Book Reviews

Book Blurb

A month and a half into their relationship, PI Niall Valentine and his occult shopkeeper boyfriend, Gus Goodwin, are hoping for a little time alone, but they’re thrown into another murder mystery.

Niall’s client, Angelina Talbot, is certain her new husband attempted to kill her, ambushing her in their bedroom, half-naked and covered in blood. Scared out of her mind, Angelina hit him with a lamp and ran away. Hugh Talbot lies dead in the bedroom, his head smashed in with a lamp—but the door is locked from the inside. Is Angelina truly an unwitting murderer, or are more sinister forces at play?

With a family of eccentrics, borderline criminals, and Satanists, the real killer could be any number of people wandering the mansion that night under the cover of darkness. The entire Talbot clan thrives in secrecy. Still unfulfilled and utterly perplexed, Niall and Gus are tasked with shedding some much-needed light on the shadowy case.

 

Book Review

The second book of the ‘Wheel Mysteries’, 'Devil's Own' by Susan Laine, picks up right after the first story ends. Things have calmed down considerably and Niall and Gus are looking forward to getting to know each other better. They get along fabulously and things are going fine between them. They want to believe they have found “the one”, but it is simply too early to tell. They both feel the physical attraction, but need more “normal” time together to see if what they feel can last. Just when they are catching their breath, Niall is challenged with yet another bizarre set of circumstances.

Mrs. Talbot, a potential client, rushes into Niall's office proclaiming: “My husband is the Devil Incarnate...” Niall listens, but is skeptical, wondering if it could be a domestic dispute rather than a real crisis; but the longer Niall listens to Mrs. Talbot talk about her husband and his family, particularly when they speak of “black masses, old gods, ritualistic sex, and blood sacrifices,” the more Niall is convinced there is something sinister going on inside Talbot Manor. Niall is impressed with Mrs. Talbot as well. She doesn't seem the kind of woman who is taken with hysterics, which gives more credibility to her story. Niall agrees to check into it for her, but with the agreement that if he can not find anything amiss within two weeks, he drops the case.

It soon becomes clear that not only is she telling him the truth, but it is only the tip of the iceberg. Niall realizes he's in over his head as far as esoteric matters go, and naturally turns to Gus for answers. Gus is quite disturbed when he finds the clues Niall has are Satanic. Gus always tries not to judge, but it's difficult because he had a bad experience with someone who practiced Satanism. He's quite disturbed about his inability to cope. Meanwhile, back at the Manor, bodies start multiplying, people go missing, and all sorts of other disturbing occurrences are taking place. It's beginning to mimic a game of Clue. It's a huge Gordian knot which seems 'untangleable', with every answer leading to another question, with answers more horrific than before.

There's not much more I can say about this complex, fast-paced mystery without spoiling the seemingly endless revelations woven into this tangle of lies, deceit, murder, Satanism, and last, but certainly not least, the deepening love between Niall and Gus. If you enjoy a complicated, multi-leveled, murder mystery, Satanic rites, and a love story between two hot men who are total opposites but fit together perfectly, then you may like this book. Thanks, Susan, for another entertaining and informative story.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 192 pages/47816 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	02-July-2014
Price	$5.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/devils-own-by-susan-laine-648-b