While retaining the feel of an Agatha Christie murder mystery, Tom Hindle’s second novel really makes a mark on the genre in his own style.
How would you feel if the murder mystery game you have been invited to take part in, turns out to be a real hunt for a real murderer? This is the question that lies at the heart of of Tom Hindle’s enthralling and gripping murder mystery which throws in plenty of shocks and revelations along the way.
Set in a seas-side village, the events of The Murder Game take place over one evening – but it seems as though there are secrets that go back years that are just waiting to be uncovered at this murder mystery dinner party. Organised by Will Hooper (who has his own reasons for coming up with the game) as a way for the Hamlet Hall to make some money with the help of owner Ian Davies who has invested a lot of money to make the evening a success,. However, as each of the guests begin to arrive, it is not long tensions and tempers begin to rise due to a local debate about what to do with the lighthouse in the village in the aftermath of tragedy – but things really explode after the arrival of a truly unexpected guest who has a lot to answer for. What follows is an evening of accusations, revelations and of course murder.
Cleverly divided into almost hourly slots, each chapter has been cleverly constructed to ensure that the reader is kept in the loop as to everybody’s whereabouts during the course of the evening. However, there is a very clever twist towards the end that is impossible to have seen coming and is impressively built up to.
But what is equally is impressive about Tom Hindle’s novel is the way in which he has interlinked many people’s lives to gradually uncover a suitably complex story that has a number of twists and turns along the way. That is not to say it is overly complex, as it is easy to keep up with but it is entangled enough to keep the reader guessing as to what is going to happen next – particularly in the aftermath of a second unexpected death. The writing is well grounded and believable that you feel thoroughly invested with the characters and their backgrounds.
The Murder Game features a variety of characters, all of whom have been well written, but due to the way in which they develop and the reader learns more about them and their motivations, the readers impressions of them change, leaving you feeling uncertain on who to believe. The author really has you getting inside their heads and is excellent in keeping you guessing – particularly when Constable Fay attends the scene and starts interrogating, you feel you are living this with the characters every step of the way. It was genuinely difficult to see how the story was going to end.
This book perfectly captures and old-fashioned sense of how the story unravels (I was expecting Poirot to turn up at any moment) but with a contemporary twist that enthrals from start to finish. I can’t wait to see what Hindle’s latest Murder on Lake Garda has to offer…
By Emma Clarendon
The Murder Game is available to buy now.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