A Tangled Mystery of Tech, Secrets, and Suspicion
Review of "Devious Web" and Interview of Shelley Grandy
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ 3.75 stars
Shelley Grandy’s Devious Web is a fast-paced mystery thriller that pulls readers into a world of corporate power plays, family drama, social media influence, political connections, and plenty of secrets hiding just beneath the surface. Published by SparkPress and a book tour sponsored by iRead Book Tours, this adult fiction novel blends business intrigue with a murder mystery feel, creating a story that is twisty, layered, and full of suspicion.
I also had the opportunity to interview Shelley Grandy about her journey as an author, which added another layer of appreciation to my reading experience. Hearing more about an author’s creative path, writing process, and the work behind bringing a novel to life always makes a book feel a little more personal. It was especially interesting to pair that insight with a story as layered and twist-filled as Devious Web.
Thank you to the author for the book and my honest review. Be sure to scroll down for Shelley’s interview and the book giveaway!
Interview with Shelley Grandy author “Devious Web”
Thank you, Shelley, for joining us, and congratulations on the book!
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Mystery has always been the genre I’m attracted to and for my novel I was inspired by things I know well. Those include journalism and tech sector communications based on a long career in those fields, an interest in US politics, curiosity about interpersonal relationships, and a love of horses. The idea for the book percolated in the back of my mind for over five years until I carved out time to write the manuscript in the winter of 2021.
Tips or tricks in writing mystery stories?
As a reader of mystery novels, I want books to jump into the action fast while also introducing characters in a compelling way. A writer will engage readers from the get-go if action and character-building coalesce. And, while there are ebbs and flows within any storyline, it’s crucial to create crisis points along the way with the ending being the ultimate payoff.
Who’s your favorite character and why? Or how do you develop your characters?
Tom Oliver, the lead character in Devious Web, is my favorite. Tom is a 38-year-old entrepreneur who is ambitious but empathetic, making him the type of CEO his team wants to follow. However, readers have told me their favorite character is Toronto homicide detective Jason Liu who is insightful, with an understated manner and ironic sense of humor. Readers will be happy to know that Liu returns in the sequel that I’m writing now. I picture my characters fully formed—including their personality traits and physical characteristics—which makes it easy to write about them.
Do you think setting is just as important as the characters? If so, why, and if not, why?
I do think setting is just as important because characters can’t function in a void. It’s up to the author to provide context of where each ‘scene’ unfolds in a book, with enough color that readers can form a realistic picture of venues and inanimate objects. They don’t want to hear that Tom drives a car, they want to know that he drives a silver Porsche 911 Carrera or that his wife Miriam doesn’t just drink wine, she chooses Baco Noir. We need to experience Tom’s office in a heritage building in downtown Toronto so we can relate to how it feels for a colleague investigating something mysterious there.
5. What is one tip or piece of advice you would give a new writer looking to get published?
Goals, budget, timeline, and determination all factor into a new writer’s approach to getting published. I have a friend who published a children’s book and her goal to see her work in print was satisfied by self-publishing. Others, like me, pitch hybrid publishers with the knowledge that if their book is selected, they will need to contribute financially to the publishing process in return for getting into the market relatively quickly. Still others hope for greater marketing support and take the time and effort to find an agent to represent them to one of the Big Five publishers. Know your target destination and you will figure out the optimal way to get there.
Thank you, Shelley, for taking the time to answer my questions and for your wonderful advice. I wish you much success and look forward to your next creation!
My Review of “Devious Web” by Shelley Grandy
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ 3.75 stars
Set in Toronto during the summer of 2021, Devious Web follows Canadian tech entrepreneur Tom Oliver, a successful CEO who seems to be sitting at the top of the world. His company is doing well, and he is considering selling it to a Silicon Valley buyer. On the outside, Tom appears to be a well-liked businessman with everything going for him. But when he becomes the target of an unknown perpetrator, it quickly becomes clear that his life is not as polished and secure as it seems.
As danger closes in, homicide detective Jason Liu begins investigating the people closest to Tom. Family members, colleagues, and business associates all come under scrutiny, and the deeper Jason digs, the more tangled the story becomes. Everyone seems to have something to hide, and the question becomes not only who would want to harm Tom, but why.
The book’s back matter compares Devious Web to Gone Girl, The Social Network, and Agatha Christie-style sleuthing, and that combination really does capture the feel of the story. There are the domestic tensions and unreliable motives you might expect from a psychological thriller, the business scheming of a tech-world drama, and the classic mystery structure of sorting through suspects, clues, and hidden agendas. It is the kind of book where you know almost everyone has a secret, but you are not quite sure which secret matters most.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the mystery itself. I really enjoyed the twists and turns, especially as the story revealed more about Tom’s inner circle. The suspense kept building as more pieces of the puzzle came into focus, and I liked that the story did not stay in just one lane. It moved through corporate drama, marriage issues, family conflict, social media, and politics, which gave the plot a wide scope and kept things interesting.
