Book Review- Scott Kershaw's The Game

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing me with a copy of Scott Kershaw’s novel, The Game, in exchange for an honest review.

A group of strangers from different parts of the world are shocked when the person they love the most has been kidnapped. To save their loved one, they are sent instructions via text, which involve immediately traveling to the United Kingdom and meeting at a remote countryside inn. At this inn, the strangers all meet and must work together to play a “game” created by the kidnappers, all have the knowledge that there can only be one winner. Desperate and filled with distrusted, the strangers are uncertain if they should truly work together or if one among them might actually be involved in the crime.

The Game gets off to a strong start as short chapters ping-pong between the main characters and their reactions to the kidnappings. Mothers lose their children, a man’s best friend is taken, and another man finds that his fiancé has been snatched. The loved ones of those who have been kidnapped, each have their own secrets and guilt. One mother spends time playing online bingo and is neglectful, and another is an addict. It is not clear why they are being targeted, but they all feel certain level of guilt.

The first half of the story is compelling and fast-paced. I wasn’t quite certain where the story was headed, but I couldn’t put it down. The story is creepy and unsettling, as the kidnappers always seemed to be watching and were quite vicious in their actions. It reminded me of a much less intense version of one of my favorite film franchises, Saw. The Game was not brutal like the Saw films, but the themes of the guilty getting their comeuppance was a big part of both stories.

Although the pacing is quick, The Game is uneven in its acts. There is a lot, more than half the book, dedicated to the build-up to when the characters meet in at the Inn. Even though I was intrigued, I found my interest waning by the middle of the story. I did not anticipate the ending, including the reveal of the kidnapper, so this was certainly a surprise, but I also didn’t feel satisfied by the ending. It went a direction that was unexpected, which is a obviously a positive with a good mystery novel, but on the flip-side it felt disconnected from the overarching vibe. The kidnapper had a clear and strong motive for doling out the punishment, but the entire concept of this elaborate “game” didn’t fit with the character. I believed in their need for retribution, but not the methodology. It almost felt like two different novels stitched together. Also note that the final reveal with the kidnapper’s motives includes some very heavy and sensitive issues. It was surprising.

This all said, The Game was a fun weekend read. I recommend it to those who like mysteries that have a sinister quality. I can’t put this in the horror category, but it has a touch of that genre. I can imagine The Game being turned into a film.

Book Review- Melissa Gilbert's Back to the Prairie: A Home Remade, a Life Rediscovered

Thank you to AudibleFM and Simon & Schuster Audio for a copy of Melissa Gilbert’s memoir, Back to the Prairie: A Home Remade, A Life Rediscovered.

Veteran actress Melissa Gilbert’s latest memoir focuses on her most recent decade or so, when she met her third husband, Timothy Busfield, and they decided to leave their life in Hollywood behind, buying a house in the countryside of upstate New York. Although they both still work in the film industry, a majority of their life has taken on a quieter, simpler tone, as they grow their own food and raise chickens on their modest property. This situation had them perfectly set up for isolation and self-sufficiency during the pandemic, but also left them reflective as realized how much they miss connecting with friends and family.

As a kid growing up in the 80’s, I was a huge fan of Little House on the Prairie. When I saw this book on offer, I was curious about Gilbert’s current life and the meaning of the title. She has indeed, created a modern version of a prairie lifestyle and she seems very content. I most enjoyed her interactions with animals, including a story of a friendly bear visiting their property. Back to the Prairie made me wish that I could raise chickens in my neighborhood, as they seem delightful.

I wouldn’t expect anyone other than Gilbert to provide the narration, but I must confess that I found Gilbert’s voice to be a little grating. It was strange, but the real Gilbert gave-off the Laura Ingall’s vibe, a bit “Pollyanna”. I don’t means this as a total negative, as I can appreciate positivity and enthusiasm, but ilso left me listening in short spurts, alternating with other audio books.

The most lovely take-away from Back to the Prairie was an admiration for Gilbert’s ability to make big life changes. Not only did she move away from her Hollywood lifestyle and attempt new skills, such as many DIY house projects, she let go of many trappings of her previous life. Gilbert and Busfield even had a major sale of their treasure possessions, such as Gilbert’s bonnet from Little House on the Prairie. I’ve recently looked through objects from my childhood and many things, I still could not part with. I think it takes guts to let-go. Gilbert also candidly admits to financial stress and the challenges of aging, especially for a woman who has spent so much time in the spotlight. She has a great perspective on growing older and adapting. is the perfect pick for someone who is facing major life changes and needs a dose of encouragement.

Book Review- Kate William's Never Coming Home

I work for an independent bookstore and on my most recent shift, I asked my coworker about their recent reads. She told me about Kate William’s Never Coming Home, which she described as a modern-day take on Agatha Christie’s novel, And Then There Were None. I was sold. Never Coming Home was sitting on our break room ARC bookcase, a perk that I’ve previously avoided, as I have million book commitments, but the concept of Never Coming Home was intriguing, so I borrowed it for the weekend.

Never Coming Home starts with ten social media influencers, all under the age of twenty-one, who are invited on an all-inclusive vacation to a island resort called “Unknown Island.” For months, “Unknown Island” had been heavily advertised on social media and each of the influencers feels that they are very special by being the first chosen to have this experience.

When they arrive on the Island, they find the last of the staff leaving and the hotel in disrepair. It is far from the promised luxury experience. With the exception of a creepy computer in the main lobby that provides updates of the island and its guests, the influencers have their internet access cut off. At breakfast, they are each given an envelop with a message, calling them each out for being a murderer. Paranoid and upset, the influencers are confused about how to proceed, when the first among them dies. One by one, they are picked-off in ways that are foreshadowed by the computer messages. Can they figure out the culprit, before the all are killed?

Never Coming Home definitely has shades of Christie’s And Then There Were None, and if you are familiar with Christie’s work, it’s fun to see it all play out, including being able to guess the murderer. The modern updates with social media influencers worked well and this is squarely a YA novel. I don’t often read YA and when I borrowed the book, I didn’t realize that it was YA, but as a bookseller, I found it to be a good opportunity to read a new novel in this very popular genre.

The story isn’t quite as seamless as Christie’s version. Especially as the story progresses, I found an increasing need to utilize suspension of disbelief. Although I love the island setting, I think a simpler setting would have been more believable. Also, some of the murders worked better than others, seemed more plausible. This said, I sailed through book during a snowy afternoon and I enjoyed the ride. I suspect that my teenage stepchildren would find Never Coming Home appealing and I could see this being turned into a feature film or limited series.