be right up your alley.” – Amazon reader, 5 stars

“If you all are like me, and looking for a new author, because we are tired of waiting on the latest Reacher or Rapp or Rain novel? This here book is a must read.” – Amazon reader, 5 stars

"What a great thriller! ... Nothing could prepare me for the shocking events Savage uncovers." – Bits About Books

"Move over Jason Bourne, John Savage is in the house." – Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

"Wow! My goodness, what a book!" – Suze Reviews, 5 stars

"This is a masterful bit of storytelling." – Top 1000 Amazon reviewer, 5 stars

"Action, suspense, nail-biting moments ... didn't want the book to end. Can't wait for the next one." – Amazon Reviewer, 5 stars

359 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 4, 2019

51 people are currently reading
63 people want to read

About the author

Peter Boland

17 books210 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for 8stitches 9lives.
2,853 reviews1,723 followers
June 3, 2019
Savage Games is the second all-action thriller in the John Savage series, and the stakes continue to be high and his mission fraught with danger and crackling with tension from first page to last. Each of the instalments can be read independently of one another without issue although once you discover the high stakes and adrenaline-pumping action you'll have a strong desire to pick up any you have missed to this point. Sinfully suspenseful and deliciously dark, we follow hero investigator John Savage as he grapples with his most brutal case yet. Move over Jack Reacher, Savage is here!

There is never a dull moment in this gripping story as there is always something happening and quite a lot of it unexpected. There are ample twists in the tale to keep you guessing and the pace is relentless. If you enjoy brutal violence, explosive action and interesting characters then Savage Games comes thoroughly recommended, and Savage himself proves himself dependable, tough but sensitive and incredibly likeable with a reliable moral compass to guide him. Compulsively readable and fiercely compelling, this is a gripping and highly entertaining book. Roll on number three! Many thanks to Sarah Hardy for a copy.
Profile Image for Sarah.
2,954 reviews220 followers
May 26, 2019
This is the first book I have read by this author and certainly won’t be my last. Even though it’s the second book in the John Savage series, having not read the first, I can certainly vouch for it being able to be read as a stand alone.

I loved how the story starts off. With a body being found high up in a tree. It always amazes me having read so many crime books that an author can still take me completely by surprise and come up with new ways of how people die. From that point on I knew I was in for a thrilling journey and boy did the author not disappoint.

What really makes this book for me is the characters. Being a crime book there are villains a plenty with lots of people to really dislike and hate. There are also some fabulously unexpected characters that just stood out for so many reasons. I was surprised at how much I started caring for them and in a way I wanted to mother some of them. These are people who are way down on their luck and have been taken advantage of and the fact that Savage comes along like some sort of vigilante trying to help them, made me love him that little bit more also.

Savage and Tannaz really are an unlikely duo but yet they compliment each other and make for a great pairing. I definitely want to read the first book now so I can see how the pair came about, it really is a match made in heaven for crime readers.

Savage Games is a thrilling and action packed read that had me hooked from the start. I loved being taken on a very dark and menacing journey with shocks and surprises getting closer with every page turned. Dark, thrilling with plenty to chill the bones off it’s reader, what is not to love? Every crime readers dream novel. Brilliant.
Profile Image for Sue Wallace .
7,399 reviews140 followers
May 9, 2019
Savage games by Peter Boland.
Omg my favourite character is back. I love John. Full of action and suspense. I loved the story. I do hope there is more to come. Highly recommended. 5*.
Profile Image for Alicia Huxtable.
1,904 reviews60 followers
February 13, 2019
Where do I start? I thought book 1 was great but this one goes a step ahead. Peter Boland must really enjoy writing these charactera and it shows in the way they are portrayed and the way the storyline just glides along so seemlessly. Savage and Tannaz are a great team and I hooe to see them again in book 3.......
Profile Image for Caz C Cole.
258 reviews37 followers
June 4, 2019
Thrilled to be reconnected to the flawed – and thus, oh, so likeable – John Savage, who has to go through the gates of hell to find out what has happened to a friend and his son. Tormented by his alter ego and feelings of guilt, Savage is prepared to risk his life…

Yes! John Savage is back! And with him a character I hugely admire: Tannaz. She’s fearless and has a way with computers no one else has. An unmissable alley for Savage! I did not know what to think of the story – a man hanging high up a tree. Most definitely murder, right? But why in such an elaborate way?

There is something strange going on and Savage, driven by guilt, feels obliged to investigate. Even more so when the son of the victim also hangs himself. Is it the circumstances but Savage’s inner demon is playing up again and I really ‘enjoy’ – I know that sounds weird but it is simply fascinating – the conversations between Savage and his inner demon.

