Dangerous Play

Kate Green #2

by Elise Hart Kipness

After a tumultuous murder case that almost cost more than her job, sports reporter Kate Green is back on assignment covering women’s Olympic soccer. Between her experience with athletic stardom and days playing with Savannah Baker, head coach of the USA team, Kate is sure to get the story that will reestablish her career.

She just didn’t expect that story to involve murder.

When famous jewelry designer Alexa Kane is found dead in the locker room, Kate’s promising future screeches to a halt as her past resurfaces. Alexa played with Kate and Savannah on the US youth national team , but there was no reason for her to be at the stadium now.

Kate’s investigation puts her in close contact with her estranged father, an NYPD detective who has his own past to answer for. As their secrets collide, Kate will have to decide which ones to keep—and which ones to reveal to stop the killer.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Crime, Young Adult, Thriller Suspense

282 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2024

About the author

Elise Hart Kipness is a former television sports reporter turned thriller writer. Lights Out is based on her experience in the high-pressure, adrenaline-pumping world of live TV. Like her protagonist, she chased marquee athletes through the tunnels of Madison Square Garden and stood before glaring lights, reporting to national audiences.

In addition to reporting for Fox Sports Network, Elise was a news reporter at New York’s WNBC-TV, News 12 Long Island, and the Associated Press. She is currently co-president of Sisters in Crime Connecticut, as well as a member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. Elise graduate from Brown University and lives in Connecticut with her family and three labradoodles.

Reviews

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the second time, Elise Hart Kipness blew me away. After falling in love with her smart, savvy main character in her debut novel, Lights Out, I was even more bowled over by both Kate and Kipness thanks to what I found inside of Dangerous Play. A bingeable, addictive crime thriller, the dual timelines and even pacing meant for one altogether rollicking good time. The former, in fact, was quite the ingenious method at bringing the victim to life. And through her, Kate’s character grew deeper and delightfully well-developed.

While I was wholly won over by the unguessable twists and perfectly timed plot, the characters were easily my favorite piece to this marvelous whodunnit. Running the gamut from thoroughly unlikeable to one of my most-loved protagonists, the finely layered personas hit just the right chord. Through the past and present timelines and some realistic diary entries, Kate was revealed to be even more dogged, clever, and brave than she was in book one. Supported by some other truly top-notch individuals, the entire cast was an utter home run.

Now that I’ve finished bingeing the second book in what is turning out to be one humdinger of a series, I’m not surprised in the least about how my friends and colleagues at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse have been raving about it ever since we got the galleys. With an intriguing subplot, deliciously short chapters, and a heaping dose of suspense, it just couldn’t have been better. Now for my impatient wait for book three so that I can learn what is coming next in Kate’s saga with Liam. So order your copy today. Just be sure to start with book one. After all, you don’t want to miss a minute with Kate. Rating of 5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

After a tumultuous murder case that almost cost more than her job, sports reporter Kate Green is back on assignment covering women’s Olympic soccer. Between her experience with athletic stardom and days playing with Savannah Baker, head coach of the USA team, Kate is sure to get the story that will reestablish her career.
She just didn’t expect that story to involve murder.

When famous jewelry designer Alexa Kane is found dead in the locker room, Kate’s promising future screeches to a halt as her past resurfaces. Alexa played with Kate and Savannah on the U.S. Youth National Team, but there was no reason for her to be at the stadium now.

Kate’s investigation puts her in close contact with her estranged father, an NYPD detective who has his own past to answer for. As their secrets collide, Kate will have to decide which ones to keep—and which ones to reveal to stop the killer.

Thank you to Elise Hart Kipness, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for my complimentary digital and physical copies. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: September 17, 2024

Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.














































































Trigger warning: hazing and bullying, mention of: rape

[Julie (JuJu) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out one of the latest reads from Thriller Book Lovers—The Pulse! You won't want to miss "Dangerous Play" if you love thrilling mysteries or the Olympics. Even if you haven't read the first book in the series, "Dangerous Play" stands strong as a standalone.

Follow the gripping story of Kate Green, a former Olympic soccer player turned sports reporter, as she stumbles upon a shocking discovery during her Olympics coverage. A mysterious murder brings back memories from her past, and before long, she finds herself entangled in a web of secrets and scandal.

This page-turner kept me hooked with its cleverly intertwined timelines and a secretive journal filled with jaw-dropping revelations. Plus, thanks to the publisher's generosity, I had the pleasure of experiencing both the ebook and audiobook versions. The audiobook narration was top-notch and brought the story to life in a new way.

And check out the amazing book bling that the author sent over! It was like unwrapping a box of treasures. Who wouldn't love receiving such fantastic book goodies?

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer/Brilliance Audio and Elise Hart Kipness for providing the gifted ARCs through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

TITLE: DANGEROUS PLAY
AUTHOR: Elise Hart Kipness
PUB DATE: 09.17.2024

I loved LIGHTS OUT and to be back with my favorite sports reporter and amateur sleuth Kate Green - this time covering women’s Olympic soccer, also my favorite, is such an exciting read for me. I loved getting to know Kate Green better as her instincts kick in to solve the murder of Alexa Kane someone she had ties with in the past. We also get a glimpse of Kate’s
past with her estranged father, an NYPD detective. The tight plotting, clever and gripping storyline, really established Kipness as a thriller author to watch. One of my favorite series so far.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

♠️Kipness blew onto the scene with her first book “Lights Out,” which quickly rose up the ranks of Amazon’s charts. I loved the first book and couldn’t wait to read this one. It did not disappoint.

One of my all-time-favorite female characters, Kate Green, is back at it again and this time she’s going straight to the Olympics. Because someone has been murdered.

This is also a book you’ll want to read in one sitting. Kipness is a talented writer and her words flow so easily you’ll fly through this book. The action, mystery, and twists … well, those are just the extra dressing in this perfectly made salad of a book. You’ll eat it up.

While I do think you could read this as a standalone, I do think you should read “Lights Out” if only to have a full picture of the characters. You’ll love it.

[Teresa Brock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Green is back! Former soccer star turned sport’s reporter, Kate has been assigned to cover the US Olympic Soccer Team, a team that she formerly played for. The current head coach, Savannah Baker and Kate played together when they won gold
Kate is trying to reestablish her place in the sports world reporter scene by covering the Olympics, but after the game a women’s dead body is found in an ice bath. Kate will get to the bottom of this investigation and the truth will come out, but at what cost?
Things I love:
• Bill and Kate just work so well together. I love it.
• Kate doesn’t lose sight of her family and children.
• Kate pushes the envelope. Being an investigative reporter is in her DNA and she knows and understands that the more questions she asks, the closer to the dangerous truth she comes.
• This book comes out in an Olympic year!
• Being from a huge sports fanatic family, there is just so much to relate to.
• Fast paced and twisted with secrets coming out at every turn.
Thank you Elise Hart Kipness, Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book!

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The follow-up to Lights Out.
Kate, a former pro football player, is now a sports journalist with a knack for finding herself in the middle of murder investigations. When an old friend of hers is found murdered at the sports stadium Kate is reporting from, Kate is determined to find out what happened to her and why. To do this, she needs to find out to Alexa when they were teens. What made Alexa throw away her teenage relationship, her football career and her friends?

I really enjoyed this one, much more than the first one. I felt the cast of characters were a lot more interesting and a lot more likeable this time round. In the first book, Kate was a bit of a mess, dealing with the repercussions of a very public outburst, in this one, she is back on top form and showing everyone she deserves to be where she is. It was a great read, and it really had my heart going out to teenage Alexa.
I'd definitely recommend this, and I'm very excited to see what happens next.

[dianas_books_cars_coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've officially added another series to my favorites list. This is the 2nd book in the author's Kate Green series. I read Lights Out last year and absolutely loved it, but I actually loved this one even more!

Sports reporter Kate Green is back, and her new assignment is covering women's Olympic soccer. She's definitely familiar with the sport since she used to be a professional player before an injury ended her career. She also used to play with the USA's head coach, Savannah Baker. This should be an easy story to reestablish her career. But when famous jewelry designer Alexa Kane is found dead in the locker room, things get very complicated. Kate, Savannah, and Alexa have a history. They played on the US youth national team together, but Alexa quit soccer a long time ago, and they haven't spoken in years. What was she doing in the stadium? Kate starts to investigate with the help of her estranged father, an NYPD detective who has secrets of his own. Will Kate be able to find out what happened without putting her own life in jeopardy?

This book was SO freaking good! I seriously couldn't put it down! I was so invested in the story I read it in one day! It's totally bingeable, filled with mystery, suspense, and lots of drama! Told in dual timelines, there's never a dull moment and the twists!🤯 Kate Green is such a great character! She's definitely one of my favorites. I seriously can not wait for book 3! If you're looking for a highly addictive crime thriller, this is it! I HIGHLY recommend this book!

[Saltygalreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick Summary: Reporter Kate Green is back, this time as the main reporter for women’s Olympic soccer. The coach of the USA women’s team is Savannah Baker, Kate’s former teammate and nemesis from her days of playing competitive youth soccer. In a shocking and unexpected twist, Kate and Savannah’s former teammate, Alexa Kane, is found dead in the therapy room ice bath after a game. Alexa hasn’t played for years and had no reason to be there. Kate’s father and NYPD detective Liam is on the case, along with the FBI, as they try to track down the murderer. Can Kate beat them to it, without making herself a target as well?

Thoughts: A reader new to this series could certainly read this novel as a stand-alone, but I would recommend starting with Lights Out to get a feel for the protagonist and her history. I got into this one very quickly, and enjoyed the flashbacks to the youth camps and difficult history between Kate, Savannah and Alexa. It really highlighted the intense pressure on young athletes and how that culture and environment can act on them in negative ways. Then the novel takes an unexpected twist as Kate finds out troubling things about Alexa’s past that she could not have guessed. If you enjoy thrillers and are a sports fan, you cannot go wrong with this series. Thanks to Thomas and Mercer/Amazon Publishing for the copy to read.

[Milena Bookish❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a fascinating storyline full of unexpected twists and turns, with elements of intrigue, suspense, and mystery that will keep you engaged until the very end.

I recommend starting with the first book, Lights Out to better understand the character's background. However, it's still easy to follow the story without it.

Kate is covering women's Olympic soccer. With her experience and days playing with head coach Savannah Baker, Kate is sure to get the story to reestablish her career.

She just didn’t expect that story to involve murder.

When famous jewelry designer Alexa Kane is found dead in the locker room, Kate’s promising future screeches to a halt as her past resurfaces. Alexa played with Kate and Savannah on the US youth national team...Savannah wants to keep a secret about a camp incident involving Kate and Alexa when they were teenagers. Kate feels guilty about what happened to Alexa and believes she failed her when she needed her the most. Determined to repair the past, Kate is on a mission to find out who killed Alexa. The story follows a timeline or back-and-forth approach to provide a better understanding of the characters and the story, but it is easy to follow... This is a great read and the author did a fantastic job...I would be interested in reading more of their work, especially in this series.

Content, mention of child abuse, bully and rape.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.

[Laz the Sailor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is better than the first, as the protagonist is intentional as opposed to accidental. A proper mystery. The ending was a bit to easy, but the tension was good and the characters were well developed.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one didn’t really grip me but I think it’s got more to do with the narrator than the story. The story itself was pretty interesting, I didn’t see the twist which is always a plus. I’m not usually a sports person so the fact that I finished this at all speaks for itself. The narrator was a bit dry and that was distracting for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review.

[Parkerg · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3

This was a good read, especially the fact that there were multiple mysteries unraveled throughout. One turned dark; however, the one I wanted closure on was left unresolved, so I guess I’ll be shelving the next in this series.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first in the series Lights Out, which was her debut.
⚽️
I loved this book, which is second in the series about the complicated Kate Green. She is a sports reporter who is gritty, emotional, head strong, determined and raw. Her past has been tough, but she is looking forward to her new assignment covering women’s Olympic soccer and hoping for a fresh start.
⚽️
Nothing like a murder, to bring reporters to the forefront. Alexa Kane is a famous designer who is found dead in the locker room. Kate knew Alexa from her time with the US youth national team. Why is she in the locker room?? She is not part of the team.
⚽️
Once again she is thrown into a investigation which involves her father, who is an NYPD detective. I hope this series continues.
⚽️
My colleagues and I at #thrillerbookloversthepulse are RAVING about this series. I highly recommend if you like strong female detective stories.

[Taylor Boutwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of Dangerous Play.

4.25/5

I’m glad when I requested this book I didn’t know it was the sequel to Light’s Out. I wasn’t a fan of Lights Out, but loved Dangerous Play. This was very fast paced, and held my attention. I enjoyed that this had two mysteries we were reading about. The first and most controversial being the woman who died in the Olympic women’s soccer locker room, and also something that happened 30+ years ago with her father Liam. I enjoyed the dual timeline of past and present to get insight on Kate and the woman who dies relationship was like. The author definitely knows how to keep the reader wanting more, and I of course enjoyed all the sports talk alongside the mysteries. I’m excited to read the third book in this series.

