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A Game of Greed and Deception
She is young and beautiful, and recently married to a very wealthy middle-aged man who considers her to be the ultimate woman for him and holds her out as a model for his beloved 10-year-old daughter. They travel to a mountain hideaway to celebrate their first year together as a family when things begin to unravel. Her husband goes missing after a treacherous car accident, and the wife and daughter seem trapped and isolated, and stalked from both inside and outside the cabin.
What ensues is the story of a woman driven by her soulless greed and self entitlement, and a man who is wronged and apparently out to get revenge. This deadly game of cat and mouse will keep you on the edge of your seat. The macabre scenes include deadly traps and medieval torture devices, hidden doors, secret rooms, and an underground labyrinth of torture chambers. Add in the legend of a hoard of pure gold bars, and it becomes clear that someone has a much bigger plan in mind and will let nothing get in their way. But who? This is the story of a plot so devious that it is set up to fool the State police investigation. But can it fool you? Keep guessing until the final scene as to what is really going on and let your intuition guide you.
What ensues is the story of a woman driven by her soulless greed and self entitlement, and a man who is wronged and apparently out to get revenge. This deadly game of cat and mouse will keep you on the edge of your seat. The macabre scenes include deadly traps and medieval torture devices, hidden doors, secret rooms, and an underground labyrinth of torture chambers. Add in the legend of a hoard of pure gold bars, and it becomes clear that someone has a much bigger plan in mind and will let nothing get in their way. But who? This is the story of a plot so devious that it is set up to fool the State police investigation. But can it fool you? Keep guessing until the final scene as to what is really going on and let your intuition guide you.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2014
90 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
John Mathews
2 books17 followersJohn Mathews is an American living in Rome, Italy. He writes psychological suspense and thriller fiction books which focus on the dark side of human nature, both that which is unfeeling and indifferent to the fate of others and that which derives pleasure and a feeling of power from pain inflicted on them.
His stories are unique, with heart-pounding suspense, and unforgettable characters. He writes captivating plots with significant twists that will keep the reader guessing until the final scene.
His stories are unique, with heart-pounding suspense, and unforgettable characters. He writes captivating plots with significant twists that will keep the reader guessing until the final scene.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 11, 2020
Tammy has it all. She's young, she's beautiful, married to a wealthy man who loves her, as well as his young daughter. Tammy and Stephen are celebrating their first wedding anniversary in a cabin in the snowy Colorado mountains.
Her husband is killed in a tragic auto accident, just as she had meticulously planned...and now her huge inheritance awaits her.
But did he really die? She reports to the local police that her husband is missing. When State Police go looking, they find Stephen's car .. but no body. The heavy snowstorm prevents them from searching any further.
So who is getting into her cabin at night? Who is moving things around? Who is crawling around on the roof?
Did Stephen learn about plan to kill her ..and this is his revenge? Why are there hidden rooms and tunnels filled with medieval torture devices? Who is the man Tammy has seen in the woods?
It becomes a cat and mouse game with deadly twists and turns leading to an unexpected ending.
Her husband is killed in a tragic auto accident, just as she had meticulously planned...and now her huge inheritance awaits her.
But did he really die? She reports to the local police that her husband is missing. When State Police go looking, they find Stephen's car .. but no body. The heavy snowstorm prevents them from searching any further.
So who is getting into her cabin at night? Who is moving things around? Who is crawling around on the roof?
Did Stephen learn about plan to kill her ..and this is his revenge? Why are there hidden rooms and tunnels filled with medieval torture devices? Who is the man Tammy has seen in the woods?
It becomes a cat and mouse game with deadly twists and turns leading to an unexpected ending.
September 1, 2020
Immature dialogues and very predictable storyline
**This review contains spoilers**
From the very first chapter, I could feel that the dialogue between the characters was immature and forced. It didn't feel like a conversation that could happen in real life. For example when the husband and wife were talking about their past in the restaurant, the subject didn't occur naturally and they didn't even acknowledge their daughter during this scripted dialogue. This continued throughout the book and unfortunately never improved.
The plot itself was very predictable and didn't feel as thrilling as mentioned in the title. When Tammy mentioned that her brother died as an infant, I instantly knew she was responsible for this.
The description of each scene was a bit over the top. It's good to establish the setting, however it went overboard with the unnecessary details. Sometimes it felt like an escape room, with the level of detail were included.
There were scenes or dialogues that felt quite repetitive. One of the characters did this on several pages in a row in the middle of the story.
They showed Maria to be a very smart kid, but at some points it felt a bit odd that she kept following the directions of her wicked stepmother after becoming suspicious of her, even before receiving the note from her father. For example, she was very skeptical of what Tammy was saying but she still agreed to go outside and allow Tammy to bind her to the chair and compress her head using the vise. Also, after nearly dying and being tortured, Maria stayed and tried to reenter the house instead of running away and escaping.
**This review contains spoilers**
From the very first chapter, I could feel that the dialogue between the characters was immature and forced. It didn't feel like a conversation that could happen in real life. For example when the husband and wife were talking about their past in the restaurant, the subject didn't occur naturally and they didn't even acknowledge their daughter during this scripted dialogue. This continued throughout the book and unfortunately never improved.
The plot itself was very predictable and didn't feel as thrilling as mentioned in the title. When Tammy mentioned that her brother died as an infant, I instantly knew she was responsible for this.
The description of each scene was a bit over the top. It's good to establish the setting, however it went overboard with the unnecessary details. Sometimes it felt like an escape room, with the level of detail were included.
There were scenes or dialogues that felt quite repetitive. One of the characters did this on several pages in a row in the middle of the story.
They showed Maria to be a very smart kid, but at some points it felt a bit odd that she kept following the directions of her wicked stepmother after becoming suspicious of her, even before receiving the note from her father. For example, she was very skeptical of what Tammy was saying but she still agreed to go outside and allow Tammy to bind her to the chair and compress her head using the vise. Also, after nearly dying and being tortured, Maria stayed and tried to reenter the house instead of running away and escaping.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2014
I did not want to put this book down! It’s the kind of book that will keep you up at night and keep you on the edge of your seat at the movies. You want to see how it ends. This book is full of nail-biting, adrenaline-pumping suspense. Not only does the main conflict keep us guessing, but the secondary mystery also keeps us speculating until the very end.
I would have rated the book five stars except for the abundant profanity.
The author brilliantly took a centuries-old formulaic plotline and made it fresh for today’s audience.
Nothing and nobody is as it seems in this book. Is the Colorado resort where the family vacations as glamorous as it seems, or does it have a dark past? Are longtime friends really friends? Are helpful people really as helpful as they seem? Can family be trusted? How well do we really know the people closest to us? Will any of the main characters truly turn out to be likeable?
The ending is completely mind-blowing. The reader may think that they have all the answers, but they will find that they don’t!
This book could easily be made into the kind of movie that I would avoid because I would be too scared to watch it. In fact, I have seen horror movies that pack much less of a punch than this novel.
If this book were made into a movie, it would prove that we don’t need non-stop action, an A-List cast, and continual horrific violence to engage the audience.
Kudos to John Mathews for his well-written, subtly crafted novel!
I would have rated the book five stars except for the abundant profanity.
The author brilliantly took a centuries-old formulaic plotline and made it fresh for today’s audience.
Nothing and nobody is as it seems in this book. Is the Colorado resort where the family vacations as glamorous as it seems, or does it have a dark past? Are longtime friends really friends? Are helpful people really as helpful as they seem? Can family be trusted? How well do we really know the people closest to us? Will any of the main characters truly turn out to be likeable?
The ending is completely mind-blowing. The reader may think that they have all the answers, but they will find that they don’t!
This book could easily be made into the kind of movie that I would avoid because I would be too scared to watch it. In fact, I have seen horror movies that pack much less of a punch than this novel.
If this book were made into a movie, it would prove that we don’t need non-stop action, an A-List cast, and continual horrific violence to engage the audience.
Kudos to John Mathews for his well-written, subtly crafted novel!
February 24, 2015
A Kindle Unlimited Read and a novel debut by indie author, John Mathews, was interesting. Dramatic at times, yet could be classified a psychological horror towards the ending. I found it difficult reading in the beginning, packed full of characters back history that is common for new authors. Allowing the past to unfold naturally within the storyline, as with Tammy's internal dialogue is always best.
For me, the characterization with the use of dialogue, actual and internal, felt strained and unnatural. Adding southern colloquialisms for Tammy could have showcased her personality better.
Better use of sensory phrasing of touch and smell could have increased the suspense. Showing rather than telling helps bring the reader into the tale with the characters. I found the text wordy with unnecessary adverbs interrupting the flow and there weren't many surprises in the twists and turns of the unfolding plot.
I do not provide a spoiler ending in my reviews. With that said, I was disappointed in the ending. I would read another tale from Mr. Mathews' pen.
For me, the characterization with the use of dialogue, actual and internal, felt strained and unnatural. Adding southern colloquialisms for Tammy could have showcased her personality better.
Better use of sensory phrasing of touch and smell could have increased the suspense. Showing rather than telling helps bring the reader into the tale with the characters. I found the text wordy with unnecessary adverbs interrupting the flow and there weren't many surprises in the twists and turns of the unfolding plot.
I do not provide a spoiler ending in my reviews. With that said, I was disappointed in the ending. I would read another tale from Mr. Mathews' pen.
April 27, 2015
This is mystery thriller that will keep you guessing at every turn. The author sets the scene and the planned outcome early in the novel, however nothing is as we suspect. We are given access to the thoughts of psychotic wife, Tammy, as she plots the murder of her husband and his ten year old daughter. She is foiled at every turn, getting herself deeper and deeper into the world of the macabre. We learn of her childhood where she smothered her infant brother, schoolyard violence showing that her desires come before the health and safety of anyone else. What is this woman capable of? Will she carry through with her murderous plan or will she be stopped?
Ominous events occur, such as the stabbing of an owl through the eye with a nail file, a fox pelt hanging from a tree, a loss of heat and water at a luxurious vacation cabin. The reader is left questioning these and other mysteries as the complex plot unfolds.
I enjoyed reading this book and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.
Ominous events occur, such as the stabbing of an owl through the eye with a nail file, a fox pelt hanging from a tree, a loss of heat and water at a luxurious vacation cabin. The reader is left questioning these and other mysteries as the complex plot unfolds.
I enjoyed reading this book and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.
October 27, 2020
I could only get to page 10 then stopped.
Though the book was recommended to me by the author I simply could not connect with the story nor the characters. Since I am not in the habit of giving bad reviews I will refrain with this.
Somethings I can point out is that it needs a lot of editing. To much tell and no show. I have been spoonfed al the way and the backstories overwhelming.
Though the book was recommended to me by the author I simply could not connect with the story nor the characters. Since I am not in the habit of giving bad reviews I will refrain with this.
Somethings I can point out is that it needs a lot of editing. To much tell and no show. I have been spoonfed al the way and the backstories overwhelming.
March 5, 2021
I was supposed to be reviewing this for the Google+ group, but I’d have given it a terrible review if I did. As it was, I couldn't finish it.
January 29, 2016
Stephen is an older man. He’s not great in the looks department, but he’s definitely good when it comes to money. Even though he grew up with rich parents, he made his way himself. When he meets Tammy, he’s a self-made millionaire. Like most men, he knows what kind of women he likes: young, well built, and gorgeous.
Tammy meets all of that. Throw in a sexy Southern accent and Stephen didn’t stand a chance. Unfortunately, she’s just what you’d expect out of a young woman marrying a man almost twice her age, especially when he has money. She’s only interested in the money. But she’s willing to be patient to get it, within limits.
Maria is Stephen’s 10 year old daughter. When her real mother got pregnant after a small romantic fling with Stephen, she could care less about the girl, but Stephen took her in and loved his daughter more than anything. However, he always felt bad leaving her with nannies as his business took him all over the world. When he met Tammy, he figured everything was solved. Here was a beautiful woman to serve as a role model for his daughter and warm his bed at night.
On their one year anniversary, Tammy set everything in to motion. Taking the small family up into the snowy Colorado mountains, she made sure they were isolated, something Stephen wasn’t too keen on. However, he’d do anything for his beautiful wife. What ensues is what you’d expect, or is it? You see the beginning coming from a mile away, but what about the rest of it? There are plot twists galore in this book, all meant to keep you guessing until the end.
True mystery aficionados might figure it out before the end, but I’ll admit I don’t read much mystery. I did eventually figure out what was going on, but it was closer to the end of the book, and it got creepy. I was a little let down with part of the ending, but since it’s an important part of the book, that’s all I’ll say about that.
There was an unfortunate amount of back story at the beginning of the book. Some of it was quite important, so it was good to know, but it could have been put into the story line a little better than it was. Most people don’t sit down and hash out an uncomfortable past over a relaxing dinner in the mountains. There were also a few areas that could have done with a little more editing, but all in all, it was a well-written and enjoyable book. I would actually be interested in knowing how fast true mystery readers can solve the puzzle Mr. Mathews spins out in his tale. All in all, I would recommend the book.
Tammy meets all of that. Throw in a sexy Southern accent and Stephen didn’t stand a chance. Unfortunately, she’s just what you’d expect out of a young woman marrying a man almost twice her age, especially when he has money. She’s only interested in the money. But she’s willing to be patient to get it, within limits.
Maria is Stephen’s 10 year old daughter. When her real mother got pregnant after a small romantic fling with Stephen, she could care less about the girl, but Stephen took her in and loved his daughter more than anything. However, he always felt bad leaving her with nannies as his business took him all over the world. When he met Tammy, he figured everything was solved. Here was a beautiful woman to serve as a role model for his daughter and warm his bed at night.
On their one year anniversary, Tammy set everything in to motion. Taking the small family up into the snowy Colorado mountains, she made sure they were isolated, something Stephen wasn’t too keen on. However, he’d do anything for his beautiful wife. What ensues is what you’d expect, or is it? You see the beginning coming from a mile away, but what about the rest of it? There are plot twists galore in this book, all meant to keep you guessing until the end.
True mystery aficionados might figure it out before the end, but I’ll admit I don’t read much mystery. I did eventually figure out what was going on, but it was closer to the end of the book, and it got creepy. I was a little let down with part of the ending, but since it’s an important part of the book, that’s all I’ll say about that.
There was an unfortunate amount of back story at the beginning of the book. Some of it was quite important, so it was good to know, but it could have been put into the story line a little better than it was. Most people don’t sit down and hash out an uncomfortable past over a relaxing dinner in the mountains. There were also a few areas that could have done with a little more editing, but all in all, it was a well-written and enjoyable book. I would actually be interested in knowing how fast true mystery readers can solve the puzzle Mr. Mathews spins out in his tale. All in all, I would recommend the book.
November 28, 2014
A Game of Greed and Deception is a suspenseful, edge of your seat thriller. The young, greedy and ambitious Tammy married the perfect man, while middle aged, balding but filthy rich Stephen thought marrying her was the best thing that ever happened to him. At their one year wedding anniversary the happy couple and Stephen’s ten year old daughter, Maria travel to a Colorado mountain cabin to celebrate. The problem is, things are not as they seem.
What I liked about the book -
Author John Mathews does a wonderful job of drawing the reader into the gripping story line. Most of the book is written from Tammy’s point of view and her inner dialogue is not only disturbing but is often clearly psychotic. The flashbacks to her childhood fills in the blanks and gives the reader a well-rounded understanding of her personality. As the story progresses, the tensions builds, until its spectacular conclusion. I have to admit that I did not expect the ending.
What I didn’t enjoy that much -
At times I felt that the dialogue was unnatural. This could well have been deliberate, due to some of the events in the story but it still niggled me a bit. For me though, it was a small distraction from an otherwise thrilling book.
Final thoughts -
This is a great read, with a well-executed plot. Fans of the thriller and suspense genre should enjoy its many twists and turns. A highly recommended read.
Also posted to my blog:
http://jackiegmills.wordpress.com/
What I liked about the book -
Author John Mathews does a wonderful job of drawing the reader into the gripping story line. Most of the book is written from Tammy’s point of view and her inner dialogue is not only disturbing but is often clearly psychotic. The flashbacks to her childhood fills in the blanks and gives the reader a well-rounded understanding of her personality. As the story progresses, the tensions builds, until its spectacular conclusion. I have to admit that I did not expect the ending.
What I didn’t enjoy that much -
At times I felt that the dialogue was unnatural. This could well have been deliberate, due to some of the events in the story but it still niggled me a bit. For me though, it was a small distraction from an otherwise thrilling book.
Final thoughts -
This is a great read, with a well-executed plot. Fans of the thriller and suspense genre should enjoy its many twists and turns. A highly recommended read.
Also posted to my blog:
http://jackiegmills.wordpress.com/
May 8, 2015
"A Game of Greed and Deception: A Mystery Drama" is a tense, suspenseful novel that is hard to stop reading. It is filled with twists and turns and constantly keeps the reader guessing.
Set in a renovated hunter's cabin in a remote area in Colorado during a harsh snow storm, the book starts with greedy, sociopathic Tammy carrying out her plot to have her wealthy husband killed. He is supposed to die when his car crashes and falls off a mountain. The crash happens, but so do a lot of other things: The next morning, there is no heat or water in the cabin, leaving Tammy to fend for herself and her ten-year-old stepdaughter, Maria.
The mystery twists and turns with every twist and turn that Tammy and Maria discover in the maze of a cabin: A wine cellar with a trap, a stone piling that blocks the chimney, an owl stabbed in the eye, and a trap door leading to a basement filled with remnants of almost unimaginable horror.
Tammy becomes convinced that her husband survived the crash and is getting even with her. So she attempts to play his game and try to carry out her plan for his demise.
The writing is crisp and the pace is fast. I got a very vivid image of the cabin and feel for the harsh winter outside. This is an enjoyable read that will keep you guessing
Set in a renovated hunter's cabin in a remote area in Colorado during a harsh snow storm, the book starts with greedy, sociopathic Tammy carrying out her plot to have her wealthy husband killed. He is supposed to die when his car crashes and falls off a mountain. The crash happens, but so do a lot of other things: The next morning, there is no heat or water in the cabin, leaving Tammy to fend for herself and her ten-year-old stepdaughter, Maria.
The mystery twists and turns with every twist and turn that Tammy and Maria discover in the maze of a cabin: A wine cellar with a trap, a stone piling that blocks the chimney, an owl stabbed in the eye, and a trap door leading to a basement filled with remnants of almost unimaginable horror.
Tammy becomes convinced that her husband survived the crash and is getting even with her. So she attempts to play his game and try to carry out her plan for his demise.
The writing is crisp and the pace is fast. I got a very vivid image of the cabin and feel for the harsh winter outside. This is an enjoyable read that will keep you guessing
April 30, 2016
A Game of Greed and Deception is ok for a first novel..
What I like about it: There's something new happening at every turn. John Mathews keeps you guessing.
What I didn't like about it: It was too descriptive that I found it difficult to picture what the author was trying to describe and stay with the story. Scenes just crop up without subtle introductions somewhere in the book. This is very important for continuity, so readers won't be surprised and feel like they missed whole chapters.
I give it 3 stars cause a mystery thriller is not easy to write... and it's a book that mystery readers would probably enjoy.
What I like about it: There's something new happening at every turn. John Mathews keeps you guessing.
What I didn't like about it: It was too descriptive that I found it difficult to picture what the author was trying to describe and stay with the story. Scenes just crop up without subtle introductions somewhere in the book. This is very important for continuity, so readers won't be surprised and feel like they missed whole chapters.
I give it 3 stars cause a mystery thriller is not easy to write... and it's a book that mystery readers would probably enjoy.
November 16, 2017
Greed can be murder
I liked this book but it got a little tedious at times. A lot of suspense and mystery but too much detail for me. Had to put it down for awhile and restart pages to regroup myself. If you like mystery, suspense and horror, at times, you will like this book too. Gave 4 stars because I had to stop and start again some.
I liked this book but it got a little tedious at times. A lot of suspense and mystery but too much detail for me. Had to put it down for awhile and restart pages to regroup myself. If you like mystery, suspense and horror, at times, you will like this book too. Gave 4 stars because I had to stop and start again some.
September 15, 2017
This book is riveting and suspenseful. You just can't put it down. Every time something new happens it makes you question what you thought was happening. There are many twists and turns that keep the reader guessing all the way to the end.
November 12, 2020
Review first posted at Girl Who Reads. A free copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Tammy Worthington took her much older husband and ten-year-old stepdaughter on vacation in Colorado for their one year anniversary, and her wealthy husband gets into a car accident as planned. But his body wasn't found in the wreckage, making him a missing person. She's trapped in her mountain cabin while someone is outside and she has to fool state authorities. Is Stephen getting his revenge on her?
En route to the cabin, the reader is subject to a lot of the characters' back story. It's so much telling, I was honestly tempted to just bypass it all and head straight to the death and destruction. Tammy's behavior is stilted from the start, though I also have the benefit of knowing that she's planning to kill Stephen for his money. Even so, her observations and thoughts just reveal that she's shallow and petty, with more interest in money than people. It doesn't make her much of a compelling character at the start of the novel, and it doesn't get any better as the story progresses. Having a diagnosis feels more like a copout than an explanation for how erratic she behaves, and I find it difficult to believe that she could hide this from her husband and stepdaughter for over a year.
Everyone in this novel has ulterior motives, even the ten-year-old. There are deadly traps, torture devices, hidden rooms, and a labyrinth conveniently located beneath the cabin. The torture and death seemed contrived at times, and Tammy's leaps of logic really didn't work for me. The flashback sequences didn't really help me bond with her or care what happened to her. If anything, I feel closest to Maria and was rooting for her to escape the entire time I was reading.
I got thrown out of the story with some inconsistencies in the text: Maria is wearing shoes, but puts a bandaid on her foot, a police officer doing a search for prior records has access to sealed juvenile records from another state as well as school records, which normally wouldn't have been computerized, let alone immediately available. Motivation is fairly straightforward, but not how things happen; we get an ending almost like the movie Clue, in that we're shown what police think and what actually happened. Ultimately, the big bads of the story weren't that compelling for me.
Tammy Worthington took her much older husband and ten-year-old stepdaughter on vacation in Colorado for their one year anniversary, and her wealthy husband gets into a car accident as planned. But his body wasn't found in the wreckage, making him a missing person. She's trapped in her mountain cabin while someone is outside and she has to fool state authorities. Is Stephen getting his revenge on her?
En route to the cabin, the reader is subject to a lot of the characters' back story. It's so much telling, I was honestly tempted to just bypass it all and head straight to the death and destruction. Tammy's behavior is stilted from the start, though I also have the benefit of knowing that she's planning to kill Stephen for his money. Even so, her observations and thoughts just reveal that she's shallow and petty, with more interest in money than people. It doesn't make her much of a compelling character at the start of the novel, and it doesn't get any better as the story progresses. Having a diagnosis feels more like a copout than an explanation for how erratic she behaves, and I find it difficult to believe that she could hide this from her husband and stepdaughter for over a year.
Everyone in this novel has ulterior motives, even the ten-year-old. There are deadly traps, torture devices, hidden rooms, and a labyrinth conveniently located beneath the cabin. The torture and death seemed contrived at times, and Tammy's leaps of logic really didn't work for me. The flashback sequences didn't really help me bond with her or care what happened to her. If anything, I feel closest to Maria and was rooting for her to escape the entire time I was reading.
I got thrown out of the story with some inconsistencies in the text: Maria is wearing shoes, but puts a bandaid on her foot, a police officer doing a search for prior records has access to sealed juvenile records from another state as well as school records, which normally wouldn't have been computerized, let alone immediately available. Motivation is fairly straightforward, but not how things happen; we get an ending almost like the movie Clue, in that we're shown what police think and what actually happened. Ultimately, the big bads of the story weren't that compelling for me.
January 21, 2018
Well, I had to give this 5 stars. I sat up until 3:30am to finish it, it was that hard to put down. I usually have a pretty good idea who the guilty person is by the end of a story. But not this one, I simply could not figure this one out. At the end, the police were supposing what happened and they got it wrong, but they'll never know that because those involved were all dead. But, the killer is still out there and they don't realize that. And that is how it ended, scary.
October 18, 2017
Brilliant!
This is a book that is fascinating and such a great 👍 read! I won't spoil the plot but it's a mixture of Hitchcock and Stephen King! The characters are believable and the ending is too much!!! Mr Matthews has written a terrific first book! Can't wait to read his next one! That you Mr Matthews for your great book!
This is a book that is fascinating and such a great 👍 read! I won't spoil the plot but it's a mixture of Hitchcock and Stephen King! The characters are believable and the ending is too much!!! Mr Matthews has written a terrific first book! Can't wait to read his next one! That you Mr Matthews for your great book!
September 12, 2023
On the edge of my seat!
This was a great book. Fast read too. I started to figure out the plot then changed my mind but in the end, my first thought was correct. The only thing that was hard and bothered me was poor little Maria. Not giving anything away but that was a hard one. If you like twists and turns you will like this book.
This was a great book. Fast read too. I started to figure out the plot then changed my mind but in the end, my first thought was correct. The only thing that was hard and bothered me was poor little Maria. Not giving anything away but that was a hard one. If you like twists and turns you will like this book.
January 16, 2018
With work...
Great story! I found the dialog to stiff and formal. Tammy should ngavw had more southern aphorisms. Marie has this logic and voice of someone much More older than 10. Matne
Great story! I found the dialog to stiff and formal. Tammy should ngavw had more southern aphorisms. Marie has this logic and voice of someone much More older than 10. Matne
October 28, 2020
For the Love of MONEY
Ok. This is absolutely a GREAT READ! This story has everything need to totally entertain. The plot is diabolical the characters fit perfectly and the writing is first class!
Ok. This is absolutely a GREAT READ! This story has everything need to totally entertain. The plot is diabolical the characters fit perfectly and the writing is first class!
October 22, 2017
What a total turnaround, twist in the tail story! An excellent read.
February 4, 2017
Note: I was provided a copy of this book for review.
From what appears to be an obvious beginning, this story soon unfurls into something quite unexpected. While on the surface it seems clear what is happening it soon becomes evident that there is a lot more to this story than meets the eye.
The narrative is complicated and certainly shocking and a tad sadistic at times, but there is no doubt it is also quite captivating and filled with intrigue. The writing is clever and well thought out, and each character is presented well. Mathews' use of his characters only adds to the thrill of the story and their role in the unfolding events brings about some of the more shocking and unexpected moments.
There are shocks and twists in almost every aspect of the story, not just from the actions of characters and events around them, but about the characters themselves as the intensity and stress of their environment reveal more of their true nature. Amidst the drama there are many guilty and innocent alike, each caught in the web of personal gain and pure cruelty, something which makes the chaos more unsettling as it means anything could happen.
The way Mathews presented this cat and mouse story was wonderful, especially coupled with characters who are clearly unbalanced and slightly psychopathic almost to their own admission. The ensuing conflict and consequences are depicted with style, Mathews never wavering from his characters nature, making their actions believable and justifiable, even if only to themselves.
What made this story enjoyable is that you really did not know how it was going to end. After starting out so simple and transparent, it is not long before it is clear nothing is as it seems and anything is possible. One of Mathews' strengths is toying with the reader and giving them the unexpected. There are twists and surprises and there are multiple mysteries to keep you guessing. The fast paced action means there is never a lull in the drama, and even the seemingly still moments adds to the tension and intrigue.
Mathews pushes past what you expect to happen and brings this thriller into a whole other level of madness. It is a twisted game of cat and mouse certainly, but Mathews brings another element altogether making it compelling and something you do not want to put down until the very last page.
This review was published on my blog https://lostinagoodbk.wordpress.com/2...
From what appears to be an obvious beginning, this story soon unfurls into something quite unexpected. While on the surface it seems clear what is happening it soon becomes evident that there is a lot more to this story than meets the eye.
The narrative is complicated and certainly shocking and a tad sadistic at times, but there is no doubt it is also quite captivating and filled with intrigue. The writing is clever and well thought out, and each character is presented well. Mathews' use of his characters only adds to the thrill of the story and their role in the unfolding events brings about some of the more shocking and unexpected moments.
There are shocks and twists in almost every aspect of the story, not just from the actions of characters and events around them, but about the characters themselves as the intensity and stress of their environment reveal more of their true nature. Amidst the drama there are many guilty and innocent alike, each caught in the web of personal gain and pure cruelty, something which makes the chaos more unsettling as it means anything could happen.
The way Mathews presented this cat and mouse story was wonderful, especially coupled with characters who are clearly unbalanced and slightly psychopathic almost to their own admission. The ensuing conflict and consequences are depicted with style, Mathews never wavering from his characters nature, making their actions believable and justifiable, even if only to themselves.
What made this story enjoyable is that you really did not know how it was going to end. After starting out so simple and transparent, it is not long before it is clear nothing is as it seems and anything is possible. One of Mathews' strengths is toying with the reader and giving them the unexpected. There are twists and surprises and there are multiple mysteries to keep you guessing. The fast paced action means there is never a lull in the drama, and even the seemingly still moments adds to the tension and intrigue.
Mathews pushes past what you expect to happen and brings this thriller into a whole other level of madness. It is a twisted game of cat and mouse certainly, but Mathews brings another element altogether making it compelling and something you do not want to put down until the very last page.
This review was published on my blog https://lostinagoodbk.wordpress.com/2...
August 24, 2016
Hold your horses! This is a psychodrama you can't put down!
When Stephen, a financially successful business man, married Tammy, a much younger woman with a history of mental and behavioral problems the end result could have been predicted by almost anyone; either divorce with a huge financial settlement, or death for one or the other, too often, the husband. So when after a year of increasingly troubled marriage, Stephen, Tammy and Stephen’s daughter, Maria travel to an isolated cliff side hunting cabin at the top of a Colorado mountain for vacation the ingredients for mayhem are in the bowl waiting to be mixed; what the result will be after the mixing and baking has occurred is anyone’s guess.
But the author continues to add ingredients: a crazy miner as the original owner and builder with a love of torture and murder, an ancient Spanish treasure, a plot hatched by Tammy to kill Stephen, a plot to foil Tammy hatched by Maria, a mysterious homeless ‘hunter’ who just happens to live part-time at the cabin, a huge snow-storm, and a big black man who never lets anyone really know whose side he’s own until the end. A man, who oddly enough, who seems to resemble the helper of the crazy man who originally built the cabln more than a hundred years before. After adding all of these into the mix, the reader is left with a cliff-hanger (literally-the cabin is on a cliff) in which one never knows who is alive and who isn’t, who’s playing head games with who, and who will be the next to die. Believe me, the reader hasn’t a clue!
The story is largely a narration of Tammy’s mental gyrations. Tammy is a high high-strung, high anxiety personality stretched to the breaking point by anxiety over her own plotting. We see what Tammy sees, hear what Tammy hears and are treated to Tammy’s fearful and angry interpretation of her observations. Tammy and Maria are well developed characters. Stephen and the other characters are sufficiently developed for purposes of the story, but only have supporting roles since the drama is acted out in Tammy’s mind.
A Game of Greed and Deception is a suspense novel of the first order and should appeal to everyone who loves edge of the seat suspense and psychodrama. It should appeal also to those who love mysteries and murder conspiracies.
When Stephen, a financially successful business man, married Tammy, a much younger woman with a history of mental and behavioral problems the end result could have been predicted by almost anyone; either divorce with a huge financial settlement, or death for one or the other, too often, the husband. So when after a year of increasingly troubled marriage, Stephen, Tammy and Stephen’s daughter, Maria travel to an isolated cliff side hunting cabin at the top of a Colorado mountain for vacation the ingredients for mayhem are in the bowl waiting to be mixed; what the result will be after the mixing and baking has occurred is anyone’s guess.
But the author continues to add ingredients: a crazy miner as the original owner and builder with a love of torture and murder, an ancient Spanish treasure, a plot hatched by Tammy to kill Stephen, a plot to foil Tammy hatched by Maria, a mysterious homeless ‘hunter’ who just happens to live part-time at the cabin, a huge snow-storm, and a big black man who never lets anyone really know whose side he’s own until the end. A man, who oddly enough, who seems to resemble the helper of the crazy man who originally built the cabln more than a hundred years before. After adding all of these into the mix, the reader is left with a cliff-hanger (literally-the cabin is on a cliff) in which one never knows who is alive and who isn’t, who’s playing head games with who, and who will be the next to die. Believe me, the reader hasn’t a clue!
