Review: Plenty of Twists and Turns!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 30, 2014
Jimmie Barlow is a seventeen-year-old extreme video gamer, living with his sister, Beth, and her young daughter, Suzie. Jimmie and Beth lost their parents in a deadly car accident caused by a drunk driver. It's clear that Jimmie has some deep-seated and pent up anger as a result, but he's dealing with things as best he can. After receiving a scholarship to a prestigious prep school, mainly based upon his basketball skills, Jimmie finds himself having a difficult time fitting in. Added to the mix is an ongoing custody battle his sister must defend against her ex-husband, Rick (affectionately known as "The Jerk" by Jimmie). All of this turmoil makes Jimmie the ideal patsy in an elaborate scheme planned by mystery woman, Greta. Greta knows that hard-core gaming is Jimmie's passion and she intends to draw him into a deadly game he won't be able to resist.A Mug's Game is filled with several twists and unexpected turns. The author has cleverly peppered the book with a number of timely topics (bullying, HIV and AIDS, homosexuality, teen sex and violence) and she managed to do it without being preachy. The story is written in first person, from Jimmie's point of view, and it works nicely. However, some sentences like, "...my sister looked hotter than a fiery jalapeno-stuffed enchilada." and, "When he wasn't grinning, he was oozing charm like an overripe tomato..."  made me think the narrative was coming from a 1950s private eye, rather than a seventeen-year-old boy. The use of the word "retard" made my skin crawl, but I know all too well how often teens use this word in a derogatory manner.All in all I would say A Mug's Game is an enjoyable read. Although the protagonist is a teenage boy, I feel the subject matter is appealing to adults, as well as young adults. There's something for everyone. If you like suspense, surprise plot twists and trendy topics you'll like this book.eBook Review Gal received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.