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The Devil Upstairs
In a quiet corner of Edinburgh, Cat Thomas is going through hell.
She’s tried everything. He respects nothing.
If your neighbour was making your life hell ...
Would you call upon the devil?
Cat Thomas, a brilliant fraud investigator, has just relocated from Florida to a dreamy flat in historic Edinburgh. Everything seems perfect. Everything seems serene. Except for the unbelievably noisy wannabe rockstar upstairs.
Soon Cat’s blissful new life is in ruins. Desperate, she's willing to try anything. When all else fails, she makes an appeal ... to Satan.
And suddenly everything is eerily quiet. But her nightmare has only just begun ...
'Anthony O'Neill is the most ingenious and versatile writer I know. Every novel he writes is an individual gem that sparkles with its own particular brilliance. Wherever the magic carpet of his imagination takes him next, I definitely want to be along for the ride.'
– ROBERT J. HARRIS Bestselling author of The Thirty-One Kings
She’s tried everything. He respects nothing.
If your neighbour was making your life hell ...
Would you call upon the devil?
Cat Thomas, a brilliant fraud investigator, has just relocated from Florida to a dreamy flat in historic Edinburgh. Everything seems perfect. Everything seems serene. Except for the unbelievably noisy wannabe rockstar upstairs.
Soon Cat’s blissful new life is in ruins. Desperate, she's willing to try anything. When all else fails, she makes an appeal ... to Satan.
And suddenly everything is eerily quiet. But her nightmare has only just begun ...
'Anthony O'Neill is the most ingenious and versatile writer I know. Every novel he writes is an individual gem that sparkles with its own particular brilliance. Wherever the magic carpet of his imagination takes him next, I definitely want to be along for the ride.'
– ROBERT J. HARRIS Bestselling author of The Thirty-One Kings
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2019
8 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Anthony O'Neill
14 books63 followersAnthony O’Neill is the son of an Irish policeman and an Australian stenographer.
He was born in Melbourne and lives in Edinburgh.
He is the author of Scheherazade, a revisionist Arabian Nights epic; The Lamplighter, a psychological horror novel set in Victorian Scotland; The Empire of Eternity, a history-mystery involving Napoleon Bonaparte and the early years of Egyptology; The Unscratchables, a Swiftian satire featuring dog and cat detectives; and The Dark Side, a crime novel set on the far side of the moon.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He was born in Melbourne and lives in Edinburgh.
He is the author of Scheherazade, a revisionist Arabian Nights epic; The Lamplighter, a psychological horror novel set in Victorian Scotland; The Empire of Eternity, a history-mystery involving Napoleon Bonaparte and the early years of Egyptology; The Unscratchables, a Swiftian satire featuring dog and cat detectives; and The Dark Side, a crime novel set on the far side of the moon.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
September 26, 2019
Have you ever hated someone so much that you have spent nights just imagining ways for them to die? That’s what Cat has been doing.
She moved to Edinburgh to start a new life, a peaceful life, but the tenant upstairs just won’t allow it. Fed up of the lack of sleep and thoughtlessness of said tenant, Cat finds herself asking for help from an unexpected source. She soon learns that by doing so, it has some very dangerous consequences.
The Devil Upstairs follows fraud investigator Cat as she adjusts to her new life in Scotland and the aftermath of her interactions with some satanic followers. The story is fun and easy to read that kept me thoroughly entertained from start to finish.
All the characters were very likeable and I found myself wanting to see a happy outcome for each of them.
The only thing I found slightly frustrating is when a character was answering a question they never seemed to provide a straight answer just beat about the bush for a while, think a politician trying to avoid answering a question. Other than that it was enjoyable.
I finished the book within a couple of days and I was left with no unanswered questions and found it to have a nice little twist too.
I enjoyed the writing style, pace, and the plot so much I would happily read more books from this author. A nice thriller that was certainly different from the norm.
She moved to Edinburgh to start a new life, a peaceful life, but the tenant upstairs just won’t allow it. Fed up of the lack of sleep and thoughtlessness of said tenant, Cat finds herself asking for help from an unexpected source. She soon learns that by doing so, it has some very dangerous consequences.
The Devil Upstairs follows fraud investigator Cat as she adjusts to her new life in Scotland and the aftermath of her interactions with some satanic followers. The story is fun and easy to read that kept me thoroughly entertained from start to finish.
All the characters were very likeable and I found myself wanting to see a happy outcome for each of them.
The only thing I found slightly frustrating is when a character was answering a question they never seemed to provide a straight answer just beat about the bush for a while, think a politician trying to avoid answering a question. Other than that it was enjoyable.
I finished the book within a couple of days and I was left with no unanswered questions and found it to have a nice little twist too.
I enjoyed the writing style, pace, and the plot so much I would happily read more books from this author. A nice thriller that was certainly different from the norm.
September 9, 2019
The Devil Upstairs was an intriguing, darkly delicious read, beautifully done and very addictive.
The Devil is in the details so they say, Anthony O’Neill manages said details with a clever insight, setting the scene, creating an atmosphere then setting his characters off like a bomb.
I related so much to Cat and her noisy neighbour – a truly abhorrent man with literally no redeeming features. In an attempt at catharsis Cat puts in a request to the Devil, what follows is a brilliantly adventurous read with some stand out wow moments and some gloriously violent resolutions to Cat’s problems.
With some intelligent little twists in the Devils tale and a hugely satisfying ending, The Devil Upstairs was a terrific read. More please.
Recommended.
The Devil is in the details so they say, Anthony O’Neill manages said details with a clever insight, setting the scene, creating an atmosphere then setting his characters off like a bomb.
I related so much to Cat and her noisy neighbour – a truly abhorrent man with literally no redeeming features. In an attempt at catharsis Cat puts in a request to the Devil, what follows is a brilliantly adventurous read with some stand out wow moments and some gloriously violent resolutions to Cat’s problems.
With some intelligent little twists in the Devils tale and a hugely satisfying ending, The Devil Upstairs was a terrific read. More please.
Recommended.
May 26, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Set in the picturesque Dean village in Edinburgh, it brings the city to life through simple and effective prose. This is one aspect I really enjoyed. The other aspect I enjoyed is the unexpected plotline. It is light hearted, fantastical and funny.
September 11, 2019
Cat Thomas has moved to Edinburgh, from Florida. She has found the perfect flat and for a while it is an idyll. But then her neighbour comes home and Dylan Moyle or Tur-Moyle as he is known, makes her life hell. Constant noise all night to the extent she spends some nights in a nearby hotel, just to get some sleep.
She’s started her new job, as a fraud investigator for ABC bank and is befriended by Agnes, a fiery Scot with a penchant for the Goth. Chatting about witches and general spooky stuff, Agnes invites Cat to a get together of her group, the conclave, for a game.
Tired and stressed, Cat agrees….takes part in a weird aptitude test, while drinking Irn-Bru and breathing in sulphurous air…….just who is sitting in the velvety blackness?
She wakes up in her own bed, not really knowing what’s going on…Agnes says she was just drunk! But then Tur-Moyle is found dead in the flat upstairs, torn apart! There are more murders, anyone who upsets or threatens Cat, seems to end up dead.
What follows is a clever mix of Ira Levin and Dennis Wheatley, with strange violent events, a charming, mysterious new neighbour and creepy, whispering ‘tourists’…..
This captures the damp, foggy atmosphere of a chilly Edinburgh, and the general inconsiderate nature of some people in general……a chilling reminder of Be Careful What You Wish For and its consequences…utterly brilliant.
My thanks to Jaz at Black & White Publishing for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.
She’s started her new job, as a fraud investigator for ABC bank and is befriended by Agnes, a fiery Scot with a penchant for the Goth. Chatting about witches and general spooky stuff, Agnes invites Cat to a get together of her group, the conclave, for a game.
Tired and stressed, Cat agrees….takes part in a weird aptitude test, while drinking Irn-Bru and breathing in sulphurous air…….just who is sitting in the velvety blackness?
She wakes up in her own bed, not really knowing what’s going on…Agnes says she was just drunk! But then Tur-Moyle is found dead in the flat upstairs, torn apart! There are more murders, anyone who upsets or threatens Cat, seems to end up dead.
What follows is a clever mix of Ira Levin and Dennis Wheatley, with strange violent events, a charming, mysterious new neighbour and creepy, whispering ‘tourists’…..
This captures the damp, foggy atmosphere of a chilly Edinburgh, and the general inconsiderate nature of some people in general……a chilling reminder of Be Careful What You Wish For and its consequences…utterly brilliant.
My thanks to Jaz at Black & White Publishing for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.
September 12, 2020
The Devil Upstairs is a taut thriller with a paranormal twist.
It follows a young woman named Cat Thomas. She's a recent transplant from Miami, now living and working in Edinburgh. Thinking she got a great deal on her apartment, she soon discovers it's anything but peaceful. The man upstairs is loud. Annoying. Consistently noisy and rude. Nothing seems to quiet him down. And talking to him is pointless. So Cat does the only thing she can think of: she summons Satan to help her out.
Unfortunately for Cat, her nightmare has only just begun.
I have to say, I rather enjoyed the story. It was intriguing. It was a bit strange. And having deal with a crazy neighbor myself (not in an upstairs apartment, but a downstairs apartment; he'd scream and yell and curse at all hours of the day and night, fighting with his girlfriend and mother, then bang on the ceiling anytime we made noise), I totally felt for Cat.
I also really liked Agnes. She was an entertaining character. Robin also seemed like a great character. He's definitely interesting.
The plot is pretty engaging, keeping readers on their toes. There's an element of, is Cat just crazy, or did she really "sell her soul" to the Devil for peace and quiet? It's definitely tense at times.
The ending, while good, kind of disappointed me. But not for a bad reason. I was just hoping for a bit...more, I guess. More of what, I'm not sure, but I felt like I was left a bit empty after finishing it. Maybe that's just me, though.
Overall, I'd say The Devil Upstairs is an exciting read, and fans of paranormal-esque mystery/thrillers will enjoy it.
4 stars!
It follows a young woman named Cat Thomas. She's a recent transplant from Miami, now living and working in Edinburgh. Thinking she got a great deal on her apartment, she soon discovers it's anything but peaceful. The man upstairs is loud. Annoying. Consistently noisy and rude. Nothing seems to quiet him down. And talking to him is pointless. So Cat does the only thing she can think of: she summons Satan to help her out.
Unfortunately for Cat, her nightmare has only just begun.
I have to say, I rather enjoyed the story. It was intriguing. It was a bit strange. And having deal with a crazy neighbor myself (not in an upstairs apartment, but a downstairs apartment; he'd scream and yell and curse at all hours of the day and night, fighting with his girlfriend and mother, then bang on the ceiling anytime we made noise), I totally felt for Cat.
I also really liked Agnes. She was an entertaining character. Robin also seemed like a great character. He's definitely interesting.
The plot is pretty engaging, keeping readers on their toes. There's an element of, is Cat just crazy, or did she really "sell her soul" to the Devil for peace and quiet? It's definitely tense at times.
The ending, while good, kind of disappointed me. But not for a bad reason. I was just hoping for a bit...more, I guess. More of what, I'm not sure, but I felt like I was left a bit empty after finishing it. Maybe that's just me, though.
Overall, I'd say The Devil Upstairs is an exciting read, and fans of paranormal-esque mystery/thrillers will enjoy it.
4 stars!
September 12, 2020
3.5 Stars: This was a bizarre, spooky and fun read, with lots of twists and turns. Edinburgh is a beautiful setting for the book and I loved being able to picture the lovely flat that Cat finds. The book is full of dark humour with satanic cults, witches and fraud investigations (trust me, they weirdly all fit together)! The fraud crime element of the story was cleverly entwined with the satanism and all of the elements of the story are well-considered. I did want the story to be longer as I felt it was a bit rushed, but that shows how much I was enjoying it! Thank you to lovebookstours & bwpublishing for my copy in exchange for an honest review!
September 13, 2020
Cat works in Fraud in Florida. She makes a life changing decision to relocate to Edinburgh, Scotland. She buys herself an idyllic two bedroom flat at a crazy bargain price.
Within a few weeks she realises why she got the flat at such a reduced rate and that reason comes in the shape of Dylan Moyles. Dylan doesn't work, is extremely NOISY, rude, does drugs, hosts parties, the list goes on. Cat is at her wits end and her health and work are suffering due to lack of sleep.
Agnes, Cat's colleague suggests she is able to help. She has access to meetings that she is certain will solve Cat's problem. Weeks later reluctantly agrees to the meeting and when she gets there she is informed it is a meeting held by The United Nations of Witches.
She unknowingly signs a deal with the Devil and her problems one by one slowly disappear.
But who is the Devil.
This book is gripping, exciting and full of surprises. I was hooked from the first page. A must read for fans of the paranormal and supernatural.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Within a few weeks she realises why she got the flat at such a reduced rate and that reason comes in the shape of Dylan Moyles. Dylan doesn't work, is extremely NOISY, rude, does drugs, hosts parties, the list goes on. Cat is at her wits end and her health and work are suffering due to lack of sleep.
Agnes, Cat's colleague suggests she is able to help. She has access to meetings that she is certain will solve Cat's problem. Weeks later reluctantly agrees to the meeting and when she gets there she is informed it is a meeting held by The United Nations of Witches.
