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The Roommate: A Dark LGBTQ Psychological Thriller of Grief, Gaslighting, Obsession, and Murder
They said Mark’s death was an accident.
Robbie Walsh knows better.
After his boyfriend dies in a suspicious fall from a West Lafayette, Indiana, bridge, Robbie is left shattered, isolated, and drowning in grief. The police closed the case quickly. Mark’s family wants silence. Everyone seems eager to move on.
Then Billy Morgan appears.
A transfer student and junior psychology major, Billy is calm, compassionate, and strangely invested in Robbie’s recovery. He listens when no one else will. He understands Robbie’s fear, anger, and confusion.
But Billy is hiding something.
He works for the New Dawn Foundation — a secretive network tied to conversion therapy camps and violent cover-ups. His assignment is keep Robbie under control and make sure the truth about Mark’s death never surfaces.
As Robbie uncovers disturbing clues — a missing ring, a hidden recording, a secret contract — Billy begins a sophisticated campaign of manipulation. Emails are forged. Memories are questioned. Reality itself becomes unstable.
Is Robbie uncovering a conspiracy?
Or is he losing his mind?
With the help of investigative reporter Anya Sharma, Robbie goes on the run carrying evidence that could destroy New Dawn forever. But Billy’s professional mission has become something darker, more obsessive, and deeply personal.
He doesn’t just want to silence Robbie.
He wants to replace Mark.
Hunted through Chicago and deep into the North Woods, Robbie must survive a terrifying psychological game in which truth is weaponized, trust is deadly, and love can become the perfect trap.
The Roommate is a fast-paced psychological thriller perfect for readers of dark suspense, queer thrillers, conspiracy fiction, and stories of obsession, manipulation, and survival.
Robbie Walsh knows better.
After his boyfriend dies in a suspicious fall from a West Lafayette, Indiana, bridge, Robbie is left shattered, isolated, and drowning in grief. The police closed the case quickly. Mark’s family wants silence. Everyone seems eager to move on.
Then Billy Morgan appears.
A transfer student and junior psychology major, Billy is calm, compassionate, and strangely invested in Robbie’s recovery. He listens when no one else will. He understands Robbie’s fear, anger, and confusion.
But Billy is hiding something.
He works for the New Dawn Foundation — a secretive network tied to conversion therapy camps and violent cover-ups. His assignment is keep Robbie under control and make sure the truth about Mark’s death never surfaces.
As Robbie uncovers disturbing clues — a missing ring, a hidden recording, a secret contract — Billy begins a sophisticated campaign of manipulation. Emails are forged. Memories are questioned. Reality itself becomes unstable.
Is Robbie uncovering a conspiracy?
Or is he losing his mind?
With the help of investigative reporter Anya Sharma, Robbie goes on the run carrying evidence that could destroy New Dawn forever. But Billy’s professional mission has become something darker, more obsessive, and deeply personal.
He doesn’t just want to silence Robbie.
He wants to replace Mark.
Hunted through Chicago and deep into the North Woods, Robbie must survive a terrifying psychological game in which truth is weaponized, trust is deadly, and love can become the perfect trap.
The Roommate is a fast-paced psychological thriller perfect for readers of dark suspense, queer thrillers, conspiracy fiction, and stories of obsession, manipulation, and survival.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 8, 2026
Has Potential
This book has great potential as a story overall, however it seems like the editor forgot to edit many chapters. Additionally, the synopsis for the book could be shortened and clarified to match the actual story better. While I wouldn’t spend money to buy this book it’s not a bad read.
**There needs to be a trigger or sensitivity warning at the beginning of the book. The digital copy I read did not have one, and it really should have as it likely will affect the audience this book targets.**
— Potential Spoilers! There is nothing specific in the following review, but it might spoil certain aspects of reading the story for some. The following is a more in depth analysis of my earlier review of the book. So if you choose not to read on, please be assured my opinion above is the same as what follows this note. —
For the story- It’s good, but not great as several parts of the story need to be flushed out. There’s several continuity errors as well as things that exist or happen without explanation. This makes the story a bit difficult to follow at times. Often there are very impractical occurrences (which if this had been a sci-fi or fantasy story then the impact would have been less disruptive to the story), and at times the reader is expected to know details that the author never mentions. The story could also use a bit more background building, as there are a few flashback scenes that are never completed. All that said, the basis of the story is great and besides the aforementioned issues it is a good read.
