The critically acclaimed, internationally bestselling Declan Walsh series continues...

'Some games aren't meant to be played...'

When the body of a City banker is discovered with a soaking wet playing card pinned to his chest and a water pistol nearby, DCI Declan Walsh is thrust into a deadly game twenty years in the making. As more bodies appear, each staged with cards and water weapons, Walsh uncovers a chilling truth: twelve friends who've been playing an elaborate game since university are now being hunted for real.

For two decades, 'The Royal Court' has maintained their yearly tradition, stalking each other across London with water weapons and playing cards. But when the game evolves into something darker—with consequences spilling into real life—it creates a perfect breeding ground for secrets, resentment, and revenge.

Now, as the body count rises, Declan must navigate a maze where the line between game and murder blurs with each new victim. Everyone is both suspect and potential target, and behind the playing cards and staged crime scenes lies a labyrinth of toxic friendships, buried secrets, and psychological manipulation.

In this twisted tournament of deception, the most dangerous player isn't necessarily the one holding the weapon... It's the one you never saw coming.