Thank you Netgalley, J H Markert and Dreamscape Media for the Audio arc of Wicked Games.
Narrated by Leila Allarie

This is a medium to fast paced psychological thriller with horror elements which gripped me from the beginning and didn't let go. The narrative revolves around Harley and her new boyfriend. After a whirlwind romance, he invites her to a weekend at his family Manor. As darkness falls, an unnerving atmosphere settles over the house. Harley isn't worried about the houses past, she has a past too. Unbeknown to her a wicked game is about to unfold.

This grabbed me from the start and had a lot of tension running throughout the book. The POV is Harleys and does flit backing her past in the form of when she was seeing a psychologist throughout the book. This builds Harleys character into the dark, yet gripping present as she fights for survival. The story is medium to fast paced with a great pay off.

Wicked games was narrated by Leila Allaire and narrated this book very well.

4.25 stars rounded down to 4 for Netgalley/Amazon

This book was like several horror movies that I love all wrapped into a book. It gave Purge vibes a lot but also many Blum House movies too. I loved Harley’s strength and the fight she has in her. I feel this could be a series it was so good.

I was so excited to listen to this as I have read other books by J.H Markert and this was such a thrilling ride all the way through.

Wicked Games was a fun, quick read. It was extremely fast paced and action packed. We follow Harley, who is a little rough around the edges. She's not all that likable at first and has a dark past that’s shaped her. She doesn’t get close to many people. Which is why when her new boyfriend invites her to his family’s house for the weekend, her best friend is shocked that Harley would move so fast and warns her not to go. Harley ignores her friend's warning, and she soon finds out that the house has a dark history and his family is surrounded by countless rumors.

Wicked Games was incredibly entertaining, and I finished the audiobook in one day. I really loved getting to know Harley over the course of the book and find out more about her traumatic past and everything she went through growing up. I also loved that this was a satisfying and bloody slasher. Overall, this was a fun read that will have you entertained from start to finish.

J.H. Markert is an incredible writer! He knows how to draw you into the story and makes you feel like you are there. I was scared, felt vulnerable, wanted to get free! Such a wild ride and didn't let go for even a moment. Very well done Markert!
Any horror movie fans, need to read or listen to this story!

WARNING: This is a book with more gore than most books and with a lot of swearing! (Just a heads up for anyone who may not be prepared for that)

This book was not quite what I was expecting from this author, but I didn't hate it. I am used to this author's horror that contains some gore but is more psychological. This one was less on the psychological side and more on the blood, guts and gore side.

Harley's boyfriend invites her to stay the weekend at his family's house. The house has a history. Harley knows about his parent's murder suicide that took place in the kitchen but doesn't know what other secrets the house hides.

When night comes, masked intruders break in and the games begin.

Listening to this felt like watching a nostalgic 90's slasher film but had some modern-day themes. The second half of the book is essentially just a blood bath of a slasher movie. I enjoyed the story leading up and watching the backstory unfold.

It was on the shorter side of audio books if you are looking for a graphic scare and some slasher movie nostalgia.

Get ready for a weekend of crazy games! Holy moly, this book was off the charts! I listened to the audiobook, which was so well done and kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept waiting for Harley to be taken down but she stood her ground and fought her way through everything that was thrown at her. Love a strong female lead!! Such a great gruesome book!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media & NetGalley for the early audiobook of WICKED GAMES!

What’s a horror/thriller sub-genre that truly terrifies you? For me, it’s home invasion.

Which is why I was very curious about WICKED GAMES by J.H. Markert. This is the novelization (audiobook original) of the movie with the same name. To be honest, I never even knew of the movie’s existence until this book, but it has definitely landed on the to watch list.

WICKED GAMES introduces us to Harley who’s going on a weekend trip to her new boyfriend’s family country house. This estate has a sinister history — a murder suicide of her boyfriend’s parents being among it. When night falls, masked intruders who know the house a little too well enter & are ready to play some games. Thankfully, Harley is pretty good at what these games entail.

This is a very quick listen & is filled to the brim with tense scenes. And although they didn’t always feel the most surprising, there are a lot of twists to keep the reader on their feet. What really draws me to WICKED GAMES is the fact that I love women, especially those who turn the tables & absolutely kick ass. Harley is a badass who I loved rooting for the entire time!

The narrator has a voice like a well bred lady. Like she grew up rich and polite. I would picture her, if she were working, as a librarian or a secretary, but likely she would be playing tennis at a country club. I love her in all of her roles but this book was a weird fit. She did a fantastic job and I laughed when she was swearing, like you do not expect swear words to come from that voice. Amazing.
Here is my criticism about the story though. It is graphic with a ton of swear words but there in weird places. Like for instances "So she opened the fucking door."
Is the she angry at the door? Or the curtains? Or her hair? But then we get to intense spots and we have normal non swearing sentences but it would make sense to swear there.
It was like the book was written by someone who doesn't swear and they wanted to try it out, like if the story was written by AI, or a Mormon.
Anyway, it made me laugh which is not the point at all but I like to laugh.

Wicked Games reads like a guilty please B movie. If that sounds like a negative, it’s not. I love this book and finished it in one sitting because I was so hooked.

Harley is a main character with a rough past. She may not be everyone’s cup of tea but I love how much of a badass she is. Her boyfriend invites her to his family’s cabin which has a long history of violence. Harley wants to go but her best friend Jules argues with her not to go.

Harley goes and gets caught in the middle of a violent game of Cat and Mouse. Harley is not their typical player in this game. She is capable and violent and I loved watching her in action.

The game of Cat and Mouse has a few role reversals throughout the story. At times the masked killers are chasing Harley but there are times when Harley is on the hunt chasing them. When she gets them, it’s violent and amazing.

This is not for the faint of heart. This is a great action/horror book that everyone should check out

J.H. Markert returns with an excellent audiobook. While I can’t say the premise of this one is wildly original, it’s executed extremely well. It starts off with a bang, literally, and then is pretty much nonstop brutal action. Harley thinks she is just going away with her boyfriend for the weekend to his family’s country home. A home that has a rather notorious history. Little does she know she’s about to pulled into a deadly game when home invaders show up. A game that’s already taken dozens of lives. But Harley is no helpless damsel in distress. She’s had a rough life that has made her tough as nails, and she knows how to fight back. I have to say this one gave me a very “Ready or Not” type vibe, though it lacked the humor of that movie and was instead just straight up brutal action. Leila Allarie delivers a great performance and really brings Harley to life. I’d like to thank Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review an advanced copy of Wicked Games.

As I have said before, J.H. Markert does not know how to write anything bad. Wicked Games is yet another home run in his arsenal.

Wicked Games starts off with a bang and does not relent until the final word. Markert introduces us to one badass female lead whom I would not ever want to double cross.

Market expertly weaves dread and gloom into this action packed thriller and I can’t give it enough stars or words to give it justice. Whatever you are reading, stop and give this one a listen! You won’t regret it…

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me the chance to fill my ear holes with this amazing Audiobook ARC!

This is a gritty and angry story about a tough young woman who goes up against obstacles that life on the street prepared her for!
When her new, very wealthy boyfriend invites her to his mansion for the weekend, she doesn't really think twice, even though her best friend warns that he's not a good person. It's a massive family home and Harley is very impressed, but before she can get comfortable she is literally running for her life.

It's a game, and she's the prey.
#dreamscapes #wickedgames #Jhmarket

J. H. Markert writes gruesome horror well so I knew I wanted to read this one. It wasn’t like the previous books I’ve read, but it was still a wild and horrific ride. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job bringing the main character and narrator to life. Harley is not your typical heroine. As the story started with her she was a difficult character to like. As the book continued you got some of the trauma of her past and you could see more of her defensive mechanisms. When Harley’s new boyfriend invites her to spend a weekend at his family’s mansion she is eager to go despite (or maybe because of) the mysterious rumors of the horrors that have occurred there. Her friend Jules tried to discourage her from going, but Harley is determined and they fight over it. As the day goes on Harley starts to notice signs that maybe this weekend is all that she thought it was. When night falls masked men appear and it’s clear she’s been drawn into the kind of game that’s rigged for her to lose. But Harley’s past, while horrific and traumatic, prepared her better than most and she isn’t quitting yet. Overall I gave this one 4.5 stars which I rounded up because it was the kind of book I didn’t want to put down (or stop). It’s a bit of a shorter audiobook and I totally finished it in one day.

Wow… just wow! This book was so good. The only way I can give you an idea of it is by saying that this book is 100% The Hunt meets I Spit on Your Grave if the main characters had a concerned friend. Is it violent? Absolutely. Is it gory? Yes. Is it a wild ride? All of the above. The story starts out with Harley, an absolutely unlikeable character. And if you have read my reviews, you know how much I love an unlikeable character. But Harley isn’t actually unlikeable. It’s just a defense mechanism she’s formed due to an extreme amount of personal trauma. I mean this poor girl has been through the wringer before she even makes it to the house. But when things start going down, Harley goes from victim to absolutely unyielding bad ass! J. H. Markert does it again with this incredible book! If you like revenge served bloody and a good dose of feminine rage, this is the book you need to read!

Huge thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

CHECK TW.
4.5/5
This was absolutely anxiety inducing in the best way possible. Kept me on the edge of my seat. A quick read.

I have read Markert's previous books and mostly enjoyed them - his brand of dark horror storytelling is generally to my taste, but I found this one to include rather a lot of graphic sexual depictions that turned me off. If I'd known they were such a big part of the story, I would not have requested the book. It's just not to my taste.

The narration is well suited to the story, and the dark allusions to Something About To Happen were thick on the ground. I was curious, but kept stumbling into rather more vivid sexual depictions than I was expecting (or interested in) and ultimately the book was not for me and I didn't finish...

4.5 stars! Wish this was longer! I love tough cookie Final Girls! Harley's boyfriend invites her to his family's estate for the weekend. Her friend, Jules, is super worried. A lot of creepy things went down at Blackheart Manor, including the murder/suicide of Keel's parents. But Harley isn't worried. And when the weekend devolves into a deadly game of cat & mouse. Good thing Harley is really good at games.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio e-arc.*

"Wicked Games" by J. H. Markert is a heart-pounding thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from. Markert masterfully weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue, drawing you into a world where nothing is as it seems. As the night falls and the sinister game begins, you'll find yourself holding your breath as the protagonist faces off against masked intruders who know her darkest secrets. If you're looking for a gripping thriller that will keep you guessing, this is it. I rated it three out of five stars.

This novel brings one twist after another and I listened to the audiobook in one sitting. I just couldn’t stop. Either I’m psychotic, or the author wrote such a suspenseful, compelling story that I was cheering at inappropriate content. Harley is messed up. She had a hard childhood, lost the only person who ever loved her in a horrific way, was assaulted and is now surviving and hiding a huge secret. Then she meets a guy. A cute rich guy, and he invites her to his family mansion for the weekend. No one knows where she is, except perhaps for her one and only friend. But Harley is not a wallflower and she can-and will-fight. Leila Allarie’s performance shows her evolution from the beginning of the story, with Harley as a wild child to… well, Harley in the end. Her narration keeps the fast pace of the fabulous plot. And the story is suspenseful, dark, bloody and addictive. Yes, it sometimes strains the limits of plausibility but I was still on board. For horror fans and anybody who likes strong female characters.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Dreamscape Media.