[Lauren Self (lauren.shelby.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve got to say, I downloaded this not knowing it was book two in a series! I have book one on my shelf and will definitely be reading it now. There are some flashbacks, probably slight spoilers as to the outcome of the book, but I still plan on reading it!

This is the first sports thriller I’ve ever read. Sports reporter Kate is one of the first to come upon a dead body after a soccer game, and it happens to be someone she knew as a child/young soccer player herself and hasn’t seen in decades.

A great story if you love reporter pov, police procedural, soccer, and shady friends.

Definitely read this one!

4.5⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my advanced copy!

[Shauntelle (myglamorousreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate is a sports reporter covering women's soccer when one of her former teammates is found dead in the locker room. Kate starts investigating what happened to her former teammate to try and find the killer.

While I enjoyed this book, I don't think I was the right audience. I thought the characters were well developed and I felt the plot moved at a decent pace, yet it was hard for me to connect with the characters or the story.

Thank you NetGalley andThomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elise Hart Kipness proves she is no one hit wonder. Dangerous Play, her sophomore book will be another fabulous success. I absolutely loved her debut Lights Out but dare I say this one might be even better?

Elise has created an amazing character, Kate Green, a sports reporter who does am amazing job as an informal detective, solving crimes and getting herself in sticky situations along the way.

I NEED MORE KATE GREEN!

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Kate Green series and they just keep getting better.
A murder mystery, a strong female character and soccer, a great mix!
It was fast-paced, gripping and impossible to put down, I read it in one sitting and can’t wait for book three.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.

𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 by Elise Hart Kipness released September 24, 2024.

[riahreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Literally just pissed me off 😭so many loose ends ! I understand setting up the story for the next book but half the book spoke about something that had no ending .. I feel like they could’ve saved half that information for the other book .

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in a new series about sports reporter Kate Green , Dangerous Play scores big as a character driven whodunnit mystery with many twists and turns. Kate is chosen to cover Women’s Soccer at the Olympics. The field at Yankee Stadium is being converted to a soccer pitch for the occasion. In Kate’s teen age years she was a promising soccer player who was selected for the US Youth National Team. The present Olympic coach , Savannah Baker, was a teammate of Kate’s. Hard feelings and long kept secrets have caused a rift between the two. And then…..a third former teammate, and Kate’s roommate at the time, Jewelry designer Alexa Kane is discovered murdered in the locker room ice bath. What on earth was she doing at the stadium? Who would want her dead?

Fast paced and totally engaging, this book is hard to put down as Kate finds herself once again trying to unravel a complicated situation. Her estranged father ( Liam) is a NYC police detective assigned to this case, so the two work together as in Kipness’s first book. While father and daughter unofficially team up to solve the murder, background is revealed in a second timeline during Kate ‘s own soccer playing days. So many memories. And a very big secret Kate has held in for way too long.

Smart, savvy, self driven Kate is able to juggle her job, family, recent boyfriend David, and amateur sleuthing, epitomizing how a strong woman can indeed have it all. It’s impossible not to love Kate. Elise Hart Kipness shows her strength as a writer as she weaves a tale that is more than just a murder mystery. Important societal issues such as family estrangement, bullying, lying, child abuse, rape and the personal toll of keeping deep dark secrets are all addressed with insight and compassion. While this book is the second of a series and is definitely a stand alone why not treat yourself to the debut, Light’s Out? I know I am hooked on this series. Four twinkling stars for a book that’s an engaging read. It was published on September 17, 2024 so you can read it NOW. My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Mercer Publishers for and advance copy in exchange for my review.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I went into this book blind, but the cover was intriguing and made me think this would be a psychological thriller, perhaps? Instead, I would classify this almost as a cozy mystery/suspense with storylines that alternate between past and present.

Kate, Alexa, and Savannah were teen soccer prodigies who were selected to be a part of an elite summer soccer team. Something happened to Alexa one day during camp and she quit the soccer team and flew back home.

Flash forward to the present and Kate is now a sports reporter at the Olympics, Savannah is the coach of Team USA Women’s Soccer, and Alexa is found dead in the training room.

The storyline felt a tad amateurish to me and I was really hoping to get more from the conversations between characters and added details that make for a more immersive reading experience. Some of the conversations between characters felt like I was reading a young teen chapter book.

