"Intriguing, clever, and unputdownable!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"

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

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

I recommend this entertaining mystery.

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

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

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

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