This book was one that kept you guessing from each page to the next. It is a crime/detective story with enough suspense to also make it a suspense/thriller in my opinion. There were several storylines happening, but they all fit together nicely.

Start with a happy family on an outing at the beach, mom dives in the water and nearly drowns, dad goes in to save her and the unthinkable happens, 13 month old Lily disappears during the rescue. Throw in a private detective with his own bad memories (you do not find out exactly what those are until near the end of the book) to help find Lily and investigate family secrets. Add a second case for Charlie Cameron where he is trying to locate a missing college student who appears to have run off with her teacher, with some bad decisions he is fired, but does not stop investigating. When a mail order bride turns up looking for the college teacher, Charlie knows he is right to keep searching. With bits of his past sneaking in every so often, a new love interest at the bar, personal conflicts with his friends and his will not give up attitude, Charlie is an extremely interesting character. While all this is going on, there is also a task force looking into child abductions, especially cold cases, which has Charlie's friend on the edge. So much going on that you can not help but keep turning the pages to find out how it is going to end.

Charlie's character has some flaws based upon his past but he is an extremely likeable character. He gives all of himself into these cases including working for nothing after he is dismissed. He does the right thing, sometimes at his own expense. An honourable man. His friends and colleagues add another dimension to the story. Well done [a:Owen Mullen|14949607|Owen Mullen|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1457276245p2/14949607.jpg]!

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. ( )

Mark and Jennifer’s lives are in tatters after their baby daughter, Lily, is abducted. Mark knows who took her but if he tells police and his wife it will destroy his marriage forever.

Charlie Cameron, a PI specialising in missing persons, is asked to help find Lily. Charlie has his own nightmare-causing demons and has a no missing children policy. Will he put his fears aside and take this case?

Games people play is a taut mystery thriller with multiple plot lines that weave throughout the story.

Character development is a big focus through out the novel but not in detriment to the intricate plot. The characters are real people with real problems.

Lily’s disappearance is the main story but there are other stories intertwined. Like the disappearance of an 18 year old student and one of her teachers and Mullen brings his love of music into the mix with a story about the band Big River and its new member Kate Calder and the start of a rocky romance for Charlie. All the stories combine well to show different sides of the characters.

I had a good laugh over women seeming to be the cause of all problems for men.

I loved the twists and the descriptions of the streets of Glasgow.

Games People Play is an outstanding debut novel well executed and expertly plotted.

With my thanks to the author for my copy to read and review. ( )

Glasgow PI Charlie Cameron finds people, but not kids. However, when the father of an abducted toddler asks for his help, Charlie gets involved although he knows that, due to his own history, it's not a wise decision.
When he is then also asked to look into the disappearance of a young female student who vanished after a night out, the plot thickens. With the two different storylines, a detailed character study of Charlie, and all the goings-on at the New York Blue, the place from where Charlie conducts his business, Game People Play never got dull.
What I particularly loved about the book is the authenticity of the characters, the vividly described locations and the fact that the plot held plenty of surprises.
I thought the descriptions of the places, the people, the atmosphere and the attitudes were wonderfully realistic and made the entire book feel very credible. I felt transported back to the years I spent in Scotland.
Charlie is an appealing character with a ton of baggage from his childhood and a heart of gold, and I'm really interested to see how his personal and professional life will unfold in the next installment of this detective series.
Great character-driven crime fiction, tautly written with some brilliant dialog and one-liners. A very impressive debut! ( )

This book was one that kept you guessing from each page to the next. It is a crime/detective story with enough suspense to also make it a suspense/thriller in my opinion. There were several storylines happening, but they all fit together nicely.

Start with a happy family on an outing at the beach, mom dives in the water and nearly drowns, dad goes in to save her and the unthinkable happens, 13 month old Lily disappears during the rescue. Throw in a private detective with his own bad memories (you do not find out exactly what those are until near the end of the book) to help find Lily and investigate family secrets. Add a second case for Charlie Cameron where he is trying to locate a missing college student who appears to have run off with her teacher, with some bad decisions he is fired, but does not stop investigating. When a mail order bride turns up looking for the college teacher, Charlie knows he is right to keep searching. With bits of his past sneaking in every so often, a new love interest at the bar, personal conflicts with his friends and his will not give up attitude, Charlie is an extremely interesting character. While all this is going on, there is also a task force looking into child abductions, especially cold cases, which has Charlie's friend on the edge. So much going on that you can not help but keep turning the pages to find out how it is going to end.

Charlie's character has some flaws based upon his past but he is an extremely likeable character. He gives all of himself into these cases including working for nothing after he is dismissed. He does the right thing, sometimes at his own expense. An honourable man. His friends and colleagues add another dimension to the story. Well done Owen Mullen!

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. ( )