A High-Stakes Simulation Adventure Leaves Grayson Thibodeaux the Prime Suspect. . .for Murder



Deep in the gritty underbelly of New Orleans, psychologist Grayson Thibodeaux loses everything when his wife leaves him to climb her company’s corporate ladder. He buries himself in his job of creating mind-bending adventure games for businesses as team-building explorations. When his ex-wife’s company hires Grayson’s to create an elaborate game, he doesn’t see how things can get worse. Until she dies during the course of the game he created…makmaking him the prime suspect for murder.


My Thoughts: Everyone loves a good mystery and this is no exception. Fast paced and keeps the reader guessing until the end. With so many twists and turns that keeps the readers' interest.


This is a well-written novel with interesting characters that the reader will easily identify with. This is my first novel from Robin Caroll, and it won't be my last. I truly enjoyed her writing and the plot for this novel was interesting.


Not only a mystery but a story about forgiving as well. A wonderful read for those who love a good mystery and suspense book.

I'm starting my review with a warning about the book. When you start this book, make sure you allow yourself time to read the entire book in one sitting. Why? To put it simply, because there is no way to read this book without stopping. The story line is rich in intrigue and takes us to the dark places of a person's emotions. I was shocked at first to read that a company thought the only way to pick who would get the promotion out of four people was to play a game. It's not just any old game, folks. It's a game specifically designed to use past hurts, fear, manipulation, anger and secrets against you. How will each person act in different situations is where the real nitty gritty goes.

To understand the master mind behind the game, we get to meet Grayson. I enjoyed him so much and found his intelligence to be quite impressive. I thought it was cool that the four people didn't know they were playing a game, but trying to outshine their peers in front of the boss. They were watched at all times like a lab rat which is kinda creepy. The author delves into their past in a way that brings out the darkness in some and in others an almost give up attitude. I can tell you right now I would never want to play this type of game. I did forget to mention that one of the players in the game is Grayson's ex-wife. Anna Belle is the epitome of girl gone bad. There is nothing nice I can say about her. She was mean, vindictive and down right evil. Anna Belle is the woman that other women hate and men fall all over for her attention. Someone definitely has it in for her, when she is found dead . The first person the police point a finger at is Grayson. I wasn't surprised because it is a given the ex-husband is automatically the top pick as the killer.

Anna Belle is certainly not a popular person and I'm not sure anyone shed a tear over her death except maybe her mother. There is however another character I found to be extremely annoying. Danielle and Grayson's friend Brandon are investigating the death. Danielle is so determined to prove Grayson guilty that she made me want to stomp on her feet several times. She is so relentless in proving Grayson guilty, that she has tunnel vision. Her character is so well developed I loved to hate her. She was one of my top picks of stand out characters in the story.Her nastiness towards Grayson is evident when she says to him, " Although , you know sometimes murderers will do bad things to themselves to garner sympathy and try to throw off suspicion."

It is a cat and mouse chase as Grayson tries to figure out what went wrong in the game, as the police start closing in on him. I was literally turning pages fast because I had to know who the killer was. I had my list but I was very wrong. The author has included faith in the book but not in a preachy way. Grayson really stands on his beliefs and will face the question of is he able to forgive. That is one of the great lessons in the book and one of the hardest things people have to deal with. The author knows how to shock readers with intense drama and an ending that will have you looking for more books by this very gifted author.

I received a copy of this book by Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

I’ve heard about being on a train or locked in while playing a game to try to figure out who did it before the ride or time is up.. This book took it to a new level! Playing it on the corporate level for a high level job when a murder throws the game off and into a whole new level! Lots of suspense, action and it definitely kept me guessing. I really liked this story! I was gifted a copy, no review was required. My review is voluntary..

Stratagem
by Robin Caroll
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Shiloh Run Press
Christian , General Fiction (Adult)
Pub Date 01 Nov 2018


I am reviewing a copy of Stratagem through Barbour Publishing and Netgalley:


Psychologist Grayson Thibodeaux works in the deep underbelly of New Orleans. He loses everything when his life leaves him so she can climb her companies corporate ladder. So he buries himself in his job of creating mind bending adventure games for businesses as team building explorations.

Once his ex wife's company hires him he is not sure things could get any worse, until she dies during the game and he realize they could in fact get much worse, when he finds himself as the prime suspect of her murder!


I give Stratagem five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Stratagem is exactly the type of suspense/thriller novel that I like to read – a plot that plays at your mind even as it plays with the minds of the characters, characters by the way that you aren’t entirely sure you can trust. The whole lot of them. Just when you think you can relax around this character or the other, another layer of their lives or the plot is revealed and you just don’t know anymore. I love it! It keeps me guessing, keeps me invested in the outcome, and lets me play detective right along with the actual (fictional) detectives.

Grayson Thibodeaux is in a very complicated situation, one which continues to get more complicated as the book progresses. Not only does he have a career which is at once horrifying and fascinating (he creates ‘escape room’ type games with psychological twists based on the participants’ history and medical records, etc.) but he is also the number one suspect in the death of his ex-wife, who died during a game he had created. The lead detectives make the situation even more complicated – one is a good friend who is considered biased toward Grayson’s innocence and the other is bitter at Grayson having not called her sister back after a blind date. So, you know which side she falls on in terms of whether he’s guilty or not, and her opinion really keeps her laser-focused on Grayson and unwilling to consider other possibilities.

Now… brace yourselves, y’all… there’s no romance in this book and I STILL LOVED IT. It’s pretty much a straight suspense novel with a very moving subthread on forgiveness. Particularly a scene at the end that really touched my heart. While my mind was whirring with romantical possibilities throughout the book, I really didn’t miss that sort of tension because there was plenty of other tension to be had as the suspense plot continued to unfold.

Bottom Line: Gritty but touching. Complex but easy to read. Intriguing but… nope, no opposite here… intriguing and riveting. Stratagem by Robin Caroll is the perfect choice to read on blustery, cold fall/winter nights when you’re snuggled up under a warm blanket. It’s impossible to put down once you start reading, so don’t plan to sleep until you’ve finished it. Skillfully plotted suspense, layered characters, and a vivid setting all make this a must-read. Loved the nod to Darkwater Inn, from another of Caroll’s current reads.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

If you are a fan of psychological twists in your entertainment, then Stratagem is for you!

Robin Caroll gives readers a book filled with twist, turns, several suspects, and a game that is based on your weaknesses and fears. But what an entertaining ride it is!

I had an inkling of who the murder was at the beginning but my mind was changed several times throughout this story.

Grayson Thibodeaux is an intelligent character I sympathized with—especially as more about his life and his wife are revealed. The man was beaten down by his ex-wife in his marriage (and even after), but not once did I believe he was the murderer.

The addition of Brandon’s point of view as he and his partner are given the investigation from the legal side of things, and Stratagem is a well-rounded, complete read that will have me looking at escape room games differently the next time I go!

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The decisions of the past affect the present. We hope for good, but sometimes it's the less stellar choices that come back to us! Anna Belle had made enough enemies that finding her murderer wasn't easy. Grayson's insider knowledge as a former consultant with the police had some unforseen effects on the case.

How does a murderer define Stratagem?
Mind games.
Testing the limits.
Risky, but oh so rewarding if successful.

I like to read mysteries. Especially when I can be proven wrong, and proven right at the same time.

There's at least 10 people who could legitimately be suspects. I picked 2 to be my main suspects. It turned out that I was right about one of them, but I was way wrong about the motivation!

I read enough books that I can usually predict things well. When I get a surprise like this one, its a nice treat 😀

Watching the detectives battle each other's prejudgements and struggle with Grayson's "meddling" (i.e. attempts to clear his name /solve the mystery) was both frustrating and fun.

In this case, I would define stratagem as a very complex plot, packaged with distraction and diversions, and coming together perfectly in the end. If you like mystery, and getting the scoop from each of the main characters directly, you will enjoy this book!

*Review link goes live on 11.23.18

A well-written mystery/suspense novel with a great plot! I am a fan of Robin Caroll’s books and Stratagem definitely lives up to the standards I expect from the author. The plot is full of twists and turns, red flags and red herrings, and well laid-out details that I couldn’t be sure who was the perpetrator until near the end. Grayson is a great character, full of compassion, tenderness, and intelligence. From page one, Grayson pulls the reader into his world of pain, grief, and regret. Brandon and Danielle, the two detectives from New Orleans Police Department investigating Grayson’s ex-wife’s death, have a nice professional partnership and bring a voice of reason to order all the clues in a sequential manner. The theme of forgiveness is prominent in the story and Grayson’s sincere desire to forgive those who wronged him in the name of Christ endears him even more.

If you enjoy well-written suspense, you will absolutely enjoy this book. I was given a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

Love this author’s books and Stratagem was no exception. Great plot and well developed characters. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital arc. This is my unbiased review.

I think I actually sign up to review books so that when I need to check out for a while, I can read and say I'm crossing something off my to-do list. Yup. That's me. The last few weeks were crazy town. I had work to do on my book, but honestly, I was too brain dead to create. Some people turn on the TV. (I think it's been a month since mine was powered on for something other than an Extreme Weight Loss workout video). I hang out with my Kindle. And so last week I opened up Stratagem and fell into the world of Hunger Games meets corporate team-building meets family drama and...well, murder, she wrote. Just getting through the dedications page got me excited, because honestly, Cara Putman and Cynthia Ruchti are in her circle of writer friends, and we know what I thought about their books!

3 Things I Loved About Stratagem
#1 Stratagem was kind of like The Hunger Games, but the good guys are the game makers.
Y'all, I love The Hunger Games trilogy. I was a late bloomer (I was in seminary when they made their debut). I remember catching the tail end of one of the first movie when my brother brought it home. He and Dad had already been reading the books, so what did I do?

I read the books in one weekend.

They're not short books. I didn't sleep much.

There are a lot of things I could say about The Hunger Games trilogy, but that's for another post. I actually wrote a paper about the series for my Theology and Film class in seminary.

No, that's not right.

I took Theology and Film so that I would have the vocabulary to process all the things I was processing about The Hunger Games. At some point, I'll share some of that.

But Stratagem. Imagine The Hunger Games - the game itself. But it's not a fight to the death, it's a corporate team-building exercise, or in some cases an exercise to help employers make the best choice for a promotion. A custom game built by a psychologist to get inside each player's head and bring them face-to-face with their fears. It sounds cruel at first. But to me, it's a little like physical therapy...not fun, but makes you stronger. And in Stratagem, it almost seems like the game maker is caught in his own game.

#2 These Characters Surprised Me
There were some characters in Stratagem that we're not supposed to like. Except...a few of them came out with surprising strength of character near the end. Repentant, not in an overly simplified way, but complex enough. Or genuinely trying to get things right after getting them so wrong. I found myself wishing I could get to know them better. Is there going to be a book about Danielle?

#3 Stratagem touched on some stuff in a non-preachy way.
Divorce. Abortion. These are things that many Christians feel very strongly about. Sometimes we don't do such a great job of feeling very strongly about the folks going through these things, regardless of whether we agree with their choices. Stratagem let me feel the gut-punch of emotions by showing, rather than telling. This is something that Alana Terry does very well with topics that we just don't talk about much. Even though Robin Caroll didn't make these issues the focal point of her book, I thought she did a great job of bringing us into the real-life story of so many in our broken world.

Was there anything I didn't love about Stratagem?
Yes - just a bit. I didn't love the way the game makers (the good guys) brought in some elements of voodoo into the game to play on one character's fears. Let me be clear: they weren't endorsing or practicing voodoo, they were putting things she was scared of in her space and this happened to be what she was terrified of. It bothered me because there is a real spiritual element to voodoo and witchcraft. Our God is more powerful. Period. Absolutely, all the time. But in their shoes, I wouldn't have wanted to bring those things in, even in a game, because it can make light of something with real spiritual power.

Also (and maybe this is a personal thing), I would have liked to get to know the murderer before we found out that person was the murderer. I'm being super vague here to avoid spoilers. But sometimes authors don't give us all that much exposure, in their attempt to keep up the mystery. A really well-done mystery can let us get to know that person without giving away whodunit.

I received a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Usually movies are inspired by books, but the note in the back of the book says Stratagem was hatched after the author watched Michael Douglas and Sean Penn in The Game. Having not watched the movie, it appears the book borrows the basic premise of the movie (a living game), inserts its own characters and adds an additional twist, with themes of forgiveness and acceptance. Grayson Thibodeaux and his partner, Colton York, design living games to build team spirit and test the mettle of a person. When their game is used to determine a promotion in Thibodeaux’s ex-wife’s firm, she ends up dead and Thibodeaux finds himself the main suspect.

Stratagem is a very fast-paced book with the urgent rhythm of a police force out to solve a murder ASAP. The fact that the characters are in a live game ups the tension and stress for both characters and readers. I thought maybe this time I figured out who-dun-nit. But no, the author, Robin Carroll, had a better idea, and my heart was beating triple time by the book’s end.
I have one issue with the book. That would be that Carroll couldn’t convince me that Danielle Witz’s attitude fit her otherwise mature personality. I could see the villain’s thinking being this skewed, but not Detective Witz’s, not even in just this one area. It just doesn’t ring true for me.
Having said all that, the action and thrills gave me enough satisfaction to rate this book a five star. I received s complimentary copy of the book from the author and the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review, and all opinions are my responsibility.

Quotable about addictions:
“It’s never about the debts or consequences, only about being able to feed the high.”

This is a very interesting read. Grayson Thibodeaux is a psychologically challenging game creator who finds himself in one continuous mess when it is discovered that a woman has died during his latest corporate offering. The game supports teambuilding while employees observe potential candidates for an important job in a corporation. To make matters more difficult, the woman who dies is his ex-wife. Even though she dies at the beginning of the story Anna Belle is a strong character throughout the book. The story really focuses on how one person can influence and improve or devastate another person's life. It is also a story of forgiving the unforgivable.
This is a good murder mystery as evidence builds against Grayson. I did figure out 'who done it' early in the book but the author brought in some twists that caused me to question my reasoning. That's what makes a good mystery. If you happen to enjoy the mental challenges of a clean murder mystery without a romance I recommend this new book by Robin Caroll. There are some real world conflicts and challenges in the Christian story.

Thanks Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for my ARC of the book. I'd like to see a series with these characters including the police officers, Brandon and Danielle.

I enjoyed this mystery. It was a complex plot designed so well that I had no trouble following it. I learned a great deal about corporations hiring companies to provide experiences such as character evaluation and team building. I was amazed at the organization and detail that goes into providing them.

The characters are developed well. Pam was my favorite. I liked her boldness and quick thinking. I had trouble liking Grayson. He had consulted for the police for two years yet now took evidence and mishandled it without informing detectives. I was surprised he was not arrested for evidence tampering. I felt he should have known better.

I do recommend this novel to readers who enjoy an informative mystery. You'll experience characters going through relationship challenges yet evidencing their Christian faith. You'll find a mystery that just might keep you guessing. And you'll have a good bit of suspense near the end.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

When I read the synopsis of Stratagem it already had me curious and I hadn't even cracked the cover yet! A murder mystery is intriguing enough but when you add mind games it takes an investigation to a whole new level. Stratagem starts with a murder and then you're taken through the police investigation, making it feel like you are alongside the investigators the entire time.

Due to the elaborate game that Grayson created it makes it that much harder for the agents working the case as well as for the reader to keep the story straight. I found myself confused a few times but other than that this story was wonderful! The fact that it's Grayson's ex-wife that was murdered just added another layer to the mystery and you constantly find yourself second guessing when you're trying to figure out who committed the crime. Even though I did guess correctly pretty early it was still a wonderful read! This is the first book that I've read by Robin Caroll but I know it will not be my last! I loved how the focus was solely on the investigation and there was no romance involved whatsoever. Since I typically read clean romances it was refreshing to get out of my genre for awhile.

Wow! This is one of those books that you only put down because life is screaming at you to take care of other things! It starts out as a story where a couple is divorced and one party is still not happy with the settlement. The author quickly moves into a who dunit and kept me guessing throughout the book. The action which never quit with escape rooms, abortion, addiction, anaphylactic shock, criminal mischief and murder had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Was it really possible that God could take all of that and work it for the good? Was it even possible to learn to accept and forgive?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Action packed! You won't find anything boring about Stratagem! Psychologist Grayson is an excellent protagonist as he writes games for corporate team building. When Grayson's ex-wife is murdered while playing one of his games, suspicion points to Grayson! Grayson's friend, Brandon is one of the police detectives investigating the case but Brandon's partner is sure Grayson is guilty. It takes a while to figure out who the real murderer is! Grayson learns to forgive and to remember the young woman he fell in love with. I received a complimentary copy of Stratagem from NetGalley and Barbour Books. This is my honest opinion.

These are mind games on many levels playing with the weaknesses and fears not only for a potential promotion but also for personal gain.
This novel is well constructed and psychologically believable, the characters are authentic, the crime solving relatable.

Stratagem by Robin Carroll is a psychological murder mystery. I loved following the two detectives, Brandon and Danielle, as they interviewed the possible suspects. With each interview something new would be revealed. At first I was really not going to like Danielle, but she finally redeemed herself.

In parallel Grayson and Pam trying to determine who killed Anne Bell, Grayson’s ex-wife. Obviously Grayson is a major suspect with being the ex-husband. Grayson’s skill of reading people was riveting.

The game itself was fascinating and how Grayson would develop it. This would be a great book club read. There are a lot of topics up for discussion. It made me reflect on how I would handle being in the game.

I suspected the killer at one point; but I also suspected several others throughout the revealing of the story. My recommendation is to have Grayson go back to assisting the police and this could be a series. His skills are fascinating.

Violence - someone is murdered, someone is trying to stop them from finding out who did it.

A fun "Whodunit"! I enjoyed this reading about the mystery of Anna Belle's murder. I was intrigued with Games on You and their part in setting the stage for this event. I was fascinated by the parallel investigations by the detectives and Anna Belle's ex-husband and his assistant. The characters were well developed and believable.

I wish there had been more foreshadowing through early parts of the story to suggest who the killer was. The story was almost complete before I had any inkling of what actually happened and why.

Otherwise, the story progressed quickly and I was compelled to complete the book as fast as I could. I loved the Epilogue and found that it was a perfect way to end the book.

Starting this year, I have been avoiding looking at the summary of most of the books that I read, including those I review, to make reading a more exciting experience and to steer clear of figuring out the plot too early. “Stratagem” was featured on many Christian book blogs prior to its release, so when the chance came to read and review it, I jumped on it. Going in, I thought that it was going to be a techno-thriller, so I was actually very pleasantly surprised when I realized that it was about a (fictional) murder investigation. Mysteries and thrillers, including crime thrillers, are among my favorite genres, and it is an added bonus when it happens to be Christian fiction as well because despite the subject matter, I can be assured that the language and details will not be too coarse or gritty.

“Stratagem” deals with many contemporary issues and a believable cast of characters. There is the murder early on in the story, and as the backstories of the characters unfold, it becomes evident that they are true-to-life in all its virtues and vices. There are no saints, and even the protagonist, Grayson Thibodeaux, has a painful past; he is still coming to terms with prior betrayals when he is plunged into even bigger problems. Some of the topics broached in the novel are divorce, abortion, infidelity, and phobias, among others. The concept of Game’s On You was simultaneously intriguing and disturbing, especially with the real advent of escape rooms as entertainment. Virtual reality takes flak for its potential ill effects on players, and I shudder to think of something like Game’s On You coming into play in society as well. Nevertheless, its use in the novel certainly stokes the reader’s adrenaline, and that, combined with the progression of the narrative, make this an un-put-downable thriller.

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