Review Stratagem by Robin Caroll

Suspense and mystery have not been the style that I typically enjoy reading. I've recently read and few and seemed to be getting hooked.  When I was picked up Stratagem I was hooked almost from the beginning.  Psychologist Grayson Thibodeaux makes a living by using his background to make adventure games for businesses. He uses knowledge that he learns about those in the game to push them to the limits in areas which they would normally avoid.  When his ex-wife, Anna-Belle, is murdered in one of these games Grayson becomes the prime suspect.  The spouse is always the first person looked at in a murder, but when your the ex as well as you created this game they aren't looking any further than you. When you also took time off at the exact time this adventure game/murder occurred you look even guiltier.

Grayson has previously worked with and developed a good relationship with the local police department.  When his friend, Brandon Gibbons, and his partner, Danielle Witz, start the murder investigation they have differing opinions about Grayson. Brandon doesn't think he has anything to do with it, but Danielle feels he's the first, last and only suspect. Anna-Belle had a food allergy that not many knew about. She was so very careful to not let others know about this allergy as well as to carry multiple epi pens around just in case. Nobody seemed to understand what happened on that day. Even though Grayson trusts his friend he knows that he can't just sit still while others work the case. He and his assistant, Pam, jump feet first into their own investigation. As they watch the video from the adventure game weekend they realize that there is a block of time missing. As they discover this someone vandalizes Grayson's house and they realize than more than Detective Danielle blame him for Anna-Belle's death. Can Grayson and Pam find out who the real killer is before the detectives arrest Grayson for his ex-wife's murder?

Robin Caroll

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"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."