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PI Vince Reid #2
The Gambler
A highly charged crime-thriller - launching an electrifying new series featuring PI Vince Reid - by multi-award-winning prince of the twist, J.P. Pomare.
PI Vince Reid is visiting an old friend when he's offered a case he can't refuse. Why did a respected local woman open fire at a political rally, killing a promising young university graduate? It's easy money, he's told. A sure thing.
But as Reid delves further into the case, the stakes are higher than he imagined. There are invisible players pulling the strings. Will he walk away a winner or pay for the ultimate gamble with his life?
PRAISE FOR THE THRILLERS OF J.P. POMARE, including The Wrong Woman and 17 Years
'Seriously good' DERVLA McTIERNAN
'There's no better storyteller in the thriller game than Pomare' COURIER MAIL
'Shocking, twisty and impossible to put down' CHRISTIAN WHITE
'Propulsive. Clever. Satisfying' THE GUARDIAN
'Grabbed me from the opening page and didn't let go' MICHAEL ROBOTHAM
'Pomare is a master of the impeccably paced psycho-thriller' THE AUSTRALIAN
PI Vince Reid is visiting an old friend when he's offered a case he can't refuse. Why did a respected local woman open fire at a political rally, killing a promising young university graduate? It's easy money, he's told. A sure thing.
But as Reid delves further into the case, the stakes are higher than he imagined. There are invisible players pulling the strings. Will he walk away a winner or pay for the ultimate gamble with his life?
PRAISE FOR THE THRILLERS OF J.P. POMARE, including The Wrong Woman and 17 Years
'Seriously good' DERVLA McTIERNAN
'There's no better storyteller in the thriller game than Pomare' COURIER MAIL
'Shocking, twisty and impossible to put down' CHRISTIAN WHITE
'Propulsive. Clever. Satisfying' THE GUARDIAN
'Grabbed me from the opening page and didn't let go' MICHAEL ROBOTHAM
'Pomare is a master of the impeccably paced psycho-thriller' THE AUSTRALIAN
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2026
About the author
J.P. Pomare
12 books1,490 followersJ. P. Pomare is a New Zealand author who lives in Melbourne, Australia.
He is the author of a number of critically acclaimed and best-selling novels including Seventeen Years Later, Tell Me Lies, and The Wrong Woman.
His novel In The Clearing was adapted for the screen as an eight part miniseries by Disney (The Clearing) and The Last Guests (Watching You) has been adapted as a series by Stan.
He is the author of a number of critically acclaimed and best-selling novels including Seventeen Years Later, Tell Me Lies, and The Wrong Woman.
His novel In The Clearing was adapted for the screen as an eight part miniseries by Disney (The Clearing) and The Last Guests (Watching You) has been adapted as a series by Stan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
March 4, 2026
‘When we’re winning, we don’t tend to be too sceptical’.
PI Vincent Reid takes on a job that seems straightforward and simple: parents who want to understand what motivated a woman, a stranger, to shoot their daughter at a political rally. Even if it was a random, ‘unhinged’ act, surely something or someone was the tipping point. But nothing is ever simple in this modern world of AI, Crypto, hacks, and scams.
J. P. Pomare’s The Gambler is a layered, contemporary crime thriller. The modern backdrop feels authentic and sharply observed, grounding the story in a reality that is as believable as it is complex. Pomare taps into very real fears and motivations, creating a sustained, plausible tension throughout.
It did take me a few chapters to fully get to grips with the multiple POVs and dual timelines, but once those strands began to align, each perspective added depth, and the twists culminated in a satisfying reveal.
I admit, I had inklings about what might have happened, yet I still found myself compelled to keep turning pages, anxious to see the full picture of the crime laid bare. Although this is the second book in the series, it was my first—and it worked fine as a standalone.
Tense, intelligent, and intricately constructed thriller, I’ll definitely read more from Pomare.
‘If nothing is normal, then by definition, nothing is abnormal’.
PI Vincent Reid takes on a job that seems straightforward and simple: parents who want to understand what motivated a woman, a stranger, to shoot their daughter at a political rally. Even if it was a random, ‘unhinged’ act, surely something or someone was the tipping point. But nothing is ever simple in this modern world of AI, Crypto, hacks, and scams.
J. P. Pomare’s The Gambler is a layered, contemporary crime thriller. The modern backdrop feels authentic and sharply observed, grounding the story in a reality that is as believable as it is complex. Pomare taps into very real fears and motivations, creating a sustained, plausible tension throughout.
It did take me a few chapters to fully get to grips with the multiple POVs and dual timelines, but once those strands began to align, each perspective added depth, and the twists culminated in a satisfying reveal.
I admit, I had inklings about what might have happened, yet I still found myself compelled to keep turning pages, anxious to see the full picture of the crime laid bare. Although this is the second book in the series, it was my first—and it worked fine as a standalone.
