A Slippery Shadow


Fiction - Suspense
377 Pages
Reviewed on 03/01/2022
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

I've always liked to read and tell stories but was also a captive of the corporate world for more than forty years. Anyone who has lived life at the senior levels of large companies knows there's little time for a writing career, and it took retirement from that world to launch a new pursuit. My first book was a work of non-fiction – NEEDS Selling Solutions – co-authored with my friend Jeff Allen. From that positive experience, I learned that writing a book is a challenge, but it's not an insurmountable one!

I set out to use my life experiences as a foundation for entertaining suspense thrillers, using the backdrop of a large corporation for my tales of intrigue. Since my debut story, Three Weeks Less a Day in 2016, I've released a new novel each year and my sixth, A Slippery Shadow, hits the bookshelves April 1, 2022.

My working career provided insight into varied and diverse situations. I’ve worked in a supermarket, sold appliances, distributed motorcycles, launched an automobile dealer network, and provided financing to help businesses grow. Every industry was different from the others. Every company had its distinctive culture and character, but all were units of large corporations with operations around the world.

Experts say we should write about things we know best. IFor me, that's business, travel, and people. As an author, my goal is to share some experiences, insight, and views as I create suspense stories designed to entertain people worldwide -- one reader at a time.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Natalie Soine for Readers' Favorite

A Slippery Shadow by Gary D. McGugan begins in Singapore on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Two months since crime-boss Fidelia Morales seized control of The Organization. Her former lover Howard Knight was preparing to leave The Organization permanently but found himself in danger from unknown felons. Fidelia is arrested for murder from her private jet and her operation is thrown into disarray. During this time, Suzanne Simpson, CEO of Multima Corporation Supermarkets, finds that the share price had collapsed in a terrifying freefall, right from the stock market’s opening bell that morning, followed by a spate of bombings at the supermarkets belonging to Multima. These two powerful women hire their own investigative teams to find out who is putting their lives and corporations at risk. Could it be that The Shadow’s influence stretches across continents?

What an incredible story. Exciting, suspenseful, and thought-provoking, A Slippery Shadow by Gary D. McGugan is one of the best stories I have ever read. The numerous characters with their different personalities keep the story interesting. Gary does a fantastic job of describing the various scenes and locations around the world, making it easy for the reader to form a visual of the many places and events that take place. I especially enjoyed the way Gary uses dialogue to carry the story forward without giving away too many secrets. The story is filled with twists, turns, and surprises, making this novel a page-turner from start to end. All-round, a great novel highly recommended to all adults.

Jennifer Ibiam

While the COVID pandemic raged worldwide, more chaos brewed in the background. Fidelia Morales, crime boss and head of The Organization, landed her private aircraft in Singapore to a hostile welcome and brief imprisonment. A supposed ally had double-crossed her on his turf, and she wanted revenge. Her associate, Howard Knight, wanted out of The Organization. So as Fidelia languished, he made his escape and applied extreme measures to avoid discovery. In the middle of all this, the head of Multima Corporation, Suzanne Simpson, faced the worst time in business. Someone or an organization was out to cripple her conglomerate, and she would not go down without a fight. Schemes, manipulations, and betrayals formed a link among these three powerful entities in A Slippery Shadow by Gary D. McGugan.

A Slippery Shadow by Gary D. McGugan was an astonishing three-way story that merged to form a satisfying whole. I enjoyed everything about this novel, from the unique plot to the excellent storyline and character development. Gary also employed stylish writing that hooked me so much that I didn't want to miss anything. The author was so meticulous in his narration that the events felt realistic. I could guess that he'd been at the helm of affairs in many global corporations. A Slippery Shadow presented formidable characters and a thick web of deceit so that I couldn't identify the villain. Suzanne was a victim. Yet I admired her tenacity and knack for logical thinking. I can't wait to see what happens with Stefan, Michelle, Jean-Louis, and even James because I don't trust him. Thank you for a beautiful book, Gary.

Pikasho Deka

A Slippery Shadow is a crime drama thriller written by Gary D. McGugan. Head of the global crime syndicate The Organization, Fidelia Morales finds herself on the wrong end of local authorities in Singapore while trying to conduct business with nefarious local mafia boss Stan Tan. Her problems become further complicated when key members of The Organization are arrested by the FBI. Additionally, her former lover Howard Knight's attempts to leave The Organization put him in the FBI's clutches, who use him for their own interests. Meanwhile, Multima Corporation, led by Suzanne Simpson, comes under attack through multiple bombings in their stores. Fidelia realizes that someone is trying to blame the bombings and the kidnappings on The Organization. Can she decipher the identity of the mysterious Shadow?

Filled with suspense, mystery, and intrigue, A Slippery Shadow keeps you hooked throughout the pages with an entertaining plot and twists and turns you never see coming. Author Gary D. McGugan maneuvers an intricate story spanning multiple continents and involving international crime syndicates, corrupt governments, and powerful corporations that at times might threaten to overwhelm you, only to come together in the end to form the perfect completed jigsaw puzzle. McGugan's writing is exemplary, and the narrative feels more like a Hollywood blockbuster than a conventional crime novel. Despite being part of a larger ongoing series, A Slippery Shadow also functions as a standalone novel. The primary plotline resolves itself within the book. I had an absolute blast reading it. Recommended to fans of epic crime sagas.

Rolanda Lyles

The massive Multima Corporation led by Suzanne Simpson has recently had attacks and mysterious bombings at a couple of their store locations. Simpson and her associates are desperate to find who is behind the bombings and fear more attacks and retaliation. Fidelia Morales, a crime boss for The Organization, has also been detained and barely escapes with her life. Now she wants revenge. But her gang of criminals is thrown into chaos as dozens of operatives mysteriously disappear. In the meantime, Howard Knight—Fidelia’s former lover and accomplice—flees in a desperate attempt to escape The Organization. He becomes an informant for the FBI, giving information to be in the witness protection program. Amid the chaos and a global pandemic, Suzanne Simpson scrambles to fill crucial executive roles while dealing with bizarre threats and mysterious interferences on three continents. Everyone speaks of the elusive Shadow who seems to be calling the shots from all ends. Who is The Shadow and what are their plans?

Gary D. McGugan's A Slippery Shadow is a fast-paced, action-filled story that is sure to keep you glued to the pages until the very end! A story that is full of twists and turns with surprises you never saw coming. I enjoyed the way McGugan had each character personalized with the way they spoke and behaved. The characters were very believable. The writing was very intense and there was never a dull moment in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I still am curious as to who The Shadow is, and hopefully, Gary will write a sequel later that reveals his identity. Gary D. McGugan's A Slippery Shadow is definitely a must-read, and I look forward to enjoying more of his writing in the future.

Rabia Tanveer

A Slippery Shadow by Gary D. McGugan is the perfect suspense novel with a solid plot that commands the attention of readers. Fidelia Morales, the crime boss of a gang, barely made it out alive when she was ambushed in her private jet. Howard Knight, her accomplice, was just lucky enough to get away from the same plane. However, neither of them was safe. Someone or some people were hounding each of their steps. Fidelia and Howard had no idea that they were not the only ones in trouble. Suzanne Simpson, a powerful businesswoman, was also in huge trouble and seemed to have caught the attention of a stranger who plays threatening, dark, and dangerous games with all three of them. Someone was pulling the strings and they had no idea who was behind their misfortune. Can Suzanne, Howard, and Fidelia figure out who the person is? Could they fight the strange nemesis before it was too late?

You don’t come across suspense novels like A Slippery Shadow a lot these days. Author Gary D. McGugan created the perfect atmosphere for suspense to grow and become an integral part of the story. The antagonist was very hard to decipher, and the mystery behind the antagonist truly surprised me. The strength of this novel can be found in its character development, narrative, and descriptions. The author gave nothing away when he was writing the descriptive paragraphs. He gave clues, he allowed the readers an insight into the mind of the antagonist, and yet we had no idea what the antagonist was capable of until the end. Fidelia was a street-smart and incredibly brave woman. She was my favorite because she was strong, human, and intelligent. Even though she wasn’t a good person, I could not help but root for her. The author did a fantastic job of developing three very different yet relatable characters who drove the story forward and made it interesting. Any reader who likes suspense, fast-paced action, and intensity would love this novel.