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The Devil Inside
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Revelation 2:10
In a peaceful coastal town, a young woman is found brutally murdered, a piece of scripture held tightly in her hand. Local detective Charlotte Callaghan is put on the case, and she’s glad for the distraction – Gull Bay can be a hard place to keep a secret, and she’s holding on to a few.
After Charlotte asks her brother, Father Joseph Callaghan, about the verse, her suspicions fall on his parishioners. Then a second victim is found, along with another biblical message.
A dark betrayal is concealed within the small community. For Charlotte, there’s something personal about this case, something that threatens the very core of her beliefs. Can she unravel this mystery before it tears her town apart?
A gripping crime novel about murder, betrayal, and the monsters who hide in plain sight.
‘A world where evil begets evil, none of the good guys can trust each other and the bad guy has a hell of an axe to grind.’ – Jack Heath, bestselling author of Hangman
In a peaceful coastal town, a young woman is found brutally murdered, a piece of scripture held tightly in her hand. Local detective Charlotte Callaghan is put on the case, and she’s glad for the distraction – Gull Bay can be a hard place to keep a secret, and she’s holding on to a few.
After Charlotte asks her brother, Father Joseph Callaghan, about the verse, her suspicions fall on his parishioners. Then a second victim is found, along with another biblical message.
A dark betrayal is concealed within the small community. For Charlotte, there’s something personal about this case, something that threatens the very core of her beliefs. Can she unravel this mystery before it tears her town apart?
A gripping crime novel about murder, betrayal, and the monsters who hide in plain sight.
‘A world where evil begets evil, none of the good guys can trust each other and the bad guy has a hell of an axe to grind.’ – Jack Heath, bestselling author of Hangman
318 pages, Paperback
Published February 4, 2020
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258 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
March 30, 2020
In the small coastal town of Gull bay detective Charlotte Callaghan has been assigned to the case of a young woman who has been brutally murdered. The victim is found with a note in her hand the note carries a religious verse which leads Charlotte to Father Joseph Callaghan her brother.
Whilst investigating the first victim a second victim is found and she too is found with the same note as the first woman. Although Charlotte doesn’t believe her brother has anything to do with either of the cases she must execute her job which meant asking him many questions. All is not as it seems and Charlotte is left with more unanswered questions, but will Charlotte find out who has been killing these women before more are found?
What an outstanding debut novel. I was hooked right from the outset with this book and I didn’t want to put it down. When a book has a reader's full attention right from the start it shows to me that the author has a sure winner and that’s exactly what Aussie author D. L Hicks has with this book. Highly recommended.
Whilst investigating the first victim a second victim is found and she too is found with the same note as the first woman. Although Charlotte doesn’t believe her brother has anything to do with either of the cases she must execute her job which meant asking him many questions. All is not as it seems and Charlotte is left with more unanswered questions, but will Charlotte find out who has been killing these women before more are found?
What an outstanding debut novel. I was hooked right from the outset with this book and I didn’t want to put it down. When a book has a reader's full attention right from the start it shows to me that the author has a sure winner and that’s exactly what Aussie author D. L Hicks has with this book. Highly recommended.
July 10, 2020
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
FIVE well deserved big shiny stars for this debut novel The Devil Inside by Australian author D.L. Hicks
This is crime fiction at its best, dark and disturbing. From the first page I was hooked and loved every second of reading this book.
Detective Charlotte Callaghan is investigating the murder of a young woman in the small coastal town of Gull Bay. The victim is found with a biblical note clutched in her hand, the only clue found at the scene.
The investigation heats up when another woman is found brutally murdered along with her dog, coincidentally a biblical note is found on her also. Both women appear to be attractive and fit looking but there doesn’t appear to be any motive for their deaths. The investigation becomes personal for Detective Charlotte Callaghan as she desperately tries to hide a secret of her own during the case.
Filled with many red herrings and explosive secrets you may find yourself unable to put this book down! The story may make you feel uncomfortable and sickened but it’s well written and so damned good.
The ending is epic, what an emotional shocker! Recommended read for devoted fans of crime thrillers.
I wish to thank Better Reading & the publisher Pantera Press for generously providing me with an advanced copy of the book in return for an honest review
FIVE well deserved big shiny stars for this debut novel The Devil Inside by Australian author D.L. Hicks
This is crime fiction at its best, dark and disturbing. From the first page I was hooked and loved every second of reading this book.
Detective Charlotte Callaghan is investigating the murder of a young woman in the small coastal town of Gull Bay. The victim is found with a biblical note clutched in her hand, the only clue found at the scene.
The investigation heats up when another woman is found brutally murdered along with her dog, coincidentally a biblical note is found on her also. Both women appear to be attractive and fit looking but there doesn’t appear to be any motive for their deaths. The investigation becomes personal for Detective Charlotte Callaghan as she desperately tries to hide a secret of her own during the case.
Filled with many red herrings and explosive secrets you may find yourself unable to put this book down! The story may make you feel uncomfortable and sickened but it’s well written and so damned good.
The ending is epic, what an emotional shocker! Recommended read for devoted fans of crime thrillers.
I wish to thank Better Reading & the publisher Pantera Press for generously providing me with an advanced copy of the book in return for an honest review
September 13, 2023
The Devil Inside is the debut novel by Australian author D.L. Hicks and it’s a darkly disturbing crime thriller that combines the terror invoked by a serial killer with the psychological trauma of child abuse among other triggering themes. There’s much to unpack in this small-town drama that moves swiftly and decisively.
In the small coastal town of Gull Bay, Detective Charlotte Callaghan is called out to a murder scene. A young woman has been brutally killed and left holding a small card containing a piece of scripture, clearly a message for the police to find. She will be the first in a string of local women who will be found in very similar circumstances.
This is a story that’s told in dual narratives. The primary narrative takes place in the present day while the second goes back to 1987 where a pair of young altar boys are regularly abused by the parish priest. The clear inference is that one of these boys is going to grow up to become the man responsible for the killing spree.
The cards quoting scripture were actually distributed by Father Joseph Callaghan, the local catholic priest, at each weekly mass. He also happens to be Charlotte’s step-brother and offers to provide whatever help he can in possibly working out whether the killer could be a parishioner.
Clues begin to build up in the present day narrative, the question remains whether they’re actual clues or planted ones aiming to misdirect the investigation. Back in 1987, the horrors of each successive Sunday morning are mounting up to a near unbearable level.
Charlotte is portrayed from early on as a top notch detective, however too many times she took information at face value without bothering to dig deeper to confirm first appearances. It led to mistakes, needless confrontations and false trails, all of which could have been avoided with some decent detective work. It happened often enough and hampered the investigation so much that I found myself becoming extremely unsatisfied, mainly because I could see what was going on even if Charlotte couldn’t.
The Devil Inside is a police procedural murder mystery that tackles some fairly incendiary topics and, for the most part, does so with deference to the emotional toll that it takes on the victims. The plight of Charlotte as the lead character is unique and the knife edge on which she rode through the majority of the book was completely enthralling. It’s a pity she wasn’t quite the detective she could have been.
The story unfolded in a fairly predictable manner and I was congratulating myself for identifying the killer reasonably early only to be blindsided by a couple of twists that completely threw me off balance. I find it rare that an epilogue has a dramatic impact on my opinion of a book, but this one has ensured the story has stayed in my mind long after I closed the last page.
In the small coastal town of Gull Bay, Detective Charlotte Callaghan is called out to a murder scene. A young woman has been brutally killed and left holding a small card containing a piece of scripture, clearly a message for the police to find. She will be the first in a string of local women who will be found in very similar circumstances.
This is a story that’s told in dual narratives. The primary narrative takes place in the present day while the second goes back to 1987 where a pair of young altar boys are regularly abused by the parish priest. The clear inference is that one of these boys is going to grow up to become the man responsible for the killing spree.
The cards quoting scripture were actually distributed by Father Joseph Callaghan, the local catholic priest, at each weekly mass. He also happens to be Charlotte’s step-brother and offers to provide whatever help he can in possibly working out whether the killer could be a parishioner.
Clues begin to build up in the present day narrative, the question remains whether they’re actual clues or planted ones aiming to misdirect the investigation. Back in 1987, the horrors of each successive Sunday morning are mounting up to a near unbearable level.
Charlotte is portrayed from early on as a top notch detective, however too many times she took information at face value without bothering to dig deeper to confirm first appearances. It led to mistakes, needless confrontations and false trails, all of which could have been avoided with some decent detective work. It happened often enough and hampered the investigation so much that I found myself becoming extremely unsatisfied, mainly because I could see what was going on even if Charlotte couldn’t.
The Devil Inside is a police procedural murder mystery that tackles some fairly incendiary topics and, for the most part, does so with deference to the emotional toll that it takes on the victims. The plight of Charlotte as the lead character is unique and the knife edge on which she rode through the majority of the book was completely enthralling. It’s a pity she wasn’t quite the detective she could have been.
The story unfolded in a fairly predictable manner and I was congratulating myself for identifying the killer reasonably early only to be blindsided by a couple of twists that completely threw me off balance. I find it rare that an epilogue has a dramatic impact on my opinion of a book, but this one has ensured the story has stayed in my mind long after I closed the last page.
January 8, 2020
The Devil Inside is the first novel by Australian police officer and author, D.L. Hicks. Detective Charlotte Callaghan is already dealing with challenges she can’t share, so a brutally murdered young woman holding an intriguing clue is just the distraction she needs. A note printed with a biblical verse: in the small coastal town of Gull Bay, it quickly leads her to Father Joseph Callaghan, her step-brother. Perhaps one of his parishioners? Not for a moment does she believe he could be involved, but she needs to be thorough.
Witnesses put suspicion on a local homeless man, although the killer has been meticulous at the scene, leaving no trace. When a second body turns up, again with a piece of scripture, the pressure is on Charlotte more than ever to find the murderer and ensure her brother is in the clear.
Soon enough, Father Callaghan is visited in the confessional by a troubled soul who seeks his assurance about the sanctity of the confessional. Whatever he might suspect, he cannot, of course, share anything with Charlotte. But that’s not the end of the strange incidents, or the killing.
The story is carried by four main narratives: three in the present day (Charlotte, Joseph and the killer) and one in 1987 (the young victim of a sexual predator). This is a tale that illustrates the reality that mandated policies and procedures within the Police Force might not always be strictly followed, and demonstrates the long-term effects of childhood abuse.
And wow, what a page-turner! Filled with twists and red herrings, and if, from certain clues, the astute reader has, by the last third of the book, settled on the identity of the perpetrator, this in no way deters from the enjoyment of the read. Hicks gives the reader quite a shock in the final pages and a chilling last line! A gripping and thought-provoking debut novel.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview and Pantera Press.
Witnesses put suspicion on a local homeless man, although the killer has been meticulous at the scene, leaving no trace. When a second body turns up, again with a piece of scripture, the pressure is on Charlotte more than ever to find the murderer and ensure her brother is in the clear.
Soon enough, Father Callaghan is visited in the confessional by a troubled soul who seeks his assurance about the sanctity of the confessional. Whatever he might suspect, he cannot, of course, share anything with Charlotte. But that’s not the end of the strange incidents, or the killing.
The story is carried by four main narratives: three in the present day (Charlotte, Joseph and the killer) and one in 1987 (the young victim of a sexual predator). This is a tale that illustrates the reality that mandated policies and procedures within the Police Force might not always be strictly followed, and demonstrates the long-term effects of childhood abuse.
And wow, what a page-turner! Filled with twists and red herrings, and if, from certain clues, the astute reader has, by the last third of the book, settled on the identity of the perpetrator, this in no way deters from the enjoyment of the read. Hicks gives the reader quite a shock in the final pages and a chilling last line! A gripping and thought-provoking debut novel.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview and Pantera Press.
July 28, 2020
1. I guessed the killer’s identity almost immediately.
2. The motive for the murders was cliched and boring.
3. The surprise ending makes no sense unless the author lacks the literary chops necessary for ending stories in ways that eliminate any hope of there being a sequel.
All in all, this one had a promising premise and the potential to be a fantastic thriller/police procedural. Unfortunately, D. L. Hicks's The Devil Inside didn't work for me.
2. The motive for the murders was cliched and boring.
3. The surprise ending makes no sense unless the author lacks the literary chops necessary for ending stories in ways that eliminate any hope of there being a sequel.
All in all, this one had a promising premise and the potential to be a fantastic thriller/police procedural. Unfortunately, D. L. Hicks's The Devil Inside didn't work for me.
March 18, 2020
Wow! What a fantastic debut novel. I couldn't put it down.
April 24, 2020
Wow! Loved this book... Debut novel for this Author and what a story. The characters all worked very well together, with the story being told from different voices it gave the reader insights from them all.
The underlying subject is quite topical at the moment and shows how abuse can affect a persons life. Hoping that this Author is working on another novel.. I will definitely be on the look out for it.
The underlying subject is quite topical at the moment and shows how abuse can affect a persons life. Hoping that this Author is working on another novel.. I will definitely be on the look out for it.
April 17, 2020
2.5 ... it seems I’m in the minority but I didn’t find this riveting and I would have liked to in some way be warned bout the subject matter .
July 22, 2020
A new Australian author with a new and absorbing style. The Devil Inside is a crime story with a number of interesting twists, written by someone with an understanding of police procedures. David Hicks is a highly experienced cop himself.
1987: We are introduced to “Ben and I…”, two eight-year-old altar boys. After service, they are taken into a windowless room with Father and another, younger priest. Father sloshes liquid from a decanter into four glasses. He puts his hand in his pocket and then rubs his fingers together over the top of the boys’ glasses. “I never could get used to that drink…”
Present day: Three young women, in three weeks, are brutally murdered. Each has a sheet of note paper on her body that is prepared each week by the priest at the local church, Fr Joseph Callaghan, all bearing a quote from scripture.
Senior Detective Charlotte Callaghan, Fr Joe’s half-sister, leads the team from Gull Bay as investigations begin. Interestingly, Charlotte is managing to undergo a course of chemotherapy for breast cancer while hiding it from her boss and fellow officers.
Investigations turn towards Fr Joe, not only because of the church notes - which may appear a too obvious a clue in themselves - but then Charl finds evidence in his car relating to one of the murder victims. She knows intrinsically that her brother is not the murderer, but police procedures must be adhered to. He can be shown neither leeway nor favouritism.
The storyline and the investigation continue apace, drawing the reader in to a case that is, truly, edge of the seat stuff! The murderer, although unidentified until the end, will be sensed quite early in the book. Seven or eight chapters are included, written first-person by the murderer. This adds to the tension in the tale.
But be warned: Even when the case is closed, the reader is not allowed to unwind. The very last par on the very last page is a shocker!
I look forward to D.L. Hicks’ next work.
1987: We are introduced to “Ben and I…”, two eight-year-old altar boys. After service, they are taken into a windowless room with Father and another, younger priest. Father sloshes liquid from a decanter into four glasses. He puts his hand in his pocket and then rubs his fingers together over the top of the boys’ glasses. “I never could get used to that drink…”
Present day: Three young women, in three weeks, are brutally murdered. Each has a sheet of note paper on her body that is prepared each week by the priest at the local church, Fr Joseph Callaghan, all bearing a quote from scripture.
Senior Detective Charlotte Callaghan, Fr Joe’s half-sister, leads the team from Gull Bay as investigations begin. Interestingly, Charlotte is managing to undergo a course of chemotherapy for breast cancer while hiding it from her boss and fellow officers.
Investigations turn towards Fr Joe, not only because of the church notes - which may appear a too obvious a clue in themselves - but then Charl finds evidence in his car relating to one of the murder victims. She knows intrinsically that her brother is not the murderer, but police procedures must be adhered to. He can be shown neither leeway nor favouritism.
The storyline and the investigation continue apace, drawing the reader in to a case that is, truly, edge of the seat stuff! The murderer, although unidentified until the end, will be sensed quite early in the book. Seven or eight chapters are included, written first-person by the murderer. This adds to the tension in the tale.
But be warned: Even when the case is closed, the reader is not allowed to unwind. The very last par on the very last page is a shocker!
I look forward to D.L. Hicks’ next work.
April 26, 2020
Predictable from beginning, cliche ridden and with a poor attempt at a 'shocking' twist. Just not worth the time,
February 10, 2020
I enjoyed the book but found it was a bit obvious and I was able to solve the crime early. However, the story line was sufficiently full of twists and turns to keep me entertained enough to finish it. Clever.
October 6, 2020
I'm not very good at writing reviews ... I won't tell you what the story is about because there are lots of other posts that outline the premise. I will instead tell you this...
* I love how Hicks wrote from the murderer's perspective throughout the book. So I knew who the murderer was but I didn't... if that makes sense. There were different characters throughout the story that I thought, 'yep he's the murderer' then changed my mind. My initial thought was right in the end. Hicks leaves clever clues throughout.
* I loved Detective Charlotte's character. I could really relate to her despite having nothing in common with her.
* The ending... totally surprised me and felt the need to message fellow readers if they had read the book so that I could debrief! Maybe don't finish the book just before you attempt to sleep... my brain is... I can't say or I might give something away.
* I really, really loved the "Aussie-ness" of this book. I loved that they drank stubbies and smoked durries.
What an amazing debut novel. I hope that David Hicks reads this. It was such a fabulous book that I had to take the time to tell everyone that they have to read it! I can't wait for his next book.
David if you do read this, the epilogue... so.many.emotions! Why? Just why? Noooo and OMG! You're a dead set legend. Wicked book mate!
* I love how Hicks wrote from the murderer's perspective throughout the book. So I knew who the murderer was but I didn't... if that makes sense. There were different characters throughout the story that I thought, 'yep he's the murderer' then changed my mind. My initial thought was right in the end. Hicks leaves clever clues throughout.
* I loved Detective Charlotte's character. I could really relate to her despite having nothing in common with her.
* The ending... totally surprised me and felt the need to message fellow readers if they had read the book so that I could debrief! Maybe don't finish the book just before you attempt to sleep... my brain is... I can't say or I might give something away.
* I really, really loved the "Aussie-ness" of this book. I loved that they drank stubbies and smoked durries.
What an amazing debut novel. I hope that David Hicks reads this. It was such a fabulous book that I had to take the time to tell everyone that they have to read it! I can't wait for his next book.
David if you do read this, the epilogue... so.many.emotions! Why? Just why? Noooo and OMG! You're a dead set legend. Wicked book mate!
January 5, 2020
Advanced Copy Given In Exchange For An Honest Review
From the very first page, this novel draws you in. Following the footsteps of a detective as she investigates a series of murders, which all have links back to her step-brother, who is the priest of the town church.
This is D.L. Hicks very first novel, and considering he has spent a significant amount of time with the police department, the information regarding the investigation, is legit and solid.
I can't recommend this book enough. The last two chapters were the biggest shock of all and by far my favourite, not because it was the end, but because it had the biggest impact on the overall story. 5 stars is not enough for this debut novel.
From the very first page, this novel draws you in. Following the footsteps of a detective as she investigates a series of murders, which all have links back to her step-brother, who is the priest of the town church.
This is D.L. Hicks very first novel, and considering he has spent a significant amount of time with the police department, the information regarding the investigation, is legit and solid.
I can't recommend this book enough. The last two chapters were the biggest shock of all and by far my favourite, not because it was the end, but because it had the biggest impact on the overall story. 5 stars is not enough for this debut novel.
April 25, 2022
4.5 stars
The story starts with a couple of alter boys and a priest, we know that’s not going to end well. While I guessed from early in the story who the perp was, that didn’t detract from the suspense.
This is primarily a police, murder mystery, with several closely connected sub-plots running through. The story is well constructed and has some surprises.
I’ll read more by this author.
The story starts with a couple of alter boys and a priest, we know that’s not going to end well. While I guessed from early in the story who the perp was, that didn’t detract from the suspense.
This is primarily a police, murder mystery, with several closely connected sub-plots running through. The story is well constructed and has some surprises.
I’ll read more by this author.
March 8, 2023
This is an outstanding debut crime fiction novel from D. L. Hicks. A page-turner from the outset. There are some dark and disturbing themes which highlight the lasting and damaging effects of child sex abuse. Some aspects of the novel were predictable but like any police procedural the clues unfold with some unexpected twists. I look forward to further books from this author.
February 23, 2020
A police procedural from a new author. I was stunned by the ending! An excellent story.
August 14, 2022
This book took me on such a ride - from the guess of picking the killer early on, to the rush of actually being right. From the unexpected twists, to sadness, and the 'Oh my god!' of the very last sentence - this book had it all.
September 10, 2025
Wow - couldn’t put this one down.
Yes somethings were obvious early on but others not. And despite knowing it was still a great read and great story!
Yes somethings were obvious early on but others not. And despite knowing it was still a great read and great story!
September 8, 2020
A roller coaster of a read. I did guess the murderer very early on but was still interested to see how it all played out.
Near the ending the surprise death shocked me and was very sad. I felt a bit robbed. Buy then the last page pulled a gasp from me. What a great way to end!
Made the whole book well worth the read
Near the ending the surprise death shocked me and was very sad. I felt a bit robbed. Buy then the last page pulled a gasp from me. What a great way to end!
Made the whole book well worth the read
January 14, 2020
WOW!! This would have to be the most impressive debut novel I’ve read. Fans of crime/mystery thrillers will love this book, and for that matter even if you don’t normally love this genre, I encourage you to read this one as it won’t let you down.
When a young woman is found murdered, local female detective Charlotte Callaghan is placed in charge of investigating the case. The victim is holding a religious quote in her hand which draws the detective’s brother, Father Joseph Callaghan, into the investigation and members of his congregation soon become possible suspects.
I love Charlotte’s character as the lead detective, strong, but also vulnerable, with her own secrets to hide, she stops at nothing to solve the mystery. She discovers her small town of Gull Bay is a community hiding many secrets and betrayals and soon she doesn’t know who to trust.
As a side note, I love that the author is a long serving police officer, this fact really adds credibility for me, I completely trusted that every passage regarding crime scenes, forensics etc was accurate.
This book is hard to put down once started and will take the reader on many twists and turns, with a huge shock near the end, which will have you thinking for days after you’ve finished it. I highly recommend this book and eagerly await the author’s next novel.
Thank you Better Reading and Pantera Press for my advanced copy, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
When a young woman is found murdered, local female detective Charlotte Callaghan is placed in charge of investigating the case. The victim is holding a religious quote in her hand which draws the detective’s brother, Father Joseph Callaghan, into the investigation and members of his congregation soon become possible suspects.
I love Charlotte’s character as the lead detective, strong, but also vulnerable, with her own secrets to hide, she stops at nothing to solve the mystery. She discovers her small town of Gull Bay is a community hiding many secrets and betrayals and soon she doesn’t know who to trust.
As a side note, I love that the author is a long serving police officer, this fact really adds credibility for me, I completely trusted that every passage regarding crime scenes, forensics etc was accurate.
This book is hard to put down once started and will take the reader on many twists and turns, with a huge shock near the end, which will have you thinking for days after you’ve finished it. I highly recommend this book and eagerly await the author’s next novel.
Thank you Better Reading and Pantera Press for my advanced copy, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 25, 2020
The shoddy writing ruined this for me but it was the cliches that were the last nail in the coffin.
If you hadn’t read a lot of crime/mystery in the past, im sure this would be a 4 stars for you, but I couldn’t get past the recycled police jargon, forensic explanations and overdone typical police characters.
Gripping storyline though - I wish this was written better cause it’s dark undertones were awesome.
If you hadn’t read a lot of crime/mystery in the past, im sure this would be a 4 stars for you, but I couldn’t get past the recycled police jargon, forensic explanations and overdone typical police characters.
Gripping storyline though - I wish this was written better cause it’s dark undertones were awesome.
February 15, 2020
Wow, what a book!
I read it in one sitting. I'd figured out the murderer early on but - oh the twists and turns! The characters were great, well fleshed out and believable. Secrets hidden, secrets exposed.
And what an ending - completely unexpected! That last line ... OMG totally blew my mind.
I do hope the author writes more, this was a fabulous debut novel.
I read it in one sitting. I'd figured out the murderer early on but - oh the twists and turns! The characters were great, well fleshed out and believable. Secrets hidden, secrets exposed.
And what an ending - completely unexpected! That last line ... OMG totally blew my mind.
I do hope the author writes more, this was a fabulous debut novel.
December 3, 2020
I started reading this book and I thought "either I am simple or this book is very simple"
I turned out to be the latter.
I couldn't get excited. Minimal suspense or intrigue. I got half way and was ready to give up. It got better half way through but the story was just not well written.
I turned out to be the latter.
I couldn't get excited. Minimal suspense or intrigue. I got half way and was ready to give up. It got better half way through but the story was just not well written.
September 29, 2022
3.5 stars
A small town cop is pushed to the limit when an initial murder case becomes only the first in a string of vicious murders.
There has been a string of new great Australian thrillers since the success of books like The Dry, and I would consider The Devil Inside to be one of them. This is a clever, fast paced and suspenseful cop drama.
There is only a couple of small reasons for the lower rating. Firstly, The Devil Inside falls into a classic mystery novel trap. With a mystery novel, if you add too many characters and potential suspects, then the reader gets confused about who is who and knows so little about any individual that any final reveal lacks any bang. If you have too few characters, then it's almost inevitable that the reader will pick who the culprit is. The Devil Inside leans towards the small cast of characters and it just narrows the list of suspects too low.
Spoilers:
My other main problem with the book is the fate of Joseph, the priest. At the end of the narrative, we're led to understand that Joseph wasn't a pedophile, but that he did work with another priest who was, he knew about it and never did anything about it. There are no consequences for Joseph aiding and ignoring the crimes of a sexual predator, he stays out of jail, he remains a priest and never faces the horror of his inaction. I was expecting more of a conclusion for Joseph, a priest who spends his entire life lecturing others on morality, when he willingly let two children (and potentially more through his inaction) be molested, only to protect his career.
Those two issues aside, I did really enjoy this book. I raced through, anticipating what would happen next and liking the characters. Well worth a read.
A small town cop is pushed to the limit when an initial murder case becomes only the first in a string of vicious murders.
There has been a string of new great Australian thrillers since the success of books like The Dry, and I would consider The Devil Inside to be one of them. This is a clever, fast paced and suspenseful cop drama.
There is only a couple of small reasons for the lower rating. Firstly, The Devil Inside falls into a classic mystery novel trap. With a mystery novel, if you add too many characters and potential suspects, then the reader gets confused about who is who and knows so little about any individual that any final reveal lacks any bang. If you have too few characters, then it's almost inevitable that the reader will pick who the culprit is. The Devil Inside leans towards the small cast of characters and it just narrows the list of suspects too low.
