The Ultimate Game

by Ralph Glendinning

The Man challenges Jim Dempsey, Fairport's powerful and brilliant chief of police, to the ultimate game of criminal skill when he commits a series of meticulously planned murders without an apparent motive.

Genres: Crime, Mystery

Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1981

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 stars. I first read this book when I was about 15 and remember thinking is was an addictive read. I then found it again at a used book store and was curious to see how the story held up over time. The answer....surprisingly well. The story revolves around a killer (referred to only as "The Man") who decides to commit 52 brutal murders, leaving a playing card at each killing. As the killings start, The Man begins sending notes to the chief of police taunting him and a cat and mouse game is commenced. Great action, decent writing, good characters and a fast-paced plot. I am not sure why this author did not write more but this is one of those "obscure" finds that I would recommend for any fan of the mystery/thriller genre.

Oh yeah, and it has a superb ending that I remembered all the way back from when I first read it. Recommended!!!

[Carl Bluesy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was everything I hoped for! It was fast pace and a classic crime story. I’ve seen a lot of elements of this story in movies and books that came out after this book. I wounded how many were inspired by this one.

[Donny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real page turner with a clever plot.

[Seren · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not exactly my favorite, but if the books I have read were arranged in a tier, it would be right below my favorite.

I like how it hooked me and made me look crazy, speaking to myself while reading the book. You would end up looking for the murderer and wonder who he is or what he looks like. You would even suspect almost all of the police officers in the book.

It is a good read and you won't be able to put it down once the cards start to come out one by one.

[Angela Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ultimate Game was a fun mystery book. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. Many of the characters were loosely based on people that I knew so the joy was in finding someone on the next page. Putting that aside, it was a good read.

[Leslie Whitehurst · Rating 1 out of 5]

A selection by my book club. Did not like this book at all, I couldn't even finish it.

[Rural Soul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally I got it's original title. I had read its Urdu translation many years ago in a crime magazine. It's one of best best best crime novel in my read books.

The story revolves around an unnamed man (Who's revealed finally) who targets people for the sake of attain dignity to be a best serial killer. He kills people at the rate of playing cards and his aim is kill 52 people. The most thrilling sensation of novel is that he's living his double life among other characters of book. He's very successful about hiding his psychopathic side as he doesn't even know by himself (And neither it's revealed to reader till the end). Its just fluctuation between Kill Switch and Normal switch.
He targets his victims with extra ordinary planning and research. His victims are usually people his dislikes and people with moral flaws. Some of his victims are who are hiding their real side completely pretending to be law abiding citizens but actually they are not what they are.

[Mat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this a long time ago and loved it! I remember loving the card plot but wishing that it was drawn out more. Showing how each cars could be a person!