Publishers Weekly
06/20/2022
In this enjoyable if flawed psychological thriller from British author Jones (The Guilt Trip), psychologist Naomi Chandler knowingly violates her clinical training and professional ethics by inviting a patient, Jacob, to stay in an apartment she owns to escape his abusive wife. Naomi decides not to tell her husband, knowing he’ll object because her over-involvement with patients has jeopardized her life on at least one previous occasion. Naomi involves herself even more deeply by agreeing to meet a drunken Jacob in a hotel bar. Soon afterward, Jacob disappears, and Naomi is the last person to have seen him. When the police begin to suspect Naomi, she becomes trapped in a cat-and-mouse game with a cunning manipulator who may have emerged from her murky past or may be Jacob himself. The twisty plot offers plenty of surprises, but some readers may lose patience with a main character who persists in making the worst possible choice in every dangerous situation, such as confronting the killer on her own instead of summoning the nearby police. Jones is unlikely to win new fans with this one. Agent: Tanera Simons, Darley Anderson (U.K.). (Aug.)
From the Publisher
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"Enjoyable . . . The twisty plot offers plenty of surprises."—Publishers Weekly
"Just when the reader thinks they might have the plot figured out, Jones throws in yet another surprise, ratcheting up the tension until the explosive conclusion. A fine choice for fans of psychological thrillers."—Booklist
“Another pulse-pounding thriller . . . the 'he said/she said' roller-coaster plunges to a shocking finale . . . Aficionados of Jones’s work will find this tantalizing psychological fare worth their time.” —Library Journal
"Highly entertaining . . . Jones keeps the tension high. [She] shapes her character as an appealing, likeable one worth caring about."—Oline H. Cogdill, Shelf Awareness
"A brilliant page-turner that will keep you guessing and guessing! Secrets, lies and deception…Sandie Jones is the queen of the twisty thriller and The Blame Game is no exception. I devoured this book and was kept guessing the whole way through. With every turn of the page, my suspicions changed and I had no idea which direction the story would take me. A terrifically compelling novel."—Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author of The Sanatorium
"A twisted rollercoaster ride that delivers twists and surprises you won’t see coming. A riveting storyline about a therapist and the secrets her patients hide with an ending that will leave you breathless. Sandie Jones never disappoints!" —Liv Constantine, bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish
"Sandie Jones weaves a tangled web of domestic deceit in this tense, absorbing and unpredictable thriller."—TM Logan, author of The Holiday and The Curfew
"The Blame Game is a true puzzle box of a mystery — twisting, suspenseful, artfully tricksy. I had no idea who to trust and absolutely loved how Sandie Jones kept me on my toes and entertained the whole way through. A great summer suspense.”—C.M. Ewan, author of The Interview
"Twisty and enticing. A book you won’t want to put down! The Blame Game is a brilliant he said, she said that will keep you guessing to final page!"—Lauren North, author of One Step Behind
Library Journal
07/01/2022
Jones follows up The Guilt Trip with another pulse-pounding thriller. Psychologist Naomi Chandler specializes in domestic abuse cases in an English seaside resort town. She dedicates herself to helping her clients beyond the bounds of her profession—much to her husband Leon's dismay. When a client, Jacob, claims his wife wants to kill him, she offers him refuge at the Chandlers' bungalow—neglecting to tell Leon. Does her interest in Jacob go beyond the professional? Leon thinks so, and apparently so does someone else. After Jacob's file disappears from her office—and an awkward meetup with him at a bar—Naomi realizes Jacob might not be the only one in danger. Odd things are happening, signs from her dark childhood are popping up, bizarre videos appear on her laptop, and a long-lost sister resurfaces to make peace. Then Jacob disappears, and the police begin asking Naomi questions, showing her evidence of messages she never sent and calls she never made. VERDICT As the he said/she said roller-coaster plunges to a shocking finale, readers may wish for a bit more backstory on ancillary characters and their motivations. However, aficionados of Jones's work will find this tantalizing psychological fare worth their time.—Peggy Kurkowski
