It’s been three long years since P.I. Vince Reid made his first appearance in The Wrong Woman, and while J.P. Pomare has been writing other books, Reid has been patiently waiting in the wings for his next chance. In late 2025, I learned about The Gambler from its terrific author, and was intrigued at just how this story would unfold. As I read the book, poolside over my festive break, I found it was a perfect summer distraction. The layered plot, jumping between time periods and characters’ viewpoints, is gradually peeled back, like an onion, to reveal the resolution.

With two deaths – a cold case and a political assassination – and a mysterious organisation controlling the actions of bewitched acolytes in a scam, there are plenty of threads for Reid to track. Why did Kate Marshall die? What was the assassin’s motive? Who is at the heart of the scam? Though these seemingly simple primary notions drive Reid, in true Pomare fashion, more questions abound and force Reid into some sticky situations.

It’s always a pleasure for an author to have the opportunity to revisit a favourite protagonist, and even better for us readers to be able to enjoy the finished product! The Gambler is a thoroughly enjoyable book, with a well-conceived, realistic plot that is propelled by Pomare’s deft writing and great characterisation.