The Devil You Know

Eight stars

Chris Hauty is back with another thriller that keeps the reader on their toes, as things take a dire turn in America. A legal mind is gunned down, perhaps a deeply-rooted conspiracy to turn the tides on American policy. Hayley Chill finds herself in the middle of the action, as she seeks to make sense of what’s happening, while protecting another legal mind from being gunned down as well. Hauty does well to pace the story and keep the reader in the middle of the action.

America is shocked and Washington is abuzz when one of the justices of the US Supreme Court is murdered by the police officer tasked with protecting him. While no one is quite sure what’s going on, those within the Deep State are sure that it’s a planned assassination that has ties to a larger conspiracy. Hayley Chill tries to steer clear of the fray, but she cannot help wondering the same thing. The country has taken a significant turn over the last few years and Hayley has been in the middle of it, witnessing just how cut throat US politics can be.

There is more danger lurking around the corner. In Maui, a Mexican cartel has a plan that is sure to bring notice to their efforts. After kidnapping a bus load of children, they promise to beginning killing them unless a certain Supreme Court justice, who has a home on the island, is killed. Enter Hayley Chill, who is always willing to stay one step ahead of the action. She’s sent to Hawaii in order to help solve the situation, which could get bloody at any moment. Working alongside a seasoned US marshal, Hayley will have to help protect the justice and save the children before it’s too late. It is sure to be a bloody mess and no one is quite ready for the fallout. Racing against the clock and a collection of men who prefer to see bodies strewn all over, Hayley will have to take action and make some significant decisions. A wonderful addition to the series, showing just how well-versed Chris Hauty can be!

While I was not fully enthralled when first I tried this Chris Hauty series, I allowed patience to envelop me and I soon found myself quite intrigued. The idea of the Deep State, while being panned as scandalous by former President Trump, has some interesting aspects that Hauty brings out for all to see. The foundation of the novel is strong and provides a stellar pathway for the reader to enjoy. Filled with strong characters, including the protagonist, things get to the heart of the matter. Hayley Chill has a unique sense about her, someone who has grown on me for the last few novels. The plot is both alluring and ever-evolving, which has me hoping that there will be more to the series. Things are never boring or slow paced, which helps to make things just as exciting as any political thriller I have read. Chris Hauty knows his stuff and has kept things on point with great developments. One can only wonder where he will take readers next.

Kudos, Mr. Hauty, for a sensational addition to your series, which adds questions rather than concrete answers.

Seven stars

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, P.J. Tracy, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Long a fan of P.J. Tracy and their work (from the era when it was a duo and now a single author), I have followed things from the Monkeewrench series to this new collection. While things have proven to be less impactful for me, the stories remain strong and have the needed spark to attract many readers. Full of action and set on the West Coast, Tracy keeps the reader guessing in this unique police procedural that has subtle undertones of personal struggle. Tracy has done well as a single author, though I do miss the duo that had my rapt attention with every turn of the page.

LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan is back with a new case that takes her into all aspects of the city’s citizenry, including the stars who feel that they are untouchable. While the every day citizen toils and the dark underbelly use crime to get by, there is a privilege the rich feel they have, and Nolan sees this first hand. She’s also forced to contend with her own issues, which might pale in comparison, but are still prevalent as she does her job each day.

Prominent actor Evan Hobbes turns up dead in the rubble of a recent rockslide. Shouldering accusations of child pornography kept Hobbes from being able to live his best life, but Detective Nolan thinks that there might have been more than a rockslide involved in his death. The world of the entitled makes Nolan’s job all the more difficult, parsing through truth and deception. Still, Detective Nolan is determined to get to the bottom of what’s happened and who might have wanted to smear Hobbes’ name.

When another body turns up, with strong connections to Hobbes, Detective Nolan is all but assured that there is a killer on the loose; someone with an axe to grind and message to deliver. Detective Nolan will have to work with her team to get to the bottom of what’s happening, all while she tries to deflect the gleam of riches and entitlement that stardom leaves in its wake. With a killer hiding, Detective Nolan knows that this will be a challenge, but when has she ever shied way from it? A great addition to the series!

Authors surely undergo a transformation for a number of reasons, be they personal changes or writing styles. P.J. Tracy is one of those authors, moving from a strong mother-daughter duo into the daughter alone after the death of the elder. I have seen a significant change in the writing, which is to be expected. I have not been able to connect as much with this new series, but it could simply be that my writing tastes have shifted as well. Still, this is a series that has a great deal of potential and should attract the attention of many readers.

The key to a strong police procedural is to keep the crime at the centre of the narrative and build from there. P.J. Tracy does that well, adding her own flavouring with characters and setting development. Plot twists throughout keep the reader guessing, which permits things to be less than predictive. I appreciated this, as well as shorter chapters, which propelled the story forward. While I did not feel as connected to the story, I can appreciate how some would find this to be their perfect reading experience.

Kudos, Madam Tracy, for a decent novel that is sure to impress many, even if it was not something about which I can rave.