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The Devil's Bait
"Fast-paced and gripping, THE DEVIL’S BAIT takes you full-throttle from beginning to end. One heck of a ride!" --J. Carson Black, best-selling author of DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN and THE SHOP Jessie Dawn Cutler is a relationship banker, a single woman in Manhattan, climbing the rungs of the high-finance ladder on her way to the top. Morgan Byrd is an aging mercenary soldier, suffering a crisis of conscience as profound as his bank account is low. When Jessie’s biggest client is revealed as a criminal and a killer—protected from within and outside the bank—she becomes a target. But Jessie is courageous, resourceful, and when she teams up with Morgan, it’s just possible that both of their lives can be saved... Bestselling author J. Carson Black (The Shop, Darkness at the Edge of Town) "Jeffrey J. Mariotte has written a compelling heroine in banker Jessie Dawn Cutler, whose well-ordered world implodes when she witnesses a cold-blooded killing by her biggest client. Now Jessie must pit her courage and resourcefulness against a remorseless killer whose reach is limitless. In this heart-pounding thriller set against the glittering backdrop of international banking, Jessie must hold her own against tremendous odds to survive." The Devil's Bait is the author's first thriller published exclusively as an e-book. At nearly 93,000 words, it's a terrific value and a guaranteed good time.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2011
1 person is currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Mariotte
274 books118 followersAward-winning author Jeffrey J. Mariotte has published more than 30 novels, including horror epic The Slab, award nominated teen horror quartet Witch Season, and the recent supernatural thrillers River Runs Red and Missing White Girl, in addition to tie-in novels and many, many comic books. He is also co-owner of specialty bookstore Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego. He lives in southeastern Arizona.
Also writes as Jeffrey J. Mariotte.
Also writes as Jeffrey J. Mariotte.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 8, 2011
Jessie Cutler is a relationship banker for Metro Bank. That is, she manages the money accounts of one of the wealthiest customers. She knew he pushed large amounts of cash through the bank, but had not thought much about as her mentor had handed him off as she moved up to management.
Then she saw something she shouldn't have.
After a meeting with Richard Steele, the rich customer, she was hurrying to catch up with him to give him a card she'd forgotten when she saw him with another man. At that moment, a carload of shooters opened up on them. They returned fire. Self defense right? But after the six were down, Steele and the other man put a bullet in each's head.
And there was nothing about it in the papers the next day.
Jessie knew she was in trouble then, her first step was to go to a government agency that specialized in investigating large cash movements. Just before she met the agent in charge, she saw him coming down the hall.
It was the shooter with Steele the day before!
She got out of there.
Her next try was the papers. She met with an idealistic young reporter who saw visions of a Pulitzer in his future.
He was found murdered.
Already on the run, Jessie went the one place she was sure no one could find her. A much older sister who'd been gone out of the family's lives before Jessie was born. They stayed in touch, but Jessie didn't list her anywhere as a relative. As far as anyone knew, she had no siblings.
Joan lived in the mid-west with her young daughter, Cassie. She put her in touch with someone who gave her new identity papers and passport. Also made it possible for her to hire a mercenary for protection.
Still on the run, the decision was made to be pro-active, not just run. Hit Steele head on, or at least from an angle.
With only the mercenary and a federal agent with a score of his own to settle with Steele, the three of them made forays, using Jessie's banking knowledge, and the others' survical skills.
Mariotte, in his first original novel for ebook, throws several twists into the mix, one I should have seen from the clues presented, keeping me guessing.
A winner.
Then she saw something she shouldn't have.
After a meeting with Richard Steele, the rich customer, she was hurrying to catch up with him to give him a card she'd forgotten when she saw him with another man. At that moment, a carload of shooters opened up on them. They returned fire. Self defense right? But after the six were down, Steele and the other man put a bullet in each's head.
And there was nothing about it in the papers the next day.
Jessie knew she was in trouble then, her first step was to go to a government agency that specialized in investigating large cash movements. Just before she met the agent in charge, she saw him coming down the hall.
It was the shooter with Steele the day before!
She got out of there.
Her next try was the papers. She met with an idealistic young reporter who saw visions of a Pulitzer in his future.
He was found murdered.
Already on the run, Jessie went the one place she was sure no one could find her. A much older sister who'd been gone out of the family's lives before Jessie was born. They stayed in touch, but Jessie didn't list her anywhere as a relative. As far as anyone knew, she had no siblings.
Joan lived in the mid-west with her young daughter, Cassie. She put her in touch with someone who gave her new identity papers and passport. Also made it possible for her to hire a mercenary for protection.
Still on the run, the decision was made to be pro-active, not just run. Hit Steele head on, or at least from an angle.
With only the mercenary and a federal agent with a score of his own to settle with Steele, the three of them made forays, using Jessie's banking knowledge, and the others' survical skills.
Mariotte, in his first original novel for ebook, throws several twists into the mix, one I should have seen from the clues presented, keeping me guessing.
A winner.
August 15, 2012
Jessica Cutler is a “Relationship Manager” with MetroBank on the way up when she watches her most important client, Richard Steele, and another man murder four others in a garage (it started off as self-defense but Steele went to each wounded man and shot them through the head). Unseen by Steele, Jessica flees the scene, and begins to question whether the transactions she has been making for Steele have in fact been money laundering.
After a sleepless night, Jessica brings her suspicions to a higher-up at the bank, a friend who has been her mentor. He listens to her story— she does not mention the murders— and assures her that, while there is probably nothing to her fears, he will look into her concerns. Jessica leaves the office relieved until someone tries to push her in front of a subway train. When she finally returns home, she finds that her apartment has been riffled. She throws some clothes into a bag and “goes on the run.”
Narrowly escaping danger, she makes her way across the country to Clark’s Grove, Iowa to take refuge with her long estranged sister, Joan. Once there and realizing that Steele’s people would continue to search for her no matter how far she ran, she decides to seek protection and hires Morgan Byrd, an ex-Special Forces mercenary as a bodyguard.
Once she explains the situation to Byrd, he convinces her that the best way to protect herself and those close to her would be to go on the offensive and this offensive takes them from Iowa to Paris to Geneva to the Grand Caymans, back to Iowa, and then back to New York City where it all started.
The action is fast-paced with many twists and turns and Mariotte has obviously done much research on the intricacies of banking transactions.
The Devil’s Bait is an intriguing tale with loads of action and well written characters and I’m giving it 41/2 spiders
johnmac
After a sleepless night, Jessica brings her suspicions to a higher-up at the bank, a friend who has been her mentor. He listens to her story— she does not mention the murders— and assures her that, while there is probably nothing to her fears, he will look into her concerns. Jessica leaves the office relieved until someone tries to push her in front of a subway train. When she finally returns home, she finds that her apartment has been riffled. She throws some clothes into a bag and “goes on the run.”
Narrowly escaping danger, she makes her way across the country to Clark’s Grove, Iowa to take refuge with her long estranged sister, Joan. Once there and realizing that Steele’s people would continue to search for her no matter how far she ran, she decides to seek protection and hires Morgan Byrd, an ex-Special Forces mercenary as a bodyguard.
Once she explains the situation to Byrd, he convinces her that the best way to protect herself and those close to her would be to go on the offensive and this offensive takes them from Iowa to Paris to Geneva to the Grand Caymans, back to Iowa, and then back to New York City where it all started.
The action is fast-paced with many twists and turns and Mariotte has obviously done much research on the intricacies of banking transactions.
The Devil’s Bait is an intriguing tale with loads of action and well written characters and I’m giving it 41/2 spiders
johnmac
January 25, 2012
See those few lines up there under the book description?? Well they do not do justice to how awesome this read is! I'm not much into the banking world, no matter that I have a degree in Business Management and have taken lots of Accounting courses, I still don't get stocks, bonds, etc... No worries, The Devil's Bait isn't "stuffy". It is a fast paced, exciting, funny, suspenseful read!
Jessie is a go-getter, not one to ever back down from a challenge. When she witnesses multiple murders, at the hand of Richard Steele, her handsome, rich client, and someone she doesn't know, Jessie soon realizes she has been involved in something bigger than she ever expected and her life is at stake. Going on the run is her only option.
Hiding out at her estranged sister Joan's house she meets her niece Cassie. With the help of a hired cowboy-type mercenary named Morgan, she takes off on a whirlwind race to beat Steele to his money, and come out with her life.
With a not seen coming turn of events closing the book out, The Devil's Bait is a thriller that will not disappoint. I can't wait to read this novel again, I enjoyed it that much!!
Jessie is a go-getter, not one to ever back down from a challenge. When she witnesses multiple murders, at the hand of Richard Steele, her handsome, rich client, and someone she doesn't know, Jessie soon realizes she has been involved in something bigger than she ever expected and her life is at stake. Going on the run is her only option.
Hiding out at her estranged sister Joan's house she meets her niece Cassie. With the help of a hired cowboy-type mercenary named Morgan, she takes off on a whirlwind race to beat Steele to his money, and come out with her life.
With a not seen coming turn of events closing the book out, The Devil's Bait is a thriller that will not disappoint. I can't wait to read this novel again, I enjoyed it that much!!
November 15, 2012
The book has a slow start, builds a head of steam in the middle, then tapers off near the end. The main character, Jessica Cutler didn't at first generate much approbation or sympathy. The character didn't click for me. Jessica, a personal relationship banker for the ridiculously rich, witnesses one of her clients gun down some of his rivals in a shot out. Realizing her precarious position, she runs for her life. Jessica finds she can't deal with the situation alone and hires a personal body guard off the internet. This is where the real gem of this book emerges. Morgan Byrd is tougher than a three dollar steak that is too well done. He looks like he has been ridden hard and put away wet too often. Yet he keeps coming back for more. This is a character you would want to wrap a book around. The focus of the book would have been better if it centered fully on Byrd with Jessica as the minor character. Book provided for review by the author and Malevolent Books.
February 20, 2012
This was yet another great thriller read from the author! There are so many twists and turns throughout this story that you get halfway through and realize that you have no idea what's going to happen! I thought I had the story figured out about a quarter of the way through, and was totally blown away with the way it turned out. As a normally perceptive person and should have picked up on what was going to happen, but somehow the author managed to twist it in a way that I never saw it coming! This is definitely a book that won't disappoint you! I recommend it to anyone that loves a good thriller :)
November 23, 2012
If this would have been a movie, it would have not been on my list to watch. As a good it was great. Girl sees her kind of boss kill some people and its a bumpy ride from there. Has some family, banking, foreign travel, a lot of bloodshed and some great characters.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews