Price range: £4.99 through £9.99
Gillian has left puzzles entirely behind and barely ekes out a living while trying to support her sick mother. Until her childhood nemesis appears with an offer she can’t refuse – fifty thousand dollars to return to Miscellany and investigate a cheating scandal in The Contest sequel, Season Two.
Gillian soon discovers things aren’t so straightforward. Former Contestants run Season Two and with investment and expansion in the cards, they’ll do anything to avoid a scandal. Meanwhile Sebastian Luna, head of Miscellany, still spins his webs of confusion, offering Gillian the future she always wanted – but only if she plays by his rules.
With her mother’s circumstances growing more dire, and mounting pressure to sweep the accusations under the rug, Gillian finds childhood games can be all the more treacherous for adults.
A thoughtful light-noir mystery, perfect for fans of The Queen’s Gambit.
“Like Willy Wonka if it was written by Hitchcock… LOVE THE BOOK. Seriously, it is SO GOOD.”
– Stephen Blackmoore, author of Dead Things
“The Contest sports a fun story that does what my favorite crime novels do – transport me to an unfamiliar world and weave in a page-turning mystery. Jeff Macfee does not disappoint with this crackling debut.”
– Alex Segura, bestselling and acclaimed author of Secret Identity and Alter Ego
“Jeff Macfee drops the reader into a hall of mirrors with no way out. A singular book.”
– Adam Oyebanji, author of A Quiet Teacher
“A mystery wrapped inside a riddle inside an enigma, The Contest is a clever puzzle box of a book. An intrigue-filled, cerebral theme park provides the setting for an affecting tale about finding one’s worth after defeat, and Macfee’s storytelling instantly drew me in from the first page.”
– Victor Manibo, author of The Sleepless and Escape Velocity
“A brilliant page-turner about obsession, compromise, child prodigies, and second chances, all set in a world where Willy Wonka made escape rooms rather than chocolate bars, The Contest is my favorite thing I’ve read this year.”
– Peter Clines, New York Times Bestselling author of The Broken Room and Paradox Bound
“The Contest is a thrilling suspenseful mind bending adventure.”
– S.A. Cosby best selling author of All the Sinners and Razorblade Tears
“Here’s a riddle: what’s the best mystery puzzler since Squid Game? The answer is Jeff Macfee’s The Contest.”
– Nick Kolakowski, author of Where the Bones Lie
“An intriguing and addictive novel full of risk, riddles and conspiracies – The Contest will keep you on your toes until the puzzle is finally solved.”
– S.B. Caves, author of Honeycomb
