Published: 13th October 2014
Publisher: Self Published
Pages: 186
Format: ebook
Genre: Thriller
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars
She is young and beautiful, and recently married to a very wealthy middle-aged man who considers her to be the ultimate woman for him and holds her out as a model for his beloved 10-year-old daughter. They travel to a mountain hideaway to celebrate their first year together as a family when things begin to unravel. Her husband goes missing after a treacherous car accident, and the wife and daughter seem trapped and isolated and stalked from both inside and outside the cabin.
What ensues is the story of a woman driven by her soulless greed and self-entitlement, and a man who is wronged and apparently out to get revenge. This deadly game of cat and mouse will keep you on the edge of your seat. The macabre scenes include deadly traps and medieval torture devices, hidden doors, secret rooms, and an underground labyrinth of torture chambers. Add in the legend of a hoard of pure gold bars, and it becomes clear that someone has a much bigger plan in mind and will let nothing get in their way. But who? This is the story of a plot so devious that it is set up to fool the State police investigation. But can it fool you? Keep guessing until the final scene as to what is really going on and let your intuition guide you.
Note: I was provided a copy of this book for review
From what appears to be an obvious beginning, this story soon unfurls into something quite unexpected. While on the surface it seems clear what is happening it soon becomes evident that there is a lot more to this story than meets the eye.
The narrative is complicated and certainly shocking and a tad sadistic at times, but there is no doubt it is also quite captivating and filled with intrigue. The writing is clever and well thought out, and each character is presented well. Mathews’ use of his characters only adds to the thrill of the story and their role in the unfolding events brings about some of the more shocking and unexpected moments.
There are shocks and twists in almost every aspect of the story, not just from the actions of characters and events around them, but about the characters themselves as the intensity and stress of their environment reveal more of their true nature. Amidst the drama there are many guilty and innocent alike, each caught in the web of personal gain and pure cruelty, something which makes the chaos more unsettling as it means anything could happen.
The way Mathews presented this cat and mouse story was wonderful, especially coupled with characters who are clearly unbalanced and slightly psychopathic almost to their own admission. The ensuing conflict and consequences are depicted with style, Mathews never wavering from his characters nature, making their actions believable and justifiable, even if only to themselves.
What made this story enjoyable is that you really did not know how it was going to end. After starting out so simple and transparent, it is not long before it is clear nothing is as it seems and anything is possible. One of Mathews’ strengths is toying with the reader and giving them the unexpected. There are twists and surprises and there are multiple mysteries to keep you guessing. The fast paced action means there is never a lull in the drama, and even the seemingly still moments adds to the tension and intrigue.
Mathews pushes past what you expect to happen and brings this thriller into a whole other level of madness. It is a twisted game of cat and mouse certainly, but Mathews brings another element altogether making it compelling and something you do not want to put down until the very last page.
You can purchase A Game of Greed and Deception via the following
Lost in a Good Book 