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By Steve Shipley

FALSE TRUST

CAN BLAKE TRUST ANYONE?

A move from rural Minnesota to Sydney, Australia, seems like a dream come true as Blake and his high school friend Justin, decide to start a cybersecurity business together. But switching continents isn’t the only thing putting a strain on their partnership – and when loyalties and affections are divided, it’s enough to end their friendship.

And so it stands for fifteen years, until Blake decides to overlook old wounds and call upon Justin’s expertise in how to put his grandfather’s secret whisky to auction. However, while his grandfather’s whisky may be smooth, the road to selling it is anything but.

When Blake’s caretaker is murdered, his whisky stolen, and his wife kidnapped, suspicion kicks in and Blake is forced to figure out who he can trust – and who has crossed the line that can never be uncrossed.

Time isn’t on his side, as Blake races to find his wife – before it’s too late.

False Trust, book one of the Blake Willis Thriller series, is available now on Amazon.

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FALSE TRUST Book Cover

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Video Book Trailers for FALSE TRUST

Is Blake’s Whisky His Salvation or a Curse?

FALSE TRUST – A Global Adventure

If Your Life is on the Line – Who Can You Trust?

Blake Willis Crime Fighting Tools

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FALSE TRUST

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about FALSE TRUST, its characters, and its settings.

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About the Book

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about how FALSE TRUST came to be and what it is about. If you do not find your answers here, make sure to sign up for our Newsletter to learn more, or write to us using the contact form.
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What type of book is FALSE TRUST?

FALSE TRUST is a crime thriller. The crimes taking place include intellectual property and classified information theft, shareholder manipulation and deceit, physical theft of a very expensive whisky, and kidnapping and murder.

Where did the idea for FALSE TRUST come from?

Like many, I have developed a love for whisky over the last several years. The price of quality whisky astonished me, as it often exceeded $100,000 per bottle. I have been studying what makes whisky so expensive, and if I need to spend that kind of money to drink the best. (Thankfully, I do not!) But some people spend that kind of money. There are several reasons whisky can be so expensive. One is scarcity. Another one is how old the whisky is and how the distiller matures it. One other reason is the type of grain used to make it. It is rare to have a whisky older than 30 or 40 years old. Securing whisky that is 60 years old is a rarity. I was wondering what would happen if I found a secret storage of some high-quality really old whisky and what would it be worth. From that question, a germ of an idea started that led to the question of if anyone would steal and kill to get the whisky. The story grows from there, but that was the original source of the idea.

Can you compare your books to similar books so people know if they might like FALSE TRUST or not?

I enjoy reading crime thrillers of all kinds, from police and private detective stories to political and corporate espionage involving Interpol, the CIA, and other clandestine organizations. I also love going back in time and exploring how people used technology when it first came out. Thrillers I like to read are by David Baldacci, Vince Flynn (Kyle Mills), Daniel Silva, Barry Eisler, John Sandford and Amanda Quick, and too many others to mention. I also love Australian authors such as Lee Christine, Helene Young, Alan Carter, Pamela Hart and Tea Cooper. Besides being thrillers, many of these books take place across generations and in different locations, which adds to the intrigue. Many deal with powerful female characters who have been ignored, but persevere, and are kicking ass to solve mysteries and crimes.

How is Blake different from other heroes?

For starters, Blake grew up in both a metropolitan area and on a farm in the US heartland. He then went to Boston for university before moving to Sydney, Australia, and working around Asia. Blake is not your typical alpha-male ex-Navy Seal type, nor has he had other clandestine training. Blake is a corporate IT consultant who uses his consulting skills and vast technology background to follow digital fingerprints in solving mysteries.

Is another book following soon?

Absolutely! I have written a synopsis for a dozen different titles and am plotting book 2 in the Blake Willis crime thriller series. I am writing book 2 while finishing up editing and the launch of FALSE TRUST. It will take me ten months to write and publish FASLE TRUST. Book 2 should take about six months (since I can leverage the world building and research from FALSE TRUST), Subsequent books will release every three to four months after that. So you will never have to wait long for your next Blake Willis thriller!

Where are you drawing your inspiration from?

My corporate consulting experience and much reading and watching movies in the genre. I have learned that my original trust in everyone in politics and business to do the right thing was false – hence the title of book 1 being FALSE TRUST. Once I was invited into the boardrooms and inner sanctums, I realized that not everyone always did well for their employees, customers or shareholders. A lot of decisions were self-serving and cutting deals with mates for mutual benefit. It involved enough money to compromise morals and ethics, including murder. My wild imagination is taking those experiences and turning them into the series of crime thrillers I am writing now.

You are 69 years old. Why start writing fiction now?

I honestly never thought I had a novel in me. And I was never trained to write. I am a mathematician and technologist. But I had to learn to write to succeed as a technology consultant and survive in the business world. In the last decade, I have written two non-fiction books, and regularly write IT research reports for a large global IT research company. Both my wife and I read prolifically, and understand the publishing business. My original desire to write fiction earlier this year was to help me improve my narrative non-fiction writing. I wanted to add some ‘X’ factor to my non-fiction writing and make it more exciting. But within weeks, I had written fifteen chapters and 20,000 words and fell in love with it. I have had to improve my novel writing craft skills significantly, and that is going well. This is what I will do for the rest of my life. I love writing crime thrillers. And it is never too late to follow your passion!

When is FALSE TRUST available?

We are targeting the release for Tuesday, 7 June 2022. I really want to ensure it is well-researched, high quality, and a great read. If we can accomplish that and release it earlier, we will.
Steve Shipley head shot

The Author

Steve Shipley

I’m Steve Shipley. I have a background in mathematics and IT consultation, and I’m captivated by crime thrillers. So much so that I’ve started writing a series of them — the Blake Willis corporate and political crime thriller series.

Working around the world in business and technology has provided me an inside view, a fly on the wall perspective. I’ve been able to see how powerful people, including politicians, board members and executives, negotiate and decide, usually without the interests of shareholders, employees, customers, or constituents being considered.

A good tip in life and in mysteries is always to “follow the money trail.” Yet, how that’s done when criminals go to such great lengths to remove their physical and digital fingerprints remains invisible. And that’s where crime protagonists with elite skills come into play.

Early in my career, I spent my time on the outside looking in, before getting invited into the boardrooms and inner chambers. Then there I was, in the room where it happens. And through my books, I now share that with you. To find out more about me, and what influences my writing, see my full biography by clicking on the button below.

Author Biography

Map

The Locations of FALSE TRUST

FALSE TRUST is an international saga that starts in Scotland, moves through Canada and the USA, and climaxes in Australia, with theft and murder occurring in Tasmania, Sydney, and the iconic Hunter Valley wine region. Russian and Chinese governments and citizens are also involved, complicating matters as cultures and interests clash. Take a global, multi-cultural journey with us by reading FALSE TRUST.
FALSE TRUST Settings Map

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Click on events requiring registration, and you will be directed to the event sign-up form.

March 14 2023

FALSE START Cover Reveal

  • We will share the FALSE START cover. It's gorgeous and cannot wait to make it public!

Late-March 2023

FALSE TRUST Audio Book Available

May 2023

FALSE START Release Date

  • FALSE START, book two in the Blake Willis Thriller Series, is a cyber war between China and Australia, and available in February / March 2023. Presales and publication dates will be finalized in early 2023.

July 2023

FALSE HOPE Release Date

  • Book three, FALSE HOPE, is about the theft of a rare, priceless bible, and available in May / June 2023. Presales and publication dates will be finalized in early 2023.

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