Review of Murderous Beauty
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Review of Murderous Beauty
"Murderous Beauty" by Philip Arklow is a gripping mystery thriller that keeps readers guessing until the very end. Arklow expertly draws the reader into the dark and dangerous world of industrial espionage, corporate takeover attempts, and murder.
The story is set in motion when Gordon Harris, CEO of the biotech company CytoSerum, discovers that their research has been compromised by a mole within the company. As he works to uncover the spy and protect his life's work, the stakes are raised even further by a hostile takeover bid. Arklow establishes the high-stakes backstory effectively to set the scene for the sinister events that follow. From the first mysterious death, the reader is drawn into an intricate web of secrets, lies, and danger. Arklow introduces a colorful cast of characters, each with their own motivations and secrets, keeping the identity of the mole and murderer wonderfully ambiguous. Is it the money-hungry board members? Ambitious rivals at other companies? Someone closer to home? The author does an expert job of misdirecting suspicions to maximize suspense.
The editing of the book is well done, with no grammatical errors, providing a seamless read. The plot moves at a relentless pace, with many twists and turns. Arklow displays a talent for intricate plotting and red herrings as clues are uncovered and new suspicious events occur. Just when the reader thinks they have it figured out, another curveball is thrown. The tension is ratcheted up chapter by chapter as the body count rises. Arklow also cleverly inserts a romantic subplot involving Harris' daughter to add emotional stakes to the rapidly unfolding events. There are no negative points to mention.
While the scientific and corporate espionage aspects may not be realistic in every detail, Arklow maintains a believable tone that suspends the reader's disbelief. Fans of crime thrillers, mysteries with twisting plots, and novels involving the cutthroat world of big business will find much to admire in Arklow's writing and storytelling abilities on display in this page-turning debut. "Murderous Beauty" is a highly entertaining and compulsively readable mystery that will keep readers guessing until the final secret is at last revealed. I would rate it 5 out of 5.
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Murderous Beauty
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