A heart-stopping Jack Hawksworth novel to read with your book club.
In Foul Play, superstar footballer Luca Bruni is being blackmailed for a night of lust he swears he didn’t participate in . . . but the ransom photo implies otherwise. Determined to protect his reputation (and family life), he passionately defies the extortion racket.
When Detective Superintendent Jack Hawksworth spots a pattern of similar blackmail attempts targeting the world’s most prized male athletes, he journies into a case with far-reaching – and deadly – implications.
Discussion points and questions
- Blackmailers rely on victims’ fear of exposure. What did you think of Luca’s refusal to give in to the blackmail demands?
- Both Luca and his wife, Ally, are famous. Do you think the benefits of being a celebrity outweigh the potential risks and downsides?
- Can two people be friends if one of them has romantic feelings for the other? Discuss how this dynamic affects Kate and Jack in this book.
- Did you at any point believe Luca was lying about what happened at the big event? Why or why not?
- Harry Taylor says he doesn’t blame Luca for his career-ending injury. How do you think this situation has affected their friendship and the friendship between Ally and Gina?
- Is any one of the members of the Stonecrop ops team a stand-out character for you? How do they set themselves apart from the rest of the team?
- Jack crosses a line when he allows a witness to stay at Lou’s house. Discuss whether you think this was justified and why.
- Many characters in Foul Play are involved in criminal activity, and many of them suffer negative consequences. Do you think they deserve what happens to them? Why or why not?
- If you have read the other Jack Hawksworth books, how do you feel about Geoff being back in the picture?
- Are there any themes in Foul Play that are similar to the other Jack Hawksworth books? Do you think he is learning from his past mistakes? Why or why not?
Check out the other books in the Jack Hawksworth series here.
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