Stratagem

Stratagem, is set in New Orleans, modern day. Psychologist Grayson has left private practice and along with his friend Colton, they've started a very successful business of creating highly personalized physic games for businesses to use for creating harmonious work teams. The games are designed by Grayson or Colton, and they get any information they can about each of the players. Even as far as their medical history. Grayson's wife Anna Belle had left him to climb the cooperate ladder in the company she worked for. She ripped Grayson to pieces. He's still recovering from the damage that she did. Now, his Anna Belle's company wants to hire Grayson's and Colton's company to create a dynamic game so the executives can find the right person-out of four, one of which will get a fancy new promotion. When Anna Belle dies in the middle of the game, all clues point to Grayson as the guilty party. I was provided a copy of this book by Barbour Publishing, I was under no obligation to post a review.

Stratagem by Robin Caroll is an exciting police drama that readers who love suspense and murder mysteries won't want to miss. The author does an interesting take on the murder with it happening during an elaborate game that is designed for team-building and choosing the best person for a promotion. And within the game, a game that played on the players' worst fears, someone has other designs for one of the contestants--Anna Belle ends up dead. Grayson, the ex-husband, is the prime suspect and even though readers pretty much know he is innocent right from the start, the author does a great job keeping the reader wondering how is he going to be proven innocent when clues definitely point to him and wondering just who is the killer. Would the truth be revealed? Who wanted Anna Belle dead and why? The story kept me guessing right to the edge-of-the-seat climactic ending. Great characterization elicits strong feelings of like or dislike for the characters--some with sass, some with loyalty and some with definite attitudes. There is depth to the main characters and their reactions and emotions are relatable and realistic. The story is about Grayson and I liked how the author portrays him as a man of faith, and his all-too-difficult struggles with his feelings about his ex-wife. One character recognized that Grayson's faith was not just a card he carried, it was the life he lived. Would he ever be able to truly accept and forgive her betrayal? I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of this author's work. I received a complimentary copy of the book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions are my own.