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I Shot the Devil
They went out to the woods to have fun. And two of them didn't return. A dark, twisty thriller of small town buried secrets for readers of IN THE WOODS (DUBLIN MURDERS), THE GIRLS and THE SECRET HISTORY.
Twenty years ago, the devil visited the woods around Southport, Long Island, claiming the lives of two boys. A local youth was charged with murder. Case closed.
Now journalist Erin Sloane has been commissioned to dig deeper into the story and is sent notes from someone long forgotten. But can she trust what she unearths? And how can she unravel what happened when she has her own secrets to hide?
Rich with the sense of a community imploding, buried secrets, corruption and racism, I SHOT THE DEVIL is a stunning portrayal of teenage hysteria and sexuality.
Twenty years ago, the devil visited the woods around Southport, Long Island, claiming the lives of two boys. A local youth was charged with murder. Case closed.
Now journalist Erin Sloane has been commissioned to dig deeper into the story and is sent notes from someone long forgotten. But can she trust what she unearths? And how can she unravel what happened when she has her own secrets to hide?
Rich with the sense of a community imploding, buried secrets, corruption and racism, I SHOT THE DEVIL is a stunning portrayal of teenage hysteria and sexuality.
292 pages, Hardcover
First published July 9, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
August 4, 2024
Erin Sloane was sixteen when high school senior Andre Villiers was murdered by his friends. They were her friends, too, led by the intense, charismatic Ricky Hell. Five people went into West Cypress Woods the night Andre was murdered. Only three came out.
Ativan, alcohol and distance had dimmed Erin's memories of that time. But nearly twenty years later, an ageing father will bring her home. Now a journalist, she is asked to write a story about the Southport Three and the thrill-kill murder that electrified the country. Erin's investigation propels her closer and closer to a terrifying truth. And closer and closer to danger.
Despite a slow burn start that took some doing to get into, I Shot the Devil won me over in the end. A dark, intense tale that was peppered with triggers, it nevertheless provided a compelling plot full of action from the halfway point on. I particularly loved the format of this well-plotted crime thriller. Weaving in Erin’s eventually exposé as well as another disturbing, possibly unreliable story, the background was beautifully intermixed into one impressive narrative.
The characters ran the gamut from likeable to monstrous. And while a couple—with one in particular—were downright villains, they all served up an enjoyable plot. At the same time, there were moments where the storyline went just a tiny bit off the rails. Over-the-top here and there, a few cringe-worthy scenes lacked a positive payoff in my personal opinion. Regardless, however, they did get my pulse-pounding as my fingers flew through the pages.
I do have to give a general warning, however. While not exactly reaching the level of a Karin Slaughter novel, the triggers in this book were somewhat extreme. Not so much in terms of graphic descriptions, but more so due to the underlying premise and themes. If you are one who may be bothered by certain serious topics (of which there were many), be sure to check out my content warning before reading.
All said and done, though, I truly enjoyed this tense, edgy, raw tale. Ultimately fast-paced and hypnotic, I utterly lost track of time and stayed up altogether too late in order to finish in just a single sitting. After all, it was an explosive, twisty ride that I didn’t want to end as conspiracies unfurled and secrets were revealed. All told, it was an impressive debut and I look forward to trying whatever McIver comes up with next. Rating of 4 stars.
Thank you to Ruth McIver and Blackstone Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 9, 2024
Trigger warning: drug use, domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, gun violence, immolation, mention of: sexual assault, suicide
Ativan, alcohol and distance had dimmed Erin's memories of that time. But nearly twenty years later, an ageing father will bring her home. Now a journalist, she is asked to write a story about the Southport Three and the thrill-kill murder that electrified the country. Erin's investigation propels her closer and closer to a terrifying truth. And closer and closer to danger.
Despite a slow burn start that took some doing to get into, I Shot the Devil won me over in the end. A dark, intense tale that was peppered with triggers, it nevertheless provided a compelling plot full of action from the halfway point on. I particularly loved the format of this well-plotted crime thriller. Weaving in Erin’s eventually exposé as well as another disturbing, possibly unreliable story, the background was beautifully intermixed into one impressive narrative.
The characters ran the gamut from likeable to monstrous. And while a couple—with one in particular—were downright villains, they all served up an enjoyable plot. At the same time, there were moments where the storyline went just a tiny bit off the rails. Over-the-top here and there, a few cringe-worthy scenes lacked a positive payoff in my personal opinion. Regardless, however, they did get my pulse-pounding as my fingers flew through the pages.
I do have to give a general warning, however. While not exactly reaching the level of a Karin Slaughter novel, the triggers in this book were somewhat extreme. Not so much in terms of graphic descriptions, but more so due to the underlying premise and themes. If you are one who may be bothered by certain serious topics (of which there were many), be sure to check out my content warning before reading.
All said and done, though, I truly enjoyed this tense, edgy, raw tale. Ultimately fast-paced and hypnotic, I utterly lost track of time and stayed up altogether too late in order to finish in just a single sitting. After all, it was an explosive, twisty ride that I didn’t want to end as conspiracies unfurled and secrets were revealed. All told, it was an impressive debut and I look forward to trying whatever McIver comes up with next. Rating of 4 stars.
Thank you to Ruth McIver and Blackstone Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 9, 2024
Trigger warning: drug use, domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, gun violence, immolation, mention of: sexual assault, suicide
October 25, 2022
Had two many triggers for me very dark satanic ritual killings I could not go on.
April 20, 2020
3.5 stars
Erin Sloane has been offered what could be the biggest story of her career, but it's one that's way too close to home. Someone thinks the police got it wrong 20 years ago, that there was more to the Southport murders than the 'case closed' designation suggests, and now they want it put right. Digging into that past is going to be dangerous. Not only does Erin hold her own secrets, she quickly discovers that those around her have stories they really don't want told. To get her piece written, she's going to need to go deeper into her past than she ever imagined and put her life on the line on the way.
What Ruth McIver gets very right here is the style. Some parts are note perfect, evincing the complexity of the main character's experiences with startling originality and dark humour. Unfortunately, as good as it is, the writing can't hold it all together, it’s just too bitty. The pacing is patchy and the author doesn't know how to effectively connect the powerful scenes she describes, leaving them feeling emotionally disconnected from the rest. At times Erin makes bizarre leaps, at others she acts in ridiculously annoying ways. It really gets me when an apparently intelligent women decides to go investigate someone she thinks might be a multiple murderer on her own, telling nobody of her plans. It's a stretch that was necessary to include an implausibly contrived denouement that was all kinds of silly. By that point in the book, the whole narrative had started to fall apart. It morphed from a tense and suspenseful thriller directed by the interplay between Erin's memories and the conflicting revelations from others, to a hop from one batshit crazy scene to another. There's a lot in here to like, but it doesn't hold true throughout. To me, it feels like the book before the good one.
ARC via Netgalley
Erin Sloane has been offered what could be the biggest story of her career, but it's one that's way too close to home. Someone thinks the police got it wrong 20 years ago, that there was more to the Southport murders than the 'case closed' designation suggests, and now they want it put right. Digging into that past is going to be dangerous. Not only does Erin hold her own secrets, she quickly discovers that those around her have stories they really don't want told. To get her piece written, she's going to need to go deeper into her past than she ever imagined and put her life on the line on the way.
What Ruth McIver gets very right here is the style. Some parts are note perfect, evincing the complexity of the main character's experiences with startling originality and dark humour. Unfortunately, as good as it is, the writing can't hold it all together, it’s just too bitty. The pacing is patchy and the author doesn't know how to effectively connect the powerful scenes she describes, leaving them feeling emotionally disconnected from the rest. At times Erin makes bizarre leaps, at others she acts in ridiculously annoying ways. It really gets me when an apparently intelligent women decides to go investigate someone she thinks might be a multiple murderer on her own, telling nobody of her plans. It's a stretch that was necessary to include an implausibly contrived denouement that was all kinds of silly. By that point in the book, the whole narrative had started to fall apart. It morphed from a tense and suspenseful thriller directed by the interplay between Erin's memories and the conflicting revelations from others, to a hop from one batshit crazy scene to another. There's a lot in here to like, but it doesn't hold true throughout. To me, it feels like the book before the good one.
ARC via Netgalley
September 17, 2021
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
I Shot The Devil is a dark and twisty thriller involving murder, violence and abuse.
Weren't they druggie, metalhead teenagers just having a bit of fun in the woods, whatever could go wrong?
Two boys are killed in what appeared to be a satanic cult on Halloween night. Did the devil visit the woods that night? Satanic Cult leader Ricky Hells was charged with murder and the case closed.
Twenty years later, Erin Sloane our messed up and fearless protagonist is a true crime reporter and her editor Denise wants her to dig up an old investigation called The Southport Three, which involved murders in Erin’s hometown back in 1994. What Denise doesn’t know is that the teenagers murdered all knew Erin. This could be Erin’s biggest story but will she be able to relive the past?
This book will have you turning the pages to find out what happened that fateful night, a great read although I found keeping track of all the characters was intense at times.
I wish to thank NetGalley & Hachette for an advanced copy in return for an honest review
I Shot The Devil is a dark and twisty thriller involving murder, violence and abuse.
Weren't they druggie, metalhead teenagers just having a bit of fun in the woods, whatever could go wrong?
Two boys are killed in what appeared to be a satanic cult on Halloween night. Did the devil visit the woods that night? Satanic Cult leader Ricky Hells was charged with murder and the case closed.
Twenty years later, Erin Sloane our messed up and fearless protagonist is a true crime reporter and her editor Denise wants her to dig up an old investigation called The Southport Three, which involved murders in Erin’s hometown back in 1994. What Denise doesn’t know is that the teenagers murdered all knew Erin. This could be Erin’s biggest story but will she be able to relive the past?
This book will have you turning the pages to find out what happened that fateful night, a great read although I found keeping track of all the characters was intense at times.
I wish to thank NetGalley & Hachette for an advanced copy in return for an honest review
September 5, 2021
why were there so many characters?!!
January 29, 2022
A young first time Australian author, Ruth McIver is Irish born with a PhD in true crime fiction. I Shot The Devil is her debut novel and prize winning murder mystery. A group of five teenagers go into the woods one night and only three of them come out alive. Erin Sloane is a journalist who is asked to investigate the twenty year old crime known as the Southport Three. Facing her own demons, surviving on alcohol and drugs, her own links to those events are slowly revealed. In raising lots of questions of what exactly happened that night, Erin will have to face up to her past and its tragic consequences. A difficult book to read; at times, it felt like teenage angst with absent mothers, dreadful fathers and unresolved mental health issues. A warning of a possible triggers, with content that may be harmful for some readers. It’s a dark read and given Ruth’s own journey, difficult to rate but with unlikeable characters and gothic theme, it’s a two-star rating. A thankful shout out to Ruth for being a survivor and channelling her truth in such a constructive way.
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June 28, 2024This books synopsis doesn’t give a clear glimpse into the true content here. There are elements which some people will want to avoid, myself being one of them. Had I known the actual extent of the story, I wouldn’t have requested a copy. A good example on why a synopsis needs to clue the reader in to the possibility of sensitive material.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Edit to add: the material I’m talking about is that the crime the MC is digging into was a murder which was believed to be a satanic ritual. So this is heavily focused on. Some may think the title is clue enough, but I would disagree. The word devil is used in plenty of titles not talking about the actual devil, so the synopsis needs to be clear on this.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Edit to add: the material I’m talking about is that the crime the MC is digging into was a murder which was believed to be a satanic ritual. So this is heavily focused on. Some may think the title is clue enough, but I would disagree. The word devil is used in plenty of titles not talking about the actual devil, so the synopsis needs to be clear on this.
September 5, 2021
I Shot The Devil was a dark and pretty intense read. While it did take me a little while to get into it, once it got going it really went!
Erin Sloane is a deeply damaged young woman, whose past comes back to confront her. On Halloween, 1994 she lived in Southport, Long Island, where 2 teenage bots were murdered in what appeared to be a satanic ritual in the woods. Her father was an investigating officer on the case and she had connections to all 5 that were in the woods that night. Now she is a true crime reporter and her editor wants the anniversary covered and Erin is the woman for the job. She will go back to a time when her life was full of boys, drugs, metal music and drinking. She will discover that he memory of those times is not exactly reliable and she will come face to face with people from that time again.
The ending to this book was explosive, and there are strong issues of abuse of many kinds.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read,
Erin Sloane is a deeply damaged young woman, whose past comes back to confront her. On Halloween, 1994 she lived in Southport, Long Island, where 2 teenage bots were murdered in what appeared to be a satanic ritual in the woods. Her father was an investigating officer on the case and she had connections to all 5 that were in the woods that night. Now she is a true crime reporter and her editor wants the anniversary covered and Erin is the woman for the job. She will go back to a time when her life was full of boys, drugs, metal music and drinking. She will discover that he memory of those times is not exactly reliable and she will come face to face with people from that time again.
The ending to this book was explosive, and there are strong issues of abuse of many kinds.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read,
October 10, 2022
I Shot the Devil is the debut novel by Ruth McIver and it deals with some of the more confronting issues in today’s society including domestic violence, drug use and self harm. The story is told in part as a 3rd person narrative from the perspective of Erin Sloane, a journalist who is reporting on events in which she was a part. The other parts of the story are told as extracts from a couple of books.
Erin has been asked to write a story in a local magazine about a 20 year old murder case. It involves 5 youths, all reportedly into drugs and satan worship, who went into the woods one night where two of them died. Her problem with writing the story is that it is way too close to home. In fact, she was involved with one of the guys who died that night.
In dredging up events now referred to as the Southport Three we get a picture of the difficulties she faced at the time. Drug and alcohol abuse as well as family deaths all played a major part in her younger years.
As she begins her interviews her own memories of that night, and the days leading up to it, start to come back. The official story is that one of the five was murdered by another in the group and then a policeman, called to the scene, shot and killed the murderer. From what Erin begins to uncover there may be doubts about what was believed to have happened. It seems that everyone involved is being evasive or is hiding important secrets. By digging further she not only starts to unravel what may have really happened but she also starts to dislodge her own disturbing memories of those days.
But it’s a story that is laboriously revealed and, at times, difficult to follow. It may have had to do with the multiple viewpoints from which it’s told or perhaps through some sense of morbid fear in Erin’s recollection but it certainly didn’t make it easy to read. In fact, I found it a struggle to continue through a good portion of it.
It’s rare that a novel has absolutely no likable characters, particularly one with as many characters as this one, but that’s the case with I Shot the Devil. Not one person for whom I thought, yes, I hope you come out on top. Everyone is either a criminal, psychologically damaged beyond repair or incapable of showing any true human empathy and this ultimately wore me down.
I had a big problem with this story, apart from its disjointedness. It concerns the inexplicably silly decisions Erin makes while writing her story. She’s clearly being stalked by someone she knows is violent…and tells no one. She arranges a meeting in a quiet, remote location with someone she’s confident is hiding a murder and shows up alone and unarmed. Too, too manufactured by far. And to top things off, she did it a second time? What!?!
Unfortunately, by the time we reached the book’s denouement I had pretty much given up caring and ended up feeling rather underwhelmed.
“Erin Sloane was sixteen when high school senior Andre Villiers was murdered by his friends. They were her friends, too, led by the intense, charismatic Ricky Hell. Five people went into West Cypress Road Woods the night Andre was murdered. Only three came out.”
Erin has been asked to write a story in a local magazine about a 20 year old murder case. It involves 5 youths, all reportedly into drugs and satan worship, who went into the woods one night where two of them died. Her problem with writing the story is that it is way too close to home. In fact, she was involved with one of the guys who died that night.
In dredging up events now referred to as the Southport Three we get a picture of the difficulties she faced at the time. Drug and alcohol abuse as well as family deaths all played a major part in her younger years.
As she begins her interviews her own memories of that night, and the days leading up to it, start to come back. The official story is that one of the five was murdered by another in the group and then a policeman, called to the scene, shot and killed the murderer. From what Erin begins to uncover there may be doubts about what was believed to have happened. It seems that everyone involved is being evasive or is hiding important secrets. By digging further she not only starts to unravel what may have really happened but she also starts to dislodge her own disturbing memories of those days.
But it’s a story that is laboriously revealed and, at times, difficult to follow. It may have had to do with the multiple viewpoints from which it’s told or perhaps through some sense of morbid fear in Erin’s recollection but it certainly didn’t make it easy to read. In fact, I found it a struggle to continue through a good portion of it.
It’s rare that a novel has absolutely no likable characters, particularly one with as many characters as this one, but that’s the case with I Shot the Devil. Not one person for whom I thought, yes, I hope you come out on top. Everyone is either a criminal, psychologically damaged beyond repair or incapable of showing any true human empathy and this ultimately wore me down.
I had a big problem with this story, apart from its disjointedness. It concerns the inexplicably silly decisions Erin makes while writing her story. She’s clearly being stalked by someone she knows is violent…and tells no one. She arranges a meeting in a quiet, remote location with someone she’s confident is hiding a murder and shows up alone and unarmed. Too, too manufactured by far. And to top things off, she did it a second time? What!?!
Unfortunately, by the time we reached the book’s denouement I had pretty much given up caring and ended up feeling rather underwhelmed.
October 2, 2021
Harsh rating I know but it was the violence or concepts in this book that I gave it a low rating for ... I just found it clumsily written and the plot far fetched
July 19, 2024
Thank you so much to Blackstone Publishing, Simon and Schuster Audio, and Ruth McIver for my copy of I Shot the Devil. This story was based on the satanic panic and six friends, three of whom end up dead. Erin is a journalist, and is looking deeper into what happened in the past. She was there, and still doesn’t know what exactly happened. She wants to write a story, but also learn about her friends who died, especially Ricky Hell who was killed and blamed for the deaths.
Thoughts: This book was about teenage hysteria, sexuality, and the dark parts of childhood. There were SO many triggers including child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, drug use, suicide, violence, etc etc. There are satanic and cultish themes, as well as a twisted story about the police, teens, and a lot of corruption.
I thought this story was really interesting and twisted. The characters were monsters and it was hard to read, but also believable. There was a good mystery going on and I wasn’t sure what really happened because there were so many evil things going on. It got a bit confusing, but I still enjoyed the journey. 4 stars for this one.
Thoughts: This book was about teenage hysteria, sexuality, and the dark parts of childhood. There were SO many triggers including child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, drug use, suicide, violence, etc etc. There are satanic and cultish themes, as well as a twisted story about the police, teens, and a lot of corruption.
I thought this story was really interesting and twisted. The characters were monsters and it was hard to read, but also believable. There was a good mystery going on and I wasn’t sure what really happened because there were so many evil things going on. It got a bit confusing, but I still enjoyed the journey. 4 stars for this one.
February 14, 2022
O stars
Words cannot describe how I felt about this book. Despite the exuberant praise on the front cover I honestly cannot find anything to admire and the only reason I finished was because it was a bookgroup book. Then I discovered that the rest of the group felt as I did and the majority did not finish it! As to comparing it to Tana French or The Secret History NO NO NO!
I found the plot too twisted and yet somehow predictable, the writing left a lot to be desired, the multiple voices through other peoples stories just didn't work, and every character, even those simply passing on the street are despicable, violent and OTT. An Irish born, Australian author setting a novel in the US just didn't work for me! And Hachette, a publisher I usually admire, where was the editing? So many mistakes, a protagonist who put her head in her head (rather than her hands) as one example, but there were many more.
So many trigger warnings - to mention just a few - violence against women, children - well everyone, rape, Satanism, drug abuse, the list goes on. You might argue that these are potentially part and parcel of this genre but for me, they were so badly handled that they felt almost gratuitous despite their gore. Obviously others loved it, but not me (or the rest of my very mixed group including an American who grew up where the book is set - her comments were particularly enlightening!).
Words cannot describe how I felt about this book. Despite the exuberant praise on the front cover I honestly cannot find anything to admire and the only reason I finished was because it was a bookgroup book. Then I discovered that the rest of the group felt as I did and the majority did not finish it! As to comparing it to Tana French or The Secret History NO NO NO!
I found the plot too twisted and yet somehow predictable, the writing left a lot to be desired, the multiple voices through other peoples stories just didn't work, and every character, even those simply passing on the street are despicable, violent and OTT. An Irish born, Australian author setting a novel in the US just didn't work for me! And Hachette, a publisher I usually admire, where was the editing? So many mistakes, a protagonist who put her head in her head (rather than her hands) as one example, but there were many more.
So many trigger warnings - to mention just a few - violence against women, children - well everyone, rape, Satanism, drug abuse, the list goes on. You might argue that these are potentially part and parcel of this genre but for me, they were so badly handled that they felt almost gratuitous despite their gore. Obviously others loved it, but not me (or the rest of my very mixed group including an American who grew up where the book is set - her comments were particularly enlightening!).
October 27, 2021
“Mid way in our life’s journey, I went astray from the straight road and found myself alone in a dark wood
What wood that was! I never saw so drear! So rank, so dark, so arduous a wilderness, its very memory gave shape to fear.” (Inferno, Dante Alighieri)
I Shot the Devil is Ruth McIvers debut, a gritty novel about the secrets surrounding a decades old murder, missing children, and police corruption.
When true crime journalist, Erin Sloane is assigned a feature article on The Southport Three, she’s reluctant to confess her own connection to the 1994 thrill kill case. Not only was her father a detective with Nassau County where the murder occurred, but both the victims, and the assailants, were her friends.
Hardly the picture of stability, with a childhood marked by loss and neglect, and a long-standing pill and alcohol habit, it’s difficult to judge Erin’s reliability as narrator. Delving into the past proves to be both emotionally and physically threatening for her as she renews contact with her abusive ex-boyfriend, one of the Southport Three, and slowly pieces together what really happened the night two teenagers died. Erin knows there is no truth to the claims of satanic influence, but it proves to be more complicated too than either revenge or a drug fuelled thrill. Erin uncovers corruption that implicates her father, now dying with Alzheimer’s, along with other police officers, and a web of conspiracy.
The novel is atmospheric, the sense of threat and tension is established early and builds effectively. There are some elements of the narrative that I thought didn’t quite work though, for example I thought the pacing was a little uneven, and there are some foreshortened threads.
I Shot the Devil is an edgy, dark thriller and McIvers is an author with definite potential.
What wood that was! I never saw so drear! So rank, so dark, so arduous a wilderness, its very memory gave shape to fear.” (Inferno, Dante Alighieri)
I Shot the Devil is Ruth McIvers debut, a gritty novel about the secrets surrounding a decades old murder, missing children, and police corruption.
When true crime journalist, Erin Sloane is assigned a feature article on The Southport Three, she’s reluctant to confess her own connection to the 1994 thrill kill case. Not only was her father a detective with Nassau County where the murder occurred, but both the victims, and the assailants, were her friends.
Hardly the picture of stability, with a childhood marked by loss and neglect, and a long-standing pill and alcohol habit, it’s difficult to judge Erin’s reliability as narrator. Delving into the past proves to be both emotionally and physically threatening for her as she renews contact with her abusive ex-boyfriend, one of the Southport Three, and slowly pieces together what really happened the night two teenagers died. Erin knows there is no truth to the claims of satanic influence, but it proves to be more complicated too than either revenge or a drug fuelled thrill. Erin uncovers corruption that implicates her father, now dying with Alzheimer’s, along with other police officers, and a web of conspiracy.
The novel is atmospheric, the sense of threat and tension is established early and builds effectively. There are some elements of the narrative that I thought didn’t quite work though, for example I thought the pacing was a little uneven, and there are some foreshortened threads.
I Shot the Devil is an edgy, dark thriller and McIvers is an author with definite potential.
June 2, 2022
Dark and absorbing story surrounding perceived satanism, murder, abuse and corruption. I really connected with the troubled and likeable protagonist, Erin. The pace throughout varied and it was sometimes unclear when the timeframes changed and some of the scenes are disconnected - nevertheless it was an enjoyable read. I was gifted an advance copy of this book by the author, publisher and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
October 20, 2021
Big DNF. Australian author spends 6 minutes living in Brooklyn and decides to write an "American based" book in British/Australian English with Australian-isms throughout. Um, what. Why. Why did no editors at least suggest that a book set in the US should be written in American English?? As an American living in Australia I just couldn't get past it and everything else felt contrived because of it. Instead of enjoying the book, I was looking for things that were uniquely Australian and distinctly not American. It felt as though the author Googled American pop culture and littered the book with references that didn't quite make sense/fit historically.
Erin, the main character sounded immature and mopey for a 32-year-old, and her reactions/interactions with people she hadn't seen or spoken to in 16 years since these "horrific, satanic murders" were very anticlimactic. Unbelievable. It needed more...something.
The writing itself (aside from the Australian English and colloquialisms) was so frustrating. I know Erin is a "writer" but did the author seriously just sit with a thesauruswhilst while writing this book? And if I saw one more ";" or ":" or "-" I was going to burn this book to hell where it belongs. The only time two colons should be used in one sentence: never: it's beyond ridiculous.
Lastly, and I might be alone on this, but the book was partially set in 2010, published in ~2018. By this time casual use of derogatory terms like "f*g" are a no from me. The character who used it was clearly a jerk so this just felt like the author used it simply because she could? In 2010, this word was definitely homophobic and in this instance it was wildly unnecessary. It didn't add anything to the point of what she was trying to convey.
Because of these issues, I couldn't have cared less about the story, the truth, or keeping up with all the characters and was actually relieved when I decided to stop reading it. I cannot NOT recommend this book enough. Shame because the cover is so pretty.
Erin, the main character sounded immature and mopey for a 32-year-old, and her reactions/interactions with people she hadn't seen or spoken to in 16 years since these "horrific, satanic murders" were very anticlimactic. Unbelievable. It needed more...something.
The writing itself (aside from the Australian English and colloquialisms) was so frustrating. I know Erin is a "writer" but did the author seriously just sit with a thesaurus
Lastly, and I might be alone on this, but the book was partially set in 2010, published in ~2018. By this time casual use of derogatory terms like "f*g" are a no from me. The character who used it was clearly a jerk so this just felt like the author used it simply because she could? In 2010, this word was definitely homophobic and in this instance it was wildly unnecessary. It didn't add anything to the point of what she was trying to convey.
Because of these issues, I couldn't have cared less about the story, the truth, or keeping up with all the characters and was actually relieved when I decided to stop reading it. I cannot NOT recommend this book enough. Shame because the cover is so pretty.
May 8, 2020
I Shot The Devil is a tense and twisty tale, a real page turner with some classically excellent writing and an intriguing main protagonist.
Erin is chasing the story of a lifetime, one that could put her on the journalistic map- but this is a story in which she played her own role, it will take her back to a dark time and the ending has yet to be written...
I loved the flow of this...Erin is multi layered and her journey towards some kind of truth holds you within the narrative throughout.
It is one of those utterly gripping tales that invade your thoughts whilst you are away from it. DEFINITELY a voice to watch in fiction if it's quality you are after.
Fuller review nearer publication.
Erin is chasing the story of a lifetime, one that could put her on the journalistic map- but this is a story in which she played her own role, it will take her back to a dark time and the ending has yet to be written...
I loved the flow of this...Erin is multi layered and her journey towards some kind of truth holds you within the narrative throughout.
It is one of those utterly gripping tales that invade your thoughts whilst you are away from it. DEFINITELY a voice to watch in fiction if it's quality you are after.
Fuller review nearer publication.
December 28, 2024
This dark thriller promised intensity, and it certainly delivered on that front—but it left me feeling more detached than invested. While the plot had its twists and a shadowy atmosphere that some might find gripping, I struggled to connect with the characters or their motivations. The narration in the audiobook was well-executed, which helped me push through to the end, but I found myself more curious about how it concluded than genuinely engrossed in the story. If you’re a fan of bleak narratives and don’t mind a slow emotional build, it might resonate more with you. For me, it was an okay experience but not one I’d revisit.
October 18, 2021
I believe this novel started life as a PhD thesis. After enduring it I think it should have stayed in the closed world of academia instead of being unleashed onto an unsuspecting public. McIver is represented by Shane Salerno of the Story Factory and this should have set off alarm bells as his authors mostly turn out below average crime novels or thrillers such as the regrettable ‘Falling’ by T.J. Newman. McIver’s effort was an enormous trial for me to get through as I found nothing redeeming about it. Populated by awful characters doing awful things to each other, a U.S. setting seemingly put together from movies and television and McIvers’ clunky and self conscious writing style, I had to force myself to finish it. Naturally, there was no pay off when I got to the end as it was all very anticlimactic and somewhat predictable. I got no enjoyment from this book. Any hype or praise it may have received is, in my opinion, seriously misguided. I cannot recommend it in the slightest.
October 18, 2021
I had really high hopes for this one, but unfortunately it didn't hit the mark for me. It's not bad by any means, it's just...average. The plot got more convoluted as it went on and introduced more characters and sub-plots, and I did have to keep flipping back to remind myself what connection/involvement certain characters had. When the book finished, I still had some unanswered questions and felt confused, I also felt like nothing happened even though it definitely did - that's probably in thanks to the anticlimactic ending. That being said, it was still easy to read and hopefully this author's next book is more polished.
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July 15, 2024Thank you partner BiblioLifestyle, Blackstone Publishing, and Libro.fm for the gifted copy and audiobook.
Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. Trigger/content warnings don’t normally need to be given for me to read or avoid a book but there’s a lot of stuff in this that felt real heavy handed and did not make the experience good. I tried to read it and I tried to listen to the audiobook. I couldn’t get through either. If you ordered a book with heavy handed devil stuff with a side of extra drugs, this one is for you 😅 I hope you have a better time with it than I did
Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. Trigger/content warnings don’t normally need to be given for me to read or avoid a book but there’s a lot of stuff in this that felt real heavy handed and did not make the experience good. I tried to read it and I tried to listen to the audiobook. I couldn’t get through either. If you ordered a book with heavy handed devil stuff with a side of extra drugs, this one is for you 😅 I hope you have a better time with it than I did
August 14, 2024
TITLE: I SHOT THE DEVIL
AUTHOR: Ruth McIver
PUB DATE: 07.09.2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I enjoyed this debut thriller - it is intense, atmospheric, and wickedly plotted. I stayed up way too late reading this intense murder mystery.
AUTHOR: Ruth McIver
PUB DATE: 07.09.2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I enjoyed this debut thriller - it is intense, atmospheric, and wickedly plotted. I stayed up way too late reading this intense murder mystery.
June 18, 2020
* Thank you to NetGalley and Tinder Press for the eArc to review*
Unfortunately this just didn't work for me.
A mystery where a journalist has been told to drag up the past in order to produce an anniversary story unearths some information regarding an incident that has long been buried.
For me, this was too slow. There was no sense of urgency, and I honestly just didn't care about the characters at all. Even when the action was supposed to be taking place, this just didn't hit the mark for me at all.
I found it very predictable, right up until the very last page.
Unfortunately this just didn't work for me.
A mystery where a journalist has been told to drag up the past in order to produce an anniversary story unearths some information regarding an incident that has long been buried.
For me, this was too slow. There was no sense of urgency, and I honestly just didn't care about the characters at all. Even when the action was supposed to be taking place, this just didn't hit the mark for me at all.
I found it very predictable, right up until the very last page.
September 18, 2021
A slightly slow start to this one that soon ramped up and became dark and twisted for the good first half of the book! Once it ramped up, it had me questioning everyone and I literally had no idea how this was going to end.
I did find as it ramped up, the multiple characters and recounts actually got me a bit confused. I felt like there was a bit too much going on and I found it a little hard to keep up.
Ruth did a great job of keeping me guessing though! A very dark but enjoyable read! A good debut novel and an author that I would love to read more from in the future.
I did find as it ramped up, the multiple characters and recounts actually got me a bit confused. I felt like there was a bit too much going on and I found it a little hard to keep up.
Ruth did a great job of keeping me guessing though! A very dark but enjoyable read! A good debut novel and an author that I would love to read more from in the future.
June 1, 2022
Dark and tense
July 22, 2020
I flew through this book in a just a few sittings. It has all the elements of a fast-paced contemporary murder-mystery, and is filled with nostalgia and the strange mid-life haunting that comes with placing an eye in the past. Erin is a fierce and dedicated lead character, and her story is one of lies, secrets, and skewed perceptions.