Detective Jason Liu was another highlight for me. I liked his gritty personality and the way he approached the investigation. He has that determined detective energy that works really well in a suspense novel. He is not overly polished or perfect, which made him feel more grounded. In a story filled with businesspeople, family members, and people who may or may not be telling the truth, Jason’s perspective helped anchor the mystery.
The pacing is also strong overall. Devious Web has a bingeworthy quality, especially if you enjoy books with secrets, shifting suspicions, and dramatic reveals. It would be a great choice for readers who like their mysteries mixed with corporate intrigue and family drama. If you enjoy shows like Suits or Succession, especially the parts where ambition, loyalty, and betrayal all collide, this book has a similar kind of appeal.
That said, there were moments when I found myself confused about what was happening. Because there are a lot of moving parts, different relationships, and layers of deceit, I sometimes had to go back and relisten to parts to make sure I understood the connections. The story is definitely packed with information, and while that adds to the complexity of the mystery, it can also make the plot feel a bit tangled at times.
I listened to this one as an audiobook, and the narration affected my experience. Unfortunately, I did not really care for the narrator. His voice sounded robotic to me at times, and there were moments when it lulled me to sleep rather than pulling me further into the suspense. Since thrillers often rely heavily on atmosphere, urgency, and tension, the narration style made it harder for me to stay fully engaged in certain scenes. This may not be an issue for readers picking up the print or ebook version, but it did shape my personal experience with the story.
Even with those drawbacks, I still found Devious Web to be an enjoyable mystery. It was a great read—or listen—while working in the garden, and I appreciated having a suspenseful story with plenty of twists to keep me company. The combination of tech business drama, murder investigation, and messy personal relationships gave the book a lot of energy.
I also liked that the story explored how success and status can hide complicated truths. Tom may be a respected CEO, but the investigation reveals that public image and private reality are not always the same thing. The novel plays with that contrast well, especially in a world shaped by social media, business deals, and personal ambition. Everyone has a version of themselves they want others to believe, and Devious Web keeps asking what might be hiding behind that carefully built image.
Overall, Devious Web by Shelley Grandy is a twisty and suspenseful adult mystery with a strong detective character, plenty of suspects, and a plot full of secrets. While I occasionally had to backtrack to follow the story, and the audiobook narration was not my favorite, the mystery itself kept me interested. Readers who enjoy corporate intrigue, family drama, and layered whodunits will likely find a lot to enjoy here.
With its fast pace, unexpected twists, and web of deception, Devious Web earns 3.75 stars from me. It is a solid pick for mystery and thriller fans who like complicated characters, business-world drama, and a detective who is willing to dig through the mess to find the truth.
About the book:
Category: Adult Fiction, 272 pages
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
Publisher: SparkPress
Publication Date: October 2024
Synopsis:
Gone Girl’s twists, The Social Network‘s scheming, and Agatha Christie’s sleuthing come together in this suspenseful novel, a bingeworthy mystery set in Toronto that spans corporate intrigue, murder, and marital mismatch. Who would want to harm a well-liked CEO at the top of his game, and why? In the summer of 2021, Canadian tech entrepreneur Tom Oliver is considering selling his company to a Silicon Valley buyer when he becomes the target of an unknown perpetrator. As his friend and homicide detective Jason Liu investigates a web of secrets and deceit, Tom’s inner circle of family and colleagues comes under scrutiny.
Devious Web brings you into the world of business, US politics, social media, and family drama. If you were enthralled watching Suits and Succession, you’ll enjoy the high suspense, fast pace, and unexpected plot twists of this compelling novel.
Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Amazon.ca ~ Audible
B&N ~ Indigo ~ BAM
Bookshop ~ Walmart
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About the author:
Shelley Grandy is a Canadian communications professional whose type-A personality and honors journalism degree from Ottawa’s Carleton University fueled a career that started in newspapers and progressed to twenty-five years at high-tech
company Nortel.
She subsequently founded Grandy Public Relations Inc. and has supported tech sector clients in Ontario and Quebec for the past sixteen years.
After writing countless press releases and technical articles for trade media, Devious
Web is Shelley’s debut fiction novel.
When not writing, Shelley enjoys intriguing Netflix-style productions and is known to frequently reference scenes from Grace and Frankie.
You can also find her at the boarding stable with her horse, Briosa. Shelley lives in Trenton, Ontario, Canada, with husband of thirty-plus years Roy, husky dog Luka, and cat Otto, within spoiling distance of her beautiful granddaughters, Emilia and Olivia Oulds.
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ linkedin ~ goodreads
Giveaway:
Author-signed copy of DEVIOUS WEB, plus matching mug, courtesy of author Shelley Grandy (one winner) (USA and Canada) (ends May 29)
Thank you for your insightful and thoughtful review of my novel Devious Web. It's awesome from an author's perspective when someone savvy encapsulates the exact intent behind the writing. This is encouraging as I tackle finishing the first draft of the sequel to Devious Web :).