Official Review: Deadly Secrets by Gordon Bickerstaff

erasmus · Post by **erasmus** » 04 Apr 2016, 06:53

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Deadly Secrets" by Gordon Bickerstaff.]

2 out of 4 stars

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Deadly Secrets by Gordon Bickerstaff is the first installment in the Gavin Shawlens Thriller series. In this book, we get to see the plot develop from various characters’ points of view in third person. In this biomedical thriller that is mixed with a little romance, you’ll end up with a scientific discovery people will kill for.

It begins with the corpse of a dead dog that decomposed unnaturally in the Fairfells Pet Centre. Although the investigation into the cause is closed rather quickly thereafter, no one could have predicted that it’s only the prelude to a gruesome end for those involved in its death.

Then Gavin Shawlens, thirty-six year-old biochemist and professor at the University of Kinmalcolm, gets hired by Greenock SeaPro Ltd to help with the patent for the process of developing a new food ingredient that will revolutionise the food industry. Although reluctant at first, Shawlens in the end gives in to the request when he comes face-to-face with a piece of his past he thought he’d lost: Emma Patersun, the biotechnician and the wife of the owner of SeaPro.

While the owners of SeaPro are aware that there will be competitors aiming for their discovery, they never thought that a cult in the guise of a world-renowned food trading company, Barscadden Corporation, would commit murder to get their hands on it. When Jim Patersun - Emma’s husband and one of the owners of SeaPro - is cruelly and humiliatingly murdered in his own home, Shawlens has no choice but to protect Emma and himself from the powerful and corrupt. From there, it’s a race to see who gets their hands on Shawlens and Emma - and ultimately, the process. Unbeknownst to all of them, however, a completely different kind of danger lurks in the very food process that may cost Shawlens and Emma their lives.

The author has put a lot of effort into explaining the science and facts involved in Deadly Secrets, which adds an element of realism to the whole thriller and lends credibility to the overall plot. Unfortunately, the interesting storyline has been greatly dulled by the poor delivery. While the plot is not too predictable and the writing is simple enough to follow, the author seems to have adopted a writing style that falls a little flat, especially with regards to emotive descriptions. The mostly factual recounts of some of the terrifying pasts and tragedies make it difficult for readers to relate to or sympathise with the characters.

When coupled with a lot of missing or extra commas, awkward sentences, and some really weird dialogue and descriptions, I ended up rating Deadly Secrets 2 out of 4 stars. While this book isn’t the worst I’ve read, it isn’t very good either. I’m not sure I would recommend this book until it’s been edited. It really does have a lot of potential to be a good book, if only an editor would go through it. I’m already interested in the second book in the Gavin Shawlens Thriller series simply by reading the synopsis at the end of the book, but am hesitating because I fear that the quality would not meet expectations.

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Deadly Secrets
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Heidi M Simone · Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 04 Apr 2016, 15:48

I enjoyed reading your well-written and honest review, erasmus. Even with the errors, I'm glad that the storyline interests you enough to perhaps pick up the second book!

Trypsin · Post by **Trypsin** » 04 Apr 2016, 16:18

Thanks for this review. Always helpful to get another opinion. Couple of things to clarify. Gavin is not a professor and not even in Bk 4 is he a professor. Also, it is explained clearly in several prolonged Emma-Gavin conversations that Emma's past is in banking, and that is how she met her 'older' husband. Why she is called a biotechnician in the review is a mystery.

erasmus · Post by **erasmus** » 05 Apr 2016, 04:02

hsimone wrote:I enjoyed reading your well-written and honest review, erasmus. Even with the errors, I'm glad that the storyline interests you enough to perhaps pick up the second book!

Thanks, hsimone! However, I'm hesitating to read the book because of errors.

Trypsin wrote:Thanks for this review. Always helpful to get another opinion. Couple of things to clarify. Gavin is not a professor and not even in Bk 4 is he a professor. Also, it is explained clearly in several prolonged Emma-Gavin conversations that Emma's past is in banking, and that is how she met her 'older' husband. Why she is called a biotechnician in the review is a mystery.

Oh dear

I know that Emma used to be in banking, but I thought she's now helping out SeaPro with the food process? I usually write down short character profiles as I read a book... It looks like I may have ended up writing down assumptions I made instead of jotting down facts...

Trypsin · Post by **Trypsin** » 05 Apr 2016, 04:30

Thanks for the explanation. I assume the same with professor. Gavin is described throughout the book as Dr Shawlens and this is most evident in the chapters where police interview Gavin and Emma and address him formally as Dr Shawlens - not professor. I've passed on comments on errors to the editor and the proofreader acknowledged at the front of the book.

Valerie · Post by **Valerie** » 11 Apr 2016, 23:32

What a great review erasmus, I like it. When the novelist writes about science it's kind of unique for me. Praise for science fiction writer.

erasmus · Post by **erasmus** » 12 Apr 2016, 00:04

Thank you, Valerie!

kimmyschemy06 · Post by **kimmyschemy06** » 12 Apr 2016, 08:35

Sounds like a very interesting book. I like it already. Too bad, though, about the errors.

Kia · Post by **Kia** » 06 Jun 2016, 13:18

Very good job describing the book. Excellent review

erasmus · Post by **erasmus** » 07 Jun 2016, 00:10

Kia wrote:Very good job describing the book. Excellent review

Thanks Kia!

rssllue · Post by **rssllue** » 01 Sep 2016, 20:51

The review and author's response really gave us a great insight into the details of the book. Very nice job erasmus in showing us the story in a clear and engaging manner.

erasmus · Post by **erasmus** » 03 Sep 2016, 02:14

rssllue wrote:The review and author's response really gave us a great insight into the details of the book. Very nice job erasmus in showing us the story in a clear and engaging manner.

Thank you for your kind words, rssllue!

AA1495 · Post by **AA1495** » 30 Sep 2016, 08:03

Thank you for the amazing, honest review. Wish it was edited better.

María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda · 30 Apr 2019, 10:43

I hope this book gets the editing round it needs because the premise is quite intriguing. I enjoy this kind of complicated thriller plots and it seems like the author put a lot of thought into it but failed in the execution. Hopefully, the next delivery will be much better.
Thank you for your honest review.