Tabula Rasa

The End is Nigh

Fiction - Thriller - General
357 Pages
Reviewed on 07/06/2017
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Author Biography

I was born and brought up in Glasgow. I studied biochemistry, and I've worked in several Scottish Universities where I did research on enzymes and taught biochemistry. After thirty years of teaching and research I retired my academic pen and took up a fiction pen.

I write medical themed thrillers. Deadly Secrets was published in 2013, and was followed by Everything To Lose in 2014, The Black Fox in 2015, Toxic Minds in 2016 and Tabula Rasa in 2017. I live in central Scotland with my wife and we enjoy reading, writing, and walking in the hills.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

Tabula Rasa: The End is Nigh by Gordon Bickerstaff is a fascinating tale that weaves together elements of thriller with mystery to deliver one of the best entertainments for readers. Two skilled agents from the Lambeth Group, Gavin Shawlens and Zoe Tampsin, are embroiled in a murder investigation that will take them to unexpected places. The government defence scientist has died in very bizarre circumstances and the agents are just about to start an investigation to find out why, but it seems someone wants to stop them at all cost and they don’t know why. Read on to see how quickly the conflict escalates, with Zoe’s discovery of the coded phrase “Tabula Rasa” and the incomprehensible behavior of the son of the dead scientist. As the duo continues with the investigation, Gavin will have to face the greatest threat in human history while Zoe is shocked at her own discovery about Gavin. And what does a prophecy dating back a hundred years have to do with all of this?

Gordon Bickerstaff’s book is a thriller with a very complex and multilayered plot, a story that features compelling and well-developed characters. The storytelling skills are impeccable and the author has managed to keep the reader turning the page non-stop, wanting to discover what happens to the characters. Surprises are many and they come in at unexpected moments. The story feels real and it is relevant, dealing with great themes like climate change, crime, and human greed. I enjoyed the portraits of the two investigators and I loved the surprise they experience at discovering each other in the process. Tabula Rasa: The End is Nigh is a captivating story that will delight fans of thrillers. I just couldn’t stop reading this amazing story.

Ruffina Oserio

A perfect fit for fans of thrillers, with powerful plot lines and rock-solid characters, Tabula Rasa: The End is Nigh is a delightful read with great potential to entertain readers. A family of visionaries prophesied the dismal effects of global warming on food supplies a hundred years ago. Now, two agents are involved in an investigation to find out the probable cause of the mysterious death of a government scientist, but as they start their investigation, they get clear signs that someone wants them to halt the investigation and they will do all they can to stop them. What becomes more worrisome to the agents, Gavin and Zoe, is the way the son of the dead scientist, Ramsay, behaves. Pretending to be a couple, the agents get close to the secret and mysterious world of Ramsay and his refined guardians. The clues they find, including the words “Tabula Rasa,” are about to bring them face to face with the most powerful revolution the world has ever known. Is Gavin ready to stop it? And what should Zoe do with her newfound knowledge of her colleague?

Tabula Rasa by Gordon Bickerstaff is a great story that features intrigue, conspiracy, and a dubious family history. Readers are introduced to memorable characters. Here is a story that comes across as original, with an unpredictable plot, a page-turner that keeps the reader guessing through every page. The writing is riveting, and it is filled with compelling passages. The chapter breaks are well calculated, designed to push the reader into the next chapter. Gordon Bickerstaff has a great gift for plot and character and he successfully creates the balance readers want in works of this nature, with the setting coming across vividly through the narrative.

Mamta Madhavan

Tabula Rasa by Gordon Bickerstaff is a compelling story of revenge, murder, intrigue, action, and suspense. Zoe, her brother Michael, and Gavin are working towards saving the planet from a group of people. Though they are prepared to face the worst, there is someone who is trying to stall them. The clues they have are ambiguous; one is the phrase 'Tabula Rasa' and other one is the strange behavior of Ramsay, son of a dead government defense scientist. Zoe, Michael, and Gavin are hell bent on investigating the mysterious death of the scientist and they try to enter the world of his son, Ramsay. What happens next, and their discovery, is shocking!

The story is thrilling, it is fast, there is fun and yet at the same time a sense of urgency to find out more about Ramsay and his secrecy. Zachary Silsden, who is a prominent figure in English nobility, Zoe, and Gavin keep readers hooked on the story. I like the way the author effectively weaves a subtle message into the plot as it progresses. The character of Zoe is well portrayed with shades of grey, and the rest of the characters in the story are memorable and interesting. The book handles the topic of global warming and the hazards it causes to the planet, and that makes it a must-read. The twists and turns, the complexities, the characters, and the author’s unique style of writing make this an engrossing read.