Everything to Lose

Lambeth Group #2

by Gordon Bickerstaff

**** New Edition 2015 ****

The Lambeth Group sends scientist Gavin Shawlens to infiltrate a research group planning to launch a product based on old Nazi research. Zoe Tampsin and her Special Forces team must keep Gavin alive.

The product is stolen and people are disappearing.

Past events in Gavin's life catch up with him. A powerful US general decides that Gavin Shawlens must die to prevent exposure of a 60-year old secret capable of world-changing
and power-shifting events.

Non-stop thrilling story of a heroine with brains and a skill set for extreme danger. Electric action with bare-knuckle twists.

Genres: Thriller

312 pages, Paperback

First published February 11, 2014

About the author

I was born and raised in Glasgow but spent my student years in Edinburgh. I spent over 30 years as a university lecturer and 25 years as an Open University tutor before I retired to write fiction. I live with my wife in Scotland where corrupt academics, psychopaths, serial killers, mystery, murder, and intrigue exists mostly in my mind.

I write the Lambeth Group series of standalone crime/conspiracy/suspense thrillers. Inspired by the 1970s 'Doomwatch' TV series, they feature undercover investigators Zoe and Gavin who protect the country and the world from the worst nightmares that mankind can imagine.

I enjoy walking in the hills, 60s & 70s music, reading and travel.

https://gordonbickerstaff.blogspot.com/

Reviews

["Avonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

EVERYTHING TO LOSE (A Lambeth Group Thriller) by Gordon Bickerstaff takes you back to the world of scientist, Gavin Shawlens and the secretive Lambeth Group. This time around Mr. Bickerstaff has Gavin being protected and handled by an SAS Captain, Zoe Tampsin. Zoe is a great addition to this series. She is professional, highly trained, kicks butt, takes no prisoners and does not like to lose.

In this thriller, Gavin is still recuperating and grieving over incidents from “Deadly Secrets” which leave his readiness for this new assignment in question. The Lambeth Group assigns SAS Captain Zoe Tampsin and her small team to go undercover on this assignment with Gavin. Their assignment is the investigation of a sports enhancement liquid which is making impossible claims. The university professors believe they will make billions off of this new product, but are being kept in the dark of the provenance of this drug by the criminals producing it. The athletes who inject the liquid die horrible deaths.

Gavin stirs the pot by letting it be known that he believes he can solve the problem that is killing the athletes who use the drug. When Gavin goes missing, Zoe and her team work to locate him before he becomes the next victim.

Not only are Zoe and her team fighting international drug criminals, but past events in Gavin’s life have made him a target of the U.S. government. Gavin, himself has no idea why and before the English government can turn him over, Zoe’s superior sends Zoe and Gavin underground and on the run.

As I have stated in many previous reviews, I usually do not like cliff-hangers, but this one had me so excited and it really did fit the situation and timing of this story. This thriller combines dangerous and credible science with action and plot twists that just do not stop. Gavin is a wonderfully flawed character that is perfectly paired with the professional and resourceful soldier, Zoe. I absolutely cannot leave them hanging! On to the next book in this series.

[Connie Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating science in this Bickerstaff novel. Love the timely angle on sports doping involving a performance enhancing drug that’s so dangerous… well, I don’t want to include a spoiler, but the consequences of this drug are much worse than a heart attack.

This episode in the Lambeth Group Thriller series starts with an interesting set-up and then charges forward as Dr. Gavin Shawlens and Zoe Tampsin investigate suspected shady university research into a product that seems to give a huge boost to cyclists and other athletes. But people are disappearing and dying. And Shawlens’ undercover work puts him in extreme danger. Tampsin, for all her experience as a highly trained operative who’s supposed to be protecting the scientist, leaves him a little too vulnerable on several critical occasions.

Loved the level of intrigue involving a certain other country that seems to have an interest in one of the main characters. (Trying not to give anything away here.) This is a multi-layered, fast-paced story with some extremely scary bad guys. (Would like to know what happens to the McVickens.) Of course, I must now read the third book in the series because I HAVE to find out what happens next.

[Joy Mutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything to Lose: the chase is on, is the second book I’ve read by Gordon Bickerstaff. I’m pleased to report it was just as gripping as the first, Deadly Secrets. I appreciated the way the story carries on smoothly from book 1. The hero, biochemist Gavin Shawlens, was suffering from the terrible aftermath of what happened in the previous book while getting to the bottom of performance-enhancing drugs, and the mysterious disappearance of some athletes. Gavin also had to struggle to avoid falling foul of several unpleasant, dangerous characters. This Lambeth Group series benefitted from the introduction of Zoe, a no-nonsense, feisty ex-SAS operative who was tasked with working undercover with Gavin for the Lambeth Group. The author managed to skillfully weave the plot and sub-plots together, along with all the many characters involved, so the book kept me gripped throughout, and beyond. The ending makes me want to read book three, as it cunningly set the scene for future exciting problems for Gavin and Zoe to resolve for the Lambeth Group.

[Bill Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in the series and really loved this book so can't wait to read the final book in the series! These are very unusual thrillers with their science based plots and I especially enjoyed this story about the development of a product to massively improve the performance of athletes. I thought the opening chapter in 1936 Germany with Hitler demanding the development of a performance enhancing drug to be very clever and when the story jumps to the present, the suspense and action continues at a very fast pace.
I loved the character of Zoe, who is a SAS captain ordered to protect Gavin, our good guy scientist, while he roots out the bad guy scientists. It's always great to meet a female kick ass protagonist.
This is an easy to read, difficult to put down action thriller with the added element of an intelligent subject matter at the heart of the plot.
The ending has left me desperate to read the next book as I can't begin to understand what is so important about Gavin that the CIA are so desperate to see him dead.

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything To Lose is #2 in the Gavin Shawlens series and is a Lambeth Group Thriller.

Gavin is recovering from events in Book#1 ‘Deadly Secrets’ and now a new issue is on the horizon. So, he joins with SAS Officer Zoe Tamsin to investigate a new sports performance enhancing drug that claims it will improve any athlete’s performance. but at what cost?

But then athletes begin disappearing and dying Gavin has an idea of what the problem is, but then he goes missing and Zoe and her expert team have to find him before he becomes another victim…..

Everything To Lose is a fast paced, action packed thriller with great characters and a science based, twisty plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat….heart pounding stuff.

Thank you to Damppebbles Tours for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, for the promotional material and an ecopy of the book. This is my honest and unbiased review.

[Sarah Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced isn’t the right word for this thriller. It starts with a flat-out gallop of explosive action. It slows perfectly with the introduction of Gavin Shawless, a research scientist vital to… For a long time that isn’t clear. The novel is set in mainly in the UK, but the implications of what it’s about are worldwide. Gavin is under Zoe’s protection, and she guards him from enemies, and himself, by any means.

What I liked most about Everything to Lose is a plot with such clever twists that, just as you think you have a handle on it, takes another turn, and brilliant characterisation I didn’t imagine could both follow the start and match it for interest. These people live, even the ones who die fast because… Read it and see; you won’t be disappointed.

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great suspense thriller by Gordon Bickerstaff. I enjoyed this book very much. Lots of twist and turns and this book kept my into the book and ready for more. I couldn't put this book down. I enjoyed the character and the way the author weaves more thing into one book like mystery and action. All of this keeps my attention and keeps me coming back for more. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Gordon's work for quite a while now. I haven't quite caught up with all of his books yet but I am working my way through them. I was offered the chance to take part in the blog tour for 'Everything To Lose' and I knew that I had to take part. 'Everything To Lose' is actually the second book in the 'Lambeth Group Series'. I couldn't wait to start reading and so without further ado, I grabbed a cuppa, grabbed my Kindle and settled down to read. Oh boy, 'Everything To Lose' is another amazing read and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of it but more about that in a bit.
I have to be honest and say that I didn't take to many, if any, of the main characters but that's probably because they scared the crap out of me. In their own way, each has their own particular talent, which they bring to the table. When put together, they make one awesome, kick ass team, which should strike fear into the hearts of the baddies.
Gordon immediately got my attention with the fact that the story starts in 1936 at the Berlin Olympics. I particularly enjoyed this little bit because I learnt a lot about Nazi history at school and I have also visited the Berlin Olympic stadium so it was interesting to read about somewhere I have been. As soon as I started to read, that was it. I just knew that nothing else would get done for the rest of the day as I would find it extremely difficult to put the book to one side for any length of time. Guess what? I was spot on. The book developed a hold over me from the moment I first picked up the book and the hold lasted until I read the last word on the last page. I was glued to the story from start to finish. I think that part of the reason I didn't dare put the book down was the fact that I feared missing a vital clue or an important development in the story. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and before I knew what was happening I was almost half way through the book. I had been concentrating on the story that much that I lost all track of time.
'Everything To Lose' is extremely well written, but then I have thought that to be true of Gordon's books in general. He writes the literary equivalent of an action packed Bond movie- filled with end to end drama, violence, intrigue, espionage and well you get the picture. In fact I would say that I enjoyed reading 'Everything To Lose' far more than I enjoyed watching the last few Bond movies. The author had my attention from the start. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained the fast pace throughout. In that respect reading 'Everything To Lose' felt like being on one of those scary and unpredictable rollercoaster rides with several twists and turns to the story. Just when you thought that you could take a breather, catch your breath and allow your nerves to settled down then off the action would go again.
In short, 'Everything To Lose' was an amazing read, which I thoroughly enjoyed. For me, 'Everything To Lose' is the definition of an unputdownable pageturner. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will be reading much more of Gordon's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[P.A. Rudders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rogue science, secrets, & lots more besides - All the ingredient of a 1st-rate thriller, loved it!

This is the second book in Gordon Bickerstaff’s rogue biochemistry and speculative science research themed ‘Lambeth Group’ series (eight books to date as I write this review), and once again, what can I say but what a great book … Rogue and speculative science, secret UK government organisations, elite special forces the CIA, the US military, Secret Nazi research, and the mother of all secrets dating back sixty years all make for one hell of a story here. Nonetheless, despite the many different strands, the author introduces and draws them together in such a way as to not overwhelm or confuse the reader.

As with any good series of books, each one reads well as a stand-alone story, but they honestly do read better if done so in the correct order. Once again, the British government calls upon the services of the Lambeth Group, their state-sponsored secret organisation set up to investigate rogue and speculative research, particularly when things go wrong. Superficially at least, the story here centres on a new energy drink that’s about to come on the market. Needless to say, there are some highly unpleasant side-effects, with elite athletes dying from its use. It turns out the science behind the new wonder drink is somewhat dubious to say the least, but in the wider scheme of things, that’s barely one tiny piece of an international puzzle.

Now, although my knowledge of biology and chemistry, the areas of research and storylines the series mainly focusses on, extends little beyond a few ancient O’Levels in said subjects, I found the author’s treatment of that side of the story both plausible and convincing without being left scratching my head like a stone-age neanderthal having just read the latest book on Quantum String theory or the like. As I said for Deadly Secrets, (Book one in the series), there’s a definite Michael Crichton vibe with the storyline and subject matter, and I must say, the comparison is, again, well-justified in my opinion. In addition to the rogue science side of things, the investigations into what’s going on also involve several firefight scenes, military personnel/hardware and the like, and, again, the author’s depiction of that side of the story is spot on, with lots of little asides about the military that show the author has certainly done his research.

I must say, the ending does leave a few unanswered questions for me, though not ones that spoilt my enjoyment in any way. In typical ‘series’ style, the author concludes with a real cliff-hanger-style ending, one designed to reel the reader in for Black Fox (book three in the series), which certainly worked for me. As I say, only the second of the series I’ve read so far, but already highly impressed and thoroughly enjoying them!

[Rowena Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read ‘Everything to Lose’ twice before writing this review. The first time I came to this book, the second in the series, without having read book one and it does very well as a standalone, but with enough threads tied to ‘Deadly Secrets’ as to rouse my interest. So, I went back and read ‘Deadly Secrets’ (I will post the review on Goodreads later this week), and then reread ‘Everything to Lose’, fundamentally it was the same reinforcing its strength as a standalone. But I enjoyed having that fuller understanding of past events and Gavin’s character, and I would highly recommend reading both books because of this.

It was refreshing to read a science-based thriller, which is something I haven’t come across very often and helped ground the story very much in reality because it was a plausible concept executed brilliantly. A fascinating blend of past and present, was just the first step in a gripping read that had its own thrilling, complex plot, nestled within the web of the larger, overarching plot, which combined with that ending leaves you needing more.

The pacing was fantastic, a fast-paced rollercoaster than knew just when to slow for maximum impact and thrill, and both times it was impossible to put this book down once I’d started it. As with all thrillers, there was some violence, but nothing that felt excessive or didn’t propel the narrative forward, and the action was well done and brought the pieces together perfectly. In some places, the brisk almost journalistic writing which helped keep the pace moving, and served the narrative well, for the most part, felt a little too brief and fragmented, and could perhaps have been slowed and softened in places, but this is a minor complaint from a book that I couldn’t put down.

In terms of characters, I enjoyed Gavin – the fact that he is a Scientist rather than a detective or a more traditional main character for a thriller making him stand out from the beginning. But I liked how his development was done, and how he was shaped by past events. Both emotionally and in terms of the choices laid before him, as it gave a sense of realism and consequence to his actions and his character. Zoe was also a fantastic character, and everything I look for in a female character, strong without being cold with it, and it was great to see some of her life beyond her work.

[Jessica | Stuck In The Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything To Lose is actually part of a wider book series I believe, and I’m saddened that I’m only just joining the series! The Lambeth Group books follow the secret government investigations of agent Zoe Tampsin; a strong female protagonist with courage, determination, and guile. If the other six books in the series are as action-packed as this one, we are in for a treat.

Lambeth Group is a secret department of the British government with the responsibility of protecting the country. Agent Zoe Tampsin is everything you want from a strong female protagonist; resourceful, brave and tough. She is tasked with the job to look after scientist, Gavin Shawlens, who whilst battling his own grief, is investigating a performance-enhanced drug which seems unbelievably too good. Shawlens is also strongly disliked by some powerful and dangerous people, who will not stop until he is dead. That is where our girl, Zoe comes to the rescue.

What I loved about this book is the character dynamic. Shawlens is the fact and figures guy; analysing everything down to a T. Zoe on the other hand, has the skills but she doesn’t have Shawlens brains. She needs his expertise in this arena to complete her mission, and for two charismatic characters, they complement each other very well (obviously not without some bumps in the road at first, of course!)

This book has everything you need from an action-packed novel, and then more! Credit to the author for creating a story that is filled to the brim with exhilarating and edge-of-your-seat action. If anything, this book has made me want to go and read the other books in the series, to see what other missions Zoe Tampsin can complete!

[Eric Lahti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been meaning to get to Bickerstaff's second novel since I finished the first one about this time last year. The adventures of Gavin Shawlins and the Lambeth group - an intoxicating mixture of science and action - are just too much fun to pass up. This time around Gavin is joined by Zoe Tampsin, a bad ass former SAS operative who has little compunction about beating the snot out of the bad guys to help the mission along.

The mission revolves around performance enhancing drugs and the big money that will stop at nothing to make them theirs. Any time you've got a lot of money and a lot of power on the line, people will do whatever it takes to grab that piece of the pie. At that point, the performance enhancing drug runner turn into straight-up drug runners with about the same level of ethics.

In a story that starts with simple questions about whether or not a new drug will work and rapidly drops us into a world of Nazi secrets, spontaneous human combustion, and human trafficking, Bickerstaff gives us a tale that never lets up and even introduces an age-old American conspiracy that dates back to World War II.

The beauty of the story is even though Bickerstaff takes Gavin and Zoe through a complete story of drugs, criminals, and greed, he introduces a larger story arc about conspiracies and politics.

All in all, an excellent read and well worth the time.

[Ted Halstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Exciting Page Turner!

First, if you're worried about plot spoilers in this review you can relax. I hate them too.

One of my biggest problems with most thrillers is that they're simply not plausible. This book, though, revolves around the concept that individuals and governments would do anything to get their hands on an effective human performance enhancement drug.

Well, yes. I have no trouble believing that at all.

So, plausible plot - check. The next problem I have with many thrillers is poor quality, turgid writing. Thankfully, none is to be found here.

Favorite quote: "Always trying to hold onto her youth, she wanted to look like a teenager but didn't sound or behave like one. Well, it's tricky when you get past thirty."

The next test is whether I'll remember anything about the book a year or so after reading it. Two things I think I will remember:

-- The concept of parallel parking a Challenger tank
-- The fact that cremating a human body requires a temperature of 1000 degrees Celsius.

That last point brings me to two cautions for more sensitive readers. Yes, there is violence. Yes, there is the occasional four-letter word. For me, that just means it's a thriller.

I am looking forward to reading Gordon Bickerstaff's next book!

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...

I do love a good thriller and this is definitely up there with some of the best I have read this year!  I love a good strong female character and Zoe is most definitely that and I look forward to reading more books from the author with her as the lead character!

The plot was gripping and I loved the pace and writing style, it started at such a fantastic pace and kept you on a roller-coaster ride right through until the end - and I loved it. 

Lots of suspense and some really clever twists.  I have given the book 5 stars and it is one I really would recommend to fans of this genre - I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it!! 

[J_McA 251 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down one of the most action-packed plots I have read recently (and I’ve read a few), this book is not just a roller coaster of a read. Think the fastest roller coaster with switchbacks and loops where you never know which thrill is coming next. There is amazing science, but the author does a good job of making it easily understood. There was also political intrigue, which is always a favorite of mine. I will say that this is not a book that you can read casually. Trust me when I say you need to be paying attention when you read this one. For a full review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. This review was based on a digital copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.

[Iva Kenaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to read another one of the Lambeth Group thrillers as they never disappoint, especially one of my favorites, Zoe Tampsin, who always wins me over with her naturally bad-ass attitude and drive. The mysterious secret from WWII., which intrigues the reader since the introduction, gives the story a mysterious tint. I love how well researched the topic of sports doping is, as that's what makes the read even more impressive. Gavin and Zoe are a powerful duo and their mission is full of action, surprises, and suspense. It's a good thriller and I certainly recommend it.

[C.A. King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lately, I have been singling out authors in different genres whose books I enjoy enough to read their whole library. Bickerstaff is hands down one to the leaders in thriller/suspense. I love a story with a slow burn and he delivers every time!

Everything to Lose receives a triple W from me!

Well written
Well formatted
Well developed

[Cherime MacFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced and has more twists... Well, Wow! Now I need to read the next one. This one keeps you guessing. Great characters, this one is terribly hard to put down. Grand treadmill read, go so into it I didn't want to quit.

[Meredith Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two of the Lambeth Group thriller series, but I was able to follow along just fine. In my e-edition, Gordon Bickerstaff includes a section at the end about the Lambeth Group’s background and a few tidbits about both Gavin and Zoe. (I encourage you to read this first, as it will help clarify some initial questions.)

And if you’ve ever been around government folks, you know they adore acronyms! So he also offers a glossary of the various ones used in the book, which is helpful when the various politicians start tossing them around in dialogue.

Plot
This book hit the ground running and never stopped. This book was a lot of fun to read! Bickerstaff does a great job developing tension, both between the Lambeth group and their enemies, and within the group itself.

The book opens with scenes from the 1936 Berlin Olympics, as Hitler watches his rowing team lose and demands his scientists to discover whatever “energy boost” formula the winners used to trump his team. Then we jump to the present day as sports trainer Aiden finds himself backed into a financial corner by ruthless police officers. Then he disappears.

As top athletes disappear, rumors fly about sports drugs and falsified scientific research testing the new wonder drug. The Lambeth group gets involved and sends Zoe, Gavin, and several others to investigate at the university where the research is conducted.

Gavin is suicidal in his grief over losing the love of his life, Emma, in the previous book. Having this assignment is exactly what he needs to jolt him from his suicidal ideation and help him restart life. But his emotional fragility means that Zoe, as his leader, can’t fully trust him. It’s a good dynamic to have: Zoe can’t trust Gavin, Gavin can’t fully trust his own mind, and neither can trust anyone at the university. It puts tension into every aspect of this investigation.

That tension never lets up. While there are many story threads to keep track of, Bickerstaff does a great job weaving them together into a coherent story.

Characters
I found both Gavin and Zoe sympathetic characters. Gavin’s a bit of a bumbling absent-minded professor type, coupled with some serious social awkwardness. At times, he’s endearing; at others, he’s rude; and sometimes, he’s both simultaneously.

Zoe aptly describes herself as a hurricane. She’s fiercely protective of those under her care, and like all good spy thriller heroines, she knows how to fight and kill to reach her goals. Unlike many other spy heroines, though, Zoe seems empathetic toward others; when someone under her care dies, she isn’t afraid to cry and openly mourn, though she doesn’t let it get in the way of her work.

It’s also refreshing to read about a spy who has a life apart from her work. I got a good laugh out of reading about Zoe and her buddy Toni competing against each other in various crazy adrenaline-fueled challenges. Their latest? See who can parallel park a 62-ton Challenger battle tank! (I’ll leave these two badass Girl Scouts to it and hope they upload a video of this on Youtube.)

These two have a natural chemistry. Their banter is enjoyable to read. If you’re expecting them to have an openly sexual element to their relationship, you may be disappointed.

What they have is stronger than mere sexual attraction. It’s more like the bond between two military personnel who are fighting in the same battle; they have to trust each other with their lives. If a sexual relationship happens in later books, it will only be building on a good foundation of deep friendship.

Narrative Style
While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I was tripped up by the number of sentence fragments used. Sometimes they worked to emphasize some point. Sometimes, though, they distracted me. There were also some unusual verb tense shifts throughout.

Emotional engagement
But those problems are minor things. The important thing was that I kept reading. And reading. And reading . . .

This was one of those books where I promise myself that I’ll read only one more chapter. Hours later, I look at the time and realize that I have to fix dinner or my family will riot. (Easy solution: I have them cook and I “supervise” while reading! Priorities, you know.)

By the end of the first four chapters, I felt emotionally attached to the various characters and invested in the outcome. As I’ve found with other books, if the author keeps me emotionally engaged with the story, then I can forgive-and-forget minor technical issues.

I read the book with bated breath, wondering what would happen next. Bickerstaff didn’t let me down. As I turned the last page, I felt satisfaction and suspense in equal measures at the cliffhanger ending. Well-done.

Recommended for all who love spy thrillers!

Thanks to Gordon Bickerstaff and Emma Welton of DampPebbles blog tours for a copy of Everything to Lose in exchange for an honest review.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

You may feel like you are on a roller coaster ride with this one! Twists and turns galore! Zoe has to protect Gavin from not only the bad guys--she also has to save him from the good guys!!

I ended up reading this Lambeth Group novel in one sitting--I could not put it down!!

[N.A. Granger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second in the Gavin Shawlins Thriller series. I did not read the first, but this book is written well enough to stand quite on its own...although the reader is left with a cliffhanger.

The novel begins in Berlin in 1936, when Hitler, disappointed by the performance of some of the German athletes, is told by his advisers, who seek a plausible excuse, that the Americans have fortifying energy drinks. This drink gives them the energy to win. Despite the fact this is an utter lie, Hitler directs his scientists to develop such a drink.

Aiden McSwann, father of a child with a special problem, borrows money from the wrong people to pay for her medical care and ends up as a slave in a drug factory when he can’t repay the loan.

The member of a judo team, locked in a room by his teammates after his grandstanding costs them a tournament win, disappears in thin air.

Aiden McSwann’s wife is beaten and threatened by thugs, looking for something they think was left with her by the missing judo player.

Sir James Barscadden, once a respected billionaire, becomes involved in criminal activities, but manages to escape from England despite the best efforts of an MI5 team to capture him.

And this is the problem I had with this book: four full chapters of seemingly unrelated threads before the crux of the story begins in chapter 5. I was just a tad confused, and ended up rereading some of these chapters to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.

In chapter five, we learn that a research team has produced a new product it claims will boost the performance of every athlete in the world. The Lambeth Group, an investigative group within the British government, puts together a team using some of the MI5 agents and a scientist, Gavin Shawlins, to investigate the claim, which they believe is bogus. A top athlete using the product disappears, the product is stolen, and the team discovers the slave-run drug factory is involved. Then Shawlins himself disappears. Complicating the story is the fact a powerful US general has decided that Gavin must die to prevent exposure of a 60-year-old secret capable of world-changing and power-shifting events.

Despite the introduction of more governmental units than I could keep track of, the plethora of threads weaving in and out, and seemingly endless twists and turns, I was interested enough to finish the book. However, it was a challenge. There was an overwhelming amount of exposition and backstory to wade through all along the way, which tempted me to skip pages – but then I would miss yet another thread.

The basis of the plot is contemporary, the introduction of a historical context adds interest, and the author is a very good writer, which saved the book for me. I would recommend it to any spy/thriller/ mystery/government conspiracy lover with a strong mental constitution.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s a lot coming at you in the first act of this novel, a lot of characters, a lot of action and intrigue, and the sense of one very big conspiracy going on. You get that these puzzle pieces are going to fit together, you just don’t get how yet. Honestly it was all a little more than I could take in, but it lends itself to a sense of mystery and “what’s going on here?” that keeps you turning the pages. My advice is to read slowly, attentively, and be advised there’s a lot to keep track of right from the beginning. Just getting all these characters names straight and where they fit into the plot will be an undertaking. But that’s kind of how these big global level conspiracy stories go. They’re well suited to bright people who do New York Times crossword puzzles.

The author’s writing style is terse and journalistic in nature, which helps keep the pacing brisk, but can sometimes make it difficult in knowing where to place the emphasis. Everything hits you as sort of equally important, with no more time spent dwelling on one plot point than any other. Possibly that’s deliberate, as plots like this do like to keep you guessing.

I loved the concept of the Gavin group that gets pulled together periodically to investigate university research projects that started out with the best of intentions but subsequently went awry. As in illegal, unethical experimentation with billions of dollars at stake, and lives happily sacrificed. It’s a really cool cabal of people to base a series on. With different experts brought in pertinent to the investigation at hand in the given installment in the series of novels. The idea reminded me somewhat of James Rollins’ Sigma Force novels of which I’m a big fan.

This is definitely one of those “you have to be lost before you can be found” novels, so I’d encourage you to keep reading. The excitement builds, the fog eventually lifts, and as the pieces come together and the stakes clarified, the momentum accelerates. It’s good reading as action thrillers go.

[Grant Leishman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a big fan of the Gavin Shawlens Thrillers ever since I discovered Gordon Bickerstaff a few months back. I think this one is the third of his books I've read and they just keep getting better, more exciting, and more engaging.
There is something special about Shawlens as the "hero" in an action thriller. Yes, the man is incredibly intelligent (he's a biochemist after all) but he is essentially the antithesis of any action hero we've met in the past. He is shy, mild-mannered and certainly not brave, and yet he strolls through Bickerstaff's novels making things right. James Bond, he ain't, or even Johnny English. As a secret agent, he is just a normal, everyday, man and someone the readers can definitely identify with.
I have read the books out of order, but up till now that has mattered little - each book is a separate adventure, although they are linked through the use of the supporting characters from MI5, The Lambeth Group, or Special Forces.
In this iteration, Everything to Lose, Shawlens biochemical expertise is required to check on some University research suggesting a new, "natural" drug has been found that can increase sportsmen's performance by a massive amount. The potential uses of the drug, for military purposes drag in Government interests and Gavin soon finds himself the subject of serious attention from the US Government and the CIA, among others.
This is a typical Bickerstaff story; fast, taut and full of tension. In true style, the author has set up the next story in his series, which I now have to read as soon as possible. I must know what happens to Gavin and Zoe. This is the mark of an excellent storyteller and Gordon Bickerstaff is one of those. I can only but recommend this entire series to anyone who loves fast, action-packed thrillers, with an unusual "hero". Another great episode in the Shawlens saga and, of course, five stars all the way.

[Bernadette Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this a 4 stars or 8/10.

Everything to Lose is the second in the Lambeth Group Thriller series, which began with Deadly Secrets.

When your secret agent is not your normal James Bond style character, but more of a Jane Bond character. Meet Zoe Tampsin of the Lambeth Group, she's not your normal run of the mill secret agent as she's not male for a start.

In a plot that would feel at home among the pages of an Ian Fleming story, Gordon Bickerstaff has an inventive mind that has woven a fictional tale about a product that promises to enhance the performance of athletes the world over and could revolutionise the future of the SPORT, but in the wrong hands it could potentially cause untold damage as unbeknown to the research team that have developed it, there is a potentially dangerous side effect.

As Gavin Shawlens is sent to find out more about the product and it's development, he finds himself in above his head as events escalate as the dangerous side effects come to light that can cause fatalities. As Gavin disappears, Zoe is on a mission to find him before he himself becomes a victim at the hands of others.

The chase is on for Zoe and her team to find Gavin before it's too late ...

This was a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I loved the developing relationship between Gavin Shawlens and Zoe Tampsin, as I feel that they have a journey to take us on. I look forward to getting round to The Black Fox, the next one is the series sooner rather than later.

[Diana Febry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommend to readers of thrillers and espionage who enjoy a complex plot. It can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the excellent Deadly Secrets first.
I initially thought the story took a while to get started but by the time I reached the end I realised it was all part of building up a very intricate and intriguing plot.
I love the unusual concept behind this series. Gavin, the main character is a bio-chemist employed by a government agency to investigate fraudulent claims for grants and scientific breakthroughs. Don't worry if you're not scientific, neither am I, as the author gives just enough detail to make the reader feel clever and to understand the plot line in a similar way to a Dan Brown novel. With the Rio Olympics taking place this was a particularly topical read. Gavin is called in as part of a team to investigate a new legal drug that claims to massively improve muscle function. Not only does Gavin discover flawed research stretching back to the 1930s but there are dangerous side effects if the drug is injected. On top of this via one of his students he becomes involved in the manufacture and supply of illegal drugs. This storyline by itself would provide a satisfying read but there is yet another layer to this book relating to high level government espionage and double-crossing.
A satisfying and complex read which has made me desperate to read the next book in the series.

[K.J. Simmill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gavin Shawlins is one of the leading researchers in his field, his services have been sought to work for the Lambeth group. Still in mourning for his recent loss his focus is not where it should be. But he is the only one who could infiltrate Waterlooville University Campus undetected. Something there has backfired. They've published findings that don't make sense. He is assigned to Zoe, a well seasoned team leader, the threat of his life is still imminent, and it's her team’s task to not only watch over the mission, but keep vigil on him. The more they investigate, the more precarious the situation looks, missing students, guarded secrets, and whispers of a ground breaking discovery.

Gordon Bickerstaff is a consistently excellent author. He writes believable and well-researched stories that possess accessible science and understanding for people with no knowledge of the areas being discussed. He achieves this in a manner where it never once seems dry or lecturing, a task often difficult to accomplish, and I stand in awe of his skill. The plot is gripping, from the first page to the last it is driven by characters, discovery, and mystery making it one book that is impossible to put down. If not for the fact I needed to sleep I would have read this amazingly crafted story in one sitting. I read and review a lot of books, but the number I recommend is limited, Everything to Lose has my unquestioning recommendation.

[Ellie Midwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Gavin Shawlens series! Every book is action-packed and fast-paced, and the characters are so vivid and real that you feel compelled to root for them till the very end.
In this second book in the series Gavin is in the thick of it once again, when his organization asks him to investigate a new steroid drug, which is being developed in one of the universities. Based on sinister research first conducted by scientists of Nazi Germany with the purpose to boost their soldiers’ energy and endurance, the drug has already claimed lives of several people, who were involved either in its testing or distribution. Add a crooked criminal family to this highly compelling plot, a high-level conspiracy dating back to the Cold War and you get yourself a perfect thriller which you won’t be able to put down.
What I also appreciated was new characters that were introduced here, and particularly Zoe. Her army experiences and devotion made her an especially likable and relatable character, and a very nice addition to the series.
A great story, as always with Shawlens series. Highly recommended.

[Donna Dolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting

Once I started reading Everything To Lose I couldn't put it down! I really liked the way the puzzle pieces came together with an unthinkable result. I'll buy the next in the series.

[Max Power · Rating 4 out of 5]

A twisting tale of intrigue with a nice bit of historical intrigue went a long way to help me through some weekend spare time. The narrative is quite strong and there are some long passages of narrative so that is vital to this book. There is no doubting the writer's skill and if any criticism was to come from me it might be that there may be a little too much going on in the background at times, but it makes for a meaty read. Characterisation is excellent and as I understand this is part of a series, that will be important. I think Gordon Bickerstaff has a lot to offer the reader.and I am happy to give this one a big thumbs up.

[Lucinda Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE WRITERS
I do like Bickerstaffe’s hero, he’s got so many flaws and is quite a coward which is a frank, refreshing change from the macho he-men who so often appear in books. I knew the minute I downloaded it, I was going to really enjoy this book, and I did – I guessed that from how much i enjoyed the other books in this series. I wish now I had read them in order, but for the most part it’s a stand alone. A great story and I highly recommend this author’s books they are a delight.