Dr Frances Odell
addiction psychiatrist
Clinical; it is a recognised condition
Odds
Small bets became a hidden debt. Ricky’s recovery involves treatment, honesty and his partner’s choice whether to stay, and the series follows him through a relapse rather than pretending recovery is a straight line.
Planned · not started yet
Psychology & mental health Money under pressure Second chances City life Workplace Tense Bracing
The premise
Small bets became a hidden debt. Ricky’s recovery involves treatment, honesty and his partner’s choice whether to stay, and the series follows him through a relapse rather than pretending recovery is a straight line.
The protagonist
Ricky Osborne-Nkemelu — Warehouse supervisor hiding gambling losses
The council
Every council member is an original fictional character. None represents, quotes or is endorsed by a real person.
Sam Tillery
gambling-harm counsellor
Lived experience; honesty breaks the cycle
Gloria Mensah
debt adviser
Practical; debt advice is part of recovery
How the story moves
From hidden debt to recovery, through a relapse in Book 5 that tests his family’s trust.
What readers take away
- How gambling harm develops
- Treatment options
- Self-exclusion and blocking tools
- Debt advice for gambling debts
- Impact on families
- Relapse and relapse prevention
- Gambling-industry design tactics
- Rebuilding trust
- Use bank gambling blocks
- Understand affordability checks
- Access NHS gambling clinics
- Rebuild finances after gambling
The books
- 1The bets Planned
- 2Discovery Planned
- 3Treatment Planned
- 4Debt Planned
- 5Relapse Planned
- 6Recovery Planned
Book titles are working titles and may change before publication. No book is on sale until the complete series is finished, checked and released.