"Wanna play a game?"
Henrik "HP" Pettersson couldn't resist picking up the cell phone, thinking he'd sell it for some extra cash. However, the repeated texts asking him to play a game are hard to resist once he sees his name specified. Who is behind the unusual texts? HP joins the game, assuming it's just a joke from one of his friends. After all, how else would the text know who he was and that he would be there at that moment to pick up the strange cell phone, identified only by the number "128"? Regardless, HP loves the idea of participating in a real live video game, complete with scores and adoring fans. HP soon discovers there is much more going on, however, as the Game Master asks him to do a variety of tasks, all of which could bring him police attention. How will HP react when he realizes the game may be far more deadly than just rising to the top of the charts?
Anders de la Motte crafts an ingenious thriller that keeps the reader constantly guessing as the suspense continues building the more the plot unveils. The definition of a game is ramped up to new heights when seen through the lens of conspiracy theorists and Anders de la Motte utilizes it well. Set against the backdrop of Sweden, the political intrigue is hinted at initially but continues to increase as the story progresses. GAME: A THRILLER is riveting in intensity, where no one is immune to the risks of such thrill seeking. Is the game just about scores or is there a more sinister intent? And just who is the Game Master behind the game?
HP isn't a particularly likable character initially but we start to empathize with him as his story unfolds. Rebecca NormΓ©n is more of a paradox, as she has layers hidden beneath her calm exterior. Secondary characters such as Mange and Rehyman play critical roles in helping HP understand more... even as the issue becomes more muddled. The beauty of GAME: A THRILLER lies not in the character development so much as it is in how the game affects the characters. What a wickedly clever psychological experiment!
GAME: THE THRILLER is one of those novels that has layers within layers. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, a new twist emerges. Generally, I'm pretty good at figuring out what the ending is going to be, but GAME: A THRILLER is not one of those novels. GAME: A THRILLER is the first book in what promises to be an exhilarating new trilogy. I can't wait for the second installment in this trilogy!
Follow the rules and everybody gets hurt . . .
One Sunday morning after a long night of partying, Henrik
βHPβ Pettersson, a slacker with a lot of ego and very little
impulse control, finds a cell phone of an unfamiliar make on
a commuter train. Through insisting and slightly uncanny
messages that refer to him by name, the phone invites him to
play a game. HP accepts without hesitation.
The rules are that HP must complete tasks that range from
childish pranks to criminal acts, as allocated by the
mysterious Game Master. HP is the perfect contenderβ
alienated from society, devoid of morals, and desperate for
fame. His completion of the assignments are filmed and
uploaded onto a protected server where viewers rate the
Playersβ performances.
The Game starts out innocently enough and then becomes
increasingly risky, threatening the safety of someone close
to HP. He is determined to become a superstar, but when the
dark and tragic secrets of his familyβs past are at stake,
HP must make a choice. Will he suffer the humiliation of
defeat, or will the need to win push him to the limitβno
matter the cost?
First in a fast-paced and riveting trilogy, Game will leave
you guessing. Follow the rules, and everybody gets hurt .
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