What do you think?
Rate this book
Hudson and Connolly #2
The Devil has Power
Librarian’s note: This is a previously-published edition of
Kindle ASIN: B0119RT0LC.
After Bath, Nicola is planning a quieter life in Falmouth. She still needs to kill, of course, that isn't going to change. Finding a measure of contentment in the stunning penthouse apartment she has rented, she figures out a way to stay in it, radically changing herself in the process. It involves killing someone, and getting married. But neither is a problem for Nicola. Everything falls into place for her until she bumps into Tom Hudson, newly promoted to detective inspector and now working in Falmouth. Nicola doesn't want to become involved with the police again, Tom, still reeling from the events in Bath, doesn't want her to either. But when a woman goes missing, and Tom is convinced she isn’t the first, he has no choice but to ask for Nicola’s help. Can they work together to solve yet another case?
Kindle ASIN: B0119RT0LC.
After Bath, Nicola is planning a quieter life in Falmouth. She still needs to kill, of course, that isn't going to change. Finding a measure of contentment in the stunning penthouse apartment she has rented, she figures out a way to stay in it, radically changing herself in the process. It involves killing someone, and getting married. But neither is a problem for Nicola. Everything falls into place for her until she bumps into Tom Hudson, newly promoted to detective inspector and now working in Falmouth. Nicola doesn't want to become involved with the police again, Tom, still reeling from the events in Bath, doesn't want her to either. But when a woman goes missing, and Tom is convinced she isn’t the first, he has no choice but to ask for Nicola’s help. Can they work together to solve yet another case?
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2015
About the author
Valerie Keogh
50 books880 followersValerie started to write several years ago. She self-published eight crime novels and one psychological thriller before signing a two book contract with Bookouture in March 2018. The first of these, Secrets Between Us, is available now and the second is due in Feb 2019. She is a registered nurse with a degree in English and a Masters in American Literature. Recently she has given up nursing to concentrate on her writing career.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 17, 2020
Excellent read
Another fantastic story, very well written and enjoyable. A bit of editing is needed though as there were multiple typos and grammatical errors.
Another fantastic story, very well written and enjoyable. A bit of editing is needed though as there were multiple typos and grammatical errors.
November 16, 2022
Just brilliant again ……
Such a clever story again by Valerie - I did guess who the perpetrator was just before it became apparent but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story one bit and so clever to bring Sean in on the case. Beyond brilliant and I’m off to start the next book in this series! Can’t recommend this author highly enough!
Such a clever story again by Valerie - I did guess who the perpetrator was just before it became apparent but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story one bit and so clever to bring Sean in on the case. Beyond brilliant and I’m off to start the next book in this series! Can’t recommend this author highly enough!
November 12, 2023
An exceptional book and a unique fast paced series
I have absolutely loved all of Valerie Keogh's books so far! Her thrillers are unique, fast paced, and filled with lots of unexpected twists. The wit and humour throughout makes them extra fun to read. This series has had me reading raptly and I'm looking forward to reading all Valerie's other books.
I have absolutely loved all of Valerie Keogh's books so far! Her thrillers are unique, fast paced, and filled with lots of unexpected twists. The wit and humour throughout makes them extra fun to read. This series has had me reading raptly and I'm looking forward to reading all Valerie's other books.
May 23, 2021
Tom and Lisa
Another 5 STAR review for valerie Tom and Lisa working on missing girls and Tom had to enlist the help once again of nicola, this is a really fantastic book valerie gets the right amount of mystery in her books loved this book 5 STARS
Another 5 STAR review for valerie Tom and Lisa working on missing girls and Tom had to enlist the help once again of nicola, this is a really fantastic book valerie gets the right amount of mystery in her books loved this book 5 STARS
September 7, 2020
Really enjoyed this book. Now going back to read the ones in front.
June 26, 2021
Another great story
Back with the characters from the first book for another gripping story. Am really liking this authors work. Am looking forward to reading the next in the series
Back with the characters from the first book for another gripping story. Am really liking this authors work. Am looking forward to reading the next in the series
November 17, 2021
What a twist!!
Another great read! Nicola is so evil but I love the character
Great twist didn’t see that one at all!!
Can’t wait for the next in the series!
Another great read! Nicola is so evil but I love the character
Great twist didn’t see that one at all!!
Can’t wait for the next in the series!
February 26, 2023
Didn't expect the who dunnit
Second book in the series...
Never guessed who the baddie was and was shocked when it was revealed.
Would recommended, off to start book 3
Second book in the series...
Never guessed who the baddie was and was shocked when it was revealed.
Would recommended, off to start book 3
January 1, 2024
Loving Nicola.
March 22, 2024
Blooming Brilliant
I so enjoy Valerie Keogh's books, this being another!
I highly recommend it. Great police procedures, characters especially Tom. Looking forward to the next one.
I so enjoy Valerie Keogh's books, this being another!
I highly recommend it. Great police procedures, characters especially Tom. Looking forward to the next one.
March 21, 2016
I have not read the first book in this series, Deadly Sleep, but that didn’t keep me from enjoying this story. Through short flashbacks and conversations of the characters, I was able to understand what happened in the “Picasso” case.
Newly promoted D. I. Hudson moves to Falmouth to start anew, hoping to forget all that happened in Bath. He also wants to forget Nicola Connolly, the strange and unsettling woman that helped solve the case. Everything seems to be going well at first but Hudson comes across two cold cases involving two missing young women. Soon after a third young woman goes missing and he can’t help but think that the three disappearances are connected.
Nicola Connolly is also living in Falmouth, and just like D.I. Hudson, wants to start someplace new, where no one knows her. After some careful planning and self-sacrifice (so to speak) she has succeeded in becoming a wealthy woman. For once in her life she feels contentment. When Hudson and partner, Sean White, come knocking on her door she knows they are going to ask for her help and she doesn’t want to give it.
As in the first story, Nicola has a connection with the abductor and she sees the horrific things he does to his victims. She wants the visions to end but she doesn’t want to involve the police. At first she does her own detective work and hopes to take care of the perpetrator herself. When she realizes she cannot kill him, she has to tell all to D.I. Hudson. After the villain is behind bars, Nicola finds (to her great surprise) that a small part of her feels satisfaction in knowing that Hudson needed her help.
Another reviewer called Nicola an anti-hero, and she definitely is that. I have not read a character like her before. She is dark character and obviously very disturbed; she kills for pleasure. You never know what to expect from Nicola, and perhaps, that is part of her attraction.
This is the fourth book I have read by Valerie Keogh. Her writing style is very pleasant. It flows easily, is not overly descriptive, and I always learn a few new vocabulary words.
Looking forward to Valerie Keogh’s next.
Newly promoted D. I. Hudson moves to Falmouth to start anew, hoping to forget all that happened in Bath. He also wants to forget Nicola Connolly, the strange and unsettling woman that helped solve the case. Everything seems to be going well at first but Hudson comes across two cold cases involving two missing young women. Soon after a third young woman goes missing and he can’t help but think that the three disappearances are connected.
Nicola Connolly is also living in Falmouth, and just like D.I. Hudson, wants to start someplace new, where no one knows her. After some careful planning and self-sacrifice (so to speak) she has succeeded in becoming a wealthy woman. For once in her life she feels contentment. When Hudson and partner, Sean White, come knocking on her door she knows they are going to ask for her help and she doesn’t want to give it.
As in the first story, Nicola has a connection with the abductor and she sees the horrific things he does to his victims. She wants the visions to end but she doesn’t want to involve the police. At first she does her own detective work and hopes to take care of the perpetrator herself. When she realizes she cannot kill him, she has to tell all to D.I. Hudson. After the villain is behind bars, Nicola finds (to her great surprise) that a small part of her feels satisfaction in knowing that Hudson needed her help.
Another reviewer called Nicola an anti-hero, and she definitely is that. I have not read a character like her before. She is dark character and obviously very disturbed; she kills for pleasure. You never know what to expect from Nicola, and perhaps, that is part of her attraction.
This is the fourth book I have read by Valerie Keogh. Her writing style is very pleasant. It flows easily, is not overly descriptive, and I always learn a few new vocabulary words.
Looking forward to Valerie Keogh’s next.
January 15, 2016
I only read this book because I had read the first one and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I really enjoyed the first book but didn’t want this one to be a let-down. I loved it and I think it was even better than the first. Tom is a great character and I think he works better in the story than Matt.
What amazed me was the first half of the book follows their lives. It’s constantly building up to the main event but it doesn’t feel dragged out. I loved getting to know Nicola a bit more and I loved her scheming. It was fascinating being inside her head and I think Keogh has really got Nicola’s psychopathy down to a T.
I found I couldn’t put this down and the way we jump from one character to another is great. It pushes the story along and a good pace without leaving the reader behind. I also loved how at the most crucial point, when you’re desperate to find out what happens, Keogh changes viewpoint and we can’t help but sit on the edge of our seats.
I really enjoyed this book and found myself swept up into the lives of the characters. I think the crime and the general storyline worked much better than the first book and I also admired Keogh’s capability of laying the foundations of the story at the beginning. I think that the key to success in this story was Keogh’s more simplistic approach to the narrative. The story itself is much less complicated than the previous novel and I think it works better.
I really enjoyed this book, and I know there’s a third in the pipeline – I can’t wait to read it!
What amazed me was the first half of the book follows their lives. It’s constantly building up to the main event but it doesn’t feel dragged out. I loved getting to know Nicola a bit more and I loved her scheming. It was fascinating being inside her head and I think Keogh has really got Nicola’s psychopathy down to a T.
I found I couldn’t put this down and the way we jump from one character to another is great. It pushes the story along and a good pace without leaving the reader behind. I also loved how at the most crucial point, when you’re desperate to find out what happens, Keogh changes viewpoint and we can’t help but sit on the edge of our seats.
I really enjoyed this book and found myself swept up into the lives of the characters. I think the crime and the general storyline worked much better than the first book and I also admired Keogh’s capability of laying the foundations of the story at the beginning. I think that the key to success in this story was Keogh’s more simplistic approach to the narrative. The story itself is much less complicated than the previous novel and I think it works better.
I really enjoyed this book, and I know there’s a third in the pipeline – I can’t wait to read it!
September 3, 2015
This is a second book from Valerie Keogh that I read. I loved it.
Enjoyed it till the end, it didn't matter that I...
all righty then...
you just will have to read it to see who 'the other evil' was.
Enjoyed it till the end, it didn't matter that I...
all righty then...
you just will have to read it to see who 'the other evil' was.
August 3, 2015
A true anti-hero is Nicola. But oh, what an exciting character - definitely unpredictable. A great read.
October 9, 2015
Full of intrigue! And the cover is just so interesting. I've read her other books and Valerie Keogh is still my favourite author.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews