The story follows David, a detective on sabbatical, who retreats to the secluded town of Stringle to recover from a traumatic encounter with a serial killer. In this isolation, he forms a deep bond with Jacob, another outsider. As their relationship develops, David is forced into a high-stakes "deadly gamble" when a new killer emerges, leading him to question if Jacob is truly who he appears to be. Reader Reception and Critique

(Released shortly after the first, continuing David and Jacob's relationship)

: Reviewers on Amazon UK highlighted frustrating continuity errors, such as the author alternating between different last names for main characters (e.g., Benson vs. Burton).

: While some found the short "cliffhanger" format engaging enough to continue to the second book, others felt the characters lacked depth or were built on "living stereotypes". Series Information and Availability The series currently includes: A Deadly Gamble: Book 1: First Sight

The book is primarily available as a digital ebook via the Amazon Kindle Store , with a file size of approximately 1.3 MB. While "EPUB" is a standard ebook format, most retailers provide it in their proprietary formats (like Kindle's AZW3/KFX); you can often find standard EPUB versions on broad ebook platforms like Everand . A Deadly Gamble: Book 1: First Sight - Amazon UK

Critical response to the book has been polarized, particularly regarding its brevity and execution:

: Some readers noted that the book feels like an unedited draft, with a flow described by reviewers on The StoryGraph as "nonsensical" at times.

by Eric Thourne is a short-format thriller (approximately 70 pages) that explores the dangerous intersection of trauma and romance. Released on November 21, 2022, it serves as the opening installment of the A Deadly Gamble series. Plot Summary and Themes