The Killer’s Game by Jay Bonansinga is a uniquely gripping novel navigating the dangerous game of life and death when Joe “The Slugger” Flood receives a misdiagnosis turns his world upside down.
A routine physical for Joe Flood turns into a reckoning. Joe has cancer, his doctor tells him, with maybe six months to live.
Joe decides to take fate into his own hands. Accessing the underground network of fellow hit men, he puts out a contract on himself: six million dollars from a Swiss bank account to the professional who will end his suffering quickly. The money and bragging rights for putting away one of the world’s most accomplished assassins draws his colleagues from around the world. The killer’s game is on.
But then Joe gets a follow-up from his doctors. He was misdiagnosed. It’s not cancer; he should have many years to live. Except that now there’s no way to call off the hit. Armed with only a few dollars and a credit card, Joe is on the run from a formidable lineup of talented killers.
I truly believe Jay Bonansinga is a master storyteller who can bring characters to life in ways that keep me invested in the story from start to finish. In The Killer’s Game, Joe Flood is not just a ruthless assassin but a complex character with a heart. As he faces his own mortality and the consequences of his past actions, readers are taken on an emotional journey filled with twists and turns.
The Killer’s Game is filled with relentless action, keeping us on edge as we follow Joe’s desperate attempts to outwit his fellow assassins. You can really feel the action, adventure and intense showdowns on each and every page. The book is filled with adrenaline-pumping moments that will left me breathless. Bonansinga has a knack for crafting scenes that are both cinematic and gripping, making it impossible to put the book down. His ability to describe a scene allows me to easily visualize what is going on.
Bonansinga introduces a diverse cast of characters, doing so in a very unique manner. Each assassin pursuing Joe brings their own unique skills and personality to the table, adding depth and intrigue to the story. I never know what type of assassin would try and take on Joe next, allowing for a sense of mystery and suspense.
The back half of the book moved at a breakneck speed, not allowing us a chance to put it down. I found myself torn between rooting for Joe’s survival and fearing the inevitable consequences of his actions. Bonansinga expertly balances heart-pounding action with moments of introspection, creating a narrative that is both thrilling and thought-provoking.
The book felt almost cinematic at moments, which makes perfect sense as we are about to get a feature film adaptation starring Dave Bautista as Joe Flood, Sofia Boutella as Maize, Ben Kingsley as Zvi, as well as Terry Crews, Pom Klementieff, Scott Adkins and Drew McIntyre in September.
The Killer’s Game by Jay Bonansinga is a pulse-pounding thriller that delivers on many levels. The novel kept me hooked from beginning to end with well-developed characters, fast-paced plot, and unexpected twists. Fans of stories such as John Wick and other hitman-style stories should have fun with this one.
The Killer’s Game was first released in hardcover on March 4, 1997, but returns to print with a paperback release hitting bookstores everywhere on September 10. The audiobook narrated by Will Damron can be pre-ordered on Libro.fm!
Jay Bonansinga joins the Capes and Tights Podcast to discuss The Killer’s Game novel as well as the upcoming movie release on September 4 for Episode 183.
