Review of The Games We Play by Claire Quinn

A captivating thriller that keeps you on tenterhooks from the first page, weaving a story that unravels deliciously slowly. We learn about Ali, Sophie and Erin, three friends living ordinary lives with a small hit of rebellion through Ali’s ingenious and dangerous games.

I savoured every moment as we learnt the fine details of their lives, living each day alongside them as they experienced highs and lows. The secrets revealed give flesh to the story, creating true conflict as the deeper secrets fight to the surface.

This has been a fantastic year for debut thrillers and there is no exception. The twists and turns are beautifully crafted, keeping you guessing right until the last moment. The story gives voice to some difficult themes and while it does offer them space, it never makes them the focus of the plot or the characters, never turning them into a caricature and instead fleshing them out past their troubles.

Published on 01.08.2026 by Harper North

Reviewed by Rebecca