Book Review: The Slaying Game by Faith Gardner (Jolvix Episodes)

Rating: 4.5⭐️

After a personal tragedy resulted in a downward spiral for Leela Crowe, her deceased fiancé’s brother Teddy Lindmark offered her a job working in PR in the VR sector at tech giant Jolvix. Leela’s two-year stint at Jolvix ended after she burnt out after a hush job for what could have been a PR disaster for the company revolving around a controversial Virtual Reality game that was ultimately never released. Leela has changed the direction of her career, presently working as Volunteer Coordinator at Feline Better, a cat café/shelter. Her equilibrium is shattered when she starts receiving apology messages from people from her past= people who had wronged her in some way- each of whom has taken their own life within minutes after sending her the text message. When details of the deaths begin to emerge, Leela suspects that these were not suicides and that the deadly game that was never made public might have been instrumental in the killings. Leela enlists the help of Teddy, who still heads the PR for the VR division, and a former journalist who is writing an expose on Jolvix (someone fans of the series have met before!) to find out the truth behind these deaths. Whoever it is seems to know a lot about her and Leela is unsure of whom to trust. The narrative follows Leela as she embarks on her search for the killer. Who is the killer and why is the person targeting people connected to Leela? How did the killer access technology that is supposed to be under lock and key at Jolvix? Will Leela be able to identify the killer before anyone else gets hurt?

With its gripping narrative, well-thought-out characters and an intricately plotted whodunit at the core, The Slaying Game by Faith Gardner is an absorbing read. I loved the plot development and the multiple red herrings and surprises that lead to a thrilling end. I did find the pacing a tad uneven but not so much that would detract from the overall reading experience. The dynamic between Teddy and Leela made for an interesting read, and I thought the author has presented sensitive issues such as addiction, grief and much more insightfully and realistically. There is no doubt about the fact that Faith Gardner is a master storyteller, and her creativity made her stories addictive, entertaining and unique. I love how the author strikes a balance between the futuristic elements and interpersonal aspects in all her stories. Overall, this is a worthy addition to the author’s Jolvix Episodes series!

Loved the Bonus Epilogue that continues the story from Teddy’s perspective! That ending! For fans of the author’s Jolvix Episodes series, this one is a must-read! This book can be read as a standalone, but I think those familiar with the Jolvix series would appreciate and enjoy the context a bit more.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for the gifted eBook. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The Slaying Game is due to be released on September 6, 2023.