This Is Not a Game

A unique locked-room debut with a memorable intergenerational relationship and gaming angle,about a grandmother and granddaughter who are snowed in at a lavish party at a mansion where the host has been murderedand the unlikely sleuthing pair must draw on a unique skillset to navigate a dangerous game together Widow Mimi lives on idyllic Mackinac Island where cars are not allowed and a Gibson with three onions at the witching hour is compulsory. Her granddaughterAddieis getting over the heartbreak of her fianc├⌐Briandumping her and cutting her out of the deal for the brilliantly successful video gameMurderscapethey invented together (with Addie doing most of the heavy lifting). When Mimi gets an invitation from local socialite Jane Ireland–a seventysomething narcissist who is having an affair with her son-in-law–to a charity auctionit is the perfect excuse to get Addie to join her for the weekend. What Mimi isnΓÇÖt telling Addie is that a blackmail threat from Jane looms over the partyΓÇÖs invitation. In case the scene wasnΓÇÖt already set for a turbulent weekenda big storm rolls intrapping everyone in the mansion. And thenJaneΓÇÖs body is found. Soon Mimi and Addie are caught in a dangerous gamerelying on their skills (Mimi loves a crossword puzzleand Addie is a brilliant game designerafter all) to narrow down the suspects. When another body turns upthe sleuthing pair realize someone else is playing a deadly gameand they might not survive the night. . . .