Dead Game: An Emily Stone Novel

Jennifer Chase
Outskirts Press (2009)
ISBN 9781432751289
Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views (06/10)


“Dead Game” is the second book in the Emily Stone series by Jennifer Chase. While it is a standalone novel that doesn’t require reading the first book, “Compulsion,” readers will probably benefit from reading the first adventure because the author doesn’t provide much history on the characters. I haven’t read the first novel in the series so felt like I was missing important details at times.

The novel opens with Emily Stone doing what she does best (closing in on a child-killer so that he can be turned over to the authorities) and continues with the action as she and her partner, Rick, are drawn into a serial killer’s game when Rick’s friend and former mentor is murdered. The story moves at a steady pace and fans of thrillers won’t be disappointed with the plot and premise, and the book provides a clean adventure by focusing more on the hero’s actions than on providing any grisly details on the serial killer’s handiwork.

While the story is good, I did have a couple of reservations that prevented me from enjoying the book as much as I could have. References of using investigative skills and processing a scene with proper protocol could have been expanded to include details that would have added depth to the story. I was also mystified by Emily’s personality, which didn’t always seem to fit the character. At times she was a tough, no-nonsense woman, which is expected of a woman who tracks down child molesters and killers. At other times, she seemed lost and weak, almost on the verge of panic. The two personalities were very disjointed and created an imprecise picture of our hero. I would have also liked a little more history on Emily, which could have provided a connection and empathy for a brave character pursuing a noble cause.

Overall, I’d have to say that “Dead Game” would be a good read for fans of mysteries and thrillers who don’t want any graphic or detailed descriptions of blood or gore but probably wouldn’t appeal to those readers who like to sink their teeth into details.

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