What do you think?
Rate this book
Meeks
It’s the late nineties. Toronto’s streets pulse with quiet desperation and hidden dangers. Ranleigh Meeks, a worn-down warehouse worker, stumbles on a doorway to a life he’s only dared to imagine. But crossing that threshold pulls him deeper into a web of addiction and violence that threatens to destroy what’s left of his soul.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2023
88 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Gabriel Tait
2 books25 followersGabriel Tait writes about addiction, altered states, and the war between who we pretend to be and who we really are.
His debut novel Meeks introduced us to Ranleigh Meeks — a defiant figure navigating a world of dead-end jobs, faulty internal wiring, and systems designed to crush people like him.
His follow-up, The Ranleigh Tapes, picks up where Meeks left off, tracing Ranleigh’s childhood across a series of taped confessions that expose the cost of survival.
Mr. Tait lives in Canada and is currently at work on his next book about Ranleigh Meeks.
His debut novel Meeks introduced us to Ranleigh Meeks — a defiant figure navigating a world of dead-end jobs, faulty internal wiring, and systems designed to crush people like him.
His follow-up, The Ranleigh Tapes, picks up where Meeks left off, tracing Ranleigh’s childhood across a series of taped confessions that expose the cost of survival.
Mr. Tait lives in Canada and is currently at work on his next book about Ranleigh Meeks.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 18, 2024
Meeks by Gabriel Tait. Wow. Thank you Gabriel for writing such a heart wrenching and thought provoking story. This is one I know will play on my mind long after I finished it today.
This is not a traditional psychological thriller. It delves into the mind of a man plagued with mental health and drug and alcohol challenges as his life spirals out of control. You are definitely kept guessing while you join the main character in his attempt to understand what is real, what is a dream, and what is a nightmare.
The insights this book gives you into the struggles of mental health and drug and alcohol addiction just blew my mind. My heart was breaking for Ranleigh and I was begging for things to get better for him. I was acutely aware of both my own and others’ potential and often unrealised prejudices towards people suffering such challenges.
I have someone close to me who struggles with mental health and drug addiction, and I can honestly say that this book has helped me understand what he’s going through. By understanding better I feel I can help him more. So thank you Gabriel - you have made a difference in my world.
It’s a ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me. If you like something a little bit different that will tug on the heart strings, I highly recommend you read this one. So darn good.
This is not a traditional psychological thriller. It delves into the mind of a man plagued with mental health and drug and alcohol challenges as his life spirals out of control. You are definitely kept guessing while you join the main character in his attempt to understand what is real, what is a dream, and what is a nightmare.
The insights this book gives you into the struggles of mental health and drug and alcohol addiction just blew my mind. My heart was breaking for Ranleigh and I was begging for things to get better for him. I was acutely aware of both my own and others’ potential and often unrealised prejudices towards people suffering such challenges.
I have someone close to me who struggles with mental health and drug addiction, and I can honestly say that this book has helped me understand what he’s going through. By understanding better I feel I can help him more. So thank you Gabriel - you have made a difference in my world.
It’s a ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me. If you like something a little bit different that will tug on the heart strings, I highly recommend you read this one. So darn good.
November 2, 2024
A very powerful, heart wrenching story about a young man’s battle with addiction and mental illness. As he struggles to grasp what is real and what are the illusions of his diseased mind, he falls farther and farther away from reality. The author relies on his own experiences with addiction and invests his emotions into the writing and it shows. I feel like it was maybe a cathartic effort but I also feel like it took a lot of strength to put his emotions out here for everyone to read and judge. I lost someone I loved to the throes of addiction. I say job well done to the author and highly recommend this book.
June 4, 2024
Ranleigh Meeks lives a tortured life. Stuck in a dead-end job with no family and waking up to severe panic attacks, he sees no light at the end of the tunnel. One day, when he wakes up, he finds himself in a completely different life. Realizing that he can live a better life in his dreams, Ranleigh hyper-fixates on getting to the next dream, no matter the cost. As he spirals into addiction and worsening mental illness, things start to unravel until he can no longer tell what's real and what's a dream.
This book was a wild ride! Just when I thought I figured out what was going on, it twisted again, and I was wrong. This was a great portrayal of a person slipping into madness as they try to escape their mundane life. I really felt for Ranleigh and kept rooting for him throughout the book. There were a few parts that had me a little confused, but I think I got it after going back and re-reading those sections. This was an overall enjoyable book that was super unique to me. I really liked the ending and the overall message, and I will continue to read more from this author!
This book was a wild ride! Just when I thought I figured out what was going on, it twisted again, and I was wrong. This was a great portrayal of a person slipping into madness as they try to escape their mundane life. I really felt for Ranleigh and kept rooting for him throughout the book. There were a few parts that had me a little confused, but I think I got it after going back and re-reading those sections. This was an overall enjoyable book that was super unique to me. I really liked the ending and the overall message, and I will continue to read more from this author!
November 13, 2024
Fantastic, haunting journey!
Absolutely mind-bending! This is not my usual thriller read but it came highly recommended. As someone in recovery, it truly hit home. Peeling back the layers of addiction, it keeps you guessing, makes you care and leaves you wanting more. This is the type of book that you just need to devour again, as there so much to absorb, you can't possibly get it all the first time. I'll be reading again and looking forward to the next one by this talented author!
Absolutely mind-bending! This is not my usual thriller read but it came highly recommended. As someone in recovery, it truly hit home. Peeling back the layers of addiction, it keeps you guessing, makes you care and leaves you wanting more. This is the type of book that you just need to devour again, as there so much to absorb, you can't possibly get it all the first time. I'll be reading again and looking forward to the next one by this talented author!
December 20, 2024
A very personal story
I really enjoyed the start of this book, which developed at a slow pace to introduce you to the main character, Ranleigh Meeks. Who in 1979 is a 9-year-old boy staying with his grandmother for a week during the summer. Tait's writing style in this part of the story describes the characters, events, and atmosphere well, allowing you to feel as if you're a part of it. Tait shows you a brief glimpse of the beginnings of Meeks addictive personality, so subtle at this stage that I was only aware of its significance due to the subject matter outlined within the blurb. The timeline is even detailed in the chapter headings by the date and hour.
The story picks up pace briefly as Meeks experiences a tragedy that touches all of the town's inhabitants. As Ranleigh Meeks becomes an adult, he's suddenly referred to as Leigh. Which didn't take too long to work out, but as the story then flips back and forth not only in it's timeline but alternating between the references to both Leigh and Ranleigh, it becomes a distraction. As a reader, I think that chapter headings would have been useful for time jumps as it halted the flow; it was especially confusing when the alternating names happened between paragraphs; perhaps sticking with one name would have been better unless there was a reason for it that I missed.
Tait's story is personal. Meeks is a character that shows the long-lasting effect that trauma has on the mind. He's able to draw on his own experience to depict addiction, anxiety, and desperation as fictional Meeks loses a grip on reality, losing himself to the fantasy life he's created in his dream world. I felt that suicidal ideation was handled sensitively. Please check the author's blurb for any potential triggers. It could be my personal taste that made the middle part of the book drag for me, as it took me quite a while to get through.
I often find it hard to arrive at a star value for books that aren't necessarily my cup of tea but nevertheless have merit. I think it's very brave to pour your heart and soul into such a deeply personal subject that will resonate with others that have suffered from addiction, but I have to review, reflecting upon my own reading experience that was often frustrating. In conclusion, I enjoyed parts of the book but also found it hard-going and at times confusing, meaning I didn't always enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
I really enjoyed the start of this book, which developed at a slow pace to introduce you to the main character, Ranleigh Meeks. Who in 1979 is a 9-year-old boy staying with his grandmother for a week during the summer. Tait's writing style in this part of the story describes the characters, events, and atmosphere well, allowing you to feel as if you're a part of it. Tait shows you a brief glimpse of the beginnings of Meeks addictive personality, so subtle at this stage that I was only aware of its significance due to the subject matter outlined within the blurb. The timeline is even detailed in the chapter headings by the date and hour.
The story picks up pace briefly as Meeks experiences a tragedy that touches all of the town's inhabitants. As Ranleigh Meeks becomes an adult, he's suddenly referred to as Leigh. Which didn't take too long to work out, but as the story then flips back and forth not only in it's timeline but alternating between the references to both Leigh and Ranleigh, it becomes a distraction. As a reader, I think that chapter headings would have been useful for time jumps as it halted the flow; it was especially confusing when the alternating names happened between paragraphs; perhaps sticking with one name would have been better unless there was a reason for it that I missed.
Tait's story is personal. Meeks is a character that shows the long-lasting effect that trauma has on the mind. He's able to draw on his own experience to depict addiction, anxiety, and desperation as fictional Meeks loses a grip on reality, losing himself to the fantasy life he's created in his dream world. I felt that suicidal ideation was handled sensitively. Please check the author's blurb for any potential triggers. It could be my personal taste that made the middle part of the book drag for me, as it took me quite a while to get through.
I often find it hard to arrive at a star value for books that aren't necessarily my cup of tea but nevertheless have merit. I think it's very brave to pour your heart and soul into such a deeply personal subject that will resonate with others that have suffered from addiction, but I have to review, reflecting upon my own reading experience that was often frustrating. In conclusion, I enjoyed parts of the book but also found it hard-going and at times confusing, meaning I didn't always enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
October 1, 2024
I just finished reading Meeks. It was so surprising !
I have 25 years clean and it took me alll the way back to my first day clean, no I’d have to say it took me back to the days before I got clean.
This was an amazing story. Thank you for sharing. I did understand how the author Stephen King influenced him but man, did he make this story his own.
I have to say I’m glad I own this so I can reread it again should I ever forget where I came from.
I have 25 years clean and it took me alll the way back to my first day clean, no I’d have to say it took me back to the days before I got clean.
This was an amazing story. Thank you for sharing. I did understand how the author Stephen King influenced him but man, did he make this story his own.
I have to say I’m glad I own this so I can reread it again should I ever forget where I came from.
March 15, 2024
Don't let the title fool you, as this book is anything but "meek". This was recommended to me and I'm ever so glad that it was. What a ride!
The novel revolves around a young man named Ranleigh. He has a life full of addiction to drugs and alcohol, with the shady life that comes with it, but also an opulent life, filled with wealth and fame. Both written exceptionally well and the cross over of realities keeps you guessing. The ending just was completely not what I was expecting, which was very nice.
All the characters in the novel, are well thought out so that I felt strong emotions for them.
I don't wish to spoil it for anyone; you just need to read it. I am recommending it to everyone as it's a first for me to read a book straight through three times. It's made it to my bookcase and not many books manage that. A*
The novel revolves around a young man named Ranleigh. He has a life full of addiction to drugs and alcohol, with the shady life that comes with it, but also an opulent life, filled with wealth and fame. Both written exceptionally well and the cross over of realities keeps you guessing. The ending just was completely not what I was expecting, which was very nice.
All the characters in the novel, are well thought out so that I felt strong emotions for them.
I don't wish to spoil it for anyone; you just need to read it. I am recommending it to everyone as it's a first for me to read a book straight through three times. It's made it to my bookcase and not many books manage that. A*
June 5, 2025
Tait’s Meeks Nails it! Truth, Twists, Trauma, and Transformation
I couldn’t put it down. Meeks is packed with revelations and unexpected turns. Gabriel Tait’s insight into addiction and its ripple effects on individuals, society, and culture is truly remarkable. It’s an engaging, thought-provoking, and surprisingly easy read. I highly recommend it. 👌
I couldn’t put it down. Meeks is packed with revelations and unexpected turns. Gabriel Tait’s insight into addiction and its ripple effects on individuals, society, and culture is truly remarkable. It’s an engaging, thought-provoking, and surprisingly easy read. I highly recommend it. 👌
November 20, 2023
2 Thumbs way up for Meeks
Gabriel Tait’s debut Novel, Meeks is a must read for fans of psychological drama/horror. Shooting up the same vein as Requiem for a Dream, The author takes you on a fast paced cinematic journey through the real life horrors of addiction.
Gabriel’s attention to detail goes above and beyond and his use of similes and metaphors are brilliant, ie: “He recalled a day the previous summer when he strolled through his neighbourhood, noticing buildings he had never bothered to look at before. Leigh realized that many of the buildings hid behind a false front, a magician’s trick that compelled the eye away from the decaying infrastructure hiding behind it, like capping a rotten tooth. Most people were like those buildings, he had thought. They focused their time and money on their street-facing facade, some were nicer than others of course, but the insides remained neglected. Those buildings were rotting from the inside out, infested with rats, and cockroaches that came out at night scuttling over countertops and bedframes. Leaky pipes and mould rotting behind the drywall. Sitting in Blaireau's office, he saw her like one of those buildings, with the rats, the mould, and the cockroaches crawling around inside her. Eventually, they would consume her.” (Just wow).
A great plot and beautiful writing can still fall flat without the depth of character and Gabriel Tait knocks it out of the park with his multi layered characters as well. If you do not walk away feeling something for Ranleigh Meeks then you have the emotional spectrum of a fish.
I can’t wait to read what this author writes next.
Gabriel Tait’s debut Novel, Meeks is a must read for fans of psychological drama/horror. Shooting up the same vein as Requiem for a Dream, The author takes you on a fast paced cinematic journey through the real life horrors of addiction.
Gabriel’s attention to detail goes above and beyond and his use of similes and metaphors are brilliant, ie: “He recalled a day the previous summer when he strolled through his neighbourhood, noticing buildings he had never bothered to look at before. Leigh realized that many of the buildings hid behind a false front, a magician’s trick that compelled the eye away from the decaying infrastructure hiding behind it, like capping a rotten tooth. Most people were like those buildings, he had thought. They focused their time and money on their street-facing facade, some were nicer than others of course, but the insides remained neglected. Those buildings were rotting from the inside out, infested with rats, and cockroaches that came out at night scuttling over countertops and bedframes. Leaky pipes and mould rotting behind the drywall. Sitting in Blaireau's office, he saw her like one of those buildings, with the rats, the mould, and the cockroaches crawling around inside her. Eventually, they would consume her.” (Just wow).
A great plot and beautiful writing can still fall flat without the depth of character and Gabriel Tait knocks it out of the park with his multi layered characters as well. If you do not walk away feeling something for Ranleigh Meeks then you have the emotional spectrum of a fish.
I can’t wait to read what this author writes next.
October 27, 2024
What to say about first time author Gabriel Tait's book. The first word that comes to mind is "WOW!" This book took me on a journey that I never expected to be on. Ranleigh Meeks is both a heroic and tragic character. Tait wrote him and his experiences in such a way that made you feel for him through this entire rollercoaster. The pain and anguish that addicts go through is so vividly portrayed here. Already knowing that Gabriel Tait is a fellow Stephen King fan, I could definitely see the influences. Without going into spoilers, there were times I got a good Dark Tower feel in that there are "other worlds than these." I am going to be processing this book for a while. The twists and turns it took me on will not soon be forgotten. PLEASE give this book a chance. You will not regret it!
April 18, 2024
excellent! Hard to put down
Reading has become a little more difficult for me due to health reasons, but I found this book hard to put down. Lately it seems to take me two or three months to finish a book and this one didn’t take me much more than a week. That’s highly unusual for me and says a lot for this excellent author. The writing is first rate and the story will grab you in the first chapter. I had no idea where the story was going and it did surprise me. I can’t recommend this book this enough! Read it today, you won’t be disappointed. I will be keeping my eye out for more books from this author.
Reading has become a little more difficult for me due to health reasons, but I found this book hard to put down. Lately it seems to take me two or three months to finish a book and this one didn’t take me much more than a week. That’s highly unusual for me and says a lot for this excellent author. The writing is first rate and the story will grab you in the first chapter. I had no idea where the story was going and it did surprise me. I can’t recommend this book this enough! Read it today, you won’t be disappointed. I will be keeping my eye out for more books from this author.
January 9, 2024
Wow Great book!
I did not know what to expect when I started reading this book. I heard about it from the author himself Gabriel Tait and said I would give it a read. It was not a mistake, I didn't want to put the book down once I started. Gabriel's writing is such that you can imagine yourself being there with the characters and the locations. I am looking forward to reading more of his work once it becomes available. As Annie Wilkes said in Stephen Kings book, Misery, I am your #1 fan!
I did not know what to expect when I started reading this book. I heard about it from the author himself Gabriel Tait and said I would give it a read. It was not a mistake, I didn't want to put the book down once I started. Gabriel's writing is such that you can imagine yourself being there with the characters and the locations. I am looking forward to reading more of his work once it becomes available. As Annie Wilkes said in Stephen Kings book, Misery, I am your #1 fan!
November 30, 2024
This psychological horror novel by Gabriel Tait was truly a mind-bending experience. The lead character, Ranleigh Meeks, is a tortured but likable person. He spirals into a horrific drug addiction that unravels his mind and blurs the line between what is reality and what is a dream…and frequently a walking nightmare. It was truly a unique and heart-wrenching story that kept my attention the entire time. I could feel the character’s despair on the pages and frequently rooted for him to get better. A mesmerizing debut novel from Gabriel Tait. I’m very much looking forward to the sequel!
May 8, 2025
3.75. This was a moving book with a compelling plot. There were times I felt the dialogue was lacking. It almost seemed like the author preferred to broadly describe interactions between characters instead of painting a more detailed picture with dialogue. There were a few clunky areas in the writing as well. Overall I enjoyed Meeks. It was a nice short read and he really captured the essence of the claws of addiction.
September 24, 2024
This book gripped me from the start and I couldn’t stop reading until I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore. I see Ranleigh Meeks as someone who makes a bad decision that spirals into an all-consuming addiction. As someone who struggles with sobriety, I could identify with how he was feeling and how his anxiety and drug use took control over every aspect of his life.
“Meeks” was a great read, one I will recommend to many people in my life. Gabriel, I look forward to your next book!
“Meeks” was a great read, one I will recommend to many people in my life. Gabriel, I look forward to your next book!
November 27, 2024
I wasn't expecting much from this novel but boy was I surprised and proved wrong. I first saw the book in a Stephen King Fb group post, which caught my eye and I thought it sounded interesting and the author had his own backstory so why not. And I really fell in love with the writing style, cause in the beginning I really felt Stephen King's influence in there, but at the same time it was original. I liked that. And then the story progressed, I do have to say I got a little confused around the switch between childhood and adulthood, but nevertheless I enjoyed the story a lot, it was really interesting, well-written, the character work was awesome, it felt like an accurate depiction of addiction and overall it is a great book. Read it.
October 31, 2024
Squeaks for Meeks!!!
Meeks is a very well written story. Very good character development, good plot with lots of things to wonder and think about. I wanted to absorb every word. I really descended into the world of the story. Loved it!
Meeks is a very well written story. Very good character development, good plot with lots of things to wonder and think about. I wanted to absorb every word. I really descended into the world of the story. Loved it!
January 1, 2024
good read!
I enjoyed this book, it had twists and turns. The thought provoking dreams and realities and the boundaries that separates them are often blurred , as mental and physical trauma are thrown at the protagonist.
I enjoyed this book, it had twists and turns. The thought provoking dreams and realities and the boundaries that separates them are often blurred , as mental and physical trauma are thrown at the protagonist.
February 20, 2024
What a ride.
Enjoyed the twists and turns of addition and what it can do to the mind.
You really feel for Leigh, and can hardly wait to see what the ending is for him.
Fantastic read
Enjoyed the twists and turns of addition and what it can do to the mind.
You really feel for Leigh, and can hardly wait to see what the ending is for him.
Fantastic read
August 20, 2024
Brilliant read will definitely go back and read again
March 11, 2025
Truly amazing story
This is a phenomenal book. I thought it was going one way and it went completely different. A raw story about survival.
This is a phenomenal book. I thought it was going one way and it went completely different. A raw story about survival.
September 18, 2025
Surprisingly good
It took me a while to get into this one, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. Very interesting concept. Would recommend.
It took me a while to get into this one, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. Very interesting concept. Would recommend.
January 24, 2024
Fantastic story!!
What a page turner! It's got everything! Mysterious twin storyline, the slow slippery fall into addiction, the lowest lows a person can reach, and healing! 10/10 would recommend. Great story and good job Gabriel! Keep them coming!
What a page turner! It's got everything! Mysterious twin storyline, the slow slippery fall into addiction, the lowest lows a person can reach, and healing! 10/10 would recommend. Great story and good job Gabriel! Keep them coming!
December 17, 2023
Meeks, by Gabriel Tait
I read this book in about in two days. I loved it and am looking forward to more books by Gabriel. Great read.
I read this book in about in two days. I loved it and am looking forward to more books by Gabriel. Great read.
November 22, 2025
When Two Worlds Collide
Ranleigh, Leigh, Meeks appears to be a normal little boy at the beginning of this book. Soon he is an adult in a dead-end job which to begin with, he is working hard at. An allusion to a previous, better job is made, we don't know why he moved on, but he is disinclined to follow rules, so...
This is not an easy read. Well-written with vibrant characters, it nonetheless charts one man's descent into addiction. The titular character finds an escape from his disappointing life through dreams, but it is the desire to sleep which leads him to abusing himself.
A story about hardships, but also about redemption and friendship and love. Unnerving, but worthwhile.
Ranleigh, Leigh, Meeks appears to be a normal little boy at the beginning of this book. Soon he is an adult in a dead-end job which to begin with, he is working hard at. An allusion to a previous, better job is made, we don't know why he moved on, but he is disinclined to follow rules, so...
This is not an easy read. Well-written with vibrant characters, it nonetheless charts one man's descent into addiction. The titular character finds an escape from his disappointing life through dreams, but it is the desire to sleep which leads him to abusing himself.
A story about hardships, but also about redemption and friendship and love. Unnerving, but worthwhile.
December 17, 2023
Really enjoyed it. Like the way he slowly weaves the two realities. Descriptions were vivid felt like I was there. Reminded me of Stephen King’s writing. Looking forward to reading Gabriel Tait’s next book.
May 27, 2025
This book was right up my alley. Exploring often unlikable but always fascinating characters with more dimension to them than you originally see, Tait uses brilliant prose to build a gritty world. And it only gets better as the story delves into the nebulous, unpredictable reality (or lack thereof) of the main character’s dream world. The twists and turns kept me flipping the pages and I was absolutely along for the entire ride. From prologue to epilogue, this was a great book.
May 22, 2025
Great read!
This is an excellent first novel, well written with interesting characters. Deliciously dark. If you like Stephen King you're going to enjoy.
This is an excellent first novel, well written with interesting characters. Deliciously dark. If you like Stephen King you're going to enjoy.
August 22, 2024
Interesting viewpoint!
This story is woven carefully. It took me longer than usual to read , but I'm glad I stuck it out.
It gives a first-person view of addiction from its seemingly innocent beginnings to the deepest depths of despair and agony it causes.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone who knows and loves someone struggling with addiction.
This story is woven carefully. It took me longer than usual to read , but I'm glad I stuck it out.
It gives a first-person view of addiction from its seemingly innocent beginnings to the deepest depths of despair and agony it causes.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone who knows and loves someone struggling with addiction.
March 29, 2025
I loved this book. The author did an amazing job describing the throes of addiction and trauma induced behaviours (don’t wanna say too much here and give anything away). I really thought the story was going in a different direction when it started but loved how it all tied together. Looking forward to more works by Gabriel Tait!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews