The Games Penguin Plays

Not long after reading author Charles Cumming’s reflections on Journey into Fear, by Eric Ambler--The Rap Sheet’s most recent contribution to Patti Abbott’s Friday “forgotten books” series--I received an interesting e-mail message from Cumming’s publisher, Penguin UK. It highlighted Penguin’s continuing push into the online world, and reminded me that Cumming was one of the writers who contributed to Penguin’s recent “We Tell Stories” project. Due to the success of that first online venture, the publisher is today launching an online game called “Monkeys, Skulls & Crosses.”

What’s it all about? Here’s Penguin’s brief:

A young man is found shot dead in an empty industrial unit. The murder occurred in a tough inner-city area where there have been six fatal shootings in twelve months. The media are furious and the city clamours for action. The pressure is on. Can you find who killed Gerry Skinner--and why--before full-scale panic rips the city apart?

It seems that Penguin has joined with British television’s Crime & Investigation Network (CI) to offer this new game, scripted by author Michael Morley (Spider). I was fortunate to meet TV writer Morley when he participated in one of the two New Blood panels I moderated at CrimeFest in Bristol this last summer. Publicists Jenny Berlin and my old Simon & Schuster colleague, Joe Pickering, who has just joined Penguin UK, sent me a press release about “Monkey, Skulls & Crosses,” part of which reads:

Building on Crime & Investigation Network’s first hugely successful crime game, launched on its website in 2006, ‘Monkey, Skulls and Crosses’ puts users into the role of detective and invites them to put their crime-solving skills to the test. CI are running a dedicated TV advertising campaign to promote the game, which was created using the highest online gaming standards and features an engrossingly intricate plot written by crime writer Michael Morley, author of the chilling psychological thriller Spider. With the same style and panache for which Spider won rave reviews, he has crafted a twisting psychological tale that will delight crime fiction and online gaming fans alike. Users will interview suspects, inspect the crime scene and hunt for clues in an effort to solve the vicious case before it’s too late. …

Author Michael Morley added, ‘It’s been a fantastic privilege to be allowed to work with a publisher and a channel that are so receptive to developing new ways to entertain and reach out to audiences. I’m wonderfully impressed with how cleverly the developers have sustained the mystery, jeopardy and narrative needed for a great crime drama and am delighted to have worked with Penguin and C I to add a thrilling new twist to the good old fashioned world of who-dunnits.’

Hmm. It sounds as if there might be some fun in this game. So, grab your magnifying glass, Kevlar vest, and white CSI suit, and click here to put your crime-solving skills to the test.

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Speaking of games, I have been invited to play in Charles Cumming’s chess club tournament this Thursday in London. Joining in as well will be Boris Starling (Messiah). I look forward to this chance to regain my dignity, following my previous poor showing against Cumming.