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Steve Shipley
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FALSE TRUST (Blake Willis Thriller Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Steve Shipley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 20 ratings
Some lines should never be crossed.

Blake Willis has the perfect life - a beautiful wife, two great kids, and a thriving business doing what he loves as a cybersecurity consultant. Determined to secure his family’s financial future, Blake enlists the help of an old friend, tech billionaire and world-renowned whisky expert, Justin Coulter, to help him sell his grandpa’s “million-dollar moonshine.”

Everything is running smoothly until a shocking discovery rocks Blake’s world. The whisky is stolen and his caretaker is murdered. And worse, his wife is missing.

In a frantic race against time, the lines of trust blur. Blake’s friends and enemies — and maybe even his wife — are not who he thought they were. And the technology, money and global control at stake have now drawn disreputable foreign powers into the mix.

Is there anyone who he can trust — and who has crossed the line that can never be uncrossed?
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Blake Willis Thriller Series
  2. Print length
    365 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    August 9, 2022
  6. File size
    4.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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 See full series
There are 3 books in this series.
This option includes 3 books.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B6TKKGC5
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ InkIT Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 9, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.1 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 365 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1925200041
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ Blake Willis Thriller Series
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

About the author

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Steve Shipley

Steve Shipley

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Steve Shipley is the author of the Blake Willis corporate and political crime thriller series, as well as a growing collection of non-fiction books focused on writing and practical life skills, including the best ways to enjoy wine, spirits, and other life pleasures.

With a background in mathematics, IT, and international business consulting, Steve spent years inside boardrooms and backroom meetings—often in developing and corrupt countries—gaining a rare perspective on how power really works. His thrillers blend that insider knowledge with page-turning suspense, uncovering how elites manipulate systems—and the elite team—his Blake Willis team—working to stop them.

Steve’s writing is grounded in real-world detail, whether it’s a financial or political conspiracy or a theft of rare whisky or artwork. Readers who enjoy sharp plotting, smart characters, and a touch of sophistication (that is easy to understand!) will find much to enjoy in his crime thrillers.

Steve’s non-fiction draws from the same depth of experience, blending clear, conversational guidance with insights that help readers grow, create, and navigate life with confidence.

Whether he’s exploring a high-stakes conspiracy or sharing tools to spark creative breakthroughs, Steve’s writing is designed to inform, entertain, and empower.

He lives in Australia, where he and his wife have their publishing company, InkIT Publishing, to foster their writing and author services business. He splits his time between storytelling, sipping good whisky and wine, and helping others tap into their potential—one book at a time.

All his books are available in Kindle or print format, and free to read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
20 global ratings

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Don't recommend due to xenophobia
2 out of 5 stars
Don't recommend due to xenophobia
Please note this review comes from an ARC, provided by the author. This book, I have very little positive to say about, beyond it being a quick and a nice resolution. The author doesn't know if he wants to be the next Agatha Christie or if he eventually wants this to be the next Die Hard (the comparison doesn't end there as the main character is literally called Blake Willis) and the book suffers from it. The book is predictable, so much from the first few chapters, you know who the villain is, how he will escape in the end and his motive for the whole thing and the author never successfully manages to subvert these expectations. The writing style of the book is horrible as well. Many times an event happens and the next immediate chapter, the same character recounts what just happened with no change in vocabulary or the way it happened, just line after line of repetitiveness. The book would've been closer to 150 pages if these sequences were taken out or if we didn't experience what just happened as the reader. And another reason I can't recommend this book breaks down to xenophobia and racism against Chinese and Russian people. Except for the main character and the villain who are white, nearly every character is Russian or Chinese. Then tell me why chapter 38 is just demonizing Chinese people? Like I can under the villan being racist, calling Asian women "china dolls" as it helps us hate him. But why is the main character equally as dislikable by maintaning the china doll stereotype by treating his wife like that? Oh and don't forget that the two Asian women only contributions to the plot involve sleeping with men or seducing them. Lot's to unpack here, don't think I will continue this series, don't recommend.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Rosie
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and the creative perspective the author uses in writing it. I do not usually read books twice but I will read this again because I feel there is more to discover by doing so. Highly recommend!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Deanna
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good debut, lots of potential
    Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Actual rating: 3.5 stars.
    Fast-paced international, multi-cultural debut crime thriller with lots of twists and turns, and some surprise developments along the way. Pros. Mr Shipley obviously knows his subject matter into the whisky world and techonolgy well. Cons. I think Blake, the hero, needed a good smack in the head a few times along the way. This is a great start for a debut novel and I think the story and characters have great potential. I'm looking forward to improved writing and Blake's character developing more in subsequent books in the series.
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  • Becca
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not necessarily for me
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2025
    Format: Kindle
    I had a hard time with this. While I love the heist and the mystery behind it all, Blake just honestly drove me nuts. He's too loose lipped, almost wishy washy, and I don't know. I feel like he didn't value the relationship with his wife really. Especially with all that happens. It's more of a personal feeling with this. Please don't use my opinion as a reason not to try it. I've seen many others who loved it more. Give it a shot.

    I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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  • Wendy Livingstone
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling page turner!!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2022
    Format: Paperback
    This is a debut from this author, and he has done an outstanding job in weaving this intricate and in-depth storyline. Blake is leading the perfect life with a wife, children, and a thriving business, and when he is handed down 3 barrels of the finest whiskey from his grandfather, he decides to sell them, and asks his long-standing friend and whiskey expert to help him. Nothing is as it seems though, Blake comes home to find his caretaker dead, his wife missing, and the whiskey barrels gone. Who can be trusted and who not? This is a well written story which has theft, deception, murder, twists, intrigue, suspense, danger, cyber secrets, and is a fast paced, intense, and thrilling page turner.
    I received a free copy of this book via Enticing Journey Book Promotions and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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  • Bambi_Unbridled
    4.0 out of 5 stars Like Pappygate, bourbon and whiskey drinkers will understand...
    Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2022
    Format: Kindle
    As a bourbon enthusiast, I was excited to see Steve was writing a story about a great whisky heist! It immediately brought to mind Pappygate and some other bourbon dramas. So there is no shame for me in saying that the whisky heist was my favorite aspect of the story. I was glad that some of the aging process was discussed, but I would have liked more detail on the filtering and proofing from barrel to bottle. There were many references to wine/wineries and Australia, neither of which are familiar to me, so I was yearning for that warm comfort that I find in the caramel nectar.

    So, the real dilemma for me was when your rare whisky is stolen, and then your wife… which takes precedence??? 🤭 This probably would explain why I am NOT married. 😏. There was certainly a lot going on in this story and Blake Willis, our main character was getting betrayed quite boldly. You are able to figure out the culprit almost from the beginning, so sometimes I felt like our hero was a bit willfully ignorant of what was going on around him. He was also very loose with information sharing, so I wanted to clobber him a few times. Otherwise, I found Blake to have an interesting life and career. I liked the story of his grandpa’s whisky, and it was interesting to see a career that morphed from IT to private security. There were a few times I thought his responses strange… but that’s a man for ya. (I’m just digging a deep hole with this review. LOL)

    I did not connect to Blake’s wife at all, so I hope to see her character developed a bit more as the series progresses. I find the concept of her character extremely interesting - I love an intelligent and accomplished female lead/co-lead. But Rebecca didn’t have much of an opportunity to shine in this installment, so I think her time will come in a future book. I do hope that some of our secondary characters, namely Daniel, Blizzard, David and Gavin, will continue to appear in the series as I liked all of them. And I really really liked Carla, I would like to see her play a strong presence going forward.

    I recommend this book if you are a fan of whisky, corporate espionage, and the wine country of Australia.
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  • Dreaming of Paris - drdeb
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Riveting Read!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2022
    Format: Paperback
    A riveting read that truly lives up to its title--False Trust! You will be enthralled reading along as the
    characters engage in a world filled with explicitly planned dealings in crime, murder, theft, and
    deception involving vivid capers and jaunts into surprising twists, turns, angles and entangled
    relationships. I got very thirsty and hungry reading about the delicious libations and food described in
    the book and found interesting knowledge about whisky vintages that added to my interest to keep
    reading. You will not be disappointed in the ending and will be engaged and stimulated from start to
    finish. So…pour yourself some whisky in fine crystal or a lovely glass of wine, put your feet up and get
    cozy while you enjoy every minute of this suspense-filled novel. I promise you will love it as much as I
    did. – Dr. Debra P. Maddox
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  • Clay M.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting Blend of Technology and Murder
    Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2022
    Format: Paperback
    More than just another addictive page-turner, this is a fantastic blending of technology, money, greed, murder, and whiskey - in exciting locations all around the globe. This fast-moving story will keep your interest from the first page to the last page.

    As the story progresses, you are kept in suspense about who could be so sinister to have committed these acts of murder and deceit. The twists and turns in the plot are riveting, and I can’t wait for the next book to see what new challenges lay ahead for Blake and Becca.
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