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The Devil You Know
1946: The war may be over, but in Hollywood all hell is breaking loose. When Marie Doyle discovers that demons are seducing the young women of Hollywood, she doesn’t know where to turn for help. But when a demon takes the soul of her best friend, Marie has no choice but to stop them herself. Church secretary, war widow, and now demon slayer, Marie enters a world she never knew existed—a world not just of desperate ingénues and Hollywood scandals, but also one of ravenous monsters. The devil you know may be better than the devil you don’t, but for Marie Doyle the choice might not matter. With demons on the loose and no one else aware of the truth, her only option is to send them back to hell—even if it means risking her soul.
350 pages, Paperback
First published May 25, 2014
3 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Richard Levesque
45 books46 followersRichard Levesque was born near Montreal,Canada and grew up in Southern California.
He began writing while in college, publishing several pieces in college journals while working on his undergraduate degree at Cal Poly Pomona. After finishing his Master's Degree in 1990, he focused more on teaching than writing for a few years, eventually completing his Ph.D. at UC Riverside in 2000. His dissertation was on Hollywood novelists of the 1920s and 1930s.
Since 1999, he has been part of the English Department at Fullerton College and turned again to writing a few years ago. He primarily writes science fiction but continues to have a strong interest in early Hollywood and Los Angeles history and culture and often works those themes into his writing.
When not writing or grading papers, he spends time with his wife and daughter, works on his collection of old science fiction pulps and tries to be better than a mediocre guitar player.
He began writing while in college, publishing several pieces in college journals while working on his undergraduate degree at Cal Poly Pomona. After finishing his Master's Degree in 1990, he focused more on teaching than writing for a few years, eventually completing his Ph.D. at UC Riverside in 2000. His dissertation was on Hollywood novelists of the 1920s and 1930s.
Since 1999, he has been part of the English Department at Fullerton College and turned again to writing a few years ago. He primarily writes science fiction but continues to have a strong interest in early Hollywood and Los Angeles history and culture and often works those themes into his writing.
When not writing or grading papers, he spends time with his wife and daughter, works on his collection of old science fiction pulps and tries to be better than a mediocre guitar player.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 26, 2018
** Review of Audio Format **
Tough Lady"
Marie is war widow who just wants to get through her day working as a church secretary. She is still mourning the loss of her husband two years after his death. She is not looking for a good time so she almost says no when her friend Elise asks her to go to a party in the Hollywood hills. Once they get to the party, it is increasingly clear that something isn't quite right. And where has Elise gotten to? This will set Marie on a path to fighting demons and powerful men. But could it also steer her toward a fresh start?
This is set in the 40's directly after WWII was won. It was well plotted and the characters were fully developed. It kept my attention throughout and I was invested in finishing the book to know the outcome for Marie, Tom, Collin and Elise. Although there were some parts that could have been more fleshed out, especially the Father, it was entertaining and definitely a fun listen.
The narration was extremely well done with the tone of the book captured quite well by LC Kane, who gave a good performance for both male and female characters. I would definitely listen to something else by LC Kane. I did listen on 1.5 speed which is my wont.
I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.
Tough Lady"
Marie is war widow who just wants to get through her day working as a church secretary. She is still mourning the loss of her husband two years after his death. She is not looking for a good time so she almost says no when her friend Elise asks her to go to a party in the Hollywood hills. Once they get to the party, it is increasingly clear that something isn't quite right. And where has Elise gotten to? This will set Marie on a path to fighting demons and powerful men. But could it also steer her toward a fresh start?
This is set in the 40's directly after WWII was won. It was well plotted and the characters were fully developed. It kept my attention throughout and I was invested in finishing the book to know the outcome for Marie, Tom, Collin and Elise. Although there were some parts that could have been more fleshed out, especially the Father, it was entertaining and definitely a fun listen.
The narration was extremely well done with the tone of the book captured quite well by LC Kane, who gave a good performance for both male and female characters. I would definitely listen to something else by LC Kane. I did listen on 1.5 speed which is my wont.
I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2018
They are out there and they are looking for you.
Glamor, or at least the hope of it, can be a girl's undoing. It nice to know that a friend can have your back even when it looks to late.
I loved this story. It is for any adult that likes occult reading. Not for kids. It is a bit saucy.
Glamor, or at least the hope of it, can be a girl's undoing. It nice to know that a friend can have your back even when it looks to late.
I loved this story. It is for any adult that likes occult reading. Not for kids. It is a bit saucy.
February 10, 2021
Marie and her friend, Elise, go to a Hollywood magnate's party where they meet who appear to be Hollywood stars. They are actually demons who look like Tyrone Power, Cary Grant, James Cagney, Erroll Flynn. These male demons, incubus, suck the life force out of the women they seduce. Her friend succumbs and goes into a vegetative state. Marie goes on a mission to hunt down all 5 demons.
June 27, 2016
Old Hollywood intermixed with incubi to make a pulp adventure. Our heroine, Marie, is a good woman, widowed in the war, living a quiet life as a church secretary, and reading Weird Tales in magazines, until a friend drags her along to a Hollywood party and changes her life forever. Levesque produced a story that plays on a lot of pulp tropes while still presenting characters sympathetic to a modern reader.
Given that the main baddies in this story are incubi, there is, of course, a fair amount of sex. While I liked the ending very much, parts of the story dragged a bit for me. Marie spends maybe a bit too much time dithering and coming up with a plan before she finally starts fighting, but once she does, the story takes off and flows on to the end. I'd rate this a 3.5 if Goodreads allowed half points.
Given that the main baddies in this story are incubi, there is, of course, a fair amount of sex. While I liked the ending very much, parts of the story dragged a bit for me. Marie spends maybe a bit too much time dithering and coming up with a plan before she finally starts fighting, but once she does, the story takes off and flows on to the end. I'd rate this a 3.5 if Goodreads allowed half points.
July 20, 2016
This was a very entertaining story.LC Kane is great narrating this one. One drunken night at a mansion,a bunch of juvenile rich men summon a demon.Not sure it worked they repeated the curse over and over.Suddenly there are four or more demons,who just happen to look like Hollywood actors of the day.They meet a woman and essentially suck their souls from them,making them seem more like real men.One lady sees what is happening and will go to all ends to stop this.
I was given this book free of charge for an honest review
I was given this book free of charge for an honest review
March 10, 2015
This is a fun story with demons, beautiful girls, and heroes, set in Hollywood just after World War II.
If you like witchcraft stories, or stories set in that particular time period, you'll enjoy it.
As it always is, Richard Levesque's writing is smooth, and easy to read. This one is a light-hearted story, covering some dark ground.
If you like witchcraft stories, or stories set in that particular time period, you'll enjoy it.
As it always is, Richard Levesque's writing is smooth, and easy to read. This one is a light-hearted story, covering some dark ground.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews