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Devereaux Chronicles #1
Devil's Bait: Book 1 of the Devereaux Chronicles
In this first book of the Devereaux Chronicles, we meet Emma Draper, whose life is about to change in every way imaginable. Moving with her husband and children to a new home is just the beginning. The supernatural occurrences in the old house begin on the very first day, but the reality of the situation takes time for Emma to understand and accept. Her sanity is challenged when she cannot convince her husband that these eerie happenings are actually taking place and Emma even begins to doubt them herself, until the danger becomes very real and her children’s lives are now at stake. Emma’s love and loyalty are tested as her relationship with her husband continues to disintegrate and she is left to handle the dangerous situation on her own. Even more trouble comes her way when two brothers arrive to help her get rid of the dangerous entities that have taken over her home. Emma must find the courage and resolve within herself to join them as they do battle with the ghosts and demons. But, if they succeed in surviving the evil residing in the house and are able to make it safe once again, will Emma be able to disregard the feelings she now has for one of the brothers and put her children first, giving up her own happiness in return?
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2017
2 people are currently reading
702 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Boek
11 books17 followersDebbie Boek is an independent author who lives in upstate New York. Her most recent novel, Maelstrom, is a suspenseful thriller which takes place in the last decade of the 19th century.
She has published four historical romance novels, If Not For The Knight, When the Knight Falls, Winter’s Knight and Sommers’ Folly.
Debbie has also published five books in the Devereaux Chronicles series, Devil’s Bait, Devil’s Retribution, Devil’s Gathering, Devil’s Veil and Devil’s Jubilee. They are supernatural thrillers where ghosts, demons, witches, and even Bigfoot come to visit.
Devil’s Bait, as well as all three books in the Knights Are Forever series have also been released as audiobooks.
For more information, please check out her website at debbieboek.com
She has published four historical romance novels, If Not For The Knight, When the Knight Falls, Winter’s Knight and Sommers’ Folly.
Debbie has also published five books in the Devereaux Chronicles series, Devil’s Bait, Devil’s Retribution, Devil’s Gathering, Devil’s Veil and Devil’s Jubilee. They are supernatural thrillers where ghosts, demons, witches, and even Bigfoot come to visit.
Devil’s Bait, as well as all three books in the Knights Are Forever series have also been released as audiobooks.
For more information, please check out her website at debbieboek.com
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 19, 2022
Haunting Horrors!
Backstory:
Emma Draper along with her husband and three children move into a new home out in the country. Not too long after moving in, things start happening in their home that is unexplained, along with some physical attacks from an unseen force. The events mostly happen to her and the children, but nothing happens to her husband and he seems to think that it is all in Emma's mind. He believes that the house is just settling along with the moans and groans of an old house.
Lights flicker off and on in the house, cupboards open and close on their own, doors open and slam shut through the house, cold drafts of air waft over the family, but the story really starts to ratchet up when the electricity goes off and they send for an electrician to fix the problem. Something ends up happening to him and Emma decides that she needs to find help for the problems in the house. She makes friends with a new neighbor across the street who helps her decide about having someone come out to check out the house, like maybe a medium.
Emma decides to get a medium involved but that doesn't help as whatever force is inside the house is beyond the capabilities of the medium, so Emma enlists the help of two brothers (Tim and Scott Devereaux) who are a paranormal team and when the brothers become involved, then things start really heating up in the house. Emma also starts having problems with her marriage and her husband decides not to stay with her as he would rather stay in the city to be close to his job. Though with her husband gone, the house becomes even more active which puts her and the children in even more danger.
Does Emma and her children escape the clutches of the entities in the house? Are the Devereaux brothers able to help Emma and her children with the evil entities in the house?
No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book to find out what happens!
Thoughts:
This is my second reread of this book as there are five books in this series and I am wanting to read the whole series now. Though the series is initially about the Devereaux brothers and each book is different as they go on ghost hunts.
This book though was one scary haunted house story and when I read it years ago the book scared me enough to leave the lights on as there is plenty of demon/ghost activity within this story and the book reminds me of the tv show "Supernatural" but with more of a twist.
There is a little bit of romance in the book, but nothing to deter from the haunting as it continues throughout most of the book. The characters are very believable and it was very easy to get attached to them along with their situations of what they were enduring.
Once again I was entrenched with this book and found my insomnia being fueled a few nights as I made my way through the story. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series to see what the Devereaux brothers find themselves wrapped up in next. Giving this book five "Scary Demon" stars!
Backstory:
Emma Draper along with her husband and three children move into a new home out in the country. Not too long after moving in, things start happening in their home that is unexplained, along with some physical attacks from an unseen force. The events mostly happen to her and the children, but nothing happens to her husband and he seems to think that it is all in Emma's mind. He believes that the house is just settling along with the moans and groans of an old house.
Lights flicker off and on in the house, cupboards open and close on their own, doors open and slam shut through the house, cold drafts of air waft over the family, but the story really starts to ratchet up when the electricity goes off and they send for an electrician to fix the problem. Something ends up happening to him and Emma decides that she needs to find help for the problems in the house. She makes friends with a new neighbor across the street who helps her decide about having someone come out to check out the house, like maybe a medium.
Emma decides to get a medium involved but that doesn't help as whatever force is inside the house is beyond the capabilities of the medium, so Emma enlists the help of two brothers (Tim and Scott Devereaux) who are a paranormal team and when the brothers become involved, then things start really heating up in the house. Emma also starts having problems with her marriage and her husband decides not to stay with her as he would rather stay in the city to be close to his job. Though with her husband gone, the house becomes even more active which puts her and the children in even more danger.
Does Emma and her children escape the clutches of the entities in the house? Are the Devereaux brothers able to help Emma and her children with the evil entities in the house?
No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book to find out what happens!
Thoughts:
This is my second reread of this book as there are five books in this series and I am wanting to read the whole series now. Though the series is initially about the Devereaux brothers and each book is different as they go on ghost hunts.
This book though was one scary haunted house story and when I read it years ago the book scared me enough to leave the lights on as there is plenty of demon/ghost activity within this story and the book reminds me of the tv show "Supernatural" but with more of a twist.
There is a little bit of romance in the book, but nothing to deter from the haunting as it continues throughout most of the book. The characters are very believable and it was very easy to get attached to them along with their situations of what they were enduring.
Once again I was entrenched with this book and found my insomnia being fueled a few nights as I made my way through the story. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series to see what the Devereaux brothers find themselves wrapped up in next. Giving this book five "Scary Demon" stars!
September 9, 2018
Supernatural
Not to be too cliché about linking books, but this is really Amityville Horror meets Supernatural. It is a book of 2 parts, the horror part, and the demon-busting, love interest, drama part.
Emma and Jeremy Draper have just bought their dream house in a rural town, just beyond the commuter belt, so Jeremy needs to take an apartment in the city during his working week. They have 2 young boys, Collin and James, and a 17-year-old girl Shelly, who is not impressed being moved from all her friends in the city.
As Emma starts unpacking and placing items around the house she starts questioning herself when they’re found in other places and wondering if others have moved them. The interweaving of house-move commotion and unusual happenings is very well captured and it gradually ramps up the tension and suspense, as the family start to realise that something just isn’t right. A dark, paranormal atmosphere starts to descend on the story and the family begin noticing that ethereal presence, the disgusting smells, the sound of footsteps, the cold draught, and then the movement of objects and doors. With Jeremy in the city most of the week, he believes it to be an overactive imagination mixed with coincidence. This build-up of tension is very well delivered as we move towards an emotional explosion of anger, despair and fear. Jeremy is eventually convinced to hire paranormal investigators when an incident causes him to start believing.
I loved both parts of the story as they were very well written and the gradual development of the paranormal forces was extremely well done. It did, however, feel disjointed, not from the storyline perspective, but from the mood and atmosphere, as there was a shift from horror to dramatic suspense. In horror stories, if you let the reader off the hook, the taut hold of terror is relaxed and the impact is gone.
I would like to thank Debbie Boek for providing me with a copy of Devil’s Bait in return for an honest review.
Not to be too cliché about linking books, but this is really Amityville Horror meets Supernatural. It is a book of 2 parts, the horror part, and the demon-busting, love interest, drama part.
Emma and Jeremy Draper have just bought their dream house in a rural town, just beyond the commuter belt, so Jeremy needs to take an apartment in the city during his working week. They have 2 young boys, Collin and James, and a 17-year-old girl Shelly, who is not impressed being moved from all her friends in the city.
As Emma starts unpacking and placing items around the house she starts questioning herself when they’re found in other places and wondering if others have moved them. The interweaving of house-move commotion and unusual happenings is very well captured and it gradually ramps up the tension and suspense, as the family start to realise that something just isn’t right. A dark, paranormal atmosphere starts to descend on the story and the family begin noticing that ethereal presence, the disgusting smells, the sound of footsteps, the cold draught, and then the movement of objects and doors. With Jeremy in the city most of the week, he believes it to be an overactive imagination mixed with coincidence. This build-up of tension is very well delivered as we move towards an emotional explosion of anger, despair and fear. Jeremy is eventually convinced to hire paranormal investigators when an incident causes him to start believing.
I loved both parts of the story as they were very well written and the gradual development of the paranormal forces was extremely well done. It did, however, feel disjointed, not from the storyline perspective, but from the mood and atmosphere, as there was a shift from horror to dramatic suspense. In horror stories, if you let the reader off the hook, the taut hold of terror is relaxed and the impact is gone.
I would like to thank Debbie Boek for providing me with a copy of Devil’s Bait in return for an honest review.
July 17, 2018
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Do you like things that go bump in the night? Have you ever felt an unexplainable touch that sent the hairs on your neck on full alert? Maybe you just moved and the new place has unfamiliar creaks and groans…Welcome to DEVIL’S BAIT by Debbie Boek where one old house may have more than just architectural character and the new owners may not be the only occupants.
For Emma and her family, this seemed like a good move. Sure, the house needed a lot of work, but it was far safer to raise a family in the country than in the big city, right? She never expected she would be calling anyone to rid her home of the evil that resides within.
Debbie Boek does a marvelous job of creating a dark and ominous atmosphere for evil in the haunted house that Emma’s family has moved into. Needing the services of more than one “paranormal exterminator” was an even better twist, but she doesn’t stop there.
The tension is ratcheted up when Emma discovers her marriage is in big trouble. It’s almost like getting two stories in one, until even Emma finds a love interest outside of her marital bond.
A taut thriller, an okay romance. I was all on board, waiting for both subplots to evolve, but they weren’t equally developed. The romance felt out of place for me, even the whole marriage on the rocks thing. Surely, I was selfishly wanting one plus the other in equal measures, or maybe just a five-star thriller, which I did get! For me, the romance felt like an add on that didn’t quite fit.
I received a complimentary copy from BooksGoSocial!
Publication Date: July 14, 2017
Publisher: Wolf Rider Publishing
Genre: Horror | Thriller
Print Length: 243 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Do you like things that go bump in the night? Have you ever felt an unexplainable touch that sent the hairs on your neck on full alert? Maybe you just moved and the new place has unfamiliar creaks and groans…Welcome to DEVIL’S BAIT by Debbie Boek where one old house may have more than just architectural character and the new owners may not be the only occupants.
For Emma and her family, this seemed like a good move. Sure, the house needed a lot of work, but it was far safer to raise a family in the country than in the big city, right? She never expected she would be calling anyone to rid her home of the evil that resides within.
Debbie Boek does a marvelous job of creating a dark and ominous atmosphere for evil in the haunted house that Emma’s family has moved into. Needing the services of more than one “paranormal exterminator” was an even better twist, but she doesn’t stop there.
The tension is ratcheted up when Emma discovers her marriage is in big trouble. It’s almost like getting two stories in one, until even Emma finds a love interest outside of her marital bond.
A taut thriller, an okay romance. I was all on board, waiting for both subplots to evolve, but they weren’t equally developed. The romance felt out of place for me, even the whole marriage on the rocks thing. Surely, I was selfishly wanting one plus the other in equal measures, or maybe just a five-star thriller, which I did get! For me, the romance felt like an add on that didn’t quite fit.
I received a complimentary copy from BooksGoSocial!
Publication Date: July 14, 2017
Publisher: Wolf Rider Publishing
Genre: Horror | Thriller
Print Length: 243 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 14, 2018
As haunted house stories go this was good! Spooky with a hint of romance, it started off like The Conjuring then turned into Supernatural fan fiction.
I really enjoyed this, it had the right level of spookiness to keep me intrigued. The romance is the only part that didn't feel entirely believable. The ending my what I expected at all and I'll have to get the second one in the series now.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I really enjoyed this, it had the right level of spookiness to keep me intrigued. The romance is the only part that didn't feel entirely believable. The ending my what I expected at all and I'll have to get the second one in the series now.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
November 26, 2019
I think I have found myself a new author. I absolutely and thoroughly enjoyed the way this book flowed . Dean Koontz, step back! Debbie Boek is here to stay. Can't wait to read the next book of hers!
October 6, 2018
Fun read. Sort of a Supernatural meets Poltergeist vibe.
September 5, 2018
Emma wanted to move her family away from the city and so buys a house in the country. Right from the start though, things start to happen, unexplainable things, and Emma realises that something is wrong with the house. Her husband doesn't believe her because he has to live in the city during the week for work and only comes home on the weekend and he hasn't seen anything. But when his kids are put into danger, he has no choice but to believe his wife and so they call on a medium. This woman tells them their house is inhabited by a lot of malevolent spirits and she will do her best to help clear them off, but she isn't able to. Emma's last hope is two brothers who claim to be able to fight the Supernatural and who are willing to help her.
This book was awesome!! It was like an episode of my absolute favorite show, Supernatural!! We start we Emma, who is such a great character. She is strong, brave and a badass really. When the mysterious things happen, instead of hiding in a corner cowering, which is probably something I'd do, though I'd probably be gone from the house at the first hint of anything spooky, she does what she needs to do to keep herself and her family safe. Something happens about half way through the story that is a real show of character for Emma, she finds out some secrets that are being kept from her, and she does the right thing (I know I'm being vague but I don't want to spoil anything), it just made me like her more!
This part of the book was so good, it was atmospheric, spooky and the build up was amazing, then the brothers enter and it felt like I was reading a Supernatural fan fic book, which is totally awesome by the way!! The boys come and things start getting answered and spirits start getting their butt kicked and I loved it!!. I actually didn't realise that this series is focused on the boys because Emmas story was front and center nearly the whole way through. I am so looking forward to more from the boys!!!
In all, this was a great read. Al the characters were well written and developed and I found myself immersed in their story. My heart went out to Emma and her family and then my heart sang when the brothers came because they are awesome. I so need the second one right now!!
I received this from Netgalley and have voluntarily left this review. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
This book was awesome!! It was like an episode of my absolute favorite show, Supernatural!! We start we Emma, who is such a great character. She is strong, brave and a badass really. When the mysterious things happen, instead of hiding in a corner cowering, which is probably something I'd do, though I'd probably be gone from the house at the first hint of anything spooky, she does what she needs to do to keep herself and her family safe. Something happens about half way through the story that is a real show of character for Emma, she finds out some secrets that are being kept from her, and she does the right thing (I know I'm being vague but I don't want to spoil anything), it just made me like her more!
This part of the book was so good, it was atmospheric, spooky and the build up was amazing, then the brothers enter and it felt like I was reading a Supernatural fan fic book, which is totally awesome by the way!! The boys come and things start getting answered and spirits start getting their butt kicked and I loved it!!. I actually didn't realise that this series is focused on the boys because Emmas story was front and center nearly the whole way through. I am so looking forward to more from the boys!!!
In all, this was a great read. Al the characters were well written and developed and I found myself immersed in their story. My heart went out to Emma and her family and then my heart sang when the brothers came because they are awesome. I so need the second one right now!!
I received this from Netgalley and have voluntarily left this review. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
September 8, 2018
Jeremy and Emma Draper with their children move into a home in the country. Jeremy will spend the workweek living in an apartment near his work. He will be home on the weekends. Soon Emma starts to experience things that aren’t normal. Unfortunately, her husband does not so is not convinced that anything strange is happening. When she finds out that the kids are seeing ghosts, she decides to call in a medium for help. Unfortunately, the medium has some difficulties with getting the ghosts out of the house. Why? When two brothers (not related to the Drapers) come and offer to help Emma, her husband becomes suspicious. Even with the brothers help, Emma is forced to take the children to her husband’s apartment. When she arrives, she is surprised by what she finds in the apartment. What is it? Will the haunted house ever lose its ghosts and/or demons?
While reading this book, I became so involved with the story and characters that I was annoyed whenever I had to stop reading in order to do other things. Who cares about household chores when you’re reading a book that has you in “its” control? I had to know What was going to happen next! This is a ghost and horror novel. It is not violent or gruesome but it is scarey. I enjoyed this book very much. The author has written an excellent novel.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
While reading this book, I became so involved with the story and characters that I was annoyed whenever I had to stop reading in order to do other things. Who cares about household chores when you’re reading a book that has you in “its” control? I had to know What was going to happen next! This is a ghost and horror novel. It is not violent or gruesome but it is scarey. I enjoyed this book very much. The author has written an excellent novel.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
November 15, 2019
Wow! This book is awesome to sum it up. It kept me reading one more and another more chapters in it. I had to do things in life, but when I had time to read it, I stayed hooked. It has some romance, I'm not so keen on romance, but the story kept me from doing some things. This is a brilliant start to a series and I definitely recommend this book if you like scary stories. I was reading and when I heard noises around my house, I got a little freaked out; especially when my kitty also reacted to the noises.
July 25, 2018
A good mix of the supernatural and a romance story. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to fans of paranormal fantasy.
December 13, 2018
(Review in English + Reseña en Español)
Devil's Bait is a novel that flirts successfully between the most classic paranormal terror and romance.
The story revolves around a housewife worried about saving her family from a threat of paranormal origin while she is faced with the difficult task of achieving true balance between the stability of her family and her own happiness.
Emma is a housewife with strong values, a lot of love for her family and a broad sense of duty. A series of paranormal events steals the tranquility from her hands and turns her life into an unstable and complicated substance, forcing her to put into perspective many things that she once took for granted. Scott Devereaux (and his brother Tim), experts in paranormal cases, enter very fortunately into her life to help her with the paranormal issue, and to turn some other things of her life upside down.
Debbie Boek uses a plain, current and direct language, in addition to being very effective. The story unfolds with a very good rhythm under the logics of its genre, and although in its first chapters I found it to be somehow common (I felt for some pages that I was reading the script of an average American paranormal horror movie), I found the inclusion of romance as an element which gains prominence little by littleto be great and I think that it saves this project with a lot of style. The novel is structurally very well written. I have not found loose ends, out of place details or narrative excesses. Each event serves the story. The reading becomes very pleasant and with an excellent rhythm.
Even though for years I have not found a horror story that terrifies me (maybe due to the overexploitation of the genre, which makes it hard not to fall into clichés, or maybe because the paranormal subject has long since lost credibility in me), Devil's Bait has been an agile and entertaining story.
I definitely appreciate that subtle but consistent gear change that makes possible such a mixture of genres throughout history, one that manages to make a good hybrid between classic terror and a special kind of well thought out and excellently exposed adult romance.
I recommend this novel to those lovers of the typical supernatural terror who are looking for well-written characters and romance with logic. Thanks to Debbie Boek for having written this story!
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Devil's Bait es una novela que coquetea con éxito entre el terror paranormal más clásico y el romance.
La historia gira alrededor de una madre de familia y ama de casa preocupada por salvar a su familia de una amenaza de origen paranormal, y al mismo tiempo enfrentada a la difícil tarea de lograr el equilibrio entre la estabilidad su familia y su propia felicidad.
Emma es un ama de casa con valores fuertes, mucho amor por su familia y un amplio sentido del deber. Una serie de eventos paranormales le roba de sus manos la tranquilidad y torna su vida en una sustancia inestable y complicada, obligándola a poner en perspectiva muchas cosas que antes daba por sentadas. Scott Devereaux (y su hermano Tim), expertos en casos paranormales, entran de manera afortunada en su vida para ayudarla con el asunto paranormal, y para poner de cabeza algunas otras cosas.
Debbie Boek utiliza un lenguaje llano, actual y directo, además de muy efectivo. La historia se desarrolla con muy buen ritmo bajo la lógica propia de su género, y aunque en sus primeros capítulos me ha parecido poco original (sentí que leía el guión de una película de terror paranormal norteamericano promedio), la inclusión del romance como un elemento que gana protagonismo poco a poco me ha parecido genial y creo que salva a este proyecto con mucho estilo. La novela está estructuralmente muy bien escrita. No he encontrado cabos sueltos, detalles fuera de lugar ni excesos narrativos. Cada suceso sirve a la historia, la lectura es muy amena y con un excelente ritmo.
A pesar de que hace años que no encuentro una historia de terror paranormal que me aterrorice (quizá debido a la sobreexplotación del género y a que es difícil caer en clichés, o quizá debido a que hace mucho que lo paranormal perdió credibilidad en mí), Devil's Bait me ha parecido una historia ágil y entretenida.
Definitivamente agradezco ese cambio de engranes sutil pero consistente que hace posible tal mezcla de géneros a lo largo de la historia, y que logra conformar un buen híbrido entre el terror clásico y un tipo de romance adulto, bien pensado y excelentemente planteado.
Recomiendo esta novela a aquellos amantes del terror sobrenatural típico que estén buscando personajes bien escritos y romance con lógica. ¡Gracias a Debbie Boek por haber escrito esta historia!
Devil's Bait is a novel that flirts successfully between the most classic paranormal terror and romance.
The story revolves around a housewife worried about saving her family from a threat of paranormal origin while she is faced with the difficult task of achieving true balance between the stability of her family and her own happiness.
Emma is a housewife with strong values, a lot of love for her family and a broad sense of duty. A series of paranormal events steals the tranquility from her hands and turns her life into an unstable and complicated substance, forcing her to put into perspective many things that she once took for granted. Scott Devereaux (and his brother Tim), experts in paranormal cases, enter very fortunately into her life to help her with the paranormal issue, and to turn some other things of her life upside down.
Debbie Boek uses a plain, current and direct language, in addition to being very effective. The story unfolds with a very good rhythm under the logics of its genre, and although in its first chapters I found it to be somehow common (I felt for some pages that I was reading the script of an average American paranormal horror movie), I found the inclusion of romance as an element which gains prominence little by littleto be great and I think that it saves this project with a lot of style. The novel is structurally very well written. I have not found loose ends, out of place details or narrative excesses. Each event serves the story. The reading becomes very pleasant and with an excellent rhythm.
Even though for years I have not found a horror story that terrifies me (maybe due to the overexploitation of the genre, which makes it hard not to fall into clichés, or maybe because the paranormal subject has long since lost credibility in me), Devil's Bait has been an agile and entertaining story.
I definitely appreciate that subtle but consistent gear change that makes possible such a mixture of genres throughout history, one that manages to make a good hybrid between classic terror and a special kind of well thought out and excellently exposed adult romance.
I recommend this novel to those lovers of the typical supernatural terror who are looking for well-written characters and romance with logic. Thanks to Debbie Boek for having written this story!
-----
Devil's Bait es una novela que coquetea con éxito entre el terror paranormal más clásico y el romance.
La historia gira alrededor de una madre de familia y ama de casa preocupada por salvar a su familia de una amenaza de origen paranormal, y al mismo tiempo enfrentada a la difícil tarea de lograr el equilibrio entre la estabilidad su familia y su propia felicidad.
Emma es un ama de casa con valores fuertes, mucho amor por su familia y un amplio sentido del deber. Una serie de eventos paranormales le roba de sus manos la tranquilidad y torna su vida en una sustancia inestable y complicada, obligándola a poner en perspectiva muchas cosas que antes daba por sentadas. Scott Devereaux (y su hermano Tim), expertos en casos paranormales, entran de manera afortunada en su vida para ayudarla con el asunto paranormal, y para poner de cabeza algunas otras cosas.
Debbie Boek utiliza un lenguaje llano, actual y directo, además de muy efectivo. La historia se desarrolla con muy buen ritmo bajo la lógica propia de su género, y aunque en sus primeros capítulos me ha parecido poco original (sentí que leía el guión de una película de terror paranormal norteamericano promedio), la inclusión del romance como un elemento que gana protagonismo poco a poco me ha parecido genial y creo que salva a este proyecto con mucho estilo. La novela está estructuralmente muy bien escrita. No he encontrado cabos sueltos, detalles fuera de lugar ni excesos narrativos. Cada suceso sirve a la historia, la lectura es muy amena y con un excelente ritmo.
A pesar de que hace años que no encuentro una historia de terror paranormal que me aterrorice (quizá debido a la sobreexplotación del género y a que es difícil caer en clichés, o quizá debido a que hace mucho que lo paranormal perdió credibilidad en mí), Devil's Bait me ha parecido una historia ágil y entretenida.
Definitivamente agradezco ese cambio de engranes sutil pero consistente que hace posible tal mezcla de géneros a lo largo de la historia, y que logra conformar un buen híbrido entre el terror clásico y un tipo de romance adulto, bien pensado y excelentemente planteado.
Recomiendo esta novela a aquellos amantes del terror sobrenatural típico que estén buscando personajes bien escritos y romance con lógica. ¡Gracias a Debbie Boek por haber escrito esta historia!
November 2, 2019
Families often leave the city and move to the suburbs. Better schools, less traffic, homes that have yards, are some of the reasons the suburbs can be attractive. The Draper family leaves the city and buys an older home that has been vacant for some time. The home needs some work but stay at home mom Emma is up to the challenge. There are many unusual things about this house. Things are moved around. There is an occasional bad smell. The basement is cold, eerie and scary. Why do the kids prefer to be outside?
While making new friends, the Draper kids find out that people believe the house to be haunted. Emma explains the weird events to her husband but he stays in the city during the week. Is Emma imagining things? Is she drinking? Two men show up at the house claiming to be FBI agents. Can they help?
This book is a fun, unexpected paranormal story. The characters are vividly described and their interactions are completely relatable. The circumstances they find themselves in are unique. When you believe you know where the story is headed, you find that you are very wrong. It is an amazing book that even manages to add romance to the creepy story.
It is so difficult to review this book and avoid spoiling this storyline. Read this book! It keeps your interest the entire time and ends far too soon. Thankfully, this is only book 1.
While making new friends, the Draper kids find out that people believe the house to be haunted. Emma explains the weird events to her husband but he stays in the city during the week. Is Emma imagining things? Is she drinking? Two men show up at the house claiming to be FBI agents. Can they help?
This book is a fun, unexpected paranormal story. The characters are vividly described and their interactions are completely relatable. The circumstances they find themselves in are unique. When you believe you know where the story is headed, you find that you are very wrong. It is an amazing book that even manages to add romance to the creepy story.
It is so difficult to review this book and avoid spoiling this storyline. Read this book! It keeps your interest the entire time and ends far too soon. Thankfully, this is only book 1.
February 22, 2018
Devil's Bait by Debbie Boek is a well written thriller that will take you on a wild ride. If you like things that go bump in the night with no seeming explanation, then this book is for you. When Emma and her family move into an older home, one that needs massive restoration, they are mostly excited. Well, maybe Emma's daughter isn't too excited. But the chance for a new beginning is a positive note, and they are on they way to a new adventure in a new town. When odd things begin to happen, Emma begins to question her sanity, and if in fact, this was a good move. With her marriage hanging in the balance, and two brothers who come to solve the issue of the unexplained in the house, Emma will face challenges she has never faced before. This is a solidly written thriller with a familiar tone, but with the added element of emotion that takes over for the main character. A book that will keep you up for a few hours, Devil's Bait is an easy read, and a pleasant if at times kind of scary story. Highly recommend.
February 12, 2018
I found Devil’s Bait grabbed me as soon as I began reading, so much so that I slept through my alarm the following morning after staying up reading into the early hours. There have been a whole load of movies with a similar type of premise as this in recent years, but none did anywhere near as good a job as Boek has done here. This is the first book I’ve read from this athor but I can’t wait to check out more.