March 22, 2022
Dark and absorbing story surrounding perceived satanism, murder, abuse and corruption. I really connected with the troubled and likeable protagonist, Erin. The pace throughout varied and it was sometimes unclear when the timeframes changed and some of the scenes are disconnected - nevertheless it was an enjoyable read. I was gifted an advance copy of this book by the author, publisher and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 30, 2020
I received an early copy from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
This book was good! I have never read a book featuring Satanists before, and I definitely thought that aspect was interesting and original. However, the climax of this book, what we had been building up to the entire time we followed Erin and her past and present, fell flat for me. While there was a grand finale, for me it didn't feel satisfying or very thrilling to be honest. I did like Erin as a character as she was flawed and honest and messy, but this book didn't quite do it for me. So while this book was good, it could have been great, and unfortunately, for me, it wasn't.
This book was good! I have never read a book featuring Satanists before, and I definitely thought that aspect was interesting and original. However, the climax of this book, what we had been building up to the entire time we followed Erin and her past and present, fell flat for me. While there was a grand finale, for me it didn't feel satisfying or very thrilling to be honest. I did like Erin as a character as she was flawed and honest and messy, but this book didn't quite do it for me. So while this book was good, it could have been great, and unfortunately, for me, it wasn't.
August 19, 2021
I Shot the Devil is a compelling coming of age crime thriller with a moving and emotionally resonant centre ripe with sinister undertones and inspired by a ‘black widow murder’ the author came across as a child in the US. It features bent cops, abusive boyfriends and a bunch of metal misfits who we learn the true nature of through the steady drip-feeding of tantalising clues. Twenty years ago in the town of Southport in Long Island, New York, the devil visited the dense local woodland and horrifically claimed the lives of two young teen boys each with so much opportunity to thrive ahead of them. They went out to the woods to have fun. And then didn't return with their group of friends. Whispers spread around the town of ritual satanic sacrifices and this captures the imaginations of the small, tight-knit, affluent community of townsfolk. No one really knows fully what exactly happened that night but a local youth was charged with murder and the case was effectively solved and closed according to police. Fast forward to 2010 and young journalist Erin Sloane is revisiting a traumatic part of her life as she has been commissioned to dig deeper into the story for an article she's been convinced by her editor to write.
The details surrounding this dark part of her life when, as a teenager, she was in the fold with wayward friends in a fug of drugs, bad sex and heavy metal - ended in a climactic murder that scandalised the nation. The media at the time spun stories of evil forces, however, this mystery thriller is an unsettling journey towards knowing what really happened that night. But can she trust what she unearths? And how can she unravel what happened when she has her own secrets to hide? This is a compelling and engrossing thriller with a long-held mystery at its heart and an attempt to get to the bottom of what happened all those years prior. It's a dark, sinister and memorable debut literary noir complete with an utterly chilling atmosphere. Rich with the sense of a community imploding, buried secrets, corruption and racism, this is a captivating portrayal of teenage hysteria and sexuality. A slow-burner with a series of devilish twists and a deep sense of menace and unease, the story scratches the surface of a dormant crime and exposes the deep trauma and lies that run beneath. A recommended read.
The details surrounding this dark part of her life when, as a teenager, she was in the fold with wayward friends in a fug of drugs, bad sex and heavy metal - ended in a climactic murder that scandalised the nation. The media at the time spun stories of evil forces, however, this mystery thriller is an unsettling journey towards knowing what really happened that night. But can she trust what she unearths? And how can she unravel what happened when she has her own secrets to hide? This is a compelling and engrossing thriller with a long-held mystery at its heart and an attempt to get to the bottom of what happened all those years prior. It's a dark, sinister and memorable debut literary noir complete with an utterly chilling atmosphere. Rich with the sense of a community imploding, buried secrets, corruption and racism, this is a captivating portrayal of teenage hysteria and sexuality. A slow-burner with a series of devilish twists and a deep sense of menace and unease, the story scratches the surface of a dormant crime and exposes the deep trauma and lies that run beneath. A recommended read.
September 6, 2022
0.5 stars.
My second attempt at reading this. I should have given up on it the first time. I mean an alleged Satanist named Ricky Hell, should have been a heads up.
My second attempt at reading this. I should have given up on it the first time. I mean an alleged Satanist named Ricky Hell, should have been a heads up.
February 25, 2020
This book is epic! Holy shit it is a thriller from start to finish. It does not lag. It does not slow down. It just gets faster and messier and I love it. It has a lot in common with Gillian Flynn's Dark Places. A true-crime reporter with a tragic past returns to small Long Island town to reinvestigate a scandalous satanic murder committed by her metalhead friend group and abusive ex-boyfriend in the early '90s. But that's just the first story, the layers of sub-plots and relationships are dense. And the main character is a reckless but lovable mess. This is the kind of thriller I want all the time. I hope a publisher in North America picks it up, I think it's pubbing in the UK in July. I read an unfinished manuscript given to me by one of our editors (I work at a publishing company). It doesn't have Canadian or North American rights, YET! Keep it on the radar.
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