For the editing- It is clear that some chapters were edited beautifully, but many others come off as rough drafts that have never been edited by anyone. There are grammar and punctuation issues, multiple changes in writing style and writing/reading level, as well as blatant story errors (noted above). The author ends many of those more raw chapters with comments that read as if written by a middle schooler or freshman. These end of chapter comments take away from the story, and while one or two might have been quirky and interesting their overuse makes them fall flat. This is another example of where editing would benefit the book overall. Whoever was the editor really dropped the ball and did a disservice to the author.
If you can get past the issues mentioned and the sensitive nature of the story then you will likely enjoy it. While I wouldn’t spend money on a copy of this version of the book, it does deserve to be edited properly and republished for people to enjoy. The premise of the story is great, and there needs to be more literature like this in the world.
This book has great potential as a story overall, however it seems like the editor forgot to edit many chapters. Additionally, the synopsis for the book could be shortened and clarified to match the actual story better. While I wouldn’t spend money to buy this book it’s not a bad read.
**There needs to be a trigger or sensitivity warning at the beginning of the book. The digital copy I read did not have one, and it really should have as it likely will affect the audience this book targets.**
— Potential Spoilers! There is nothing specific in the following review, but it might spoil certain aspects of reading the story for some. The following is a more in depth analysis of my earlier review of the book. So if you choose not to read on, please be assured my opinion above is the same as what follows this note. —
For the story- It’s good, but not great as several parts of the story need to be flushed out. There’s several continuity errors as well as things that exist or happen without explanation. This makes the story a bit difficult to follow at times. Often there are very impractical occurrences (which if this had been a sci-fi or fantasy story then the impact would have been less disruptive to the story), and at times the reader is expected to know details that the author never mentions. The story could also use a bit more background building, as there are a few flashback scenes that are never completed. All that said, the basis of the story is great and besides the aforementioned issues it is a good read.
For the editing- It is clear that some chapters were edited beautifully, but many others come off as rough drafts that have never been edited by anyone. There are grammar and punctuation issues, multiple changes in writing style and writing/reading level, as well as blatant story errors (noted above). The author ends many of those more raw chapters with comments that read as if written by a middle schooler or freshman. These end of chapter comments take away from the story, and while one or two might have been quirky and interesting their overuse makes them fall flat. This is another example of where editing would benefit the book overall. Whoever was the editor really dropped the ball and did a disservice to the author.
If you can get past the issues mentioned and the sensitive nature of the story then you will likely enjoy it. While I wouldn’t spend money on a copy of this version of the book, it does deserve to be edited properly and republished for people to enjoy. The premise of the story is great, and there needs to be more literature like this in the world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2026
Fast Paced and read in one sitting.
“The Roommate” is a fast-paced psychological thriller that grabs your attention from the very first page and never slows down. I absolutely could not put this book down and finished it in just a few hours. Robbie is trying to navigate college life while coping with the loss of someone he loved, who died by apparent suicide after being sent to a conversion camp. It’s a tragedy that continues to haunt him and shapes so much of his daily life. Everything changes when an unexpected new roommate enters the picture.
This is a suspenseful, addictive read filled with twists that kept me hooked the entire time. I found myself rooting for Robbie as his world is turned completely upside down, making it nearly impossible to stop reading.
“The Roommate” is a fast-paced psychological thriller that grabs your attention from the very first page and never slows down. I absolutely could not put this book down and finished it in just a few hours. Robbie is trying to navigate college life while coping with the loss of someone he loved, who died by apparent suicide after being sent to a conversion camp. It’s a tragedy that continues to haunt him and shapes so much of his daily life. Everything changes when an unexpected new roommate enters the picture.
This is a suspenseful, addictive read filled with twists that kept me hooked the entire time. I found myself rooting for Robbie as his world is turned completely upside down, making it nearly impossible to stop reading.
June 13, 2026
Really good suspense book
This was a really great suspense book. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I half expected it all to be in the main characters head, I was surprised in the end. It was an enjoyable book to read.
This was a really great suspense book. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I half expected it all to be in the main characters head, I was surprised in the end. It was an enjoyable book to read.
June 26, 2026
Intense!
Having known friends that were sent to conversion camps when we were younger, this hit quite closely. Was intense so definitely know there are triggers possible with manipulation and gaslighting.
Was really easy to get into but the suspense and drama was top tier. Absolutely banger in my opinion.
Having known friends that were sent to conversion camps when we were younger, this hit quite closely. Was intense so definitely know there are triggers possible with manipulation and gaslighting.
Was really easy to get into but the suspense and drama was top tier. Absolutely banger in my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews