Monday, July 04, 2016

Tag, You're Dead by J.C. Lane


First Line: "I can't choose," Brandy Inkrott said. "I want to kill them all."

There's a secret, wildly expensive game of Tag being played on the streets of Chicago. It's "Tag, You're It" with a twist: if you get tagged, you get dead. Three spoiled, entitled "Its" have bought a place in the game, and they've carefully selected their innocent "Runners." 

The lives of their loved ones have been threatened, so the runners are alone with only one desire: to survive. Technical wizardry controls the game. Every thirty minutes the smartphones locked on their wrists transmits their locations to their Its. The game will not end until someone is tagged. It all boils down to this: the runners must choose how to play the game. Accept death? Murder their Its? Or use their strengths to stop the game before anyone dies?

J.C. Lane (AKA Judy Clemens) has written a fast-paced thriller with fascinating technology and appealing characters. It's easy to take sides here. Beautiful girl-next-door Laura, talented athlete Tyrese, and gamer extraordinaire Amanda are being chased by three spoiled brats who don't like being bested by anyone-- especially if they're not a part of the proper social class. 

What really takes center stage in Tag, You're Dead is how Laura, Tyrese, and Amanda can possibly win the game with the deck stacked so high against them. Once they realize what's really happened, once they've calmed down, and once they begin formulating their own strategies, the book really takes off. 

Writing as Judy Clemens, J.C. Lane has written the marvelous Stella Crown mysteries, which I've read and enjoyed. It's good to see her writing something completely different and just as engaging.
    

Tag, You're Dead by J.C. Lane
ISBN: 9781464206313
Poisoned Pen Press © 2016
Hardcover, 334 pages

Thriller, Standalone
Rating: B
Source: Net Galley 


 

8 comments:

  1. Hmm.....I'll be honest, Cathy. That sort of thriller isn't usually my cuppa. But it does sound engaging, and the characters sound interesting.

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  2. Interesting indeed. I have a copy of this one on my Kindle. Need to read it soon.

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    1. Too bad we can't read all the "soon" books at once, keep them all straight in our minds, and catch up, isn't it? ;-)

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  3. Thank you so much for taking the time for Tag, Cathy! Glad you enjoyed it.

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    1. You're welcome, Judy. It's good to see you writing again!

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  4. With 64 people shot in Chicago last weekend, I can't really find this entertaining. Just my perspective.

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    1. And it's a sound and compassionate one, Teresa.

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