Dead Game (Emily Stone Series) [Kindle Edition]

Jennifer Chase (Author)

Book Description

In her independent efforts to catch child killers, Emily Stone discovers the evidence that the cops can’t — or won’t — uncover. Now, this covert investigator is back on the hunt for the world’s most sick and twisted murderers. But even with help from ex-police detective Rick Lopez, this time she’s facing her most dangerous opponent yet.

The headlines in the San Jose Mercury News blare updates on a serial killer who seems able to slaughter with impunity. Men, women — it doesn’t matter; the victims serve only to satisfy a perverted need to kill. The killer watches the moment of death on multiple computer screens, over and over again. The only connection is that they’re all devotees of the latest video-game craze — a sophisticated brain-puzzler called EagleEye.

When the killer goes after Lopez’s law-enforcement mentor, Lopez and Stone decide to give the cops a little extra, unsolicited help. What follows takes them deep inside a shocking high-tech world, a kind of social-networking community for serial killers. But when they start getting too close to the truth, all hell’s going to break loose.

Now, Stone and Lopez become the killer’s next target as Stone must make a difficult decision to leave the ones she loves in an all-or-nothing effort for survival. Can they stay alive long enough to blow the whistle on this unlikely perpetrator?

2010 AWARD WINNER for Thriller at Readers Favorite

Product Details

• File Size: 334 KB
• Print Length: 376 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 143275128X
• Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc. (November 30, 2009)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0036VOC8G
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,360 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 Stars- It's Better Than Okay- Valiant Effort March 22, 2010

By KMG

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

3.5 Stars- I Liked It

"Dead Game: An Emily Stone novel" was a fast read.

Immediately upon the first few pages, we are thrust into Emily's life as a secret detective. She is a "lost" prior detective who slipped through the system when she was marked as deceased, and she remained to be listed as so. Now, she is solving child predator and abduction cases on her own, with the help of her lover and also retired detective Rick. With the two of them together, they make for an unbeatable, and undefeated team. They solve the crimes and catch the child killers, most times before it's too late.

Then, we are switched to another angle in the book. We start to follow some serial killers as they are using an internet game to track and choose their next victims. The killers are dilusional and sick-minded and want nothing but to see ordinary and extraordinary people alike, with their lives drained from their bodies- their voices pleading for life.

The third angle is from the detectives' point of view. They are receiving these anonymous emails from the "secret detectives" where they are solving cases that were long since "closed". And the detectives are aware of the internet-based killings, but don't know where to start finding clues on how to solve the murders.

Until they have Emily and Rick on their sides.

This book takes place over the course of about two weeks. The story was so fast paced, so that means that the serial killers had time to profile their victims, stake them out, and kill them (when no one else was around to witness) all within a day or two each victim.

There are a few murders scored in this novel, but each only last one or two pages. We don't get to know any of the deceased, so we don't really care when they are killed off. There is nothing graphic about the deaths, and nothing extraordinary about them either. Each is killed in the same manner, each killing has nothing to do with the prior (except for the gaming). If you love suspense, but not so much violence or gore, this novel would be perfect for someone just starting out in the Thriller genre. It will keep you guessing, but at the same time, it isn't riddled with unnecessary rape, blood or gore.

I wished I had gotten to get a really in depth description / conversation about what actually happened to Emily a few years prior. I didn't read the previous Emily Stone novel (didn't think these two were like sequels) so I never found out what actually happened to her. It was sort of glazed over throughout the novel. Other than that missing piece, there is no need for you to read the first in order to understand this one. "Dead Game" is a stand-alone novel, just with characters whose lives had previously been discussed in another volume.

I loved Emily's strong character. I loved that Rick allowed her to be strong too. Brave women kick butt!

This story was good. I read it within a few days. It is extremely fast-paced, peppered with surprises, love, and even some human qualities that aren't usually included in thrillers.
It might make a very good screenplay. If a director with a vivid imagination got his hands on this piece, it would make a very interesting thriller movie.

"Dead Game" is a great effort. It is one of my first thrillers that I've actually gotten through.
It's an entertaining read. If you've got a few hours, sit down and enjoy it with Jennifer Chase's second Emily Stone novel: "Dead Game"

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Chase Gives Excellent Second Novel to Thriller Readers! January 7, 2010

By Glenda A Bixler VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I was pleased to receive the notice in the mail from Jennifer Chase that her second book, Dead Game, had been published! Having read her first Emily Stone novel, Compulsion, I was immediately involved with the main character. But her second book, Dead Game, shows not only Chase's growing expertise as a serious writer, but by partnering Emily with a wonderful male lead/romantic interest, Rick Lopez, she has expanded the potential for a series that I predict will only get better and better!

Emily Stone developed a compulsion--she tracks child victims of pedophiles, kidnappers or others out to harm children. Her resources have been so well developed that she is always way ahead in any investigation and normally has determined the location of the child and submitted everything needed by the police so that they can quickly work to close the case and return the child home.

But this time, Emily's compulsion to help children is set aside as Rick needed her support when Milt, a long-time friend and mentor was killed, apparently as a result of some type of private investigation he was making concerning serial killers.

But this serial killer is like no other--he does not participate, he only watches the victims as they die...over and over and over...

Two young men, who had been like sons to Milt, both wanted to help find out what had happened. An amusing sidebar to the primary story is that one of them, Jordan, becomes interested in Emily while jealous Rick hovers. This reader hopes that Jordan comes back as a regular character, not only because of the personal relationships, but because of who and what he was at the beginning of the story!

Solving Milt's murder soon leads directly to the company for which Jordan and Derek work and who were both involved in the creation and utilization of the "Dead Game."

One thing I love about thrillers that involve use of the Internet is that there is always something "potential" that is part of the suspense. In this case, somewhere--out there--is a secret social networking site--you guessed it, for serial killers!

Yes, the opportunities for using the Internet for bad as well as good have always been and will continue. But I love to have authors show the potential and how the good guy wins out! In this book, I especially enjoyed how the police worked with those who were experts in solving the crime. This may not actually happen in real life...but who knows, if we read enough books with that theme, somebody in our bureaucratic nation might pick up the idea and do some really great "stuff" for the country!

The tension, twists and turns in Dead Game are perfect! This thriller was truly a "read through in one sitting" for me and I loved everything that Jennifer Chase put into this, her second novel. I've just added Jennifer Chase to my Trackle list of "must-read authors!"

Need I say more...

G. A. Bixler

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Video games turn deadly October 11, 2012

By Eager Reader

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the third novel I've read in the Emily Stone series. I never read them in order; in fact, I read the first one, the last one, and then this one. I didn't get lost in the story line. Chase provides enough background information that you are pulled along effortlessly.

I love the fact Chase has short chapters, but she also leaves you with a hunger to keep on reading. Before you know it you've read a lot.

Chase also has a way of taking you through the investigative process--you can tell she possesses the real life expertise--of the crime scene. There are some graphic scenes (as in all the Stone series novels) that immerse you all too well into what the characters are seeing, smelling, and feeling.

She has incorporated a dash of romance in the series, giving it a bit of a softer edge, but don't take this as meaning it's a mushy read. None of them are! Surprisingly for the number of high action, sequenced scenes at times, Chase still manages to let her readers "catch their breath" even though their fingers are reaching for the button on their Kindle to advance the page.

Highly recommend the Emily Stone series for lovers of police procedurals and a brilliant storyteller.

More About the Author

Jennifer Chase holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master's degree in criminology. Her intense curiosity in the psychological aspect of crime is what drives her to write crime fiction. She lives in California, where she's currently at work on her next book in the series. For more information, please visit www.authorjenniferchase.com/

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

(What's this?)

#72 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Police Procedurals

#82 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Police Procedurals

#72 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Police Procedurals

#82 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Police Procedurals