ReadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2025

The Shame Game

L D Smithson author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Transworld Publishers Ltd

Published:20th Nov '25

Should be back in stock very soon

The Shame Game cover

Don’t miss this twist-packed, pulse-pounding thriller - an edge-of-your-seat tale of power, secrets and lies perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Adrian McKinty and First Lie Wins.

'Immediately immersive, and scary as can be.' Lee Child

'Stylish, glamorous and clever.' Andrea Mara

Welcome to The Shame Game. Are you ready to play?

I know what you did. What you’ve kept hidden all these years. Now I’m going to make it public. Unless you do exactly what I say.

There’s only one way to keep your secret hidden: you need to ruin your best friend’s life. Take it apart, piece by piece, until they have nothing left. Betray their trust. Put them to shame.

Let the game begin…

Readers love L.D. Smithson


'Anonymous messages force friends to destroy each others’ lives in order to keep their own secrets buried. This dark, compulsive premise is a modern morality tale wrapped in pure suspense.' I Newspaper

'The countdown ramps up the tension, while LD Smithson challenges readers to think about far they would go to save their reputations and careers.' Sunday Times

'A wickedly tense and twisty thriller.' Wendy Walker

'A gut-wrenching read.' Woman’s Own

'A definite page-turner. The pace never slackens.' Faith Martin

'LD Smithson relentlessly turns the screws on her characters. It was excruciating to watch them squirm but I could not stop turning the pages.' Emma Curtis

'Totally original… a riveting story
...Highly recommended.' Alex Pine

Praise for The Shame Game * : *
The countdown ramps up the tension, while LD Smithson challenges readers to think about far they would go to save their reputations and careers. * Sunday Times *
LD Smithson relentlessly turns the screws on her characters. It was excruciating to watch them squirm but I could not stop turning the pages. * Emma Curtis, author of The Babysitter *
Totally original… a riveting story with a bunch of flawed and fascinating characters. Their lives are turned upside down and the shocks keep coming right up to an explosive ending. Highly recommended. * Alex Pine, author of The Christmas Killer *
A wickedly tense and twisty thriller that peels back the layers of friendship, shame, and long-buried secrets. If you loved First Lie Wins, prepare to be equally obsessed—this one will have you turning pages well into the night! * Wendy Walker, author of The Room Next Door *
Praise for L.D. Smithson * : *
What fun! * Guardian *
Immediately immersive, and scary as can be. * Lee Child *
Stylish, glamorous and clever. * Andrea Mara *
A gut-wrenching read. * Woman’s Own *

ISBN: 9781804991695

Dimensions: 196mm x 128mm x 28mm

Weight: 307g

448 pages