KILL GAME (Seven of Spades #1) by CORDELIA KINGSBRIDGE

“I want the people of this city to know I’m on their side, and the animals to know I’m coming for them.”

Wow….wow…WOW we loved this book. We are so excited to find this new to us Author and a new series to fall in love with. Everything about Kill Game by Cordelia Kingsbridge was just perfection. A thrilling who-dunnit set in Las Vegas with a simmering love story that had us hooked from the first page. We cannot wait for the next book in this series.  Kill Game was so well written, it enticed us, thrilled us and we were compelled by this story. Whilst we’d love to talk late into the night about this book we really do not want to spoil anything so we’ll be purposely brief.

“I keep going back and forth with myself on whether you have balls of steel or you’re just insane.” A grin broke across Dominic’s face. “I’m choosing to take that as a compliment.”

There’s a serial killer on the lose dubbed the ‘Seven of Spades killer’ for the simple fact that he or she places his calling card on every victim he leaves for Homicide Detective, Levi – the lead investigator. Every single victim has a story of their own but it’s never a good one; they’re all ‘criminal’ in their own right and it seems the Seven of Spades is committing his very own elaborate brand of justice.

“It’s a little disorienting, finding out that everything I’ve always assumed about you was wrong.”

Levi is feeling the stress of not only the added hours at work but the crumbling of his relationship with his rich boyfriend, Stanton who wants Levi to quit in order to be safe and more available to him. The pressure of an active serial killer, a haunting incident at work, as well as the difficulties in his personal life sees an exhausted Levi questioning everything he knows. Levi was a brilliantly written character who we immediately took to our hearts and we were rooting for him throughout this book. Although a forceful character to be reckoned with, he had real flaws and an endearing vulnerability.

“There’s something wrong with me,” Levi whispered.
“No, there’s not.” Dominic said, so firmly that Levi gave a startled jerk
“You’re just human.”

The investigation of this case brings the bounty hunter Dominic too close for comfort. Whilst Levi has had prior fleeting interactions with him, the circumstances of this case means the two of them become closer and are having to work together. Neither are ready for the complications this brings but the chemistry is undeniable. Dominic, whose ex-army is a brute of a man who comes with his own inner demons fresh from battle. He too has a sensitive protective side that had us falling hook line and sinker. The pair of them had us swooning, tearing up and laughing at various stages throughout this story.

“You believe in soulmates?” Dominic asked surprised. He couldn’t reconcile that romantic notion with the practical, matter-of-fact man sitting in front of him.
“I believe that people can complement each other so well that they’re like two halves of one whole, yes.”

What we loved mostly about Kill Game was the way it centred on the suspense and chase to find the Seven of Spades killer. The added element of a slow building friendship and romance between Levi and Dominic was enticing and perfectly added the human element of showing the hearts and vulnerability of the characters. Now we wait for the next instalment with baited breath, and how excruciatingly exciting that is as theories still swirl round our heads. We haven’t read this type story in a long while and highly recommend it to readers of mm romance and thrillers.

“This isn’t how it happens, you and me,” he said quietly. “Not like this.”