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Alexa Chase #1
The Killing Game
THE KILLING GAME (An Alexa Chase Suspense Thriller—Book 1) is the debut novel in a new series by mystery and suspense author Kate Bold.
Alexa Chase, 34, a brilliant profiler in the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, was too good at her job. Haunted by all the serial killers she caught, she left a stunning career behind to join the U.S. Marshals. As a Deputy Marshal, Alexa—fit, and as tough as she is brilliant—could immerse herself in a simple career of hunting down fugitives and bringing them to justice.
But when a notorious serial killer escapes from a prison transport, it crosses the jurisdictions of the U.S. Marshals and the FBI’s BAU. The two departments are forced to come together on a new joint task force to hunt down the fugitive serial killer and bring him to justice. Alexa, to her dread, finds herself forced to confront the thing she fears the most—entering a killer’s mind. Doing so again, she knows, may just drag her down for good.
Alexa and her new partner, each territorial, don’t take well to each other. Between their tension and all the clues leading to dead ends and the bodies piling up on the killer’s spree, Alexa knows that she, up against a ticking clock, can’t afford to get this wrong. Especially when she realizes that she herself may be the next target.
To find this diabolical killer, Alexa will have to do what she fears most—enter his twisted mind, before he can strike again. It’s a life-and-death game of cat and mouse, and it’s winner takes all.
But will the darkness swallow her whole?
A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured Deputy Marshal, the ALEXA CHASE series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night.
Alexa Chase, 34, a brilliant profiler in the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, was too good at her job. Haunted by all the serial killers she caught, she left a stunning career behind to join the U.S. Marshals. As a Deputy Marshal, Alexa—fit, and as tough as she is brilliant—could immerse herself in a simple career of hunting down fugitives and bringing them to justice.
But when a notorious serial killer escapes from a prison transport, it crosses the jurisdictions of the U.S. Marshals and the FBI’s BAU. The two departments are forced to come together on a new joint task force to hunt down the fugitive serial killer and bring him to justice. Alexa, to her dread, finds herself forced to confront the thing she fears the most—entering a killer’s mind. Doing so again, she knows, may just drag her down for good.
Alexa and her new partner, each territorial, don’t take well to each other. Between their tension and all the clues leading to dead ends and the bodies piling up on the killer’s spree, Alexa knows that she, up against a ticking clock, can’t afford to get this wrong. Especially when she realizes that she herself may be the next target.
To find this diabolical killer, Alexa will have to do what she fears most—enter his twisted mind, before he can strike again. It’s a life-and-death game of cat and mouse, and it’s winner takes all.
But will the darkness swallow her whole?
A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured Deputy Marshal, the ALEXA CHASE series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night.
Audible Audio
First published October 15, 2021
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About the author
Kate Bold
623 books385 followersBestselling author Kate Bold is author of the ALEXA CHASE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the ASHLEY HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising six books (and counting); of the CAMILLE GRACE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising eight books (and counting); of the HARLEY COLE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising ten books (and counting); of the KAYLIE BROOKS SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books (and counting); and of the EVE HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER series, comprising five books (and counting). Kate loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.kateboldauthor.com to join the mailing list, receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.
BOOKS BY KATE BOLD
EVE HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER
IN HIS BLOOD (Book #1)
IN HIS SIGHTS (Book #2)
IN HIS REACH (Book #3)
IN HIS MIND (Book #4)
IN HIS WAY (Book #5)
(and counting)
KAYLIE BROOKS SUSPENSE THRILLER
LAST BREATH (Book #1)
LAST CHANCE (Book #2)
LAST WISH (Book #3)
LAST SHOT (Book #4)
LAST MISTAKE (Book #5)
(and counting)
HARLEY COLE SUSPENSE THRILLER
NOWHERE SAFE (Book #1)
NOWHERE LEFT (Book #2)
NOWHERE TO RUN (Book #3)
NOWHERE LIKE THIS (Book #4)
NOWHERE GIRL (Book #5)
NOWHERE TO HIDE (Book #6)
NOWHERE CERTAIN (Book #7)
NOWHERE PURE (Book #8)
NOWHERE SOUND (Book #9)
NOWHERE SANE (Book #10)
(and counting)
CAMILLE GRACE SUSPENSE THRILLER
NOT ME (Book #1)
NOT NOW (Book #2)
NOT WELL (Book #3)
NOT HER (Book #4)
NOT NORMAL (Book #5)
NOT AGAIN (Book #6)
NOT SAFE (Book #7)
NOT TODAY (Book #8)
(and counting)
ALEXA CHASE SUSPENSE THRILLER
THE KILLING GAME (Book #1)
THE KILLING TIDE (Book #2)
THE KILLING HOUR (Book #3)
THE KILLING POINT (Book #4)
THE KILLING FOG (Book #5)
THE KILLING PLACE (Book #6)
(and counting)
ASHLEY HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER
LET ME GO (Book #1)
LET ME OUT (Book #2)
LET ME LIVE (Book #3)
LET ME BREATHE (Book #4)
LET ME FORGET (Book #5)
LET ME ESCAPE (Book #6)
(and counting)
BOOKS BY KATE BOLD
EVE HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER
IN HIS BLOOD (Book #1)
IN HIS SIGHTS (Book #2)
IN HIS REACH (Book #3)
IN HIS MIND (Book #4)
IN HIS WAY (Book #5)
(and counting)
KAYLIE BROOKS SUSPENSE THRILLER
LAST BREATH (Book #1)
LAST CHANCE (Book #2)
LAST WISH (Book #3)
LAST SHOT (Book #4)
LAST MISTAKE (Book #5)
(and counting)
HARLEY COLE SUSPENSE THRILLER
NOWHERE SAFE (Book #1)
NOWHERE LEFT (Book #2)
NOWHERE TO RUN (Book #3)
NOWHERE LIKE THIS (Book #4)
NOWHERE GIRL (Book #5)
NOWHERE TO HIDE (Book #6)
NOWHERE CERTAIN (Book #7)
NOWHERE PURE (Book #8)
NOWHERE SOUND (Book #9)
NOWHERE SANE (Book #10)
(and counting)
CAMILLE GRACE SUSPENSE THRILLER
NOT ME (Book #1)
NOT NOW (Book #2)
NOT WELL (Book #3)
NOT HER (Book #4)
NOT NORMAL (Book #5)
NOT AGAIN (Book #6)
NOT SAFE (Book #7)
NOT TODAY (Book #8)
(and counting)
ALEXA CHASE SUSPENSE THRILLER
THE KILLING GAME (Book #1)
THE KILLING TIDE (Book #2)
THE KILLING HOUR (Book #3)
THE KILLING POINT (Book #4)
THE KILLING FOG (Book #5)
THE KILLING PLACE (Book #6)
(and counting)
ASHLEY HOPE SUSPENSE THRILLER
LET ME GO (Book #1)
LET ME OUT (Book #2)
LET ME LIVE (Book #3)
LET ME BREATHE (Book #4)
LET ME FORGET (Book #5)
LET ME ESCAPE (Book #6)
(and counting)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 604 reviews
January 5, 2022
Honestly, I’ve already forgotten this book.
February 18, 2022
There sure are a lot of books out there with law enforcement women going a bit crazy trying to prove themselves. I can totally understand how that would happen since law enforcement has historically been a man’s game. And I did like Alexa’s character but it was hard not to cringe when she was all prickly or took off on her own. I enjoyed this and will definitely give the next one a shot.
Read
June 25, 2022DNF @ 10% cuz I'm bored.
November 10, 2021
This is the first book I have read by this writer. I thought the story had a good feel to it and it moved at a good pace. I thought the two main good characters were done well and they felt like law eneforccement. I thought the bad guy was pretty good and for the most part was not over the top. I thought it was somewhat an orginal story considering the over all topic and had a pretty good ending and did not have the typicla ending which was a nice bonus. I was a little tired of the in fighting between the two partners at first but it got better as the book moved along. I give this book 4 stars on the dot. I will read the next one in the series. I say go ahead and give ths one a big spin.
July 1, 2022
As I'm a detective junkie, this one fulfilled its intended duties...I had a rough time with the main character, and this felt rushed...if the antagonist is THAT good, I feel like the ride should have been longer...before we caught him...
January 21, 2022
THIS HAD TOO MANY SUPER EXTREEM CHARACTERS FOR ME. IT WAS EITHER SUPER VILLIANS OR SUPERHERO'S BOTH WERE OVER DONE. I WONDERED IF HE WAS THAT DANGEROUS, WHY DRIVE HIM IN A CAR, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN QUICKER AND SAFER TO USE A SPECIALLY EQUIPTED HELICOPTER. I REALLY DIDN'T LIKE ALEXA, SHE'S BATSHIT CRAZY, SHE GIVES LAW INFORCEMENT A BAD NAME. DISGRACEFUL. I DON'T WANT TO READ ANYMORE OF THIS SERIES IF SHE'S IN THEM. THE FEW BAD COPS ON THE NEWS IS BAD ENOUGH, I DON'T WANT TO BE READING ABOUT ONE. ;<
December 6, 2021
A wannabe thriller. I couldn't really get into Alexa Chase. Supposedly a profiler, but pretty inept with an inferiority complex. The book could stand a bit of editing also but then it cost me a whole 99 cents.
July 8, 2022
4 New To Me Author Stars- IT's FREE!!!
* * * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
This book was brought to my attention by showing me it was FREE (is right now) and had a solid blurb that interested me. I have been on a cleansing break from romance using Mystery/Thrillers books to clear my mind of all things swoony. This way of reading has been working for me so that I can come to both genres a bit fresh and open to what each author wants to tell.
Anyway...I am a huge Behavioral Analysis Unit fan. The idea of profilers discovering those who are out there, tracking them, and finally catching them is something I can actively read. The Killing Game worked for me on all of those levels.
We have Alexa Chase, a complicated US Deputy Marshal. She has a past full of accomplishments, tracking down many and bringing them to justice. Her partner, Powell has been a major influence and has given her many tools needed to achieve their goals, like incredible focus and the necessary patience, so hard for her. We meet both of these people as they are transferring the serial killer they have dedicated their lives over the last years to find and bring him to justice.
As the blurb shares, this transfer does not go as planned, at least not how Alexa and Powell planned. It went exactly how the sicko planned, though.
Now he is out there and Alexa is determined to repeat what she did before, bring this guy in before more are killed. The powers that be decided to partner Alexa with someone with the current FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit. It is an inter-agency experiment. The fella matched with Alexa is too young, nothing like the man she is used to working with, and he thinks all these small-town minds have no idea what they are doing.
Alexa isn't too happy either being saddled with this guy but this is her case and no matter what obstacles she has to deal with...she is going to be out there hunting that killer.
As this manhunt takes place, both of these people begin to see each other with new eyes. Each has a strength, a way of breaking through the preconceived cliches, and appreciation and trust start to develop.
This hooked me from the start, gave me what I wanted to keep me interested, and even though I knew what was coming and how...I didn't care because I had bought in.
The Killing Game (Alexa Chase #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Killing Tide (Alexa Chase #2)
The Killing Hour (Alexa Chase #3)
The Killing Point (Alexa Chase #4)
The Killing Fog (Alexa Chase #5)
The Killing Place (Alexa Chase #6)
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
This book was brought to my attention by showing me it was FREE (is right now) and had a solid blurb that interested me. I have been on a cleansing break from romance using Mystery/Thrillers books to clear my mind of all things swoony. This way of reading has been working for me so that I can come to both genres a bit fresh and open to what each author wants to tell.
Anyway...I am a huge Behavioral Analysis Unit fan. The idea of profilers discovering those who are out there, tracking them, and finally catching them is something I can actively read. The Killing Game worked for me on all of those levels.
We have Alexa Chase, a complicated US Deputy Marshal. She has a past full of accomplishments, tracking down many and bringing them to justice. Her partner, Powell has been a major influence and has given her many tools needed to achieve their goals, like incredible focus and the necessary patience, so hard for her. We meet both of these people as they are transferring the serial killer they have dedicated their lives over the last years to find and bring him to justice.
As the blurb shares, this transfer does not go as planned, at least not how Alexa and Powell planned. It went exactly how the sicko planned, though.
Now he is out there and Alexa is determined to repeat what she did before, bring this guy in before more are killed. The powers that be decided to partner Alexa with someone with the current FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit. It is an inter-agency experiment. The fella matched with Alexa is too young, nothing like the man she is used to working with, and he thinks all these small-town minds have no idea what they are doing.
Alexa isn't too happy either being saddled with this guy but this is her case and no matter what obstacles she has to deal with...she is going to be out there hunting that killer.
As this manhunt takes place, both of these people begin to see each other with new eyes. Each has a strength, a way of breaking through the preconceived cliches, and appreciation and trust start to develop.
This hooked me from the start, gave me what I wanted to keep me interested, and even though I knew what was coming and how...I didn't care because I had bought in.
The Killing Game (Alexa Chase #1)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Killing Tide (Alexa Chase #2) The Killing Hour (Alexa Chase #3) The Killing Point (Alexa Chase #4) The Killing Fog (Alexa Chase #5) The Killing Place (Alexa Chase #6)For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
January 24, 2023
This is another book that’s been on my to-read list for a little while now (Jan2022). Fortunately, it was a free Kindle book and it sounded interesting; another crime thriller with a female, law enforcement MC that sounded like a bad@$$. My fave kind of MC. While I typically don’t like to regurgitate the book summary (kind of a pet peeve of mine), I will comment when a book summary contradicts the actual story. I know an author doesn’t have any control over book summaries, but publishers do and they should be more cognizant of this. Correction: the book summary states that Alexa is 34, but it was mentioned a few times that Alexa is 31. Just wanted to point that out.
The book summary introduces the MC, Alexa Chase, along with the premise of the primary storyline: chasing down an escaped convict, Drake, that Alexa had previously put away, but got away on Alexa’s watch and who killed her partner in the process. This isn’t a spoiler since it’s revealed in the first chapter of the book. Alexa is temporarily assigned a new partner. an FBI grunt, Stuart, from the BAU unit who disregards Alexa as some podunk, cowgirl playing dress up. This attitude leads to a bunch of chest-thumping between the two and constantly justifying their credentials. Frankly, it all becomes really annoying at times.
The entire story revolves around Alexa and Stuart tracking down the convict, Drake, and his crew of followers, that helped Drake escape. Alexa and Stuart are always a step behind Drake and his crew, and they are always left cleaning up the murder scenes they leave behind them. It’s also revealed in the early part of the story that Alexa is a former BAU agent with a short but impressive solve rate. However, she left because she was losing herself in the work and becoming mentally unstable because of her ability to get into a psycho’s mind.
Anyway, the end comes fast; the story is a quick read at 205pgs (thank goodness). It gets really hairy and scary for Alexa and Stuart, but the ending is very satisfying – sort of. The ending is a lead-in for the next installment with Alexa and Stuart being assigned on a more permanent basis for a joint task force. While Alexa and Stuart are good characters on their own, they are terrible together. They remind me of those two relatives that can't be allowed to be in the same room for more than 15-20min before they’re sniping at each other and making everyone else uncomfortable and annoyed. So, everyone has to make sure they don’t get invited to the same family functions so that everyone else can enjoy themselves. UUUGGGHHH!!!
I get enough of that nonsense in real life, I don’t want to spend my free time reading about it. If I could give this story 2.5stars, I would, but since the story was interesting enough to finish it, I’m going to round up. However, I’m going to take a hard pass on this series, making it a one and done for me.
The book summary introduces the MC, Alexa Chase, along with the premise of the primary storyline: chasing down an escaped convict, Drake, that Alexa had previously put away, but got away on Alexa’s watch and who killed her partner in the process. This isn’t a spoiler since it’s revealed in the first chapter of the book. Alexa is temporarily assigned a new partner. an FBI grunt, Stuart, from the BAU unit who disregards Alexa as some podunk, cowgirl playing dress up. This attitude leads to a bunch of chest-thumping between the two and constantly justifying their credentials. Frankly, it all becomes really annoying at times.
The entire story revolves around Alexa and Stuart tracking down the convict, Drake, and his crew of followers, that helped Drake escape. Alexa and Stuart are always a step behind Drake and his crew, and they are always left cleaning up the murder scenes they leave behind them. It’s also revealed in the early part of the story that Alexa is a former BAU agent with a short but impressive solve rate. However, she left because she was losing herself in the work and becoming mentally unstable because of her ability to get into a psycho’s mind.
Anyway, the end comes fast; the story is a quick read at 205pgs (thank goodness). It gets really hairy and scary for Alexa and Stuart, but the ending is very satisfying – sort of. The ending is a lead-in for the next installment with Alexa and Stuart being assigned on a more permanent basis for a joint task force. While Alexa and Stuart are good characters on their own, they are terrible together. They remind me of those two relatives that can't be allowed to be in the same room for more than 15-20min before they’re sniping at each other and making everyone else uncomfortable and annoyed. So, everyone has to make sure they don’t get invited to the same family functions so that everyone else can enjoy themselves. UUUGGGHHH!!!
I get enough of that nonsense in real life, I don’t want to spend my free time reading about it. If I could give this story 2.5stars, I would, but since the story was interesting enough to finish it, I’m going to round up. However, I’m going to take a hard pass on this series, making it a one and done for me.
August 5, 2023
Imagine a suspense thriller written by someone who's never read a suspense thriller. This was so bad. Unfortunately. And there's more? How sway and why??
December 12, 2023
automatic start at 4 stars bc I listened audio, drop to 3 bc I hate the narrators voice, landed on 2 bc it was okay
February 23, 2022
Very run of the mill cop, FBI, psycho killer.... fixation on the female with the male wanting to protect her.... and her out to show she doesn't need it. Lots of disgusting kills along the way with her of course being the one to figure it out but not getting credit which infuriates her and she pushes away further. IDK, it wasn't a great book to me. It was hard to keep my interest. For my taste it would be more of a 1-2 ☆ rating but I didn't anticipate this kind of book. I've read plenty of these and it's about average with a bit sub par. I wouldn't pay for it but if a free audio book, perhaps if you have nothing left on your library shelf.
June 26, 2024
Book Blog | Bookstagram
Totally serviceable procedural, that's not reinventing the wheel nor fucking the wheel up. It's just so standard. Like, I just finished it and I've already forgotten it.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
Totally serviceable procedural, that's not reinventing the wheel nor fucking the wheel up. It's just so standard. Like, I just finished it and I've already forgotten it.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
January 14, 2024
Your standard cat mouse, police suspect story. Not the best read imo
January 10, 2024
Free on Spotify to listen to. Spoilers, no care this time lol.
Whew. Where to begin. First off, I have a suspicion that this was ghostwritten by a male. There are just some things throughout the book, that just...don't ring like a female author. Some of it is the fact that Drake Logan is 5'8'' and is consistently called short. I'm 5'1''. He's not that short. When I was bemoaning about the book to a male friend, he explained that there's some sort of guy joke thing about 5'9'' is considered normal/tall? I dunno, it sounded ridiculous, but my friend agreed that it probably meant this was actually written by a guy.
Alexa is an idiot. Sorry. She drove me insane throughout the entire book. She's a "strong female character" because only she can catch Drake Logan, but really, she's being stupid. Constantly running off and getting in trouble. Every time she snapped at another officer, I just had to take a breath in. The book tried to forgive that by having Alexa come to the realization that she was snapping at other law enforcement because she was still traumatized, but she promptly ignores that realization and continues going on as though she knows best and hares off on her own to meet the serial killer as though he hasn't been one step ahead of her the entire book and known her reactions each and every time she does something.
There was a moment, and I had to stop and stare at my phone while I listened at work, because it was so ridiculous. Alexa says "I believe air conditioning is unhealthy because it means people don't get used to the Arizona air." I pretty much immediately texted a friend who currently lives in Arizona, and he was like, "No. That's so stupid. When I had no AC in my car for several years, everyone said how sorry they were and that it needed to be fixed right away." (college students man). So there's that stupidity and makes me believe that the author didn't bother talking to people living in Arizona. Which is also something that is never brought up again when Alexa says it.
I loved every time the author forgot something. Is Alexa injured? Is she badly injured? Did she get stitches? Are her wounds in any pain? I think she's secretly immortal considering she was up and out of bed after a horrific car crash the next day (and this is like chapter two people.) No worries to the gash stretching from her palm to her elbow. She can totally carry around the shotgun and rack it and then fight off men bigger and stronger than her that land on top of her. She can totally be accused of police brutality (which is also something that doesn't matter in the end. They catch Drake Logan and then it flash-forwards like three days later after much paperwork and no further mention is made of that) and fight off men with bruised (or cracked? I don't actually remember which it is (no sarcasm this time) ribs, giant gash in her arm, concussion, bruises, no worries. She's a strong female character.
Did Powers just have his throat slit? Nah, halfway through the book, maybe chapter 20? He's suddenly been decapitated. Because it makes it more memorable when Drake's first victim (that did make it out alive before this moment) was also decapitated. Ooh, the trauma~ the parallels~
There's a woman who is attacked, Yvette I believe, and the guy who attacks her says he isn't going to rape her, and then the book never clarifies whether or not the guy actually did it. He attacks her, cuts her up, ties her naked to a tree and writes demeaning messages on her body, but it's never clear if he did rape her. Couldn't tell if the guy was just trying to rile Alexa up or if the author just...forgot. (Although, I was listening to it, so maybe I just missed the clarification portion)
I will say I was almost, unfortunately surprised in that my guesses actually didn't come true? Alexa's teenage charge that she isn't in charge of didn't end up injured or in danger, there was no reveal that a higher-up was part of Logan's cult thing (although that may have been a forgotten plotline even though it was introduced in the final show-down), Stewart was the damsel-in-distress (which I honestly didn't mind the switch, so this was the one good thing I suppose?).
Something else that bothered me was how Alexa found the apartment Logan was staying at. Her brother was a meth addict (which apparently no one else knows because it would ruin her reputation) who somehow knew where Fiona's apartment was, but if Logan was as obsessed with her as the book says (to the point of accessing her FBI profile with assistance from someone within the bureau), then surely he would have been aware of Alexa's brother and his connections to one of Logan's own followers? One of his top followers even? But nope, Malcolm was free to be the deus ex machina of information in the third act to provide Alexa with the address where Fiona lived.
Okay. Good things. *sigh*
I actually didn't mind Stewart, the FBI guy, once we got his point of view. Was he still obnoxious? Yeah, but he did improve over the course of the book. Some of his leaps in logic were annoying. Just because they ended up right didn't mean it wasn't obnoxious. He was also a little annoying when he started shifting to the "must protect Alexa" mode, because it started turning into "I am a male, she is a female, need protecting," but his past and his trauma and fears were pretty valid. And I did appreciate (as weird as it is) that he was the damsel-in-distress. Although it lasted like, a chapter, and he managed to subdue two people after being hit in the head with a tire iron, but you know, Alexa is still up and running so it's fine!
Alexa has a teenage neighbor with terrible parents, Stacy, and she wasn't terrible. She felt a little off as a teenage character, but at the same time pretty accurate. Although weirdly enough it also felt like Alexa having a distressed small child near her could fulfil the "look, she's tough and aggressive and everything, but she's still soft and maternal" thing that authors sometimes do and it's weird.
Alexa has two horses named Smith and Wesson. 'Nuff said.
Drake Logan's ideals were....interesting. They quote some of what Logan "preaches" and some of it was scary in the sense of being able to see why people would be drawn to it. So sometimes seeing his point of view actually was legitimately interesting! Other times it was just weird because he was obsessed with Alexa for...no reason? Because she smashed a guy's jaw with a horseshoe when he tried to rape her? It wasn't very clear beyond "main antagonist is obsessed with main character" cliche.
I expect Alexa and Stewart to one day fall into a love-hate sexual relationship, but nothing happened here beyond Alexa finally agreeing that Stewart was her partner in work stuff.
Ugh I don't even want to do my little listicle thing because there's already so much ugh in this review. Uhh, speed-run. No sex scenes, although discussions of rape happen. Lots of violence, Drake likes to kill people up-close and personal with a bowie knife. Language, just a bit, some joke about a name that I also didn't catch but I guess most people get? So one instance of the f-word. Alcohol/Drugs, Malcolm was a meth addict primarily, characters drink, Logan uses drugs in the sense of bribing ppl, not to use em himself. Drake smokes. Think that's it. If anything, one day I may go read the wikipedia page on the series (not that there was anything anywhere about the plot of the book when I went looking for it. I mainly finished the book out of morbid curiosity and spite. Don't think it was worth it...)
Whew. Where to begin. First off, I have a suspicion that this was ghostwritten by a male. There are just some things throughout the book, that just...don't ring like a female author. Some of it is the fact that Drake Logan is 5'8'' and is consistently called short. I'm 5'1''. He's not that short. When I was bemoaning about the book to a male friend, he explained that there's some sort of guy joke thing about 5'9'' is considered normal/tall? I dunno, it sounded ridiculous, but my friend agreed that it probably meant this was actually written by a guy.
Alexa is an idiot. Sorry. She drove me insane throughout the entire book. She's a "strong female character" because only she can catch Drake Logan, but really, she's being stupid. Constantly running off and getting in trouble. Every time she snapped at another officer, I just had to take a breath in. The book tried to forgive that by having Alexa come to the realization that she was snapping at other law enforcement because she was still traumatized, but she promptly ignores that realization and continues going on as though she knows best and hares off on her own to meet the serial killer as though he hasn't been one step ahead of her the entire book and known her reactions each and every time she does something.
There was a moment, and I had to stop and stare at my phone while I listened at work, because it was so ridiculous. Alexa says "I believe air conditioning is unhealthy because it means people don't get used to the Arizona air." I pretty much immediately texted a friend who currently lives in Arizona, and he was like, "No. That's so stupid. When I had no AC in my car for several years, everyone said how sorry they were and that it needed to be fixed right away." (college students man). So there's that stupidity and makes me believe that the author didn't bother talking to people living in Arizona. Which is also something that is never brought up again when Alexa says it.
I loved every time the author forgot something. Is Alexa injured? Is she badly injured? Did she get stitches? Are her wounds in any pain? I think she's secretly immortal considering she was up and out of bed after a horrific car crash the next day (and this is like chapter two people.) No worries to the gash stretching from her palm to her elbow. She can totally carry around the shotgun and rack it and then fight off men bigger and stronger than her that land on top of her. She can totally be accused of police brutality (which is also something that doesn't matter in the end. They catch Drake Logan and then it flash-forwards like three days later after much paperwork and no further mention is made of that) and fight off men with bruised (or cracked? I don't actually remember which it is (no sarcasm this time) ribs, giant gash in her arm, concussion, bruises, no worries. She's a strong female character.
Did Powers just have his throat slit? Nah, halfway through the book, maybe chapter 20? He's suddenly been decapitated. Because it makes it more memorable when Drake's first victim (that did make it out alive before this moment) was also decapitated. Ooh, the trauma~ the parallels~
There's a woman who is attacked, Yvette I believe, and the guy who attacks her says he isn't going to rape her, and then the book never clarifies whether or not the guy actually did it. He attacks her, cuts her up, ties her naked to a tree and writes demeaning messages on her body, but it's never clear if he did rape her. Couldn't tell if the guy was just trying to rile Alexa up or if the author just...forgot. (Although, I was listening to it, so maybe I just missed the clarification portion)
I will say I was almost, unfortunately surprised in that my guesses actually didn't come true? Alexa's teenage charge that she isn't in charge of didn't end up injured or in danger, there was no reveal that a higher-up was part of Logan's cult thing (although that may have been a forgotten plotline even though it was introduced in the final show-down), Stewart was the damsel-in-distress (which I honestly didn't mind the switch, so this was the one good thing I suppose?).
Something else that bothered me was how Alexa found the apartment Logan was staying at. Her brother was a meth addict (which apparently no one else knows because it would ruin her reputation) who somehow knew where Fiona's apartment was, but if Logan was as obsessed with her as the book says (to the point of accessing her FBI profile with assistance from someone within the bureau), then surely he would have been aware of Alexa's brother and his connections to one of Logan's own followers? One of his top followers even? But nope, Malcolm was free to be the deus ex machina of information in the third act to provide Alexa with the address where Fiona lived.
Okay. Good things. *sigh*
I actually didn't mind Stewart, the FBI guy, once we got his point of view. Was he still obnoxious? Yeah, but he did improve over the course of the book. Some of his leaps in logic were annoying. Just because they ended up right didn't mean it wasn't obnoxious. He was also a little annoying when he started shifting to the "must protect Alexa" mode, because it started turning into "I am a male, she is a female, need protecting," but his past and his trauma and fears were pretty valid. And I did appreciate (as weird as it is) that he was the damsel-in-distress. Although it lasted like, a chapter, and he managed to subdue two people after being hit in the head with a tire iron, but you know, Alexa is still up and running so it's fine!
Alexa has a teenage neighbor with terrible parents, Stacy, and she wasn't terrible. She felt a little off as a teenage character, but at the same time pretty accurate. Although weirdly enough it also felt like Alexa having a distressed small child near her could fulfil the "look, she's tough and aggressive and everything, but she's still soft and maternal" thing that authors sometimes do and it's weird.
Alexa has two horses named Smith and Wesson. 'Nuff said.
Drake Logan's ideals were....interesting. They quote some of what Logan "preaches" and some of it was scary in the sense of being able to see why people would be drawn to it. So sometimes seeing his point of view actually was legitimately interesting! Other times it was just weird because he was obsessed with Alexa for...no reason? Because she smashed a guy's jaw with a horseshoe when he tried to rape her? It wasn't very clear beyond "main antagonist is obsessed with main character" cliche.
I expect Alexa and Stewart to one day fall into a love-hate sexual relationship, but nothing happened here beyond Alexa finally agreeing that Stewart was her partner in work stuff.
