What would you do if you had the gift of being able to detect whether or not people were telling the truth? Would you use it to your advantage or would you keep your secret hidden? What if your secret power was potentially causing harm to those you loved?
These are the issues faced by Decker Roberts in David Rotenberg’s new novel The Placebo Effect, first in The Junction Chronicles series.
Here’s a little bit more about the book…
Decker Roberts has the dangerous gift of detecting the truth. For years this talent has proven to be a lucrative sideline to his acting teaching. Only his closest friends know, and he keeps his identity secret from the companies that pay him to tell them if the people they are planning to hire are truthful.
But Decker’s carefully compartmentalized life suddenly starts to fall apart. His house burns down, his credit cards are cancelled, his bank loan is called and his studio is condemned. He realizes that he must have heard something in one of his ‘truth telling’ sessions that someone didn’t want him to know.
Decker has to go on the run and figure out what he’s being targeted. There’s also a government agent hunting him who seems to know absolutely everything about Decker Roberts’ identities, real and false–and other people of “his kind.”
How will Decker find out which truth is endangering his life? Who betrayed him and revealed all his secrets? Decker needs to find answers quickly, before knowing the truth turns from a gift into a deadly curse.
The topic of synaesthesia is dealt with in this book. It is something I’d heard of but never really understood until now. It lends a very interesting, very real quality to some of the more fantastical things that happen.
In addition to being an author, David Rotenberg is also a director and acting teacher and is the Artistic Director of the internationally renowned Professional Actors Lab. The roster of his students reads like a who’s who in ranks of Canadian actors, including Scott Speedman, Rachel McAdams, James McGowan, Polly Shannon, David Hirsh, Jonas Chernick and Shawn Doyle. You will notice the theme of acting and acting methods also feature prominently in the novel.
Here are what people are saying about The Placebo Effect
“I think it’s fantastic. Right, taut, lean, exciting, thrilling, really.” -Jurgen Gothe, CBC host & newspaper columnist
“…great storytelling, juicy characters, and a wonderful theatricality.” -Marc Routh, Broadway producer
“Kept me on my toes and awaiting the next turn of events.” – Erin Karpluk, actress and star of “Being Erica”
You can visit www.placeboeffectbook.com for more info about the author, his other books, and to read an excerpt. There’s also a reading group guide available here.
We are hosting a blogger tour for David and The Placebo Effect starting January 16th. Check out the following blogs on their corresponding dates for exclusive Q&A’s with the author and reviews.
Canadian Authors-Jan 16
Mysteries and More-Jan 18
BookBound-Jan 20
Workaday Reads-Jan 25
Beyond Books-Jan 27
Wicked Little Pixie-Jan 30
Wagging the Fox-Feb 1
The Crazy Bookworm-Feb 3
Serendipitous Readings-Feb 6
Purple Jelly Bean Chair Reviews-Feb 7
The Placebo Effect is in stores February 7th.
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