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Can you really put your trust in the devil?

Matthew Brace. Six years old. Kidnapped.

Experienced and driven, Detective Chief Inspector Michael Yorke believes he has what it takes to lead a unit that will bring this child back to his family. But with crime in the South of England evolving at a rate never seen before, Yorke is caught short, and unable to stop the kidnapping becoming a devastating terrorist weapon that leaves the cathedral city of Salisbury shattered forever.

Ex-Detective Sergeant Jake Pettman. Experienced killer. Shrewd quarry.

Terrified father.

Knowing that the organised crime syndicate in the UK, Article SE, are responsible for the murder of his ex-wife, Jake returns home to protect his son. Hardened by his murderous experiences in New England, Jake resolves to stand against those that want him dead. Still, when facing up to a syndicate this powerful, you're going to need a miracle.

Or at least the coldest and most ruthless killer you know.

Lacey Ray may be a devil, but she's all he's got.

8 hrs. 59 min.

9 pages, Audible Audio

First published June 19, 2023

320 people are currently reading
118 people want to read

About the author

Wes Markin

33 books224 followers
Be sure to follow Wes on BookBub for the latest on sales: bit.ly/3tFWIHL

Wes Markin lives in Harrogate and is the bestselling author of the DCI Yorke crime novels set in Salisbury. He is also the author of the Jake Pettman series set in New England.



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Profile Image for Bookworm86 .
1,957 reviews142 followers
June 23, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW 



Review for 'Better The Devil' by Wes Markin



Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Wes Markin and DLM Book Tours. 



Publication date 12th June 2023


This is the first book I have read by this author. 


I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that  'The seventh book in a series of procedural crime thrillers by bestselling writer Wes Markin. Better the Devil is perfect for fans of J.D Kirk, L.J Ross, Ian Rankin, Alex Smith, David Gatward, Rachel McLean and Ann Cleeves, among others'. I am a HUGE fan of Ann Cleeves and Rachel McLean and am looking forward to seeing if it lives I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being WFM Publishing. I have yet to read a book published by WFM Publishing that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book.


This novel consists of 24 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!



This book is based in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have in fact visited and holidayed in England on many occasions including this year and next year again so am looking forward to possibly recognising name places. 



This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Detective Chief Inspector Michael Yorke, Lacey Ray, Dr Stewart Holden and Jake Pettman. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.


'Better The Devil' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Wes discusses/includes graphic violence, rape, torture, kidnapping of a child/ren and death of a child/ren. 



This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions that absolutely grip the readers attention and puts them right in the middle of it all making your heart pound and you constantly second guessing. 



OMG!!! I absolutely LOVED this gore filled, unique, suspense packed explosive page turner!!! Where the heck have you been all my life Wes!!!??!? I well and truly love, love, LOVED this book which had absolutely everything I could ask for in a psychological thriller!!! I would even go as far as saying this is the BEST book I have read this year and I am absolutely LANDED that there are 6 books that I can go back to and more to come in this amazing mind blowing series!!!! A huge success by Wes!! This may be the first book I have read by this fantastic author but it most certainly wil not be my last and I've already added all the rest of his books to my Amazon wish list. This book had me hook, line and sinker from the first page and I could not put it down!!! Every time I said one more chapter it ended on a cliffhanger and I just had to know what was going on!!! This kept on happened over and over until before I knew it I had devoured the whole book in one sitting!! If you are going to read this then clear your day because it is truly unputdownable. I started this this morning and finished it at approx 2pm, reading it in one sitting. The first chapter has got to be the most explosive one I have ever read and after reading that there is no way in hell anyone is putting the book down!!! Without giving too much away it includes a child, deaths and is absolutely explosive!! It gets more and more explosive and suspense filled throughout. Wes's evocative writing skills that has multiple perspectives as well as multiple timelines gives the reader the full picture. The book starts off with the explosive bombshell events with DCI Michael Yorke. We then move onto learning more about the serial killer and psychopath Lacey Ray who is under the care (or extreme lack of) of Dr Stewart Holden. The next 'player' we meet is Jake Pettman. Each of these characters have their own storylines but they all come together when Lacey and Jake team up to end Article SE's hunt for Jake so he can be reunited with his son Frankie and to bring Dr Stewart Holden down and to reunite Lacey with her 'son' Tobias. Jake isn't the only one trying to bring Article SE down and when character collide explosives are guaranteed. Dr Stewart also has his own agendas with his Victorian prison torture chamber which includes Vinnie the skinner and Keith the corpse rustler. I won't go into any more detail about them but I'm sure you can use your imagination!!! Every chapter has a fantastic title that gives you a tiny hint at what may happen but there's no way you'll be able to get the full extent!!! This book is horrific, violent, horrific and ram packed with absolute psychpaths!!! Not everyone's cup of tea maybe but it most certainly is mine and I am looking forward to the next book this extremely talented Wes is bringing out next which is called The Secret Diary Of Lacey Ray and is out in 2024. I will be counting down the days but I am definitely getting stuck into the rest book in this epic series while I am waiting!!! I have read hundreds of crime and psychological books but I have to say this has been one of the most unique, graphic, shocking and explosive ones I have ever read so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Wes!!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but your vivid imagination and evocative writing skills have completely blown my mind!!!! ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!! Grab your copy and jump on the rollercoaster ride of gore, tension, murder, torture, suspense, revenge, torture and everything you could ask for in an epic page turner!!! Wes's fantastic and evocative writing skills ensures you are sucked into the storyline feeling your heart pounding and the hair on your arms raise. This book is rammed with suspense, action and tension and will keep you biting your nails, on the edge of your seat with your heart pounding while your flipping the pages because you just cant stop. I loved the fantastic ending that left me wanting to pick up more of Wes's books and get stuck straight in. 


It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.


Absolutely LOVED this spine tingling, chilling, unique and action packed page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout leaving me needing more!!!


Although this is the seventh book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.


This may be the first book I have read by this very talented author but it most certainly won't be the last and I cannot wait to get stuck into more of his previous and future books!!!


It is always worrying when starting a new series as you have no idea who the characters are. It is very important for me to bond with not only the lead protagonists but also any characters that may make repeat appearances during the series too.



The authors evocative writing skills brings each of the characters to life and leaves you feeling that you are standing next to them as their story unfolds and lives start to tumble around them. Each of the characters were realistic, well rounded and strong characters which makes it a realistic read. All the characters were strong and realistic as well as hiding their own secrets. I was completely invested in each and every one of them. Although many were flawed as well as unlikeable this made them all the more realistic!!! It is rare for me to become so invested in unlikeable characters but the storyline was so addictive i just could not put it down!!!! There were flaws, secrets and so much more you have no idea who to trust and what the truth really is!!! Lacey has for to be the biggest psychopath that I have ever had the pleasure to read about. I mean OMG just absolute BOOM!!! The only one that even comes close is 'her one'!!! One book filled with the biggest psychopaths I've ever met!!! Although she is a complete and utter case I was completely invested in her and I loved her realistic attitude and the fact that she knows what she's like and refuses to pretend she is anything else. She has absolutely no empathy, compassion, emotion or love. I cannot wait to read more of her past in the previous books in this series and get to know her even more. She is blunt, psychotic and confident, a woman I would not like to get on the wrong side of!!! I also loved DCI Michael York and Jake and although they aren't the biggest characters in this book I cannot wait to get back into their pasts and get to know them more too!!! And as for the doctor well jeez!!! Just grab your copy to meet my favourite psychos ever!!! I don't want to risk saying more about how I felt about the characters as I don't want to give anything away to future readers but I will say that I was annoyed, angry, upset, sickened, shocked, disappointed and so much more at the different ones for many different reasons!! Regardless of whether you love them or hate them they each played their parts perfectly!!!


A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE EXTREMELY TALENTED WES ON AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, EXPLOSIVE, UNIQUE AND GRIPPING PSYCHOTIC PAGE TURNING BOOK IN WHAT PROMISES TO BE AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING SERIES. I CANNOT WAIT TO GO BACK AND READ ALL THE PREVIOUS BOOKS AND THEN ALL FUTURE BOOKS. WELCOME TO MY TOP 3 MALE AUTHOR LIST WES AND HERE IS TO YOUR NEXT GUARANTEED SUCCESS 🥂!!!!!!!


Overall one of the best and most unique books I have ever read filled with psychopaths, torture, bombshells and well what are you waiting for?? Grab your copy now!!!




Genres covered in this novel include Contemporary Urban Fiction, Men's Adventure Fiction, Urban Fiction, Adventure Fiction, Crime, Thriller & Mystery Adventures, Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Psychology Fiction, Police Procedural, Fiction Urban Life, Crime Action Fiction, Crime Fiction, Action Fiction, Crime and Literary Fiction amongst others.   


 


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of J.D Kirk, L.J Ross, Ian Rankin, Alex Smith, David Gatward, Rachel McLean, Ann Cleeves, and anyone who loves a book filled with suspense, horror and surprises!! 



326 pages.



This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £9.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!! 



Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook. 



Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews 



#BetterTheDevil #DCIYorkeThriller #WesMarkin #DLMBookTours #DonnasTours #WFMpublishing #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger  #KindleUnlimited


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Profile Image for Terry Rudge.
523 reviews59 followers
October 28, 2025
Now this is how you close out a storyline!

Wes Markin has pulled off the impossible, tying together multiple threads, two whole series, and a cast of characters that have been through absolute hell!! Wes has done it with style, grit, and pure chaos. Better the Devil explodes from page one and never lets up. It’s dark, it’s gruesome, and it’s utterly jaw-dropping.

Jake’s arc is perfection. A man completely consumed by his own darkness, clawing his way through a world of crime, betrayal, and madness.

And then there’s Lacy Ray… unhinged, unpredictable, and absolutely brilliant. When she’s on the page, you never know which way it’ll go, only that it’s going to get wild. Made even more insane with ""The One" hanging around.

And through it all, Yorke stands there, the conscience, the compass, the good man trying to hold back the storm. It’s emotional, brutal, and beautifully human.

I don’t remember the last time a crime novel hit this hard. Every twist lands, every moment matters, and by the final page, you realise this is how you finish a saga.

Perfect.
Profile Image for Bookworm86 .
1,957 reviews142 followers
June 23, 2023
BLOG TOUR REVIEW 



Review for 'Better The Devil' by Wes Markin



Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Wes Markin and DLM Book Tours. 



Publication date 12th June 2023


This is the first book I have read by this author. 


I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that  'The seventh book in a series of procedural crime thrillers by bestselling writer Wes Markin. Better the Devil is perfect for fans of J.D Kirk, L.J Ross, Ian Rankin, Alex Smith, David Gatward, Rachel McLean and Ann Cleeves, among others'. I am a HUGE fan of Ann Cleeves and Rachel McLean and am looking forward to seeing if it lives I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being WFM Publishing. I have yet to read a book published by WFM Publishing that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book.


This novel consists of 24 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!



This book is based in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. I have in fact visited and holidayed in England on many occasions including this year and next year again so am looking forward to possibly recognising name places. 



This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Detective Chief Inspector Michael Yorke, Lacey Ray, Dr Stewart Holden and Jake Pettman. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.


'Better The Devil' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Wes discusses/includes graphic violence, rape, torture, kidnapping of a child/ren and death of a child/ren. 



This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions that absolutely grip the readers attention and puts them right in the middle of it all making your heart pound and you constantly second guessing. 



OMG!!! I absolutely LOVED this gore filled, unique, suspense packed explosive page turner!!! Where the heck have you been all my life Wes!!!??!? I well and truly love, love, LOVED this book which had absolutely everything I could ask for in a psychological thriller!!! I would even go as far as saying this is the BEST book I have read this year and I am absolutely LANDED that there are 6 books that I can go back to and more to come in this amazing mind blowing series!!!! A huge success by Wes!! This may be the first book I have read by this fantastic author but it most certainly wil not be my last and I've already added all the rest of his books to my Amazon wish list. This book had me hook, line and sinker from the first page and I could not put it down!!! Every time I said one more chapter it ended on a cliffhanger and I just had to know what was going on!!! This kept on happened over and over until before I knew it I had devoured the whole book in one sitting!! If you are going to read this then clear your day because it is truly unputdownable. I started this this morning and finished it at approx 2pm, reading it in one sitting. The first chapter has got to be the most explosive one I have ever read and after reading that there is no way in hell anyone is putting the book down!!! Without giving too much away it includes a child, deaths and is absolutely explosive!! It gets more and more explosive and suspense filled throughout. Wes's evocative writing skills that has multiple perspectives as well as multiple timelines gives the reader the full picture. The book starts off with the explosive bombshell events with DCI Michael Yorke. We then move onto learning more about the serial killer and psychopath Lacey Ray who is under the care (or extreme lack of) of Dr Stewart Holden. The next 'player' we meet is Jake Pettman. Each of these characters have their own storylines but they all come together when Lacey and Jake team up to end Article SE's hunt for Jake so he can be reunited with his son Frankie and to bring Dr Stewart Holden down and to reunite Lacey with her 'son' Tobias. Jake isn't the only one trying to bring Article SE down and when character collide explosives are guaranteed. Dr Stewart also has his own agendas with his Victorian prison torture chamber which includes Vinnie the skinner and Keith the corpse rustler. I won't go into any more detail about them but I'm sure you can use your imagination!!! Every chapter has a fantastic title that gives you a tiny hint at what may happen but there's no way you'll be able to get the full extent!!! This book is horrific, violent, horrific and ram packed with absolute psychpaths!!! Not everyone's cup of tea maybe but it most certainly is mine and I am looking forward to the next book this extremely talented Wes is bringing out next which is called The Secret Diary Of Lacey Ray and is out in 2024. I will be counting down the days but I am definitely getting stuck into the rest book in this epic series while I am waiting!!! I have read hundreds of crime and psychological books but I have to say this has been one of the most unique, graphic, shocking and explosive ones I have ever read so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Wes!!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but your vivid imagination and evocative writing skills have completely blown my mind!!!! ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!! Grab your copy and jump on the rollercoaster ride of gore, tension, murder, torture, suspense, revenge, torture and everything you could ask for in an epic page turner!!! Wes's fantastic and evocative writing skills ensures you are sucked into the storyline feeling your heart pounding and the hair on your arms raise. This book is rammed with suspense, action and tension and will keep you biting your nails, on the edge of your seat with your heart pounding while your flipping the pages because you just cant stop. I loved the fantastic ending that left me wanting to pick up more of Wes's books and get stuck straight in. 


It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.


Absolutely LOVED this spine tingling, chilling, unique and action packed page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout leaving me needing more!!!


Although this is the seventh book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.


This may be the first book I have read by this very talented author but it most certainly won't be the last and I cannot wait to get stuck into more of his previous and future books!!!


It is always worrying when starting a new series as you have no idea who the characters are. It is very important for me to bond with not only the lead protagonists but also any characters that may make repeat appearances during the series too.



The authors evocative writing skills brings each of the characters to life and leaves you feeling that you are standing next to them as their story unfolds and lives start to tumble around them. Each of the characters were realistic, well rounded and strong characters which makes it a realistic read. All the characters were strong and realistic as well as hiding their own secrets. I was completely invested in each and every one of them. Although many were flawed as well as unlikeable this made them all the more realistic!!! It is rare for me to become so invested in unlikeable characters but the storyline was so addictive i just could not put it down!!!! There were flaws, secrets and so much more you have no idea who to trust and what the truth really is!!! Lacey has for to be the biggest psychopath that I have ever had the pleasure to read about. I mean OMG just absolute BOOM!!! The only one that even comes close is 'her one'!!! One book filled with the biggest psychopaths I've ever met!!! Although she is a complete and utter case I was completely invested in her and I loved her realistic attitude and the fact that she knows what she's like and refuses to pretend she is anything else. She has absolutely no empathy, compassion, emotion or love. I cannot wait to read more of her past in the previous books in this series and get to know her even more. She is blunt, psychotic and confident, a woman I would not like to get on the wrong side of!!! I also loved DCI Michael York and Jake and although they aren't the biggest characters in this book I cannot wait to get back into their pasts and get to know them more too!!! And as for the doctor well jeez!!! Just grab your copy to meet my favourite psychos ever!!! I don't want to risk saying more about how I felt about the characters as I don't want to give anything away to future readers but I will say that I was annoyed, angry, upset, sickened, shocked, disappointed and so much more at the different ones for many different reasons!! Regardless of whether you love them or hate them they each played their parts perfectly!!!


A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS TO THE EXTREMELY TALENTED WES ON AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, EXPLOSIVE, UNIQUE AND GRIPPING PSYCHOTIC PAGE TURNING BOOK IN WHAT PROMISES TO BE AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING SERIES. I CANNOT WAIT TO GO BACK AND READ ALL THE PREVIOUS BOOKS AND THEN ALL FUTURE BOOKS. WELCOME TO MY TOP 3 MALE AUTHOR LIST WES AND HERE IS TO YOUR NEXT GUARANTEED SUCCESS 🥂!!!!!!!


Overall one of the best and most unique books I have ever read filled with psychopaths, torture, bombshells and well what are you waiting for?? Grab your copy now!!!




Genres covered in this novel include Contemporary Urban Fiction, Men's Adventure Fiction, Urban Fiction, Adventure Fiction, Crime, Thriller & Mystery Adventures, Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Psychology Fiction, Police Procedural, Fiction Urban Life, Crime Action Fiction, Crime Fiction, Action Fiction, Crime and Literary Fiction amongst others.   


 


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of J.D Kirk, L.J Ross, Ian Rankin, Alex Smith, David Gatward, Rachel McLean, Ann Cleeves, and anyone who loves a book filled with suspense, horror and surprises!! 



326 pages.



This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £9.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!! 



Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook. 



Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews 



#BetterTheDevil #DCIYorkeThriller #WesMarkin #DLMBookTours #DonnasTours #WFMpublishing #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger  #KindleUnlimited


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Profile Image for Dee (readaholic_dee).
327 reviews16 followers
July 1, 2024
DCI Yorke and his team must find a missing boy, Jake is back to protect his son, edge of your seat tension plays out throughout this book.

Wes Markin intertwines the sub stories together to make one awesome read. I think this has been one of my favourites of the series. There is so much going on, gritty, fast paced and full of surprises. Just loved this book.

Things are never as they seem, and this is never truer than in this book. It really is a strategic plot with how everything pans out.

I cannot recommend this series highly enough. Anyone who enjoys a really brilliant crime thriller with lots to keep you guessing, this series is for you.

Profile Image for Jenny.
2,278 reviews73 followers
October 14, 2023
Better the Devil is book seven in the DCI Michael Yorke Series by Wes Markin. Detective Chief Inspector Michael Yorke became involved in the kidnapping of a six-year-old boy called Matthew Brace. However, it was not a simple kidnapping. It was the start of a terrorist attack on Salisbury. Will this case finally pull DCI Michael Yorke off his pedestal, or will he catch the criminal gang terrorising Salisbury? In addition, Detective Chief Inspector Michael Yorke's ex-colleague and friend Jake Pettman returned to protect his son after the murder of her ex-wife. Will DCI Michael Yorke catch up to Jake Pettman before he does something that will destroy his life forever? The readers of Better the Devil will continue to follow Detective Chief Inspector Michael Yorke and Jake Pettman to discover what happens.

I love reading books in this series; however, Better The Devil never engaged me with the plot like other books. However, it is still an enjoyable book to read. I love Wes Markin's portrayal of the characters and their interaction with each other. Better The Devil is well-written and researched by Wes Markin. I like Wes Markin's description of the settings of Better The Devil, which complements the book's plot.

The readers of Better The Devil will learn about fathers' love and what they would do for their children. Also, the readers of Better The Devil will understand the role of SERCOC or South East Regional Organised Crime Unit.

I recommend this book.
Profile Image for Helen Frost.
672 reviews29 followers
June 20, 2023
I have loved the previous books in this series and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. The level of shock and gore crept up on me stealthily this time which only succeeded in amplifying the effect, truly heart thumping, peep through your fingers stuff.
I feel I’m pretty hardened to the macabre and terrifying but this had me gasping a few times, praise indeed.
I love the characters and how they develop and quite how depraved and evil they are, they definitely reach depths beyond my wildest imagination and sent chills down my spine. The narrative certainly drew me in and compelled me to keep reading and race to the end. I’m fascinated to know how this might progress and was left wanting more but I might have to read something fluffy and pedestrian next to recover. Truly excellent stuff but not for the faint hearted.
Profile Image for Kath Middleton.
Author 23 books158 followers
July 4, 2023
Those who follow the Michael Yorke and Jake Pettman books will find a lot of characters they've met previously. You need a strong stomach for this book, and the excitement rarely lets up. It's got a twisty plot and some depraved characters, yet Yorke is a stickler for justice, and this is the sort of book Markin does so well. If you've the courage for it, read it. Your adrenaline levels will soar. It's a complex story and I found myself wrong-footed on many occasions. I couldn't have predicted how the story would end. Or has it...?
Profile Image for Laura.
255 reviews
July 10, 2023
Better the Devil is book 7 in the DCI Michael Yorke series. It works well as a standalone book but I’d recommend reading the series in order if possible to get the most out of the book.

You definitely need a strong stomach for this one, brutal, graphic and extremely intense, I often found myself reading with one eye open (and a strange expression on my face according to my husband!) but I was on the rollercoaster and just couldn’t get off, it was so compelling.

Definitely not one for the fainthearted, but an absolute cracking read if you can stomach it. 5*


Profile Image for Alyson Read.
1,154 reviews56 followers
June 19, 2023
It is extremely hard to say too much about this book in a review. So much hinges on events in the past six stories and I wouldn’t want to spoil the enjoyment for anyone new to the series (I’d recommend reading them in order to gain the maximum enjoyment). What I can say is that it was fantastic to see the reappearance of both Jake Pettman and the absolute triumph of a character that is Lacey Ray, soon to have her own story published, as all their paths collide in a new DCI Yorke story, a dark and often gruesome series that has featured some superb storylines and characters, and brought the reader to the start of this new episode. DCI Michael Yorke and his team find themselves with a kidnap gone wrong – or was the plan for something far more devastating? Once again Article SE features highly, as Pettman seeks to put an end to the brutal crime syndicate for once and for all. And who else to help him but Lacey Ray with her unique skill set whilst in return receiving help with a little problem of her own?
Very few authors have the ability to truly shock me, but Mr Markin, with his most fantastic and vivid imagination, is most definitely one of them! In fact, I had barely started reading when the first “oooooh” moment hit me, and they continued to come thick and fast throughout the story. Once the action starts, it is relentless all the way through right up to the final explosive and shocking pages. Prepare to make the acquaintance of some new and thoroughly awful blood-chilling characters like the Corpse Rustler and Vinnie the Skinner to name just two of the monsters here, some obvious and some not so much but all mad, bad and dangerous to know. Just like every single one in the series, this book had me hooked right from the very first page, with perfectly drawn characters and a thrilling dramatic plot. Gory, sickening and absolutely jaw-dropping in places, and drawing on shared history, old threads and unresolved issues are expertly pulled together into one glorious rollercoaster ride of mayhem and darkness. I do hope there will be more DCI Yorke stories and I can completely recommend all the ones which have gone before. This series has already spawned two other brilliant spin off series and I am truly salivating to read The Secret Diary of Lacey Ray, coming in 2024.
Profile Image for Sharon Rimmelzwaan.
1,454 reviews43 followers
June 22, 2023
I was so pleased to see Wes Markin had another Michael Yorke book out. I was totally made up when I was given the chance to read it!
Better The Devil is the seventh book in the DCI Yorke Thriller series, and it's a corker of a read. Just a word of warning, though: if you are at all squeamish, this book has plenty of Wes's usual brutal violence in all its technicolour glory.
Right from the start, you know what to expect, with the reader being plunged into the brutally shocking world of DCI Yorke.
To make the experience even better its not just a Yorke book this time...we have Jake Pettman, from Wes Markin's other series and one of favourite psychopaths I have come to know (admittedly all through fiction), Lacey Ray. She is so confident in herself and so aware of everything she is lacking in the way of empathy, emotions, etc. She is so blatant with it that I can't help but become invested in her! Yeah, it sounds weird, I know, but I can't help myself.
Jake and Lacey team up to, hopefully, get Article SE out of the picture once and for all. Jake knows that with that done, the hunt for him will be over, and he can keep his son safe and be reunited with him too. It's no walk in the park and, Lacey being her usual self, has her own condition in regard to the job. She also has a girlfriend as well, who brings 'joy' for Jake as he discovers!
The characters introduced along the way have such imaginative names and aren't pleasant people for the most. The justice that was served was violent, I thought it was deserved and  in keeping with the story.
As always, with a Wes Markin book, it races along at a pace, which keeps you absolutely addicted. It's a book that I didn't want to put down for one minute. I was so curious as to how everything was going to pan out for all three of the characters.
If you haven't read any of this series, you can read as a standalone, but I say read every... single... one in order. The characters are as lifelike as if they could be stood at the side of you. The plot is crammed full of action, and the twists and shocks keep you hooked from start to finish.
Wes Markin is at the top of a very long list of favourite authors, and I hope he will still keep writing for a long time to come. He writes 5 star books every time, and if I could give it more stars, I would!
Thanks to Donna Morfett and Wes Markin for the book to write my honest review.
Profile Image for Kath.
3,057 reviews
July 5, 2023
Yay! DCI York is back! I have missed this guy - slight, occasional mentions in Jake's books have kept him on the periphery but he is now completely back :)
For full enjoyment of this book, as it is a bit convoluted and interconnected with past events I do recommend you play catch-up both with this series and also the Jake Pettman series. I know, a lot of books, but you'll have a better time with this one if you do. And isn't that the point of a series...?!?!
Anyway... this book. We start with a missing boy. Which swiftly goes south. But it is so much more than that as you will discover. And, as you know from previous books, punches are not pulled. Violence is extreme and graphic. Especially when you also factor in the great character that is Lacey Ray and all the baggage that comes with her and those who cross her. And even those who befriend her to be honest!
Plotting is excellent as always, and it has to be as it is intricate and convoluted and interconnected. It is definitely not a dipping into for a spare moment book. You need to sit down and dedicate a chunk of time to it. Actually, to be honest, the book demands that itself, being as I found it extremely hard to put down when life dictated to me that I should! Grumpy does not cut it!
And, it was so wonderful to see Yorke and Jake and Lacey all back together again. All very different characters with their own unique personalities and agendas, but all complementing each other within and outwith the main story. Perfect!
An no word is wasted. Every single one either sets a scene, defines a character or drives the plot forward. There is literally no waffle or padding, which means that the book gets on with itself very well indeed.
And then, if the ending wasn't enough to make the reader realise what they have been missing whilst Yorke was on sabbatical, there's a teaser at the end... A book starring Lacey Ray herself... Oh my days, where and when do I start queuing for that bad boy...
Profile Image for Donna Morfett.
Author 9 books70 followers
June 21, 2023
I was lucky enough to read an early version of this so knew what I was in for, sort of...
I've absolutely loved the series featuring Jake Pettman and it was nice to see him reunited with Yorke and Lacey Ray.
The opening is violent and shocking, and frankly that doesn't let up much throughout.
Jake has teamed up with Lacey Ray to finally end Article SE's hunt for him and he can finally be reunited with his son.
Of course its never going to be that easy and Lacey has a condition of her own, and a girlfriend.
I think Lacey Ray is arguably one of the most brilliantly written Psychopaths of any book ever. She knows what she is, she doesn't try and hide her lack of empathy, love, compassion or any other normal human emotion. She's ruthless but she's smart. Despite all this I kinda wanted her to win. I wanted her to get her justice.
This may not be for everyone. Wes doesn't hold back, and the justice for one of the characters was both deserved and horrific. Somehow thought, it works, it's violent but it fits with the story.
Despite this being book 7 I think, of the series, it works brilliantly as a standalone. However if you read the previous ones (and they truly are incredible) then you might change your opinion on the motivations of some characters.
I'm really excited for The Secret Diary of Lacey Ray. The next book coming in 2024.
340 reviews4 followers
August 28, 2023
Wes Markin is a writer at the top of his game ~ a book which encompasses the wonderful DCI Yorke; damaged but wonderful Jake Pettman and the deeply twisted Lacey Ray, you just know you're in for a hell of a ride. And this book delivers in spades....

What follows does not disappoint on any level, although at one point, I was hurling some rather choice words at the author, for what I imagined had happened, before realising just how devious he'd been.

I held my breath, cringed and laughed in equal measure, Wes Markin has a way of getting his readers drawn into the world his characters inhabit, so much so that as much as you're desperate to know what happens, you feel almost bereft at the end. Talk about emotionally wrung out!!

Every time I feel that Wes cannot possibly top his previous books, he somehow manages to pull it out of the bag.

Wow, wow and wow some more. It seems so unfair that I can only give this book 5 stars, it deserves so much more. You seriously need to read this book ~ and the rest of the series as well

I received an advance reader copy and am submitting my honest review
237 reviews3 followers
July 10, 2023
This is the second book I have read by Wes Markin but my first in the DCI Yorke series. It didn’t matter that this was the 7th book in the series as it was easily able to be read as a stand-alone. What it did do was make me want to read the rest of the series.

I loved this book - it was fast paced and so full of action. It is a gory book in parts and very descriptive. There wasn’t a part where it didn’t make you want to read on and find out what happened next.

DCI Michael Yorke is called out to the kidnapping of a 6 year old child. It transpires that the dad is somehow linked to Article SE, which is a high profile organised crime organisation that is being watched by Serious Crime.

There is a serious explosion while DCI Yorke searches for the missing child and this changes things significantly. There are some very complex and disturbing criminal characters in this book which makes for great reading.

DCI Yorke has some hard hitting, emotional encounters which really cause him to question his judgement and commitment.

I would really recommend this book.
1,449 reviews25 followers
June 17, 2023
I raced through this at breakneck speed. There's some back and forth timelines throughout so it requires concentration but trust me, you will be horrified yet enthralled in equal measure. Thankfully I've read the previous books so I know what to expect in terms of some barbaric scenes and this is probably even worse than before.

All the characters are here. Jake is back, and Lacey Ray is front and centre of things along with her partner, so you can be sure the level of atrocities is ramped up. The team that Mike and the crime unit are chasing are just as ruthless which ensures the story is constantly at full throttle and I found myself reading open-mouthed and slightly shellshocked. I ran the gamut of emotions when reading this. What next for Jake and Mike? I guess time will tell.
1,674 reviews54 followers
July 23, 2023
Not enough of DCI Michael Yorke - 2.5*

I first started this series on Audible so I kind of missed not reading the seventh book on Audible. Perhaps that affected things but then again, there was one big problem with this book - THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH OF THE MAIN CHARACTER.

I get that the next book is The Secret Diary of Lacey Ray and so she will be the focus but this one was NOT focused enough on Yorke. There was barely interaction with the family that he'd lovingly built up nor was there any real interaction with the main story.

Very disappointing.
I do like the intricacies of the character Lacey Ray so I will read the eighth book. I expected better from this series.
Profile Image for Deb.
685 reviews20 followers
November 3, 2023
I have read the majority of the previous books in this Yorke series & the Pettman series too, so it was great to see the two good friends back together again (sort of).

An explosive opening did leave me wondering where this book was going. Yorke on his pedestal; Pettman back in the UK & Lacey Ray… Starting with a kidnapping, rapidly moving on to OCG activities & then we have Ray & her partner dishing out shock & gore aplenty along with her abusive doctor who has his own proclivities.

Depravity in bucket loads (literally in some cases) & evil beyond my imagination. Written in the third person with chapters focusing on the main characters, this went at a cracking pace. So why drop a star? It was the asides/inner thoughts that grated with me, there were just too many but apart from that, I loved it. I now need to read a fluffy palate cleanser.
90 reviews
August 17, 2025
Este libro tiene muchas cosas, horror, locura, sicópatas más de la cuenta, monstruos en todo el sentido de la palabra, amistad a pesar de todo, se centra principalmente en lace y Jake, como se relacionan , como las decisiones erradas pueden arruinar tu vida, que se hace cuando estás acorralado y desesperado? Cuando otros pagan por tus errores? Cómo considerar acabar con tu vida, estás tan hundido en el fango para considerarlo y huir de tus decisiones y acciones...fue un viaje tortuoso de leer, me molestó mucho las acciones de Jake en la historia, a veces es tan inocente no tiene malicia a pesar de que está rodeado de locura y maldad...el desenlace fue apropiado al final. Me queda la duda de porque no delato a la superintendente? Eso me tiene carcomiendo la mente...no se menciona... espero se vislumbre en otra parte...
Profile Image for Anthony Brooks.
246 reviews7 followers
June 23, 2024
Lacey, Jake, Yorke, all back, and better (or Evil) than ever!

Jake has been hunting bad people, and becoming very a tuned to killing, but as he returns to Southampton, he needs and old nemesis to assist him in his mission to stop Article SE, and save his son from certain death. Lacey Ray needs Jake's help to stop an evil doctor that has taken her "stolen" son.

Meanwhile Yorke is hot on the heels of a terrorist cell that has kidnapped a wealthy families son, but its not what it seems. As Yorke locates the boy, carved open and a bomb placed in his chest, all hell erupts, his Team dead, and Yorke has a gun to the back if his head....bang!

Is Yorke dead, will Lacey and Jake finish what they need to?

Better The Devil is another 5 Stars!
873 reviews9 followers
June 19, 2023
Blimey, that was brutal! Low down, dirty and mean comes to mind. The story hits you like a freight train at full speed from the very first chapter and it doesn't slow down. It's a thrilling read. Fast paced and action packed. But, I did need to concentrate. The storyline was complex (to me) and I was glad that I had already read the previous books in the series.
Wes Markin does create some volatile characters and you never know what to expect. There are a few individuals in this series that I have grown to love (or hate as the case maybe) and his books always make an exciting read.
Better the devil you know? Crickey! you've got to be desperate....I guess someone was.
A 'just one more chapter' kind of book. Keep the caffeine on tap, you'll be reading through the night!
Profile Image for kelly freaney.
266 reviews3 followers
July 11, 2023
I knew it wouldn't be any less than a 5 star book and it didn't disappoint!
Having only discovered this series when jake pettermen left for America I hadn't read any of the Yorke series so this was the 1st time with this cross over. I also had no knowledge of Lana Raye. It was expected.. dark thrilling and extremely violent but if you've read the Jake petterman series then you know what to expect

*spoiler

At one point I was very worried this was the end! But there is always room for another Jake
2 reviews
October 1, 2025
Not exactly as expected

I don't generally add reviews but I feel like this book needed one. So the important part is that, unlike the rest of the series, this read as more of a horror/thriller than police procedural. This doesn't necessarily make it a bad book and it's not to say that I didn't enjoy it but it's certainly a departure from what I was expecting and definitely made me think twice about purchasing the next in the series. Having said that, it was an interesting read (as all Markin's books have been) so if you're following the series then it's worth a read.
Profile Image for Annette.
918 reviews1 follower
June 19, 2023
Another fantastic read, very intense, gruesome, dark and packed full of action. I wouldn't attempt to read this book as a stand-alone because it is very much part of the DCI Michael York Thriller Series and you need the background information to tie the story together. There is nothing on the back burner in this book, everything is bubbling away ready to explode any minute and it frequently does. This is I want to finish I don't want to finish type of a book and I can highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Claire-Louise  Armstrong-Brealey.
215 reviews9 followers
June 20, 2023
Summer Lightening and a parent's love for their child.

Blooming good!

You want to know more? The triumvirate of Pettman, Yorke and Lacy is a force to be reckoned with. Who will live to fight another day?

This latest offers parts and pieces in rip-roaring glory. Graphic? Yes! No less than the average person can stomach. Fast-paced? Oh yes! But no less than the average person can stomach.

Fabulous as usual and highly recommended.
93 reviews2 followers
July 8, 2023
Sooooo Good

This is a brilliant, brilliant book by Wes Markin. It is well worth reading his other DCI Yorke books as some of the character threads come from previous books; but I have to say this is one of my favourites. Very dark, and quite explicit in parts (so not for the squeamish, but an excellent book with a great plot and lots of twists and turns leaving you guessing the outcome right up to the end. More DCI Yorke please Wes!
305 reviews1 follower
September 2, 2023
Excellent, strong constitution required

Where does one start! This was an excellent read, like all of the books are by this Author, however, it was one hell of a stomach churning, emotional ride. I felt like I've done 10 rounds with Tyson by the end. I don't think you could possibly appreciate this book unless you have read both the Yorke and Pettiman series, as this is basically the culmination of both of these.
Profile Image for Darren.
2,030 reviews47 followers
June 19, 2023
I got this as a arc e book from a face book page that I am a member of for my i pad. I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. I have read other books by this author and liked them too. It took me longer than normal to read this book because I was only reading a bit of it per day.
Profile Image for Vanessa Krushner.
340 reviews11 followers
June 25, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this one as it bought two series together and got Michael Yorke back with Jake Petterman.
The plot is great and feels like a culmination of two series but there again who knows!!!!
This is, however, a very gory plot and a strong stomach is needed for some of the descriptions of torture.
Profile Image for Sue Wallace .
7,375 reviews136 followers
June 26, 2023
Better the devil by Wes Markin.
A DCI Yorke Thriller Book 7.
Matthew Brace. Six years old. Kidnapped. Experienced and driven, Detective Chief Inspector Michael Yorke believes he has what it takes to lead a unit that will bring this child back to his family.
A brilliant read. I love this series. York is my favourite. I can't wait for the next book. 5*.
233 reviews3 followers
July 7, 2023
What a fast paced thriller of a book from start to end! It really didn't disappoint me all.
Featuring old favourite DCI Yorke and the returns of Jake Pettman and the infamous Lacey Ray.
I found the storyline amazing and you never knew what was going to hit you next. The way Wes Markin writes is absolutely amazing and I can't wait for the next one whoever it features!
I need to read something lighter now as there were some pretty gruesome scenes in this book ! Loved it !
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