Ugh I don't even want to do my little listicle thing because there's already so much ugh in this review. Uhh, speed-run. No sex scenes, although discussions of rape happen. Lots of violence, Drake likes to kill people up-close and personal with a bowie knife. Language, just a bit, some joke about a name that I also didn't catch but I guess most people get? So one instance of the f-word. Alcohol/Drugs, Malcolm was a meth addict primarily, characters drink, Logan uses drugs in the sense of bribing ppl, not to use em himself. Drake smokes. Think that's it. If anything, one day I may go read the wikipedia page on the series (not that there was anything anywhere about the plot of the book when I went looking for it. I mainly finished the book out of morbid curiosity and spite. Don't think it was worth it...)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2024
If the main character was less insufferable I think I would enjoy the story so much!! It was interesting & kept me on my seat. But her bitterness ruined it & I laughed & AGREE when people says this book is kinda copaganda LOL still was a good listen for my road trip
August 18, 2022
Different from what I normally read but had me interested with each twist and turn- definitely a good book to start a new genre with
November 11, 2021
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from the Goodreads Giveaways program.
Alexa Chase, 34, a brilliant profiler in the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, was too good at her job. Haunted by all the serial killers she caught, she left a stunning career behind to join the U.S. Marshals. As a Deputy Marshal, Alexa—fit, and as tough as she is brilliant—could immerse herself in a simple career of hunting down fugitives and bringing them to justice.
But when a notorious serial killer escapes from a prison transport, it crosses the jurisdictions of the U.S. Marshals and the FBI’s BAU. The two departments are forced to come together on a new joint task force to hunt down the fugitive serial killer and bring him to justice. Alexa, to her dread, finds herself forced to confront the thing she fears the most—entering a killer’s mind. Doing so again, she knows, may just drag her down for good.
Alexa and her new partner, each territorial, don’t take well to each other. Between their tension and all the clues leading to dead ends and the bodies piling up on the killer’s spree, Alexa knows that she, up against a ticking clock, can’t afford to get this wrong. Especially when she realizes that she herself may be the next target.
To find this diabolical killer, Alexa will have to do what she fears most—enter his twisted mind, before he can strike again. It’s a life-and-death game of cat and mouse, and it’s winner takes all.
I liked Alexa a lot and her approach to catching the killer on the loose. I liked how the author was able to convey the sense of unfinished business and how much her past is affecting her current life.
Alexa Chase, 34, a brilliant profiler in the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, was too good at her job. Haunted by all the serial killers she caught, she left a stunning career behind to join the U.S. Marshals. As a Deputy Marshal, Alexa—fit, and as tough as she is brilliant—could immerse herself in a simple career of hunting down fugitives and bringing them to justice.
But when a notorious serial killer escapes from a prison transport, it crosses the jurisdictions of the U.S. Marshals and the FBI’s BAU. The two departments are forced to come together on a new joint task force to hunt down the fugitive serial killer and bring him to justice. Alexa, to her dread, finds herself forced to confront the thing she fears the most—entering a killer’s mind. Doing so again, she knows, may just drag her down for good.
Alexa and her new partner, each territorial, don’t take well to each other. Between their tension and all the clues leading to dead ends and the bodies piling up on the killer’s spree, Alexa knows that she, up against a ticking clock, can’t afford to get this wrong. Especially when she realizes that she herself may be the next target.
To find this diabolical killer, Alexa will have to do what she fears most—enter his twisted mind, before he can strike again. It’s a life-and-death game of cat and mouse, and it’s winner takes all.
I liked Alexa a lot and her approach to catching the killer on the loose. I liked how the author was able to convey the sense of unfinished business and how much her past is affecting her current life.
April 2, 2022
Ce n'est pas que ce polar est mauvais... loin de là ! L'intrigue est haletante, cela démarre très vite, et ce rythme haletant se poursuivra jusqu'à la fin d'un format semi-court. L'héroïne est une justicière "magnifique" de trente ans, face à l'horrible serial killer qui a fait des disciples. Mais voilà, justement, il n'y a aucune nuance, dans une ambiance très texane (Heureusement qu'on a tous un flingue pour régler ses comptes, entourés de prédateurs en tous genres) nous voici dans un épisode de la série "US MARSHALL" de la fin des années 2000.
Pour accompagner cette femme qui sacrifie tout à son devoir, on a un gentil blondinet du FBI, ancien militaire reconverti dont on ignorera à peu près tout, même à la fin du roman, c'est dire à quel point l'autrice s'intéresse peu aux personnages. S'ajoutent famille et amie d'Alexa, dressés à gros coups de clichés (son père est une sorte de clone de Trump). Et l'ignoble serial killer est un ignoble serial killer. Ce qui est bizarre, c'est que cela aurait pu être écrit il y a vingt ans...
Cela se lit vite, se dévore sans aucun ennui, et on l'oublie dès le lendemain !
Pour accompagner cette femme qui sacrifie tout à son devoir, on a un gentil blondinet du FBI, ancien militaire reconverti dont on ignorera à peu près tout, même à la fin du roman, c'est dire à quel point l'autrice s'intéresse peu aux personnages. S'ajoutent famille et amie d'Alexa, dressés à gros coups de clichés (son père est une sorte de clone de Trump). Et l'ignoble serial killer est un ignoble serial killer. Ce qui est bizarre, c'est que cela aurait pu être écrit il y a vingt ans...
Cela se lit vite, se dévore sans aucun ennui, et on l'oublie dès le lendemain !
February 25, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was short and quick paced.
December 10, 2024
It was a decent thriller. Has an engaging start, feels a bit generic/predictable in the middle, but by the end I cared about the characters and wanted to read the next book to find out where their stories go.
January 18, 2024
3.5 listened to the audio book, not a fan of the narrators
January 1, 2026
Very much like watching a police procedural on tv, will definitely continue with the series. But.... Why a male narrator when the book's lead is a woman?? Lost points for that choice alone.
July 21, 2022
It was just an okay crime thriller. Nothing that made it stand out, but worthy of 3 stars with some decent action and twists.
May 7, 2025
3.75⭐️
January 10, 2023
If could go lower than 1 star for this book I would. I have DNF books with higher ratings from me. The author definitely writes for a very specific demographic.
Where do I even start? I guess just with BIG YIKES! Has the author ever even interacted with minorities in a meaningful way, by this book probably not. “You could tell he was mexican by his accent but his skin was white. I found that odd.” MISS MAAM WHAT?! LITERALLY in like chapter 2 too?!?! Then later “He’s of Spanish decent never mix with Indigenous or Black,” Girly this isn’t going to save you. The minorities that do show up in positions of power are silent or giving her orders SHE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN.
Two white cops going after mainly minorities? Really? I want to know who the editor was too because damn!! They didn’t bother to say anything?!?!
Not only is the MC a SUPER annoying pick me girl she’s very annoyingly entitled. I could not stand her. “Most women would be bother by those comments but me. I’ve been around them my whole life.” SHUT UP this quote is literally from like Chapter 4 or 5. For the record, those comments did bother her. She is very much the “those city folk don’t know what they’re doing” type it’s so exhausting. Her personality revolves around her arrogance and it is not well written arrogance. It winds up so bland to match the lack of spices she’s probably never experienced. Not to mention the subtle joking on how others religions views bogus. The author really hammered in the fact that she’s never been around pagans and their way of life. She basically took stereotypes on vegans and pagans and made it so they look ridiculous. She’s giving “but my friend is [insert minority here]” subtle extremist.
The only reason the book even has one star from me is because of the lead antagonist. THATS IT. The author couldn’t even maintain the groups following logic. The MO is guy goes after guilty parties that partake in hurting/killing innocents. Yet, in the middle of the book he allows people who abuse women into his group because “it will create more followers”. Make it make sense.
Where do I even start? I guess just with BIG YIKES! Has the author ever even interacted with minorities in a meaningful way, by this book probably not. “You could tell he was mexican by his accent but his skin was white. I found that odd.” MISS MAAM WHAT?! LITERALLY in like chapter 2 too?!?! Then later “He’s of Spanish decent never mix with Indigenous or Black,” Girly this isn’t going to save you. The minorities that do show up in positions of power are silent or giving her orders SHE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN.
Two white cops going after mainly minorities? Really? I want to know who the editor was too because damn!! They didn’t bother to say anything?!?!
Not only is the MC a SUPER annoying pick me girl she’s very annoyingly entitled. I could not stand her. “Most women would be bother by those comments but me. I’ve been around them my whole life.” SHUT UP this quote is literally from like Chapter 4 or 5. For the record, those comments did bother her. She is very much the “those city folk don’t know what they’re doing” type it’s so exhausting. Her personality revolves around her arrogance and it is not well written arrogance. It winds up so bland to match the lack of spices she’s probably never experienced. Not to mention the subtle joking on how others religions views bogus. The author really hammered in the fact that she’s never been around pagans and their way of life. She basically took stereotypes on vegans and pagans and made it so they look ridiculous. She’s giving “but my friend is [insert minority here]” subtle extremist.
The only reason the book even has one star from me is because of the lead antagonist. THATS IT. The author couldn’t even maintain the groups following logic. The MO is guy goes after guilty parties that partake in hurting/killing innocents. Yet, in the middle of the book he allows people who abuse women into his group because “it will create more followers”. Make it make sense.
March 23, 2024
Recently, I have taken the plunge onto Spotify (I know, I am very late to the party). The Killing Game is the first free audio book that I have listened to, offered by Spotify. I am glad that I didn't pay for it.
The Killing Game is the first in a series. I would say that it is very formulaic and that there are no real twists or turns throughout the whole thing. Quite a cliched read, to be honest. As background noise for my commute, it passed some time, but this has made no impression on me. Easily forgettable.
The Killing Game is the first in a series. I would say that it is very formulaic and that there are no real twists or turns throughout the whole thing. Quite a cliched read, to be honest. As background noise for my commute, it passed some time, but this has made no impression on me. Easily forgettable.
November 16, 2023
This is my first audiobook through Spotify - I was excited by the premise but the descriptions felt weak. The writer seemed a little lazy in word choice "she dived into the deep dive of..."
The story premise was more interesting than the delivery. I think it was fine but I will not read more in the series.
The story premise was more interesting than the delivery. I think it was fine but I will not read more in the series.
November 25, 2023
“There are three types of people- the weak, the strong, and those who think they’re the other. The weak need to become strong and the strong will be revealed as weak. A weak person must strengthen themselves otherwise they’ll be weak.” - basically Drake Logan’s life philosophy
This book was cheesy and was such copaganda 😅 but it made the drive from Minneapolis a little less boring.
This book was cheesy and was such copaganda 😅 but it made the drive from Minneapolis a little less boring.
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