Tense, intelligent, and intricately constructed thriller, I’ll definitely read more from Pomare.
‘If nothing is normal, then by definition, nothing is abnormal’.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
PI Vince Reid is back!! I was so happy when I heard that JP was writing another book with Reid, I loved him in The Wrong Woman and I loved him even more in The Gambler. Don’t worry though if you haven’t read The Wrong Woman (but seriously what are you doing with your life… read it!!), The Gambler can be read as a standalone book.
Once again, set in the US, Reid is a private investigator who has been recommended for a job that seems to be easy money. A young woman was shot and killed at a political rally and her parents want to know why. The shooter is the most unlikely person so what made them do it? Reid soon finds himself going down a dark rabbit hole in this case, and running for his life, literally.
Reid is such a likeable character, he is flawed, he is damaged but he has a big heart and a need to get to the truth, no matter what. This case is wild and so twisty. If you haven’t read this author before then you will know not to think you have it all worked out. I couldn’t stop reading it, such an intense and fast paced story, I kind of didn’t want it to end. I hope we get more Reid books in the future.
I read most of this book in a day, my first book for 2026 and it was just brilliant. It is dark and addictive. I learnt a lot about the Amish community and how they live. It plays a big part of this story and it was really interesting.
Thanks so much to Hachette Australia for having me on the cover reveal and for sending me this fabulous books. JP Pomare is an auto read author for me and he should be for you too. Published in Australia on February 24th.
Once again, set in the US, Reid is a private investigator who has been recommended for a job that seems to be easy money. A young woman was shot and killed at a political rally and her parents want to know why. The shooter is the most unlikely person so what made them do it? Reid soon finds himself going down a dark rabbit hole in this case, and running for his life, literally.
Reid is such a likeable character, he is flawed, he is damaged but he has a big heart and a need to get to the truth, no matter what. This case is wild and so twisty. If you haven’t read this author before then you will know not to think you have it all worked out. I couldn’t stop reading it, such an intense and fast paced story, I kind of didn’t want it to end. I hope we get more Reid books in the future.
I read most of this book in a day, my first book for 2026 and it was just brilliant. It is dark and addictive. I learnt a lot about the Amish community and how they live. It plays a big part of this story and it was really interesting.
Thanks so much to Hachette Australia for having me on the cover reveal and for sending me this fabulous books. JP Pomare is an auto read author for me and he should be for you too. Published in Australia on February 24th.
March 14, 2026
I got to know Vince Reid PI in the first book and now he is back this time an old friend, Nick gets in touch with him to suggest a case that had been offered to him, Reid has promised his partner Peyton that he will not put himself in danger after his first case but Nick assures him this one will be easy and a good payday, so he travels to Nick’s place a smallish town and starts investigating why a woman in her sixties, a well- respected woman would open fire at a political rally, killing a young woman and injuring many more.
Reid goes firstly to the home of the parents of young Katie the victim to ask questions, the answers send him on a path looking for the man who shot the killer and saved many more people, Jason King, he is hard to find, but the more he uncovers the more twist that are there, and a visit to Amish country as well is there a link to an old unsolved murder and this one, was there someone who was an intended victim, did money play a big part in this shooting so many questions and not enough answers. Soon it seems that Reid is under threat and in danger of not making it home, will he get the answers before he is killed?
This is another fabulous story from JP Pomare one that kept me turning the pages there are twists, turns and a red herring along the way my mind was twisting with who and why, the characters are strong and very good, I do highly recommend this one to any one who loves a good crime, mystery thriller. I am looking forward to the next one.
Reid goes firstly to the home of the parents of young Katie the victim to ask questions, the answers send him on a path looking for the man who shot the killer and saved many more people, Jason King, he is hard to find, but the more he uncovers the more twist that are there, and a visit to Amish country as well is there a link to an old unsolved murder and this one, was there someone who was an intended victim, did money play a big part in this shooting so many questions and not enough answers. Soon it seems that Reid is under threat and in danger of not making it home, will he get the answers before he is killed?
This is another fabulous story from JP Pomare one that kept me turning the pages there are twists, turns and a red herring along the way my mind was twisting with who and why, the characters are strong and very good, I do highly recommend this one to any one who loves a good crime, mystery thriller. I am looking forward to the next one.
March 7, 2026
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
The Gambler has a compelling crime plot, J.P. Pomare is a master at his craft, this is an absolute page turner!
I felt like I was trying to work out an intense puzzle, the pacing is perfect and the plot modern and mind blowing.
PI Vincent Reid is offered a case from an old friend where a respected, retired local woman, Barb Aldridge with no prior criminal history opens fire at a political rally, killing a young woman. What made her do it?
As Vincent investigates the case he finds himself under threat and is tricked.
Absolutely had me intrigued, loved it!
This is the second book in the series the first one being, The Wrong Woman. Easily read as a standalone.
Publication Date 24 February 2026
Publisher Hachette Australia
Thank you so much to the generous team at Hachette Australia for an early copy of the book.
The Gambler has a compelling crime plot, J.P. Pomare is a master at his craft, this is an absolute page turner!
I felt like I was trying to work out an intense puzzle, the pacing is perfect and the plot modern and mind blowing.
PI Vincent Reid is offered a case from an old friend where a respected, retired local woman, Barb Aldridge with no prior criminal history opens fire at a political rally, killing a young woman. What made her do it?
As Vincent investigates the case he finds himself under threat and is tricked.
Absolutely had me intrigued, loved it!
This is the second book in the series the first one being, The Wrong Woman. Easily read as a standalone.
Publication Date 24 February 2026
Publisher Hachette Australia
Thank you so much to the generous team at Hachette Australia for an early copy of the book.
March 13, 2026
This is the second book in a series which has the character, Vince Reid. Reid is a character who I loved in Wrong Woman. I loved his determination in trying to solve this case. I think you can read this as a standalone without having read Wrong Woman.
This is a book all about the why. I loved the way it kept me guessing. I also loved how it had relevant topics in society such as gun laws and cyber fraud.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
This is a book all about the why. I loved the way it kept me guessing. I also loved how it had relevant topics in society such as gun laws and cyber fraud.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
January 17, 2026
Another cracker JP Pomare novel, full of twists and turns! An easy 5 ⭐️ read!
I absolutely loved this latest case - we’re introduced to PI Vince Reid once again, who first appeared in The Wrong Woman (which I now want to re read!), who has been roped into a supposed quick PI job investigating the death of a girl at a political rally and what motivated the woman who shot her. All is not as it seems and he gets sucked further into conspiracies, motives and danger.
The pacing of this was excellent and I found it a really hard book to put down because I kept wanting to read ‘just one more chapter’. There were a lot of character perspectives at times but it didn’t feel overwhelming and obviously all served for the greater plot points.
Some twists I suspected but most I didn’t at all - very cleverly written with hints dropped throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for this ARC (my first one!!) for my favourite author. I felt very lucky to read this early and it was excellent!
I absolutely loved this latest case - we’re introduced to PI Vince Reid once again, who first appeared in The Wrong Woman (which I now want to re read!), who has been roped into a supposed quick PI job investigating the death of a girl at a political rally and what motivated the woman who shot her. All is not as it seems and he gets sucked further into conspiracies, motives and danger.
The pacing of this was excellent and I found it a really hard book to put down because I kept wanting to read ‘just one more chapter’. There were a lot of character perspectives at times but it didn’t feel overwhelming and obviously all served for the greater plot points.
Some twists I suspected but most I didn’t at all - very cleverly written with hints dropped throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for this ARC (my first one!!) for my favourite author. I felt very lucky to read this early and it was excellent!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book review coming soon.
February 4, 2026
EPIC 🙌
Saddle up friends, you are in for an epic suspense thriller ride, our driver JP Pomare has smashed it out of the park with his soon to be released novel ‘The Gambler’
Number 2 in the PI Vincent Reid series and what a cracker of a story 🙌
Reid has been called into investigate a fatal shooting at an anti gun rally that left a young woman dead. Reluctantly taking the case, facts don’t add up when the Reid learns the shooter was a quiet, law abiding elderly woman who wouldn’t hurt a fly.
As Reid starts to dig more the case turns in many directions, online scams, encrypted texts, an unsolved twenty year old case - Reid needs to work out how are they all connected?
Read in a day, almost missed my train stop, I couldn’t put it down!
Short sharp multiple POV chapters had me needing answers at every chapter end
The small town setting provides the perfect backdrop to lay red herrings and tension through out
Reid is now my favourite Private Investigator, I binge read The Wrong Woman prior to reading The Gambler and loved his growth, the new relationship added a softer side to him while he was still ‘a dog to a bone’ trying to solve the case
It’s going to be hard to top! I absolutely loved it and highly recommend
Thank you so much Hachette for my ARC
Saddle up friends, you are in for an epic suspense thriller ride, our driver JP Pomare has smashed it out of the park with his soon to be released novel ‘The Gambler’
Number 2 in the PI Vincent Reid series and what a cracker of a story 🙌
Reid has been called into investigate a fatal shooting at an anti gun rally that left a young woman dead. Reluctantly taking the case, facts don’t add up when the Reid learns the shooter was a quiet, law abiding elderly woman who wouldn’t hurt a fly.
As Reid starts to dig more the case turns in many directions, online scams, encrypted texts, an unsolved twenty year old case - Reid needs to work out how are they all connected?
Read in a day, almost missed my train stop, I couldn’t put it down!
