Alistair B. HAYWARD

About the Book

They whisper about “nature versus nurture,” don’t they? A pointless debate. Are monsters born, or are they made? I can’t speak for the others, but for me, the answer is simple: I’ve always been this way. Empathy? A foreign concept. Emotion? A weakness I do not possess. My purpose is singular, my desire pure: to inflict pain.

My work began in Boston, a proving ground for my particular art. However, a change in circumstances led me to New York, with its endless supply of vibrant, naive youth. They are my chosen medium. At each scene, I leave my mark, a tribute to my craft. Two simple Polaroid photographs: one capturing the fleeting spark of life, the other, the stark, beautiful emptiness of its absence.

Then, he appeared. A rival artist in my new city. His methods are crude, reveling in ritualistic mutilation, feeding on the fear he creates. A different kind of predator, but a predator nonetheless.

Now, a new dynamic has emerged. I’ve begun to work in his hunting grounds, and he, in mine. The authorities scramble, asking themselves the wrong questions. Are we competing? Communicating? They fail to grasp the exquisite simplicity of it all.

How the Games Began dives deep into the minds of these two sadistic killers as they unleash unthinkable evil, highlighting their need for media attention, notoriety, manipulation, and control over everyone around them. The desperate race to stop them before they strike again has begun.  Please check the website for trigger warnings.

Trigger Warning

Graphic Violence, Gore, and Mutilation / Murder and Serial Killers / Psychological Torture and Manipulation / Sexual Assault and Violence / Animal Cruelty / Domestic Violence and Spousal Abuse / Kidnapping and Unlawful Imprisonment / Drug Use and Addiction / Grief and Loss / Cannibalism

Michelle Sherrier
If you love disturbingly dark books, then this one is for you!!
Tory Kekailoa
Brutal, disturbing, and impossible to put down. How the Games Began is one of the most disturbing and well-written serial killer origin stories I've ever read!
Sarah [Page.Turning.Thrills ]
It's raw, real, and visceral! It will take you inside the mind of a serial killer with a first-person point of view.
Char Mullarkey
This book is even darker than the first, but just as gripping, compelling, and twisty. The ending! 🤯
Elle (IG: simply.elle18)
Hayward knocked it out of the park with How the Games Began! It is gruesome and visceral (and very detailed), with short chapters, which I love.
Emily Fleming
The story is gruesome, violent, and full of wild scenes that get you into the minds of serial killers. Just when you think you know where it's going, a big twist hits at the end. Fast paced, disturbing, and highly entertaining, you should check this one out if you're a fan of dark thrillers and true crime!
Honey Dy
Alistair doesn't just write about serial killers; it made me feel like he actually understands them. The level of detail, the psychological depth, the sickeningly plausible motives, he really knew what he was talking about.
Paige Ray
How The Games Began follows two serial killers and how they choose their victims. Their overall background is developed very well, giving readers even more insight. From the past to present transitions, news broadcasts, police interviews/dialogue, kills, significant others of the killer/s, and truly getting inside the mind of a serial killer… It's chilling, raw, visceral, and deeply disturbing. The perfect concoction for any horror lover.

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