Stratagem

September 10, 2018
A nuanced investigation of the nature of faith emerges in Carroll’s complex latest (after Darkwater Secrets). Grayson Thibodeux is a psychologist in New Orleans who designs real-life strategy games and escape room simulations. Against his better judgment, he has designed a game (a series of rooms, each locked by a team-working puzzle) that his ex-wife, Anna Belle, will unknowingly be a participant in, as the board of her company decides which of four candidates would be best suited for a promotion. After setting up the game, Grayson leaves while his partner stays on site to carry out the production. A week later, when Grayson returns from vacation, he discovers that Anna Belle is dead, and he is the prime suspect. With a detective working hard to find him guilty, Grayson decides to investigate Anna Belle’s death to prove his innocence. As his real life slowly begins to mirror the games he creates, Grayson must rely on his faith to find the killer before he strikes again. By having Grayson contemplate his need to control his own narrative, Carroll elegantly considers the need for forgiveness and learning to give oneself over to faith. Readers of Dee Henderson and Terri Blackstock will enjoy Carroll’s high-octane thriller.