Tag, You’re Dead by Kathryn Foxfield

*** Review ***

In Kathryn Foxfield’s latest adrenaline-fueled masterpiece, Tag, You’re Dead, the author takes readers on a heart-pounding journey through the dark and treacherous alleys of a city transformed into a deadly playground. Drawing on her previous successes with Come Out, Come Out, Whatever You Are and Good Girls Die First, Foxfield once again proves her mastery in crafting gripping narratives with knife-edged tension and unexpected twists.

The story centers around the audacious Anton Fraser, a teen social media influencer with a penchant for dangerous games. When Fraser stages a live-streamed citywide game of Tag, offering the enticing prize of becoming one of his live-in personal assistants, the stakes are immediately set high. Equipped with body cams, GPS trackers, and pressure sensors, the contestants are thrust into a night-covered urban jungle where the line between the virtual and the real blurs, and danger lurks around every corner.

What starts as a seemingly harmless social media stunt quickly escalates into a gripping murder mystery that transcends the boundaries of reality television. The contestants, divided into Chasers and Runners, embark on a night of suspense, not realizing the perilous turn their lives are about to take. Foxfield brilliantly weaves a tale that transforms the thrilling game into a fight for survival, reminiscent of classic Agatha Christie whodunnits.

One of the strengths of Tag, You’re Dead lies in its multifaceted narrative, told from multiple perspectives. Through the eyes of the characters, readers gain insight into their motivations, secrets, and connections to the mounting body count. Each participant in this deadly game is a suspect, and as the tension rises, the reader is taken on a roller-coaster ride of suspense and revelation.

The pacing of the novel is relentless, with action-packed sequences and unexpected twists keeping the reader engaged until the very last page. Foxfield masterfully introduces three POV characters, each driven by personal motivations and harboring secrets that come to light as the game takes a dangerous turn. The novel’s high-tech, city-wide game of tag becomes the backdrop for a riveting exploration of greed, obsession, fame, and revenge.

Foxfield’s talent for crafting twisty plots and surprising reveals is on full display in Tag, You’re Dead. The characters, while utterly despicable, are compelling and draw the reader into their morally ambiguous world. The infusion of horror elements adds an extra layer of tension without veering into outright fright, making the novel a perfect blend of suspense and entertainment.

Tag, You’re Dead is a high-octane, non-stop murder mystery thriller that propels readers into the heart of a digital influencer’s dangerous game in Central London. As the characters grapple with the consequences of their choices, Foxfield expertly navigates the intricate web of deception, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. In the wake of the mysterious death of one of Fraser’s associates, the tension is palpable, and the question lingers: Can anything go wrong in this high-stakes game? Foxfield’s narrative prowess ensures that the answer remains elusive until the final, electrifying revelation. This is a must-read for anyone seeking a spine-chilling and riveting experience that will linger long after the last page is turned.