Alistair B. HAYWARD

The Games we play

TWO KILLERS. ONE BLOODY GAME. NO LIMITS.

ARE YOU READY TO PLAY?

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About the Book

The London night was my sanctuary, a cloak for what I truly am. My name is David—for years, I’ve played a game no one else knew existed—a pursuit of absolute command, precise execution, and the ultimate thrill: ending a life. My aim was always to prevail.

Then Pete stumbled into my world of death. He thought he dared me, but he merely became a pawn in my most dangerous endeavor yet. He had no grasp of my meticulously crafted domain, a place where distinctions between right and wrong dissolve into chilling artistry.

Now, the contest has intensified. Victims increase, and the city holds its breath, seeking a killer they name the ‘Eye Spy Killer.’

It’s killer vs killer in this disturbingly gripping and bloody thriller, perfect for hardcore fans of Chris Carter, Stephen King, Karin Slaughter, and American Psycho. Definitely only for readers with strong stomachs! 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

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Andi Finnell
(spookybooknerd4ever)
Y'all!!!! I'm sitting here contemplating what TF I just read! I absolutely loved it! This book is just pure depravity and debauchery. It will really stick with me a long time. It definitely gave me American psycho vibes and I think a lot of my horror whores will love this one!! The chapters are short, which you know I love. We have two POVS and the book flows really easily. Oh, and this is a debut novel!!! GTFOH!!! This book is about David. David is a serial killer. But he's getting a little bored with just killing people. So he enlists his friend, Pete, to start killing too. But Pete is a little reckless and sloppy. As things start to escalate, we have to remember that the game is chess not checkers. You have to know how to play the game so you don't get caught. Y'all, please go give this author a follow and go grab this book. I promise you, you will not regret it.
Jasmine Maddy-Taylor
Highly recommend for anyone who ENJOYS intense and detailed psychological thrillers. Alistair B. Hayward’s The Games We Play is an intense dive into the darkest corners of the human mind. From the first page, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. The story provides a front-row seat into the twisted mind of a serial killer, making for a truly disturbing and immersive experience. Hayward’s writing is incredibly vivid and detailed, capturing the chilling thoughts and motivations of the characters. The plot is filled with relentless twists and turns that keep you on edge, constantly questioning what’s real and who can be trusted. The pacing is perfect, with each chapter ending in a way that made it impossible to stop reading. It’s not just about the gruesome acts, but the intricate mind games and the intense paranoia that drive the characters. This book really made me feel the thrill and the darkness that consumes them.
Mairi MacDonald
Emmm what did I just read? As brutal and gruesome as it was I couldn't put this down and was eager to see how things panned out! It was very well written and had nice short chapters which I love. This was so messaged up but I loved it! This isn't for the faint hearted! It comes with a lot of trigger warnings so if your easily disturbed or triggered by things like se*ual assault then I would avoid.
HallowQueen
I could not put this book down. It is brutal, gruesome and dripping with gore. The story perfectly mirrors the depravity and lack of emotions common in most cases of serial killings. Hayward weaves the perfect story and is an incredibly talented author. If you are like me and intrigued by true crime and murderers, you should definitely read this book! “She sang quietly to herself, the song turning to mist as it left her mouth. It would be the last good thing she would ever hear.”
Christina Chris
Wowww what did I just read...I'm shocked. Never have I read a book in which such extreme content. The writer said it was not for the fainted heart. Well, he didn't exaggerate... But I must admit that the story is written brilliantly, the strange thing was that I wanted to read it, to know how it would end. This story is all written from the murders point of view. It is also a story about two friends and their wife's. These are the 4 most important people in the story. It is a gripping and nail-biting story. There were a few times I needed to put to book away, it was explicate in details. But man, this man can write. If you don't like extreme violence and very detailed extreme content, don't read it Otherwise, have a go because it left me flabbergasted.... this is a book which will stay with me for a long time
Noelle Nolte
David has a secret hobby; taking lives. But when he grows bored with the same old thing, he decides to bring a friend along for the ride in an ever increasing battle of who is more sick and depraved. This was a wild ride! So much gore and so much perverted and sick acts of violence; I loved it!!! Hayward takes you into the minds of two different but equally psychotic killers and honestly I couldn’t decide who was worse; the psychotic practiced serial killer who pretends to be a loving and caring fiancé but in reality feels nothing or the newbie who is close to a psychotic break and on a violent rampage to feed his newfound love of bloodshed? Although there were some, I felt, inessential details of their daily lives, the meat of the story kept me reading all the way to the end; and OMG- the end I did not see coming! Definitely has American Psycho vibes, but very unique story overall. Thank you to Alistair B Hayward for the opportunity to review your amazing book, I really enjoyed it!
Dylan
Beautifully Brutal!
Noelle Nolte
Depravity at its finest!!
JT
Easily the best five-star read of the year!!
Tory Alao
An absolute masterpiece of a debut novel.
Eve Moss
Holy shit holy shit. I need more asap, I can't believe this is the author's first book, absolutely brilliant. Dark and disturbing, but the storyline was amazing!
Nikki Lee
Wickedly evil. Disturbing and terrifying.
Andi Finnell (spookybooknerd4ever)
I'm sitting here contemplating what TF I just read! I absolutely loved it! This book is just pure depravity and debauchery. It will really stick with me a long time.
Natalia
This was gruesome and raw from beginning to end. The level of cruelty, the explicitness of the descriptions, and the tension within the whole story make this book, at least for me, perfection. It is incredibly fast-paced, cold-blooded, and the ending left me speechless.
River 🔪🩸 (horror.books.and.chill)
The ending caught me completely off guard. It was like a gut punch that left me gasping for air. It's one of pure depravity that I never in a million years would have guessed.
Jasmine Maddy-Taylor
Alistair B. Hayward's The Games We Play is an intense dive into the darkest corners of the human mind. From the first page, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. The story provides a front-row seat into the twisted mind of a serial killer, making for a truly disturbing and immersive experience.
mrsbookburnee Niamh Burnett
If you are looking for a nice fluffy read, this is not for you… But if you like your thrillers as dark as can be! Then this is for you!! This is the darkest of the dark.
Tory Kekailoa
The prologue had me by the throat and didn't release me out of that choke hold until the very last page. It's raw, it's graphic, it's gory, it's emotional, it's brutal, it's violent, it's fucking brilliant.

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