Hanging the Devil

Cape Weathers Investigation #5

by Tim Maleeny

"A caper stuffed with comedy and crime...equal parts adrenaline and heart. A completely delightful read." ―Gregg Hurwitz, New York Times bestselling author "Smart, sassy, and sizzling with action." ―Deborah Crombie, New York Times bestselling author It was supposed to be a simple steal the paintings, leave the forgeries... When a helicopter crashes through the skylight of the Asian Art Museum, an audacious heist turns into a tragedy. The only witness to the crash is eleven-year-old Grace, who watches in horror as her uncle is killed and a priceless statue stolen by two men and a―ghost? At least that's how the eerie, smoke-like figure with parchment skin and floating hair appears to Grace. Scared almost to death, she flees into the night and seeks refuge in the back alleys of San Francisco's Chinatown. Grace is found by Sally Mei, self-appointed guardian of Chinatown. While Sally trains Grace in basic survival skills, her erstwhile partner Cape Weathers, private detective and public nuisance, searches for the mysterious crew behind the robbery before they strike the museum a second time. As the clock winds down, Cape enlists aid from some unlikely allies to lay a trap for a ghost who has no intention of being caught―nor of leaving any witnesses alive to tell the tale.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

Tim Maleeny is the bestselling author of the award-winning Cape Weathers mysteries, including STEALING THE DRAGON, a novel about the Chinese Triads that was named a Killer Book of the Year by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.

Publishers Weekly said his series “engages the reader without insisting that it be taken too seriously, with writing that will resonate with Elmore Leonard fans.”

His latest is a global art heist called HANGING THE DEVIL, which Library Journal praises for its "relentlessly fast-paced plot and delightful dry humor" in a starred review. San Francisco Magazine calls it "a riveting thriller you won't be able to put down, guaranteed."

Tim's standalone comedic thriller JUMP was described as "a perfectly blended cocktail of escapism" by Publishers Weekly and was named Best Mystery of the Year by Foreword Magazine.

Tim won the prestigious Macavity Award for his short fiction, which appears in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen, and several major anthologies, including Thriller 2, Uncage Me, Fear, and Death Do Us Part.

Crimespree Magazine said “Maleeny gives readers a fresh and fast take that enthralls,” and Bookreporter called him “one of the new princes of detective fiction.” A member of the International Thriller Writers, Sisters In Crime, and Mystery Writers of America, Tim currently lives and writes in New York City.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crime, art, unique characters, humor, and action combine to bring readers a great read in the fifth book in Tim Maleeny’s Cape Weathers Mysteries series. A simple theft of four of the museum’s paintings was supposed to be an easy job. The thieves have flawless forgeries to leave in their place. However, a helicopter crashed turns it into a heartbreaking event as eleven-year-old Grace sees her uncle killed. Two men and a ghost had exited the helicopter. Grace flees and is found by Sally Mei who trains her in basic survival skills as her partner Cape Weathers, a private detective, searches for the crew behind the robbery.

Grace is precocious, but she can be impulsive and changes tactics when she meets resistance. Sally looks out for others in her community and is skilled in martial arts. Cape is forward, assertive, and often has his cars blown up during his cases.

The exciting scenes and extraordinary characters drew me into the story. The writing flows well and the various conflicts move the story forward with some unexpected twists. It is unsettling at times, heartbreaking at other times, but always keeping me on the edge of my seat. The brisk pacing, diverse characterization, and superb plot made this a fast read.

Overall, the book was suspenseful, action-packed, and filled with great characters. This is my first novel by this author, but I am looking forward to reading others.

Poisoned Pen Press and Tim Maleeny provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for November 14, 2023.
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My 4.09 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Emily Coffee and Commentary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast paced art heist thriller. Snarky, bursting with energy, and paying homage to the cut throat world of priceless art, Hanging the Devil is reality defying fight that delivers action from beginning to end. Combining humor with its thrills, this novel would translate well to a screen adaptation, channeling cinematic elements into its characters and their endeavors. Lighthearted and colorful, a journey of crime and justice that affirms that there is always more than what the eyes can see.


Thank you to Poisoned Pen and Tim Maleeny for this ARC of Hanging the Devil. Keep your eyes out for this novel on November 14th!

[Louise Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since the first book in this series, Stealing the Dragon, Cape Weathers has grown as a protagonist and I now find myself fully invested in all they do. This book is another page turner, with plenty of action and snappy dialogue to keep you engaged. This author does something special with these books and characters - they make them seem real even in the face of exotic locations and unlikely challenges. This sense of possibility makes the series one to follow.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Grace watches her uncle get murdered by what looks to her like a ghost she fleas the museum where he worked then runs into Sally May after Sally informs Kate of the circumstances of finding her new charge. 11-year-old Grace has 1 million questions but so does sally she will teach the girls survival skills and ways to avoid the bad men that are after her more than that Sally will search them out. I was so glad Sally was in most of this book I love the smart Whitty Kate Weathers mysteries I have brought all of the books acceptable which I am soon going to wreck the thigh. Kate is a great intelligent PI and Sally is a bad ass female and when she’s in the book I know I’m going to love it and although I enjoyed the last book that mainly had Kate I enjoyed so much more when Sally is involved this is a truly great book for any mystery fan especially those who are into things to do with Asian culture or anything with an international flair. I want to think the publisher the author and Net Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Carole Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone is stealing priceless Chinese art from museums around the world….can a well-meaning PI stop their next heist?

Grace, an eleven year old Chinese girl recently arrived in San Francisco, is spending the night in the Asian Art Museum with her uncle who is a guard there. Her parents and she were caught up in a protest in Hong Kong, and her father was able to get Grace smuggled out of the country before he was picked up and imprisoned. When a helicopter carrying three individuals crashes through the skylight of the museum, however, her uncle is killed and Grace has to run yet again….but not before seeing the two Chinese men and what appears to be a ghost. Grace’s luck is not all bad, however….as she races through the streets of Chinatown looking for refuge, she runs into Sally Mei. Sally, orphaned at a young age herself and raised to be an assassin by the Triads, broke ties with the organization years ago and now works with PI Cape Weathers. She also considers it her mission to keep the residents of Chinatown safe as long as she lives there, so she puts Grace under her protection. Grace’s story of seeing a ghost stealing a Buddha seems pretty out there, but Sally and Cape are inclined to believe her. They find themselves, with the aid of a beautiful Interpol agent, struggling to keep Grace safe from the local tongs who want to erase this inconvenient witness and from those behind the botched art heist, who may have ties with the Chinese government. Throw in some angry members of the Russian mob, and corruption in the art world, and its clear that Sally and Cape are up against formidable odds.
Cape Weathers, former war correspondent and investigative reporter turned PI, is a likeable, joke-cracking member of his profession in the mold of Robert Parker’s Spenser or John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee. In this, the fifth outing in the series, it is Sally and Grace who are the main players, and that pairing works very well indeed. Sally sees a bit of herself as a child in Grace, and Grace certainly needs someone who understands what she’s going through and can teach her to defend herself. The portrayal of the art “factories” in China is fascinating, and the depiction of a San Francisco struggling with street crime, the homeless and rampant drug use rings sadly true. I found the story to be fast paced, full of details on both sides of the Pacific, and while a few of the side characters were somewhat cookie cutter, I thoroughly enjoyed the plot line, the main characters and the levity interspersed with the chaos. Readers of the series will enjoy this new installment, as will readers of the authors mentioned above. Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy of Hanging the Devil, a read I greatly enjoyed.

[Jill Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this one! Maleeny does a fantastic job mixing witty and smart dialogue with compelling characters and non-stop action. The result is a wild ride that I found engaging and entertaining from the opening gambit. And now that I know how much I like his writing, I've gone ahead and ordered the four Cape Weathers books to catch up on the backstory! I hope he keeps writing in this universe, as I really enjoyed the characters and their antics!

It was a little gruesome at times, but never in a way that detracted from the story or felt gratuitous - it is a violent world that Cape and Sally inhabit, and the results of that violence are often horrific. Still there is an inherent humanity in these characters - including, oddly enough, the villains of the piece - such that, even at their most violent, I found them surprisingly endearing. It really helped me connect with their world and made fire a very robust read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.

[Glen]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

When a crew led by a Chinese albino robs a museum in San Francisco, a little girl is a witness. She flees, and finds herself under the protection of Cape Weathers...Well, actually his de riguer Hawk type side kick, who happens to be a Chinese woman, raised by the Triads to be an assassin. The crew tries to find the girl, and steal more artifacts, while Weathers, and the Russian mob try to find the crew.

Pretty good for a series I've never heard of. I'll try to catch the rest. See? Goodreads pays off!

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced, action packed, quirky characters, a gripping plot that kept me hooked.
Had a lot of fun
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great mystery/thriller! The story of this one immediately grabbed my attention and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. This was my first book by Tim Maleeny and I really enjoyed his writing style. I found this to be a fast paced book with some great characters. I will definitely consider picking up other books in the Cape Weathers series.

[The Library Ladies · Rating 3 out of 5]

(originally reviewed at thelibraryladies.com )

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Wunderkind PR for sending me a print copy of this novel!

While I tend to branch out quite a bit in the horror genre into many a sub genre, when it comes to Thrillers I really tend to stick to a couple, rarely deviating. I love psychological thrillers, procedurals, and historical thrillers (and both of those sub genres have many branches), but rarely do I stray out from those. But sometimes I like to take a chance, and when I was approached with “Hanging the Devil” by Tim Maleeny, an action thriller with a heist theme at its center, I decided to give it a go. I like trying new things, and since it’s a new year I thought that it could be a good time to work on that, reading wise. It’s always a risk, and it wasn’t one that completely paid off in this case.

But first the good, and that probably applies to a LOT of people who could be a potential audience for it. The heist storyline, the international intrigue, and the cast of characters is the perfect combination for one of those 2000s and 2010s USA shows like “Burn Notice”, “Psych”, and “Monk”. Whether it’s sarcastic PI Cape Weathers or badass fighter Sally or precocious Grace, the characters are fun and fizzy and have the exact kind of jaunty chemistry that makes for a jovial cast. The action is very visual in the descriptions, and I had no problem visualizing it as I was reading it, from foot chases to fights to the helicopter crash from the jump. I also enjoyed the discussion of the ethics of art and museums and how collections came to be, and who has the rights to have the pieces and whether these pieces should be returned to their countries of origin. Repatriation of art has been a more discussed topic in recent years, and as someone who used to work in museums (one of which did have some discussion about repatriation regarding parts of its collection) it’s always gratifying to see themes like these discussed in places that I don’t expect it as much. It’s also important to note that this is the fifth book in an ongoing series, but Maleeny does a good enough job with the characters and the need to know information that I didn’t feel terribly lost even without the context of four prior outings with plot and character development.

But I think that at the end of the day, “Hanging the Devil” was a mismatched reading choice for me because I still just can’t quite get on board with heist stories. It’s a thriller sub genre that does very little for me, and while the focus was on the people who were trying to solve who was behind the heist and not the heist itself, it still felt within that kind of tale, and that, overall, doesn’t connect with me. I’m always trying to retry sub genres or story types that don’t suit me just in case something clicks, and enough about “Hanging the Devil” clicked that I found it entertaining (again, the similarities to the aforementioned TV shows really helped because I loved those kinds of shows back in the day). I think that fans of action packed thrillers dealing with underworld mayhem and daring do would probably like this book (and the rest of the series), so while it didn’t hit every mark I had hoped it would, it will probably hit them for fans of the sub genre and its conventions.

“Hanging the Devil” is entertaining and fast paced, an action thriller with humor and heart. If you consider yourself a fan of heist stories and the dramedies of the USA Network, it could be a fun read this winter!

[Hannah Zunic · Rating 3 out of 5]

The following is an abridged version of my review. The full length version can be found here: https://www.readinghasruinedmylife.co...

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Poisoned Pen Press for sending me a copy of Hanging the Devil. They aren’t paying me for my review, they just sent me the book for free.

I love heist books. Can’t get enough of them. Although, the heist isn’t the main focus of this novel. Honestly, I was a little disappointed when I discovered this, but Hanging the Devil is a fast paced read with a main character, Grace, that I cared about so it made up for the lack of focus on the heist. This book focuses a lot more on the characters. So if you like character focused books with some thriller elements you’ll enjoy this read.

Although I must say the characters aren’t the greatest. Some of them feel like stereotypes while others have no personality. For example, Sally is the unforgiving assassin with a dark, tragic backstory. There’s Maria, a Spanish Interpol agent whose characterization is pretty close to being the Spicy Latina trope. This issue isn’t exclusive to female characters. Male characters don’t have it good either. Beau is the detective assigned to the case, but he just plays the role of the Good Cop who doesn’t do much, instead letting Cape do most of the work. I do have to admit, I’ve never read any of the other Cape Weathers Mysteries so I know I’m missing out on a decent bit of these characters’ personalities and backstories. While all these characters seem pretty bland in this edition of the series, they could still be going through some major changes that I simply don’t see. While I don’t think anyone has any amazing character arc or deals with past trauma or even learns any big life lessons, everyone making sure Grace is kept safe and sound drives the novel forward. Thus I stand by my statement that this is a character driven novel.

My biggest issue with this novel though is the fact every chapter begins, it references the last line of the chapter before it. It is the most annoying thing ever. And yes, I know I’m being hypocritical as I too do the same thing from time to time. But I don’t do it between every paragraph. The one time this didn’t happened I literally cheered. Readers of Tim Maleeny, does this occur in every novel of his? Is this a common thing?

Please don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy Hanging the Devil. It’s a very fast-paced read, which I really wanted when I first sat down to begin reading it, with an interesting story. The story delves into colonialism and how eastern art came to sit in museums all around the world. While this part of the story is fairly surface level, it’s still an interesting topic.

Thank you again to Sourcebooks and Poisoned Pen Press for sending me a copy of Hanging the Devil. It means a lot to me when someone wants to send me books. Thank you again.
Again, the full length version of my review can be found on my site www.readinghasruinedmylife.com. I post new reviews every Wednesday at noon EST.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🎥 love books that read like movies
🖼️ are interested in art heists
🇨🇳 would love to visit China
😂 enjoy dry humor

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

When a helicopter crashes through the skylight of the Asian Art Museum, an audacious heist turns into a tragedy. The only witness to the crash is eleven-year-old Grace, who watches in horror as her uncle is killed and a priceless statue stolen by two men and a―ghost? At least that's how the eerie, smoke-like figure with parchment skin and floating hair appears to Grace. Scared almost to death, she flees into the night and seeks refuge in the back alleys of San Francisco's Chinatown.

Grace is found by Sally Mei, self-appointed guardian of Chinatown. While Sally trains Grace in basic survival skills, her erstwhile partner Cape Weathers, private detective and public nuisance, searches for the mysterious crew behind the robbery before they strike the museum a second time. As the clock winds down, Cape enlists aid from some unlikely allies to lay a trap for a ghost who has no intention of being caught―nor of leaving any witnesses alive to tell the tale.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This is book 5 in Tim Maleeny’s series, but it can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone! I loved the way it read like a movie script i.e. a lot of action happening and the quick and easy chapters moved the story along at a great pace! I’ve always enjoyed watching and reading about heists and this one was so chockfull of wonderful dialogue, characters, and action that I never found myself bored! Definitely grab a copy today!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Tim Maleeny definitely presented a story that was full of a little bit of this and that. We had a little superhero. We had dry humor, a scary thread of reality, a creepy animal-human interaction, and an unusual plot. And, of course, a book isn’t complete without a ghost-like figure sashaying throughout and a dark devil-like creature.

San Francisco PI Cape Weathers and his friend Sally Mei, who just happens to be a Triad-trained assassin, pull together to work with a very young client. Eleven-year-old Grace happened to be in a museum with her uncle when a helicopter crashed into the building’s skylight. She witnessed her uncle’s death. Watched the pilot be killed by the occupants and a Buddha taken from the museum. She managed to escape, but not before the occupants realized there was a witness. Something that needed to be taken care of.

Concern
I’m not gonna lie. This was a quirky tale. At times it is outrageous, at times believable, and other times humorous. It won’t be for everyone.

Final Thoughts
Oh, silly me, I wouldn’t hesitate to read the next book in this series. It’s serious, it’s silly, it’s unexpected, and it begs you to keep turning the pages to see what zaniness or seriousness will follow.

Maleeny is an author that is definitely one to remember. And if you read his book, I almost guarantee that you won’t forget his name.

My thanks to the publisher, author, and Wunderbookspr for a #gifted copy.

[Alexandra Carden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow on Instagram: @alexlivesathousandlives.

Thank you @poisenpress and @sourcebooks for the physical copy. 


During the Thanksgiving holiday, My husband came to his Nana's house with my packages and gave me the annoyed look that I bought another book. Well, he was wrong. Thank you @poisenpress for feeding my reading addiction and blessing me with new authors to try. 


Hanging the Devil is book 5 in the Cape Weathers Mystery Series written by Tim Maleeny. With this being book 5 and my first time reading this series, I can say that I felt like I didn't miss anything. The author did an incredible job of explaining certain character bonds and developments to make this book read like a standalone. I fell in love with these characters right away as a group and individually. 


The plot was really developed well research wise. Going into this, I did not know a lot about the Chinese art scene and Mr. Maleeny did a fantastic job explaining it while keeping the story a mystery. The thing I find fascinating is the mystery itself and the outcome being left open ended. The timeline of the story was dual, which at times I was not a fan of but understood why it was needed.


I will be going back and reading the series from the beginning and excited to get more of the funny banter from Cape Weathers himself!

[Spooky Little Book Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hooked from the very first chapter. I was supposed to get some packing done. Thought I’d relax and read a little bit first. Next thing I knew, hours had passed and I had read the whole book in one sitting. 😂

I love Cape’s antics. He is so reckless and impulsive. Add in Sally and Maria, two savvy women, and it is just the perfect combination of characters. I loved Grace too. She’s only 11 years old and already so resilient, adventurous and always ready for anything. She’s had a rough go of it, but it doesn’t stop her from pushing forward. I thought her character was written very well. She’s believable and makes the typical mistakes that a child would make.

There were plenty of bad guys including Chinese gangsters, Russian mobsters, and a mad scientist. Some of the side character villains were complete idiots, which was hilarious.

The whole book was action-packed from the beginning. The pacing was perfect. It felt like a high-stakes action movie full of fight scenes, explosions, car crashes, robberies, and surprising twists. I can’t wait to go back and read the rest of the series!

[Bookoholiccafe · Rating 4 out of 5]

"An exhilarating blend of comedy and crime, this caper delivers equal doses of adrenaline and heart. The narrative unfolds with a clever mix of wit and action, keeping the reader hooked from start to finish. The tragic helicopter crash at the Asian Art Museum sets the stage for an audacious heist, but it's the unexpected twist involving an otherworldly figure that adds a unique and haunting layer to the story. The protagonist, eleven-year-old Grace, becomes the key witness, thrust into a world of danger and mystery.

The characters are vibrant and well-crafted, from Grace's resilience to the enigmatic Cape Weathers, a private detective with a knack for getting under people's skin. The dynamic duo of Sally Mei and Cape Weathers brings a smart and sassy energy to the narrative. As the plot unfolds, the back alleys of San Francisco's Chinatown become a vivid backdrop, adding cultural richness to the tale.

The pacing is well-managed, creating a sense of urgency as Cape Weathers races against time to unravel the mystery. The collaboration of unlikely allies adds an extra layer of intrigue, making the resolution both satisfying and unexpected.

[Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Tim Maleeny's "Hanging the Devil," readers are thrust into a gripping world of crime, art heists, and unexpected humor. The story unfolds with a daring heist at the Asian Art Museum, turning a simple plan into a tragic event witnessed by eleven-year-old Grace. As she navigates the aftermath of her uncle's death and the theft of a priceless artifact, a mysterious ghost-like figure adds a supernatural twist to the narrative. The dynamic duo of Sally Mei and Cape Weathers, along with the resilient Grace, takes center stage, delivering a fast-paced and suspenseful tale. Maleeny's adept storytelling skillfully weaves together diverse characters and a superbly crafted plot, creating an engaging narrative set against the backdrop of San Francisco's Chinatown and the intriguing world of Chinese art. "Hanging the Devil" promises readers a thrilling ride through the streets of mystery and intrigue.

Thank you to Tim Maleeny, Poison Pen Press, and Ava Prinzo & Emily Afifi from Wunderkind PR for shipping me a free Advanced Review Copy of The Messenger to review. Hanging the Devil is the fifth book in the Cape Weathers Mysteries. All opinions mentioned in this review are my own.

[Renee(Reneesramblings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As if Grace’s life hasn’t seen enough upheaval. Her father has sent her to her uncle in San Francisco. He works a night shift as a guard in a museum and takes Grace with him to work. When a helicopter crashes, not only is her uncle killed, but some ruthless men mean that this 11-year-old is now running for her life.
Her luck is about to change though, as she runs straight into Sally. Not only is she a good person, but she is also tough and works with a private investigator, Cape.
As you might imagine, Cape, Sally, and Grace have to confront a lot, and I mean a lot of obstacles, if they want to survive. I actually didn’t realize this was part of a series when I requested it. To me, it worked as a standalone,but I would like to go back and read the other books. I really liked Sally and Cape and I’m interested to learn more about their back stories. I wish that I was as smart and tenacious as Grace when I was 11.
A story that kept me intrigued, great characters, and a solid plot. Who could ask for anything more!

[Reeca Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helicopter has crashed into the Asian Art museum in an elaborate, successful heist. They have also killed the security guard, 11 year old Grace’s uncle. This is her only relative in the USA. As Grace escapes, she sees a ghost! Her flight from the museum lands her straight into the arms of Sally, a self-appointed guardian of Chinatown and a private investigator in San Francisco.

What made this book for me is the character, Grace! I just love this little girl! She is smart and so vulnerable in many ways! Sometimes an author gets a child wrong but, in my opinion, Tim got this one right! She captured my heart from the very first. And trust me, the opening scene in this book will capture any reader and keep them glued to the pages!

I have not read the others in this series but I have already added them to my tumbling TBR. I need to read more about Cape and Sally and their escapades. I love Cape’s sarcastic wit and Sally’s mysterious past!

Need an explosive thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

[Chitra Iyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story begins with the young Grace witnessing the helicopter crash through the skylight of the museum and her uncle getting killed. She runs into Sally and when she hears Grace's story, Sally decides to investigate it with the help of Cape Weathers. This book is a police procedural with Sally and Cape taking the lead in solving the mystery of who robbed the museum and also of the person responsible for the death of Grace's uncle.

The story moves at a good pace. The author wastes no time in getting to the point. I found the writing to be crisp and to the point. The narrative flows easily. I especially liked the way how the author began a new chapter with a word that was used in the last sentence of the previous one- very creative. The drawback of the book, if you could call it that, was that the story didn't seem to have a grip. After a point, it just felt that the story was going on and on with one event after the other without any interesting nugget to hold on to. It lacked a sense of mystery after a point.

Nevertheless, the book makes for a fine read.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by Tim Maleeny. And, obviously, this is the first book I’ve read in his series featuring private eye Cape Weathers and his associate, Sally Mei, who also happens to be a trained assassin. Already, this book held a lot of promise.

Hanging the Devil is the sixth book in this series and it involves a museum heist (using a helicopter no less), an eleven-year-old witness, Russian gangsters, Chinatown mobsters, and even an Interpol agent. It can’t get much better than that, but it does. Mr Maleeny has written a sharp, witty book that has multiple points of view, plenty of action, and great dialogue. Although there are a number of moving parts the author manages to move through the story almost seamlessly, keeping up the pace at the same time. Even his construction of the chapters is unique so pay attention to the last line of a chapter and how the next chapter begins.

I enjoyed my introduction to this author and his series and I’m looking forward to reading his previous novels. NetGalley provided an advance copy

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this latest in a series as a standalone and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's fast paced, it's twisty, I learned something about the art world, and it kept me rooting for young Grace who is present when a helicopter of thieves crashes in the museum where her uncle-the only person she has in the world-is the night guard. Whew. Turns out there's a ghost, a Chinese ghost, who has been stealing Chinese art from museums around the world and Maria, an Interpol agent is on his tail. Except that now he's got Cape and Sally after him too, as well as a local San Francisco Russian mobster. While most of the action takes place in San Francisco, there's also compelling events back in China (no spoilers). There's a fair amount of violence but there's also some quite sweet parts and a delightful small twist at the end. Thanks to netgalley for the arc. Excellent escapist read.

