The Name Game

by Gene Geter

This could be a Black Mirror episode. Following The Craigslist Model and Sub To Ego books, Slade West reminisces about the woman he had an on and off relationship with between girlfriends. He hadn’t seen her for a number of years. This woman didn’t own a cell phone and she didn’t use social media. She also never told Slade her real name. Based on true events. Cover by Ginny Leano.

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 3, 2022

About the author

Gene Geter is a photographer, author and former entertainment columnist.
Geter is also a director, writing and producing videos on YouTube and Vimeo.

Reviews

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story in search of a name

The entire story is told in the form of conversation. Slade West is a photographer. His messages with his models and the people following him are part of the book. Sometimes some people  just try to stalk him or the models that he uses and they all give background about Slade. That is when he talks with Roxanne Flowers. Raxanne and Slade talk about a girl with a lemony scent whom Slade has met a few times. The girl is not on social media and she has not given Slade her name. Slade and Roxanne uncover certain very erotic and scary moments with the woman (and some clones looking like her) and try to find her secrets.

The name of the secret girl was also a good mystery. Nice read.

[C.G. Jaquish · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a concept!

So cool to have a whole book written in the form of direct messages. It's the first I've ever read like this and I think it was well-executed. I enjoyed the story and cues you get from looking in on someone's thoughts. It would probably help to have the definitions at the front of the book for those who don't know, but I feel like a lot of them are common enough to drop off entirely. Still, so thoughtful of the author to include them.

[D.S. Kinahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a unique book! The story is narrated via a series of DMs, which I thought was a really interesting concept. The interactions definitely give off a tight vibe. The discussion regarding Slade’s mysterious object of desire is addictingly fascinating. Can’t wait for the following installment to find out what happens next!

[Kimmey Fitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Name Game is an exciting peek into the conversation between Slade West and Roxanne Flowers about a woman he truly desired. The messages truly draw you in and you cannot stop reading. Bravo Gene Geter!

[Obn Quano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!! I did not know what to expect but this book was very interesting and relatable. Especially the conversations and names.

[Samantha Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was quite touching reading! Reading Slade. Keeping him on a mission to find a certain woman. Kept me interested all throughout for sure. A woman doing all she can to protect herself. I did the stupid thing and read this book ahead of the others in the series. I am going to read the others for sure. I liked it because it kept me hooked!I want more!

[Serlina Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a beautiful and rather easy read. The story was well narrated through direct messages which were just a intriguing style to keep the reader attention. The book foretold od a mystery and indeed I was also curious about the puzzle and wanting to solve it as well. This book kept me engaged and wanting to know more. Very nicely done. Definitely a good read.

[Epiphany Crush · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed reading this book especially the conversation between Slade and Roxanne Flowers. This book makes you think about how women will go to any extent to protect themselves, but it seems the one whose name Slade never knew was also trying to protect her heart. I felt there was a little bit of hard to get being played, as if to ask: How bad do you really want me? I also was reminded a little of Rumpelstilkskin with the whole riddle part. I love the flow of this book and the author keeps it relevant with the vocabulary and the times (example: the mention of COVID). I am greatly impressed and look forward to reading more from this series!

[S.S. Saywack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well-written piece couched as a series of Facebook messenger conversations, though it reads as a play. It is engaging, funny, mysterious, very readable, and very interesting. I found myself voicing each character in my head as I read the back-and-forth responses. The main plot is developed through a series of exchanges between the two main protagonists, which make up the bulk of the writing, that gently gets to the point of who the mysterious person Slade was involved with and the riddle she left him. The play/short story, whatever you may want to term it, was enjoyable, and a thoughtful read. It is intriguing that the author says it is based on true events.

[Tom Leverett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The format (a story in text messages) is interesting but hard to adjust to, namely figuring out what kind of character you're dealing with just from the texts. But once you get the hang of it it moves right along and it's good. The concept - that she does not inform him of her name so as far as social media goes she doesn't exist - is also interesting.