Their main suspect is a man who terrorises whole neighbourhoods and I could not think of any connection between him, the decayed buildings where people live who have no other place to go – so I just had to keep on reading to find out!

Peter Boland does an excellent job of describing life in these ‘estates’ – you feel disgusted at the abhorrent circumstances and feel so sorry for the creatures, trapped with nowhere to go. My heart went out to Dink, loved how Savage took him under his wing.

An entertaining, shocking, at times brutal and confronting, fast-paced thriller – a real page-turner!

Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.co.uk/sava...
Profile Image for patrick Lorelli.
3,756 reviews37 followers
June 22, 2019
The first book that I have read from this author and I must say it was a good book. I thought it had plenty of action, mystery, and suspense from the beginning to the end. The different characters that were added along the way added to the story and did not take away from the storyline at all. The twist that you find out later about one of the people who live in the apartment really surprised me and was a nice touch. The banter between Savage and Tannaz the computer hacker was good and also added to the story. I really don’t want to go too much into the story for I am afraid of reviling the story. A very good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
Profile Image for Kath Middleton.
Author 23 books158 followers
February 7, 2019
Savage Games is that difficult to pull off second in a series. I loved Savage Lies and I think this is even better. Ex-SAS John Savage, still battling his own PTSD demons, determines to right some serious wrongs after an old friend from school is found dead. The plotting is tight, the pace fast and the characters are believable. For such a serious subject it’s surprisingly funny too. Savage and his assistant and IT expert Tannaz have clever mouths and don’t know when to button them. I cringed a few times expecting the worst but these two can fend for themselves. Even though it’s a second book, it would read well as a stand-alone. I’m now a huge fan of these characters and look forward to more from John Savage. Erm, I mean Peter Boland!
Profile Image for Annette.
918 reviews1 follower
September 28, 2019
A brilliant fast-paced action-packed thriller, I read this first and although I do like to read a series in order it didn't spoil my enjoyment as it can be read as a stand-alone. It's just as amazing as the first with lots of intrigue, you certainly need your wits about you to keep up with the story. I love the main character John Savage, no one or anything gets in his way.
Profile Image for Melissa Borsey.
1,888 reviews38 followers
March 5, 2019
While I enjoyed the first book in this series, I absolutely loved this story. John Savage is investigating not one but two suicides or were they just staged to look that way? This was one action packed story that kept my interest from beginning to end! I look forward to the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Nic Lynch.
158 reviews7 followers
September 2, 2022
Savage Games is the 2nd in the John Savage thriller series and it is as brilliantly written as the first. Fast paced, gory details, gritty action, fantastic characters and developing friendships, it has it all.

This story centres on the death of an old school friend of John's and he certainly gets right into character to determine what really happened to him. There's no fear whatsoever, and we are led on very clever pursuits.

A fair bit of the story is based in the depths of Dead Maids forest and the scenes from it are very atmospheric, you can picture yourself in there....in the dark.....!

Another thing I've noticed from reading these first two books is that it's clear Peter has done a lot of research into everything in his book. There's so much detail about everything, from living in a run down estate, to members clubs, to how to hack phones, it's fascinating. It also gives you so much compassion for his charaters (or hatred - depending on which ones!)

As well as John and Tannaz's friendship growing, which i am thoroughly enjoying, I really liked Dink in this book, I felt such empathy towards him and so want him to do well! It's excellent writing that does this.

Peter has done a fantastic job of producing a fast paced thriller, with great characters and and lots of twists, I can't wait to start the next one.
Profile Image for Pam Fox.
150 reviews4 followers
April 8, 2019
Peter Boland is a relatively new author, this is only his third book, but you wouldn't know it from the writing and the story itself is well formed with enough action to balance out the human stories involved.
In this book Boland takes on a slum landlord with a difference. Not only are the premises he expects people to live in uninhabitable but he holds homelessness over their heads to get them to do things they don't want to do. The book starts with a young man coming to Savage and Tannaz about the suicide of his father who was an old school friend of Savage's and asks them to look into it as he doesn't believe his father would have killed himself. This investigation leads them into the world ruled by Simon Wellington and his team of brutal henchmen. When I read a book there's usually a character I really warm to and in this one it's Dink, the proverbial gentle giant who in this case has been taken advantage of by Wellington due to his naivety and belief that people are genuinely good.
I enjoy reading Peter Boland's books as Savage is a very believable person, an ex-SAS soldier with PTSD and his own demon, in the name of Jeff Perkins, who constantly rides around in Savage's head trying to bring him down and convince him he's not a good person, while all the time Savage fights to do what he believes is the right thing. Tannaz, the young IT expert who works alongside Savage, is a levelling influence and without knowing it is working against Jeff Perkins, helping to keep Savage on the right track even if that's sometimes a pretty dark track, you'll need to read the book to find out what that is.
Would I read Peter Boland's books again? Of course I would and happily recommend him as an author to anyone who asks.
Profile Image for Suze Clarke-Morris.
189 reviews6 followers
February 16, 2019
The first book in the John Savage series, Savage Lies, was one of my favourite books of 2018. Peter was a new author to me, but the book just blew me away. So imagine my delight at getting my hands on this, the follow up.

John Savage is back, maybe a year after the end of the first book. He's getting older and feeling it but, for me at least, he's still pretty hot!

Tannaz, the talented young hacker from book one, features heavily in this book, but don't worry if you haven't read Savage Lies (although you really should because it's freaking awesome) as this works fine as a standalone. Anything you need to know from before, you find out. She's fabulous and I love her relationship with Savage. There's no romance nonsense, just two people who love and respect each other as friends. And the rapport between them is brilliant.

A young man turns up at Savage's door. He's the son of an old friend who's recently died, in a slightly odd fashion. What starts out as a simple favour for Luke soon turns much darker when Savage discovers a whole underground culture.

I don't want to tell you too much about the story because I really want you to discover it for yourself. I can tell you that it gripped me from the beginning, and I had no idea where it was going to take me. The cast of supporting characters are certainly colourful and wonderfully described. I thought Dink might break my heart, and everyone will feel for Archie, the wee guy with a drink problem.

For me, the scene setting is as important as the characters and story, and here it is done beautifully, particularly in respect to the estate where Luke's father spent his last days, and the forest where some of the action takes place. That's a really creepy place, I can tell you!

The pace builds from the beginning, as does the action. Savage was a skilled soldier, and it shows. But some of the things he discovers are horrific, and perhaps difficult to read. And that's down to the writing being so descriptive. When I reviewed Savage Lies, I said I thought it was very current. And I feel very much the same about this book - it's a story for our time. It's extreme, but it shows vulnerable people can be exploited, and that certainly happens in our society today.

So I have been deliberately obtuse about the story as I don't want to spoil anything, but I can safely say this will be one of my books of the year. And it's only February! It's clearly well researched and will have you reaching for Google. It's original, exciting, gripping and dark. Violent and shocking in places. But it's very human, with plenty of emotion.

Basically, I loved everything about this book! It's another triumph for Peter Boland and he should be very proud. Go out and read both books! And me? I CAN'T WAIT to see what John Savage gets up to next!
Profile Image for Alison.
483 reviews27 followers
April 15, 2019
5 Exhilarating, Suspense Filled Stars!!!

I was given this book in turn for an honest review.

Uncovering the truth behind an old school friend’s death, turns out to be a very dangerous task for John Savage and Tannaz. With every clue, more questions arise. Will Savage and Tannaz uncover the truth in time, or will they find themselves in an impossible situation?

I absolutely loved Savage Games; Peter Boland has pulled out all the stops with this story. From start to finish he holds you captivated and throws you into the world of John Savage and his investigative adventures. This story for me felt more compelling than the first book, I feel Peter Boland has definitely grown with his writing in this second book.

Tannaz is an awesome character, nothing scares her, nothing stops her from saying exactly what she is thinking, and although sometimes reluctant to venture into things she dislikes, she always puts it aside to get a job done. I love the rapport both she and Savage share, and her skills with a computer are epic.

Savage is a very interesting character, since the first book his character has developed tremendously, and I love the twist Peter Boland adds to this story with Savage and his PTSD; It gives this story a unique and intriguing element, that stands out from other books.

If you love reading action thrillers, then the John Savage series by Peter Boland is a must read. Although you could possibly read this second book as a standalone, I’d recommend reading them in order, to get the full enjoyment and experience of this story.
Profile Image for Jessica Bronder.
2,015 reviews31 followers
June 6, 2019
John Savage is a former SAS soldier with a lot of PTSD baggage and a dark influence rolling around in his head trying to get him to commit suicide. One day Luke shows up on his door steps. Luke is the son of his former school buddy who has been discovered as a suicide. But Luke doesn’t think so and asks John to take a look. John finds not one suicide but two and a whole new world of hell on a private location.

This is the second book in the series but I can say that if you have not read the first book you will not be lost, I wasn’t. John is a great character with his own issues that he is trying to work through, thankfully he has Tannaz to help keep him grounded in reality.

I love John and Tannaz’s relationship; they are a couple of great people that work well together without the relationship drama. It really adds a special touch to a tough case with one heck of a slumlord.

If you are looking for a great story with an edge of your seat thriller look no further. Now I need to go back and see what I missed from the first book. I also can’t wait to see what trouble John finds next.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Profile Image for Lel Budge.
1,367 reviews31 followers
June 5, 2019
This is #2 of Peter Boland’s books to feature John Savage, while I haven’t, Yet, read number 1, this in no way affected my enjoyment of Savage Games.

John Savage is nearing 60, but is coping with his PTSD and his grief at losing his wife and daughter, by teaching, young hacker, Tannaz to fight…..not neat tidy fighting, but street fighting. With viper like reflexes, she’s strong, feisty and a great character.

Just after a training session, young Luke arrives and asks for Savage’s help, his dad had died, Suicide? As he had been an old school friend of Savage, he asks for help clearing his flat in bit of a rough neighbourhood.

However, a short time later, Further tragedy strikes…..is there something more sinister going on…..Savage is driven to find out more and finds a very different world, with some fantastic characters that really make this a compelling, violent and gripping thriller. I’ll never look at the picturesque New Forest in the same way again!

Thank you to Sarah at Book On The Bright Side for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Profile Image for Tere J.
266 reviews3 followers
March 21, 2019
I was a huge fan of Savage Lies Book 1, and this was a fantastic continuation of the adventures of John and Tannaz!!

It's hard to talk abut this without giving away too much about the body in the tree, let's just say that is just the tip of the iceberg with this thrilling mystery! This story is fast paced, loaded with characters that all play a role in the story. I was't sure where the story was headed, only because it's not predictable. I felt I knew something, then boom - I'm wrong. Savage and Tannaz are back and a great duo. I laughed out loud at some parts, I loved knowing what John thought at times, it just made me want more Savage book series! I felt very connected with the characters liking who I liked, and disliking others. Mr. Boland very much develops his characters that you truly feel connected and cheering on or wishing Savage will take them out! I fell in love with one character, and hope to know more about that character in future John Savage stories!!!

I was provided an ARC for this honest review.
509 reviews8 followers
April 2, 2019
In my second foray out with John Savage he continues to impress with his investigative skills, thinking around the problems and discovering the nuances lesser investigators might miss.
Savage games starts with a body falling out of a felled tree and I immediately put on my "investigate the murder" reader hat. However not so far into my investigation it turns out the body was not all it seems and more bodies start to pile up at an alarming rate, twisting the plot beyond anything I had imagined.
John, now with seemingly permanent investigative partner and expert hacker Tannaz, finds himself embroiled in a bitter and twisted game of life, playing out around Southampton and the New Forest. The characters are once again easy to relate to and to imagine (and also to hate in many instances) and are brought to life by the author in a way that makes the book very easy to read but not so easy to second guess the means and motives.
I hope John continues his investigations- I for one want to be part of his team (albeit very much on the sidelines out of harms way!)
Profile Image for Sharon Richmond.
1,118 reviews11 followers
April 9, 2019
Savage Games by Peter Boland. 4.5 Stars

If you loves a book that has a crazy story surrounded in darkness that surprises you. Then this books for you.

The author weave yet another spine tingling story of suspense that throws you for a loop or two.
As the story builds it gets more intriguing and crazy scary odd.

Savage and Tannaz, two very different characters, embark on a journey to uncover a simple friends death.. What they uncover is game that will blow you away. Evil comes in all shapes and sizes.

Besides John and Tan you'll meet some other great characters. There's Dink, he's a intimidating gentle giant. Rosie and Grace, mom and daughter, down on their luck. Then theres Archie and Joe, I'll leave it up to you on how you would describe them, you'll see.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Reviewer for Nook Books and More Blog.
Profile Image for Karen.
1,195 reviews12 followers
April 13, 2019
John Savage is back!
I loved book one and was very excited to get stuck into book two! It would read as a standalone, but as well as giving you a bit of background into the main characters stories, book one is also really good!
I was so glad to see Tannaz back and in a much more prominent role than the first book. I love the relationship between her and John and am happy to see that she is making use of Johns SAS knowledge and, as well as being a hot shot hacker, is now becoming a total bad ass!
The story follows them as they go undercover to try and work out how and why an old school friend of Johns died, but they uncover way more than they bargained for and will have to rely on both of their expertise to get them through.
A brilliant addition to the Savage series and I am really looking forward to seeing what happens next!
Profile Image for RiverShore.
116 reviews5 followers
May 25, 2019
Review of Savage Games by Peter Boland

John Savage and his young hacker friend Tannaz are back in this mystery thriller set in England. John is saddened to hear of the apparent suicide of his once close friend. However, the details make John question if indeed it was a suicide. When other, similar suicides take place in the same location, John is sure that all is not as it seems. Determined to learn the truth, John joins the down and outs of society who live in a fragile world where what little they have is in constant danger of being taken away, including their rights. With the help of his hacker friend Tannaz, John begins to uncover a dark world where games are anything but fun. Well written, Savage Games keeps the twists coming in this second book in a series by author Peter Boland. Great for fans of Lee Child, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Profile Image for Monica Mac.
1,683 reviews41 followers
October 27, 2019
The action continues with John Savage, in this, the second book in the series.

This time, John and Tannaz find themselves figuring out why people seem to keep on committing suicide in the same forest, starting with an old friend of John's and then others who are connected, one after the other. The case is baffling and there are lots of threads to try and connect.

John decides the only way to get to the bottom of what happened to his mate, Dave, is to stay in the same accommodation and do a bit of looking around. What he discovers is shocking and I did wonder for a while there how he was possibly going to get through the things that happened to him, in one piece. Luckily for him, he has been training Tannaz for the past year and her skills are coming along nicely.

Another fast-paced, intense book which I thoroughly enjoyed. Bring on the next book!

4.5 stars for this one.
Profile Image for Beccy Thompson.
810 reviews17 followers
April 4, 2019
I received a copy of this book from TBC Reviewers request- Thank you
This is the second book in the series (definitely read the first book before this one it really sets the scene and introduces the characters well) The characters in the book have developed since the first one, they’ve become more ’real’. Another excellent plot full of twists and turns. I saw a review that compared Savage to Alex Cross, I wasn’t convinced another character was up there with Cross but maybe, just maybe Savage is!
281 reviews8 followers
April 18, 2019
Throughly enjoyed this second explosive storyline following the life of ex SAS hard/soft man, John Savage. He is an extremely likeable character with a great sense of laugh out loud humour. Right up my street. His partnership with Tannaz grows in this instalment and with it, we get to see more of John and his super hero antics.

A cleverly written tale which keeps you guessing. Full of intrigue, twists, rogues and good guys. Loved the first one and loved this one too. Can’t wait for the next.

Brilliant!
269 reviews
April 22, 2019
Poetic licence...

Mr. Author, I have enjoyed your book, but take umbrage to the telling of parts of Southampton...my home town..my first home was Thornhill..my Nan lived in Shirley.
Mayflower park is beautiful next to all the working shipping terminals. However fair play..look forward to your next book but not based in Southampton please.
Your descriptions would have been best served in the City 12 miles east down the M27...
2 reviews
March 31, 2019
Honestly wow. Absolutely loved this book and the series so far. If you like James pattersons Alex cross novels definitely download this series. It's a must read. I read the book within the day as the story is so gripping you can't put it down! This is the first series I've read by Peter Boland and I'll definitely be buying the series as he publishes.
Profile Image for Ellie Shepherd.
229 reviews14 followers
October 10, 2019
Another absolutely smashing book by Mr Boland. I thought book one was amazing but I am really having difficulty writing a review to sing the praises of this one. Action packed, superb story construction, I couldn't put it down. I just wanted to inhale it so I stayed up on a school night, far too late in order to finish it. I was not disappointed. Brilliant!!!
Profile Image for Geeta.
276 reviews2 followers
April 7, 2019
John Savage is his usual self in this story, fearless and determined. He has help from his friend IT geek Tannaz, I love the working relationship they have. Savage and Tannaz go undercover to solve a mystery but this means Savage puts himself at risk. I really hope there will be a third book.
Profile Image for Joanna Gibson.
194 reviews4 followers
April 14, 2019
I read this as a stand alone and it worked perfectly well. For me it took a while to get going but glad I persevered and I enjoyed it. I like the chemistry between the characters and it was an interesting storyline.
254 reviews2 followers
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June 3, 2019
SAVAGE GAMES is a super scary, thrilling novel that will hook you from the first chapter. Peter Boland is an exciting writer and does not disappoint with this novel. I did not read the first novel in this series but still enjoyed it very much.
72 reviews
March 28, 2020
Action thriller

Believable storyline with characters that feel human. Pace keeps moving and the whole comes to a very satisfying conclusion. Enjoyed very much so on to the next one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

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