Plot Summary
Girlboss in the Dark
Mila Marchant, raised in privilege but haunted by her city's criminal underbelly, finds herself in a derelict building, forced into a deadly game by gangster Salter. Her brother is held hostage, and Mila must participate in a brutal, sexualized chase orchestrated by the infamous skeleton crew. The stakes are life and death, and her only way out is to play along. Mila's confidence is shaken as she realizes she's in over her head, but her determination to protect her family and uncover the truth about her grandfather's legacy keeps her moving forward, even as the darkness closes in.
Resurrection of a Convict
Convict, real name Roscoe Locke, wakes in a hospital with no memory, his body marked by violence and fire. He's alone, presumed dead, and haunted by the sense that he's done something unforgivable. When a friend, Dixie, finds him, he's pulled back into the world of the skeleton crew—a criminal found family running a notorious warehouse in Deadwater. Despite his amnesia, Convict's instincts for survival and violence remain sharp. He's desperate to remember who he is, why he was left behind, and what role he played in the crew's past betrayals.
Skeleton Crew Homecoming
Convict is welcomed back by the skeleton crew, including Shade and Tyler, but the reunion is bittersweet. He learns he was undercover in a rival gang's brothel when a fire nearly killed him. Arran, the crew's leader, blames himself for Convict's injuries, offering him a second chance. Convict is plagued by guilt and the suspicion that he's not worthy of forgiveness. As he tries to piece together his past, he's drawn into the crew's operations, including a dangerous game that blurs the line between pleasure and violence.
The Game's Deadly Invitation
Mila is forced to enter the skeleton crew's infamous predator-prey game, where men hunt women in a locked basement, claiming them as property in front of a live audience. Convict, tasked with vetting contestants, becomes obsessed with Mila after seeing her on surveillance. Their connection is instant and electric, but both are trapped by circumstances and secrets. As the game approaches, the city's criminal factions circle, and the stakes for both Mila and Convict become increasingly personal and perilous.
Stranger in the Window
Convict, driven by a sense of recognition and desire, breaks into Mila's holding cell. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry undeniable, but trust is elusive. Mila is wary of the dangerous man with a skull tattoo, while Convict is desperate to know if she remembers him. Their encounter is interrupted, but a phone is left behind—a lifeline that keeps them tethered as the city's shadows grow deeper and the game draws near.
Surveillance and Obsession
Convict becomes Mila's unseen protector, watching her through surveillance feeds and reaching out via phone. Their conversations turn intimate, blurring the line between voyeur and participant. Both are drawn to each other's darkness and vulnerability. As Convict's obsession deepens, he risks everything to intervene when Mila's plan to save a vulnerable girl, Annabelle, collides with the criminal world's brutality. Their alliance is forged in secrecy, lust, and a shared sense of being outsiders.
Four Women, One Trap
Mila finds herself among four women, each with their own reasons for entering the game. She's haunted by memories of Esther, a childhood friend turned recruiter, and determined to save Annabelle, a teenager manipulated into the auction. Convict's intervention allows Annabelle to escape, but Mila is left to face the game alone, her brother's life still hanging in the balance. The women's stories reveal the exploitation and desperation at the heart of Deadwater's underworld.
Rescue and Reluctance
Convict's rescue of Annabelle cements his role as a reluctant hero, but his inability to save Mila gnaws at him. He and Tyler investigate Salter's operation, uncovering links to trafficking and corruption. Mila, meanwhile, is forced to confront her own limits and the consequences of her choices. The city's power players maneuver behind the scenes, and the game's night arrives with both hope and dread.
The Predator-Prey Game
The game erupts in chaos as men hunt women through the warehouse's basement. Mila, targeted by Salter's machinations, must find Rhys Jacobs, the man at the center of her family's troubles. Convict, breaking the crew's rules, enters the game to save her. Their reunion is explosive, marked by violence, lust, and a desperate need to claim and protect each other. The game's rules are brutal, but love and obsession prove even more dangerous.
