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The Conspirators
Jacob Meaney makes so little money as a translator that his girlfriend has given up on him. Then Eloise, an Australian digital marketer, appears out of the blue, offering him unheard of sums for a couple of weeks' work.
A private plane and helicopter take him to a showcase villa in Carinthia and all the luxury he could ever want. Here he meets the owner of the house Bondarenko. Unwillingly Jacob has become part of an organised crime conspiracy, held captive there by armed guards.
His task is to interpret between Hindi, Russian and English during Zoom calls with Nazim, an Indian criminal whose gang have taken over the manufacture and distribution network of the wonder fertility drug that Bondarenko has been selling on the internet. It becomes clear to Jacob that his employer is in far deeper and more dangerously than he realises. The gang's plan is to take over the entire operation by any means.
The villa has become a lethal gilded prison to Jacob and Vlada, the maid who's a trafficked worker. When Nazim finally strikes which side will Jacob take to survive?
Fast-moving, tense, glamorous and witty The Conspirators is G. W. Shaw's follow-up to Dead Rich ('A great book by a fabulous writer' Steve Cavanagh) and shows that he's a master of the gripping international thriller genre.
A private plane and helicopter take him to a showcase villa in Carinthia and all the luxury he could ever want. Here he meets the owner of the house Bondarenko. Unwillingly Jacob has become part of an organised crime conspiracy, held captive there by armed guards.
His task is to interpret between Hindi, Russian and English during Zoom calls with Nazim, an Indian criminal whose gang have taken over the manufacture and distribution network of the wonder fertility drug that Bondarenko has been selling on the internet. It becomes clear to Jacob that his employer is in far deeper and more dangerously than he realises. The gang's plan is to take over the entire operation by any means.
The villa has become a lethal gilded prison to Jacob and Vlada, the maid who's a trafficked worker. When Nazim finally strikes which side will Jacob take to survive?
Fast-moving, tense, glamorous and witty The Conspirators is G. W. Shaw's follow-up to Dead Rich ('A great book by a fabulous writer' Steve Cavanagh) and shows that he's a master of the gripping international thriller genre.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2023
10 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
G.W. Shaw
4 books39 followersWilliam Shaw is a crime writer and wrote the Alex Cupidi series set in Dungeness, Kent and the Breen & Tozer series set in London in 1968-9. He also write under the name G.W. Shaw.
From William Shaw bio
From William Shaw bio
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
June 24, 2023
The Conspirators is a contemporary thriller set in Austria, about a young English translator who is persuaded to take on a lucrative interpreting job, but soon finds himself in serious trouble. I read and loved Dead Rich by this author last year, and this has the same mix of tension, skulduggery, and twists, but I felt like the whole plot was just a bit too far fetched this time. It’s still a fun fast paced read that kept me entertained throughout.
Jacob Meaney has a gift for languages, and loves his work translating poetry and fiction, but it doesn’t pay well enough to satisfy his ambitious girlfriend, who has her heart set on them moving into a luxury flat. When a glamorous Australian promises him a small fortune for a short job overseas, and has him flown to a stunning villa in the Austrian mountains, he can’t believe his luck, but soon changes his mind when he meets his thuggish new employer and is told he may not leave. Trapped with a group of strangers all working on an illegal pharmaceutical scheme, Jacob soon learns that this dream job is actually a nightmare…
This was an enjoyable action adventure featuring evil gangsters, a human trafficking subplot, a complicated but lucrative scam, and a locked villa scenario where our mild mannered hero is never quite sure who he can trust. There is some violence and the main bad guy is pretty nasty, but it’s not too gory. I liked the way Jacob uses his wits and specialised language skills to solve each problem that he faces, and that he was willing to risk his own life to save others. I’m not sure why Nazim was so determined to join Myroslav’s conspiracy when he could presumably have done the same thing on his own, but this was the main driver of all the events so it’s best to just go with it. 3.5 rounded up for some humorous moments and a good ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Conspirators is published on July 20th.
Jacob Meaney has a gift for languages, and loves his work translating poetry and fiction, but it doesn’t pay well enough to satisfy his ambitious girlfriend, who has her heart set on them moving into a luxury flat. When a glamorous Australian promises him a small fortune for a short job overseas, and has him flown to a stunning villa in the Austrian mountains, he can’t believe his luck, but soon changes his mind when he meets his thuggish new employer and is told he may not leave. Trapped with a group of strangers all working on an illegal pharmaceutical scheme, Jacob soon learns that this dream job is actually a nightmare…
This was an enjoyable action adventure featuring evil gangsters, a human trafficking subplot, a complicated but lucrative scam, and a locked villa scenario where our mild mannered hero is never quite sure who he can trust. There is some violence and the main bad guy is pretty nasty, but it’s not too gory. I liked the way Jacob uses his wits and specialised language skills to solve each problem that he faces, and that he was willing to risk his own life to save others. I’m not sure why Nazim was so determined to join Myroslav’s conspiracy when he could presumably have done the same thing on his own, but this was the main driver of all the events so it’s best to just go with it. 3.5 rounded up for some humorous moments and a good ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Conspirators is published on July 20th.
March 25, 2023
The Conspirators - G.W.Shaw (William Shaw)
G.W. Shaw's second international action adventure after Dead Rich.
Jacob Meaney is a translator, struggling to afford a deposit on a flat. A well paid job opportunity, of course, he doesn't know what he is getting into.
The action is based in a luxurious, secure compound in Austria, and Jacob quickly suspects the business is not strictly legal, and dangerous criminal gangs want a slice of the action.
There's an impressive threat level, with dangers inside the compound and the growing threat of a very hostile takeover from outside the walls.
There are some very good twists, and a clever use of this paranoid, big money environment that Jacob finds himself trapped in.
William Shaw wrote The Breen and Tozer series and The Birdwatcher / Cupidi series, I have to say I much prefer Crime fiction to adventure thrillers generally.
Entertaining and it kept me reading, I can see that adventure thriller fan will probably love it more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books.
G.W. Shaw's second international action adventure after Dead Rich.
Jacob Meaney is a translator, struggling to afford a deposit on a flat. A well paid job opportunity, of course, he doesn't know what he is getting into.
The action is based in a luxurious, secure compound in Austria, and Jacob quickly suspects the business is not strictly legal, and dangerous criminal gangs want a slice of the action.
There's an impressive threat level, with dangers inside the compound and the growing threat of a very hostile takeover from outside the walls.
There are some very good twists, and a clever use of this paranoid, big money environment that Jacob finds himself trapped in.
William Shaw wrote The Breen and Tozer series and The Birdwatcher / Cupidi series, I have to say I much prefer Crime fiction to adventure thrillers generally.
Entertaining and it kept me reading, I can see that adventure thriller fan will probably love it more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books.
September 22, 2025
something about language being powerful makes me want to open a dictionary.
Easy thriller that keeps you wanting to know what will happen, master deceivers and normal people becoming heroes.
Cute ending I thought, you will never catch me in organized crime I don’t have the shoulders for it.
Easy thriller that keeps you wanting to know what will happen, master deceivers and normal people becoming heroes.
Cute ending I thought, you will never catch me in organized crime I don’t have the shoulders for it.
January 1, 2024
Jacob Meaney is given an ultimatum by his girlfriend, make some money, or it’s over. As a translator he makes very little, so when a dream job with big money promises lands in his lap, he can’t say no.
Eloise, a marketeer, travels with him to an Uber luxurious villa in Corinthian where he meets his employer, Bondarenko. Unwillingly Jacob has become part of an organised crime conspiracy, held captive there by armed guards.
His task is to act as interpreter in a dodgy pharmaceutical deal and it soon becomes clear to Jacob that his employer is in far deeper and more dangerously than he realises.
In this lethal gilded prison, Jacob and Vlada, the maid have to fight to survive.
‘An interpreter was a kind of conspirator. He was suspect; neither one side, nor the other.’
What a quick fire rollercoaster of a book!
Once you start, you get sucked in and that’s it. Adrenaline fuelled, high tension that never lets up and absolutely jam packed with thrills.
‘Everything was a lie.’
Jacob is utterly naive, but if you suspend your disbelief at why he would just take this job just like that, it is fantastic! I liked how he used his brains to figure out a plan, rather than brute force. Oh, to be able to speak multiple languages!
Vlada is just great, I liked her from the start, strong, and a no BS type of woman, even though she is trapped, I loved the way she still tried to subvert her captors.
This is a great thriller, packed to the gunnels with twists and turns and guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat!
‘An interpreter was a kind of conspirator. He was suspect; neither one side, nor the other.’
What a quick fire rollercoaster of a book!
Once you start, you get sucked in and that’s it. Adrenaline fuelled, high tension that never lets up and absolutely jam packed with thrills.
‘Everything was a lie.’
Jacob is utterly naive, but if you suspend your disbelief at why he would just take this job just like that, it is fantastic! I liked how he used his brains to figure out a plan, rather than brute force. Oh, to be able to speak multiple languages!
Vlada is just great, I liked her from the start, strong, and a no BS type of woman, even though she is trapped, I loved the way she still tried to subvert her captors.
This is a great thriller, packed to the gunnels with twists and turns and guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat!
July 19, 2023
An overall ok book.
I enjoyed the tie-ins with the real-world issues, however, all of the thriller seemed unbelievable to me.
In no way it is a bad thing, it just wasn't to my liking.
The plot was exciting and fast-paced and I read it super quickly, considering.
I enjoyed the dedication and thanks section :)
Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!
I enjoyed the tie-ins with the real-world issues, however, all of the thriller seemed unbelievable to me.
In no way it is a bad thing, it just wasn't to my liking.
The plot was exciting and fast-paced and I read it super quickly, considering.
I enjoyed the dedication and thanks section :)
Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!
July 1, 2023
A story that really is for today featuring contemporary events and a hugely exciting plot.
When struggling translator Jacob is offered a job that is too good to refuse he grabs it with both hands. What he lands himself in the middle of goes well beyond his expectation and he is desperate to get away - but he knows too much. The storyline takes many diversions and is a fast-paced and easy read and just when you think you have a handle on what is happening something else occurs to change everything. Another high concept thriller from William Shaw following on from his brilliant Dead Rich.
The only thing to be aware of is those who won't read books where an animal is killed as part of the plot should be aware of this aspect.
That aside I would recommend this book without hesitation. 5*
When struggling translator Jacob is offered a job that is too good to refuse he grabs it with both hands. What he lands himself in the middle of goes well beyond his expectation and he is desperate to get away - but he knows too much. The storyline takes many diversions and is a fast-paced and easy read and just when you think you have a handle on what is happening something else occurs to change everything. Another high concept thriller from William Shaw following on from his brilliant Dead Rich.
The only thing to be aware of is those who won't read books where an animal is killed as part of the plot should be aware of this aspect.
That aside I would recommend this book without hesitation. 5*
April 24, 2024
Falls short of the blurb. You will see the few twists coming a mile away, though they fail to thrill. You are also going to be frustrated by the protagonist. Jacob totally fails to capitalise on the advantage he has over all other players yet wins through blind luck every step of the way.
April 21, 2023
What a novelty to have a translator as a hero of a novel! This is a fun romp with gangsters and an unwitting main protagonist who is accidentally persuaded to work for them.
Jacob Meaney is an impoverished translator and language teacher who is keen to earn a bit more cash as his girlfriend wants him to contribute to the purchase of a property.
When he is approached by Eloise a pretty Australian and offered an interpreter’s job he decides to take the position as the pay is very good, more than he could make translating literature.
He is whisked off to Austria and meets Eloise’s business colleague, Myroslav who lives in a large mansion in the Austrian countryside.
It becomes apparent very quickly that Jacob has bitten off more than he can chew and he is being employed by a group of gangsters who are participating in some very shady business.
His life is obviously in danger and he must work out how to escape and alert the authorities before matters get worse
I like crime thrillers and this was a fast paced and enjoyable read with lots of action. There was also a fair amount of humour and despite a few deaths along the way this was not a particularly gory read!
Jacob was a good hero, he engendered sympathy despite the fact he was too trusting and should have known better than to accept Eloise’s offer.
Apart from Jacob and the maid, none of the other characters were likeable- in fact Myroslav made for a rather two dimensional violent thug with no redeeming features.
All in all a quick and light hearted read which I skipped through very quickly. The end was great- the pace really picked up and it left me wondering whether the author has another book about Jacob in the pipeline.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc.
Jacob Meaney is an impoverished translator and language teacher who is keen to earn a bit more cash as his girlfriend wants him to contribute to the purchase of a property.
When he is approached by Eloise a pretty Australian and offered an interpreter’s job he decides to take the position as the pay is very good, more than he could make translating literature.
He is whisked off to Austria and meets Eloise’s business colleague, Myroslav who lives in a large mansion in the Austrian countryside.
It becomes apparent very quickly that Jacob has bitten off more than he can chew and he is being employed by a group of gangsters who are participating in some very shady business.
His life is obviously in danger and he must work out how to escape and alert the authorities before matters get worse
I like crime thrillers and this was a fast paced and enjoyable read with lots of action. There was also a fair amount of humour and despite a few deaths along the way this was not a particularly gory read!
Jacob was a good hero, he engendered sympathy despite the fact he was too trusting and should have known better than to accept Eloise’s offer.
Apart from Jacob and the maid, none of the other characters were likeable- in fact Myroslav made for a rather two dimensional violent thug with no redeeming features.
All in all a quick and light hearted read which I skipped through very quickly. The end was great- the pace really picked up and it left me wondering whether the author has another book about Jacob in the pipeline.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc.
May 6, 2023
A very unique use of a translator as a main character, this book had me guessing what was going to happen next the whole way through. I’ve read a few of G.W Shaw’s books published under his real name, William Shaw, and I was pleased to read this and find that whilst the tone and subject is very different, it still had that underlying charm and style that makes me love reading his books. I didn’t really like any of the characters, and I think it’s a real talent of any author to write a book with unlikeable characters and still make it an exciting and engaging read, which this definitely is. I did find the plot a little complicated in places, especially as the cast of characters is relatively big, but the ending does draw everything together. Using a translator as a main character is very clever as this is someone with a lot of power, yet Jacob is a very ordinary and not at all powerful man, making for an interesting dynamic.
August 4, 2023
Jacob Meaney earns very little as a translator and is desperate to raise enough money for the deposit on a flat in Brighton. His girlfriend Carla has threatened to leave him for good if he fails.
Then unexpectedly he is offered an extremely well-paid two-week job as an interpreter by Eloise. She represents a company run by a Ukrainian who mainly speaks Russian, and they need someone who can converse in a number of different languages. He reluctantly agrees as he is a translator and as he explains, it is very different from an interpreter, however he really needs the money.
He is flown to a luxurious house with extensive grounds in Austria owned by Myoslav Bondarenko. He wonders what he has got himself into when his phone and passport are taken off him. Jacob is told the company is in pharmaceuticals concentrating mainly on a new wonder fertility drug.
Soon it becomes clear that an Indian from Mumbai named Nazim is putting pressure on Bondarenko to arrange a fifty-fifty deal with him. However, he adamantly refuses and deliberately taunts Nazim which leads to a great deal of bloodshed.
Jacob of course is caught up in the middle as he has to interpret between the two opposing figures. He also becomes suspicious that Nazim intends taking over completely, does he tell Bondarenko? He is in a real quandary.
Events really now begin to heat up, especially when Jacob discovers Bondarenko is not his real name and has connections to the Donetsk mafia. He becomes very suspicious about the legality of the supposed wonder drug and realises that no way can they allow him to ever go free as he will know too much of their real operations. He becomes desperate to get out, but the security is watertight and armed men patrol the perimeters.
Jacob befriends the maid Vlada who has been trafficked and is being held against her will. They try to come up with a plan to escape, but it all seems hopeless at every turn.
When things really come to a head between Nazim and Bondarenko, what will happen to Jacob and Vlada?
A thoroughly engrossing tension filled thriller which I cannot praise and recommend highly enough.
------
Reviewer: Tricia Chappell
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
Then unexpectedly he is offered an extremely well-paid two-week job as an interpreter by Eloise. She represents a company run by a Ukrainian who mainly speaks Russian, and they need someone who can converse in a number of different languages. He reluctantly agrees as he is a translator and as he explains, it is very different from an interpreter, however he really needs the money.
He is flown to a luxurious house with extensive grounds in Austria owned by Myoslav Bondarenko. He wonders what he has got himself into when his phone and passport are taken off him. Jacob is told the company is in pharmaceuticals concentrating mainly on a new wonder fertility drug.
Soon it becomes clear that an Indian from Mumbai named Nazim is putting pressure on Bondarenko to arrange a fifty-fifty deal with him. However, he adamantly refuses and deliberately taunts Nazim which leads to a great deal of bloodshed.
Jacob of course is caught up in the middle as he has to interpret between the two opposing figures. He also becomes suspicious that Nazim intends taking over completely, does he tell Bondarenko? He is in a real quandary.
Events really now begin to heat up, especially when Jacob discovers Bondarenko is not his real name and has connections to the Donetsk mafia. He becomes very suspicious about the legality of the supposed wonder drug and realises that no way can they allow him to ever go free as he will know too much of their real operations. He becomes desperate to get out, but the security is watertight and armed men patrol the perimeters.
Jacob befriends the maid Vlada who has been trafficked and is being held against her will. They try to come up with a plan to escape, but it all seems hopeless at every turn.
When things really come to a head between Nazim and Bondarenko, what will happen to Jacob and Vlada?
A thoroughly engrossing tension filled thriller which I cannot praise and recommend highly enough.
------
Reviewer: Tricia Chappell
For Lizzie Sirett (Mystery People Group)
December 13, 2023
Jacob Meaney’s girlfriend has given him an ultimatum – find £20,000 towards the deposit on a flat or their relationship is over. He is a translator with a gift for languages, and this is what brings the mysterious Eloise into his life. She makes him an offer that would help solve his money problems, but just what would he be getting himself into – if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Transported by private jet and helicopter to a remote luxury villa in Austria, Jacob soon realises all is not what it first appears. The villa belongs to Myroslav Bondarenko, head of a Russian organised crime gang engaged in selling illegal drugs on the internet, and Jacob is now cut off from the outside world as they have taken his passport and mobile phone. Due to the unusual combination of languages he speaks, they want him to help communicate with new suppliers in India.
Unusually for a story like this, Jacob is just an average man trying to escape from a dangerous situation. He does not have a military background or special training, but must rely on his wits and intelligence. He is completely out of his element and does not know who to trust, but his language skills give him an edge. This standalone thriller, from the author of the DI Alex Cupidi detective series, is in no way predictable, as just when you think you know what is going on, everything is turned on its head. The characters are believable, the plot is complicated and requires you to suspend disbelief in certain places. There is a lot of double-crossing and violence, but this is mitigated by humour and great descriptions of the Austrian landscape. I am a fan of William Shaw’s writing, and really enjoyed this unusual contemporary thriller where intelligence wins over violence every time. Great ending that ties up all the loose ends. Thanks to Quercus and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.
Unusually for a story like this, Jacob is just an average man trying to escape from a dangerous situation. He does not have a military background or special training, but must rely on his wits and intelligence. He is completely out of his element and does not know who to trust, but his language skills give him an edge. This standalone thriller, from the author of the DI Alex Cupidi detective series, is in no way predictable, as just when you think you know what is going on, everything is turned on its head. The characters are believable, the plot is complicated and requires you to suspend disbelief in certain places. There is a lot of double-crossing and violence, but this is mitigated by humour and great descriptions of the Austrian landscape. I am a fan of William Shaw’s writing, and really enjoyed this unusual contemporary thriller where intelligence wins over violence every time. Great ending that ties up all the loose ends. Thanks to Quercus and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.
August 14, 2023
An enjoyable caper in Carinthia (Austria)
YOU TUBE REVIEW: https://youtu.be/3l2RvcWXNDo
Carinthia is a one-off setting and much of the action takes place in a locked-room (as it were) luxury villa, not far from the Millstätter See. So, of course we were going to read it.
Jacob Meaney is a translator, who is on a break from his relationship. His girlfriend is keen to buy a property but given his fairly meagre income, he is going to struggle to stump up his share of the deposit, much to her displeasure. His problems could be solved by the serendipitous arrival of Eloise, an Australian digital marketeer, who just rocks up at his door and invites him onto a specialist project because of his command of Hindi, Russian and English – where rather than translating, he will be working more as an interpreter, which requires quite a different skill set. But he is up for the challenge, as the significant financial reward may help get his relationship back on track.
Thus it is off to the sumptuous villa in the middle of nowhere, guarded by an armed patrol, where he discovers the true nature of his proposed work. There is a big deal and a proposed potential take over of a company that trades in counterfeit fertility drugs. Myroslav is his host, and Vlada a young Ukrainian woman, a trafficked worker, whose family is being held hostage back home, angrily tends to all the domestic and cooking chores. Nazim is the evil and ruthless gangster who wants to acquire the rights to the drugs, at any cost. What a set up to walk into, as Jacob soon discovers.
This is an easy-to-follow story with a wry and witty slant, as Jacob, the hapless hero, finds his inner strength to find an escape plan. An enjoyable caper in Carinthia.
YOU TUBE REVIEW: https://youtu.be/3l2RvcWXNDo
Carinthia is a one-off setting and much of the action takes place in a locked-room (as it were) luxury villa, not far from the Millstätter See. So, of course we were going to read it.
Jacob Meaney is a translator, who is on a break from his relationship. His girlfriend is keen to buy a property but given his fairly meagre income, he is going to struggle to stump up his share of the deposit, much to her displeasure. His problems could be solved by the serendipitous arrival of Eloise, an Australian digital marketeer, who just rocks up at his door and invites him onto a specialist project because of his command of Hindi, Russian and English – where rather than translating, he will be working more as an interpreter, which requires quite a different skill set. But he is up for the challenge, as the significant financial reward may help get his relationship back on track.
Thus it is off to the sumptuous villa in the middle of nowhere, guarded by an armed patrol, where he discovers the true nature of his proposed work. There is a big deal and a proposed potential take over of a company that trades in counterfeit fertility drugs. Myroslav is his host, and Vlada a young Ukrainian woman, a trafficked worker, whose family is being held hostage back home, angrily tends to all the domestic and cooking chores. Nazim is the evil and ruthless gangster who wants to acquire the rights to the drugs, at any cost. What a set up to walk into, as Jacob soon discovers.
This is an easy-to-follow story with a wry and witty slant, as Jacob, the hapless hero, finds his inner strength to find an escape plan. An enjoyable caper in Carinthia.
July 18, 2023
If a job offer is too good to be true then... well it probably is! Dodgy that is! And that is exactly what Jacob finds when he accepts a translator job from digital marketer Eloise. Megabucks for just a couple of week's work. But he needs that cash and fast or his girlfriend will leave him.
So a private plane and helicopter ride later and Jacob arrives at a luxurious villa. After meeting the other residents and owner, he start to realise that maybe he has unwittingly signed up for something very very dodgy indeed.
There's more to be said in the blurb but other than that, saying anything else would spoil things. Suffice to say that after a short build up, some scene setting and character introductions, once it gets going, it's a veritable race to the end.
In amongst all the action, it's extremely well plotted and that plot ably executed. Played out by some really cracking characters that I will leave to the author to introduce properly.
Ok for full disclosure I did have occasion to roll my eyes once or twice but nothing that proved excessive. Certain motivations and plot points were a tad questionable but also plausible.
I was also confused a couple of times but that was only cos the author withheld something, but then a scene was replayed from a different character's perspective explaining things. A neat trick once you get what's happening!
All in all, a good addition to what is shaping up to be a cracking back catalogue. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So a private plane and helicopter ride later and Jacob arrives at a luxurious villa. After meeting the other residents and owner, he start to realise that maybe he has unwittingly signed up for something very very dodgy indeed.
There's more to be said in the blurb but other than that, saying anything else would spoil things. Suffice to say that after a short build up, some scene setting and character introductions, once it gets going, it's a veritable race to the end.
In amongst all the action, it's extremely well plotted and that plot ably executed. Played out by some really cracking characters that I will leave to the author to introduce properly.
Ok for full disclosure I did have occasion to roll my eyes once or twice but nothing that proved excessive. Certain motivations and plot points were a tad questionable but also plausible.
I was also confused a couple of times but that was only cos the author withheld something, but then a scene was replayed from a different character's perspective explaining things. A neat trick once you get what's happening!
All in all, a good addition to what is shaping up to be a cracking back catalogue. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
April 24, 2023
TRANSLATION, INTRIGUE, ACTION
I thoroughly enjoyed The Conspirators by G.W Shaw.
This book is meticulously researched which gives incredible realism to the conspiracy. I love how integral language is to the plot and the resolution is really clean as well, all the questions I had were answered at the end giving a great sense of closure.
Read this if:
📖 You love language and secret codes
✈️ You want a modern, international thriller
🎁 You like to see all the loose ends tied up
Official summary:
Jacob Meaney makes so little money as a translator that his girlfriend has given up on him. Then Eloise, an Australian digital marketer, appears out of the blue, offering him unheard of sums for a couple of weeks’ work.
Some more thoughts:
📚 Fast paced and full of action and intrigue.
🙋 Character backstory is revealed through the action really seamlessly. The focus is definitely plot but the characters are believable and their actions all make so much sense. I loved how most of the characters are both victims and villains at different times and that there isn't really a 'golden' character.
📍Austria, hyper-luxurious setting, modern day. Current events super well integrated including post-covid world and the war in Ukraine. I also learned a lot about Ukrainian food in this which was unexpected and lovely.
👩🎓 Fast-paced and quick. I'd have liked a bit more of the original languages included not just the translation during conversations but that is probably just a 'me thing'
A gripping international thriller that had me totally hooked!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Conspirators by G.W Shaw.
This book is meticulously researched which gives incredible realism to the conspiracy. I love how integral language is to the plot and the resolution is really clean as well, all the questions I had were answered at the end giving a great sense of closure.
Read this if:
📖 You love language and secret codes
✈️ You want a modern, international thriller
🎁 You like to see all the loose ends tied up
Official summary:
Jacob Meaney makes so little money as a translator that his girlfriend has given up on him. Then Eloise, an Australian digital marketer, appears out of the blue, offering him unheard of sums for a couple of weeks’ work.
Some more thoughts:
📚 Fast paced and full of action and intrigue.
🙋 Character backstory is revealed through the action really seamlessly. The focus is definitely plot but the characters are believable and their actions all make so much sense. I loved how most of the characters are both victims and villains at different times and that there isn't really a 'golden' character.
📍Austria, hyper-luxurious setting, modern day. Current events super well integrated including post-covid world and the war in Ukraine. I also learned a lot about Ukrainian food in this which was unexpected and lovely.
👩🎓 Fast-paced and quick. I'd have liked a bit more of the original languages included not just the translation during conversations but that is probably just a 'me thing'
A gripping international thriller that had me totally hooked!
June 3, 2023
I opted to read this because I loved G W Shaw's previous book, and wanted to give the author another go. And on the whole I was certainly impressed by this book, the writing is great, there is a great sense of peril, and you have absolutely no idea who to trust.
It is also filled with characters I felt it was hard to like including Jacob who I just didn't gel with, and I had absolutely no idea who to trust. And at times I felt completely and utterly lost as to who was on what side and whose loyalties lay where.
It's a very good concept and I enjoyed the descriptions of the compound that Jacob was taken too, I was impressed with his translation skills, and seeing how he was coming to terms with the situation he was in.
I also really feld for Vlada, the maid and her backstory did touch me, but then again at times I wasn't sure if I could trust her too. I literally suspected everyone of everything at some point or another while reading.
Certainly for me unpredictable, and it's definitely a good book that I'm glad I read, but at the same time, I think I should perhaps stay clear of books involving conspiracies in the future as I don't really think they are for me. I'm still though curious to see what the author's next book will be.
Thank you to riverrun and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
It is also filled with characters I felt it was hard to like including Jacob who I just didn't gel with, and I had absolutely no idea who to trust. And at times I felt completely and utterly lost as to who was on what side and whose loyalties lay where.
It's a very good concept and I enjoyed the descriptions of the compound that Jacob was taken too, I was impressed with his translation skills, and seeing how he was coming to terms with the situation he was in.
I also really feld for Vlada, the maid and her backstory did touch me, but then again at times I wasn't sure if I could trust her too. I literally suspected everyone of everything at some point or another while reading.
Certainly for me unpredictable, and it's definitely a good book that I'm glad I read, but at the same time, I think I should perhaps stay clear of books involving conspiracies in the future as I don't really think they are for me. I'm still though curious to see what the author's next book will be.
Thank you to riverrun and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 7, 2023
*4.5 stars*
I love situations where a very ordinary person is placed in very extraordinary circumstances, and this is exactly what happens to Jacob Meaney.
Jacob earns very little money in his job as a translator, as his girlfriend is more than happy to keep reminding him, in fact she’s just about given up on him - she wants him to come up with a deposit on a new apartment, and he can’t deliver.
Suddenly the answer to all his dreams appears in the form of Australian digital marketer Eloise. She offers him a fantastic sum of money for a few weeks work, well you know the old saying “ If something seems too good to be true “? Yes exactly.
The dream job takes him by private jet to a stunning villa in Carpathia where his task is to interpret between Hindi, Russian and English with an Indian criminal named Nazim. As it happens, Jacob’s boss Myroslav is no better than Nazim, and Jacob finds he’s got himself mixed up in a very dangerous criminal operation involving gangsters, human trafficking, and a very lucrative scam that reaps a fortune.
Fast moving, well plotted, and very enjoyable!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus books riverrun for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
I love situations where a very ordinary person is placed in very extraordinary circumstances, and this is exactly what happens to Jacob Meaney.
Jacob earns very little money in his job as a translator, as his girlfriend is more than happy to keep reminding him, in fact she’s just about given up on him - she wants him to come up with a deposit on a new apartment, and he can’t deliver.
Suddenly the answer to all his dreams appears in the form of Australian digital marketer Eloise. She offers him a fantastic sum of money for a few weeks work, well you know the old saying “ If something seems too good to be true “? Yes exactly.
The dream job takes him by private jet to a stunning villa in Carpathia where his task is to interpret between Hindi, Russian and English with an Indian criminal named Nazim. As it happens, Jacob’s boss Myroslav is no better than Nazim, and Jacob finds he’s got himself mixed up in a very dangerous criminal operation involving gangsters, human trafficking, and a very lucrative scam that reaps a fortune.
Fast moving, well plotted, and very enjoyable!
*Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus books riverrun for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
August 13, 2023
I may be hooked on William Shaw's Alexandra Cupidi mysteries (The Birdwatcher, Salt Lane, Deadland, etc.), but after reading his Dead Rich last year written under the name G.W. Shaw, I learned that the man writes a mean thriller, too, so I wasn't about to pass The Conspirators by.
One of the things this book points out is the importance of language and words in Jacob Meaney's job as a translator. I enjoyed my time experiencing life in a decadent villa; however, I wish I could've enjoyed the people I was staying with as much. I found none of the characters particularly likable. Yes, Jacob has a good heart and always tries to do the right thing, but his being under the thumb of his money-grubbing girlfriend Carla and his willingness to jump at something he knows is too good to be true make him a bit spineless. My favorite character, the Ukrainian maid Vlada, is made more sympathetic by the letters she writes to her young son, but her life has made her so angry that she's hard to like, too.
If I didn't like the good guys, what did I think of the bad guys? They were proper bad guys. They made me nervous. They made me angry, and it was a pleasure to want an ill wind to blow them off the page.
Even though the cast wasn't all that typical in the emotions they evoked, I did find the story compelling. I simply had to know if Jacob and Vlada would escape. How would they escape? Would they be all right? Would Vlada be reunited with her little boy? Would Jacob realize what a loser Carla was?
It takes skill to make a reader care about unlikable characters, and G.W. (William) Shaw has that skill in spades. His books are must-reads for me.
One of the things this book points out is the importance of language and words in Jacob Meaney's job as a translator. I enjoyed my time experiencing life in a decadent villa; however, I wish I could've enjoyed the people I was staying with as much. I found none of the characters particularly likable. Yes, Jacob has a good heart and always tries to do the right thing, but his being under the thumb of his money-grubbing girlfriend Carla and his willingness to jump at something he knows is too good to be true make him a bit spineless. My favorite character, the Ukrainian maid Vlada, is made more sympathetic by the letters she writes to her young son, but her life has made her so angry that she's hard to like, too.
If I didn't like the good guys, what did I think of the bad guys? They were proper bad guys. They made me nervous. They made me angry, and it was a pleasure to want an ill wind to blow them off the page.
Even though the cast wasn't all that typical in the emotions they evoked, I did find the story compelling. I simply had to know if Jacob and Vlada would escape. How would they escape? Would they be all right? Would Vlada be reunited with her little boy? Would Jacob realize what a loser Carla was?
It takes skill to make a reader care about unlikable characters, and G.W. (William) Shaw has that skill in spades. His books are must-reads for me.
July 7, 2023
The Conspirators by G. W. Shaw (AKA William Shaw) features Jacob Meaney a translator by trade, struggling to make ends meet and who has a financially demanding girlfriend.
Given an ultimatum to find £20,000 for a deposit for the couples first home together, Jacob takes a short term contract as an interpreter facilitating both sides negotiating a secretive business deal, which could help him secure the deposit in one fell swoop.
Whisked by private jet to a mysterious and lush hideaway in Austria, with food and drink available on demand, Jacob thinks he's won the lottery, but is it too good to be true?
When Jacob begins his duties with megalomaniac Bondarenko, Jason quickly begins to determine that he is out of his depth and will need to live on his wits to survive. Then, when the business negotiations start to go badly, Jason finds he's facing both sides of the deal, and neither are opposed to brutality to get what they want.
Pacy, nicely written and with a perceptive plot, this is another enjoyable book by the author who seems to be able to shift from style to style and era to era effortlessly. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Given an ultimatum to find £20,000 for a deposit for the couples first home together, Jacob takes a short term contract as an interpreter facilitating both sides negotiating a secretive business deal, which could help him secure the deposit in one fell swoop.
Whisked by private jet to a mysterious and lush hideaway in Austria, with food and drink available on demand, Jacob thinks he's won the lottery, but is it too good to be true?
When Jacob begins his duties with megalomaniac Bondarenko, Jason quickly begins to determine that he is out of his depth and will need to live on his wits to survive. Then, when the business negotiations start to go badly, Jason finds he's facing both sides of the deal, and neither are opposed to brutality to get what they want.
Pacy, nicely written and with a perceptive plot, this is another enjoyable book by the author who seems to be able to shift from style to style and era to era effortlessly. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
February 25, 2024
This the second standalone novel by G. W. Shaw, the pen name (or real name? … I dunno) of one of my favorite British writers, William Shaw. It’s another suspense thriller, and it has a lot in common with Shaw’s novel of last year, Dead Rich, in that they both feature a male protagonist thrust into a situation that he can’t control. It’s kind of a Hitchcock-like scenario, right down to its very own MacGuffin. This time, a translator named Jacob Meany is hired by a woman to help with negotiations for the sale of a fertility drug, but it’s all a scam to make a quick buck. Jacob gets caught in the middle of a war between Ukrainian and Indian mob bosses, and has to live by his wits to survive. It’s a bit of a page turner—Shaw is a great writer, no matter which author name he uses—but I found the ending a bit of a letdown. I’m looking forward to his next Alexandra Cupidi novel, The Wild Swimmers, which will be published in May. And can someone please get Cupidi into the BBC’s or ITV’s hands? She’s a gem waiting to be exploited on TV.
September 14, 2023
Jacob Meaney accepts a job because he needs the money. He soon finds himself in a bad situation, where saving himself may cause repercussions for others.
I like Shaw’s characters. The good guys can be naive and goofy, but they have good hearts. Jacob is not a super-fit action hero, although he does have one superpower – his facility with language. Not surprising given that he is a professional translator. There are times when Jacob is the only one who knows what’s going on. Or does he?
The females are nice and complex, quick-witted and shirty, no vacuous sexy lampshades* here.
And the ending … oh the ending! Just delicious.
As a big fan of international page-turners, I am absolutely delighted that GW Shaw has seen the light and come over to the thrilling side of crime.
*test for female agency - failed where replacing a female character with a decorative object would make no difference to the plot.
I like Shaw’s characters. The good guys can be naive and goofy, but they have good hearts. Jacob is not a super-fit action hero, although he does have one superpower – his facility with language. Not surprising given that he is a professional translator. There are times when Jacob is the only one who knows what’s going on. Or does he?
The females are nice and complex, quick-witted and shirty, no vacuous sexy lampshades* here.
And the ending … oh the ending! Just delicious.
As a big fan of international page-turners, I am absolutely delighted that GW Shaw has seen the light and come over to the thrilling side of crime.
*test for female agency - failed where replacing a female character with a decorative object would make no difference to the plot.
November 13, 2023
Multi-lingual everyman Jacob Meaney finds himself caught up in an international criminal conspiracy set in the Austrian alps. Unwittingly working as a translator for some particularly nasty gangsters, Jacob becomes a 'guest' in the villain’s jaw-droppingly spectacular mid-century mansion complete with designer furniture and immaculately sculpted gardens. I loved the descriptions of the mansion and how every character commented on how fabulous it was! Of course it all turns sour for Jacob, when he quickly realizes he is in the midst of a very dangerous situation and his hosts are all greedy unhinged criminals. Shaw is a talented writer and keeps the plot humming along with twists and turns until he, quite incredibly, lets Jacob figure his way out of the life or death situation using only his linguistic and literary skills. This is quite a feat in a very entertaining book, ticking all the boxes (including a romantic subplot) that eventually leads to the crowd pleasing ending the reader was expecting all along. This is an entertaining read and is highly recommended for some fun escapism.
July 3, 2023
A cleverly crafted story. Tihis book is very well written and gripped me from the start with its evolving plot full of twists and turns. I found the descriptions of the Austrian countryside, where much of the book is, very good to the extent it's made me want to visit there.
On one level this is the story of counterfeiting scam, plug it is lifted to do much more by the conspirators having to employ a multi-lingual translator /interpreter to communicate with each other. This really helps build the tension. The hapless translator is an innocent caught up in all the intrigue.
This book is a real tour 're force and I'll look out for others by this author.
On one level this is the story of counterfeiting scam, plug it is lifted to do much more by the conspirators having to employ a multi-lingual translator /interpreter to communicate with each other. This really helps build the tension. The hapless translator is an innocent caught up in all the intrigue.
This book is a real tour 're force and I'll look out for others by this author.
April 29, 2023
The Conspirators book is a complicated story that has Jacob, the quiet translator, unbeknownst to him, at the centre of a huge fraud with millions of dollars involved and finding himself trapped with no way out.
Don't think of this as another thriller you can pick up, put down, and read over time; be prepared to read far into the night and still be perplexed to the very end. G.W. Shaw has given us a fast-moving, well-plotted story with great, nasty, and naive characters. What more could you wish for?
An independent review for NetGalley/QQuercus Books.
Don't think of this as another thriller you can pick up, put down, and read over time; be prepared to read far into the night and still be perplexed to the very end. G.W. Shaw has given us a fast-moving, well-plotted story with great, nasty, and naive characters. What more could you wish for?
An independent review for NetGalley/QQuercus Books.
June 29, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and Quercus Books for this eCopy to review
I was hooked from page 1, what a gripping thriller as you follow Jacob who takes a lucrative translating job only to be drawn into the murky world of fake drug, people trafficking and slavery. Who can he trust? Who is killing who? How can he escape? And most importantly how can he save Vlada?
It did get a bit complicated at the end, but all the double crossing was fun. It has a happy ending for Jacob. All in all an enjoyable thriller
I was hooked from page 1, what a gripping thriller as you follow Jacob who takes a lucrative translating job only to be drawn into the murky world of fake drug, people trafficking and slavery. Who can he trust? Who is killing who? How can he escape? And most importantly how can he save Vlada?
It did get a bit complicated at the end, but all the double crossing was fun. It has a happy ending for Jacob. All in all an enjoyable thriller
March 26, 2023
This is really different vibe than I usually read, normally sticking to domestic thrillers and this is all criminal enterprises and such but I have ti say it had me hooked! I flew through it in a late night sitting thanks to insomnia and I was completely lost in the story. The setting, the characters, the secrets, its perfectly written and felt like watching an action film. There was so much going on and I coildnt put it down
July 26, 2023
Full disclosure - I get a mention in the acknowledgements of this book but even without that it’s an amazing read. This brings back the love of adventure books you had when you were young, with really human characters on a modern global stage. Both this and Dead rich have been some of my favourite reads of recent times. Featuring hints of real events to make the story even more hard hitting, it’s an unputdownable novel. 5* from me
May 7, 2023
A fast paced and twist filled thriller from the author of the detective Cupidi novels. I liked the protagonist Jacob, a multi lingual translator who takes on an interpreting job for a wealthy businessman but gets more than he bargained for. I will read anything by William Shaw and The Conspirators is an ideal holiday read. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
July 27, 2023
I have long been a fan of William Shaw and his excellent Alexandra Cupidi novels. This is something of a change of style from his police procedurals but equally enjoyable. It is a rip-roaring old-fashioned adventure tale with a fast pace and an interesting array of characters. Well-written and stylish as always, this was the perfect summer read.
August 2, 2023
While I took a bit to get into this book, once it got its hooks into me it didn’t let go - especially the second half where the twists and turns were frequent leading you to not know who you could trust. Really enjoyed.
October 8, 2023
A book of two halves! First half was barely a 3 and second half was 3+
For a reason I can't explain, I really didn't feel invested or engaged with any of the characters and I really didn't care what happened to any of them!
For a reason I can't explain, I really didn't feel invested or engaged with any of the characters and I really didn't care what happened to any of them!
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