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Blake Willis Thriller #1
False Trust
Some lines should never be crossed.
Blake Willis has the perfect life - a beautiful wife, two great kids, and a thriving business doing what he loves as a cybersecurity consultant. Determined to secure his family’s financial future, Blake enlists the help of an old friend, tech billionaire and world-renowned whisky expert, Justin Coulter, to help him sell his grandpa’s “million-dollar moonshine.”
Everything is running smoothly until a shocking discovery rocks Blake’s world. The whisky is stolen and his caretaker is murdered. And worse, his wife is missing.
In a frantic race against time, the lines of trust blur. Blake’s friends and enemies — and maybe even his wife — are not who he thought they were. And the technology, money and global control at stake have now drawn disreputable foreign powers into the mix.
Is there anyone who he can trust — and who has crossed the line that can never be uncrossed?
Blake Willis has the perfect life - a beautiful wife, two great kids, and a thriving business doing what he loves as a cybersecurity consultant. Determined to secure his family’s financial future, Blake enlists the help of an old friend, tech billionaire and world-renowned whisky expert, Justin Coulter, to help him sell his grandpa’s “million-dollar moonshine.”
Everything is running smoothly until a shocking discovery rocks Blake’s world. The whisky is stolen and his caretaker is murdered. And worse, his wife is missing.
In a frantic race against time, the lines of trust blur. Blake’s friends and enemies — and maybe even his wife — are not who he thought they were. And the technology, money and global control at stake have now drawn disreputable foreign powers into the mix.
Is there anyone who he can trust — and who has crossed the line that can never be uncrossed?
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 9, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 30, 2022
What a fabulous debut this one was, compelling reading, murder, political intrigue, cybersecurity and lots of good whisky with a great cast of characters good and bad and I loved the settings, come along for this high flying thriller that is sure to keep you turning the pages.
Blake Willis is happily married to Becca they have two young boys and are living the good life, they run a security protection and cybersecurity business living in Tasmania a beautiful part of Australia. Blake has a legacy that was handed down from his grandfather and that is three barrels of the finest whisky and he has decided to sell it to ensure the future of his family, he has asked long- time friend, billionaire and renowned whisky expert Justin Coulter to help in the selling of it, although Becca is not keen on Justin’s help she agrees that he is the right person to sell it.
After a trip to the Hunter Valley in NSW and Justin’s beautiful property to discuss the sale they agree on the way to go forward but when Becca and Blake return home they find the whiskey gone and their caretaker murdered and within days of investigating Becca is kidnapped as well, this starts Blake on a race against time to find his wife and find out who is behind it all.
The police and Blake uncover so many leads and so many people who could be involved, past friends of Blake’s who can he trust at a time like this? This story has everything that a good thriller should have, it is fascinating reading as we delve into a lot of technology and the dark web, there is blackmail that goes back years, the characters are fabulous MR Shipley has bought them to life on the pages and yes I was cheering Blake on to catch the villain who really is a nasty piece of work.
Huge congrats on a fabulous debut, this is one that I would highly recommend and I am looking forward to more in the Blake Willis series.
My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.
Blake Willis is happily married to Becca they have two young boys and are living the good life, they run a security protection and cybersecurity business living in Tasmania a beautiful part of Australia. Blake has a legacy that was handed down from his grandfather and that is three barrels of the finest whisky and he has decided to sell it to ensure the future of his family, he has asked long- time friend, billionaire and renowned whisky expert Justin Coulter to help in the selling of it, although Becca is not keen on Justin’s help she agrees that he is the right person to sell it.
After a trip to the Hunter Valley in NSW and Justin’s beautiful property to discuss the sale they agree on the way to go forward but when Becca and Blake return home they find the whiskey gone and their caretaker murdered and within days of investigating Becca is kidnapped as well, this starts Blake on a race against time to find his wife and find out who is behind it all.
The police and Blake uncover so many leads and so many people who could be involved, past friends of Blake’s who can he trust at a time like this? This story has everything that a good thriller should have, it is fascinating reading as we delve into a lot of technology and the dark web, there is blackmail that goes back years, the characters are fabulous MR Shipley has bought them to life on the pages and yes I was cheering Blake on to catch the villain who really is a nasty piece of work.
Huge congrats on a fabulous debut, this is one that I would highly recommend and I am looking forward to more in the Blake Willis series.
My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.
July 22, 2022
I began reading as an ARC reader and couldn't put this book down. After edits and revisions, it is even better than before. It is a riveting read that truly lives up to its title--False Trust! You will be enthralled reading along as the characters engage in a world filled with explicitly planned dealings in crime, murder, theft, and deception involving vivid capers and jaunts into surprising twists, turns, angles and entangled relationships. I got very thirsty and hungry reading about the delicious libations and food described in the book and found interesting knowledge about whisky vintages that added to my interest to keep reading. You will not be disappointed in the ending and will be engaged and stimulated from start to finish. So…pour yourself some whisky in fine crystal or a lovely glass of wine, put your feet up and get cozy while you enjoy every minute of this suspense-filled novel. I promise you will love it as much as I did. – Dr. Debra P. Maddox
August 19, 2022
As a bourbon enthusiast, I was excited to see Steve was writing a story about a great whisky heist! It immediately brought to mind Pappygate and some other bourbon dramas. So there is no shame for me in saying that the whisky heist was my favorite aspect of the story. I was glad that some of the aging process was discussed, but I would have liked more detail on the filtering and proofing from barrel to bottle. There were many references to wine/wineries and Australia, neither of which are familiar to me, so I was yearning for that warm comfort that I find in the caramel nectar.
So, the real dilemma for me was when your rare whisky is stolen, and then your wife… which takes precedence??? 🤭 This probably would explain why I am NOT married. 😏. There was certainly a lot going on in this story and Blake Willis, our main character was getting betrayed quite boldly. You are able to figure out the culprit almost from the beginning, so sometimes I felt like our hero was a bit willfully ignorant of what was going on around him. He was also very loose with information sharing, so I wanted to clobber him a few times. Otherwise, I found Blake to have an interesting life and career. I liked the story of his grandpa’s whisky, and it was interesting to see a career that morphed from IT to private security. There were a few times I thought his responses strange… but that’s a man for ya. (I’m just digging a deep hole with this review. LOL)
I did not connect to Blake’s wife at all, so I hope to see her character developed a bit more as the series progresses. I find the concept of her character extremely interesting - I love an intelligent and accomplished female lead/co-lead. But Rebecca didn’t have much of an opportunity to shine in this installment, so I think her time will come in a future book. I do hope that some of our secondary characters, namely Daniel, Blizzard, David and Gavin, will continue to appear in the series as I liked all of them. And I really really liked Carla, I would like to see her play a strong presence going forward.
I recommend this book if you are a fan of whisky, corporate espionage, and the wine country of Australia.
So, the real dilemma for me was when your rare whisky is stolen, and then your wife… which takes precedence??? 🤭 This probably would explain why I am NOT married. 😏. There was certainly a lot going on in this story and Blake Willis, our main character was getting betrayed quite boldly. You are able to figure out the culprit almost from the beginning, so sometimes I felt like our hero was a bit willfully ignorant of what was going on around him. He was also very loose with information sharing, so I wanted to clobber him a few times. Otherwise, I found Blake to have an interesting life and career. I liked the story of his grandpa’s whisky, and it was interesting to see a career that morphed from IT to private security. There were a few times I thought his responses strange… but that’s a man for ya. (I’m just digging a deep hole with this review. LOL)
I did not connect to Blake’s wife at all, so I hope to see her character developed a bit more as the series progresses. I find the concept of her character extremely interesting - I love an intelligent and accomplished female lead/co-lead. But Rebecca didn’t have much of an opportunity to shine in this installment, so I think her time will come in a future book. I do hope that some of our secondary characters, namely Daniel, Blizzard, David and Gavin, will continue to appear in the series as I liked all of them. And I really really liked Carla, I would like to see her play a strong presence going forward.
I recommend this book if you are a fan of whisky, corporate espionage, and the wine country of Australia.
December 16, 2022
Please note this review comes from an ARC, provided by the author.
This book, I have very little positive to say about, beyond it being a quick and a nice resolution. The author doesn't know if he wants to be the next Agatha Christie or if he eventually wants this to be the next Die Hard (the comparison doesn't end there as the main character is literally called Blake Willis) and the book suffers from it.
The book is predictable, so much from the first few chapters, you know who the villain is, how he will escape in the end and his motive for the whole thing and the author never successfully manages to subvert these expectations.
The writing style of the book is horrible as well. Many times an event happens and the next immediate chapter, the same character recounts what just happened with no change in vocabulary or the way it happened, just line after line of repetitiveness. The book would've been closer to 150 pages if these sequences were taken out or if we didn't experience what just happened as the reader.
And another reason I can't recommend this book breaks down to xenophobia and racism against Chinese and Russian people. Except for the main character and the villain who are white, nearly every character is Russian or Chinese. Then tell me why chapter 38 is just demonizing Chinese people? Like I can under the villan being racist, calling Asian women "china dolls" as it helps us hate him. But why is the main character equally as dislikable by maintaning the china doll stereotype by treating his wife like that? Oh and don't forget that the two Asian women only contributions to the plot involve sleeping with men or seducing them.
Lot's to unpack here, don't think I will continue this series, don't recommend
This book, I have very little positive to say about, beyond it being a quick and a nice resolution. The author doesn't know if he wants to be the next Agatha Christie or if he eventually wants this to be the next Die Hard (the comparison doesn't end there as the main character is literally called Blake Willis) and the book suffers from it.
The book is predictable, so much from the first few chapters, you know who the villain is, how he will escape in the end and his motive for the whole thing and the author never successfully manages to subvert these expectations.
The writing style of the book is horrible as well. Many times an event happens and the next immediate chapter, the same character recounts what just happened with no change in vocabulary or the way it happened, just line after line of repetitiveness. The book would've been closer to 150 pages if these sequences were taken out or if we didn't experience what just happened as the reader.
And another reason I can't recommend this book breaks down to xenophobia and racism against Chinese and Russian people. Except for the main character and the villain who are white, nearly every character is Russian or Chinese. Then tell me why chapter 38 is just demonizing Chinese people? Like I can under the villan being racist, calling Asian women "china dolls" as it helps us hate him. But why is the main character equally as dislikable by maintaning the china doll stereotype by treating his wife like that? Oh and don't forget that the two Asian women only contributions to the plot involve sleeping with men or seducing them.
Lot's to unpack here, don't think I will continue this series, don't recommend
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2022
False Trust is an exciting page turner that I couldn't get enough of. Blake Willis believes he has the perfect life with his beautiful wife, a couple of kids, and a business that he loves but nothing is ever perfect is it?! He finds some barrels of his grandfather's whiskey so he enlists his friend to help him sell it but things hit the skids not too long after that. He comes home to find the whiskey stolen (it's worth a lot by the way), his caretaker murdered, and his wife missing. At this point I'm suspicious of everyone because seriously, nothing is as it seems that's for sure so I trusted NO ONE as the twists were coming in hot. I was on the edge of my seat with heart racing while devouring these pages like there was no tomorrow. The intricate plot was amazing, especially for a debut book, and frankly, I CANNOT WAIT FOR MORE! I don't want to talk about anything else at this point because of the possible spoilers, not to mention, it's so much better to just experience the heart pounding goodness for yourselves! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
August 1, 2022
Congratulations to Steve Shipley in producing this debut novel – a rapid-fire thriller with multiple themes: cyber and physical security, complex IT webs, theft, murder, kidnapping, personal intrigue, Portuguese tarts, you name it! The novel’s protagonist, Blake Willis, is well-drawn as are many of the subsidiary characters (including a pretty unpleasant ‘baddy’).
The reader is taken at a fast pace through the intrigue. The level of detail used to expound the plot is impressive and, while at times I was swimming quite a bit with a world I didn’t understand, this lent a real authenticity to the story. The punchy chapters and the many twists and turns keep the reader engaged throughout. I particularly liked the multiple settings in the US, Hunter wine country and Tasmania.
If fast-moving cyber-crime thrillers are your thing, this book is for you! If whisky is your tipple of choice, even better! Well done Steve.
The reader is taken at a fast pace through the intrigue. The level of detail used to expound the plot is impressive and, while at times I was swimming quite a bit with a world I didn’t understand, this lent a real authenticity to the story. The punchy chapters and the many twists and turns keep the reader engaged throughout. I particularly liked the multiple settings in the US, Hunter wine country and Tasmania.
If fast-moving cyber-crime thrillers are your thing, this book is for you! If whisky is your tipple of choice, even better! Well done Steve.
August 21, 2022
I was actually recommended this author by another author - always a great way to find new to me authors!
For a debut novel this was great. Murder, political machinations, technological wizardry, it had it all. What's more, the MC seemed like a fully fleshed character and less like a James Bond wannabe.
Blake and his family live in Tasmania and run a security business, Wanting a bit more financial security for them he decides to sell some Whisky that was left to him by his granddad. he asks his friend and whisky Connoisseur Justin to help market it to the right kind of people.
Soon they find their whisky stolen, their caretaker dead and then Becca, Blake's wife is kidnapped too.
This was an action-packed but well-timed rollercoaster ride. The mix of technology and the dark web, decades-old blackmail, and a gold old-fashioned mystery was fabulous. I will be on the lookout for more books by this author!
For a debut novel this was great. Murder, political machinations, technological wizardry, it had it all. What's more, the MC seemed like a fully fleshed character and less like a James Bond wannabe.
Blake and his family live in Tasmania and run a security business, Wanting a bit more financial security for them he decides to sell some Whisky that was left to him by his granddad. he asks his friend and whisky Connoisseur Justin to help market it to the right kind of people.
Soon they find their whisky stolen, their caretaker dead and then Becca, Blake's wife is kidnapped too.
This was an action-packed but well-timed rollercoaster ride. The mix of technology and the dark web, decades-old blackmail, and a gold old-fashioned mystery was fabulous. I will be on the lookout for more books by this author!
August 8, 2022
This is a debut from this author, and he has done an outstanding job in weaving this intricate and in-depth storyline. Blake is leading the perfect life with a wife, children, and a thriving business, and when he is handed down 3 barrels of the finest whiskey from his grandfather, he decides to sell them, and asks his long-standing friend and whiskey expert to help him. Nothing is as it seems though, Blake comes home to find his caretaker dead, his wife missing, and the whiskey barrels gone. Who can be trusted and who not? This is a well written story which has theft, deception, murder, twists, intrigue, suspense, danger, cyber secrets, and is a fast paced, intense, and thrilling page turner.
I received a free copy of this book via Enticing Journey Book Promotions and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Enticing Journey Book Promotions and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 30, 2022
I really enjoyed False Trust by Steve Shipley. I understand this is a debut novel - it is well written, with well rounded characters and a nicely developing plot.
The early pages set scenes, and introduce characters, to the backdrop of an Australian summer - enjoyed by the aspiring and aspired beautiful set. I like the characters, and even our protagonist, for all his naive vulnerability, has a darker streak. Like the antagonist, he holds the serious and intense Becca in very high esteem and, even when things turn a little murky, he obviously loves her dearly.
The plot is complex and, on occasion, complicated - so concentrate on the detail, the clues are there. That said, this is an easy to read thriller and beautifully narrated.
And I can almost smell the vineyards and taste the whiskey.
I am looking forward to more from Mr Shipley.
The early pages set scenes, and introduce characters, to the backdrop of an Australian summer - enjoyed by the aspiring and aspired beautiful set. I like the characters, and even our protagonist, for all his naive vulnerability, has a darker streak. Like the antagonist, he holds the serious and intense Becca in very high esteem and, even when things turn a little murky, he obviously loves her dearly.
The plot is complex and, on occasion, complicated - so concentrate on the detail, the clues are there. That said, this is an easy to read thriller and beautifully narrated.
And I can almost smell the vineyards and taste the whiskey.
I am looking forward to more from Mr Shipley.
July 28, 2022
False Trust is a great first in a series and first novel for Steve Shipley. It is suspense filled and action packed. An American businessman living in Tasmania deals with the fall out of having his caretaker and friend murdered and his grandfather’s unique and valuable whiskey being stolen when his wife is kidnapped. He doesn’t know who he can trust and is desperate to save his wife. You may want to make sure you have some good whiskey on hand because you I’ll be wanting glass or two with the talk of whiskey making and the suspense. I’ll definitely be following Mr Shipley and the Blake Willis Series.
July 27, 2022
More than just another addictive page-turner, this is a fantastic blending of technology, money, greed, murder, and whiskey - in exciting locations all around the globe. This fast-moving story will keep your interest from the first page to the last page. As the story progresses, you are kept in suspense about who could be so sinister to have committed these acts of murder and deceit. The twists and turns in the plot are riveting, and I can’t wait for the next book to see what new challenges lay ahead for Blake and Becca.
January 14, 2023
Blake thinks he has it all. Beautiful wife, great kids, great business, and soon to be rich, but then everything changes in one moment. His caretaker was murdered and his grandfather's whiskey was stolen. Who did this? Blake is questioning everything in his life. Who can he trust? Overall, this was an intriguing thriller of who did it.
A little confusing at first with the different time periods.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!
Happy Reading!
Melissa
A little confusing at first with the different time periods.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!
Happy Reading!
Melissa
January 24, 2025
I had a hard time with this. While I love the heist and the mystery behind it all, Blake just honestly drove me nuts. He's too loose lipped, almost wishy washy, and I don't know. I feel like he didn't value the relationship with his wife really. Especially with all that happens. It's more of a personal feeling with this. Please don't use my opinion as a reason not to try it. I've seen many others who loved it more. Give it a shot.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 24, 2022
I'm an ARC reader for 'False Trust', Steve Shipley's debut novel. Steve has clearly harnessed his knowledge and experience of the world of international corporate IT in the service of fiction. My rating reflects that this is a genre I don't often delve into, but I'm sure the novel will appeal to readers who like fast-paced action and plenty of cliff-hangers, delivered in short sharp chapters that drive the hero through the story.
October 20, 2022
I’ve just finished reading False Trust ..... excellent. I really enjoyed what your experiences had brought to it. ..... IT , whisky, wine and particularly you’re very methodical, and detailed, approach. A compelling read. I’m looking forward to the next instalment..... I also really enjoyed the “settings” section of your book ..... it was akin to watching a good movie and remaining thru all the end references/roles. All the very best....I look forward to your next book ..... Jack
November 26, 2022
I always enjoy a good “who done it” mystery, and False Trust checked all the boxes. The author did a good job of making me guess who stole the whiskey and who killed Holden…and at every turn I didn’t TRUST anyone ! It was a easy and quick read, and I learned a thing or two about whiskey! I am looking forward to a Blake Willis series and more from this author. If you are looking for a good thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat, you will not be disappointed.
March 19, 2025
This was a strong start to the Blake Willis Thriller series, it had that element that I was looking for and thought worked well as a thriller novel. Everything was what I was looking for and was glad I got to read this. The characters were wonderfully done and was engaged in the suspenseful atmosphere that I was looking for. Steve Shipley has a strong writing style and am excited for more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 3, 2022
Fast paced and well researched thriller running across multiple decades and continents that reflects our real world technological and ideological changes over that time.
Readers will instantly associate with and appreciate the world the author has created which blends with the exciting Blake Willis story line that makes it hard to put down at the end of each chapter.
Readers will instantly associate with and appreciate the world the author has created which blends with the exciting Blake Willis story line that makes it hard to put down at the end of each chapter.
October 9, 2022
I have just finished reading “False Trust” and very much enjoyed it. As an IT professional, it really resonated with me. The only thing missing is the secret recipe of the Portuguese tarts!
Well done on a seriously good debut crime thriller. I am looking forward to the next books of the Blake Willis series.
Well done on a seriously good debut crime thriller. I am looking forward to the next books of the Blake Willis series.
November 28, 2024
I was completely absorbed in 'False Trust' from beginning to end, thoroughly engaged by the narrative of Rebecca and Blake. The fact that the story unfolds in the Hunter area, a place I'm familiar with, allowed me to easily picture the settings described in the book. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel to learn about the future adventures of Blake, Rebecca, and their company CloudPhantom.
October 2, 2022
Steve Shipley has produced a debut novel with painstaking attention to detail, filled with intrigue and action to satisfy the most seasoned fan of the genre. Street names, expensive vintages, and more show the care and research put into this project.
July 21, 2022
This is a fascinating book that includes murder, kidnapping, deception, fraud and whiskey. Well worth the read.
October 14, 2025
Actual rating: 3.5 stars.
Warning: very wordy review. Sit back with a cup of tea.
Let me start by saying two things. 1. Thrillers are not my usual genre to read. I used to read a lot of thrillers and enjoyed the likes of Vince Flynn, Tom Clancy, etc., but I've pretty much only read romance for the last decade or so. My tastes have changed. 2. I know the author and I've been involved in the process of this book coming to light. I'll try to be objective because I am his biggest and likely harshest critic, but make of it what you will.
Mr Shipley is a debut crime thriller author. He's written a large number of non-fiction books and a lot of research papers and reports over the years. As a result, I think this leads to a tendency to over-explain and provide a lot of detail in his writing. I think that comes across somewhat in a few instances where I thought, I could probably have just used my imagination and figured that out.
I love the setting of the story from Scotland, to America, to Australia, and then within Australia, in Tasmania and the Hunter Valley. You can tell that Mr Shipley has done his research and he's familar with the places because there's a lot of detail. I particularly enjoyed his inclusion of restaurants and various landmarks in the region that made me feel like I was a part of the landscape. Also, (inside tip) if you follow Mr Shipley on social media, he shares a lot of his research process and even has a video on TikTok about how he got stuck and had to be towed researching a particular scene in the book.
As for the characters, I struggled with Blake for a long time. Blake is flawed and for someone who reads a lot of romance, he was not hero material enough for me. He was impatient, he lost his temper, and he seemed to lack control at times. I kept thinking that for a man who ran a successful cyber and security company, he seemed rather lax in terms of security and self-control. I guess Blake has a lot of learning and growing to do as a character and as a hero.
I liked Blake's wife, Becca. She has a lot of potential and could be a major character and player in the next books, but unfortunately, she didn't get a lot of page time in this book. I'm hoping that she will take on a larger role in the future.
The one thing that I did find particularly well done was Mr Shipley's ability to make me feel for the various characters. I became very attached to Holden Holden even though he was not around long, and boy, did I dislike the villain. I wanted to stick him with a fork or maybe something sharper.
I did like that the story, the settings, and the characters were all very international and the book is very multi-cultural. I find it interesting that Mr Shipley has painted the Chinese and the Russians as the bad guys, even as he has Blake married to a Chinese woman in Becca, but he also plays upon the cultural bias for the Chinese toward the male gender vs the female gender. And another fairly respected secondary character is also Chinese. I'm not sure how I feel about the Russians being bad guys, but hey, I also read mafia romance and in those, the Russians are very much anti-heroes. They might be the hero of the story, but they are also bad people and often in the Bratva doing rather awful things, so yeah, okay, there's a Russian bad guy, but I kept imagining him as a hunky Russian mafia hero. There's even a scene in the book that could almost be like that except it doesn't end the way it usually does for the hero in a romance with this particular Russian bad guy. Hah. I guess the point I'm trying to make here is that I think there's balance. Blake is married to Chinese woman so obviously, he doesn't think all Chinese are bad. And for my part, mafia romance reader here with lots of Bratva heroes, so not all Russians are bad.
For the most part, I enjoyed the story and the writing, but more importantly, I think the series and the characters have a lot of potential. So like many other series I've read over the years, some have becomes favorites, some I've discarded along the way, I look forward to what Mr Shipley will produce next and hope to see continued improvement in his writing.
Good job on a smashing debut. I hope Blake is better in the next book.
Warning: very wordy review. Sit back with a cup of tea.
Let me start by saying two things. 1. Thrillers are not my usual genre to read. I used to read a lot of thrillers and enjoyed the likes of Vince Flynn, Tom Clancy, etc., but I've pretty much only read romance for the last decade or so. My tastes have changed. 2. I know the author and I've been involved in the process of this book coming to light. I'll try to be objective because I am his biggest and likely harshest critic, but make of it what you will.
Mr Shipley is a debut crime thriller author. He's written a large number of non-fiction books and a lot of research papers and reports over the years. As a result, I think this leads to a tendency to over-explain and provide a lot of detail in his writing. I think that comes across somewhat in a few instances where I thought, I could probably have just used my imagination and figured that out.
I love the setting of the story from Scotland, to America, to Australia, and then within Australia, in Tasmania and the Hunter Valley. You can tell that Mr Shipley has done his research and he's familar with the places because there's a lot of detail. I particularly enjoyed his inclusion of restaurants and various landmarks in the region that made me feel like I was a part of the landscape. Also, (inside tip) if you follow Mr Shipley on social media, he shares a lot of his research process and even has a video on TikTok about how he got stuck and had to be towed researching a particular scene in the book.
As for the characters, I struggled with Blake for a long time. Blake is flawed and for someone who reads a lot of romance, he was not hero material enough for me. He was impatient, he lost his temper, and he seemed to lack control at times. I kept thinking that for a man who ran a successful cyber and security company, he seemed rather lax in terms of security and self-control. I guess Blake has a lot of learning and growing to do as a character and as a hero.
I liked Blake's wife, Becca. She has a lot of potential and could be a major character and player in the next books, but unfortunately, she didn't get a lot of page time in this book. I'm hoping that she will take on a larger role in the future.
The one thing that I did find particularly well done was Mr Shipley's ability to make me feel for the various characters. I became very attached to Holden Holden even though he was not around long, and boy, did I dislike the villain. I wanted to stick him with a fork or maybe something sharper.
I did like that the story, the settings, and the characters were all very international and the book is very multi-cultural. I find it interesting that Mr Shipley has painted the Chinese and the Russians as the bad guys, even as he has Blake married to a Chinese woman in Becca, but he also plays upon the cultural bias for the Chinese toward the male gender vs the female gender. And another fairly respected secondary character is also Chinese. I'm not sure how I feel about the Russians being bad guys, but hey, I also read mafia romance and in those, the Russians are very much anti-heroes. They might be the hero of the story, but they are also bad people and often in the Bratva doing rather awful things, so yeah, okay, there's a Russian bad guy, but I kept imagining him as a hunky Russian mafia hero. There's even a scene in the book that could almost be like that except it doesn't end the way it usually does for the hero in a romance with this particular Russian bad guy. Hah. I guess the point I'm trying to make here is that I think there's balance. Blake is married to Chinese woman so obviously, he doesn't think all Chinese are bad. And for my part, mafia romance reader here with lots of Bratva heroes, so not all Russians are bad.
For the most part, I enjoyed the story and the writing, but more importantly, I think the series and the characters have a lot of potential. So like many other series I've read over the years, some have becomes favorites, some I've discarded along the way, I look forward to what Mr Shipley will produce next and hope to see continued improvement in his writing.
Good job on a smashing debut. I hope Blake is better in the next book.
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