The story is largely a narration of Tammy’s mental gyrations. Tammy is a high high-strung, high anxiety personality stretched to the breaking point by anxiety over her own plotting. We see what Tammy sees, hear what Tammy hears and are treated to Tammy’s fearful and angry interpretation of her observations. Tammy and Maria are well developed characters. Stephen and the other characters are sufficiently developed for purposes of the story, but only have supporting roles since the drama is acted out in Tammy’s mind.
A Game of Greed and Deception is a suspense novel of the first order and should appeal to everyone who loves edge of the seat suspense and psychodrama. It should appeal also to those who love mysteries and murder conspiracies.
March 24, 2015
OMG! That's all I can say.
Plot:
Tammy marries a rich man, who's twice her age. Then plans to kill him while on their first wedding anniversary trip. She wants it to look like an accident so she consults with a sleazy lawyer friend of her husband, Stephen, who hires a man to rig the brakes and set up an accident. However, the accident doesn't go quite according to plan and Stephen is still presumed to be alive. Now, everything seems to be going wrong for Tammy and Maria - Stephens daughter. Tammy is bat-shit crazy and she slowly loses her mind as weird things start happening around her. She is convince now that Stephen is trying to get revenge on her for trying to kill him. You'll be guessing about who's really behind everything up to the very end. I had hints but nothing substantial to prove who it was.
Characters:
We barely get any story from Stephen after the beginning of the story. I really felt sorry for him for marrying this lady who now wants to kill him. However, at the same time I really do wonder about men who just meet younger women and marry them way to quickly without really getting to know them. Tammy really played Stephen.
Maria, is a clever 10 year old. I think she acts a bit too mature for her age. I have a ten year old and although he can read people very well, I find it hard to believe he'd be this clever in the face of something like this.
Tammy has the best character development. Honestly, I read the synopsis for this one a few months ago so I had forgotten what it was going to be about. But I could tell from earlier that Tammy wants Stephens money. And that she was crazy. We slowly get to learn her dark secrets from her past.
Writing:
The story unfolded quickly. There was never a dull moment and I was constantly racking my brain trying to figure out what was going on. I could picture the cabin as vividly as if I had been there, although I was never bored by the details in to story. The were precisely what you needed.
Plot:
Tammy marries a rich man, who's twice her age. Then plans to kill him while on their first wedding anniversary trip. She wants it to look like an accident so she consults with a sleazy lawyer friend of her husband, Stephen, who hires a man to rig the brakes and set up an accident. However, the accident doesn't go quite according to plan and Stephen is still presumed to be alive. Now, everything seems to be going wrong for Tammy and Maria - Stephens daughter. Tammy is bat-shit crazy and she slowly loses her mind as weird things start happening around her. She is convince now that Stephen is trying to get revenge on her for trying to kill him. You'll be guessing about who's really behind everything up to the very end. I had hints but nothing substantial to prove who it was.
Characters:
We barely get any story from Stephen after the beginning of the story. I really felt sorry for him for marrying this lady who now wants to kill him. However, at the same time I really do wonder about men who just meet younger women and marry them way to quickly without really getting to know them. Tammy really played Stephen.
Maria, is a clever 10 year old. I think she acts a bit too mature for her age. I have a ten year old and although he can read people very well, I find it hard to believe he'd be this clever in the face of something like this.
Tammy has the best character development. Honestly, I read the synopsis for this one a few months ago so I had forgotten what it was going to be about. But I could tell from earlier that Tammy wants Stephens money. And that she was crazy. We slowly get to learn her dark secrets from her past.
Writing:
The story unfolded quickly. There was never a dull moment and I was constantly racking my brain trying to figure out what was going on. I could picture the cabin as vividly as if I had been there, although I was never bored by the details in to story. The were precisely what you needed.
January 25, 2015
'A Thriller with more twists and turns than a Mountain pass'
If you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing at every turn of a page, then 'A Game of Greed' by John Mathews will now be on your 'must reads for 2015'
This is a self-published novel and this proves that there are so many excellent books self-published available. So on to the key plot of the book. A planned vacation for Tammy Worthington and her husband and their ten year old daughter in a mountain hideaway location soon turns to a gripping, twisting thriller. So then Stephen heads out to a local store and never returns. It is clear that Tammy is driven by greed and some. She wants it all and the pages soon turn into a sick twisted world of horror.
Tammy and her daughter now find themselves trapped in the holiday cabin and now were to run to. Be aware that this at times will shock the reader, Tammy is clearly psychotic and has flashbacks to her own childhood and you also get inside the mind of a woman driven by her own greed.
The story very quickly develops and you are drawn into the thrilling tense drama that is being played out in this book. There is torture, violence that may upset some readers so beware. Imagine a thriller that also has hidden passages among the many twists and turns through the book. So the question is who did and why...buy it and read it. Be warned though at the end I felt like a car wreck. You think you have the answer then the author surprises you.
For a debut novel this hit home and hard, it had everything a plot and a sub plot and some more on top of all that. Be prepared to be shocked. But at the same time it is an extremely cleverly written debut novel.
On a personal level this would not normally be a book that I would buy as at times I was too shocked by some of the content but that said it will appeal to the reader that enjoys this genre 'A Game of Greed' by John Mathews quite a debut novel.
RECOMMENDED
If you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing at every turn of a page, then 'A Game of Greed' by John Mathews will now be on your 'must reads for 2015'
This is a self-published novel and this proves that there are so many excellent books self-published available. So on to the key plot of the book. A planned vacation for Tammy Worthington and her husband and their ten year old daughter in a mountain hideaway location soon turns to a gripping, twisting thriller. So then Stephen heads out to a local store and never returns. It is clear that Tammy is driven by greed and some. She wants it all and the pages soon turn into a sick twisted world of horror.
Tammy and her daughter now find themselves trapped in the holiday cabin and now were to run to. Be aware that this at times will shock the reader, Tammy is clearly psychotic and has flashbacks to her own childhood and you also get inside the mind of a woman driven by her own greed.
The story very quickly develops and you are drawn into the thrilling tense drama that is being played out in this book. There is torture, violence that may upset some readers so beware. Imagine a thriller that also has hidden passages among the many twists and turns through the book. So the question is who did and why...buy it and read it. Be warned though at the end I felt like a car wreck. You think you have the answer then the author surprises you.
