Join us at Tales of the Ravenous Reader for 5 Days of Boldly Bookish, which includes a review of The Long Game, an event recap of the Boldly Bookish Tour, and giveaways!

If The Fixer is Scandal meets Veronica Mars, The Long Game is Scandal meets Veronica Mars meets…24. WHOOOAAA what an intense ride this book is!

The book starts where The Fixer leaves off. Tess is known to her classmates as a mini-fixer, someone who can help them in times then they’re stuck or in trouble. It ends with all of us needing therapy. And probably a defibrillator. Seriously.

“The people who are supposed to protect us, the people we are supposed to trust - I know that sometimes they are the ones who do the most harm.”

Tess is charged with helping a classmate run her school election campaign, which wasn’t too hard until said classmate’s brother is accused of murder. This spirals out of order quickly into a full-blown terrorist and corruption plot, way bigger than The Fixer ever was. This is the big leagues now! The family drama multiplies exponentially and becomes so convoluted you’ll need to get out your handy dandy genealogy map just to keep track of it all. There’s mystery, murder, thrills, and chills as the book goes on.

There are two characters who I was suspicious of throughout The Fixer and The Long Game, and it turns out my suspiciously were correct. It’s clear one of them will drive the conflict in the third book. This book very much does not have second book syndrome. You could read it as a stand alone and have enough background to understand everything that is going on (but The Fixer is great so please check it out).

There are several main twists and turns, some which will give you whiplash! The writing is strong, just like Tess and most of her friends and family. The bond between Tess and Ivy grows stronger and you see Tess grow emotionally. Solid book and I can’t wait to see where Barnes takes them next.