It looks like lovers of supernatural thrillers have a new go-to author to lead the line.
It looks like lovers of supernatural thrillers have a new go-to author to lead the line.
February 21, 2019
When Emma and her family move into their new home they obviously don’t do enough research into why no one stays very long. Almost immediately strange things happen and the atmosphere is not very pleasant. A story of good v bad, romance and creepy goings on. It was an enjoyable, sometimes chilling story but I probably wouldn’t have chosen it had I realised it was the first of a trilogy. However, for those who do enjoy their books in series, then it’s a good read. I was given this ARC by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2019
Devil's Bait is an excellent read. Author Debbie Boek twists and turns her way through a great story. If you enjoy a good paranormal tale that will leave you guessing, then you have found the right book to grab. So happy this is the first book in a series. I am going on to the next book to continue the ride with these well thought out characters and their relationships with each other. I definitely recommend this to anyone with a few evenings on their hands because you won’t be able to put it down.
I am looking forward to the second book in the series—Devil’s Retribution.
I am looking forward to the second book in the series—Devil’s Retribution.
November 3, 2020
Audible:This was a very good story.Emma and her family move to a new neighborhood.They have no idea they moved into a 'murder house' until the kids go to school.When things start to happen,Emma tries everything she can to get rid of the spirits by herself,since her husband is no help.I was dissapointed in the preview for the next book,though I want to read it!lol Jenny Kelly was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
June 13, 2019
I absolutely loved this book! It's has it all Horror, thrills and romance! I am an avid reader but to be honest past wee while struggling to get through some books but I couldn't put this one down! No spoilers from me just read it you will not regret it!
September 2, 2019
This was a great story and an entertaining read. I suggest reading at night by candlelight.
I recieved this for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I recieved this for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2018
Doesn't everyone want to move their family to an old house in the country away from the city? Emma did but life didn't turn out like she could have ever imagined!
I was grabbed into the storyline from the beginning. It was a well written suspense book with very strong paranormal happenings. Personally, I loved the creepy goings on in the house but was glad I didn't live there.
Things got so bad, two brothers come in to rid the house of its evil entities. This is a good spooky book to read and even had a touch of romance in the story. Looking for a late night read, this is a good one. Just keep the lights on!
* I was provided an ARC to read from the publisher and NetGalley. It was my decision to read and review this book.
I was grabbed into the storyline from the beginning. It was a well written suspense book with very strong paranormal happenings. Personally, I loved the creepy goings on in the house but was glad I didn't live there.
Things got so bad, two brothers come in to rid the house of its evil entities. This is a good spooky book to read and even had a touch of romance in the story. Looking for a late night read, this is a good one. Just keep the lights on!
* I was provided an ARC to read from the publisher and NetGalley. It was my decision to read and review this book.
September 2, 2018
This book is so much like my favorite supernatural series that I watch on tv. I think it started out hitting u hard in the feelings then ends with a mind spinner. I will pick up the second book in the series. GreatJob!
July 14, 2018
Wow!!! I truly enjoyed reading this book. It felt like 2 stories in one. The first part was thrilling and kept me in the edge of my seat. I'm glad I wasn't reading this at night. If you are a fan of Supernatural, as I am, you need to read this book. I'm really looking forward to reading Debbie's next book.
August 10, 2018
I've always liked supernatural stories but usually they don't live up to the hype, the devils bait is your typical haunted house book, things that go bump in the night, haunting's and demons etc, but the characters really make the story work, I found I really cared what happened to each of them. The book is a great mix of supernatural and romance but the romance part doesn't detract from the point of the story. My only gripe is the book didn't end how I wanted to but as this is the first story about the Devereaux brothers there is still hope and I've just bought part too so no work this weekend.
September 28, 2018
Thankyou to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and the author, Debbie Bock, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Devil's Bait in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I enjoyed this book immensely. The storyline, characters and atmosphere were really well thought out and written. Definitely a page turner. Will definitely be looking forward to reading more from this author.
Well worth a read.
I enjoyed this book immensely. The storyline, characters and atmosphere were really well thought out and written. Definitely a page turner. Will definitely be looking forward to reading more from this author.
Well worth a read.
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