Spoilers:
My other main problem with the book is the fate of Joseph, the priest. At the end of the narrative, we're led to understand that Joseph wasn't a pedophile, but that he did work with another priest who was, he knew about it and never did anything about it. There are no consequences for Joseph aiding and ignoring the crimes of a sexual predator, he stays out of jail, he remains a priest and never faces the horror of his inaction. I was expecting more of a conclusion for Joseph, a priest who spends his entire life lecturing others on morality, when he willingly let two children (and potentially more through his inaction) be molested, only to protect his career.
Those two issues aside, I did really enjoy this book. I raced through, anticipating what would happen next and liking the characters. Well worth a read.
July 11, 2020
‘It’s the smell of incense that always takes me back.’
In the small Australian coastal town of Gull Bay, a young woman is found murdered. Detective Charlotte Callaghan takes the call. The young woman is holding a religious quote in her hand. Detective Callaghan’s half-brother, Father Joseph Callaghan, is asked about the quote:
‘As for that piece of paper and the quote printed on it, it was stapled to the top of the newsletter that was handed out to my congregation two weekends ago.’
And then another young woman is found murdered, with another biblical quote. Could the murderer be someone within Father Joseph’s congregation?
The novel shifts between present and past. In addition to Charlotte and the murder investigation in the present, it also includes the experiences of a ten-year-old altar boy in 1987.
Charlotte herself has secrets she is trying to hide from both (most of) her work colleagues, her brother, and her boyfriend. But there are worrying developments in the murder cases: could her brother be involved?
‘The worst day in Charlotte’s working life had arrived.’
While some aspects of this novel are predictable, that certainly did not stop me turning the pages as I was very keen to find out how it would end. Who is killing young women, and why? Who can Charlotte trust?
Which takes me to the ending. One aspect, while sad, was expected. The other element, less expected, was unsettling.
D.L. Hicks is a serving police officer, and this is his first novel. It touches on some painfully topical issues, introduces some memorable characters, and left me wondering.
I hope that Mr Hicks keeps writing.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In the small Australian coastal town of Gull Bay, a young woman is found murdered. Detective Charlotte Callaghan takes the call. The young woman is holding a religious quote in her hand. Detective Callaghan’s half-brother, Father Joseph Callaghan, is asked about the quote:
‘As for that piece of paper and the quote printed on it, it was stapled to the top of the newsletter that was handed out to my congregation two weekends ago.’
And then another young woman is found murdered, with another biblical quote. Could the murderer be someone within Father Joseph’s congregation?
The novel shifts between present and past. In addition to Charlotte and the murder investigation in the present, it also includes the experiences of a ten-year-old altar boy in 1987.
Charlotte herself has secrets she is trying to hide from both (most of) her work colleagues, her brother, and her boyfriend. But there are worrying developments in the murder cases: could her brother be involved?
‘The worst day in Charlotte’s working life had arrived.’
While some aspects of this novel are predictable, that certainly did not stop me turning the pages as I was very keen to find out how it would end. Who is killing young women, and why? Who can Charlotte trust?
Which takes me to the ending. One aspect, while sad, was expected. The other element, less expected, was unsettling.
D.L. Hicks is a serving police officer, and this is his first novel. It touches on some painfully topical issues, introduces some memorable characters, and left me wondering.
I hope that Mr Hicks keeps writing.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
December 9, 2023
The Devil Inside is told from dual narrators:. one, Detective Charlotte Callaghan, following her investigation into the brutal murder of a young woman in her small coastal town, and the other being the childhood memories of the murderer which, in some part, explains why he’s turned into someone capable of killing.
In the course of her investigation, Charlotte realises all the clues are pointing to her own brother, a Catholic priest, being involved. Charlotte’s personal life is complicated enough as it is - she has met a man and things are looking promising but she just needs to work out how she’s going to tell him she’s been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemo.
Hicks’s style was very polished. At times I found it difficult to believe this was a debut. Before taking up writing, Hicks was a real life police officer so hopefully he should have the technical aspects correct. However, I am thinking he used a little poetic licence when it comes to Charlotte continuing to be the lead detective on the case, given her personal relationship with a key suspect.
I had neatly tied up the mystery plot in my mind and was reading along, sure of my assumptions. Then, Hicks dropped a couple of very unexpected twists in the epilogue which literally made my jaw drop. Well played, Mr Hicks.
5 out of 5
In the course of her investigation, Charlotte realises all the clues are pointing to her own brother, a Catholic priest, being involved. Charlotte’s personal life is complicated enough as it is - she has met a man and things are looking promising but she just needs to work out how she’s going to tell him she’s been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemo.
Hicks’s style was very polished. At times I found it difficult to believe this was a debut. Before taking up writing, Hicks was a real life police officer so hopefully he should have the technical aspects correct. However, I am thinking he used a little poetic licence when it comes to Charlotte continuing to be the lead detective on the case, given her personal relationship with a key suspect.
I had neatly tied up the mystery plot in my mind and was reading along, sure of my assumptions. Then, Hicks dropped a couple of very unexpected twists in the epilogue which literally made my jaw drop. Well played, Mr Hicks.
5 out of 5
May 6, 2020
Well what a ride! At first I felt the male author had created the circumstances of of the female lead unrealistically (I couldn’t see anyone making some of the choices she did). I won’t give it away but I just felt that somehow how she dealt with what the world had thrown at her was beyond belief.
I put my reservations to one side however and enjoyed the character and that of her brother, police partner and colleagues. There was one light moments which made me smile but overall I was left guessing and questioning the whole way through as to ‘who done it’ and what was going to be the next twist. The author set us up so that until the end we were never quite sure - and what an end!
Again I won’t spoil it but wowzer!
Great debut - but still have my reservation about some of the decisions he made for the main character.
I put my reservations to one side however and enjoyed the character and that of her brother, police partner and colleagues. There was one light moments which made me smile but overall I was left guessing and questioning the whole way through as to ‘who done it’ and what was going to be the next twist. The author set us up so that until the end we were never quite sure - and what an end!
Again I won’t spoil it but wowzer!
Great debut - but still have my reservation about some of the decisions he made for the main character.
May 18, 2020
Thank you to Dymocks Bookstore Joondalup (WA) and Pantera Press for my uncorrected proof.
Fantastic read which had me hooked from chapter 2.
I found the descriptions of the first murder scene quite descriptive and realistic so I turned to the back pages to read about the author to find he's an Australian Police officer. The big surprise was it's his first novel!
The book goes between 1987 and roughly 30 years later, mostly in the later.
It involves murder, the Catholic church, paedophilia, detectives and cancer treatments. I didn't guess who the possible killer was until around the middle of the book as there are a few red herrings. There is plenty going on in the story but it's never confusing and very well written.
There were a couple of surprises at the end that I never saw coming.
Hopefully Officer Hicks will keep writing as this was a blast.
Fantastic read which had me hooked from chapter 2.
I found the descriptions of the first murder scene quite descriptive and realistic so I turned to the back pages to read about the author to find he's an Australian Police officer. The big surprise was it's his first novel!
The book goes between 1987 and roughly 30 years later, mostly in the later.
It involves murder, the Catholic church, paedophilia, detectives and cancer treatments. I didn't guess who the possible killer was until around the middle of the book as there are a few red herrings. There is plenty going on in the story but it's never confusing and very well written.
There were a couple of surprises at the end that I never saw coming.
Hopefully Officer Hicks will keep writing as this was a blast.
January 14, 2020
The Devil Inside by D.L. Hicks is an excellent debut novel. When bodies begin to pile up around detective Charlotte Callaghan with religious implications, she turns to her brother, Father Joseph Callaghan for advice. But as her investigations proceed, she ends up finding out far more than she ever bargained for. The interplay of the narrators between chapters made for an enthralling read, and one cannot help but assume amateur detective status to try to piece together the clues. The way the narrative culminates in such an explosive ending... what an exceptional ride! An excellent read for crime fiction fans; D.L. Hicks is certainly one to watch! Thank you Better Reading and Panterra Press for the advanced copy.
December 12, 2023
I picked up this book knowing next to nothing about it and was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The story is of Charlotte who is a Detective in a small coastal town, where a serial killer appears to be striking. There is a connection to religion and the church through bible quotes being found with the victims. This raises concerns for Charlotte whose brother, Joseph is the local priest.
Charlotte struggles on many fronts, keeping her illness and treatment a secret, conflict with her workmates and rising doubts about the innocence of her own brother.
The story touches on child abuse, as well as violence and torture, so quite difficult to read in parts and not suited to all readers.
Charlotte struggles on many fronts, keeping her illness and treatment a secret, conflict with her workmates and rising doubts about the innocence of her own brother.
The story touches on child abuse, as well as violence and torture, so quite difficult to read in parts and not suited to all readers.
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