i can see from other reviewers that this is a much-loved series. there are assumptions that we know more about the characters than we actually do on the page, but it more-or-less is a standalone. in best tradition, we kind of know who's behind it all before Jenna and Kane do - and that's always satisfying. serviceable characterisations and twisty plot, with loads of violence in an environment that is difficult for the police to operate in, makes this an exciting read but i still felt disengaged some of the time. there is a lot of backstory that is slipped in, about jenna's past etc. that is intriguing - so it might be fun to look at earlier volumes in the series!

Another good case in the series and I enjoyed the usual twists and the dynamics between the team. Looking forward to the next one.

The latest entry in the Kane and Alton series is another winner. In Their Wicked Games, Sheriff Jenna Alton and Deputy David Kane are called to a secluded path near Black Rock Falls. There, they find three bloodied bodies—the arrows that killed them removed, and polished penny coins carefully placed on their frozen eyes. The hallmarks point to an infamous serial killer, but he’s been in prison for a decade. Jenna suspects the attacker knew the victims and lured them into the forest. As she investigates, she realizes that a copycat killer may be stalking her small town. When another teenager’s lifeless body is discovered with the same penny coins covering her eyes, panic ensues among parents. Jenna races against time to track down the murderer, unaware that one of her own team members is being watched.

Their Wicked Games is a nail-biting crime thriller that explores themes of deception, secrets, and the blurred lines between good and evil.

Their Wicked Games by D.K. Hood marks the nineteenth installment in the Detective Jenna Alton police procedural and crime thriller series. Once again, Hood delivers a tightly woven plot, showcasing her skillful writing. This book is a great addition to the series, and I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment

I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

Their Wicked Games
Written by D. K. Hood
Published by Bookouture
Release date June 13, 2023

“ As she scans the dark pine forest, the unmistakable sound of a twig snapping breaks the silent stillness. She isn’t alone. She begins to run but she hardly has time to scream before her world goes black…”

This is the 19th book in the Kane and Alton series but I have only read three before and can say that this can be read as a stand-alone novel and will have you on the edge of your seat pretty quickly.


Black Rock Falls contains the bodies of three victims that were killed with arrows that were removed. Someone then placed coins over their eyes. These are the hallmarks of a serial killer that was sent to prison years ago. Sheriff Jenna Alton and Deputy David Kane now must find out exactly who committed three murders and why do they want it to be a copycat situation……..or is it?
The three murder victims were teenagers and Jenna feels that someone lured them to the woods and to their death. But who would want to kill these innocent young victims? James Earl Stafford is a serial killer that started it all for the town and took quite a few lawmen and prosecutors to put him away. But does he have something to do with these murders? Jenna needs answers so she questions Stamford only to walk away empty handed. He was not budging.
As a fisherman is out finishing up and getting ready to cal, it a day when he finds the body of another teenager who also has coins draped over her eyes. Who would want to hurt such young and innocent lives? And what could be the motive? Jenna will soon find out when the killer sets their eyes on someone close to her. . Will Jenna find the killer before the killer finds the one person close to her?
This is definitely right up my alley when it comes to mystery thrillers. Not many authors can pull me in from the stare of the book and hold my attention until the end. I felt as though the chapters kept the story moving at a fast pace and there were certainly no fillers added to try to keep the story going. It has everything a thriller reader would want as they sit by a fire reading. This is definitely one to run out and bury if you love this genre as much as I do.

5+++++ stars

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me a copy to read in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

This is rather late feedback however I have to say I absolutely loved this installment. The team are faced with what only can be a copy cat killer of famous killer Jimmy 2 cents however details that were never made public are evident at the crime scene. They are left questioning whether or not they have a copy cat killer or if the wrong man had Bern imprisoned for all these years.

What I love about the way FK Hood writes I'd that there is so much going on during one installment. I love how we get to follow Kane and Altons family plans and the turns they face during that journey. Along side the investigation and hearing from our perpetrator. It's just absolutely flawless I honestly can never fault her work.
From the begining I was hooked and there was no way I was putting this one down to sleep. I wanted to know how the killer knew these unreleased details and if the wrong man was inorisoned plus why the victims that have been killed, I havld far too many suspects and thoughts.
For once though I didn't get the killer which is rare for me, so this in itself shows how well this has been written! I honestly love the character developments across the board and I feel so attached to them all deeply! I always love the help of local FBI team as I love Jo and Carter so much especially Carter as non main characters they can feel so monumental in some developments of the cases they consult on.
It's just so good

I must say that there are currently 21 books excluding the few half series that have been included throughout the years.

I highly recommend if you haven't read books one and then two iand so forth m, that's what I originally did about 3 years ago and I've not stopped!

I would recommend to my crime fiction lovers and plus there's so mainly can keep you entertained eatfor at least a month for your have so much fun guessing killers and wondering why the hell anyone ever settles IN BLACK ROCK FALLS@;5 stars all across the board

Three bodies with coins on their eyes. Kane and Alton are worried about a copy cat killer. On the edge of your seat thriller. This can be read alone, but I recommend reading the whole series first so you know the characters back stories. Auto read for me

Their Wicked Games (Detectives Kane and Alton Book 19) by D.K. Hood
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Published: June 13, 2023

Their Wicked Games is the 19th book in the Detectives Kane and Alton series by D.K. Hood. This book can easily be read as a standalone mystery or enjoyed as part of the series. I am slowly working my way through the series and have not read these books in chronological order for sure (though I’ve tried with the recent books).

This book was soooo good! It is fast paced with fascinating characters and an amazing story. This is a quick read with a lot of stuff going on! I absolutely loved it!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Another scary time in black rock falls in Montana!! What a twister of a book this was!! I LOVE THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!! the killer wasn’t revealed until the very end it kept me guessing. I absolutely ADORE this series and D.K Hood’s writing style!! I’m so excited to see what happens with Jenna, Kane and the team!

Wow, can you believe we are at number 19 in the Kane and Alton series. This book was non stop action. For those who havent read previous books , this book can be read as a standalone.

Unbelievably this is the nineteenth book in the series featuring Detectives Dave Kane and Jenna Alton and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The book opens with three teenagers who were going fishing being killed by someone using a crossbow. The arrows having been removed and coins placed under their eyelids. Dave and Jenna recognise that the the coins had been used in the same way by James Earl Stafford, a serial killer, but as he is still in prison they think they may be dealing with a copycat killer. Jenna visits Stafford in prison but he refuses to answer her questions. When another teenager is found with the same coins in her eyes Jenna realises that her and Dave will have to enlist the help of their friends FBI Special Agents Ty Ells and Jo Carter to try and solve this case. They are struggling to make any headway when one of their staff is attacked. Can they find out the identity of the killer before they kill again? This is another book in the series that will have you totally gripped. It is full of suspense and tension with a jaw dropping ending. I wait with bated death for book number twenty.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the,opportunity to read and review this book.

I love Kane and Alton - They are such a dynamic team, and this book doesn't disappoint. Black Rock Falls is yet again struck by another killer, however the evidence would suggest that this is the MO of a perpetrator that is locked up, how can this be? Kane and Alton will find out just what is going on - you can bet on it!

Great addition to this series. I loved everything about it, from the villain to the plot. As usual the suspense, action and characters are top notch. This was a forget the laundry/housework and keep reading kind of story. Can't wait for the next one.

This book was so good! Another original storyline, the same loveable characters and untold twists and drama, what’s not to love!
The ending completely threw me, can’t wait to see how this all plays out.

OUTSTANDING police procedural with great characters & story lines & an abundance of suspense throughout. RECOMMEND highly my favorite series & kudos to a great author!! Thanks to #NetGalley
#Bookoiuture for the ARC #Their Wicked Games in return for my honest review.

A great read that combines some seriously heart stopping moments with great characters that make this a wonderful read. This moved at a good pace and has characters that have been brought to life over the course of this series, characters I adore. The plot was well thought out and terror inducing. A real
Page turner.

So me and another series. Have I read all the books in the series? No. Do I wish I had? Yes. Did this affect my enjoyment of this one? Heck no. This is another series I have grown quite fond of. This is a little grittier or maybe I mean darker than some of the other crime series I recommend. Kane was an assassin for the government and killed for a living in his past life. This comes up during the book, so you aren’t likely to forget that. Some of the deaths in this one are a little gruesome. Enough detail that you know what happened but not too much to be overkill.

This one starts out a little personal as Sheriff Jenna is kidnapped and there is quite a bit of action with that. Then the team with help from a few FBI friends tries to stop a potential copy cat serial killer. While the murders are vastly different than the original, there is a small unique detail that links them to a previous serial killer that is locked up. I like how they uncover what is going on to piece things together. There are many POVs in this one including a few chapters from the original serial killer showing his life and times, and pull, in jail.

Of course I was kept guessing on who was killing and why, with twists and turns to keep me wanting more and even a few red herrings along the way. I love that Jenna and Kane’s dog gets in on the case too by helping track in the woods.

If you love crime series then this one should be on your radar. At 19 books strong, this might be the best one I’ve read in the series.

This looks like it’s going to be an interesting case.”

Never had a truer word been spoken by a character in a D. K. Hood book! Their Wicked Games is definitely an interesting case for Jenna, Dave and the team. Not only is the killer’s weapon of choice a crossbow but the similarities with the MO of an incarcerated serial killer is chilling!

The deaths of these young adults are horrid, one really shocked me. It was totally brutal, I may have even welled up as I read it! The killings in this book are bloodthirsty and as I read the grand reveal, I totally got why! Not that I understand or sympathise with the inner workings of a serial killer’s logic 😂

But Hood didn’t stop with the jaw dropping twists. Ufff what an epilogue!!!!! That last few pages has left me desperate for book 20!!!! I seriously need it now!!!!

Just in case I haven’t made myself clear, Their Wicked Games is a cracking crime thriller. It’s twisted, it kept me guessing, the murders are violent as I’ve come to expect from this series. Loved it!!!

Wow - another search for serial killers
From this fab author of brilliant crime thrillers.
With three teens going fishing the crime wave starts
Shot by crossbow, seconds apart.

There's an unusual twist as under their eyelids they discover
Polished coins, the hallmark of another.
How can a serial killer a decade in jail
Be involved in this - is it a misleading trail?

Another case for Jenna, David and their team,
But, as always, nothing is quite as it would seem.
With more victims, the case starts to extend,
But can the perpetrator they apprehend?

Another case that's fraught with danger,
A killer or killers, what would be stranger?
The skilled crossbow use and the coins, too,
Are key to what Kane and Alton must do.

There are plenty of shocks and surprise twists to see
As the team try to end this horrendous mystery.
At the end there's also someone new
Who'll change their lives, too!

Another page turner, a fascinating read,
One I think all crime thriller lovers need!
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Gosh, this was a dark dark book and one that had my heart in the throat - too many times! A shocking beginning! A moment where I was tempted to message Ms. Hood to ask what the heck! A character I adore, I love, and a moment when I was so worried! Eeek! And that ending! Oh my, my heart can't take much more!

This tale is dark! I can't believe we went down that beginning! I knew that straight away we were going to be on a wild ride and it was relentless. Many links to different people and wow!

I have no idea what to tell you. I love Kane and Jenna, I love their story and when a name comes up from the past I knew we were going to be in for a ride and more. I need the next book, and I need it now! I am just in awe and also slightly nervous of Ms Hood's mind, and the wicked webs she weaves. Because this tale is wicked.

This book has everything you need and more. The killer or killers, minds are twisted as hell and that reveal, I had to rewind the audiobook to hear it again. I had to double-check what I heard and by jingo wow!

It's a book and a series you need to read and read now!