Devious Web

by Shelley Grandy

Gone Girl's twists, The Social Network’s scheming, and Agatha Christie’s detective sleuthing coalesce in this suspenseful mystery fiction novel set in Toronto in a mid-pandemic business environment.

When Tom Oliver, a successful Canadian entrepreneur, is offered millions from a Silicon Valley company for his data analytics business, he believes his only challenges as he considers the offer will be deciding on next steps for his company and reconciling with his aloof wife. What could possibly go wrong?

Things escalate quickly when Tom is targeted by an unknown perpetrator and his inner circle of family and colleagues comes under scrutiny. Tom’s friend, homicide detective Jason Liu, strives to keep Tom safe while he investigates to find the truth. Who would want to murder a well-liked tech CEO at the top of his game, and why? A progression of intriguing plot twists takes this bingeworthy thriller through business, politics, social media, interpersonal relationships, and even equestrian scenarios. When the dust has settled literally motivations become clear, and Tom discovers that while some relationships are worthy of long-term investment, others have expiration dates.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

272 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2024

About the author

Shelley Grandy is a Canadian communications professional
whose type-A personality and honors journalism degree from
Ottawa’s Carleton University fueled a career that started in
newspapers and progressed to twenty-five years at high-tech
company Nortel. She subsequently founded Grandy Public
Relations Inc. and has supported tech sector clients in Ontario
and Quebec for the past sixteen years. After writing countless
press releases and technical articles for trade media, Devious
Web is Shelley’s debut fiction novel.
When not writing, Shelley enjoys intriguing Netflix-style
productions and is known to frequently reference scenes from
Grace and Frankie. You can also find her at the boarding stable
with her horses, Chancey and Briosa. Shelley lives in Trenton, Ontario, Canada, with husband of thirty-plus years Roy,
husky dog Luka, and cat Otto, within spoiling distance of her
beautiful granddaughters, Emilia and Olivia .

Reviews

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing, clever, and unputdownable!

Devious Web by Shelley Grandy is a riveting tale of betrayal and suspense. With its mesmerizing plot, clever execution, and a host of surprisingly unlikely suspects, I was glued to the book because I had to find out who could possibly be behind it all!

Tom Oliver is the owner of the multimillion-dollar Toronto tech firm Pellucid, and he’s torn about the latest offer to buy his company, which he started from scratch. He’s honestly concerned about the impact such a sale would have on everyone involved in helping the business grow but feels like it’s probably the right thing to do and the right time to do it. He’s a genuinely nice guy who has put everything into building his company and knows his choices have hurt his marriage with Miriam, his wife of many years.

Supporting characters are well developed and readers get the opportunity to know them well as their points of view also tell the story. I think I alternated having almost everyone at the top of my suspect list and knocking them off at some point during the book, and I still felt like it could have been any one of them up until the actual reveal.

The plot is well-paced and oh-so-clever. I’m smiling as I write this because devious describes how well I was led all over the place. The suspense throughout was palpable. I was loathe to put the book down once I got into it and the great plot twists only made that more difficult!

I recommend DEVIOUS WEB to readers of thrillers, suspense, and mystery, especially those who enjoy a story with a business or tech setting, set during COVID, or a Toronto location.

Content warning: The storyline features negative portrayals of Fox News, Republicans, and then former President Donald Trump.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

[Country Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devious Web is a book about our MMC named Tom. Tom is a Canadian tech entrepreneur who is thinking of selling his company to a California buyer, named Pellucid. Tom becomes a target and someone wants him dead and out of the way! It's up to Detective Liu to investigate and find out who is trying to get Tom out of the way before he becomes a dead man!
I thought the writing was well written for a tech based thriller about a CEO tech owner who is trying to sell his company and retire or not have to work again for some time. Tom is married to another woman at first in the book but then he meets Elise and they become quite the item. I did not like that part of the book as I am a firm believer in marriage as a one and done institution but I understand how others may not see it that way or have different experiences than myself. I did like the rest of the story trying to figure out who was the person behind trying to take Tom out, it was a lot closer than both he and I realized! I was not expecting that ending!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting mystery centered around the attempted murder of a tech company CEO. We are taken into the world of corporate dynamics and the strong people involved in leadership. The cutting edge technology involved data analysis I appreciate learning a bit about it. There were a couple of suspenseful scenes but in general, the pace of the plot moved along in a consistent manner. I had no idea who the villain was nor did the investigating detective until near the very end.

For me, the best part of this novel was Grandy involving some recent American politics into the plot. I admire her not being hesitant to write about technology being used to affect elections through gerrymandering. I also admire her having a January 6 individual as a character, and including some of the opinions he had. I think only a Canadian author could be so blunt.

I recommend this entertaining mystery.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story here, and it was fast paced however my only hang up is the climax of the who-done-it part. The private cottage meeting seems far stretched to be truly believable, but then this is fiction and I truly enjoyed the characters and the storyline. Looking forward to the next book by Shelley Grandy!

[Fatima Zaidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

You wont be able to put this crime novel down, be prepared to be on the edge of your seat. It's a very clever and well crafted read.

[Lola Allin · Rating 5 out of 5]

With her debut novel, Devious Web, Shelley Grandy has woven a slick, fast-paced murder mystery. Chock full of corporate intrigue, ambition, and jealousy, this mesmerizing novel will keep you guessing. —Lola Reid Allin, author of Highway to the Sky: An Aviator's Journey

[Caralyn Rubli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway through Goodreads
Very good story.
I like that it takes place in Toronto and surrounding areas. I like the short chapters

[Ruth Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good page turner, kept you guessing!

[Holly Found · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book pulls you in instantly. Shelley weaves together characters, locations, politics and boardroom drama to create an engaging storyline that has you guessing the entire time. All of the details have been well researched; the depth gives the reader ease to connect with the characters and their roles. This novel deserves a place on everyone’s bookshelf!

[Francesco Paola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devious Web by Shelley Grandy is a great blend of psychological intrigue, corporate drama, and classic whodunit storytelling set against the backdrop of mid-pandemic Toronto. The novel follows Tom Oliver, a successful entrepreneur at a crossroads in both his professional and personal life, as he considers an offer that could transform his career and his data analytics company. What begins as a high-stakes business decision quickly spirals into a web of danger and deception when Tom becomes the target of a mysterious assailant.

Fans of thrillers will appreciate the character development and the fusion of tech-driven suspense and emotion. With its clever twists, Devious Web is a must-read for anyone who loves mysteries that keep you guessing until the very end.

[Danielle Urban · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devious Web by Shelley Grandy is an amazing novel of mystery, suspense, drama, and more. It is action-packed and contains a global intrigue kind of dangerous vibe to the story. It rains chaos in the particular well-liked tech. His life just got complicated and twisted. I loved all the characters. Shelley Grandy created a novel that can be considered an all new classic. The themes and characters have what it takes to keep readers guessing and on edge. Tom, the main character, reminds me of Gatsby with a little bit of James Bond mixed in...a doer of many things, yet prone to danger. All mystery, crime fiction, and thriller fans beware this book is addictive in nature.

I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

[Erin Bury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel, and it kept me guessing until the end. I really loved how the book wove together a tech startup's rise with the components of a traditional whodunit. As a tech entrepreneur myself, I really identified with the main character, Tom, and the issues he faced running his business. I also loved that the book is set in Toronto, since I lived there for 14 years and recognized a lot of the places. I would recommend for anyone who likes thrillers.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read from beginning to end. Keeps you on the edge of your seat with the characters and the storyline…love the whole twists and turns as it had me wondering the whole time! Thank you Shelley Grandy…I hope you have another novel up your sleeve for us to read!

[Julie J · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think there is a decent story here but it needs some fine tuning. It also could just not have been my style. If you want an easy going murder mystery I do suggest giving it a go.

[Burt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok story but what’s the deal with the author’s writing style? She writes like an old person explaining things to her young grandchildren. We don’t need a play by play of how to turn on a computer or upload video to the cloud like both are some sort of modern miracle. It’s all very cringey and hard to read. Two stars for some solid anti-Trump plot twists toward the end.