Drowning and Disappearance

Mark, Jennifer, and baby Lily Hamilton enjoy a rare, sun-drenched day at Ayr beach. Jennifer, eager for one last swim, is swept away by a current. Mark, panicked, saves her with the help of bystanders, but in the chaos, Lily vanishes from her pushchair. The beach, once idyllic, becomes a crime scene. The police are called, but there are no witnesses, no clues, and the Hamiltons' world is shattered. This event sets the stage for the novel's central mystery: the abduction of a child in broad daylight, and the emotional devastation that follows.

The Reluctant Investigator

Charlie, a private investigator haunted by his own past loss, is hired by Mark Hamilton to find Lily. Initially, Charlie is reluctant—cases involving children are his personal red line, a boundary set by his own unresolved trauma. But Mark's desperation and guilt, and Charlie's own inability to let go of the past, pull him into the case. He begins by investigating Mark's former lover, Donna Morton, whom Mark suspects out of guilt and fear. Charlie's journey is as much about confronting his own demons as it is about finding Lily.

Guilt and Ghosts

Charlie's investigation is colored by his own childhood trauma: the abduction of his sister, Pamela, decades earlier. This unresolved pain shapes his relationships and his approach to the Hamilton case. He is plagued by guilt, dreams, and the sense that he is always running from something he cannot escape. The narrative weaves Charlie's personal history with the current case, exploring how the past infects the present and how guilt can become a lifelong companion.

The Hamiltons' Secret

As Charlie digs deeper, he uncovers the Hamiltons' troubled marriage. Mark's affair with Donna Morton, and his belief that she might have taken Lily as revenge, complicate the investigation. Jennifer, emotionally fragile and sedated, is unable to help. The police, led by DS Andrew Geddes, are skeptical of Mark's theory but have no better leads. The case becomes a tangle of secrets, lies, and shifting blame, with everyone—especially Mark—desperate for absolution.

The Search for Donna

Charlie and his streetwise associate, Pat Logue, search for Donna Morton. She has vanished, leaving behind an empty flat and no forwarding address. Interviews with her estranged sister, Lucy, reveal a woman who was more victim than villain, used by Mark and discarded. The search for Donna is fruitless, and Charlie begins to doubt Mark's theory. Meanwhile, the police investigation stalls, and the city's attention shifts to other missing children.

The Music of Distraction

Amidst the investigation, Charlie finds solace in the local music scene, particularly in the emergence of a new band, Big River, and its charismatic singer, Kate Calder. The music offers a temporary escape from the darkness of his work and the weight of his memories. Relationships form and falter—Charlie and Kate's romance is tentative, shadowed by his emotional baggage. The club, New York Blue, becomes a hub for the city's lost and searching souls.

The Case of Alison Downey

Charlie is hired by the Downeys to find their missing daughter, Alison, a college student who has disappeared along with her lecturer, Frank Lennon. The case is a red herring, full of rumors, false leads, and the toxic dynamics of youth. As Charlie and Pat investigate, they uncover a web of lies, jealousy, and manipulation among Alison's friends. The truth, when it emerges, is tragic but unrelated to Lily's disappearance, highlighting the randomness and cruelty of loss.

Friends, Fights, and Failures

Charlie's relationships with his friends and colleagues—Pat, Jackie, Andrew—are strained by the pressures of the case and his own emotional volatility. Arguments, misunderstandings, and betrayals abound. Jackie considers leaving New York Blue; Pat faces his own health scare and marital troubles. Charlie's inability to solve the case, and his growing obsession, threaten to consume him. The city's mood darkens as more children go missing, and hope fades.

The Serial Killer Emerges

The police, overwhelmed by a series of child abductions across Scotland, form Operation Damocles. A pattern emerges: a serial killer, Richard Hill, has been abducting and murdering children for decades. Hill is finally caught after a failed abduction in Hawick, but his confessions are manipulative and incomplete. He toys with the police, admitting to some murders, denying others, and refusing to reveal the fate of Lily. The investigation becomes a media circus, and the Hamiltons' suffering is compounded by uncertainty.

The Wrong Suspects

As Hill's confessions dominate the headlines, the police and public assume Lily is among his victims. Mark Hamilton, devastated by guilt and the collapse of his marriage, attempts suicide. Donna Morton resurfaces, heavily pregnant and innocent of any involvement. The real story of Lily's disappearance remains hidden, obscured by the noise of the serial killer case and the failures of those meant to protect her.

The Truth About Lily

Charlie, refusing to accept Hill's confession, revisits the case from the beginning. He uncovers a crucial detail: Jennifer Hamilton's own affair and her desperate desire for a child. The truth emerges—Lily was not Mark's biological daughter, but the result of Jennifer's affair with Paul Barrymore. When Jennifer's marriage began to unravel, she confided in her lover's estranged wife, Marion. On the day of the abduction, Marion, driven by her own loss and longing, took Lily and disappeared.

The Web of Lies

Charlie, with Pat and Gail's help, tracks Marion to Aberdeen, where she has been living under a false identity with Lily, now renamed Adele. Marion has forged documents and is preparing to flee the country. The web of lies—Mark's infidelity, Jennifer's secret, Marion's abduction—has ensnared everyone, leaving a trail of broken lives. The police, focused on Hill, have missed the real story. Charlie's persistence and empathy finally bring the truth to light.

The Unraveling

In a tense climax, Charlie and his team intercept Marion as she attempts to leave for the airport with Lily. The child is rescued, unharmed, and returned to the authorities. Marion, though not a monster, is a deeply damaged woman whose actions were driven by pain and jealousy. The Hamiltons, irreparably broken, must face the consequences of their secrets and choices. The city, briefly, breathes a sigh of relief, but the scars remain.

The Final Clues

The serial killer, Hill, is convicted for his crimes but never confesses to Lily's abduction. Charlie confronts his own past, visiting the site of his sister's disappearance and facing the reality that some mysteries remain unsolved. The case has changed him, deepening his understanding of loss, guilt, and the limits of justice. Relationships are mended—Jackie stays at New York Blue, Pat and Gail find new balance, and Charlie and Kate tentatively rebuild their romance.

The Rescue and Aftermath

Lily's return is bittersweet. The Hamiltons' marriage is over, and Jennifer's mental health is fragile. Mark, though exonerated, is left to rebuild his life from the ruins. Donna Morton, cleared of suspicion, prepares to raise her own child with her sister. The city moves on, but the memory of the missing children lingers. Charlie, having faced his own ghosts, finds a measure of peace, but knows that closure is an illusion.

Closure and Consequences

The novel ends with Charlie reflecting on the games people play—the lies, betrayals, and self-deceptions that shape lives and tragedies. Justice is imperfect, and the wounds of loss never fully heal. Yet, in the act of searching, connecting, and refusing to give up, there is meaning. Charlie's journey is one of acceptance: of the past, of the limits of his power, and of the necessity of hope, even in the face of darkness.

Characters

Charlie Cameron

Charlie is a private investigator specializing in missing persons, driven by the unresolved trauma of his sister's childhood abduction. His work is both a compulsion and a form of penance. He is intelligent, stubborn, and deeply empathetic, but also emotionally scarred and prone to self-doubt. His relationships—with friends, lovers, and clients—are shaped by his inability to let go of the past. Over the course of the novel, Charlie confronts his own limitations, learns to accept help, and finds a measure of peace, though the wounds of loss remain.

Mark Hamilton

Mark is a man unraveling under the weight of guilt and grief. His affair with Donna Morton, and his suspicion that she took Lily, are projections of his own self-loathing. He is emotionally fragile, oscillating between hope and despair, and ultimately attempts suicide. Mark's journey is one of painful self-examination, as he is forced to confront the consequences of his actions and the reality that he was not the only one keeping secrets.

Jennifer Hamilton

Jennifer is emotionally and mentally fragile, sedated and traumatized by Lily's disappearance. Her own affair and the secret of Lily's paternity are at the heart of the novel's mystery. Jennifer's inability to face the truth, and her reliance on denial and medication, render her passive and tragic. She is both victim and perpetrator, her actions setting in motion the events that lead to Lily's abduction.

Donna Morton

Donna is initially suspected of abducting Lily, but is ultimately revealed to be innocent. Used by Mark and discarded, she disappears to start a new life, returning pregnant and ready to move on. Donna's story is one of survival and self-discovery, a counterpoint to the destructive secrets of the Hamiltons.

Pat Logue

Pat is Charlie's streetwise associate, a fixer with a checkered past and a heart of gold. He provides comic relief, practical support, and occasional wisdom. Pat's own struggles—with health, marriage, and self-worth—mirror the novel's themes of resilience and redemption. His loyalty to Charlie is unwavering, and his presence grounds the narrative in the realities of working-class Glasgow.

Jackie Mallon

Jackie runs New York Blue, the club that serves as the novel's social hub. She is tough, witty, and fiercely competent, but also vulnerable and searching for connection. Her on-again, off-again relationship with Alan Sneddon, and her flirtation with leaving the club, reflect the novel's exploration of loyalty, ambition, and the search for meaning.

Andrew Geddes

DS Geddes is a police officer caught between bureaucracy and conscience. He is a friend and occasional adversary to Charlie, sharing information and warnings. Geddes is haunted by his own failures and the limitations of the justice system. His pursuit of the serial killer, and his interactions with Charlie, highlight the novel's themes of obsession, guilt, and the cost of caring.

Kate Calder

Kate is the new singer for Big River, a rising star with her own insecurities and ambitions. Her relationship with Charlie is tentative, complicated by his emotional baggage and her own desire for independence. Kate represents hope and the possibility of new beginnings, but also the risks of vulnerability and trust.

Marion Barrymore

Marion is the estranged wife of Jennifer's lover, Paul Barrymore. Driven by loss, jealousy, and a twisted sense of justice, she abducts Lily and raises her as her own. Marion is not a monster, but a deeply wounded woman whose actions are both criminal and pitiable. Her story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unresolved pain and the human capacity for self-deception.

Richard Hill

Hill is the embodiment of evil in the novel, a doctor who has abducted and murdered children for decades. He is cunning, charming, and utterly without conscience, toying with the police and the public. Hill's presence overshadows the narrative, a reminder that some mysteries are never fully solved, and that justice is often incomplete.

Plot Devices

Dual Timelines and Parallel Cases

The novel uses Charlie's unresolved childhood trauma as a counterpoint to the current investigation, drawing parallels between his sister's abduction and Lily's disappearance. This duality deepens the emotional stakes and explores the long-term effects of loss and guilt.

Red Herrings and Misdirection

The narrative is structured around a series of false suspects—Donna Morton, Frank Lennon, Richard Hill—each of whom is investigated and ultimately exonerated. This misdirection keeps the reader guessing and reflects the chaos and uncertainty of real-life investigations.

Multiple Points of View

The story shifts between Charlie, the Hamiltons, Donna, Marion, and others, offering a multifaceted view of the central mystery. These perspectives reveal the complexity of human motivation and the ways in which pain and desire can drive people to desperate acts.

The Serial Killer as a Red Herring

The emergence of Richard Hill as a serial killer distracts the police and the public from the truth about Lily. His manipulations and confessions serve as a commentary on the limitations of justice and the dangers of focusing on the sensational at the expense of the personal.

Music and Community

The music scene, centered on New York Blue and Big River, provides a backdrop of hope, creativity, and resilience. It offers characters a way to connect, heal, and find meaning amidst chaos and loss.

The Unreliable Narrator

Nearly every character is hiding something—affairs, secrets, guilt. The narrative is built on shifting sands, with the truth emerging only through persistence, empathy, and the willingness to question assumptions.

Analysis

Games People Play is a masterful exploration of the lies, secrets, and self-deceptions that shape our lives and relationships. Through the lens of a missing child investigation, Owen Mullen delves into the psychology of guilt, the corrosive effects of unresolved trauma, and the human need for connection and meaning. The novel's structure—layered with red herrings, parallel cases, and shifting perspectives—mirrors the complexity of real life, where truth is elusive and justice is imperfect. At its heart, the book is about the cost of secrets: how the games we play to protect ourselves and others can lead to tragedy, and how only by facing the truth—however painful—can we hope to heal. Mullen's characters are flawed, relatable, and deeply human, and his Glasgow is a city alive with music, pain, and hope. The ultimate lesson is that closure is rare, but the act of searching, of refusing to give up, is itself an act of grace.

Last updated: May 18, 2025