#BlogTour Games People Play by Owen Mullen

It's my turn on the Blogtour Games People Play by Own Mullen.

About the Author

Owen Mullen is a highly regarded crime author who splits his time between Scotland and the island of Crete.  In his earlier life he lived in London and worked as a musician and session singer. He has now written seven books and his first gangland thriller for Boldwood, Family will be published in January 2021. Sign up to his newsletter here

Follow @OwenMullen6 on Twitter, on Instagram, on Facebook, on Youtube, Goodreads Author page, Bookbub page,

About the book

When a baby is stolen from a Scottish beach, private investigator Charlie Cameron reluctantly agrees to take the case.

While her parents are just yards away, thirteen-month-old Lily Hamilton is abducted from Ayr beach in Scotland. Three days later, her distraught father turns up at private investigator Charlie Cameron’s office. Mark Hamilton believes he knows who has taken his daughter. And why.

Against his better judgment, Charlie takes the case—and when bodies are discovered, he suspects this may not be an isolated crime. Is there a serial killer whose work has gone undetected for decades? Is baby Lily his latest victim? Charlie won’t be able to give up on this case. Memories and guilt from his childhood won’t let him…

Review

Private Investigator Charlie is reluctant to take on the case of a missing baby. It sails too close to the home of his nightmares and his feelings of despair and doubt. Choosing to help the parents of a young baby, an innocent child with not so innocent parents - it's a case that stirs up trouble and emotions.

Charlie Cameron is driven by his own baggage, the memories and flashbacks that dictate his emotional state of mind. This new case is too close to previous experiences, perhaps it's also the reason he can't let it be until he knows the truth.

The fact Charlie is unable to leave his own trauma in the past is very much what flavours the entire story. He is this straight talking PI and yet at the same time he is the child who wants to - needs to know the truth. The question is whether he will ever get a satisfactory answer.

I think truth is the commodity around which the story revolves. Different versions of it and yet also the one that is beyond the truth - that dangerous layer of thin ice between assuming and actually having your suspicions acknowledged is the basis of everything.

It's a slow burner written with a certain style and voice Mullen brings to the table. It gives readers the crime, mystery and also this snappy realistic vibe, and yet the emotional element is just as strong. This is the first in the series and hopefully one of many going forward. I also hope readers will finally get some answers about his sister, although a compelling drawn out cat and mouse game between the bad guy and Cameron would be equally as interesting.

Buy Games People Play at Amazon Uk or got to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : Boldwood Books pub date 20 April 2021. Buy at Amazon com.