The Murder Game

By: Catherine McKenzie writing as Julie Apple

Narrated by: Teri Clark Linden

Ten years working as a prosecutor have left Meredith Delay jaded and unsure of what she wants out of life. She's good at her job, but it haunts her. Her boyfriend wants her to commit, but she keeps him at arm's length. Then Meredith is assigned to a high-profile prosecution involving the violent murder of a fallen hockey star. At first, it appears to be just another case to work. But when her old friend Julian is accused of the murder, it takes on a whole new dimension.

Meredith, Julian, Jonathan, and Lily were a tight-knit group in law school. But now, Jonathan's defending Julian, and Lily's loyalties aren't clear. And when Julian invokes a rare - and risky - defense, Meredith is forced to confront their past. Has something they played at as students finally been brought to death?

©2016 Catherine McKenzie (P)2016 Catherine McKenzie

A clever, intriguing legal thriller

I loved everything about this - the dual timeline, the court trial (naturally ;)  ) and the narration. The ending was sublime ....and totally reflected the story's title. Had it really all been a game? Is there such a thing as the perfect murder?

Meredith Delay  works for the Crown Prosecution Service and has achieved great heights for someone so young. Her commitment to the job is unquestionable, and her personal life has suffered as a result. When her boss insists she take on a high profile murder case where the defendant, Julian, is an old law school friend of hers, she worries her past friendship make her unsuitable to try the case. These worries are compounded further when she learns he is to be represented by her ex-boyfriend, Jonathon. Along with Lily, they'd been a tight-knit group in law school. Is she really the right person to prosecute him? Her boss believes her past connection is an asset, and keen to prove him right Meredith builds her case against Julian. 

Told in alternate timelines between the present day trial and Meredith's time in law school, the story builds gradually, revealing snippets about each character in a gradual manner, which then come to the fore as the trial progresses. The clues are there, but joining them into a cohesive whole comes later as the story heads towards a delicious ending that had me listening late into the night. 


I was completely hooked and waited for the verdict with baited breath. But there was more to come, and boy was that a gem worth waiting for. It certainly left me wondering if the jury had returned the right verdict, and I totally understand the comparison to How To Get away With Murder. 

This is a cleverly-written, intense legal thriller that I have no qualms about recommending. If you a pacy thriller with intrigue and suspense aplenty, you'll love this. 

THE MURDER GAME

This is a good cozy mystery. The s is s legal court mystery. Meredith has to try the hardest case yet. It turns out to be an old friend. Everything is not what it seems. It has a good ending . Teri Clark Linden does a good job narrating this book.

Past Becomes Present

Riveting psychological insight into college friends whose game never quite ends. Good pace. Lots of suspense.

great story-within-a-story I love it

very creative way to write this book I loved it I read the other book and it was good as well . my only problem with this read wasn't with the author... it was that the narrator, who I usually love, paused way too long in between chapters. I had to go back to my phone to see if it had shut off because she was pausing so long.

THE THE MURDER GAME

The author knocked this one out of the P. A. R. K!!!!!
Though a few twists I saw coming, I missed a couple of clues because I was following the breadcrumbs. I was gobsmacked in the last little bit!