The Lockup Period
A Silicon Valley Crime Thriller
with Chris Andrew Ciulla (Narrator)
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Pub Date 20 Oct 2026 | Archive Date 20 Sep 2026
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Description
90 Days to IPO Riches––if they can just figure out what to do with the body!
A fast, fun, and twisty ride through the underbelly of Silicon Valley—where fortunes are made overnight, and everyone is chasing their cut.
Mario Kennedy yearns to be part of tech’s in-crowd. But with an unfair rap sheet and a job slinging pizzas, he’s stuck on the outside. When MenuAi—a startup in which he holds advisory shares—announces it’s going public, he finally gets his shot. That is, if he can survive the ninety-day lockup period… and the stock lives up to the hype.
Driving that hype is Ravi Singh, a rising star in venture capital determined to land his first unicorn—no matter the cost. Covering the frenzy is Jamie Villanueva, a young reporter caught between breaking the story and settling a personal score.
On the night of the IPO, a troubling twist:
A dead body turns up in the CEO’s apartment. Expose the truth, and everything collapses. Conceal it until the lockup period expires, and walk away rich.
In Silicon Valley, it may be that making a killing… isn’t just a figure of speech.
Advance Praise
"A fast-paced thriller with a protagonist worth rooting for" —Kirkus Reviews, Our Verdict: Get It!
"Wickedly fun." —Aaron Meyerson, Producer of Dumb and Dumber
"Thompson combines startup culture satire with crime-thriller elements in this entertaining debut, sharply capturing Silicon Valley's obsession with money, status, and image." —BookLife Editor's Pick
"In this sure-handed, skillful debut, Thompson delivers an appetizing stew of twists, double-crosses, and astute Silicon Valley observations that only an insider could muster, all to the tempo of the steady clock ticking down on our hero." —Adam Plantinga, Author of HARD TOWN, EDGAR Nominee for Best Novel of 2026
"Vince Thompson's debut novel is a captivating read that surprised me in all the best ways. I couldn't put this book down." —Shira Lazar, CEO/Founder What's Trending
"Fast, funny, and driven by pitch-perfect dialogue. An impressive debut with heart!" — Sarah Lovett, bestselling author of Dangerous Attachments and Metal Viper
"Thompson knows this world. That specificity is the book's first pleasure." —Chicago Book Review 5/5 Stars
"A fast, funny, and deeply human story about ambition under pressure. Vince Thompson takes us inside startup mania, where paper wealth can change your life and moral debt can ruin it. Mario Kennedy is the kind of hero I root for: flawed, hungry, and still trying to do the right thing." —Tim Sanders, NYT bestselling author of Love is the Killer App
"A fiction that rhymes a little too closely with the truth. It's obvious Thompson has spent time in the valley's trenches." —Samuel Donner, Creator of "Cook for Me"
"The Lockup Period is a thrilling ride. Managing to create a realistic feeling world of tech start-ups and companies "going public" in a way that provides enough information for the story, but doesn't overwhelm readers." —LoveReading (Indie Books We Love)
"The Lockup Period is a blast. It's funny, fast-paced, and the perfect amount of Silicon Valley tongue in cheek. You won't want to put it down." —Aaron Vaccaro, President of Singularity University
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EXTENSIVE MARKETING SUPPORT
ARC Campaign, National podcast
tour, Author events, Social media
advertising, Indie Bookstore Outreach,
Library Outreach, Publicity Campaign.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Audiobook |
| ISBN | 9088995320104 |
| PRICE | $19.99 (USD) |
| DURATION | 11 Hours, 23 Minutes, 4 Seconds |
Available on NetGalley
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Featured Reviews
Reviewer 1229035
I liked this more than I expected to! It was delightfully satirical and much of the world was easy to recognize for someone who used to work for startups.
Premise - a couple tech bros, Mario and Ravi, have 90 days to IPO riches, as long as they can survive the lockup period and hide the dead body that's turned up in their CEO's office. Complicating matters is Jamie, a young reporter trying to uncover their dirt.
This was twisty and humorous, with some standard archetypes, but also fun twists on themes. It reminded me a bit of the tv show 'Big Mistakes,' with Dan Levy. The premise isn't the same at all, but it also takes a mostly grounded world and situation, then adds quirks that turn the whole thing into something insane. In the book world, I'd liken it to LOST LAMBS, but without the weird girl angle.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Chris Andrew Ciulla. He did a great job with the read. I'm very picky about male narrators, because often I just don't want to have a man in my ear for 8-10 hours, but this was enjoyable!
Thanks, NetGalley and Dubious Ventures Press, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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