Published: 2023
Series: Kate Marshall #4
Author: Robert Bryndza
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Detective, Ebooks, Suspense, British Literature
Audience (Grade Levels): Adult (Recommended for Faculty / Mature Teens)
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)
Goodreads Link: Devil’s Way
Triggers: Drinking, smoking, drug use, murder, child abuse, near drowning
Review By: Wendy Scalfaro
Publisher’s Summary:
THE TRUTH HIDES IN THE DARK
Kate Marshall’s investigation into a young boy’s disappearance sends her down an unexpectedly twisted path in a riveting thriller by multi-million bestselling author, Robert Bryndza.
When Private Investigator Kate Marshall is rushed to hospital after being pulled into a riptide current in the sea, the near-death experience leaves her shaken. During her recovery, she befriends Jean, an elderly lady on the same ward. Jean tells the harrowing story of how her three-year-old grandson, Charlie, went missing eleven years ago during a camping trip on Dartmoor.
By the time Kate is well enough to go home, she’s agreed to take on the case, but when Kate and her trusty sidekick Tristan start to look at the events of that fateful night, they discover that Jean has a dark past that could have put Charlie in jeopardy.
Was Charlie abducted? Or did he fall into Devil’s Way? A rushing river that vanishes into a gorge close to where they were camping.
When Kate and Tristan discover that a social worker who flagged concerns about Jean and her daughter was found brutally murdered shortly after Charlie vanished, it makes them question everything they thought they knew about the family…
Filled with twists and turns, Devil’s Way is the fourth Kate Marshall novel and the most gripping and satisfying yet!
Review:
I found this book on NetGalley so I thought I’d give it a try. I’m glad I did. I immediately liked the two main characters, and the author gives equal weight to their stories. This title is not the first in a series, so I thought I wouldn’t be able to follow it, but Bryndza provides just enough backstory so new readers won’t get lost. The story was engaging and believable, the investigation intense and interesting. I think more mature teens might enjoy this whodunnit, but you’re more likely to find readership among your faculty. I wouldn’t mind reading the rest of the series.
Extension Activity / Library Application:
- Faculty Book Club Selection: Add this title to a school staff or library faculty book club rotation. It serves as a gripping, fast-paced “palette cleanser” mystery that promotes community engagement among school staff.
- Series Spotlight Display: Feature Devil’s Way in a high school library display focused on “Gripping British Thrillers & Whodunnits” aimed at older readers, staff, and faculty, displaying it alongside the earlier three titles in the series (Nine Elms, Shadow Sands, and Darkness Falls) to capture interest in the full character arc.
Diversity & Representation:
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While the primary focus of the text is a traditional crime investigation, the book supports representation through its equal narrative weighting of multiple perspectives. It highlights complex interpersonal dynamics, family trauma, and the lived experiences of an older demographic through the character of Jean, presenting a realistic, unvarnished look at family pasts and social histories.
Readalikes:
- Nine Elms by Robert Bryndza
- The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney
- The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith
