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Roulette
A former special agent tracks rumors of a dangerous new drug to a remote clinic in Florida, where the investigation brings him into the crosshairs of a powerful pharmaceutical company, and the race is on to expose a terrifying it could rewrite the human genome.
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Published October 31, 2023
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About the author
Thomas Locke
29 books304 followersThomas Locke is an award-winning novelist with total worldwide sales of seven million copies.
His work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction and his 2014 induction into the Christy Hall of Fame.
Thomas divides his time between Florida and England, where he serves as Writer In Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University. He holds a lifelong passion for epic fantasy, science fiction and techno-thriller stories.
Thomas's screenplay adaption of EMISSARY is under development as a feature film with a British production company.
Contact Thomas at info@tlocke.com
His work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction and his 2014 induction into the Christy Hall of Fame.
Thomas divides his time between Florida and England, where he serves as Writer In Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University. He holds a lifelong passion for epic fantasy, science fiction and techno-thriller stories.
Thomas's screenplay adaption of EMISSARY is under development as a feature film with a British production company.
Contact Thomas at info@tlocke.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 31, 2023
As often observed in the horror and thriller genres, characters or antagonists that are almost but not fully human are the most disturbing. As the level of realism heightens, subtle discrepancies between these beings’ behavior and human behavior trigger observers. In this regard, ROULETTE is no exception.
The novel follows the outbreak of Roulette, a dangerous new drug, as it ravages Gainesville, Florida. From the nature of its characters to its medical roots, this novel holds a mirror to the real world. Before you discover the true effects of Roulette, it’s easy to believe the events unfolding could, in extenuating circumstances, happen. This makes the reveal of Roulette’s humanoid byproducts all the more unsettling.
Overall, the novel knows when to get to the point and when to keep readers hanging. This reflects perfectly in its conclusion; I wanted to know more but was still satisfied with the questions answered. Beyond this, Locke and Guptara write seamlessly together, and you would never know where one’s ink ends and the other starts. On a similar note, the novel juggles a wide cast of characters but never fumbles. The reader is given enough time to truly understand the hearts and minds behind each name, which is a common shortcoming in books. ROULETTE is a perfect match for medical thriller readers.
DISCLOSURE: I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The novel follows the outbreak of Roulette, a dangerous new drug, as it ravages Gainesville, Florida. From the nature of its characters to its medical roots, this novel holds a mirror to the real world. Before you discover the true effects of Roulette, it’s easy to believe the events unfolding could, in extenuating circumstances, happen. This makes the reveal of Roulette’s humanoid byproducts all the more unsettling.
Overall, the novel knows when to get to the point and when to keep readers hanging. This reflects perfectly in its conclusion; I wanted to know more but was still satisfied with the questions answered. Beyond this, Locke and Guptara write seamlessly together, and you would never know where one’s ink ends and the other starts. On a similar note, the novel juggles a wide cast of characters but never fumbles. The reader is given enough time to truly understand the hearts and minds behind each name, which is a common shortcoming in books. ROULETTE is a perfect match for medical thriller readers.
DISCLOSURE: I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2023
Something is happening to the rave party goers, and it isn’t good. Nurse Carol Steen as well as her husband, Sheriff Dewey Steen have seen evidence that there is some kind of drug that has bizarre side effects that can be lethal, code name Roulette. Medical resident Stacy Swann has also seen the symptoms, but her cool, detached façade seems to have put up a barrier.
As things escalate, former special agent Eric Bannon is called into the case. He has to see what is going on firsthand and plans to infiltrate the next rave. Portraying himself as a guy with his girl looking for a high. He just needs a “date” to complete his covert identity. Dr. Stacy Swann steps up, insisting she can handle herself. But when things go awry, Bannon is forced to pull out all the stops to control the situation, even then, the night has taken a dark turn that may cost someone their life.
The mystery of the drug makers of Roulette, the drug turning people into monstrous beings, must be solved to save as many people as possible. Sadly, those that have already been injected with Roulette may never be the same. Like any illicit drug, side effects are intentionally not disclosed.
Roulette is a fast-paced thriller that will keep you up late at night reading just one more chapter. As Bannon teams up with Sheriff Steen and his wife to find the manufacturers and put them behind bars, things take a turn that is unsuspected and most likely lethal.
This fast-paced plot kept me up late at night, reading just one more chapter until I finished the book. The characters are interesting and the situation they find themselves in often goes from bad to worse in the blink of an eye. Readers will appreciate the solid plot and well written characters. The suspense is palpable with each chapter to the end pages and I loved it.
Thomas Locke is an award-winning author, has sold over seven million copies of his novels worldwide and was inducted into the Christy Hall of Fame in 2014. His accolades include four Christy Awards and has been published in twenty languages.
Jyoti Guptara became a bestselling author at the age of 17, after dropping out of school at the age of 15. He is the author of a business biography, three fantasy novels and the award-winning novel Roulette. Schweizer Illustriete magazine and the County of Los Angeles have awarded him for his philanthropy, literary achievement and inspiration for other young people.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from the publicist and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2023 Laura Hartman
As things escalate, former special agent Eric Bannon is called into the case. He has to see what is going on firsthand and plans to infiltrate the next rave. Portraying himself as a guy with his girl looking for a high. He just needs a “date” to complete his covert identity. Dr. Stacy Swann steps up, insisting she can handle herself. But when things go awry, Bannon is forced to pull out all the stops to control the situation, even then, the night has taken a dark turn that may cost someone their life.
The mystery of the drug makers of Roulette, the drug turning people into monstrous beings, must be solved to save as many people as possible. Sadly, those that have already been injected with Roulette may never be the same. Like any illicit drug, side effects are intentionally not disclosed.
Roulette is a fast-paced thriller that will keep you up late at night reading just one more chapter. As Bannon teams up with Sheriff Steen and his wife to find the manufacturers and put them behind bars, things take a turn that is unsuspected and most likely lethal.
This fast-paced plot kept me up late at night, reading just one more chapter until I finished the book. The characters are interesting and the situation they find themselves in often goes from bad to worse in the blink of an eye. Readers will appreciate the solid plot and well written characters. The suspense is palpable with each chapter to the end pages and I loved it.
Thomas Locke is an award-winning author, has sold over seven million copies of his novels worldwide and was inducted into the Christy Hall of Fame in 2014. His accolades include four Christy Awards and has been published in twenty languages.
Jyoti Guptara became a bestselling author at the age of 17, after dropping out of school at the age of 15. He is the author of a business biography, three fantasy novels and the award-winning novel Roulette. Schweizer Illustriete magazine and the County of Los Angeles have awarded him for his philanthropy, literary achievement and inspiration for other young people.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from the publicist and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2023 Laura Hartman
November 5, 2023
Roulette is a Medical Thriller. A new drug has hit the Gainesville, Fl rave scene and what it’s doing to people is the stuff nightmares are made of. When the strange happenings go beyond what Sheriff Dewey Steen can handle, the feds send help in the form of Eric Bannon, a supposed forensic accountant. With Dr. Swann and Dewey’s nurse wife, Carol, the four set out to do the impossible – find the root of the deadly drug and stop it before the college population pays the price.
Bottom line: Roulette is for you if you like medical thrillers with high stakes, conspiracy elements, and riding by the seat of your pants.
Strengths of the story. There are several strengths of this story, the first being the premise of an extraordinary tale from ordinary beginnings. College kids and young adults doing drugs and going to raves is fairly ordinary. But if you ask ‘what happens if one of the drugs is new and experimental?’, then you are at the start of extraordinary.
The story is lead by four characters, not equally featured. All were well crafted and developed. It was added fun that there are two in their thirties and two in their fifties, balancing action and strategy, experience and knowledge. There is someone in the group that everyone will relate to.
The pacing of the story is excellent. It unravels at a pace that draws the reader into the intrigue, not spilling too much too soon, but also not drawing things out too long. The thriller and suspense elements were excellent as well.
Where the story fell short of ideal: There wasn’t much for me to pick on here. The bad guys, their motivation and actions were well thought out. Heroes and bad guys both drove the story, countering each other. The premise held up, the authors lived by the rules they created without relying on coincidence, incompatible twists, or just-in-time saves from outside the core team.
The race to the finish was fast paced and epic. At the end, I wanted to know more but was satisfied with what I was given.
Bottom line: Roulette is for you if you like medical thrillers with high stakes, conspiracy elements, and riding by the seat of your pants.
Strengths of the story. There are several strengths of this story, the first being the premise of an extraordinary tale from ordinary beginnings. College kids and young adults doing drugs and going to raves is fairly ordinary. But if you ask ‘what happens if one of the drugs is new and experimental?’, then you are at the start of extraordinary.
The story is lead by four characters, not equally featured. All were well crafted and developed. It was added fun that there are two in their thirties and two in their fifties, balancing action and strategy, experience and knowledge. There is someone in the group that everyone will relate to.
The pacing of the story is excellent. It unravels at a pace that draws the reader into the intrigue, not spilling too much too soon, but also not drawing things out too long. The thriller and suspense elements were excellent as well.
Where the story fell short of ideal: There wasn’t much for me to pick on here. The bad guys, their motivation and actions were well thought out. Heroes and bad guys both drove the story, countering each other. The premise held up, the authors lived by the rules they created without relying on coincidence, incompatible twists, or just-in-time saves from outside the core team.
The race to the finish was fast paced and epic. At the end, I wanted to know more but was satisfied with what I was given.
November 1, 2023
I know very little about the drug culture other than what I have read, some fiction and some non-fiction. Either way, for the life of me, I have never understood the appeal of doing drugs. With that said, a lot of the story sounds like real life, but certain aspects are beyond current reality to the best of my knowledge. At least I hope it never becomes a reality. I have never heard of a drug like the one in the book that gives people a greater high than anything currently known but has such terrible side effects. One possible outcome is death just like with various other drugs. The scariest outcome is turning people into animal-like beings with superhuman strength and capabilities with seemingly no conscience. The drug is a nightmare to the medical personnel in the small Florida hospital when patients come in with symptoms that stump them and nothing shows up in blood tests. When two of them awaken and escape, they have no idea what to think. Neither the medical profession nor law enforcement has answers about the drug: what it is, where it is being made, who is behind it, nor how to stop it. However, a local sheriff, an ER nurse, an ER doctor, and a former special agent team up to find answers. What will it take to find where the unsuspecting thrill-seekers are getting access to the drug? Will they survive the attacks that come their way as they attempt to home in on those involved in distribution? Much more is at stake than they can imagine. If you enjoy a mix of science fiction (at least we must hope that it is science fiction), suspense, thriller, and great action, you will enjoy this story. It has all of that and much more. To think that some drug like Roulette could be developed may keep you awake at night. I received an advance copy of this book from the authors. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
March 17, 2024
Written in the breathless language of a thriller set in secretive worlds of US special forces and big business, Roulette keeps up a good pace from start to finish, building up characters and context before letting the fantasy-tinged action rip.
Locke and Guptara provide enough detail to fire up the imagination as they sweep their reader from the stressed-out ER department of a county hospital, via the swamps of Florida to the corridors of power in Washington DC and on to the book’s more international conclusion.
Once I’d tuned in to the style and got to know the characters, I found there were surprises in store at each turning point, satisfying rewards for the heroes and a warm thread of romance carefully woven in. The reader is left hanging at the end with the stage conspicuously set up for a… Sequel.
(This review is an honest opinion on a review copy provided by the publisher)
Locke and Guptara provide enough detail to fire up the imagination as they sweep their reader from the stressed-out ER department of a county hospital, via the swamps of Florida to the corridors of power in Washington DC and on to the book’s more international conclusion.
Once I’d tuned in to the style and got to know the characters, I found there were surprises in store at each turning point, satisfying rewards for the heroes and a warm thread of romance carefully woven in. The reader is left hanging at the end with the stage conspicuously set up for a… Sequel.
(This review is an honest opinion on a review copy provided by the publisher)
November 8, 2023
I just finished this book and it did not disappoint! I have always enjoyed Thomas Locke and this is the first time reading anything by Jyoti Guptara. I’m glad that a “books by authors” link was included. I will be trying Jtoti’s books also. This seems like a very good collaboration. What I’ve always appreciated in Thomas Locke’s work is the sense of time and place and the realistic characters. That is still here and the details of the political and military intrigue seem very realistic. Right away you establish a rapport with the main characters. As usual there aren’t any gratuitous scenes of violence or sexual encounters. It would be easy to recommend this to my friends. I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend it.
November 3, 2023
This book had me from the first paragraph! I love suspense, and received this free, pre-publication, copy in order to read and review it with honesty. I was not disappointed! The action, intrigue, and romance were there in abundance, as well as being set near our home in Florida (unbeknown to the authors), where we had lived for twenty-five years. The setting was easy for me to immediately feel as if l were back in Florida! It was excellent, written so well it was very hard to put down and go to bed! Thank you for an exciting book!
November 14, 2023
roulette fast moving and scary
Roulette caught my interest in the first few pages and I never lost that interest. It was slightly unbelievable but in todays world the unbelievable is becoming reality. I recommend this book. The ending left me hanging. I might want to assume there will be a sequel. I did not want it to end and actually thought my kindle had deleted the end of the book.
Roulette caught my interest in the first few pages and I never lost that interest. It was slightly unbelievable but in todays world the unbelievable is becoming reality. I recommend this book. The ending left me hanging. I might want to assume there will be a sequel. I did not want it to end and actually thought my kindle had deleted the end of the book.
November 14, 2023
Once I started reading this book I couldn't stop. Yes, one of those thrillers that starts in top gear and goes into overdrive. Not only was the action engaging but more importantly, the characters were relatable and well rounded. Also, with the medical aspects, managed to pick-up some interesting bits of knowledge from that field. The theme is a real eye opener for where science is heading.
November 20, 2023
A fast-paced, intriguing story that kept me flipping the page! An interesting setting, a plot that skirted the line between realistic and supernatural, and a wide cast of characters. Definitely worth the read!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews