The Devil Prayed and Darkness Fell: A Novella

by David Corbett

Phelan Tierney sees his mission in life as coming to the aid of the lost, the broken, the despised. This reputation as the justice system’s St. Jude compels a woman named Marcheline Whalen to seek him out and ask for his help. Her brother — an Iraq War vet — stands accused of killing a cop. Not just any cop – the most widely respected and deeply loved officer on the local force. What Phelan learns, and what he’s obliged to do, will reshape his notions of justice, honor, and compassion forever.

David Corbett is the award-winning, Edgar-nominated author of the writing guide The Art of Character (“A writer’s bible” – Elizabeth Brundage) and five novels – including 2015’s The Mercy of the Night (Starred Review, Booklist) and Done for a Dime (a New York Times Notable Book), which was described by Patrick Anderson of the Washington Post as “one of the three or four best American crime novels I’ve ever read.” John Lescroart remarked, “The line runs through Ernest Hemingway and Graham Greene straight on to David Corbett. I'm not kidding. He's that good.” His short fiction has twice appeared in Best American Mystery Stories, and his non-fiction has appeared in the New York Times, Narrative, Writer’s Digest, Bright Ideas, MovieMaker, and numerous other outlets. www.davidcorbett.com

Cover Design by David Drummond.

79 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 5, 2015

About the author

David Corbett is the author of seven novels: The Devil’s Redhead (nominated for the Anthony and Barry Awards for Best First Novel) Done for a Dime (a New York Times Notable Book and nominated for the Macavity Award for Best Novel), Blood of Paradise (nominated for numerous awards, including the Edgar), Do They Know I’m Running (Spinetingler Award, Best Novel—Rising Star Category 2011), The Mercy of the Night, The Long-Lost Love Letters of Doc Holliday (nominated for the Lefty Award for Best Historical Mystery), and The Truth Against the World (June, 2023).

David’s short fiction and poetry have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, with two stories selected for Best American Mystery Stories.

In 2012, Mysterious Press/Open Road Media re-issued his four novels plus a story collection, Thirteen Confessions, in ebook format.

In January 2013 Penguin published his textbook on the craft of characterization, The Art of Character (“A writer’s bible that will lead to your character’s soul.” —Elizabeth Brundage). he followed this up with The Compass of Character (Writers Digest Books).

He has taught creative writing at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Project, Chuck Pahalniuk’s Litreactor, 826 Valencia, The Grotto in San Francisco, Book Passage, and at writing conference across the country. He is also a monthly contributor to Writer Unboxed, an award-winning blog dedicated to the craft and business of fiction.

Before becoming a novelist, David spent fifteen years as an investigator for the San Francisco private detective agency Palladino & Sutherland, working on such high-profile civil and criminal litigations as The DeLorean Case, the Peoples Temple Trial, the Lincoln Savings & Loan Scandal, the Cotton Club Murder Case, the Michael Jackson child molestation investigation and a RICO action brought by the Teamsters against members of organized crime.

Reviews

[Still · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sequel to Mercy Of The Night featuring one of the male protagonists as well as cameos by other major characters from that novel.
This is as the title above states a "novella". It's not a long read but I took my time with it. It's beautifully written as everyhing I've read by David Corbett has been.

An investigator employed by a law firm has been approached by the sister of a cop killer who begs him for assistance in the defense of her brother. There is never any doubt that her brother actually did murder a police officer but there may be extenuating circumstances at play.

"They said you had a special kinda concern for people who've used up all their chances."

During his investigation, the detective learns that the cop killer did a hellish tour of duty in Iraq and witnessed atrocities. He also committed a few.

As a "psych counselor" at a local Veteran's Administration hospital tells the investigator:

"The point I'm trying to make", he said, "is that to understand moral injury, you have to put yourself in the shoes of someone who went over there with basic assumptions that the world is meaningful, the self is worth. Then something happens. Something so horrific and pointless and wrong, something so offensive to your conscience, so contrary to your idea of what life is about that your deepest sense of who you are and what it means to live your life is shattered. Things turn dark and stay that way. The rules of gravity no longer apply, nothing feels true. You lose faith - in the people you're there to help, the mission, your commanders, your country, the folks back home you went there protect. Human nature in general."

The story of the cop killer's tour of duty is mostly related in an interview conducted by the detective of a member of the unit the murderer served with. These are gripping battlefield tales that make this an action packed, compassionate and thought provoking read.

One of Corbett's best.

[Lony Neubauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great book by David Corbett, fast pace with details! The author does a great job with a mind blowing account of a horrible combat battle in Iraq, which the murder suspect shares with PI Phelan Tierney, who works on the case Pro-Bono, investigating the killing of a local cop.

[Allison A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great follow on to Mercy of the Night.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first David Corbett I've read and now I want to read all the rest. Powerful novella about moral wounds and affliction, wounds of shame.

I'd like to say from that point it got easier. But just because a man discovers there might be a way out of hell doesn't mean he sees much point in leaving.

[Justin Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet. An enjoyable, if heavy, quick read.