Audiobook Narrator- I hate giving negative feedback about something like this, but I did not feel that the narrator matched the book’s intention. She was great at differentiating the characters voices and being eager in her reading, but it was just too eager. It felt too over the top and a little obnoxious to listen to. It did even out mid-book and was easier to listen to, but the beginning and end were so bubbly, it was hard to remember someone died and people were experiencing hardships.

I’m very grateful for the opportunity to preview this book early in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Brilliance Publishing.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second mystery in the Kate Green series. In this one, sports journalist Kate once again gets caught up in a murder investigation, and conveniently once again her semi-estranged cop dead is on the case. Here, Kate is reporting on women’s Olympic soccer when a woman turns up dead - and the victim is Alexa, who played along with Kate and the current Olympic team coach Savannah when they all were vying for spots on the national soccer team as teenagers. Unlike the first book, this one thus is a dual time period as we have flashbacks to their teenage years. There’s also a little more emphasis on Kate’s investigation into her dad’s past, which is left hanging when the book ends.

I loved the first book in the series, but I found this one not quite as good - something about the pacing just made this one feel less urgent. I also was less a fan of Chante McCormick’s narration on the audiobook than I was on the first book. She does a good job with the overall narration, but her take on Alexa’s Long Island accent was not only not very accurate but borderline offensive. My guess is she not from the NY area as she also put the wrong emphasis on her pronunciation of the place name “Great Neck.” I know I shouldn’t let something like that affect my overall opinion of the book but it’s hard not to! That being said, I did still really like the book and look forward to reading the third book in the series, Close Call, which is about to come out.

3.75 stars

[Suzi (Lil Bit Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dangerous Play is the second book in the Kate Green series and while you can definitely read it as a standalone, you’ll get a much better sense of who Kate is if you read Lights Out first. In this installment, sports reporter Kate Green is covering the US Women’s Olympic soccer game when a dead body is found in an ice bath in the locker room. It turns out the dead woman used to play soccer with the head coach and several players on the US team. Kate, a former Olympic soccer champion herself, also had deep ties to the dead woman. As past and present collide, old secrets and rivalries will be uncovered as Kate tries to find out who had it in for her old friend.

This fast-paced thriller is a quick read with plenty of mystery to keep you turning the pages! I loved the focus on female athletes, the intense pressures they are subjected to, and how they cope with the challenges they face. A dual timeline gives the reader a backstory of Kate’s youth athlete days and her rise to soccer stardom. Kate is a great character, strong and fearless, and the writing style is crisp and engaging. Looking forward to reading more about Kate Green in the future!

My friends at Thriller Books Lover The Pulse have been buzzing about this one! Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me an advance copy of this book.

[Jody Blanchette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Green is back! In this book we get more of Kate’s story. In my opinion, that is crucial to a second book in a series. I want to know more about the character I fell in love with in the first book!! Well, we get it. We get Kate as a teen, soccer driven, Olympic bound, and dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a young girl in a competitive sport. This part of her life plays a gigantic role in the person she became, as well as the new story line of this book.
While covering the Olympics, Kate is faced with former rivals that bring back old feelings. The fact that her former friend is found murdered, only makes things worse. Kate has the insane urge to solve her murder. This should seem out of her depth, being that she is a reporter not a detective, but she is excellent at getting details for the bigger picture. I really enjoy the journey she takes to get to the truth.
A small side story that made an appearance in Lights Out, and is more explored in this book, is the mystery behind Kate’s dad. We get more to his story and about the incident that changed how he became as a father to Kate. This story isn’t done, but the picture is definitely getting clearer.
Lights Out was an excellent start to the series, but I really feel Dangerous Play is the book that sets the series in stone. I’m invested, and hope for several more books.

[Samantha (bookstasamm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reporter and ex-soccer player, Kate Green is back in book two of the series, Dangerous Play. While this can be read as a stand-alone, I do recommend reading the first book in the series, Lights Out, before this one. I really liked Kate in book one and enjoyed getting to learn more of her backstory in book two.

While covering the US Olympic Soccer team, one of Kate’s previous teammates, Alexa, is found dead in the locker room. Since the woman who was murdered was once Kate’s best friend she gets involved in the investigation. Kate is smart, strong, and savvy yet relatable, which is what I look for in a female main character.

I loved how Kipness used dual timelines to not only help us to know Kate better, but also to learn more about the victim. Alexa’s diary entries were a nice addition to the story as well. This fast-paced story was full of red herrings and kept me guessing until the end.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Chanté McCormick did a wonderful job of bringing this story to life. She was the perfect choice to voice Kate, and she sounded exactly like I thought she would!

If you’re looking for a page turning sports thriller with a strong female main character, then I highly recommend reading this series. This book shows a behind the scenes of competitive sports and does touch on some tough topics so make sure you check trigger warnings prior to reading it.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Audiobook and paperback

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

I recently finished book #1 and I really enjoyed it. The 2nd book in the series is 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬 and I just finished that one too! I think I liked the 2nd book better because in the 1st you’re getting to know the characters more but in the 2nd you get more into the crime at hand and also get a bit more knowledge about the characters and people aren’t always who they seem.

The way they find the body in this one actually shocked me and the timing couldn’t have been worse for these characters.

I think another reason I might gravitate more to the 2nd book is because I love soccer and am not really into basketball but honestly it doesn’t matter because Kate Green is where it’s at. She’s a great protagonist. I liked hearing about her time with friends at the soccer camp.

The audiobook on this one is excellent. Very well done. I also love authors who aren’t wasteful with words, Elise gets right into it and her books don’t have fluff or filler to hit a page or word count and I cannot tell you how much I as a reader appreciate that. She gives you enough for the story and character development and keeps it flowing.

This is a cool series and I’m pretty excited that I got to have a sneak peek and hype it for Elise! This is absolutely a series I’ll continue (and I don’t typically do series’ lol).

[Karen’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sports reporter and former soccer Olympian Kate Green is back in Dangerous Play. I really adored this character in Elise Hart Kipness’s debut novel, Lights Out, and loved Kate even more in this new novel.

Kate has been assigned to cover the women’s soccer team as they play in the summer Olympics which are being held in New York.

When Kate is interviewing the USA team in the locker room, she discovers the body of the famous jewelry designer Alexa Kane, who also happened to be her best friend years ago when they were in their teens.

Kate once again is a force of nature and stops at nothing to find out who was responsible for the murder of her old friend.

The story goes back and forth between the present and Kate’s investigation into Alexa’s murder, and the past as the friendship between Kate and Alexa and the events back then are slowly revealed.

This intriguing mystery kept me turning the pages late into the night as I had to know!

I really enjoyed seeing behind the scenes of both the world of reporting and the Olympic Games and the players.

I can’t wait to see what Elise Hart Kipness writes next. I hope we get more Kate Green.

*Thanks so much to the author, to Thomas & Mercer, and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the ARC and for including me on this book tour!*

[LianaReads blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dangerous Play" by Elise Hart Kipness is a gripping sports thriller that pulls you in from the start. The story follows sports reporter Kate Green as she finds herself entangled in a murder mystery at the Olympic women’s soccer locker room. With a dual timeline, the book delves into Kate's past as an Olympic soccer star while unraveling the mystery of her former teammate Alexa Kane's death. The pacing is fast, and the plot keeps you guessing with twists and turns. I enjoyed how the soccer backdrop added to the story but didn’t overwhelm it—this is definitely a thriller at heart. The dual mysteries, both in the present and from Kate's father’s past, add depth and complexity. Even without reading the first book, I found this story engaging and easy to follow. Perfect for fans of crime fiction, sports drama, and strong female leads. Looking forward to the next in the series!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy, opinions are my own

[Heather Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the premise of this series in that its sports themed mysteries. This is Book 2 in the Kate Green series and I really wish I had read Book 1 first. But I was still able to get a good picture of what happened in the prior book which I will go back and read now. I was pleasantly surprised by the Jewish rep in this book as well. As for the actual murder mystery, I thought it was well written. The way it played out was something I guessed at earlier in the book but not the actual culprit. The murder solved around the 90% mark which is interesting. There was a secondary mystery as a subplot and that goes on a bit longer than the main mystery.

I like the character of Kate Green and also love that she's an older protagonist than a lot of these types of books focus on. I hope future books explore more of her love life as well. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!

[Christina (ChristinaBethReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gripping book can be enjoyed even if it's your first encounter with Kate Green. But for fans who want to delve deeper into her past, starting with "Lights Out" unlocks the full depth of her story.

After a career-threatening murder case, Kate Green dives back into the game, reporting on the U.S. Women's Olympic soccer team. I was hooked instantly, especially by the flashbacks to her intense youth soccer days. These scenes perfectly capture the pressure young athletes face and how it can leave a lasting mark. The story takes a shocking turn when Kate uncovers a dark secret about the victim, one that rewrites everything she thought she knew.

Elise Hart Kipness weaves a story that captures the complexities of friendship set against the exhilarating world of sports.