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Deadly Game: The stunning thriller from the screen legend Michael Caine
DCI Harry Taylor has no respect for red tape or political reputations – but he's great at catching criminals.
And all his unorthodox skills will be needed as an extraordinary situation unfolds on his a metal box of radioactive material is found at a dump in Stepney, East London, but before the police can arrive it is stolen in a violent raid.
With security agencies across the world on red alert, it's Harry and his unconventional team from the Met who must hit the streets in search of a lead. They soon have two wildly different suspects, aristocratic art dealer Julian Smythe in London and oligarch Vladimir Voldrev in Barbados. But the pressure is on. How much time does Harry have, and how many more players will join the action, before the missing uranium is lighting up the sky?
Deadly Game is a compelling, fast-paced novel of international intrigue and twisting suspense from a legendary actor and British icon, who now proves himself to be a first-rate thriller writer.
And all his unorthodox skills will be needed as an extraordinary situation unfolds on his a metal box of radioactive material is found at a dump in Stepney, East London, but before the police can arrive it is stolen in a violent raid.
With security agencies across the world on red alert, it's Harry and his unconventional team from the Met who must hit the streets in search of a lead. They soon have two wildly different suspects, aristocratic art dealer Julian Smythe in London and oligarch Vladimir Voldrev in Barbados. But the pressure is on. How much time does Harry have, and how many more players will join the action, before the missing uranium is lighting up the sky?
Deadly Game is a compelling, fast-paced novel of international intrigue and twisting suspense from a legendary actor and British icon, who now proves himself to be a first-rate thriller writer.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published December 19, 2023
About the author
Michael Caine
35 books138 followersSir Michael Caine, CBE was born Maurice Joseph Micklewaite near Elephant and Castle in South London. His first major starring roles, beginning in the 1960s, include 'Zulu,' 'The Ipcress File,' and 'Alfie.' He is a major Hollywood film star and two-time Academy Award winner with a career spanning over sixty years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
February 27, 2024
If you are wondering why the author’s name is familiar, you are right to wonder. This is Sir Michael Caine, CBE the Oscar winning actor for the film “Hannah and Her Sisters.” He even had a movie out in 2023, the year he celebrated turning 90 years old.
I wanted to read this one, because of his notoriety and my curiosity about him as a writer. And this is his debut work of fiction.
But as I dove into it, I couldn’t help but wonder, would this have been published if it hadn’t of been written by a famous actor?
Premise: His protagonist hero is a 45-year-old DCI Harry Taylor. Old school cop. Tough with a good heart. And he happens to be on the trail of some missing uranium with a lot of suspects.
So how did it do?
I felt it was poorly written, predictable and contrived. Unfortunately, it did not keep me engaged.
Let’s just say, it was a slog read. Difficult to enjoy, despite the twists and turns thrown at us readers. I think it wanted to be an exciting thriller, but it was more of a yawner for me.
I wanted to read this one, because of his notoriety and my curiosity about him as a writer. And this is his debut work of fiction.
But as I dove into it, I couldn’t help but wonder, would this have been published if it hadn’t of been written by a famous actor?
Premise: His protagonist hero is a 45-year-old DCI Harry Taylor. Old school cop. Tough with a good heart. And he happens to be on the trail of some missing uranium with a lot of suspects.
So how did it do?
I felt it was poorly written, predictable and contrived. Unfortunately, it did not keep me engaged.
Let’s just say, it was a slog read. Difficult to enjoy, despite the twists and turns thrown at us readers. I think it wanted to be an exciting thriller, but it was more of a yawner for me.
January 15, 2024
This was a great debut spy/thriller book from Michael. It was a little slow at times which you'd expect from these types of books. I enjoyed all the chases and twists in this book and would read more from Mr Caine.
November 30, 2023
Perhaps the best and most reassuring comment I can make about Deadly Game, the debut novel from legendary actor (and national treasure) Michael Caine, is that you soon forget it's by legendary actor (and national treasure) Michael Caine. I'm not really a fan of thrillers in general, considering them to a literary diet what a microwaveable hamburger is to a regular diet, and on the initial press release of Deadly Game I feared the worst. A 'pulsating' thriller. 'Globetrotting'. A Met detective who plays by his own rules – and he's an 'ex-SAS soldier' at that… It all sounded so cliché.
And, well, it is. But what is a relief – given my admiration for Michael Caine – is that it's not bad. It can't be scoffed at as a vanity project, at least not without being a tad churlish. It's tidy, it's honest, the pages turn easily, and the characters aren't irritating. There's no stodginess in the writing, though the plot itself does lose steam as it becomes more removed from reality. By the end, it tries to do too much and ends up providing little satisfaction on some pretty key questions the reader will be having.
Caine's name no doubt draws a lot more eyes to it than its objective value deserves, but reading Deadly Game quickly ceased to be a novelty and it can be recognised as a pretty decent, if unremarkable, thriller. It was probably too much to expect him to blow the bloody doors off, but Michael Caine's provided a perfectly respectable drop into a saturated market.
And, well, it is. But what is a relief – given my admiration for Michael Caine – is that it's not bad. It can't be scoffed at as a vanity project, at least not without being a tad churlish. It's tidy, it's honest, the pages turn easily, and the characters aren't irritating. There's no stodginess in the writing, though the plot itself does lose steam as it becomes more removed from reality. By the end, it tries to do too much and ends up providing little satisfaction on some pretty key questions the reader will be having.
Caine's name no doubt draws a lot more eyes to it than its objective value deserves, but reading Deadly Game quickly ceased to be a novelty and it can be recognised as a pretty decent, if unremarkable, thriller. It was probably too much to expect him to blow the bloody doors off, but Michael Caine's provided a perfectly respectable drop into a saturated market.
January 3, 2024
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
3.5 stars
🧨Penned by British film icon Michael Caine, the well-known and much-loved actor has retired from the screen but he has a new career in publishing, thanks to the release of his first novel Deadly Game. A high-octane thriller, headed by DCI Harry Taylor, this is a story of the underworld, drug lords, stolen goods and plenty more.
🧨DCI Harry Taylor is on the hunt for a lead relating to a stash of uranium in East London. The adventure and intrigue are immediately set in front of the reader, as Harry trawls the streets of London for those responsible for this global emergency threat. Along the way, Harry employs his team of detectives and encounters a few dogdy suspects, as well as some rather nasty villains. Deadly Game is a kind of classic cops and robbers style novel with a twist, thanks to the inclusion of a nuclear threat.
🧨In my opinion Deadly Game seemed to echo strong action-based novels such as the Jack Reacher series from Lee Child and Tom Clancy’s espionage themed military thrillers. Caine has clearly been inspired by some of his favourite authors and has produced a debut that fits well into this spy genre. Deadly Game is well paced and timed. It is easy to knock this off with some distractions in a couple of close sittings. I read this one as part of a readlaong experience with Tandem Collective and I have to say I enjoyed taking part in this buddy style read. I honestly don’t think I would have picked this one up as it’s outside my usual reading tastes. However, the lure of a readalong adventure and my sense of curiosity surrounding Michael Caine as a new writer reeled me in. I’m pleased I gave this one a go.
🧨A very visual read from cover to cover, with some full-bodied characters, Deadly Game is a blockbuster style action-adventure thriller that may signal the beginning of a new carry-on series for Michael Caine’s enigmatic lead DCI Harry Taylor.
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3.5 stars
🧨Penned by British film icon Michael Caine, the well-known and much-loved actor has retired from the screen but he has a new career in publishing, thanks to the release of his first novel Deadly Game. A high-octane thriller, headed by DCI Harry Taylor, this is a story of the underworld, drug lords, stolen goods and plenty more.
🧨DCI Harry Taylor is on the hunt for a lead relating to a stash of uranium in East London. The adventure and intrigue are immediately set in front of the reader, as Harry trawls the streets of London for those responsible for this global emergency threat. Along the way, Harry employs his team of detectives and encounters a few dogdy suspects, as well as some rather nasty villains. Deadly Game is a kind of classic cops and robbers style novel with a twist, thanks to the inclusion of a nuclear threat.
🧨In my opinion Deadly Game seemed to echo strong action-based novels such as the Jack Reacher series from Lee Child and Tom Clancy’s espionage themed military thrillers. Caine has clearly been inspired by some of his favourite authors and has produced a debut that fits well into this spy genre. Deadly Game is well paced and timed. It is easy to knock this off with some distractions in a couple of close sittings. I read this one as part of a readlaong experience with Tandem Collective and I have to say I enjoyed taking part in this buddy style read. I honestly don’t think I would have picked this one up as it’s outside my usual reading tastes. However, the lure of a readalong adventure and my sense of curiosity surrounding Michael Caine as a new writer reeled me in. I’m pleased I gave this one a go.
🧨A very visual read from cover to cover, with some full-bodied characters, Deadly Game is a blockbuster style action-adventure thriller that may signal the beginning of a new carry-on series for Michael Caine’s enigmatic lead DCI Harry Taylor.
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February 4, 2024
This is Michael’s first fiction book. It is a police thriller set in London, with the lead character DCI Harry Taylor, not a fan of red tape but loves catching the bad guys.
Now I wasn’t sure of the style that ai would be reading, and to be honest, I started reading it in Michael Caine’s voice…. It fits!!
The story starts with a metal box of radioactive material being found on a London dump, but before the police can secure, it is stolen in a raid.
The ongoing pursuit is a fast paced international thrill ride with easy to envision locations. It reads a little like a Bond Film at times but with some actual realism. No spoilers from me, it would make a great movie.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for the copy of this book to read.
Now I wasn’t sure of the style that ai would be reading, and to be honest, I started reading it in Michael Caine’s voice…. It fits!!
The story starts with a metal box of radioactive material being found on a London dump, but before the police can secure, it is stolen in a raid.
The ongoing pursuit is a fast paced international thrill ride with easy to envision locations. It reads a little like a Bond Film at times but with some actual realism. No spoilers from me, it would make a great movie.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for the copy of this book to read.
March 12, 2024
Getting the obvious out of the way first: unlike many ‘celebrity’ forays into fiction, Deadly Game was not ghost written. Sir Michael Caine will be the drawcard for this book, no matter they story line, however as a thriller, it is sturdy and ticks the right boxes, even with the Hollywood-esque essence to it in the latter chapters.
The storyline starts off quite simply: DCI, Harry Taylor is investigating the disappearance of a metal box containing radioactive material, initially dumped in Stepney, East London. Its disappearance is also questionable – who knew about it, who was watching it, who wants it, and why? And the potential suspects are on all parts of the suspect spectrum: an entitled London art dealer with too much money on his hands (Julian Smythe), a Russian business magnate based in Barbados who has lots of fingers in political pies (Vladimir Voldrev), a neo-Nazi gang members, and drug cartels from Colombia.
This thriller is part conspiracy theory debunking as it is finding the radioactive box. It was like following the Cluedo game but coming up with new weapons and motives each time a suspect was questioned. These layers and red herrings added a gritty realness to this story.
The storyline starts off quite simply: DCI, Harry Taylor is investigating the disappearance of a metal box containing radioactive material, initially dumped in Stepney, East London. Its disappearance is also questionable – who knew about it, who was watching it, who wants it, and why? And the potential suspects are on all parts of the suspect spectrum: an entitled London art dealer with too much money on his hands (Julian Smythe), a Russian business magnate based in Barbados who has lots of fingers in political pies (Vladimir Voldrev), a neo-Nazi gang members, and drug cartels from Colombia.
This thriller is part conspiracy theory debunking as it is finding the radioactive box. It was like following the Cluedo game but coming up with new weapons and motives each time a suspect was questioned. These layers and red herrings added a gritty realness to this story.
November 26, 2023
As a well-known and much loved actor, the author certainly has a built in audience for a spy thriller. No one expects such a thriller to necessarily be a literary masterpiece (with apologies to John le Carre), but neither the story nor the writing is good enough to keep the reader engaged. I will faithfully continue to watch any film Caine chooses to grace with is presence, but I'll skip any more novels.
December 2, 2023
I love Michael Caine, loved pretty much all the movies he has been. However, this novel wasn't bad but it wasn't good either.
Would be a two star but I'll give it an extra star purely for it being a legend who wrote it.
Would be a two star but I'll give it an extra star purely for it being a legend who wrote it.
January 15, 2024
This book was so full of cliché and random descriptions it was honestly painful to read.
Notable cliché:
- Villian short chapter were he is in a bar on a tax haven island having a stirred martini. Said character then moans that person who made him a cocktail is a 'mixologist' and not a barman - wow makes yourself look like an old man
- Villian invites you to their private island for a chat and dinner... yeah right
- Last but not least the Villian giving a big grand speech to the main character as being caught and then the main character who is a cop shoots him and carries out the "favours" the villian asked for ?
Notable descriptions that made me laugh:
- "... needed to stay frostier than Olaf's arse.' I didn't get this as one you could have just used the word snowman as the main character has no kids and no nieces or nephews, so why would he use Olaf from Frozen. Also snow is wet cold, not ice cold...
- shortening of words a lot e.g. MI5 and MI6 to "fives" and "sixes" or place names when they were only mentioned the page before by its full name. Just made it hard to read
-The main character thinks that just because he has an oldish and nice jaguar car, that young people think he hates 'Greta Thumberg '
---
This was definitely written to be one of those bad junk action movies that you put on to fill in time of your day. As a book it lacked the depth needed. All I can say is I'm glad I bought it half price in the sale. 2 out 5 stars as I finished the book.
Notable cliché:
- Villian short chapter were he is in a bar on a tax haven island having a stirred martini. Said character then moans that person who made him a cocktail is a 'mixologist' and not a barman - wow makes yourself look like an old man
- Villian invites you to their private island for a chat and dinner... yeah right
- Last but not least the Villian giving a big grand speech to the main character as being caught and then the main character who is a cop shoots him and carries out the "favours" the villian asked for ?
Notable descriptions that made me laugh:
- "... needed to stay frostier than Olaf's arse.' I didn't get this as one you could have just used the word snowman as the main character has no kids and no nieces or nephews, so why would he use Olaf from Frozen. Also snow is wet cold, not ice cold...
- shortening of words a lot e.g. MI5 and MI6 to "fives" and "sixes" or place names when they were only mentioned the page before by its full name. Just made it hard to read
-The main character thinks that just because he has an oldish and nice jaguar car, that young people think he hates 'Greta Thumberg '
---
This was definitely written to be one of those bad junk action movies that you put on to fill in time of your day. As a book it lacked the depth needed. All I can say is I'm glad I bought it half price in the sale. 2 out 5 stars as I finished the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2024
52 Book club: Published by Hachette
2.5 stars
There were some lines that I literally laughed out loud at, and I did enjoy the story overall. The descriptive elements of the book are it's biggest plus and minus though. The author has a good eye for detail and can pick out these in everyday life quite well. However, this is then indulged with many long, descriptive passages and back story. Equally, there is a lot of dialogue in the book, often two handers that go on for long stretches, that I felt like skim reading. Overall, a fun, if not always intentionally, light read.
2.5 stars
There were some lines that I literally laughed out loud at, and I did enjoy the story overall. The descriptive elements of the book are it's biggest plus and minus though. The author has a good eye for detail and can pick out these in everyday life quite well. However, this is then indulged with many long, descriptive passages and back story. Equally, there is a lot of dialogue in the book, often two handers that go on for long stretches, that I felt like skim reading. Overall, a fun, if not always intentionally, light read.
February 20, 2024
I’ve always enjoyed Michael Caine as an actor and thought I’d try reading his first novel. Not bad, with a lot of interesting details about the U.K. Surprised to learn he was 90 years old when he wrote it.
December 30, 2023
3.5 stars … a solid read.
March 10, 2024
Wat een heerlijk debuut van Sir Michael Caine (inderdaad: dié Michael Caine). Veel twists en bijzondere wendingen. Heerlijk om te lezen.
January 20, 2024
Not too shabby a book, to be honest. It clipped along at a healthy speed, was action packed and had minimalist character development. But it didn't need more characters, either. I thought the premise of the story was very well done. And it was very cinematic in the writing. I could picture this in movie format. Kind of like a very intense episode of '24'. But that's not to detract from the story itself. There was so much information packed into this book, as well.
We have a 'rogue' type unit embedded with the London Police, but with tentacles into the other police agencies. They're like a special-ops type group, very small with only 4 members. Harry, the main point of view, is the leader of this group. Very experienced, high skill level, very intelligent. And a bit belligerent, but just enough. Throw in some misplaced nuclear material and you get the idea.
There is a big twist in the story at the end, which was a nice surprise. But I'm kind of hoping that Harry headlines another book from Mr Caine.
We have a 'rogue' type unit embedded with the London Police, but with tentacles into the other police agencies. They're like a special-ops type group, very small with only 4 members. Harry, the main point of view, is the leader of this group. Very experienced, high skill level, very intelligent. And a bit belligerent, but just enough. Throw in some misplaced nuclear material and you get the idea.
There is a big twist in the story at the end, which was a nice surprise. But I'm kind of hoping that Harry headlines another book from Mr Caine.
December 1, 2023
Equal parts secret agent spy-thriller and beat copper mystery, Caine's "Deadly Game" was written about the blue collar sleuth for the blue collar sleuth...reader. Devoid of the polish and charisma of a double-0, our gumshoe works the dark alleys and streets like a professional, a native, his finger on the pulse of the local criminal underworld.
Caine's ability to paint a troubled and storied protagonist is not in the least contrived - in many ways, the most realistic and believable character I've encountered in print. An everyman without saying so, "one of us" without liking all of his qualities, a cussing and beat up copper without superpowers.
In short, I need more Harry Taylor.
This one was a real treat, and proved exciting to the last. Thanks to Hatchet Book Group, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for this ARC.
Caine's ability to paint a troubled and storied protagonist is not in the least contrived - in many ways, the most realistic and believable character I've encountered in print. An everyman without saying so, "one of us" without liking all of his qualities, a cussing and beat up copper without superpowers.
In short, I need more Harry Taylor.
This one was a real treat, and proved exciting to the last. Thanks to Hatchet Book Group, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for this ARC.
January 13, 2024
I received a copy of Deadly Game from Hachette Australia to review.
Legendary actor Sir Michael Caine presents his debut novel, the fun and ultra-exciting thriller, Deadly Game, which follows a maverick cop investigating a case with world-changing implications.
I’m sure I’m not the only person who was surprised when they saw that Michael Caine was releasing a novel in late 2023. While I absolutely love Michael Caine as an actor, I didn’t realise he had any aspirations as an author, so Deadly Game was easily one of the more interesting releases of last year. As I am a fan of unusual thrillers, I naturally had to get my hands on a copy of this book, especially as it had an interesting plot behind it. While I was mainly intrigued by its author, Deadly Game proved to be a wonderful and compelling book that I had a great time reading.
Caine had an interesting story idea for Deadly Game that I think worked quite well. The mysterious and violently taken radioactive material amps the stakes of the book right off the bat, and it perfectly sets up the story about DCI Harry Taylor’s team being let off the leash to hunt down the material without any oversight or restrictions. The early goings of this story are a lot of fun, and I liked the build-up of different villains who might be involved in the theft. The book got particularly fun when Caine introduced the two rival crime lords, Julian Smythe and Vladimir Voldrev, who come in as major suspects to the crime. Due to their connections, it is likely that at least one has the material or knows where it is, and their extreme hatred for each other means that they are willing to trade stories about their rival to the police. I loved the fantastic way that Caine portrayed both these over-the-top villains, and their introductory scenes with the protagonist, as well as some of the fun background that went into them, were highly entertaining, especially as they both played off the serious protagonist extremely well.
The second half of Deadly Game is where the fun really begins, as Taylor and his team get close to finding the material, only for their various opponents to get the drop on them in several ways. There are some great scenes here, and I liked the efficient way in which Taylor and his team deal with the neo-Nazis for example. However, things take a pretty major turn near the end, and it was a bit surprising just how far Ciane took this part of the story. I loved the sudden darker tone that resulted, and it made for quite an intense final third of the book. Everything leads up to the big confrontation with the hidden antagonist of the novel, and I really loved the fun, well-planned out and utterly over-the-top twist that resulted here. It was somehow simultaneously smart and ridiculous, and I loved everything about it. The story wraps up quite nicely from there, and there are hints that Caine might have some sequels in the works, which I personally wouldn’t mind, as I had a lot of fun with the outrageous narrative in Deadly Game.
Deadly Game had a quite a unique feel to it that revels in its roughness and over-the-top nature. Something about how the characters talked and acted felt very cockney, and it honestly reminded me a lot of some of the author’s tough-guy roles in film. While certain elements of this writing style aren’t going to appeal to everyone, I had a fun with it, and particularly enjoyed the amazing action scenes, the intriguing characters, and the elaborate and fun scenarios that emerged. While some of the characters, both protagonist and antagonist, are a little silly and weird in places, they still proved to be a fantastic group of people to follow, and the resulting chaos from their actions makes for an excellent story. The main character’s portrayal as a cop who hates politics and red tape and just wants to get the job done wasn’t amazingly original, but it worked for the story being told, and Caine did try to make him somewhat nuanced. I think that Caine got the right balance of intrigue, mystery, suspense and action throughout the course of Deadly Game, and I was very interested in finding out who was behind the events and how things unfolded. There was something cinematic in a lot of the resulting scenes, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Caine had a film adaptation in mind whilst writing it. Indeed, a Guy Ritchie directed version of Deadly Game could be pretty fun, especially if they got Hugh Grant in to play either of rival gangsters.
Overall, I had a great time with Deadly Game, and it proved to be an awesome and interesting debut from the legendary Michael Caine. While not everyone is going to love this novel, I felt it was really entertaining, and it was great to dive into its outrageous plot, especially with some of the big moments and twists towards the end. As such, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something exciting, and if the idea of a thriller written by Michael Caine appeals to you, then you’ll probably enjoy Deadly Game. It will be interesting to see what happens to this in the future, and I personally wouldn’t mind some sort of adaptation or sequel at some point.
An abridged review of this book also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 11 January 2024:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/01/13/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Legendary actor Sir Michael Caine presents his debut novel, the fun and ultra-exciting thriller, Deadly Game, which follows a maverick cop investigating a case with world-changing implications.
I’m sure I’m not the only person who was surprised when they saw that Michael Caine was releasing a novel in late 2023. While I absolutely love Michael Caine as an actor, I didn’t realise he had any aspirations as an author, so Deadly Game was easily one of the more interesting releases of last year. As I am a fan of unusual thrillers, I naturally had to get my hands on a copy of this book, especially as it had an interesting plot behind it. While I was mainly intrigued by its author, Deadly Game proved to be a wonderful and compelling book that I had a great time reading.
Caine had an interesting story idea for Deadly Game that I think worked quite well. The mysterious and violently taken radioactive material amps the stakes of the book right off the bat, and it perfectly sets up the story about DCI Harry Taylor’s team being let off the leash to hunt down the material without any oversight or restrictions. The early goings of this story are a lot of fun, and I liked the build-up of different villains who might be involved in the theft. The book got particularly fun when Caine introduced the two rival crime lords, Julian Smythe and Vladimir Voldrev, who come in as major suspects to the crime. Due to their connections, it is likely that at least one has the material or knows where it is, and their extreme hatred for each other means that they are willing to trade stories about their rival to the police. I loved the fantastic way that Caine portrayed both these over-the-top villains, and their introductory scenes with the protagonist, as well as some of the fun background that went into them, were highly entertaining, especially as they both played off the serious protagonist extremely well.
The second half of Deadly Game is where the fun really begins, as Taylor and his team get close to finding the material, only for their various opponents to get the drop on them in several ways. There are some great scenes here, and I liked the efficient way in which Taylor and his team deal with the neo-Nazis for example. However, things take a pretty major turn near the end, and it was a bit surprising just how far Ciane took this part of the story. I loved the sudden darker tone that resulted, and it made for quite an intense final third of the book. Everything leads up to the big confrontation with the hidden antagonist of the novel, and I really loved the fun, well-planned out and utterly over-the-top twist that resulted here. It was somehow simultaneously smart and ridiculous, and I loved everything about it. The story wraps up quite nicely from there, and there are hints that Caine might have some sequels in the works, which I personally wouldn’t mind, as I had a lot of fun with the outrageous narrative in Deadly Game.
Deadly Game had a quite a unique feel to it that revels in its roughness and over-the-top nature. Something about how the characters talked and acted felt very cockney, and it honestly reminded me a lot of some of the author’s tough-guy roles in film. While certain elements of this writing style aren’t going to appeal to everyone, I had a fun with it, and particularly enjoyed the amazing action scenes, the intriguing characters, and the elaborate and fun scenarios that emerged. While some of the characters, both protagonist and antagonist, are a little silly and weird in places, they still proved to be a fantastic group of people to follow, and the resulting chaos from their actions makes for an excellent story. The main character’s portrayal as a cop who hates politics and red tape and just wants to get the job done wasn’t amazingly original, but it worked for the story being told, and Caine did try to make him somewhat nuanced. I think that Caine got the right balance of intrigue, mystery, suspense and action throughout the course of Deadly Game, and I was very interested in finding out who was behind the events and how things unfolded. There was something cinematic in a lot of the resulting scenes, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Caine had a film adaptation in mind whilst writing it. Indeed, a Guy Ritchie directed version of Deadly Game could be pretty fun, especially if they got Hugh Grant in to play either of rival gangsters.
Overall, I had a great time with Deadly Game, and it proved to be an awesome and interesting debut from the legendary Michael Caine. While not everyone is going to love this novel, I felt it was really entertaining, and it was great to dive into its outrageous plot, especially with some of the big moments and twists towards the end. As such, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something exciting, and if the idea of a thriller written by Michael Caine appeals to you, then you’ll probably enjoy Deadly Game. It will be interesting to see what happens to this in the future, and I personally wouldn’t mind some sort of adaptation or sequel at some point.
An abridged review of this book also ran in the Canberra Weekly on 11 January 2024:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2024/01/13/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
February 28, 2024
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A regular who's who of action heavyweights were slated to play the heavy handed and ruthless cop tracking down a deranged serial killer in 1971 San Francisco. Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Burt Lancaster, and John Wayne were all asked to star as DIRTY HARRY and chose other projects for various reasons. Apparently, in the early 70s, a brute force cop with disdain for the inefficiency of the police force's rules and bureaucracy would fly. So much so, that DIRTY HARRY spawned four sequels, made Clint Eastwood an action icon, and gave life to a whole slew of copy cat movies featuring rogue cops, including those who turned Harry down. Specifically, John Wayne even headed to London in BRANNIGAN, portraying a tough Irish-American detective who uses his own brand of law enforcement to recapture a criminal, while struggling with the restrained policing style of his British counterparts. Legendary in his own right, actor Michael Caine's debut novel, DEADLY GAMES, features London Metro Cop Harry Taylor tasked to retrieve crucial and deadly evidence gone AWOL, but to do it quietly, work in the shadows and with as few bodies as possible. Famous last words...
A mystery box gets the proceedings going, illegally dumped at a landfill somewhere in London and thence ripped off by shady characters, leaving the Guardians of the Garbage hospitalized. Interestingly enough, no one shares SE7EN's Detective Mills curiosity about what's in the box, as it seems to be a foregone conclusion that it's terrorism related and most likely Uranium-235. It just seems foregone conclusion, no Geiger counter, no PDM, no isotope tests; do not pass GO, do not collect $200...straight to weapons grade fissile material. As nuclear material is not an everyday thing, a Special Ops Cop Shop working out of New Scotland Yard, SO22, is called in to handle the case without ruffling too many feathers. Detective Chief Inspector Harry Taylor and his closest two Lieutenants, one of which is, of course, one of the best snipers in all of England, are seemingly chasing Armageddon, and consequently it's all nonsense on stilts, nothing more than a collision of rumor, hearsay and scaremongering. Does this loose cannon team really have a clue what they are looking for? A dedicated and thorough copper, Harry hates psychobabble, is a former SAS trooper who can take a punch and just wants to get the job done. The "Taylor Temper" is legendary and his outbursts of rage usually awake when he encounters anything that seems sloppy, second rate, or negligent. With a penchant for the likes of Miles Davis and Thelonius Monk, this Harry sounds a lot like a Harry Bosch clone, with heart.
Relegated to riding shotgun on the case after MI6, NCA, and God knows who else are in on the game, Harry and his team feel a smidge surplus. And if there's anything that Harry hates, it's wasting time. Special Supplementary to government agencies definitely qualifies, so SO22 is going rogue, dark, off the books, free to cause mayhem in a manner of their choosing. Yanked from the case by jurisdictional dispute, overtly, and influence mongering, covertly, there is more at stake than meets the eye. However, straightforward villainy plus nukes, an incredible escalation in the global drug trade, just doesn't stack up for anybody in Thames House; it has to involve mullahs, Russia or China. Nonetheless, there are Russian Bratva, Mexican Cartel, Brit Crime syndicate, white far-right nationalists in the COOL RUNNINGS for the box--everyone but the Hare Krishna, it seems. DEADLY GAME is as British as it can be, bandying about things like answerphone, Official Secrets Act, COBRA, Guv, the Nick, Kip, Khazies and fly-tipping. Michael Caine's entertainment flair and long career in show biz shines through with shout outs to Women in Love, Kipling, the Beatles, Ian Fleming's James Bond, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Sex and the City and Beverly Hills Cop, as he does a swell job recreating a modern day thriller on the Isle, replete with 'stay frosty', 'head on a swivel' etc. England is in shambles, the whole country is suddenly teetering on the brink of chaos, proving DEADLY GAME's assertions that corruption depends on smooth surfaces and lots of things are odd, until they aren't. A sweeping procedural that combines regular Law Enforcement, espionage and national security with a sweet piece of revenge by destroying an oligarch owned replica of the Palace of Versailles, DEADLY GAME will take you to the edge of anarchy, and past.
A regular who's who of action heavyweights were slated to play the heavy handed and ruthless cop tracking down a deranged serial killer in 1971 San Francisco. Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Burt Lancaster, and John Wayne were all asked to star as DIRTY HARRY and chose other projects for various reasons. Apparently, in the early 70s, a brute force cop with disdain for the inefficiency of the police force's rules and bureaucracy would fly. So much so, that DIRTY HARRY spawned four sequels, made Clint Eastwood an action icon, and gave life to a whole slew of copy cat movies featuring rogue cops, including those who turned Harry down. Specifically, John Wayne even headed to London in BRANNIGAN, portraying a tough Irish-American detective who uses his own brand of law enforcement to recapture a criminal, while struggling with the restrained policing style of his British counterparts. Legendary in his own right, actor Michael Caine's debut novel, DEADLY GAMES, features London Metro Cop Harry Taylor tasked to retrieve crucial and deadly evidence gone AWOL, but to do it quietly, work in the shadows and with as few bodies as possible. Famous last words...
A mystery box gets the proceedings going, illegally dumped at a landfill somewhere in London and thence ripped off by shady characters, leaving the Guardians of the Garbage hospitalized. Interestingly enough, no one shares SE7EN's Detective Mills curiosity about what's in the box, as it seems to be a foregone conclusion that it's terrorism related and most likely Uranium-235. It just seems foregone conclusion, no Geiger counter, no PDM, no isotope tests; do not pass GO, do not collect $200...straight to weapons grade fissile material. As nuclear material is not an everyday thing, a Special Ops Cop Shop working out of New Scotland Yard, SO22, is called in to handle the case without ruffling too many feathers. Detective Chief Inspector Harry Taylor and his closest two Lieutenants, one of which is, of course, one of the best snipers in all of England, are seemingly chasing Armageddon, and consequently it's all nonsense on stilts, nothing more than a collision of rumor, hearsay and scaremongering. Does this loose cannon team really have a clue what they are looking for? A dedicated and thorough copper, Harry hates psychobabble, is a former SAS trooper who can take a punch and just wants to get the job done. The "Taylor Temper" is legendary and his outbursts of rage usually awake when he encounters anything that seems sloppy, second rate, or negligent. With a penchant for the likes of Miles Davis and Thelonius Monk, this Harry sounds a lot like a Harry Bosch clone, with heart.
Relegated to riding shotgun on the case after MI6, NCA, and God knows who else are in on the game, Harry and his team feel a smidge surplus. And if there's anything that Harry hates, it's wasting time. Special Supplementary to government agencies definitely qualifies, so SO22 is going rogue, dark, off the books, free to cause mayhem in a manner of their choosing. Yanked from the case by jurisdictional dispute, overtly, and influence mongering, covertly, there is more at stake than meets the eye. However, straightforward villainy plus nukes, an incredible escalation in the global drug trade, just doesn't stack up for anybody in Thames House; it has to involve mullahs, Russia or China. Nonetheless, there are Russian Bratva, Mexican Cartel, Brit Crime syndicate, white far-right nationalists in the COOL RUNNINGS for the box--everyone but the Hare Krishna, it seems. DEADLY GAME is as British as it can be, bandying about things like answerphone, Official Secrets Act, COBRA, Guv, the Nick, Kip, Khazies and fly-tipping. Michael Caine's entertainment flair and long career in show biz shines through with shout outs to Women in Love, Kipling, the Beatles, Ian Fleming's James Bond, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Sex and the City and Beverly Hills Cop, as he does a swell job recreating a modern day thriller on the Isle, replete with 'stay frosty', 'head on a swivel' etc. England is in shambles, the whole country is suddenly teetering on the brink of chaos, proving DEADLY GAME's assertions that corruption depends on smooth surfaces and lots of things are odd, until they aren't. A sweeping procedural that combines regular Law Enforcement, espionage and national security with a sweet piece of revenge by destroying an oligarch owned replica of the Palace of Versailles, DEADLY GAME will take you to the edge of anarchy, and past.
March 23, 2024
Sir Maurice Micklewhite aka Michael Caine has been one of my favourite actors for most of my life, and his autobiography I believe was the first biography I read when I was 13. So I'm speaking as quite a fan when I say this is a frustratingly poor thriller.
Thankfully, it at least isn't a cynical cashgrab. You can tell he's brushed up on the technical requirements of a thriller and is making a fist of punchy storytelling, building mystery and suspense, when to introduce twists, et cetera. Unfortunately the book regularly fails at the meat and potatoes of good storytelling and the central premise (as opposed to the hooks) is fundamentally weak, so there's nowhere really for it all to go. Frankly, if this wasn't Academy Award winner and national treasure Michael Caine, this is very unlikely to have been published.
The hook of the story tries to bring the outlandish into the mundane - a sizeable payload of Uranium 235 is found, of all places, ditched in a Stepney dump before vanishing again. It is a good solid hook. And then we are introduced to the investigator, Harry Taylor, and reality starts vanishing as it turns out he's part of the fictional SO22, which is basically an intelligent unit who aren't directly answerable to any other department and are just meant to go around like Dirty Harry shaking people up and shooting them. This conceit is pretty fantastical, and also, I'd say, not used that well since Harry Taylor is constantly getting hemmed in by the orders of his boss during the investigation anyway.
The biggest problem of the book, though, is that for a thriller starring police officers, there really isn't a lot of investigation involved, clues, leads, that sort of thing. There are a few bits and pieces early on, but for the most part Harry and crew already know the villains in play, and when the plot needs to advance they will receive a cryptic tip off, or someone will tell them about something that was discovered in a parallel investigation, or someone will commit a bungled act of violence against the team, giving themselves away.
The second biggest problem is that despite having a cast of armed coppers who take no nonsense and largely have military training, there amazingly isn't that much in the way of action despite a lot being promised. The climax of the book actually largely involves large expositional dialogue that runs a bit too long and feels quite circular. When you've got two former SAS officers and one of the best snipers in the met in a case involving international drug dealers, imo it feels almost criminal to write a thriller that doesn't climax in a shootout on a freighter/in a warehouse with a bomb ticking somewhere, but this book doesn't have anything like that.
I don't want to go into details about the ending, but sadly it's the point where what there is all falls apart. A lot of the best thrillers, I suspect, begin with the great twist ending (I'm thinking of things like The Odessa File, The Boys From Brazil, The Woman in the Window). The twist in this book is, um, detached from reality and as much as it changes things largely trivialises the events of the story.
As I said, I never got the feeling Caine didn't care about telling a good story, but this is a clunky first attempt that nearly no one else could have gotten published. I feel like he is capable of doing much better.
Thankfully, it at least isn't a cynical cashgrab. You can tell he's brushed up on the technical requirements of a thriller and is making a fist of punchy storytelling, building mystery and suspense, when to introduce twists, et cetera. Unfortunately the book regularly fails at the meat and potatoes of good storytelling and the central premise (as opposed to the hooks) is fundamentally weak, so there's nowhere really for it all to go. Frankly, if this wasn't Academy Award winner and national treasure Michael Caine, this is very unlikely to have been published.
The hook of the story tries to bring the outlandish into the mundane - a sizeable payload of Uranium 235 is found, of all places, ditched in a Stepney dump before vanishing again. It is a good solid hook. And then we are introduced to the investigator, Harry Taylor, and reality starts vanishing as it turns out he's part of the fictional SO22, which is basically an intelligent unit who aren't directly answerable to any other department and are just meant to go around like Dirty Harry shaking people up and shooting them. This conceit is pretty fantastical, and also, I'd say, not used that well since Harry Taylor is constantly getting hemmed in by the orders of his boss during the investigation anyway.
The biggest problem of the book, though, is that for a thriller starring police officers, there really isn't a lot of investigation involved, clues, leads, that sort of thing. There are a few bits and pieces early on, but for the most part Harry and crew already know the villains in play, and when the plot needs to advance they will receive a cryptic tip off, or someone will tell them about something that was discovered in a parallel investigation, or someone will commit a bungled act of violence against the team, giving themselves away.
The second biggest problem is that despite having a cast of armed coppers who take no nonsense and largely have military training, there amazingly isn't that much in the way of action despite a lot being promised. The climax of the book actually largely involves large expositional dialogue that runs a bit too long and feels quite circular. When you've got two former SAS officers and one of the best snipers in the met in a case involving international drug dealers, imo it feels almost criminal to write a thriller that doesn't climax in a shootout on a freighter/in a warehouse with a bomb ticking somewhere, but this book doesn't have anything like that.
I don't want to go into details about the ending, but sadly it's the point where what there is all falls apart. A lot of the best thrillers, I suspect, begin with the great twist ending (I'm thinking of things like The Odessa File, The Boys From Brazil, The Woman in the Window). The twist in this book is, um, detached from reality and as much as it changes things largely trivialises the events of the story.
As I said, I never got the feeling Caine didn't care about telling a good story, but this is a clunky first attempt that nearly no one else could have gotten published. I feel like he is capable of doing much better.
January 22, 2024
Michael Caine’s debut novel Deadly Game (2023) is a good solid thriller.
DCI Harry Turner is a tough nut who doesn’t suffer fools at all, let alone gladly. ‘Harry hated the phrase “old-school copper” – especially when applied to him, as it often was round the Met. Yes, he liked to get the job done. Yes, he could throw a punch as well as take one. And no, he didn’t think police officers were social workers or local politicians. Their job was law enforcement: pure and simple. Not therapy’ (p26). He was ex-Army, ex-SAS and served in Helmand, Columbia, Georgia and Myanmar – until a sports knee injury got him – ‘It was a tackle that got me, not the Taliban’ (p28). After that, he joined the Met.
Harry joined an elite team in department SO22, headed up by DCS Robinson – a team created because the ‘Met had lost its balls, lost its focus and was too busy covering its arse to make the calls that get proper bad guys behind bars’ (p34).
Then, one day, on Harry’s doorstep, so to speak, a metal box of radioactive material is found at a dump in Stepney, East London. Unfortunately, before the police can arrive, it goes missing. Harry and his team (DI John Williams, Inspector Carol Walker, and Sergeant Iris Davies) are tasked with finding the missing uranium before it gets into the wrong hands.
It seems that an unsavoury criminal gang is involved, and far-right skinheads, and also an aristocratic art Dealer, Julian Smythe and oligarch Vladimir Voldrev; these latter two are quite creepy, each confronted in their own personal fiefdom/lair.
Throughout, whenever Harry is speaking – or thinking – I tend to hear Michael Caine’s voice; the writing and characterisation is that consistent. ‘I think it’s time to prick this prick’s bubble... I don’t believe in ghosts myself. Personally, I believe in crooks and the way they terrorise people. It’s not magic. It’s the oldest trick in history, and it’s always the poorest that get ripped off most’ (p145).
There are deaths along the way, and a shocking explosion, as the team seems to be getting close to their goal. The pace rarely lets up, the pages keep turning, and the denouement contains a neat twist.
I’d be happy to make the acquaintance of Harry Turner again.
DCI Harry Turner is a tough nut who doesn’t suffer fools at all, let alone gladly. ‘Harry hated the phrase “old-school copper” – especially when applied to him, as it often was round the Met. Yes, he liked to get the job done. Yes, he could throw a punch as well as take one. And no, he didn’t think police officers were social workers or local politicians. Their job was law enforcement: pure and simple. Not therapy’ (p26). He was ex-Army, ex-SAS and served in Helmand, Columbia, Georgia and Myanmar – until a sports knee injury got him – ‘It was a tackle that got me, not the Taliban’ (p28). After that, he joined the Met.
Harry joined an elite team in department SO22, headed up by DCS Robinson – a team created because the ‘Met had lost its balls, lost its focus and was too busy covering its arse to make the calls that get proper bad guys behind bars’ (p34).
Then, one day, on Harry’s doorstep, so to speak, a metal box of radioactive material is found at a dump in Stepney, East London. Unfortunately, before the police can arrive, it goes missing. Harry and his team (DI John Williams, Inspector Carol Walker, and Sergeant Iris Davies) are tasked with finding the missing uranium before it gets into the wrong hands.
It seems that an unsavoury criminal gang is involved, and far-right skinheads, and also an aristocratic art Dealer, Julian Smythe and oligarch Vladimir Voldrev; these latter two are quite creepy, each confronted in their own personal fiefdom/lair.
Throughout, whenever Harry is speaking – or thinking – I tend to hear Michael Caine’s voice; the writing and characterisation is that consistent. ‘I think it’s time to prick this prick’s bubble... I don’t believe in ghosts myself. Personally, I believe in crooks and the way they terrorise people. It’s not magic. It’s the oldest trick in history, and it’s always the poorest that get ripped off most’ (p145).
There are deaths along the way, and a shocking explosion, as the team seems to be getting close to their goal. The pace rarely lets up, the pages keep turning, and the denouement contains a neat twist.
I’d be happy to make the acquaintance of Harry Turner again.
April 18, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
"Deadly Game" by Michael Caine is a riveting thriller that takes readers on a high-stakes journey through the murky underbelly of international crime. With the legendary screen actor Michael Caine at the helm of the storytelling, the novel promises a blend of cinematic flair and gripping narrative.
The protagonist, DCI Harry Taylor, is a character that resonates with Caine's own on-screen personas—tough, unyielding, and with a disdain for red tape and bureaucracy. His unconventional methods make him an engaging lead, reminiscent of the maverick cops from classic crime dramas. The plot unfolds with the discovery of a metal box of radioactive material in East London, setting off a chain of events that pull Taylor into a web of intrigue involving art dealers and oligarchs.
Caine's writing is sharp and paced like a well-edited film, with scenes that transition smoothly and keep the reader hooked. The narrative is rich with twists and turns, maintaining suspense and a sense of urgency throughout. The backdrop of London and Barbados provides a stark contrast between the gritty city streets and the luxurious tropics, adding depth to the story's atmosphere.
The novel's strength lies in its ability to balance action with character development. Taylor's backstory and personal struggles are woven into the narrative, giving him a three-dimensional quality that elevates the book beyond a typical thriller. Caine's experience in the film industry shines through in his detailed descriptions and the vividness of the settings.
"Deadly Game" is a smart, brutal, and thoroughly entertaining read. It's a testament to Caine's storytelling abilities and his understanding of what makes a thriller work. Whether you're a fan of Michael Caine, thrillers, or just looking for a compelling read, this book is sure to deliver. It's a debut novel that not only entertains but also cements Caine's status as a formidable writer in the literary world.
"Deadly Game" by Michael Caine is a riveting thriller that takes readers on a high-stakes journey through the murky underbelly of international crime. With the legendary screen actor Michael Caine at the helm of the storytelling, the novel promises a blend of cinematic flair and gripping narrative.
The protagonist, DCI Harry Taylor, is a character that resonates with Caine's own on-screen personas—tough, unyielding, and with a disdain for red tape and bureaucracy. His unconventional methods make him an engaging lead, reminiscent of the maverick cops from classic crime dramas. The plot unfolds with the discovery of a metal box of radioactive material in East London, setting off a chain of events that pull Taylor into a web of intrigue involving art dealers and oligarchs.
Caine's writing is sharp and paced like a well-edited film, with scenes that transition smoothly and keep the reader hooked. The narrative is rich with twists and turns, maintaining suspense and a sense of urgency throughout. The backdrop of London and Barbados provides a stark contrast between the gritty city streets and the luxurious tropics, adding depth to the story's atmosphere.
The novel's strength lies in its ability to balance action with character development. Taylor's backstory and personal struggles are woven into the narrative, giving him a three-dimensional quality that elevates the book beyond a typical thriller. Caine's experience in the film industry shines through in his detailed descriptions and the vividness of the settings.
"Deadly Game" is a smart, brutal, and thoroughly entertaining read. It's a testament to Caine's storytelling abilities and his understanding of what makes a thriller work. Whether you're a fan of Michael Caine, thrillers, or just looking for a compelling read, this book is sure to deliver. It's a debut novel that not only entertains but also cements Caine's status as a formidable writer in the literary world.
January 1, 2024
This is a 3.5 star rating for me.
Thanks to Tandem Collective and Hachette Australia for providing me a copy as part of a readalong.
Deadly Game has all the makings for a movie especially the plot twist at the end. I don't think many people, or potentially anyone, would have guessed that ending.
I thought this book had great pacing and although crime thrillers aren't my first choice in reading, I thought Michael did a good job. The only scene I thought didn't fit the overall narrative was the skin heads capturing Carol. I thought global terrorism doesn't really fit with low hanging thugs that idolize Hitler. They were too small a player to try and get onto the international scene. That's just my opinion considering the status of every other player.
This could make for a really good series of books with Harry's investigations. I enjoyed reading how Harry's mind worked and even his relationships with his colleagues. Yes, he might be a bit old school, but he was always likable and did his job well. If there are any follow up books, would love to know more about Iris. She was just a great team player and total boss.
Along the way, I definitely wasn't sure who was playing who. The beef was set up between Smythe and Voldrev early on and we were always fooled by the back and forth. Thought it was clever how it came together! Haven't read a book that had a villain go to such lengths to not only cover their tracks but have so much control. They never played their hand until the end and they went out on their own terms. Loved it!
For anyone loving crime thrillers involving a terrorist plot on a global stage, this book may be for you. Do check your triggers
Thanks to Tandem Collective and Hachette Australia for providing me a copy as part of a readalong.
Deadly Game has all the makings for a movie especially the plot twist at the end. I don't think many people, or potentially anyone, would have guessed that ending.
I thought this book had great pacing and although crime thrillers aren't my first choice in reading, I thought Michael did a good job. The only scene I thought didn't fit the overall narrative was the skin heads capturing Carol. I thought global terrorism doesn't really fit with low hanging thugs that idolize Hitler. They were too small a player to try and get onto the international scene. That's just my opinion considering the status of every other player.
This could make for a really good series of books with Harry's investigations. I enjoyed reading how Harry's mind worked and even his relationships with his colleagues. Yes, he might be a bit old school, but he was always likable and did his job well. If there are any follow up books, would love to know more about Iris. She was just a great team player and total boss.
Along the way, I definitely wasn't sure who was playing who. The beef was set up between Smythe and Voldrev early on and we were always fooled by the back and forth. Thought it was clever how it came together! Haven't read a book that had a villain go to such lengths to not only cover their tracks but have so much control. They never played their hand until the end and they went out on their own terms. Loved it!
For anyone loving crime thrillers involving a terrorist plot on a global stage, this book may be for you. Do check your triggers
March 19, 2024
Ultimately put myself out of my misery at 61%. The book was an absolute jumble of a story with chapters jumping all over the place and twists that were more like neck breakers as they weren't grounded in reality. The pacing was also way off with no real concept of time. It was like the author just had things they wanted to put in a book and then set about to squeeze them all in come what may.
I like other reviewers certainly feel like if this book hasn't come from Michael Caine there is no way this would have been published at all. The phrase there are better books out there is certainly true when it comes to this one.
Oh and another thing, there was genuinely no scene or character set up to base the characters or their rogue little outfit on. It literally read as if this was like the 4th book in a series and it was a case of IYKYK, otherwise be damned with you. And it was strange because there were also callbacks to past missions that probably would have been in preceding books without those books existing.
I like other reviewers certainly feel like if this book hasn't come from Michael Caine there is no way this would have been published at all. The phrase there are better books out there is certainly true when it comes to this one.
Oh and another thing, there was genuinely no scene or character set up to base the characters or their rogue little outfit on. It literally read as if this was like the 4th book in a series and it was a case of IYKYK, otherwise be damned with you. And it was strange because there were also callbacks to past missions that probably would have been in preceding books without those books existing.
May 5, 2024
pleasantly surprized, and to some degree, amazed -- I did not expect this book to be SO GOOD. Mr. Caine probably channeled Tom Clancy to some extent -- and has come up with "the main guy" who, little doubt, will figure in future stories.
Mike acknowledges that he had help with the research (with one facet of the story that (fissionable?) uranium was (true) found in a London-area dump) -- he knows the jargon (as far as this non-limey person can tell), the relations of whatever departments/offices/branches of law-enforcement, etc. to each other -- and, yes, some of the particulars of atom bombs.
The characters are 'relatable' -- even the (no spoiler here) "bad guy(s)" -- the author provided plenty of detail, description, and almost none of what I'd call "down time" when I read a book -- very little, nay, practically no "bogged down" parts of this book.
and an esoteric comment/question --> on page 271 the phrase "headless chickens" appears. totally left-field perhaps -- was the author influenced by the Headless Chicken Festival, occurring annually in Fruita, Colorado?
Mike acknowledges that he had help with the research (with one facet of the story that (fissionable?) uranium was (true) found in a London-area dump) -- he knows the jargon (as far as this non-limey person can tell), the relations of whatever departments/offices/branches of law-enforcement, etc. to each other -- and, yes, some of the particulars of atom bombs.
The characters are 'relatable' -- even the (no spoiler here) "bad guy(s)" -- the author provided plenty of detail, description, and almost none of what I'd call "down time" when I read a book -- very little, nay, practically no "bogged down" parts of this book.
and an esoteric comment/question --> on page 271 the phrase "headless chickens" appears. totally left-field perhaps -- was the author influenced by the Headless Chicken Festival, occurring annually in Fruita, Colorado?
May 8, 2024
'Deadly Game' by Michael Caine.
DCI Harry Taylor has no respect for red tape or political reputations - but he's great at catching criminals.
And all his unorthodox skills will be needed as an extraordinary situation unfolds on his doorstep: a metal box of radioactive material is found at a dump in Stepney, East London, but before the police can arrive it is stolen in a violent raid.
With security agencies across the world on red alert, it's Harry and his unconventional team from the Met who must hit the streets in search of a lead. They soon have two wildly different suspects, aristocratic art dealer Julian Smythe in London and oligarch Vladimir Voldrev in Barbados. But the pressure is on. How much time does Harry have, and how many more players will join the action, before the missing uranium is lighting up the sky?
This was an enjoyable book to read and there was a very good twist at the end that I wasn't expecting. Harry was a brilliant character although I had a soft spot for Iris. I hope there's going to be a sequel. If you enjoy a good spy thriller then give this book a go.
DCI Harry Taylor has no respect for red tape or political reputations - but he's great at catching criminals.
And all his unorthodox skills will be needed as an extraordinary situation unfolds on his doorstep: a metal box of radioactive material is found at a dump in Stepney, East London, but before the police can arrive it is stolen in a violent raid.
With security agencies across the world on red alert, it's Harry and his unconventional team from the Met who must hit the streets in search of a lead. They soon have two wildly different suspects, aristocratic art dealer Julian Smythe in London and oligarch Vladimir Voldrev in Barbados. But the pressure is on. How much time does Harry have, and how many more players will join the action, before the missing uranium is lighting up the sky?
This was an enjoyable book to read and there was a very good twist at the end that I wasn't expecting. Harry was a brilliant character although I had a soft spot for Iris. I hope there's going to be a sequel. If you enjoy a good spy thriller then give this book a go.
January 4, 2024
2024 has started off with a banging read, thanks to @tandemcollectiveglobal & @hachetteaus recent readalong of Michael Caine’s newest novel, ‘Deadly Game’.
This had everything you could expect from Michael Caine;
✅ UK setting
✅ Action-packed
✅ Mysteries to solve
✅ Uranium that’s about to implode on the world
When DCI Harry Taylor, part of the SO22 Team, is tasked to find the missing Uranium that was stolen from a local dump and avoid being in the hands of the wrong people, Taylor does what he needs to in order to get to the bottom of the mystery.
There’s many surprises and twists along the way with plenty of politics thrown in the mix.
This book definitely kept me interested. While I wouldn’t say it was a thriller (I’d say it was more of a mystery), it was a great read. I did find that parts of the book had more narration and thought than action, but the book flowed really well and would love to see this as a movie adaptation!
This had everything you could expect from Michael Caine;
✅ UK setting
✅ Action-packed
✅ Mysteries to solve
✅ Uranium that’s about to implode on the world
When DCI Harry Taylor, part of the SO22 Team, is tasked to find the missing Uranium that was stolen from a local dump and avoid being in the hands of the wrong people, Taylor does what he needs to in order to get to the bottom of the mystery.
There’s many surprises and twists along the way with plenty of politics thrown in the mix.
This book definitely kept me interested. While I wouldn’t say it was a thriller (I’d say it was more of a mystery), it was a great read. I did find that parts of the book had more narration and thought than action, but the book flowed really well and would love to see this as a movie adaptation!
December 19, 2023
Goodreads review ‘Deadly Game’ by Michael Caine.
The front page blurb states, ‘From Screen Legend’ Michael Caine comes his first novel ‘Deadly Game’. Now perhaps there is a growing genre of celebrities writing novels (many write memoirs but perhaps novels is the next frontier). I have no idea if the 90 year old Caine actually sat down and wrote this? Let me know if you know. I read it for novelty value and the cynic in me realises that M.C. may have been in the same room (publishers office to sign the contract) and maybe he may have pitched the idea. Fun read but utterly derivative of every spy/action/thriller/ ever written. Few moment of the Michael Caine as actor in the narrative. Though the perfect quick entertaining read. Perfect for the non-reader in your life. It has charm and thick with the elements of the genre. Bought from Big W Library for $18.00. Enjoy.
The front page blurb states, ‘From Screen Legend’ Michael Caine comes his first novel ‘Deadly Game’. Now perhaps there is a growing genre of celebrities writing novels (many write memoirs but perhaps novels is the next frontier). I have no idea if the 90 year old Caine actually sat down and wrote this? Let me know if you know. I read it for novelty value and the cynic in me realises that M.C. may have been in the same room (publishers office to sign the contract) and maybe he may have pitched the idea. Fun read but utterly derivative of every spy/action/thriller/ ever written. Few moment of the Michael Caine as actor in the narrative. Though the perfect quick entertaining read. Perfect for the non-reader in your life. It has charm and thick with the elements of the genre. Bought from Big W Library for $18.00. Enjoy.
February 18, 2024
This book was a real page turner with a major twist at the end. The main character was Harry Taylor who was a lead member of the SO22 which was a group in the British police system that usually ended up investigating major and odd problems. At the beginning of the book, we learn that a box of U-235 had shown up in a garbage/recycling center and was immediately stolen almost as soon as discovered. Every unit possible gets in on the investigation, including SO22. Sent to investigate it and get the Uranium back with three other people in his squad. One was a super sniper, one was a third-dan judo black belt holder, and one was a nerd from the forensics department who not only had five years working with nuclear, chemical and biological problems, but her father is a renounce nuclear scientist. So they figure they can use her to get his help if needed.
December 6, 2023
Book 168 of 2023 - “Deadly Game” by Michael Caine - YES THAT Michael Caine and he’s only gone and blown the bloody doors off! I really enjoyed this Audio book, Sir Michale’s first foray into fiction at age 90. Also it was narrated by one of my favourite actors, Eddie Marsan. An excellent fast paced caper - a box of radioactive material turns up at a dump in Stepney. DCI Harry Telford and his unconventional Met team are in the case, with 2 totally different leads - plus other layers wanting in on the action. This totally could be a movie. I read a few disparaging reviews calling it a vanity project and no Le Carré, but I went in with no expectations and thoroughly enjoyed it, hoping there will be more! The book releases on the 19th December 2023 and we have 2 on order for the store. Thanks to @talismanonpender @librofm @hodderbooks for the #ALC #ARC
January 1, 2024
This was a great @tandemcollectiveglobal readalong to end 2023.
And what better way than an explosive british police thriller!
This had everything you expected from a police drama.
Great characters, DCI Harry Taylor reminds me of another great police detective: Harry Bosch.
A crack team of detectives put together by Harry.
A whole cast of villainous scoundrels that want to gain the top rung in the narcotics ladder, some deadly uranium, and two very rich, very suave, yet somehow very deluded self made millionaires.
This book really does play out in the reader's head as a movie.
For me, it had tones of: James Bond, Harry Bosch, Fast & Furious vibes without the cars, and lots of great little hints to throw even the best detective off the scent.
And what better way than an explosive british police thriller!
This had everything you expected from a police drama.
Great characters, DCI Harry Taylor reminds me of another great police detective: Harry Bosch.
A crack team of detectives put together by Harry.
A whole cast of villainous scoundrels that want to gain the top rung in the narcotics ladder, some deadly uranium, and two very rich, very suave, yet somehow very deluded self made millionaires.
This book really does play out in the reader's head as a movie.
For me, it had tones of: James Bond, Harry Bosch, Fast & Furious vibes without the cars, and lots of great little hints to throw even the best detective off the scent.
February 15, 2024
Very enjoyable debut fiction thriller from a legendary talent.
This novel starts of with a high stakes mystery, that keeps the tension high throughout, but done in such a way that it did not get tired. Our hero of the story, DCI Harry Taylor, I found to be likable and gruff, with a realistic bent to him. I feel he was similar to characters the author himself has brought to life on screen.
The supporting cast we colored in well enough to be understood and the story itself I felt was landed well in a unique way. I am hopeful we get to see more of Harry Taylor, or at the very least another story from Mr. Caine. If we do not see another story, the ending was satisfyingly done and left me feeling content with this being the only one.
This novel starts of with a high stakes mystery, that keeps the tension high throughout, but done in such a way that it did not get tired. Our hero of the story, DCI Harry Taylor, I found to be likable and gruff, with a realistic bent to him. I feel he was similar to characters the author himself has brought to life on screen.
The supporting cast we colored in well enough to be understood and the story itself I felt was landed well in a unique way. I am hopeful we get to see more of Harry Taylor, or at the very least another story from Mr. Caine. If we do not see another story, the ending was satisfyingly done and left me feeling content with this being the only one.
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