Kill Game

Seven of Spades #1

by Cordelia Kingsbridge, Peter Friedrich (Translator)

Das Leben von Mordermittler Levi Abrams ist aus den Fugen geraten – nach einer Schießerei ist er immer noch seelisch angeschlagen, und die Beziehung mit seinem Freund kriselt. Das Letzte, was er jetzt gebrauchen kann, ist ein Serienmörder, der auf den Straßen von Las Vegas sein Unwesen treibt. Und da ist auch noch der Kopfgeldjäger Dominic Russo, der ihm mit seinem Charme auf die Nerven geht und dem er ständig unfreiwillig über den Weg läuft.
Dominic schätzt sein unkompliziertes Leben, und das bedeutet: kein Umgang mit Cops – vor allem nicht mit kratzbürstigen, verklemmten Detectives. Dann stolpert er jedoch durch Zufall über das jüngste Opfer der grausamen Pik-Sieben.
Der Mörder ist gnadenlos und den Ermittlern immer zwei Schritte voraus. Schlimmer noch, er hat ein gefährliches persönliches Interesse an den beiden entwickelt. Gezwungen, einander zu vertrauen, versuchen sie, ihn zu stellen. Doch im Gegensatz zu Levi und Dominic hält die Pik-Sieben alle Trumpfkarten in der Hand …

"Kill Game" ist der erste Band der fünfteiligen Thriller-Serie von Cordelia Kingsbridge. Die Bücher enthalten explizite homoerotische Szenen sollten in der richtigen Reihenfolge gelesen werden.

Genres: M M Romance, Mystery, Romance, Contemporary, Crime, Thriller, LGBT

400 pages, Paperback

First published October 23, 2017

About the author

Cordelia Kingsbridge has a master's degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh, but quickly discovered that direct practice in the field was not for her. Having written novels as a hobby throughout graduate school, she decided to turn her focus to writing as a full-time career. Now she explores her fascination with human behavior, motivation, and psychopathology through fiction. Her weaknesses include opposites-attract pairings and snarky banter.

Away from her desk, Cordelia is a fitness fanatic, and can be found strength training, cycling, and practicing Krav Maga. She lives in South Florida but spends most of her time indoors with the air conditioning on full blast!

Reviews

[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the first time in a long looooooonnnnnnnnngggggggg time I REALLY don't want to talk about a book. What I want to do is squirrel it in my secret lair where I can pet it and murmur sweet nothings to it, and by "sweet nothings", I mean "MINE, MY PRESHHHHHIOUS!!" Not unlike a certain CGI character we all know and are creeped out by. But. I'm guessing CK and Riptide would frown upon that sort of behavior, so here's me bucking up like a trooper.

We all have authors that just do it for us and CK is such an author for me. There's something about the way she constructs a story with effortless characterizations, authentic and relatable interpersonal dynamics, complex and imperfect characters and attention to the details that make a character whole that resonates. Lest I forget, the sex. CK's penchant for hot AF size difference makes my brain fritz out every time! In this case it's Dominic who's "built like a truck" with a



that turns Levi into a screaming, pleading, incoherent, banged out bottom. Gawd, I love it when they're loud! The legit kind that's ermagherd something amazeballs is happening in my body right now but I can't form a sentence so I'll just bleat and wail as opposed to fake porn star I'm thinking about what I'm going to binge watch on Netflix when I get home and mailing in the moaning and the OHHH YEAAAAAAS to make it sound good until this joker finishes so I can cash out kind of loud. BIG DIFF, y'know? I can always count on CK for that genuine spike in my blood pressure.

Dominic is straight gold. A bounty hunter/bartender and gentle giant who's very cognizant of his size and how intimidating it can be for others. Any dude that loves his dog as much as he does is good people in my book. How much he cares about others permeates his entire being, something that's clear from the first time we meet him trying to bring in a bail jumper. And just like that I was smitten.

Levi is a homicide detective and high strung. He's reserved, deliberate and incredibly intelligent. I feel like he's probably one of those people that is so sensitive that's he's had to build a wall to protect himself from being hurt repeatedly which makes him appear aloof when really he's not. Neither are perfect but they very well could be perfect for each other.

What is crystal clear is how well they compliment each other, something that really shines as the case evolves. There are some quiet moments between them that made my heart swell. They're both exceedingly observant which I think bodes well for their future coupletry, but this relationship is still in its infancy. Levi is coming off a break-up with a long-term boyfriend that I'm glad wasn't glossed over and will surely factor in at some point. For now they are taking it slow, building trust rather than jumping into something because they have oodles of sexual chemistry.

The thriller plotline is well balanced with the character/relationship development. Both MCs and the secondary characters feel real to me already. But I'm greedy to know more, to know everything. That being said, this may very well be the best thriller I've read in 2017. It consumed me. Even now, days later, I'm still thinking about it. I have a running list of things I know, things that could be true and things I've discarded. One thing niggles but I can't bring myself to drop my rating because of it.

The end is to be continued... which I was expecting, because five book series. This is a long game that's sure to have twists, turns and surprises aplenty. *bounces* I cannot wait!

Recommend to no one because it's MINE! mystery/thriller, romantic suspense and CK fans.

Boy Meets Boy Reviews

An ARC was provided by NetGalley.

Pre-read squealing~
GIIIRRRRLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't even read the blurb! No need cuz this right here, y'alls, it gettin' read.



It's gettin' read sooooooooooo hard.



U period. N period. F period.

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+++++++BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME stars



I am too tired and hangover to write a proper review and there are so many great reviews, all i have to say is i agree with them and just read the book if you haven't.

This Book! This book! Is exactly what i was looking for in an MM mystery/thriller/suspense book.

I have not read a good serial killer book that had my stomach churn for a long time since
Lie to Me

It was engaging, the pace was just right for my taste and damn! right entertaining. I did not want it to end.

The writing, *sigh* this author can write, it was like i was watching criminal minds but even more better.

The Chemistry between Levi and Dominic was scorching, bouncing off the pages.

Dominic! Oh i loved him and all his hugeness.

Levi the Jewish detective! do i even have to say more!

Levi's partner Martine what a fresh of breath air, it was nice to see a well written female character, who had no issues. The parents too were well written, there were no bad hateful parents and i loved that.

The Sex! was so hot! Panty scorching hot!

“Fuck me,” he said breathlessly. “Come on. Do it.”
Dominic rubbed the spot where his cock was buried to the hilt in Levi’s body. “What do you call this?”
Fucking magnificent, is what Levi called it, but it wasn’t enough. “You know what I mean. Fuck me for real, Dominic, come on.Please.”
He shoved his ass back on Dominic as he spoke, and he never knew if it was that or the please or both that spurred Dominic into action. It didn’t matter anyway, because the moment Dominic started thrusting, every other thought in Levi’s brain just vaporized.

The mystery/thriller/suspense part had me guessing all though. All my guesses were wrong and that made it even more engaging, at some point i was like: Even the reaper on criminal minds was revealed early, I did not have to wait long, but i guess i will have to be patient.



N/B: This is a mystery/thriller/suspense book first the romance comes second, if you don't mind that then you will enjoy it.

I would read this whole series even if there was no sex involved, the working chemistry between Dominic and Levi was engaging enough.



Thanks you my lovely Simone for putting this series on my radar with your wonderful tempting review. Now i am off to stalk your shelves.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars.......So good!!





A fantastic start to what looks set to be an addictive series.If you've read previous books like Control and Close Protection by this Author you might be expecting lots of dirty sex here,but that's not what this book is about.What you get here is an exciting Murder/Mystery plot with a side of a delicious slow burn involving two hot as hell MCs.







Levi Abrams is a Homicide Detective struggling to come to terms with an incident from a previous job.To make things worse his relationship with his long term boyfriend is suffering and they have began to drift apart.

Dominic Russo is working two jobs as a Bounty Hunter and a Bar Tender.Recovering from a gambling addiction he tries to keep himself grounded and has great support from his family.


Las Vegas is currently in the grip of a serial killer and Dominic finds himself drawn into the investigation.
This is an extremely well crafted story.It's edge of the seat stuff,not least because the killer has developed an interest in Levi and Dominic.Around the half way point I had a firm suspicion who I thought the killer was but by the end I really had no idea.

The main focus of the book is the Murder/Mystery but alongside that you have the relationship which is developing between the two men.It's a slow burn,for sure,but anything else wouldn't have worked here.Having said that the chemistry is evident from the start between Dominic and Levi and when they do get down and dirty it's simply delicious.Cordelia Kingsbridge writes some of the best sex scenes ever!

I've really enjoyed everything I've read by this Author and this is no exception.Do I wish I'd waited until all the books were released? Hell No-I wouldn't have missed reading this for anything!

Highly Recommended.




Review copy provided by Riptide Publishing.

This review has been posted on DirtyBooksObsession

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impossibly, painfully excellent.

I'm not even able to review this book because I immediately read the second in the series and I can't separate the two. These books are a joy to read, which is a strange thing to say about murder-mystery books, perhaps, but it's so true.


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[Shin Mon Thway · Rating 5 out of 5]

So what more can I possibly say about this book that others haven’t already? 😌 You have to give it up for Cordelia Kingsbridge for her ability to nail it every time she writes a book. 👏 This is such a phenomenal and refreshingly unique book and I savored every moment reading this one. 😍


Both of our MCs are so imperfectly perfect. Both has flaws and their inner demons.


Detective Levi who’s still suffering from a hate crime of gay bashing from his high school days. On the outside, he seems like a completely sensible and calm guy but every once in a while, his inner demons and that unquenchable rage just emerged from their dormant state. 😔 Just recently broke up with his billionaire boyfriend, Levi is lost. So lost .. he still loves his ex but deep down, he knew that they don’t have a future together. 💔 And then, there’s a maniac serial killer on the loose on the streets of the sin city. All he wanted was some peace and quiet for himself. But will he ever be able to relax enough to fall asleep every night? 😢

Dominic, a bounty hunter at day and a bartender at night. He has just reconstructed his life. After he got out of the military, he lost that sense of purpose and got himself into becoming a gambling addict. 😭 That rush of excitement, that feeling of thinking he could own the world, nearly destroyed him completely. But he’s now on the winning streak of life again. He had stopped gambling, he has a good and steady pay and he’s finally doing better for real. And then, he stumbled upon the crime scene of that maniac serial killer while pursuing his bounty. Once he bit something, he never lets go. And he needs to know the very root of this crime and help arresting that psycho to ease his conscience.



Dominic has been interested in Levi for a long time. And when he found out that he’s having problems at home, Dominic actually tried to be a perfect gentleman and a friend instead of exploiting Levi’s emotions. And seven of spades won’t just stop killing. Day by day, bodies piled up and the whole city is on alert. Will they find each other’s soul mate while trying to investigate a twisted case of a crazy serial killer?

The connection between Levi and Dominic is definitely not instant. Levi loathed Dominic before he really knew him. 😁 It’s a must that a cop hates a bounty hunter. Adrenaline junkies such as Dominic only makes police’s work more complicated. But as they get closer and closer, Levi realized that they actually have a lot of same interests. And man, UST between them was just sizzling! 😱🔥 And the storyline? The seven of spades is a mystery. An enigmatic, complicated, twisted and one sick bastard who committed murders with meticulously precise methods. 😳 There’s no winning against him unless they work together. 😌

CK definitely has her own unique style of writing. If this were written by an another author, Levi won’t leave his billionaire boyfriend and they’d drive off to the sunset with a happily ever after. 😂 But no, CK must mess things up of one of the main MCs, uprooted his life completely. 😭 And being thrown in with another MC who isn’t an epitome guy but just perfect for Levi. 😌 And I did say about the sizzling UST .. right? 😁 Wait till you get to the chapter of these two mating. 😉 Nope, it wasn’t a love making, not tender, sweet-loving, pet-talking one. It was dirty, primal, innate and raw. 😱 And oh-so-fucking-delicious! 😍🔥 I just can’t wait to read the second book of this series and I don’t know how I have to wait until the series finishes. Right now, it ended on a massive cliffhanger. With so many unresolved questions. But one thing is for sure. Dominic has Levi’s back and vice versa. ❤️ It’s the battle of two against one. And battle between evil and the good. 😊 But the world isn’t a fairytale however we wish it is. We just have to wait and see on the silver screen CK’s brilliantly directing. 😉



Favorite excerpts from the novel: 💗💜💗

Dominic was no different, even if he did pretty it up with self-deprecating charm and a friendly smile. And what a smile it was—an easy, devastating grin in a face that was handsome enough to begin with, all warm brown eyes and strong jaw. His nose had a small break in it, but that somehow made him more attractive. The thought alone was enough to annoy Levi, who didn’t normally find large guys appealing.

Sh’kula tsdakâ ke’nêged kol ha’mitzvot.” Charity outweighs all other commandments.

“Oh, yeah, men like him are the worst,” Martine said. “Big strong guys who chase down fugitives for a living but still make the time to bring you coffee in the morning?” She gave a mock shudder. “Gross.”

“You referred to your murders as executions. Do you consider them just?” “Don’t you?” “No. You don’t have the right to decide who lives or dies, no matter what kind of people they may be.” “I disagree. The human species has a responsibility to purge its diseased. Like cutting off moldy bread before it ruins the entire loaf.” Levi felt cold all the way down to his bones;

Vigilantism appealed to the darker side of human nature, the thirst for primal justice that knew no constraints.

“That’s the way it should be. Sometimes killing is unavoidable, but it should never be casual. The day taking a human life becomes something you can just shrug off is the day you find a new line of work.”

“What do you want?” he asked, pulling Levi close. “Tell me.” Levi was too worked up for modesty or ambiguity. “I want you to fuck me with all the strength you used to bust through that door,” he said. Then he cast a mischievous glance at Dominic’s right shoulder. “If you think you can handle that.”



5 one helluva badass detective and chivalrous bounty hunter lover stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the amazing start of one of the best m/m crime series that I know.



Levi Abrams is a detective in Las Vegas. He is currently working on a series of murders with the murderer's trademark being a seven of spades card that is left with each victim.

Dominic Russo is a bartender and bounty hunter who runs across one of the crime scenes of the seven of spades killer. Despite being a civilian, he repeatedly investigates the murders and gets to know Levi on a rather personal level in the process...
Things turn from mysterious to scary when the killer seems to take a personal interest in both Dominic and Levi as they investigate the case.

I absolutely love the romance between Levi and Dominic. It is beautiful and real despite being a completely alternative type of romance, as it is not (yet?) heading towards a married with kids kind of relationship. Their romance is not yet fully developed in the first book, but I can hardly wait for the next book to see how their 'acquaintance' will progress.

I need to point out, though, that the Seven of Spades case seems to be treated a little carelessly by the police department. Given the nature of the crime and the implications raised in the story, I doubt that the book would really end the way it did.

Still, I consider this plot to be one of the very best crime plots in the m/m genre. I can hardly wait to see how it resolves!

Thank you for the buddy read, Adam!

5 stars and a favorite!

[bookluvr (s-ia) · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

competent men are so sexy — i am nothing but a weak woman 😩😩. it’s my cross to bear, with a heavy heart and a throbbing p— wait, what’s that flying past my window now?

tehehe this was fun! ❤️
we have a vigilante serial killer on the loose in the city of sin and debauchery las vegas. the murderer targets guilty people who’ve escaped the jaws of justice, takes matters into their own hands with their gruesome scenes and leaves a playing card behind as their signature stamp, all earning them the nickname “seven of spades”. the string of murders beguiles authorities and the public alike. levi built like a panther abrams is an LVMPD detective who gets assigned to co-lead the investigation with his cop partner (not the other mc). things become even more interesting when the serial killer starts reaching out to him directly and seems to know a lot of information about him and the inner workings of law enforcement, which suggests the killer could be close to levi’s life in some way and not a completely random player 👀. dominic built like a mack truck russo is a delicious bail enforcement agent (aka bounty hunter) who gets caught up in the case by pure coincidence, when he discovers a target he’s chasing down to collect the fee on dead in one of the seven of spades’ grisly tableaus. when he calls in his discovery to the cops, his curiosity about the developing case ends up nudging him into the mix, which throws him into levi’s path. eventually, the two ally up off the books to figure this thang out.

it’s a good fun time, what can i say? 😀
the action is solid, the investigation is suspenseful and has some clever details to it, and the mcs are just intriguing enough on their own and together to hold my attention. there’s some decent representation on a few topics that i liked reading about too. in particular, there’s levi dealing with the aftermath of taking his first life on the job pre-book (all justified but still takes a toll on his mental health), dominic’s recovery from a gambling addiction (a new one for me, as i’ve read drug, alcohol and sex addiction but never this in an mc’s arc so it’s a refreshing one), and there’s a trans side character (one of dominic’s two best friends).

dominic mmmm 🫦. i just know it’s heavy. weighted. trailing behind him like rapunzel’s mane 😩. someone hold me back right now, he got me about ready to act up!

the romance that’s developing is nice too and the chemistry is doing a good job. things didn’t feel too heavy-handed and the pacing felt very intuitive (at least…at first), so i appreciated this a lot.

i would have rated this 4 stars, but two main things got in the way of that agenda:

1) the writing style — it needed a bit more oemph to it. a touch more wit and banter, a tad more evocative. it read a bit too matter-of-fact at times, and there was a little more telling over showing than i would have preferred in some areas. it wasn’t a big bother nor did it stop me from enjoying the story too much (and it was still very comfortable and easy to read), but it did put a ceiling on my rating.

2) the pace of the romance — it started so well, but it switched up a bit too quickly after a great first half.

⚠️ i’ll have to be mildly spoiler-y to expand on this point. ⚠️ please skip the cordoned off section if you’d rather not know and have plans to read this series.

♠️ ♠️ ୨ৎ── ──୨ৎ── ──୨ৎ── ──୨ৎ── ──୨ৎ ♠️ ♠️

at the start of the book, levi is in a three-year relationship with someone else (a serious one that’s domestic and pointing towards an impending engagement, but one fraught with discontent over differences in views about their future and levi’s career as a detective — but they still love each other). dominic is single though. levi and dominic have a very loose professional association in the beginning, as dominic is a friendly regular at the precinct because of his (legal) bail enforcing career. him and levi aren’t friends at this point nor do they interact with each other outside of these professional run-ins. they’re acquaintances, more than anything. they do happen to find the other attractive but there’s no pining for one another or anything like that. fabulous starting point. in the first half of the book, we watch them go from this acquaintance-style relationship to reluctant and circumstantial allies because of their mutual involvement in this new serial killer case. this dynamic gets a little friendlier and protective gradually and there’s no blatantly overt and frequent insta-lust (just a feeeeeew inner thoughts here and there appreciating the other’s physical appearance but that’s about it). certainly no insta love / obsession — i mean, levi is literally in love with someone else (albeit unhappy lately because of their issues). loved allathis from a pacing standpoint. the subtle shifts in the mcs’ relationship felt organic in the first half of the book.

somewhere around the 55% mark is where the dynamic changes too fast and it felt a little like it came outta nowhere. we went from near-zero and climbing to a hundred real quick. levi grabs a few drinks one night at a bar dominic has a bartending side hustle gig at. they both share some pretty personal things with one another over a bar conversation and i didn’t feel like the little bit of trust and rapport that had built up between them at this point of the story was enough to warrant this conversation here. this over-sharing felt a bit abrupt and unnatural. i’ll allow though (levi was under the influence so his open-ness could be plausible with his defenses being down from the drinks, and dominic was probably sharing in return to balance the scales). then, at the end of the night levi kisses him in his drunken state. okay?? not great, but again i’ll allow because of the inebriation. i wasn’t really feeling like this was the right time for this though. dominic breaks the kiss after enjoying levi all up on him for a bit there and says it’s not a good idea (same boo, same). he’s not about that rebound and cheating life (since part of levi’s sharing was about the state of his relationship). this could have been left here and chalked up to a drunken moment of weakness — all left to fester into sexual tension — but that’s not quite what happens. levi breaks up with his boyfriend the next morning (not over the kiss per se but because of their other issues, and he’s honest about the drunken kiss mistake — all fine). a little over 24h later though (as in the very next night), levi and dominic sleep together!!! granted, it was after a high adrenaline situation…but this all felt way too sudden? not only for their dynamic, but also because levi literally just had a painful-for-them goodbye with his now-ex that he loved dearly but realized they were incompatible for the longer-term forecast just yesterday morning! suddenly, we’re jumping into bed with someone else?! it felt like the author just wanted to force a sex scene between the mcs (at least one and it’s their only one) into this book — and it wasn’t strictly necessary. instead, it would have felt more natural if after the break-up, levi was left to mourn that relationship’s end for a little bit and while this is happening, to have let the budding sexual tension between the mcs simmer for the rest of the book. they could have given in and crossed the professional line in the second installment or something.

now…i’m not complaining teeeeeeew much because…
🫷🏾🤪🫸🏾
ovulation won. look, i’m just a girl…a slave to the cycle like a werewolf to the moon. i didn’t NOT enjoy the scene. it was yummy. however, it’s always good for me to reflect on these lil books in the cold, harsh light of day lol. and this all made the pacing far from ideal for me.

♠️ ♠️ ୨ৎ── ──୨ৎ── ──୨ৎ── ──୨ৎ── ──୨ৎ ♠️ ♠️

regardless, i had a pretty good time with this and i’m invested in these characters and the serial killer investigation to stay on this ride. i’m already nibbling on the second book as we speak 😌. i have all my theories of who it could be (one person leading the race though) and if it turns out to be who i think it is, i will swallow my kindle whole! it would be so good because i think this person is concealed well and i only started adding them to my suspect pool near the end of this book, but they aren’t super obvious. i could be way off base though because there are so many tasty unknowns!

p.s. some disclaimers / triggers i feel the need to leave behind (even though i don’t always do this, and these points aren’t exhaustive):

— there are two sex scenes that take place within the first 35% involving the mcs with other partners (one for each mc). for levi, it’s with that long-term boyfriend i already mentioned and for dominic, it’s with a one-time hook-up. there was absolutely nothing between the mcs at this point other than that loose professional association and some briefly thought about physical attraction (they weren’t even friends yet and there’s zero emotional connection or budding romance when these scenes occur). i didn’t care as a consequence (also they didn’t feel drawn out or too copious for my taste) but i know others are more sensitive about this sort of thing than me, so i thought it would be helpful to include something around this in my review.

— there’s one mention of the IDF in here. it comes up in an explanation levi gives to dominic about how he got into krav maga (his rabbi’s wife is said to have had a past association with that organisation (😐) and thus introduced levi to the technique, which he’s now gotten very good at and keeps him in shape / helps when he needs to get into it with violent suspects on the job). just letting y’all know.

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just your typical story about a kosher, Jewish, male homicide detective dumping his billionaire boyfriend while trying to catch a serial killer and falling for an Italian-American, ex-Army Ranger, compulsive gambling, bounty hunter dude - in Las Vegas. Boy, am I tired of that old trope!

Their names are Levi and Dominic - and if you can't figure out who's who, you need to get out more often. And they do have a little more in common than one might think...

Levi gets off the phone with his mother: "Everything okay?" Dominic asked.

"Fine. My mother just gets a little.... You wouldn't understand."

"Right," said Dominic. "Because Italian American mothers are famously chill and hands-off."




Levi and Dominic are really adorable together. But, even better is Levi with his partner, Martine. She's hilariously awesome.

When she and Levi are called out to another murder scene: "It can't be," he said. "The Seven of Spades (the killer) promised they wouldn't kill again for five days. It's only been four."

Looking at him incredulously, Martine said,"Well, on the slim chance that we CAN'T trust a serial killer's word, we'd better check it out."

Twenty seconds after they see the scene:

"The husband did it," Levi said.

"No shit, the husband did it," said Martine. "What is this, my first crime scene?"


Some people are just natural detectives.

The thing is, though, this serial killer only kills scumbags who get away with crimes, so it's hard not to root for him a little bit. My bloodthirstiness likes me some vigilante justice once in a while. ... okay, not just once in a while, maybe frequently is the word I meant to use.
Let's face it, the police can only do so much...



If you are into the male/male sex scenes, this one will really hit your smuttons (smut buttons). There were a few of them, but they didn't go on too long either. You know sometimes you are reading and there are pages and pages of sex scenes and you start skimming because you are bored and just get on with it already!!? and then you wonder if there is something wrong with you because it does absolutely nothing to you, and maybe you really are dead inside like you always joke, but no, the real problem is that the writing has numbed your brain to even the most remote possibility of you being excited about the sex?.... oh, is that just me, then?
Anyway, that isn't the case here. It doesn't overkill the sex, but it's definitely there and it gets spicy.


Yes, that spicy...

[Darien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread February 2019


Audio September 2018

I can’t give this Narration more than a 3.25. The reading was robotic especially for Levi, like yes Levi is a cool and detached character but he’s not a freaking robot.

The audio doesn’t do justice to how amazing the story is. If I had listened before reading “Kill Game” would have just been a meh story for me.

A few things I noticed and thought of while listening.

1. Has anyone ever even seen Natasha’s husband and child 🤔🤔🤔

2. Keith. Yes he was on medication but I’m also positive he was slipped the good stuff from certain sessions through juice and cookies. Also he might have been under some hypnosis but overall they really did that man dirty.

3. Doms Friends. Somehow they haven’t been apart of the equation and you kind of just forget about them but one or both might be doing it, but I might just be reaching and I only say it because Rebel I believe is very much aware of who the SoS is and what other few people do Rebel trusts 🤷🏽‍♀️

4. My suspect list initially was one person but their are a few characters I’m eyeing 👀 now.

Overall, this audio wasn’t it!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LETS PLAY A GAME ♠️

4.5


“What do you want?” he asked, pulling Levi close. “Tell me.” Levi was too worked up for modesty or ambiguity. “I want you to fuck me with all the strength you used to bust through that door,” he said.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’d like to say I’m dead 😵, this book has rearranged my entire year. I didn’t know I needed Kill Game until I read it. It has the most professional villain I have ever read in a M/M book. As a fan of true crime, forensic shows, and murder mysteries I am fangirling like crazy. I was pulled into the world of Seven of Spades ♠️ , and it’s got me, it’s got me good.

Levi is a detective in Las Vegas and he’s just out there doing his job. He’s got a billionaire boyfriend, he loves his job and is basically living the dream. Unless you factor in the fact that his boyfriend hates what he does, he’s dealing with some personal trauma and he’s just landed himself smack dab in the middle of a serial killer. The Seven of Spades ♠️ has taken a personal interest in Levi and nothing good will come from that.

Dominic Russo is a bounty hunter, it might not be the most elegant job but it pays the bill. His large build was made for busting the bad guys and he takes full advantage, plus putting bad guys/gals behind bars feels a little good. When Dominic gets dragged to a murder scene he knows he didn’t get called there by chance. He was meant to see it, he was meant to find it and he’s become another card in the deck to SoS ♠️.

What ensues is a pursuit for a prolific killer whose dead set on getting rid of anyone they find untrustworthy. Levi and Dominic get thrown together to play a killers game and with that they’ll discover an attraction, and try to stop a killer.

Can I just say that this book is soooooo plot driven I’m going insane. I can’t call this a romantic suspense because all the lovey doves shit falls last in this story. This is purely the SoS ♠️ show and him/her is running things. The crime scenes are so intricate, well thought out, and my crime loving heart is in swoon. It reminds me of those CSI (original CSI, Grissom and all) episodes featuring that miniature killer who had those well thought out murder scenes. Staged bodies set up exactly to their liking and leaving no physical evidence behind. I love that vibe!

I love Levi and Dominic, not necessarily together but individually. Levi is just (sigh) I don’t know why but right now that man is my aesthetic. He just reminds me of a big cat, all purring and claws out. Dominic, that big teddy bear. I’m down for these dudes.

The writing is brilliant, just every freaking thing is working. I have my idea of who the Seven of Spades ♠️ is and it’s kind of obvious to me. So Levi and Dominic need to start paying attention, look closely boys (objects in mirror are closer than they appear).

I’m so looking forward to how this series unfolds, and I’m jumping straight into book two. Levi and Dom has got me all types of shook. Looking forward to more kills from Seven ♠️…

[Eugenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT! LOVED! LOVED IT! So, I really liked this book. Why?

1. Great PLOT. A true thriller. A vigilante serial killer is slashing their way through Sin City’s baddies. Detectives Levi Abram and Martine Valcourt are on the case. And so is bounty hunter Dominic Russo, ex Army Ranger. Super well paced and interesting. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out who the killer is. I still can’t since this seems to be a five book series. Oh god help me! I won’t be able to wait!

2. The CHARACTERS. Dominic, Dominic, Dominic. *fans self* This hunk of bad-ass is all sweetness inside. With a winning smile. And he’s HUGE. All over. He’s got problems such as a gambling addiction, and no plans for the future. I mean, one can only keep collecting twinks for so long.

Then there’s Levi. Krav Maga expert. Lean, mean, and not the most personable man. He looks down on the likes of bounty hunters like Dominic. So of course, these two are thrown together thanks to our serial killer. And while they only have one sex scene in the book together, it’s scorching hot. There’s other sex, but with other people. No, there’s no cheating aside from a kiss.

Another thing I liked about this book was Levi’s partner, Martine. It’s always wonderful seeing strong female secondary characters who take part in the story in roles other than mother, sister, ex, or BFF.

So, we have a host of characters, male and female. A serial killer of unknown gender. And a budding relationship. Can I just hope and pray that we have a female baddie for once?

You gotta read this book!

[Youssra {very busy-review slumping} · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

This was a solid intro to the series. I LOVEEEEDDD the dynamic between Levi and Dominic. Grumpy x sunshine done so so well🫶 The characters have depth and so much chemistry ❤️‍🔥

The antagonist, the seven of spades, is soooo interesting! I don't know whether to hate him or root for him honestly😅

Will definitely binge the whole series and neglect real life till I'm finished😅

P.S - 1000000000000000000000000000 stars for the horrible narrator omg my 3 year old daughter can probably deliver a more believable performance than whatever this guy did here🤮

[Jewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I need more of this story, now. Yeah, now. There wasn't much romance in Kill Game, just the bare beginnings of it, but I can tell that Levi and Dominic have the chemistry and I'm looking forward to their romance ramping up! We've got ourselves a slow burn, folks, and I can already tell it will be delicious. Also, there are at least 5 planned books in this series and the plotline of Kill Game is not wrapped up at the end. At the moment, I am expecting that story arc to continue throughout the series, but I don't know the author's plan for that.

I know many of you prefer to wait until a series like this is complete before starting, and I can't blame you. If I were a more patient person, I'd be waiting right along with you. But I'm not, and I love most of what I've read from this author, so here I am!!!!

I love romantic suspense and Cordelia Kingsbridge knows how to work it. Kill Game was engaging, the writing was good and I was completely invested in the characters -- even some of the secondary characters. About halfway through, something occurred to me and I even have a main suspect for the serial killer -- only time will tell if I'm right, of course. We've got at least 4 more books in this series, so we've got a ways to go, yet. I could easily be wrong this early in the game, and honestly, I'll be shocked if it turns out I'm right.

At the start of the book, Levi had been in a relationship for the past three years and things were very serious between him and his boyfriend, Stanton Barclay, who owned one of the hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. Stanton talked a lot about marriage and children and the future, but Levi was less and less sure he wanted to go that direction with Stanton.

I was hoping I would not like Stanton, but truthfully, I did. That isn't to say I was rooting for him and Levi to work things out, at least not once I met Dominic, but Stanton was a nice guy, and he deserves to be happy. He hated Levi being a cop, though, and he wasn't very subtle about his efforts of trying to steer Levi onto a different career path. However, Levi hasn't ever really wanted to be anything other than a detective, and so Levi's job is a huge source of tension between them. It was a little heartbreaking, though, to watch them implode, even though I really really wanted to get to the part where the romance between Levi and Dominic began.

Dominic has his own issues, too. He's a former Army Ranger and he's really good at what he does -- bail enforcement, aka bounty hunter. His size is intimidating, with him being 6' 4" and built like a tank wet dream (IMO) of the Italian-American variety (YUM). Dominic's ever--involved-in-his-life mother has been pressuring him to find a less dangerous career that could also give him a future. He makes a difference, though, and he enjoys it most of the time.

Dominic is also a compulsive gambler, in recovery. I know what you're thinking -- isn't Las Vegas a really really bad place for a compulsive gambler? I know you're thinking that because I did, too. However, his whole family is there and they are his support system. So, he goes to meetings when the urge gets to be too much and stays in control.

There are three sex scenes in Kill Game, but only one of those is between Levi and Dominic. Let me tell ya, though, that one scene was worth the wait, spectacularly hawt, and came on the heels of one hell of an adrenaline rush. Both Dominic and Levi know that Levi is nowhere near the right head space to start a new relationship, though, so while the chemistry is there in spades, the romance doesn't really start until really late in the book. I love a good slow burn, as long as I do see a burn -- and it is there.

I'm really looking forward to seeing where the author takes this story and these characters. I think that Kill Game was an awesome start to the series and I am totally invested in seeing where it goes.

Recommended.

----------------
ARC of Kill Game was generously provided by the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review

[Lau ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

New obsession unblocked 🔓


Love is not everything you need to make a relationship work. Levi is starting to realize that, as he witnesses how his boyfriend can’t stop complaining about him being a cop and starts pressuring him to quit his job, marry and start a family he isn’t sure he wants. Levi knows it’s over, but it’s not easy to say goodbye to someone you care about. But his agenda has more demanding things to deal with first. A possible serial killer is on the loose and seems to have a special focus on him and Dominic, a huge and charming bounty hunter who lives to annoy Levi. As they work together to catch the killer, Levi will realize maybe Dom is not as bad as he seems. Maybe he’s the one he should be dating all along.


I cannot stress enough how much I loved reading this book. I’ve read plenty of thriller-romance series so I was expecting the angst of having to wait for it but not the amount of romance we actually have in this first volume. It was the best kind of surprise! All the reviews say it’s a slow burn romance and they aren’t wrong, but I want to point out it’s a slow burn for a romance but a normal pace for a 5-book thriller romance-at least if you compare it with what we suffer in titles like Criminal Intentions or even Adrien English Mysteries.

What I’m trying to say it’s that, if you like waiting a bit but not several books, you have come to the right place. The pace of their relationship was so perfect. I adored the way they started as mere acquaintances who found the other annoying-in Levi’s case-, or attractive but too cold-Dom’s case-, until their line of work quickly put them in situations where they needed to work together to win.

Dominic wouldn’t seriously pursue Levi, no matter what his relationship status. The man was gorgeous, sure, but he was prickly as a hedgehog and tightly wound as a Victorian schoolmarm. Dominic had no idea how that boyfriend of his handled him.

I would never be able to choose what was better. Maybe when Levi stops seeing Dom’s six-foot-five body as something to fear and realizes Dom will always use that advantage to protect Levi. The way Levi, who had a hard time trusting people, was able to open up with Dom because of the way Dom showed him he was worth that trust. Maybe when Dom saw in Levi what very few people could and realized Levi may be the man that finally made him want something more than one-night stands.


However, not everything was so easy because Levi was in a relationship, even if it was on its deathbed. Levi’s situation hit home, so I understood why it was hard for him saying goodbye even though he knew it was already over but I was also cheering for him to do it already because they weren’t going anywhere and he had his real soulmate waiting for him. I was expecting more drama in that aspect, but the author was able to handle it in a very realistic way-and for once the boyfriend was not a toxic one, just the wrong fit for Levi.

“Sometimes I think…we might not be right for each other.” Levi hesitated, then added, “He’s not my bashert*.”

*Bashert: soulmate; e.g. Levi’s bashert is Dom.<3


It may sound stupid, but I appreciated Dom’s morals of not trying anything with Levi as long as he had a boyfriend, because he knew that Levi and him deserved to be much more than that. And the way Dom loved his dog? It wouldn’t matter how badly he was injured, Dominic’s first thought was always to make sure someone took care of his dog. I didn’t need anything else to know this man was a keeper and deserved to be protected at all costs.

I have to admit their relationship reminded me a bit of Aslan and Doyle, mainly because Doyle and Dominic are fairly similar. The way they care about people, how they charm everyone around them, how they never wanted a real relationship because they hadn’t found the one but once they do they will not hesitate to go for it. Even their struggles reminded me of the other, Doyle being an alcoholic and Dom having a gambling disorder. However, it didn’t really bother me because I loved them both my main problem was that I spent the book trying to decide which one I liked the best; as if I could ever have either of them


As for the second characters, I don’t know who I loved the most, Dom’s family or Levi’s partner Martine, but they really made the story shine brighter and I can’t wait to read more scenes of them together-especially Dom’s family + Levi, they make my heart levitate.

“Nonna, he doesn’t want pancakes.”
“Waffles then,” she said.
[ten minutes later]
“We’re leaving now-Nonna, what are you doing?”
Nonna looked up from the bowl of batter she was stirring. “Nothing.”

you know what, forget about Dom, I only want his Nonna😭😭


The mystery was an interesting one and I’m really curious to see more of it. I don’t know if I’m more into thriller romances than I used to be because lately most of the mysteries seem to be working for me-I used to read them solely for the slow burn romance. I hope it’s a case of character development.


Overall, I probably binge read this entire series so I’m not sure whether I would be able to stop to write a review-I made an exception for the first one because I needed to rave about how wonderful this book was. But I will try to be responsible. I would highly recommend this series if you enjoy witnessing two soulmates meeting and falling in love, great pace during the whole story and don’t mind a slightly slow burn that ends up being very satisfying.


↬ Seven of Spades:
1. Kill Game: 4.5 stars
2. Trick Roller: 4 stars
3. Cash Plays: 4.75 stars
4. One-Eyed Royals: 4 stars
5.A Chip and a Chair: 3 stars

[~ Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ & semicolons ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Seven of Spades series came out a few years back, I was firmly anti-mystery. I wanted the lovey-dovey, not the dark & gritty, and was certainly not interested in a mystery/romance series featuring the same MCs.

Then I binge read Nicky James' Valor & Doyle, and everything changed.

All the five star reviews for Kill Game aren't lying. This book is just that good: fast-paced, thrilling, edgy, gripping.

A vigilante serial killer is on the loose in Las Vegas, leaving behind a calling card (a Seven of Spades) at every murder scene and playing a cat and mouse game with the LVMPD.

One of the MCs, Detective Levi Abrams, is Jewish. How cool is that? His love interest, Dominic Russo, is a bounty hunter (but don't call him that).

So we have a good Jewish boy who kicks ass at Krav Maga and a passionate Italian with a gambling addiction. Oh, and a 100 pound Rottie/German shepherd named Rebel who's the best girl.

Levi has a boyfriend when the book begins, and this boyfriend is a good guy (quite wealthy too), but he hates that Levi is a cop and Levi doesn't want to be anything else.

The first book ends on a major cliffhanger. I immediately bought the remaining four books in the series, because I foresee another mystery binge read in my not-so-distant future.

[* A Reader Obsessed * · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

I get it. I totally get it.

There’s already a bazillion reviews out there loving on this book hard, so what I will try to briefly say is that this is some good stuff. It’s smart, suspenseful, and thoughtful, as it alternates between the pov’s of our protagonists homicide detective Levi, and bounty hunter Dominic.

The romantic progression is at a snail’s pace but there’s 4 more books to go. There’s complexity in the mystery as a serial killer who is always several steps ahead, brings Levi and Dom together through their shared adversity and desire to get said bad guy. This is also a brilliant dissection and commentary on the different sides of addiction, human nature, and the moral gray area between what’s right and wrong .

I just propelled through this gritty romantic suspense with barely a pause in momentum, and I’m sure the next will be no different.

My first Kingsbridge, and it won’t be my last!

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️&#x1f3a7;&#x1f4da; Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio - 1 very generous star!
Story - 5 stars minus 2 stars for the poor choice of narrator

I'm not even going to review the story. I'm late to the party and there are a ton of reviews out there. What I'm going to bitch about is the choice of narrator. WHY???!! Why go with an amateur narrator who delivered a robotic performance instead of a seasoned one for a series as popular as this one???? What was Kale Williams, JF Harding, Chris Patton, Aiden Snow...just to name a few of the best, unavailable??? Ugh!! I'm so pissed!

[Kati *☆･ﾟ(Dramione obsessed rn) · Rating 5 out of 5]

* ☘︎ :･ﾟTOP 10 READ 2022 :･ﾟ☘︎ *


4.5***** "Better luck next time" stars ♠︎


Usually I neither appreciate a slow burn nor a too long way into the romance part of a book. BUT I guess I have to accept that this is the way of multiple book series with one couple and an overarching plot, esp in mystery *lmaoooo

Anyhow, I didn’t mind at all with these two. I really enjoyed getting to know Dominic and Levi separately at first and the twists and turns of the serial killer case had me thrilled from page one, so it was no hardship to wait for the romance to kick off.



>> ⚠️ Caution: Content Warning with Spoiler
There is cheating in form of one drunken kiss between Levi and Dominic before Levi ends his relationship with his boyfriend. Not for Dominic but bc it was dysfunctional for a while now at this point. <<



The whole mystery plot around the hunt for the serial-killer Seven of Spades is captivating with some action filled scenes that bring our mcs closer together along the investigation.

“You think that while I’ve been investigating this case over the past week, I’ve come face-to-face with the Seven of Spades, spoken to them, and never known who they really were?”
“Yeah. I do.”

I can’t wait to find out how this is going to progress further. *holding breath


--------

Before I would go into the second book I chose to give the audio a chance for my re-read but boy was I not satisfied with Wyatt Baker’s performance. It was actually pretty weird tbh. I love his voice and his voicing the characters’ literal speech was totally fine but when he narrates the 3rd person POV narrative it somehow sounds robotic. Really weird.

So I now need to make up my mind if I rather continue reading or stick with the audios.



***********
Seven of Spades Series:

Book 1 - Kill Game - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Trick Roller - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Cash Plays - 4.75 stars
Book 4 - One-Eyed Royals - 4.5 stars
Book 5 - A Chip and a Chair - 4.5 stars

[Nazanin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Levie is a homicide detective for four years. He’s in a bad condition, he has some serious problems with his boyfriend, he feels guilty for what he did a month ago, and now there is a serial killer out there! The perp kills those who are guilty, the victims have similar MO, and most importantly the perp put a single playing card (seven of spades) on every scene! Dominic is a bounty hunter/bail enforcement. Before that, he was a Ranger. These two somehow work with each other in this case to find the killer. At first, they couldn’t put up with each other but then they learn to trust each other and meanwhile making a bond.

Really enjoyable and exciting! The crime part intrigued me and made me think and guess but I couldn’t even guess right and still, now I can’t think who is in the behind of all these! My only problem was I wish the romance part of the story was more! The relationship between them wasn’t like a relationship for me! Maybe because the crime part overshadowed the romance part! I couldn’t feel the romance between them! But I hope in the next installment I can feel it better! But still, I enjoyed the mystery part, a lot! Told in dual POV, 3rd person. It’s the first installment in the "Seven of Spades" series and ends on a cliffhanger. It’s well-written and well-paced with a good story-line! All in all, likes it and hope you enjoy it as well!
Thanks, dear Hadis for this recommendation! Always appreciate the good ones!

[Simone - on indefinite hiatus - · Rating 5 out of 5]

August 2020: Audiobook = ***4 Stars***
***********************************************
Original review: October 2017:

Seven of Spades - The Trust and Faith Card
Karma for the Seven of Spades - Recognition of Power

The Seven of Spades as a playing card seems innocuous enough, right? And it would be if it were not also a token some vigilante, who is painting Las Vegas red, leaves in his wake.

LVMPD Detective Levi Abrams has enough on his plate as it is. He still has to get over a fatal incident at work weeks ago that left him with nightmares and mandatory counseling lessons and his long term relationship with his lover gets more and more suffocating and constricting. Trying to balance his heavy work schedule with his love life and making it work somehow has taken a heavy toll on his already exhausted self and the last thing he needs to deal with is a serial killer who seems to have taken the law into his own hands and who always seems to be one step ahead.

Vigilantism appealed to the darker side of human nature, the thirst for primal justice that knew no constraints.

Oh, and not to forget the next-to-last thing he needs which would be a bounty hunter -umm, no, sorry, bail enforcement agent- who he suddenly comes amiss nearly everywhere and who he gradually and reluctantly sparks an interest in on a more personal level.

Former Army Ranger Dominic Russo is a bounty hunter -bail enforcement agent, dammit! ;-)- by day and bartender by night to make a living and get out of debt. Constantly battling his inner demons to overcome his gambling addiction, he tries to keep things light without additional stress that could lead to his relapse and he only does hookups with a virtual 'no strings attached' neon sign hanging around his neck. Stumbling more and more often across Levi Abrams -way out of his league and also already taken Levi Abrams- crumbles his resolve to stay far far away from men like him. But when he comes across a gruesome murder scene first-hand and discovers that there might be more to it than meets the eye, he cannot contain his personal interest in the case, as well as in the investigating detective.

"You believe in soulmates?" Dominic asked, surprised. He couldn't reconcile that romantic notion with the practical, matter-of-fact man sitting in front of him.
"I believe that people can complement each other so well that they're like two halves of one whole, yes."

When they are coerced to combine forces to stop the serial killer, neither of them can deny the growing attraction any longer, but when the killer includes them in his sick game of cat-and-mouse, this might be the least of their worries.

Basically, I could have started and finished my review with one word... Wow!, which would explain perfectly and spot-on what I thought about this book. Not enough? Yeah, I already thought I won't get away with it, so I might add that I loved everything about it. ;-)

Not that I had any doubts, because I loved all books I've read so far from this author, but the level of my addiction to this series right from the start did surprise me a bit. And with addiction I mean: how will I manage to survive round about one year of waiting time before I get the last book in this series??? Well, I guess I will, but now you might get my predicament...

The mystery part was top-notch. Twisted. Thrilling. Captivating. You name it. I just love it to rule out suspects myself and since it is very early in the game, there are suspects galore, but in the end I was sure I've found my suspect number #1. Of course, I cannot be sure until the very end of the series, but after some research thanks to my dear friend Google, I even found something that would confirm my theory. Now you want to know more, right? Yeah, sorry, won't happen. If you are anything like me you cannot resist a spoiler tag and sorry, but I can't do that. #sonotsorry

Both characters are absolutely hot. They are strong and vulnerable at the same time, which is absolutely everything I love about my book lovers and let's be honest here: what's not to love about a 6'5'' Italian-American built like a tank, but with a very keen mind and an also tall, dark and handsome guy trained in Krav Maga? Yeah, I thought so... ;-)

What I loved the most about it was the author's take on the relationship development. Slow burn. Oh, what a deliciously slow burn this was. Well, still is... And it worked perfectly here because anything else would have felt wrong, especially with Levi still recovering from a failed relationship which took almost half of this first book. But the chemistry between Levi and Dominic is simply dazzling from their first encounter until the last very last page and their banter at the beginning put a silly grin on my face.

And then there is the sex...

... mind-blowing, headboard-rattling sex! Dominic's words, not mine, but I couldn't have said it any better. The author definitely deserves an award for her sex scenes, that's for sure.

So, since the case is far from over and the relationship still in the fledgling stage, I snatched my calender to count the days until Trick Roller comes out. I should have better left it. 105 days from this day on. Hell, these are going to be very long three and a half months...

Highly recommended!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!!

Any book that is half murder mystery and half romance is exactly my cup of tea, and this one was so good. I could not put it down. I was halfway through this book when I checked out book 2 because I had a feeling this will be a series that I devour every single book over the course of just a couple weeks.

The ending was so good, I cannot wait to read more of this series!

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm adding a little addendum to my review... I mention below about this holding some similarities in vibe and plot to the Memento Mori series (specifically when it comes to some of the plot points between Levi and Dominic's relationship) but I think it's important to note that this was published about 4 years before the first Memento Mori book, because depending on the order you read them it could cause a little bit of a side eye (like it did for me), but this is obviously the OG. I wouldn't be shocked to find out that this drew some degree of inspiration though.


This was such a solid and thrilling police procedural. I always love a good serial killer story and coupled with a tasty romantic subplot? what more can a girl ask for.

I feel like the comps that this book would probably cop the most would be the Criminal Intentions series or the Memento Mori series. And while thematically they may be cut from similar cloth I believe that the narrative tone of this is still wholly unique to itself. That being said, I'm glad I gave it a few months between this and CI to make sure I had a clean palette and gave this a fair shot on its own.

I enjoyed Levi as one of our MCs, but I really loved Dominic. The big hulking cinnamon roll that can kick ass and fuck like a freight train? No wonder that man has Levi hooked. I can't wait to see where these two go in the future books!


(A little spoilery for their relationship development incoming)


I really enjoyed how their chemistry came together but I feel it's important for some readers to know that both Levi and Dominic have on page intimate scenes with other characters during this, Levi with his boyfriend and Dominic with a one night stand (the existential crisis his hook up gave him calling him Daddy had me howling 😂). Additionally, it's worth noting that Levi does kiss Dominic for the first time whilst he is still in a relationship, although that relationship was obviously dead on arrival. The scene we got between Levi and Dominic together was pretty delicious though, tight laced Levi being a screamer and Dominic being totally into it 🤌🏼🤌🏼.

For the record, while I guessed some of the elements that were coming, I was surprised by how the ending played out. I listened to this on audiobook and had a brilliant time. I don't know if Wyatt Baker is a god tier narrator for me but he did a really solid job on bringing these books to life and giving them some flair.

Now if y'all excuse me, I'ma binge the motherfucking shit outta this series.

[moonlight ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's a shame Luis was only in one scene, that whole scene cracked me up tbh 😭

i loved Dominic and Levi. i'm honestly glad they're taking things slow, wanting to get to know each other first rather than rush it. i loved the side characters as well and the mystery was interesting enough to keep me glued to the story. 👀

[Gerbera_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome beginning for this series. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. After reading some reviews of my fellow GR friends I was slightly hesitant but was pleasantly surprised at how the book turned out. It was different for me in a sense that this book felt like a prequel to Levi and Dominic's relationship. It focused on their past and what made them them and what brought them to this point in life.

Dominic was a complete surprise for me from the beginning. When I first read about him I thought to myself: "Well, this is the stereotypical male posturing and showing your feelings makes you weak kind of stuff". But Dominic is just so good, just a decent human being with certain principles and lines he does not cross. I really liked him and how during entire book more and more of his qualities were revealed. Mama raised a good boy here, that's for sure. His addiction made him more human because without it he was almost a saint - thanks for that, him being too good would have ruined it for me.

Levi is a different ball game. First couple of times I really see him as too uptight and too controlled. But he is a gem hidden under the layers of control and guilt. One thing that I could not understand about him was his relationship with his boyfriend Stanton. He was such a cold fish, so meh. Both of them seem so stiff and unbending and we all know that somebody has to bend in a relationship - both physically and metaphorically, that it would have never worked for them. The way Stanton is manipulating and controlling the circumstances and everything in Levi's life - so subtly from the car service he uses to the suits he wears, even the fact that he is applying for law school for him just shows to me that he never loved real Levi - he just bided his time to mold Levi into the man he wanted. Under the guise of worrying about Levi in danger everyday because of his job I think there was a lot resentment for all the missed and cancelled dates, all the plans gone wrong. The whole relationship was not a good one for Levi and I am glad he left. He needed to see that Stanton is all wrong for him and let Dominic in.

The murder mystery was a mix of brilliant genius and a little crazy. With so many things that could possibly go wrong the killer took many chances and the way it all ended only added questions and whetted my appetite. The idea of a vigilante has been explored many times in movies and I still don't know if it's justified or not. It's hard to tell. Sometimes system fails the man and it's hard to let go. But these murders are not personal revenge but a lot more theatrical and a work of a very meticulous madman. I wonder who they are. I hope the second book has the answer.

I loved all the secondary characters - their families, Martine and her husband, Carlos and Jasmine - it's true what they say: "A man is known by the company he keeps". So it just shows that Dominic and Levi are really good guys and, hmm, Stanton wasn't shown in a company of any friends at all, I am just saying is all. A very good read, well paced with police work and personal relationship in a balance. I highly recommend it!

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!!

Kill Game is a book whose plot (serial killer!), characters (a homicide detective -- who can do Krav Maga by the way -- and a bail enforcement agent), chemistry (sizzles), action (fast-paced!), and romantic development (strong and steady; the sex near the end is pretty hot too) is RIGHT up my alley! It definitely is one of my favorite reads of the year...

This is only my second book of Cordelia Kingsbridge and I seriously wonder why I haven't read more of hers. Maybe because I'm not really into reading free online fiction *lol*. Anyway, I requested this ARC because of the first two words of the blurb: homicide detective. Other readers have their love towards firemen, or hockey players, or military officers ...

Me? Homicide detective is one of my weaknesses. I didn't even read the whole blurb completely; I saw that and I was intrigued.

What a ride this one turned out for me!! I couldn't put this down. Kill Game is a thrilling page-turner and everything I enjoy from mystery/romance...

First, a vigilante SERIAL KILLER. Yes, The Seven of Spades only kills people who commit crime and walk away from jail time. I enjoy reading about serial killer whose victims are not exactly innocent. The moral question on whether the victims "get what they deserve" makes the story EXCITING.

Then we have the relationship dynamic between Levi (the detective) and Dominic (the bail enforcement agent). Levi thinks that Dominic is NOT his type at all. Dominic is too big, too muscular... As for Dominic, Levi is a bit too prickly. But boy, they have delicious chemistry. They work REALLY well together too; even if Dominic is not part of the Las Vegas Police Department. I think it's because they respect each other and they are good at what they do. I also loved them individually; I especially enjoyed the added layers that Kingsbridge gave this character... like Levi having a rich boyfriend, and Dominic as a recovering gambling addict.

The love story is slow burn for me. Until at least half of this book, Levi is in a relationship with someone else. No, Levi is not cheating on his boyfriend, they already have issues. I thought Kingsbridge offered a convincing problematic relationship when the two men involved had different ending goals.

The only thing that stops Kill Game from being a perfect read for me is, well, the ending. When I read it, I wasn't aware that it was the first novel of a series arc that spans five books. Which means when I started, I had expectations. I wasn't prepared with the possibility that the big question wasn't completely answered at the end... so I was a bit bummed by it.

The final line of this book was excellent though ... I know I'm going to have fun building up hypothesis about the real identity of Seven of Spades. I already have my guess at the moment, but with more books, I will have more data so to speak. Now I'm eagerly waiting for the second book and counting the days until it arrives.




The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.

[Gabriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muy entretenida, ha estado bien para pasar el rato.

En este primer libro conocemos a los dos protagonista principales y sobre los que rota el mismo eje: un asesino serial que deja como regalo en cada una de sus escenas del crimen una carta del siete de picas, de allí el título de esta saga que al parecer se extenderá por otros cuatro libros más.

El autor de los asesinatos parece apuntar siempre a personas que de alguna forma han cometido un delito que ante los ojos de la ley y la moral son mal vistos, por lo que mantiene en su punto de mira a quien cumple con las mismas características, lo que lo lleva a utilizar siempre el mismo Modus Operandi.

Ahora, esta novela fácilmente se siente como un abrebocas, la antesala de muchas más cosas por suceder y sin duda por descubrir. Si hubiera estado mejor hilada o construida no se sentiría como leer apenas el 20% de la trama principal, pero vamos que eso se explica con los otros cuatro libros faltantes (supongo).

A ver, que yo no soy ningún experto en tramas de crimen y suspenso pero lo que es aquí, en este primer libro... pues no ha habido nada sorprendente. Mucho menos ningún giro de tuerca, no hay factor sorpresa o tensión alguna.

Lo bueno son los protagonistas, un detective y un cazarrecompensas que más temprano que tarde se verán envueltos en el maní, ya que el asesino serial tendrá una fijación con ellos. Yo soy fan de Dominic, por ahora me gustó más que Levi.

[juli✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

❝the husband did it,❞ Levi said.
❝no shit, the husband did it,❞ said Martine. ❝what is this, my first crime scene?❞

a great start to what is sure to be a fantastic series. i want to say more, but … i kinda just wanna read book two, ngl 👋✌️


seven of spades
✩✩✩✩ kill game
✩✩✩✩.⁵ trick roller
✩✩✩✩.⁵ cash plays
✩✩✩✩.⁵ one-eyed royals
✩✩✩.⁵ a chip and a chair

[Christelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

As good the second time as it was the first time...So glad this series is almost released and that I can dig in :-)

--------------------------------
Initial review

**4.5 stars** A romantic suspense at its best !!
I loved it !! Not that it surprises me : I like this author, the blurb was right up my alley and all the previous reviews were glowing. And I’m totally on board with them.

Levi is a detective, a bit uptight, whose relationship is going sour on top of his internal struggle of the burden of his job. Speaking of his job, he’s just been assigned to a case that looks like a serial killer case, with puzzling staged crime scenes.
And during his investigation, Levi bumps into Dominic, a bounty hunter, laid back, smart, sexy as hell, but fighting with a gambling addiction that could have destroyed him if not for the support from his family and friends.
Their cooperation in the investigation, more than needed once the murderer gets a personal interest into Levi, soon goes way beyond the professional side : the chase is not only going to be about a dreadful vigilante.

The suspense is gripping, with of course clues that might lead, or not, on the right track (I know Jan is going to agree with me on that !!). The pace is perfect for me, but trying for my patience (5 books, 5…damned these series, LOL).The chemistry between Levi and Dominic is deliciously sexy and hot, and the first glimpse of their relationship promises for a great ride full of bumps.

Big cliffie at the end, but book2 is being released, thanks for small favors : it won’t take long to resume this thrilling journey.

**Thank you, Jewel, for this awesome gift. You know how to keep me on my toes !!**

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kill Game, Seven of Spades #1, is a great introduction to a series following Detective Levi Abrams who is trying to find the person behind the Seven of Spades killing. Along the way, he reluctantly gets help from Dominic Russo, a local Bounty Hunter. Together, they try to figure out the twist and turns of the killer, while they are both struggling with their own past demons

The writing was fluid and was such an easy read that I got lost in the book. It is very hard for me not to jump into book 2, but I am going to try my best to wait to continue the buddy read next month.

[Ele · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars*



If you 're a fan of Cordelia Kingsbridge's older online stories, like Close Protection and Control, you don't even need my review. Add this book to your list ASAP! For the rest, here's what you should know:

When this book ends, everything is still up in the air, the mystery AND the romance plot. In my mind, though, I can't exactly call it a cliffhanger, considering that this is just the first part of what is meant to be a series with the same (probably) ongoing theme: a serial killer, the Seven of Spades, is stalking the streets of Las Vegas. Levi Abrams, the lead investigator, and Dominic Russo, a bounty hunter, find themselves in a situation where they must work together to find the killer. And then sparks fly...



The mystery is top notch. For some reason I love serial killer stories (I don't know what it says about me), so this was right up my alley. The Seven of Spades keeps the characters and the reader on their toes during the whole book. Right until the last moment.

Up until 60% Levi had a boyfriend. Despite his misgivings, I couldn't hate Stanton even if I wanted to. He was not the evil ex caricature, just a man who tried to make his relationship work, but made mistakes while doing so. I appreciated that a lot, as I appreciated the fact that Levi was genuinly hurting when said relationship came to an end.

The characters are very well crafted and very far from perfect. We get both POVs and a lot of background for both of them.

There is a lot of slow burn but we only get one kiss and one sex scene between Levi and Dominic. But trust me, that sex scene counts for ten. No joke. The chemistry is crazy.

This is pretty much all I can say without spoiling everything. I have a suspect in mind but I'll be really surprised if I'm right because it's too early. Either way, I'm really looking forward to seeing where the author takes this.

Favorite scenes:

-Levi practicing krav maga to take the bad guys out (hot!).
-Levi seeing Dominic shirtless for the first time.
-Levi seeing Dominic's dick for the first time.
-Levi breaking up with Stanton (because I'm weird like that).
-The scenes where the Seven of Spades strikes again (because I'm weird like that).

Cordelia Kingsbridge is a relatively new to me author, but I click so much with her words, I went through her backlist in less than a month. Read this now, or wait until the next books come out, but whatever you decide, you really need to add it to your list.

Highly recommended!

[Mila · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4.0 rating***

"They traded deep, hungry kisses for a full minute before Levi pulled away, both of them panting. Dominic glanced through the window and saw the valet gaping at them with his mouth wide open."

This book was a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and suspense aspect of the book. It was very engaging and well-written. I really am curious about the serial killer, though I have a few suspects in my mind. I am sure the author will surprise me just as she did in this book (Kill Game).

Levi and Dom had fantastic chemistry from the beginning. Nothing felt forced; the sexual tension was evident from their interactions early on in the book. I like that none of the characters felt overly perfect and had their flaws. This makes it more appealing to the reader; you cannot help but want to know more about Dom and Levi. Dom's military background and gambling problems are mentioned throughout the book, but I am hoping the author will touch on them more in the coming books; it will certainly explain Dom's character more. Our big sexy hunk with his big dick energy has indeed gained me as a fan. He is a bounty hunter by day and bartender at night, with a sweet but protective doggo by his side. Dom charms you right away, and I liked his interactions with his Nonna and huge Italian family.

Levi, our Jewish detective, is certainly passionate about his job, and I understood why he did what he did when it came to his boyfriend, Stanton. I felt that Levi became overwhelmingly consumed by the Seven of Spades case. Some nights he couldn't even sleep, poor man. I am interested in seeing how he will tackle his past trauma with the therapist he constantly avoids seeing. I also liked his mom; it was funny how every time she called, she would say, "Levi, this is your mother." Lol, as if he didn't know. He has cute parents, and I also thought it was funny how shady she was when it came to Stanton and called him "Your young man." Mama disapproves; hopefully, she will be team Dominic.


Levi and Dom's sexual chemistry was sizzling HOT. I can't wait to read more about them and see more emotional attachment/development in the process.

The ending was certainly chilling. I am excited to read the rest of the series and what awaits Levi and Dom. A great start, indeed.