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This Is Not A Game - Kelly Mullen

 


Description


Two unlikely detectives. A killer cocktail of suspects.

A Gibson martini garnished with three silverskin onions is 77-year-old Mimi’s favourite cocktail. It is best served with a crossword puzzle, not as an apéritif at Jane Ireland's extravagant auction party.

But given Mimi has been blackmailed into attending Jane's event, at a grand old mansion on Mackinac Island (Michigan’s answer to The Hamptons), there are worse drinks she could spend an evening sinking.

Thankfully for her, she's roped her granddaughter, Addie – who is escaping the heartache caused by her manipulative ex-fiancé – into accompanying her. While Addie spots celebrities and socialites in the manor's labyrinth of dark rooms and Mimi wonders how to confess the real reason for her presence at the soiree, a scream pierces the air.

Jane is dead.

And when a second body turns up, Mimi and Addie soon become the unlikeliest of sleuths in a race to narrow down the suspects.

In a house that contains as many secrets as the people within it, it’s going to take more than a Gibson to survive the night…


Review


The book is set on Mackinac Island in a Grand old Mansion with it's own drawbridge. Resident Mimi is attending an auction there as part of a blackmail note she receives. Not wanting to go alone she invites her Grand Daughter Addie from the mainland to go with her. Addie has her own issues to contend with after breaking up with her fiancé who was also the co-author of a successful online murder game she wrote.

Despite the title, the story did feel more like a game to me. I couldn't really take it seriously especially as at every turn of events Addie was comparing it to the game she co-wrote. She and Mimi take upon themselves to be the detectives after no one can gain access to the mansion due to the weather. 

There were parts where I was really drawn into the drama and was enjoying reading the book. Overall it felt a little repetitive for me. Some of the dialogue was very stilted, more like a murder mystery party than a real life drama. The characters didn't feel real and although it was set in present day it seemed more like the 1920s.

I'm giving this book 3 out of 5 stars.

My thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review. This book is published on 24 May 2025.


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