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Bad Games: Hellbent - A Dark Psychological Thriller (Bad Games Series Book 3) Kindle Edition

4.5 out of 5 stars 1,817 ratings

Hellbent /adj. / 1. very determined to do something, especially when the results might be bad.

A year has passed. Marine and security specialist Domino Taylor does not work anymore. His days and nights are spent shadowing the Lambert family, the guilt he feels for the tragic events that unfolded in western Pennsylvania haunting him without mercy.

When someone from Domino's past contacts him, she begs him to take on one last job. Find and return her kidnapped son.

Domino agrees to help, not knowing that the truth behind the kidnapping is far more sinister than anything he can possibly fathom.

It appears there is one final game to play. The host is someone who has been planning a masterpiece of epic proportions for some time now, grooming an unwitting Domino as the star, hellbent on watching him suffer before he dies...


What readers are saying about Jeff Menapace and the Bad Games series:

"
Will scare you to death...Menapace will become a household name along with Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Richard Laymon." ★★★★★

"
Outstanding...I have read horror before like John Saul, Dean Koontz and Stephen King, and they never bothered me as Bad Games did." ★★★★★

"
Jeffery Deaver look out...this guy plays with your head." ★★★★★

"I have been a lifetime reader of
Dean Koontz, Stephen King, James Patterson, Lisa Gardner, and various other suspense and horror authors...I have found a new author to add to my list of greats." ★★★★★

"I love the
Prey series by John Sandford, and the Michael Bennett series by James Patterson. If any of these appeal to you, I strongly suggest reading this RIGHT NOW!!” ★★★★★

"If you like
Stephen King, Blake Crouch, or Dean Koontz, then you'll love Jeff Menapace. ★★★★★

"I had to keep reading even though I knew it was going to get more twisted.
Jeff Menapace is right up there with Stephen King." ★★★★★

"If you love
J.A. Konrath, Jack Kilborn, and Blake Crouch, you'll love Jeff Menapace." ★★★★★

"Compares to my favorite writers
Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and John Saul." ★★★★★

"A great page-turner with shades of
Konrath and King!" ★★★★★


I hope you enjoy the
Bad Games series, my friends. This series is ideal for fans of authors across several different blends of dark fiction! Authors like: Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Karin Slaughter, Lisa Gardner, Jeffery Deaver, John Sandford, L.T. Vargus, Tim McBain, Jack Ketchum, Richard Laymon, John Saul, J. A. Konrath, Blake Crouch, Darcy Coates, Patrick Logan, Willow Rose, and many more. Happy Reading!
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fans of Richard Laymon will love Jeff Menapace's work." - Bill Braddock, Bestselling Author of BREW

"Hellbent may be my favorite of the three books in the series...[Menapace] has ratcheted up the suspense to excruciating new levels." - J. Chambers, Amazon Hall of Fame, Top 10 Reviewer

From the Author

The Bad Games books:
 
-Book 1 - Bad Games 
-Book 2 - Vengeful Games 
-Book 3 - Bad Games: Hellbent-Book 4 - Bad Games: Malevolent
-Bad Games Two Book Set (Vengeful Games & Hellbent) 
-Bad Games Box Set: (Books 1-3)

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00GYG47TY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mind Mess Press (December 10, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 10, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 270 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 1,817 ratings

About the author

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Jeff Menapace
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A native of the Philadelphia area, Jeff has published multiple works in both fiction and non-fiction. In 2011 he was the recipient of the Red Adept Reviews Indie Award for Horror.

Jeff's debut novel BAD GAMES was a #1 bestseller that spawned four acclaimed sequels, and now the series has been optioned for feature film.

Free time for Jeff is spent watching horror movies, The Three Stooges, and mixed martial arts. He loves steak and more steak, thinks the original 1974 Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the greatest movie ever, wants to pet a lion some day, and hates spiders.

He currently lives in Pennsylvania with his wife Kelly and their cats Sammy, Bear, and Baby Girl.

Follow Jeff on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Goodreads, Instagram, BookBub, and Amazon:

https://www.facebook.com/JeffMenapace.writer

http://twitter.com/JeffMenapace

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffmenapace

https://www.goodreads.com/jeffmenapace

https://www.instagram.com/jeffmenapace

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jeff-menapace

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004R09M0S

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,817 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this psychological thriller engaging, with each book improving upon the last and maintaining suspense throughout. The writing flows smoothly, and the characters come to life vividly, with one customer noting they can feel what the characters feel. The action is non-stop, keeping readers on the edge of their seats, and the series wraps up nicely.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

126 customers mention "Readability"126 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable, noting that each book in the series gets better than the last.

"...Superb page turners. Enjoy!" Read more

"...With that being said, it was still another great read. If you've read the first two books in this trilogy, you won't be disappointed...." Read more

"...All three are most definitely worth your time, they're all going onto my favorites list." Read more

"...I also enjoyed reading the second book although I did not find it to be as good as the first...." Read more

108 customers mention "Suspenseful"85 positive23 negative

Customers find the book suspenseful, describing it as a highly entertaining psychological thriller with enough twists to keep readers captivated throughout.

"...Great storyline with survivors from the last book. Jeff's story was so good I was actually rooting for Monica in one part...." Read more

"...Yet the story is well-written enough so as to not be so far-fetched that its entertainment value is diminished...." Read more

"...The Bad Games trilogy is a well-written, psychological thriller that draws you in and holds you on the edge of your seat as a story of good versus..." Read more

"Love all Menapace! Recommend reading all of his books. I read this one in 3hours. Keeps your interest..always. Love the ingenuity!" Read more

76 customers mention "Series quality"76 positive0 negative

Customers love this series, particularly how it wraps up nicely, with one customer noting that the last 20 chapters are unbelievable.

"I flew through this book! Great storyline with survivors from the last book. Jeff's story was so good I was actually rooting for Monica in one part...." Read more

"...I was pleasantly surprise that the ending was not a cliff hanger so I did not have to buy the second book to see how it all turned out...." Read more

"...Overall it was a good story but wasted so much time getting to the good stuff" Read more

"Just when I think the story line can’t get any better it Does! Excellent series.. I can’t wait to get to the next book" Read more

45 customers mention "Writing quality"44 positive1 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting that it flows smoothly and is easy to read.

"...Quite the contrary is true, in fact. The story is very well-written and engrossing...." Read more

"...The Bad Games trilogy is a well-written, psychological thriller that draws you in and holds you on the edge of your seat as a story of good versus..." Read more

"...the story from the first BAD GAMES book was the best, this was the best written. Looking forward to his next book." Read more

"...Jeff is an excellent writer and I recommend his books highly...." Read more

23 customers mention "Character development"19 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that the characters come to life and are fully rounded, with one customer mentioning they can actually feel what the characters feel.

"...series started well, the first book was a good potboiler with interesting characters, so he gets a pass for writing a decent thriller...." Read more

"...The author keeps up the tension and action all along, introducing a bad new character and moving away from the Lambert family and focusing on..." Read more

"...The characters are memorable, the action is non-stop, and you have an extra element of horrific torture games mixed in...." Read more

"...The characters made themselves at home in my head. I think I'll let them hang out there for a bit. Besides, what's the worst that can happen?" Read more

18 customers mention "Page turner"13 positive5 negative

Customers describe the book as a page turner, with one customer noting how the three stories kept them on the edge, while another mentions how it held them until the very end.

"...good writer and he deserves to be published and to have a faithful following of readers...." Read more

"I love this series!!💜😍 Had me clinging on to turning the pages. Great read! Absolutely love Jeff. Bring on the next book!..." Read more

"...Overall it was a good story but wasted so much time getting to the good stuff" Read more

"...This a series that is just a page turner. Thanks much, Jeff, for entertaining me. I am now a huge fan!" Read more

13 customers mention "Pacing"13 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pacing, describing it as fast-paced with non-stop action.

"...The author keeps up the tension and action all along, introducing a bad new character and moving away from the Lambert family and focusing on..." Read more

"...The characters are memorable, the action is non-stop, and you have an extra element of horrific torture games mixed in...." Read more

"The Bad Games books read like a very well paced movie. Once I get going I cant stop. Twists and Turns and Excitement abound...." Read more

"...As it stands, the pacing was tight but the ending was abrupt and relatively unsatisfying despite the resolution...." Read more

8 customers mention "Edge of seat"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy how the book keeps them on the edge of their seat.

"The story told over the spread of three books was great. Kept you on the edge of your seat...." Read more

"This is one hell of a EDGE OF YOUR SEAT, MIND BLOWINGLY, EVIL ARSED READ!!!!! I L O V E D IT...." Read more

"This series has kept me on the edge of my seat. I can not wait to read the final book. I'm sure it'll be just as gripping as the first three...." Read more

"I enjoyed the book. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. The only thing that I disliked was the abrupt ending. It does leave room for a sequel...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2025
    I’m blowing through these books hoping there’s more Jeff Menapace books/series to read after I start book 4 of this series in about 10 minutes. Superb page turners. Enjoy!
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2013
    I flew through this book! Great storyline with survivors from the last book. Jeff's story was so good I was actually rooting for Monica in one part. I won't give anything away, but I actually wanted her to get her prey when the story took a twist. The only reason for 4 stars as opposed to 5 is that I thought that the story got a little far fetched at one point. With that being said, it was still another great read. If you've read the first two books in this trilogy, you won't be disappointed. If you haven't read the other two, read them in order first. It will give you a much better idea of the characters and why they do what they do!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2014
    I've personally become very fond of the author's works! I've read a few thus far.

    Bad Games: Hellbent is, of course, the third and final installment in the Bad Games Series. Naturally, it is suggested you read the first two installments first. When I first started the series, My first thought was that this is some really sick...! But at the same time, I couldn't put it down! Obviously, I was hooked, because I read all three in succession, taking time out to work, eat, etc. Lol.

    There is no point in me describing the basis of the story, as Amazon has accurately and eloquently done so already. Suffice it to say that the book's description as a "dark psychological thriller" is SPOT ON! It is quite dark in that the the protagonists are almost unimaginably evil and sadistic! Yet the story is well-written enough so as to not be so far-fetched that its entertainment value is diminished. Quite the contrary is true, in fact.

    The story is very well-written and engrossing. I might also add that I am personally turned off by some novels' over-the-top use of objectionable language that goes far beyond what one might reasonably expect if such situations were real and that unnecessarily detract from the story entertainment value. Gladly, I didn't find that here as I thought I might from such a dark story.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2025
    Jeff is at his best here. I can’t get to Amazon quickly enough to see what else of his can be purchased.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2018
    Although I hear this is no longer the end, that more Bad Games are on the way, I cannot wait!

    I was way into the concept of our ice cold killer Monica finding the perfect protegee, who ended up being my favorite character this go-round. I hope we see more of her in upcoming book(s). Monica's brainchild, in a way a demented hamster wheel that is a matter of life and death, was amazing.

    Other than pushing a bit past what I believe a human beings physical limits to be I loved this book just like the rest, the first being my favorite. All three are most definitely worth your time, they're all going onto my favorites list.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2015
    Jeff isn't a great writer, but he's a very good writer and he deserves to be published and to have a faithful following of readers. I truly hope he is one day able to support himself with his writing as that's obviously every writer's dream. The Bad Games trilogy is a well-written, psychological thriller that draws you in and holds you on the edge of your seat as a story of good versus evil unfolds with many different twists and turns. Highly recommend.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2024
    Love all Menapace! Recommend reading all of his books. I read this one in 3hours. Keeps your interest..always. Love the ingenuity!
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2017
    I rated the first book in this series, Bad Games - A Dark Psychological Thriller (Bad Games Series Book 1) , five stars because the frightening situation was so realistic. What made the horror greater was the fact that it appeared to be something that could happen to anybody.

    I also enjoyed reading the second book although I did not find it to be as good as the first. This third and final book really was a disappointment to me.

    The plot is both overly structured and unrealistic. Each chapter seems designed to be innovative with depicting vengeful scenes of violence. Unlike the first two books where the victims were everyman types, this books pits formidable foes against each other in a fight to the death.

    If it were not the last book written in the series, it would still be the last book in the series for me.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Belinda McConnell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must buy
    Reviewed in Canada on September 12, 2019
    Excellent
  • Georgina Peacock
    5.0 out of 5 stars The best trilogy I've ever read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 30, 2013
    All three books are just brilliant. At the end of Vengeful Games I could have cried and was so looking forward to reading Hellbent the last in the series, to see what happens next to Amy and Domino. You will not be disappointed!! It's not just that it's written ever so well, it's the fact it is so clever. You literally do not know what's going to happen around the next corner. You end up falling in love with the characters and even end up enjoying the creepy, sick, twisted things the 'bad guys' are going to do next. It's the type of book that keeps you on your toes throughout the whole thing. You'll laugh, cry, be shocked, scared and terrified all in one book. Jeff Menapace is one of my favourite authors out there at the moment, manly because of these three books and I can't wait for the next franchise.
  • BeverleyB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wanting More!
    Reviewed in Australia on January 18, 2014
    Out of the 3 Bad Games books, this third installment was my fave! I fell in love with Domino from the 2nd book & so pleased he had a big part in this one. Monica is such a twisted evil character & i like that a woman is the "bad guy" for a change. I am hoping there could be a Book 4?? with Kelly now being a main role? Love love love Jeff Menapace writings.. I read this series in 3 days (1 each day) and left wanting more!!
  • phoebewoo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely fantastic!!!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 9, 2013
    I never usually get into trilogys because the subsequent books never seem to be as good as the first. But this has been by far the best I have ever read. I read the first and second books back to back and was literally bursting at the seams to carry on so when I found this had been released I had bought it straight away and read it within 2 days.

    After the end of the second one I was devastated and had no idea where this would go. I can't give too much away but I wasn't disappointed. As usual, the story was so cleverly written there was no way you could put this down - you HAVE to know what happens. I like the fact that there are small chapters too so when you do finally have to come back to the land of the living you can jump straight back into it.

    I was not disappointed with this and I would recommend this series of book to everyone and anyone. I have never had a favourite author before but I think Jeff Menapace has just become it!
  • G. Rhodes
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on March 8, 2018
    i ENJOYED THIS SERIES.

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