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

After an art heist turned tragedy, Sally Mei and her partner Cape Weathers take on protecting the only witness, an eleven year old girl named Grace. While teaching her survival skills, they also begin to hunt the team that committed the crime, including an elusive shadow known only as the ghost.

This is a heart-pounding, edge of your seat thriller that does not let up even for a moment. Your heart absolutely breaks for grace, then immediately escalates into pulsating adrenaline as events unfold. Grace, Sally, and Cape are all compelling characters in their own right. Between the action, the plot twists, and the overall flow of the writing, this book is a fast, enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.

[Ag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book is part of a book series, I felt like this is one of the rare cases where the book works as a standalone very well.
There was something mesmerizing about this book. Although it is not the main story, just a mere touch of the background, the Chinatown part was really atmospheric and set the mood. I know it's weird to point out a specific part of the book so much, but that was something I really, really enjoyed there. The Chinatown mood.
Otherwise, this is a gripping, action-packed page-turner of a police/crime thriller/mystery, filled with suspense and really vivid scenes and well-written characters.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new to me author. Not only haven’t I read anything by him, but I hadn’t heard of him. Now I’m looking up the early books in the series. Always a good thing to find a new author you want to read more of. Am I right?

The story is complex with a lot of characters in different places not crossing paths early in the book. It starts with an art heist gone awry. Everyone keeps talking about seeing a ghost. I was all in wanting to know about this ghost.

I should also mention some quirky characters, fast pace and I learned a little about Chinese art. And you’ll never look at a macaque the same way again.

I was gripped from the start and didn’t want to stop reading.

[Philip Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Cape and Sally and the rest of a bizarre cast of characters.

Like the other Tim Maleeny books, Hanging the Devil is incredibly enjoyable with a beautiful mix of tension and humor. My only complaint is the overlapping word play at the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next that began in Boxing the Octopus and is continued in this book. It is fine a few times but became very irritating all the time. Even so, it did not really diminish a wonderful and fun read with some very funny scenes usually involving the Russian organized crime figures. Thank you Mr. Maleeny - but if you stop that word play you will get six stars for the next book.

[Teresa Brock · Rating 4 out of 5]

The next installment of the Cape Weathers mystery series is a fun, fast paced read, that takes the reader on an adventure that feels just like a movie script. While chasing down art in another country – you are so acclimated to area and adventures on the pages that you are in the moment with the characters. Note – this is my first read in this series, but was able to understand the characters enough to make me want to go back and read the rest of the books (adding to my tbr now) Violence, action, mystery and dry humor sum this very enjoyable book by Tim Maleeny.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hanging the Devil by Tim Maleeny is a fast-paced, character-driven novel of the art world. It combines humor, lots of action, and a precocious little girl as one of the main characters.

I enjoyed the book and it held my attention from page one. I think if you like a book that keeps you turning the pages, Hanging the Devil is for you. I look forward to reading more by this talented author!

I give it 5 stars

Thanks go out to Wunderkind Books for the copy of the book I received for review purposes only. I was not monetarily compensated for said review.

[Mark Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good escape from reality for a few hours. A botched art heist leaves an 11-year-old girl wandering San Francisco, where she’s discovered by Sally Mei, a crusader for justice,of sorts, who considers Chinatown to be her turf. Sally calls her buddy Cape Weathers, who takes the little girl, Grace, on as a client. Grace was a witness to the failed robbery and needs protection. Cape and Sally, not unexpectedly, save the day. There’s plenty of laughs along the way, so I expect I’ll pick up others in this series.

[Grace Koshida · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story starts with a bang when a helicopter crashes through the skylight of San Francisco's Asian Art Museum. The planned heist is witnessed by 11-year old Grace who sees her museum employee uncle killed & a Buddha statue stolen by 2 men and a white ghost. Grace flees into the night & heads back to Chinatown where she is found by Sally Mei. While Sally protects Grace, her PI friend Cape Weathers searches for the heist team. This was another thrilling, action-packed read in the Cape Weathers series.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Sourcebooks. All opinions are my own.