Short sharp multiple POV chapters had me needing answers at every chapter end
The small town setting provides the perfect backdrop to lay red herrings and tension through out
Reid is now my favourite Private Investigator, I binge read The Wrong Woman prior to reading The Gambler and loved his growth, the new relationship added a softer side to him while he was still ‘a dog to a bone’ trying to solve the case
It’s going to be hard to top! I absolutely loved it and highly recommend
Thank you so much Hachette for my ARC
March 4, 2026
I’m really glad I decided to read The Wrong Woman before picking up The Gambler. It gave me a bit more context around PI Vince Reid and his backstory, which I think helped me settle into this story faster. That said, now that I’ve read both, I can confidently say The Gambler absolutely works as a standalone. But honestly… why would you skip The Wrong Woman when it’s also fantastic?
This story kicks off with a shocking event — a young woman is shot and killed at a political rally by a seemingly ordinary middle-aged woman. The shooter is killed at the scene, leaving one huge unanswered question: why?
Enter PI Vince Reid, who is hired to investigate what initially looks like a tragic but straightforward case. Of course, the deeper Reid digs, the clearer it becomes that nothing about this situation is simple.
What unfolds is a layered investigation that pulls Reid into conspiracy theories, hidden motives, online manipulation, and a community that is far more complex than it first appears. The Amish setting added a really interesting dimension to the story and created a backdrop that felt different from the typical crime thriller landscape.
Pomare does such a great job of gradually expanding the scope of the mystery. What starts as one question slowly branches into several, and the more Reid uncovers the more dangerous things become.
I really enjoy Reid as a character. He’s flawed, persistent, and driven by a genuine need to get to the truth even when things start getting messy. He feels very real on the page and anchors the story well as the plot grows more complex.
The pacing here worked really well for me. The investigation builds steadily and the twists land in a way that feels earned rather than forced.
And that ending… it left me very hopeful that we’re not done with Vince Reid yet. I would absolutely read more books in this series and continue following wherever Reid’s investigations take him next.
This story kicks off with a shocking event — a young woman is shot and killed at a political rally by a seemingly ordinary middle-aged woman. The shooter is killed at the scene, leaving one huge unanswered question: why?
Enter PI Vince Reid, who is hired to investigate what initially looks like a tragic but straightforward case. Of course, the deeper Reid digs, the clearer it becomes that nothing about this situation is simple.
What unfolds is a layered investigation that pulls Reid into conspiracy theories, hidden motives, online manipulation, and a community that is far more complex than it first appears. The Amish setting added a really interesting dimension to the story and created a backdrop that felt different from the typical crime thriller landscape.
Pomare does such a great job of gradually expanding the scope of the mystery. What starts as one question slowly branches into several, and the more Reid uncovers the more dangerous things become.
I really enjoy Reid as a character. He’s flawed, persistent, and driven by a genuine need to get to the truth even when things start getting messy. He feels very real on the page and anchors the story well as the plot grows more complex.
The pacing here worked really well for me. The investigation builds steadily and the twists land in a way that feels earned rather than forced.
And that ending… it left me very hopeful that we’re not done with Vince Reid yet. I would absolutely read more books in this series and continue following wherever Reid’s investigations take him next.
Did Not Finish
May 1, 2026Stopped after the first chapter. I bought this title from NZ author J.P. Pomare. This time, he thought it a good idea to set it in regional U.S.A., instead of Oceania. A t the moment, can’t do any more "U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!" .
Read
April 15, 2026This was a very quick and easy read. I do enjoy Reid at the character again and the complexity of his cases!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A woman opens fire at a political rally killing a young university graduate named Katie. Private investigator Vince Reid is hired by Katie's family to dig into why the shooting happened, what caused a woman to drive into a crowd and take the life of another?
The Gambler was full of so many relevant issues facing society today, gun violence being a major one. The others I can't mention as I don't want to spoil anything but I can tell you that I couldn't put this book down. It was fast paced, the plot was so clever, add in multi POV, a dual timeline and a cold case and I was absolutley hooked from start to finish.
This is actually the second book with PI Vince Reid but I read the whole book not knowing their was previous one, it read perfectly as a stand alone.
The Gambler is out on the 24th of February so mark your calendars and pre order this one, you won't want to miss it 🙌🏼
The Gambler was full of so many relevant issues facing society today, gun violence being a major one. The others I can't mention as I don't want to spoil anything but I can tell you that I couldn't put this book down. It was fast paced, the plot was so clever, add in multi POV, a dual timeline and a cold case and I was absolutley hooked from start to finish.
This is actually the second book with PI Vince Reid but I read the whole book not knowing their was previous one, it read perfectly as a stand alone.
The Gambler is out on the 24th of February so mark your calendars and pre order this one, you won't want to miss it 🙌🏼
March 7, 2026
Did not want to put this down and when I had to I was trying to connect all the dots, so compulsive! This was my first meeting with Vince Reid and I’m looking forward to going back to The Wrong Woman now, I really loved him. Great atmosphere, really real people and gosh what a thriller!!!
April 14, 2026
Another great novel by J.P Pomare!
The Gambler is a crime novel that follows various timelines and characters in a way that's easy to keep up. JP Pomare has truly achieved the perfect recipe for crime novels with lead detectives (or in this case, private investigators). His ability to keep a story moving forward with hints scattered throughout is second-to-none. I really enjoyed all character storylines and although I did predict a couple of things, I couldn't have predicted how the book ended.
Well-written and well-researched concept, I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in crime fiction.
Thank you to Hachette Australia & New Zealand for the ARC via NetGalley.
The Gambler is a crime novel that follows various timelines and characters in a way that's easy to keep up. JP Pomare has truly achieved the perfect recipe for crime novels with lead detectives (or in this case, private investigators). His ability to keep a story moving forward with hints scattered throughout is second-to-none. I really enjoyed all character storylines and although I did predict a couple of things, I couldn't have predicted how the book ended.
Well-written and well-researched concept, I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in crime fiction.
Thank you to Hachette Australia & New Zealand for the ARC via NetGalley.
February 24, 2026
PI Vince Reid is visiting an old friend when he's offered a case he can't refuse: Why did a respected local woman open fire at a political rally, killing a promising young university graduate? It's easy money, he's told. A sure thing.
This was such a suspenseful thriller - there’s multiple side stories occurring whilst following along the main plot. All the characters connect across the timelines in the most unexpected way.
There’s a tech scam built into the plot, & it was so surprising to find out how it all fell into place.
The book is action packed, with Reid being chased & hurt as he tries to figure out why this crime occurred.
Happy release day! Thankyou Hachette for the early copy.
This was such a suspenseful thriller - there’s multiple side stories occurring whilst following along the main plot. All the characters connect across the timelines in the most unexpected way.
There’s a tech scam built into the plot, & it was so surprising to find out how it all fell into place.
The book is action packed, with Reid being chased & hurt as he tries to figure out why this crime occurred.
Happy release day! Thankyou Hachette for the early copy.
April 4, 2026
Really enjoyed the start of the book so expected more. But still a fairly imaginative story line, modern issues, like scams and AI.
January 15, 2026
5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibe check: Unputdownable, Tension Filled Thrills
full review ⬇️
If you haven’t read a J P Pomare book yet, please consider this your official nudge. The Gambler was my eighth JP read and somehow he continues to level up every single time.
This is the second novel featuring private investigator Vince Reid, following The Wrong Woman, which I also gave 5 stars. (Both can easily be read as standalones). I didn’t remember Vince in detail going in, but I love a recurring character, especially when it’s a slightly dodgy, morally grey PI who lives on the edge rather than a more straight laced detective.
From the first chapter this book sucked me in. It delivers that classic JP Pomare suspense while diving headfirst into a world of gambling, scams, murder, secrets and misdirection where absolutely nothing is as it seems.
The tech heavy scamming elements in particular gave me strong Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian-Blunt vibes in the best, most unsettling way. Digital age horror that feels uncomfortably close to reality is scarily interesting to read about.
The twists come thick and fast, across timelines and perspectives and I was constantly second guessing the motives, characters and outcomes. Just when I thought I had a handle on things, the rug was pulled out again.
If you’re chasing a tense, gripping thriller that keeps your heart racing and your trust levels low, The Gambler absolutely needs to be on your radar when it releases in February.
Huge thanks to Hachette and NetGalley for the sneak peek.
Vibe check: Unputdownable, Tension Filled Thrills
full review ⬇️
If you haven’t read a J P Pomare book yet, please consider this your official nudge. The Gambler was my eighth JP read and somehow he continues to level up every single time.
This is the second novel featuring private investigator Vince Reid, following The Wrong Woman, which I also gave 5 stars. (Both can easily be read as standalones). I didn’t remember Vince in detail going in, but I love a recurring character, especially when it’s a slightly dodgy, morally grey PI who lives on the edge rather than a more straight laced detective.
From the first chapter this book sucked me in. It delivers that classic JP Pomare suspense while diving headfirst into a world of gambling, scams, murder, secrets and misdirection where absolutely nothing is as it seems.
The tech heavy scamming elements in particular gave me strong Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian-Blunt vibes in the best, most unsettling way. Digital age horror that feels uncomfortably close to reality is scarily interesting to read about.
The twists come thick and fast, across timelines and perspectives and I was constantly second guessing the motives, characters and outcomes. Just when I thought I had a handle on things, the rug was pulled out again.
If you’re chasing a tense, gripping thriller that keeps your heart racing and your trust levels low, The Gambler absolutely needs to be on your radar when it releases in February.
Huge thanks to Hachette and NetGalley for the sneak peek.
March 20, 2026
5 stars!! J. P. Pomare just keeps getting better, and this one is delivering. (This may just be one of my new favourites of his novels).
J P Pomare’s previous novels are generally set in Australia or New Zealand. The Gambler revisits the United States with a private investigator, Vince Reid, as its main protagonist. Readers of J P Pomare’s previous novels may remember Vince from the author’s 2022 novel "The Wrong Woman". (I'm so glad he's done a follow up and I hope he continues this series). In the US as the setting, this allows the narrative to explore themes such as conspiracy theories, the use and misuse of AI, the plethora of disinformation and the ubiquitous gun-carrying by its citizens.
Vince Reid, a police officer turned private investigator with an interesting backstory only alluded to in this novel but explained more in The Wrong Woman, is hired by grieving parents to find out why their adult daughter Katie was shot dead at a political rally in a seemingly targeted killing. Was it a random act of violence? Was it deliberately planned – and if so, by whom and why Katie? These are the questions now facing Reid – as everyone calls him – and what a complex and dangerous journey he embarks on to get to the truth.
Of course as with all the author’s novels, the journey to truth is far from straightforward and there is uncertainty regarding who is telling the truth and who is not – and of those who are not telling the truth, are they lying by commission or omission? The strands of Reid’s investigations extend as far as the local Amish community, a political campaign and an unsolved shooting from some years previously. Reid is uncertain whom he can trust and even at one point doubts his mentor and life-long friend, Nick. As the narrative progresses, the various elements begin to fall into place and thus some understanding of the reasons for the shooting emerges.
Unlike some of his earlier novels, this one is action-driven with car chases, pursuits through the local neighbourhood, and shootings. It is intense! It is indeed an exciting narrative with enough character development to add depth to the overall trajectory of the story. It works as a stand-alone, but also provides more character growth in our main cast if read as a series.
As is also often the way with his novels, victims are complicated, motivations are messy, and outcomes are always beset by edge cases and questions unanswered. Reid is a perfect character around which to centre such a complicated world, as is his friend and mentor - both of whom are either hiding, dodging or dealing with a lot of personal stuff.
Clever and fascinating, fast-paced and utterly unputdownable. I recommend reading "The wrong woman" just to gain some more understanding of Reid, and follow along the journey.
J P Pomare’s previous novels are generally set in Australia or New Zealand. The Gambler revisits the United States with a private investigator, Vince Reid, as its main protagonist. Readers of J P Pomare’s previous novels may remember Vince from the author’s 2022 novel "The Wrong Woman". (I'm so glad he's done a follow up and I hope he continues this series). In the US as the setting, this allows the narrative to explore themes such as conspiracy theories, the use and misuse of AI, the plethora of disinformation and the ubiquitous gun-carrying by its citizens.
Vince Reid, a police officer turned private investigator with an interesting backstory only alluded to in this novel but explained more in The Wrong Woman, is hired by grieving parents to find out why their adult daughter Katie was shot dead at a political rally in a seemingly targeted killing. Was it a random act of violence? Was it deliberately planned – and if so, by whom and why Katie? These are the questions now facing Reid – as everyone calls him – and what a complex and dangerous journey he embarks on to get to the truth.
Of course as with all the author’s novels, the journey to truth is far from straightforward and there is uncertainty regarding who is telling the truth and who is not – and of those who are not telling the truth, are they lying by commission or omission? The strands of Reid’s investigations extend as far as the local Amish community, a political campaign and an unsolved shooting from some years previously. Reid is uncertain whom he can trust and even at one point doubts his mentor and life-long friend, Nick. As the narrative progresses, the various elements begin to fall into place and thus some understanding of the reasons for the shooting emerges.
Unlike some of his earlier novels, this one is action-driven with car chases, pursuits through the local neighbourhood, and shootings. It is intense! It is indeed an exciting narrative with enough character development to add depth to the overall trajectory of the story. It works as a stand-alone, but also provides more character growth in our main cast if read as a series.
As is also often the way with his novels, victims are complicated, motivations are messy, and outcomes are always beset by edge cases and questions unanswered. Reid is a perfect character around which to centre such a complicated world, as is his friend and mentor - both of whom are either hiding, dodging or dealing with a lot of personal stuff.
Clever and fascinating, fast-paced and utterly unputdownable. I recommend reading "The wrong woman" just to gain some more understanding of Reid, and follow along the journey.
January 14, 2026
Review: The Gambler by @jppomare
4 ⭐️
The Gambler delivers all the twists and turns I’ve come to expect from J.P. Pomare. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story twisted again, and again, and somehow still managed to surprise me. Turns out I had guessed the twist, but the journey there was still a wild ride. Well played, Pomare.
What really impressed me was Pomare’s ability, as a Kiwi author, to absolutely nail the essence of small-town America. The atmosphere felt authentic and unsettling in all the right ways. Add in Amish communities, hackers, conspiracy theorists, AI, politics, honestly, you name it, and it becomes impossible not to be invested. There’s so much weirdness unfolding that I glued to the pages just to see where it would go.
At its core, this is a twisted exploration of what can happen when people fall down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories. Pomare does a great job of showing how seemingly harmless people, like an older couple, can be radicalised into something far darker. The way the seeds of conspiracy are sown and nurtured is both fascinating and disturbing, and it hit close to home for me given how my own in-laws’ beliefs and loyalties shifted post-Covid.
This is the second book in the PI Reid series. While it can be read as a standalone, I’m really glad I read the first book beforehand. It added much more depth to the main character and made the emotional beats land harder.
Highly recommend!
Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC and give my honest review.
4 ⭐️
The Gambler delivers all the twists and turns I’ve come to expect from J.P. Pomare. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story twisted again, and again, and somehow still managed to surprise me. Turns out I had guessed the twist, but the journey there was still a wild ride. Well played, Pomare.
What really impressed me was Pomare’s ability, as a Kiwi author, to absolutely nail the essence of small-town America. The atmosphere felt authentic and unsettling in all the right ways. Add in Amish communities, hackers, conspiracy theorists, AI, politics, honestly, you name it, and it becomes impossible not to be invested. There’s so much weirdness unfolding that I glued to the pages just to see where it would go.
At its core, this is a twisted exploration of what can happen when people fall down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories. Pomare does a great job of showing how seemingly harmless people, like an older couple, can be radicalised into something far darker. The way the seeds of conspiracy are sown and nurtured is both fascinating and disturbing, and it hit close to home for me given how my own in-laws’ beliefs and loyalties shifted post-Covid.
This is the second book in the PI Reid series. While it can be read as a standalone, I’m really glad I read the first book beforehand. It added much more depth to the main character and made the emotional beats land harder.
Highly recommend!
Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC and give my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Despite having a couple of Pomare's books on my shelf, this was my first read! And even though this is book 2 in a series, it reads perfectly as a standalone.
The book follows Vince Reid, a private investigator who definitely doesn't do things 'by the book' which I really liked. He was willing to bend the rules and do what it took to get the answers he was looking for in a high-stakes case. He's been hired by a family whose daughter has been shot dead at a political rally and while the police have claimed it as a random attack, the family wants it looked into further and suddenly Reid finds himself in the firing line - literally.
The start threw me, knowing that Pomare is a New Zealander I thought this would be closer to home, so starting with a shooting in America got me off a little bit on the wrong foot. I found the start a bit tedious figuring out who all the POV were and the changing timelines but from half-way I was absolutely gripped. It was so clever the way crumbs were delivered to send you off on one path and then give you those 'ah-ha' moments when it turned another direction. I really enjoyed seeing how all the loose ends got tied up and the resolution and ending felt appropriate.
I can't wait to go back and read some of his other work now, these are the type of thrillers I love.
Expected publication for this is 24th February, 2026.
Thank you Hachette Aus & NZ for providing me with this ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The book follows Vince Reid, a private investigator who definitely doesn't do things 'by the book' which I really liked. He was willing to bend the rules and do what it took to get the answers he was looking for in a high-stakes case. He's been hired by a family whose daughter has been shot dead at a political rally and while the police have claimed it as a random attack, the family wants it looked into further and suddenly Reid finds himself in the firing line - literally.
The start threw me, knowing that Pomare is a New Zealander I thought this would be closer to home, so starting with a shooting in America got me off a little bit on the wrong foot. I found the start a bit tedious figuring out who all the POV were and the changing timelines but from half-way I was absolutely gripped. It was so clever the way crumbs were delivered to send you off on one path and then give you those 'ah-ha' moments when it turned another direction. I really enjoyed seeing how all the loose ends got tied up and the resolution and ending felt appropriate.
I can't wait to go back and read some of his other work now, these are the type of thrillers I love.
Expected publication for this is 24th February, 2026.
Thank you Hachette Aus & NZ for providing me with this ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
April 3, 2026
PI Vince Reid takes on what seems like an easy case - finding out why a respected woman opened fire at a political rally, killing a young graduate. But as he digs deeper, he uncovers hidden forces at play and realises the stakes are far higher than expected - and could cost him his life.
Combine gun violence, a political campaign, compulsive gambling, potentially malicious technology, and a cold case in an Amish community - and you get Reid’s latest adventure. It’s layered and complex, yet everything is written so tightly, with all the threads converging seamlessly in the end (I’d love to see JP’s planning board while writing this!).
The alternating chapters between Reid’s present-day investigation and the past perspectives of the key characters were a smart choice. I felt connected to Katie and Barb’s storylines, which made me deeply invested in what happened to them.
I won’t say anything more about the plot (or subplots), because this is definitely a story best enjoyed blind. I managed to guess some of the twists, but didn’t fully piece everything together until the final reveal. This felt even more suspenseful than JP’s previous books - he keeps raising the bar with each release. I’ve read all of his work, and this is officially my new favourite.
(Thanks to Hachette Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
Combine gun violence, a political campaign, compulsive gambling, potentially malicious technology, and a cold case in an Amish community - and you get Reid’s latest adventure. It’s layered and complex, yet everything is written so tightly, with all the threads converging seamlessly in the end (I’d love to see JP’s planning board while writing this!).
The alternating chapters between Reid’s present-day investigation and the past perspectives of the key characters were a smart choice. I felt connected to Katie and Barb’s storylines, which made me deeply invested in what happened to them.
I won’t say anything more about the plot (or subplots), because this is definitely a story best enjoyed blind. I managed to guess some of the twists, but didn’t fully piece everything together until the final reveal. This felt even more suspenseful than JP’s previous books - he keeps raising the bar with each release. I’ve read all of his work, and this is officially my new favourite.
(Thanks to Hachette Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
March 11, 2026
Thank you Hachette Australia & JP Pomare for this read!
I absolutely loved The Wrong Woman so was very excited to get back into PI Reid's life. You don't need to have read the first book for this one - as this is a completely new case!
This book hooked me right away. The case of finding the truth behind the actions of a shooter when everything seems so clear cut. I loved feeling like I was in the front seat solving the case. Each chapter shed a little more lights as well as took the plot to a greater depth which was more interconnected than I originally expected! This was planned out excellently by JP Pomare and means that there is really so much going on where you are NEVER bored.
This book also enhanced our trusty PI, further developing his strengths, vulnerability and character - which makes me need to read more with him in it ASAP.
Conspiracy theorists, an Amish community and an unsolved shooting - you NEED to check this book out and see how everything connects.
I absolutely loved The Wrong Woman so was very excited to get back into PI Reid's life. You don't need to have read the first book for this one - as this is a completely new case!
This book hooked me right away. The case of finding the truth behind the actions of a shooter when everything seems so clear cut. I loved feeling like I was in the front seat solving the case. Each chapter shed a little more lights as well as took the plot to a greater depth which was more interconnected than I originally expected! This was planned out excellently by JP Pomare and means that there is really so much going on where you are NEVER bored.
This book also enhanced our trusty PI, further developing his strengths, vulnerability and character - which makes me need to read more with him in it ASAP.
Conspiracy theorists, an Amish community and an unsolved shooting - you NEED to check this book out and see how everything connects.
March 30, 2026
We listened to the first Vince Reid PI as an audiobook and loved it. When I saw this at Big W, I was very keen to read it, and let me tell you it did not disappoint! The plot is well set out, takes a few twists and turns, throws a few red herrings at you and in the end, wraps up into a neat bow. Characters are well thought out. This reminds me of other PI books like the Hardy brothers and Nancy Drew, which I was a fan of back in the day. Highly recommend. Would read again. When is the next Vince Reid PI coming out?!
April 29, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
don’t get it twisted, i love my boy reid. this was another great twisty detective novel and i enjoyed my time GREATLY. i did feel less attached to the story compared to TWW though, the twists weren’t as shocking or really toooo much for me to care about. also wasn’t sure about the ending with who was really pulling the strings, i don’t feel like it made a lot of sense? dunno could just be me tho!
love vincey and peyton 5ever tho 🫶🏻
don’t get it twisted, i love my boy reid. this was another great twisty detective novel and i enjoyed my time GREATLY. i did feel less attached to the story compared to TWW though, the twists weren’t as shocking or really toooo much for me to care about. also wasn’t sure about the ending with who was really pulling the strings, i don’t feel like it made a lot of sense? dunno could just be me tho!
love vincey and peyton 5ever tho 🫶🏻
March 18, 2026
The Gambler by J. P. Pomare was the first book in ages that truly hooked me, and my first 5-star read of 2026. I flew through it (about 90% reading, 10% listening), completely pulled in by the pace and tension. It’s one of Pomare’s stronger books, with a storyline that kept me genuinely invested the whole way through. I’ll admit I was a bit unsure about the US setting, especially with the Amish elements, coming from an Aus/NZ author, but it absolutely worked for me. Gripping, engaging, and hard to put down. I hope he’s got a new book coming next year!
March 14, 2026
Easy 5 stars 🌟
My new fav “must read everything they write” author!
My new fav “must read everything they write” author!
May 2, 2026
Once again I really like the writing for a thriller but the story wasn’t my favourite, political rally shooting and too many covid mentions.
March 8, 2026
enjoyed, good story. Held my attention.
April 18, 2026
It’s an interesting premise that holds up logically. Good to have Reid back though he gets very little development. It’s not difficult to figure out this mystery but it’s a fun read nonetheless. Points taken off for an Australian writing Americans and not doing research.
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