Claiming the Last Woman
Convict catches Mila, claiming her in front of the crowd and breaking the skeleton crew's most sacred rule. Their connection is consummated in a frenzy of need and relief, but the aftermath is fraught with guilt, fear, and the threat of exile. Mila's secrets come to light—her quest to save her family, her brother's captivity, and the shadow of trafficking that hangs over the Marchant legacy. Together, they must navigate the fallout, chained together by circumstance and choice.
Aftermath and Chains
In the aftermath, Convict and Mila are forced into close quarters, their relationship defined by power, vulnerability, and the rules of the game. Chains—literal and metaphorical—bind them as they negotiate sex, trust, and the trauma of their pasts. Convict's amnesia and Mila's grief create a volatile mix, but their growing love offers a path to healing. The skeleton crew rallies around them, but old wounds and new threats loom.
Family Ties and Secrets
Mila's investigation into her family's business uncovers a web of secrets: a missing will, a grandmother in hiding, and a brother with his own agenda. The Marchant Haulage empire is on the brink of collapse, with dozens of relatives dependent on its survival. As the will's reading approaches, a mysterious fifth voter is revealed—a secret sibling whose vote could decide the company's fate. The family's dysfunction mirrors the city's corruption, and Mila must decide where her loyalties lie.
The Marchant Legacy
Mila's search for the truth leads her to question everything she believed about her grandfather. Anonymous threats, financial desperation, and the destruction of the Eden—a prized family ship—point to a legacy tainted by crime. Convict's own investigation uncovers links between the Marchant business and human trafficking, forcing Mila to confront the possibility that her family's wealth is built on exploitation. The past and present collide as the meeting to decide the company's future draws near.
Trafficking and Betrayal
The hunt for Rhys Jacobs, the missing trafficker, intensifies. Salter is captured and tortured for information, revealing a network of auctions, betrayals, and corrupt officials. Convict's own past as an undercover informant comes to light, and the lines between good and evil blur. The skeleton crew's code is tested as they confront the reality of their city's rot, and Mila must decide how far she's willing to go for justice and redemption.
The Hunt for Jacobs
Jacobs' disappearance leaves a power vacuum and a trail of bodies. The murder of Esther, a key witness, deepens the mystery. The skeleton girls—Mila, Cassie, Genevieve, Everly, and Lovelyn—form their own detective agency, determined to solve the case and protect each other. As the crew closes in on Salter and his associates, the true cost of survival in Deadwater becomes clear. Love, loyalty, and vengeance drive the characters toward a final reckoning.
The Eden's Destruction
The Eden's explosion is both a literal and symbolic destruction of the Marchant legacy. As the ship is raised from the harbor, bodies are discovered inside, confirming the worst suspicions about the family business. Presley, a bitter relative, is revealed as the source of anonymous threats, but the true mastermind remains elusive. The city's elite are implicated, and the skeleton crew's influence is both a shield and a weapon in the fight for truth.
The Fifth Voter Revealed
At the will reading, a bombshell is dropped: Mila and Kane have a secret sister, Darcy, whose vote could save or doom the company. The family's divisions are laid bare, and the meeting descends into chaos. As the search for Darcy begins, alliances shift and old wounds reopen. The future of Marchant Haulage—and the lives of everyone connected to it—hang in the balance.
Truth, Lies, and Love
Convict is captured by corrupt police, forced to confront his past as an informant and the possibility that he's betrayed those he loves. Mila, with the help of the skeleton crew and her brother, orchestrates his rescue. In the aftermath, secrets are confessed, forgiveness is earned, and love triumphs over trauma. The couple's bond, forged in violence and obsession, becomes a source of healing and hope. As the city's mysteries remain unsolved and new threats emerge, Mila and Convict face the future together—partners in crime, love, and survival.
Analysis
Convict's Game is a dark, boundary-pushing romance that uses the conventions of the genre—amnesia, found family, and forbidden love—to interrogate deeper questions of identity, trauma, and redemption. At its core, the novel is about the search for belonging in a world defined by violence and betrayal. Mila and Convict are both outsiders, shaped by loss and the failure of traditional family structures, but their obsessive, often unhealthy love becomes a crucible for transformation. The story's use of games—literal and psychological—mirrors the power dynamics at play in both the criminal underworld and the characters' intimate lives. By foregrounding issues of consent, agency, and the commodification of bodies, the novel challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about desire, exploitation, and the possibility of healing. The murder mystery and detective elements provide a framework for female empowerment and solidarity, as the "skeleton girls" reclaim agency in a world that seeks to silence them. Ultimately, Convict's Game is a story about clawing one's way toward love and self-acceptance, even when the past is a wound that refuses to close. The lesson is clear: redemption is possible, but only for those willing to face the darkness within and choose each other, again and again, in the light.
Review Summary
Convict's Game receives overwhelmingly positive reviews (4.47/5 stars), praised for its chemistry, spice, and dark romance elements. Readers love Convict's character—an obsessive, morally grey hero with amnesia—and his relationship with Mila. The amnesia trope is well-executed, though some felt the second half lagged. Fans appreciate the return of Body Count series characters and the murder mystery plot. Most recommend reading the previous trilogy first for context. Common criticisms include pacing issues, unanswered questions, and instant-love dynamics. The book ends on a cliffhanger, leaving readers eager for the next installment.
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Characters
Mila Marchant
Mila is the granddaughter of a shipping magnate, raised in privilege but marked by the trauma of abandonment and the weight of family expectations. Her intelligence and determination drive her to uncover the truth behind her grandfather's death and the criminal rot at the heart of Marchant Haulage. Psychologically, Mila is both vulnerable and resilient, shaped by loss and a desperate need for belonging. Her relationship with Convict is fraught with power struggles, trust issues, and a deep, obsessive love that challenges her sense of self. Over the course of the story, Mila transforms from a sheltered "corporate princess" into a woman willing to risk everything for justice, love, and her own agency.
Convict (Roscoe Locke)
Convict is a man without a past, his memory erased by violence and fire. He is physically imposing, covered in tattoos and scars, but emotionally raw and desperate for connection. His psychological landscape is a battlefield of guilt, longing, and a need to atone for unknown sins. Convict's obsession with Mila is both redemptive and dangerous, driving him to break rules, defy his crew, and risk everything for her. As his memories return, he grapples with the possibility that he's betrayed those he loves, but ultimately finds forgiveness and purpose in Mila's arms. His journey is one of self-discovery, healing, and the reclamation of identity.
Arran Daniels
Arran is the head of the skeleton crew, a man shaped by violence, loss, and a fierce sense of loyalty. He is both ruthless and protective, willing to kill for those he loves but tormented by the consequences of his decisions. Arran's relationship with Convict is brotherly, marked by betrayal, regret, and a deep need for reconciliation. He serves as both mentor and judge, embodying the moral ambiguity at the heart of the crew. Arran's own love story with Genevieve mirrors Convict and Mila's, offering a model of redemption and the possibility of happiness after trauma.
Shade
Shade is the crew's enforcer, a man whose life is defined by brutality and a code of honor. He is fiercely protective of his found family, especially Convict, and serves as both muscle and conscience. Shade's psychological complexity lies in his ability to balance savagery with tenderness, particularly in his relationship with Everly. He is haunted by past failures but determined to create a safer world for those he loves, even if it means breaking every rule.
Tyler
Tyler is the crew's intelligence chief, responsible for surveillance, planning, and the rescue of trafficking victims. He is methodical, serious, and deeply affected by the suffering he witnesses. Tyler's relationship with Dixie is marked by unspoken longing and mutual respect, both scarred by trauma. He serves as the crew's moral compass, often pushing for action when others hesitate. Tyler's psychological burden is the knowledge that he can never save everyone, but he refuses to stop trying.
Dixie
Dixie is a former sex worker and Convict's closest friend, marked by physical and emotional scars. She is witty, resilient, and fiercely loyal, but struggles with her sense of worth and place in the world. Dixie's journey is one of healing, as she moves from victim to agent, helping the crew and the "skeleton girls" solve mysteries and protect the vulnerable. Her relationship with Tyler is a slow burn, both afraid to reach for happiness but unable to let go.
Kane
Kane is Mila's half-brother, a mercenary with a strict code and a hidden heart. He is stoic, physically formidable, and emotionally guarded, driven by a need to protect his mother and, reluctantly, Mila. Kane's relationship with his sister is fraught with tension, but his actions reveal a deep, if unspoken, love. He is skeptical of the skeleton crew but ultimately joins their cause, seeking redemption and a place to belong.
Cassie
Cassie is a former victim turned investigator, leading the "Skeleton Girls Detective Agency." She is sharp, irreverent, and unafraid to get her hands dirty. Cassie's trauma fuels her drive to protect others, and her relationship with Riordan is both passionate and healing. She serves as a catalyst for the women's empowerment, pushing Mila and others to claim their agency and fight back against the city's darkness.
Genevieve
Genevieve is Arran's wife and a stabilizing force within the crew. She is compassionate, intelligent, and deeply empathetic, having survived her own ordeals. Genevieve's role is to offer support, wisdom, and a model of resilience. Her relationship with Arran is a testament to the possibility of love after trauma, and she serves as a mentor to Mila and the other women.
Lovelyn
Lovelyn is the daughter of a corrupt police chief, caught between loyalty to her family and her growing allegiance to the skeleton crew. She is brilliant, resourceful, and emotionally sensitive, often overwhelmed by the darkness she uncovers. Lovelyn's journey is one of self-assertion, as she learns to trust her instincts and fight for what's right, even when it means betraying her blood.
Plot Devices
Amnesia and Unreliable Memory
Convict's amnesia is the central device driving the narrative's tension and emotional stakes. His unreliable memory creates suspense, as both he and the reader question his past actions, loyalties, and capacity for redemption. The gradual return of memories is used to foreshadow betrayals, reveal hidden connections (especially with Mila), and complicate the moral landscape. This device also allows for deep psychological exploration, as Convict's sense of self is rebuilt through love, violence, and the choices he makes in the present.
The Predator-Prey Game
The game is both a literal and metaphorical crucible, forcing characters to confront their desires, fears, and capacity for brutality. It serves as a narrative structure for the story's central romance, as well as a commentary on consent, agency, and the commodification of bodies. The game's rules—claiming, ownership, and public spectacle—mirror the city's larger power struggles and the characters' internal battles.
Surveillance and Voyeurism
The use of surveillance—cameras, tracking devices, and digital monitoring—creates a sense of constant danger and intimacy. Convict's obsession with watching Mila is both protective and invasive, reflecting the story's themes of trust, vulnerability, and the desire to truly see and be seen. This device also allows for foreshadowing, as clues to the city's mysteries are hidden in the footage, and the line between watcher and participant is repeatedly crossed.
Found Family and Chosen Loyalty
The skeleton crew operates as a found family, offering love, protection, and a code of honor in a world where blood ties are often sources of betrayal. This device is used to explore themes of loyalty, forgiveness, and the possibility of building a new life after trauma. The contrast between biological and chosen family is central to both Mila and Convict's arcs, as they learn to trust, love, and fight for each other.
Murder Mystery and Detective Structure
The story is structured as a layered mystery, with the murder of Esther, the disappearance of Jacobs, and the destruction of the Eden serving as central puzzles. The "Skeleton Girls Detective Agency" provides a framework for investigation, collaboration, and empowerment, allowing the women to reclaim agency in a world that seeks to exploit them. Foreshadowing, red herrings, and the gradual revelation of clues drive the plot forward and keep the reader engaged.
Power Exchange and Consent
The story's dark romance is built on explicit explorations of power, consent, and the boundaries between pleasure and pain. Chains, handcuffs, and public displays are used both as plot devices and as metaphors for the characters' psychological struggles. The negotiation of rules, safewords, and trust is central to Mila and Convict's relationship, offering a path to healing and intimacy after violence.