For a debut novel this hit home and hard, it had everything a plot and a sub plot and some more on top of all that. Be prepared to be shocked. But at the same time it is an extremely cleverly written debut novel.
On a personal level this would not normally be a book that I would buy as at times I was too shocked by some of the content but that said it will appeal to the reader that enjoys this genre 'A Game of Greed' by John Mathews quite a debut novel.
RECOMMENDED
January 25, 2015
'A Thriller with more twists and turns than a Mountain pass'
If you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing at every turn of a page, then 'A Game of Greed' by John Mathews will now be on your 'must reads for 2015'
This is a self-published novel and this proves that there are so many excellent books self-published available. So on to the key plot of the book. A planned vacation for Tammy Worthington and her husband and their ten year old daughter in a mountain hideaway location soon turns to a gripping, twisting thriller. So then Stephen heads out to a local store and never returns. It is clear that Tammy is driven by greed and some. She wants it all and the pages soon turn into a sick twisted world of horror.
Tammy and her daughter now find themselves trapped in the holiday cabin and now were to run to. Be aware that this at times will shock the reader, Tammy is clearly psychotic and has flashbacks to her own childhood and you also get inside the mind of a woman driven by her own greed.
The story very quickly develops and you are drawn into the thrilling tense drama that is being played out in this book. There is torture, violence that may upset some readers so beware. Imagine a thriller that also has hidden passages among the many twists and turns through the book. So the question is who did and why...buy it and read it. Be warned though at the end I felt like a car wreck. You think you have the answer then the author surprises you.
For a debut novel this hit home and hard, it had everything a plot and a sub plot and some more on top of all that. Be prepared to be shocked. But at the same time it is an extremely cleverly written debut novel.
On a personal level this would not normally be a book that I would buy as at times I was too shocked by some of the content but that said it will appeal to the reader that enjoys this genre 'A Game of Greed' by John Mathews quite a debut novel.
RECOMMENDED
If you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing at every turn of a page, then 'A Game of Greed' by John Mathews will now be on your 'must reads for 2015'
This is a self-published novel and this proves that there are so many excellent books self-published available. So on to the key plot of the book. A planned vacation for Tammy Worthington and her husband and their ten year old daughter in a mountain hideaway location soon turns to a gripping, twisting thriller. So then Stephen heads out to a local store and never returns. It is clear that Tammy is driven by greed and some. She wants it all and the pages soon turn into a sick twisted world of horror.
Tammy and her daughter now find themselves trapped in the holiday cabin and now were to run to. Be aware that this at times will shock the reader, Tammy is clearly psychotic and has flashbacks to her own childhood and you also get inside the mind of a woman driven by her own greed.
The story very quickly develops and you are drawn into the thrilling tense drama that is being played out in this book. There is torture, violence that may upset some readers so beware. Imagine a thriller that also has hidden passages among the many twists and turns through the book. So the question is who did and why...buy it and read it. Be warned though at the end I felt like a car wreck. You think you have the answer then the author surprises you.
For a debut novel this hit home and hard, it had everything a plot and a sub plot and some more on top of all that. Be prepared to be shocked. But at the same time it is an extremely cleverly written debut novel.
On a personal level this would not normally be a book that I would buy as at times I was too shocked by some of the content but that said it will appeal to the reader that enjoys this genre 'A Game of Greed' by John Mathews quite a debut novel.
RECOMMENDED
January 30, 2015
Oh. My. Gosh...This book is so amazing! From the first chapter I was hooked and trying to solve the mystery right along with the characters. I thought there was something off about Tammy from the get go and that feeling never really went away. She was crazy and the thought of her master plan failing was only making her go crazier.
Tammy and Stephen have been married for a year so to celebrate they go to a cabin in Colorado. Tammy has ulterior motives for the trip. She wants to kill her husband to get his 50 million dollars to herself. When her plan goes wrong and odd things start to happen around the cabin, Tammy starts to freak out. She is convinced Stephen is trying to kill her and is desperate to kill him before he can get to her.
I felt so bad for poor little Maria. She did not deserve her fate but she was a tough little girl. I was very impressed by how clever she was for a 10 year old. She outsmarted her stepmom time and time again. Tammy was a horrible person only out for money, she didn't care about her stepdaughter and proved that multiple times. I was happy with how things ended for her. I thought she deserved every part of it--if not more.
This book is labeled a mystery drama but I think this is every bit a thriller and maybe even horror. I loved it! There were a couple of times that I got so freaked out I had to stop reading and that made it even better. This books exceeded every expectation I had for it and truly surprised me.
The only thing I didn't like about it was Tammy's "slight" southern accent. I was born and raised in SC so I have a slight southern accent. The way Tammy talked made it seem more like she was born in the heart of Alabama or Texas.
The whole accent thing was only a minor thing though and was easily ignorable. It didn't take anything away from the book at all, which I was really glad about.
For more of my reviews go to http://www.hyperashley.com/
Tammy and Stephen have been married for a year so to celebrate they go to a cabin in Colorado. Tammy has ulterior motives for the trip. She wants to kill her husband to get his 50 million dollars to herself. When her plan goes wrong and odd things start to happen around the cabin, Tammy starts to freak out. She is convinced Stephen is trying to kill her and is desperate to kill him before he can get to her.
I felt so bad for poor little Maria. She did not deserve her fate but she was a tough little girl. I was very impressed by how clever she was for a 10 year old. She outsmarted her stepmom time and time again. Tammy was a horrible person only out for money, she didn't care about her stepdaughter and proved that multiple times. I was happy with how things ended for her. I thought she deserved every part of it--if not more.
This book is labeled a mystery drama but I think this is every bit a thriller and maybe even horror. I loved it! There were a couple of times that I got so freaked out I had to stop reading and that made it even better. This books exceeded every expectation I had for it and truly surprised me.
The only thing I didn't like about it was Tammy's "slight" southern accent. I was born and raised in SC so I have a slight southern accent. The way Tammy talked made it seem more like she was born in the heart of Alabama or Texas.
The whole accent thing was only a minor thing though and was easily ignorable. It didn't take anything away from the book at all, which I was really glad about.
For more of my reviews go to http://www.hyperashley.com/
December 30, 2016
An unexpected story with lots of twists and turns, this book will have the reader craving for more. Tammy marries an older man, mainly for his money. As the story unfolds, she plans a romantic getaway to a remote, isolated place with her husband and his 10 year old daughter. Little does she know that there are unexpected troubles in store. When Stephen ends up in a car crash, Tammy expects that she will now get the money that she was eyeing. However, a snow storm, a crazy cabin in the snow covered mountain and someone stalking her adds suspense to the plot.
The authors has written the story well with narration mostly from Tammy's POV. There is a lot of inner dialogue that she has with herself and through this we come to know of her past. I am not sure whether this helps justify her behavior but it sure does give the reader perspective. A fast paced thriller, this will have you on the edge of your seat. Every character we are introduced to, including the daughter, has a hidden agenda of their own. This adds to the mix and thus ensue a series of events that take the reader on a roller-coaster ride of murder, mystery and mayhem. We come to realize that the author has a bigger plan and everyone is just a pawn in his game with everyone being a master of greed and deception.
What will happen at the end? Read on to find out! A wonderful gift for fans of mystery and thrillers! Pick this book up and enjoy!
The authors has written the story well with narration mostly from Tammy's POV. There is a lot of inner dialogue that she has with herself and through this we come to know of her past. I am not sure whether this helps justify her behavior but it sure does give the reader perspective. A fast paced thriller, this will have you on the edge of your seat. Every character we are introduced to, including the daughter, has a hidden agenda of their own. This adds to the mix and thus ensue a series of events that take the reader on a roller-coaster ride of murder, mystery and mayhem. We come to realize that the author has a bigger plan and everyone is just a pawn in his game with everyone being a master of greed and deception.
What will happen at the end? Read on to find out! A wonderful gift for fans of mystery and thrillers! Pick this book up and enjoy!
December 8, 2014
How to make a rich, married woman fall for you? If you want to know the truth, then read this ebook. This is not a dating guide for men at all, but contains several universal truths and priceless quotes which redefine both masculine and feminine psychology. To illustrate my point, just take a look at the following passage, "If I wanted some hot, buff stud, I would’ve had to settle for a poor, boring dimwit. I’d rather have a man who is sensitive, brilliant, and charming. And let’s not forget how successful you’ve been..."
Interestingly, in spite of several deeply thoughtful and interesting passages, the ebook is as much a page turner as any third-rate pulp fiction. So what differentiates the two? Quality, of course. This ebook has a decent story which hits home quite hard and is not filled with cheap thrills. Such a high quality story in a self-published novel was a bit unexpected for me. The motions through which both Stephen and Tammy went through are something most lovers go through as well. The profanity seems to be a bit out of place, given the setting, but regardless, it didn't keep me from enjoying this ebook. I highly recommend it to any crime thriller fan who loves dark books with twisted endings!
Interestingly, in spite of several deeply thoughtful and interesting passages, the ebook is as much a page turner as any third-rate pulp fiction. So what differentiates the two? Quality, of course. This ebook has a decent story which hits home quite hard and is not filled with cheap thrills. Such a high quality story in a self-published novel was a bit unexpected for me. The motions through which both Stephen and Tammy went through are something most lovers go through as well. The profanity seems to be a bit out of place, given the setting, but regardless, it didn't keep me from enjoying this ebook. I highly recommend it to any crime thriller fan who loves dark books with twisted endings!
July 22, 2016
“Everything was in confusion in the Oblonskys’ house”. And nothing and nobody is not quite as clear as it seems at first glance.
Stephen is wealthy middle-aged man. He married the young, beautiful, greedy and wrong woman (even if this was the best thing that ever happened to him) and forced to pay for marrying her not only in terms of money, but also in terms of the time and yes maybe life.
His ambitious wife Tammy (the most of the book is written from her point of view) is really beautiful, greedy and wrong, and as a first step, it needs to decide what medicine to use, it is important that you try to find and out what the disease is in the terms used by trained health workers.
Well, and the Story Begins…
Skipping over any plot summary, which is included in several other reviews, I’d like to add a special personal note. A Game of Greed and Deception by John Mathews is a real mystery drama with nonstop action. There are some great twists and turns, well-executed plot, real characters (I personally know such couples), and an unpredictable ending that took me by complete surprise – just to keep you guessing.
I’d recommend it to anyone looking for an action-packed, suspense thriller novel.
Stephen is wealthy middle-aged man. He married the young, beautiful, greedy and wrong woman (even if this was the best thing that ever happened to him) and forced to pay for marrying her not only in terms of money, but also in terms of the time and yes maybe life.
His ambitious wife Tammy (the most of the book is written from her point of view) is really beautiful, greedy and wrong, and as a first step, it needs to decide what medicine to use, it is important that you try to find and out what the disease is in the terms used by trained health workers.
Well, and the Story Begins…
Skipping over any plot summary, which is included in several other reviews, I’d like to add a special personal note. A Game of Greed and Deception by John Mathews is a real mystery drama with nonstop action. There are some great twists and turns, well-executed plot, real characters (I personally know such couples), and an unpredictable ending that took me by complete surprise – just to keep you guessing.
I’d recommend it to anyone looking for an action-packed, suspense thriller novel.
January 6, 2015
Game of Greed and Deception by John Mathews is a superbly written, page-turning thriller that horrifies and entertains.
Tammy Worthington and her rich husband along with her step-daughter travel to Colorado for a holiday vacation. Her husband is killed in an auto accident and Tammy thinks that his fortune is now hers. Fate has a cruel way of intervening and Tammy becomes a participant is a house of horrors as the cabin she is holed up in becomes a macabre and frightening place filled with torture and revenge. If this story were a movie, I would have to cover my eyes through some of the scenes that played out in this novel. It gave me goosebumps and scared the dickens out of me.
To be quite honest, this type of story was a little too dark for my taste, but it was like a train-wreck where I just could not stop turning the pages. I had to keep reading to find out the ending and oh what a perfect ending it was!
For a debut fiction novel, I found it easy to read even through the many twists and turns of the story line. Mr. Mathews has woven a tale so dark and horrific that lovers of this genre will surely want to read it. So, go grab a copy, it is that good.
Tammy Worthington and her rich husband along with her step-daughter travel to Colorado for a holiday vacation. Her husband is killed in an auto accident and Tammy thinks that his fortune is now hers. Fate has a cruel way of intervening and Tammy becomes a participant is a house of horrors as the cabin she is holed up in becomes a macabre and frightening place filled with torture and revenge. If this story were a movie, I would have to cover my eyes through some of the scenes that played out in this novel. It gave me goosebumps and scared the dickens out of me.
To be quite honest, this type of story was a little too dark for my taste, but it was like a train-wreck where I just could not stop turning the pages. I had to keep reading to find out the ending and oh what a perfect ending it was!
For a debut fiction novel, I found it easy to read even through the many twists and turns of the story line. Mr. Mathews has woven a tale so dark and horrific that lovers of this genre will surely want to read it. So, go grab a copy, it is that good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews