The Tissue Trail Conspiracy

by Garth Gunston

Five female backpackers face certain execution after they unknowingly carry heroin into Singapore in the souvenirs of their Tissue Trail trek from Nepal. With time running out their situation seems hopeless, until a medical researcher takes video footage of a salt caravan on the Nepal/Tibet border and accidentally uncovers evidence that the women may be pawns in a politically explosive global conspiracy. But there is still a glimmer of hope if he can survive the numerous attempts to stop him from proving their innocence. The story opens with minutes to go until the girl’s execution.

Genres: Fiction

382 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 26, 2014

About the author

Garth Gunston, author of The Tissue Trail Conspiracy, was born in the rugged and beautiful county of Derbyshire in the north of England. He read pharmacy at college followed by a career in medical promotion /PR for American ad giant BBDO OMNCOM. He had good contacts with UK Drug Intelligence and knowledge of media management. Keen and 'hyper adventurous' traveller reaching the south col on Everest, the world's deepest gorge, erupting volcanoes, calving glaciers, Grand Canyon white water rafting and every significant waterfall. I'm now using all this to write thrillers. Readers responses like "best book I've read for decades" and a dyslexic mother of three says "it's the first book I've not given up on for nine years". Married to lifetime partner Jacky with three daughters. A movie is also in the works.

Reviews

[Gary Moreau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve often wished that book sites offered the chance for two distinct star ratings – one for literary content and one for overall value. At a time when the most popular books are priced at $14.99 or above for the electronic version, I wish it more than ever.

This is a very good story and in terms of overall value I would give it six stars. (I read it as a member of Kindle Unlimited.) The best-selling fictional titles of the day have little, if anything, on this engaging tale.

That this is the author’s first book is almost beyond comprehension. It follows a complex plot line typically reserved for master storytellers. But unlike many beginning authors Gunston provides enough detail in both the story and the setting to keep it both authentic and believable. This allows him to get away with a few twists and turns that would have broken the suspension of disbelief in other elaborate stories of its kind. Gunston, however, holds on and the reader is treated to a rather thrilling ride as a result.

It’s a very good read. It won’t change your life, perhaps, but it will provide a very enjoyable moment of respite. I look forward to more.

[Patty Brandl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book free through Goodreads First-Reads giveaway. Garth Gunston's 379-page novel is a real nail-biter that pulls you into the story and holds you there to the very last page.

Five young western women, totally unrelated, are all arrested for smuggling high-grade heroin (all in amounts slightly higher than 15 grams, an amount that automatically leads to a sentence of death by hanging) over a short time period. NONE of the women had a clue that they were being used as mules. All five, while trekking, passed through the town of Pokhara in Nepal, and all were immediately arrested as they came through the Singapore airport.

Edward Thurston, 36, owns and operates a medical research company in the UK. He's also an adventure junkie and typically manages to fit in a side trek to a remote mountain or challenging trail while on his numerous business trips. His latest trip to Singapore with a quick few days in Nepal coincides with the arrest of Catherine Miller, one of the first of the five to be arrested and charged with smuggling at the Singapore Airport. Thurston senses something is not right when he witnesses the young woman from Edinburgh being flagged and pulled swiftly from the Customs queue at the Singapore airport. Thurston finds himself being pulled closer and deeper into the situation and realizes it's no ordinary smuggling situation. There is much more involved than meets the eye.

Crisp writing, detailed descriptions and a swiftly moving plot make this novel a page-turner. It's hard to imagine the hours of research that went into the trails of Nepal and the legal specifics of Singapore. As a journalist myself, I admire Gunston's writing and storytelling expertise. There are no annoying typos or glaring grammar missteps to distract the reader as the story snowballs from a few small-time drug mules into an international political plot.

I highly recommend "The Tissue Trail" to anyone looking for an action-packed thriller that NEVER talks down to the reader.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tissue Trail is a thriller set primarily in Nepal and Singapore. Five young western women are arrested and sentenced to death for unknowingly smuggling heroin into Singapore that was hidden without their knowledge in souvenirs purchased during treks in Nepal. The race is on for medical researcher and adventurer Edward Thurston and his colleague Jaci to try and uncover an international conspiracy behind the hidden heroin and help the women avoid hanging. Although I thought Thurston took things to extremes at times, I enjoyed the characters in the story and being carried away to another place. It was the kind of book that kept me reading well into the night to find out how things come out in the end.

Oddly enough, the thing I liked least about the book was its title. We eventually learn that the nickname of the trail stems from the difficulties that trekkers have with disposing of tissue (or toilet paper) along the trail. This waste disposal issue had little to do with the story. Personally, I felt that the book title if anything detracted for the story. I would have preferred another name.

I received a free copy of The Tissue Trail through Goodreads First Reads.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Tissue Trail
Author:Garth Gunston
*PDF copy of this book provided in exchange for honest review*

Several western female backpackers are arrested for smuggling heroin into Singapore. All of the women were unaware that drugs had been placed inside souveniers purchased in Nepal. It doesn't matter. Trafficking drugs into Singapore is a capital offense, even if the person is not aware they are carrying drugs. There is no defense.

A plot is uncovered, however, that might prove the women are innocent. Can evidence of a global conspiracy be found in time to save their lives?

This book was well-written and interesting. The plot held my interest until the end,even if at times it seemed a bit contrived. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Himalayan mountains, the trails and the difficulties faced by backpackers, climbers and visitors to the region. Gunston obviously knows much about the region he is writing about, and the story provides constant tension until the end.

My Rating: 7/10

[Gillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main idea and plot are not bad but this book is at least twice as long as it needs to be with repetition upon repetition (upon repetition...), including the transcript of every email, note and fax sent/received - some twice! Those who have to uncover and then unravel the conspiracy are well behind the reader at each stage: indeed, seem to forget their own discoveries for a couple of pages at times.

I found I had no special empathy with the character we are supposed to be desperate to see saved from hanging. There is a lack of character build-up and what there is of her (Catherine Miller) is concentrated at the start of the book. It would have been better spread throughout the book

Finally, the constant time switching was annoying if not plainly confusing. I’m also pretty sure hanging was scheduled for 27 June but that date went past with no mention, and 5th/6th July was then set. (I haven’t gone back to check - the book was long enough once through.)

With a strong and thorough proofreader and editor, and a willingness to believe less is more, this story does have potential; however, I cannot give a higher rating as it stands.

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Tissue Trail Conspiracy has a gripping start that pulled me in, particularly one young woman's experience as she's led to her execution. The details about what she sees until the hood is placed over her head, then what she hears, create an intense atmosphere. Had that atmosphere kept its pace through the rest of the book, this would've been a five-star read for me. Unfortunately, I felt like the story got a bit too convoluted at times. I expect some amount of that when conspiracies are part of the story, but this was a bit much for my taste. The book is also too often repetitive, which only served to draw me out of the story. This one could've been trimmed down some, and it would've been a more effective thriller. This tale does have potential, and it was worth the read despite my issues with it, but I don't think it quite lived up to what it could be, to what I was hoping for.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.
The Tissue Trail started with impact that had me hooked from the first paragraph.
Brilliantly written, easy to follow and the storyline ticked all the boxes for me.
Awesome read.
Highly recommend The Tissue Trail.
Loved it.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were times when the novel seemed a little bit long-winded, especially in the beginning. One character I definitely wasn't a fan of was Stephanie D'Aunay, though one character I did like was Edward Thurston. I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Addy · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thought it was a pretty awesome book.. got me thinking about many issues that came up with it. (: loved the book!