Waking Up the Devil

by Chris Miller

Cade Samson has left his past behind as an enforcer for the local mob in rural East Texas. After promising his dying mother he would protect his younger brother from the world he was a part of, he went on a final, brutal spree, eliminating any competition for the Blackshear family. It was his ticket out, and for years now, he's been laying low with his brother in peace. But when Waylon Blackshear's son Ash shows up at his house, putting a gun to his head and taking his little brother hostage, Cade is suddenly thrust back into the life, his mission to take out his old partner on the force whose about to turn state's evidence against the family. Left with no choice, he arms up, prepared for a double-cross he's sure is coming, and does the job. With the Feds involved, it would be a suicide mission for anyone else. But the Devil knows how to roll his dice. On the run from the police and the Blackshears after turning the tables on them, Cade sets in motion a plan to get his brother back and bring down all those who stand in his way of the peaceful life he's come to appreciate. Heads will roll, lives will be cut short, and the Devil will have his due. After all, when you dance with the Devil, you don't get to pick the tune. Critical Acclaim for WAKING UP THE "Chris Miller is one of the best kept secrets in crime fiction. But he won't be a secret anymore once readers get ahold of this masterful new offering." -Andy Rausch, author of Hell To Pay "A knuckleduster of a racing-against-the-clock thriller, with loads of balls to the wall action. Miller's Cade Samson makes most tough-guy protagonists look as menacing as Dylan Mulvaney slurping on a Bud Light. To quote from the 'Forget rock and roll; it's time for heavy metal.'" -Michael Bruce Blackwell, author of Wildlife on the Serengeti

220 pages, Paperback

Published August 21, 2023

About the author

Chris Miller is a native Texan who has been writing from an early age. He began publishing in 2017 with his first novel, A Murder of Saints, and since then he has published several novels—including the Amazon bestselling Splatter Western, Dust—and has also been inducted into many anthologies. When not writing, Chris enjoys playing guitar, watching movies, and reading. He is first and foremost a family man and is happily married to the love of his life (and best friend) Aliana. They have three beautiful children and live in Winnsboro, TX.

Reviews

[Patrick III · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Miller smells like burnt hair and boiled cabbage. He looks like the ass end of a buffalo that's been repeatedly violated by a much bigger buffalo. But he writes decent books, I suppose.

[Bryan Moyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure Action

This was like an old school action movie in book form. It starts at a breakneck pace pace and remains relentless throughout. The action scenes are filled with violence and gore, and each one has you wondering what horrors the next fight give you. The story itself falls into place with a classic mob/revenge theme. Cade is the perfect anti hero that you find yourself cheering for even when you know you shouldn't. This was my first Miller experience, and it won't be my last.

[Andy Rausch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the good pleasure of reading this before publication and blurbing it. The blurb I wrote was true. Can't remember what exactly I wrote, but I hope I wrote that Chris Miller is a master of every genre he touches, because he absolutely is. Readers, you'll love it, writers, you'll hate him for being so goddamn good.

[Holly Groff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met the author, Chris Miller, at the Knoxville Book Fair l. His description of this book was John Wick directed by Quentin Tarantino.
SOLD
Disclaimer, I'm not a huge fan of blood. But I thoroughly enjoy John Wick. And Quentin Tarantino takes his violence a touch too far IMO, but he makes me laugh.
Walking Up the Devil was non-stop action. A fun read, when you skim the gore.

[Carolynne aka Saucy Chicken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to meet Chris Miller at the Knoxville Book Convention last year, and I finally got around to reading this book. Had I known how good this book was, I would have read it the same day I got it.

5 stars is not enough to rate this book. It honestly deserves ALL THE STARS. It was non-stop action from the moment I opened the cover. And I am left wanting soooo much more. I NEED more of Cade Samson in my life.

Cade Samson is a retired "cleaner" for the local mafia. He gets pulled out of retirement when his brother is threatened. In that moment, Cade decides that everyone involved will meet their end by his hand, and it will be a slow, painful exit from this world.

After breaking in to the Tyler, TX police station to retrieve a state's evidence witness, Cade is thrown into a battle he never wanted to be a part of, but the son of his former boss had other plans. Refusing to roll over and take orders from anyone, he sets out to save his brother with the help of some old friends from back in the day.

As the crescendo ramps up, the Devil comes out to play. Unfortunately for everyone else on the playground, the Devil doesn't play fair, and he certainly plays for keeps.

I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book.