When a suicide bomber enters a top LA restaurant and holds some of Hollywood’s top names hostage J.J., a highly sort after PR expert, realises this is one situation she can’t control.

Carol shows us the low side of humanity with people betting on which hostage will be killed. There is also a large focus on the media using underhanded tactics to get a story and the heartless way they think of the scoop more than a person’s life.

Overall the writing is impeccable however the attempts at backstory kept pulling me away from the current action, disrupting the flow of the story.

I need more than cold-blooded murder. I need connection, empathy for the victims, for the killer. The sad story came but it was too late, I just didn’t care enough.

I received a review copy from Bookouture via Netgalley. ( )

The Killing Game by J.S. Carol is a 2016 Bookouture publication.

The book cover says it all: “A tense, gripping thriller you DON’T want to miss”

Alfie’s is an upscale restaurant in Los Angles catering to movie stars, agents and producers. But, when the clientele are taken hostage by masked gunman wearing explosives that will detonate if his heart gets too low, the media descend, determined to cash in on the situation.

JJ, a publicist, was at the restaurant to keep an eye on her client, but soon finds herself fighting for the lives of the hostages as she attempts to figure out what the gunman’s motives are and how to get them out in one piece.

Wow! Anytime a story is centered around a hostage situation, it’s always tense and suspenseful. What does the gunman want, who will make it out alive, and what will be the aftermath? It’s a formula that never fails to grab my attention.

However, when you add in the celebrity element, when the hostages are famous people, it makes the story even more interesting.

The thriller aspects of the book are top notch, with the gunman seemingly having way too much fun with the situation, proving himself to be one the most ruthless bad guys I’ve read about in a long time.

But, what stood out for me was the scathing portrait of the media who covered the situation in typical fashion. Talking heads, experts, and misinformation from start to finish!!

The author was spot on with this wickedly dark parody of twenty -hour news stations, and how the media works. This is subject, of course, is a timely one as the media had come under a great deal of scrutiny and criticism as of late.

I thought the idea of putting spoiled celebrities who think they can talk or buy their way of anything, mixed with the soulless unconscionable media, facing down a terroristic attack was pure genius.

The feverish pacing, the moral dilemmas, the psychological mind games and the personal demons that surface made this a riveting and fast paced, white knuckle thrill ride.

A tense, gripping thriller, you DON’T want to miss? Correct! If you like thrillers and top notch suspense, this book is for you!

4.5 stars ( )

I previously read James Carol's thriller Broken Dolls which featured Jefferson Winter, the son of a serial killer. So I was really happy to receive an ARC of this standalone. And it delivered on all aspects.
The setting is an exclusive restaurant in Los Angeles frequented by Hollywood's elite. The story covers the 4 hours during which a masked gunman holds a group of patrons hostage and starts playing terrifying games. Who is he? What does he want?
Intense, frightening, and very brutal in parts, this was a real edge-of-your-seat thriller with a very good mix of different characters. It was so addictive I was reading until 2am because I HAD to find out how it ended.
I also really enjoyed the media perspective of 'making news'. Very cleverly done.
You could easily imagine watching this on the big screen.
Reading this has reminded me that I really need to get back to Mr. Carol's Jefferson Winter series. Highly recommended if you enjoy fast-paced, heart-pounding thrillers. 4.5 stars. ( )