She unknowingly signs a deal with the Devil and her problems one by one slowly disappear.
But who is the Devil.
This book is gripping, exciting and full of surprises. I was hooked from the first page. A must read for fans of the paranormal and supernatural.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 26, 2019
Time taken to read - in and out over 2 days
Pages - 304
Publisher - Black & White Publishing
Source - from the book group for discussion
Blurb from Goodreads
In a quiet corner of Edinburgh, Cat Thomas is going through hell.
She’s tried everything. He respects nothing.
If your neighbour was making your life hell ...
Would you call upon the devil?
Cat Thomas, a brilliant fraud investigator, has just relocated from Florida to a dreamy flat in historic Edinburgh. Everything seems perfect. Everything seems serene. Except for the unbelievably noisy wannabe rockstar upstairs.
Soon Cat’s blissful new life is in ruins. Desperate, she's willing to try anything. When all else fails, she makes an appeal ... to Satan.
And suddenly everything is eerily quiet. But her nightmare has only just begun ...
My Review
Cat Thomas has already had her fingers burned, she is a fraud investigator and her last case saw her safety being threatened by some big wig criminals. Moving to Scotland, Edinburgh is perfect for her, new job, new flat at a bargain price she is ready for good things. However she moves underneath a singer, the flooring between the two is almost non existent and she can hear EVERYTHING. When polite attempts to get him to stop become hostile, Cat is losing sleep, it is impacting her new job, her health and she can take no more. Desperate she goes to an "event" with new work colleague Agnes, where Satan is worshipped because when you are desperate you will try anything and straight laced no nonsense Cat knows it isn't real anyway, it is?
So the book kind of breaks down into a few parts, the sensible lady with the absolute nightmare neighbour and the passive aggressive battle. You feel her anxiety as she becomes more sleep deprived and the war upstairs has really just began. But when it seems to have worked and Cat no longer has to worry about the musician she starts to worry about the cost. Everywhere she turns there seems to be a thread, the good stuff doesn't seem to come without strings and on top of all that she is investigating a potential fraud case that will see her in even bigger trouble than her last one.
Satanism, murder, friendship, sex, lust, devil worship, witches - there is a lot going on in this book. I think I liked it so much because Cat stays so grounded, a realist that even when things start to go a bit spooky she comes at it with a realist attitude. Often in books like this that can be missing so it was a refreshing change, I thought, and I liked how she was drawn into everything. A book that keeps you guessing is always a good shout, there was one or two things I was left a bit hanging with but that is going to be grand for the book chat discussion, reader speculation!
This was my first time reading this author and I would absolutely read them again, creepy vibes weaved in and out an "ordinary" every day person facing an every day issue, nightmare neighbour and the old actions and consequences scenario, I do like that. 3.5/5 for me this time, I would have liked a bit more insight into a few things within the story and I wonder if the author will ever revisit any of these characters, I certainly would like to read more on them!
Pages - 304
Publisher - Black & White Publishing
Source - from the book group for discussion
Blurb from Goodreads
In a quiet corner of Edinburgh, Cat Thomas is going through hell.
She’s tried everything. He respects nothing.
If your neighbour was making your life hell ...
Would you call upon the devil?
Cat Thomas, a brilliant fraud investigator, has just relocated from Florida to a dreamy flat in historic Edinburgh. Everything seems perfect. Everything seems serene. Except for the unbelievably noisy wannabe rockstar upstairs.
Soon Cat’s blissful new life is in ruins. Desperate, she's willing to try anything. When all else fails, she makes an appeal ... to Satan.
And suddenly everything is eerily quiet. But her nightmare has only just begun ...
My Review
Cat Thomas has already had her fingers burned, she is a fraud investigator and her last case saw her safety being threatened by some big wig criminals. Moving to Scotland, Edinburgh is perfect for her, new job, new flat at a bargain price she is ready for good things. However she moves underneath a singer, the flooring between the two is almost non existent and she can hear EVERYTHING. When polite attempts to get him to stop become hostile, Cat is losing sleep, it is impacting her new job, her health and she can take no more. Desperate she goes to an "event" with new work colleague Agnes, where Satan is worshipped because when you are desperate you will try anything and straight laced no nonsense Cat knows it isn't real anyway, it is?
So the book kind of breaks down into a few parts, the sensible lady with the absolute nightmare neighbour and the passive aggressive battle. You feel her anxiety as she becomes more sleep deprived and the war upstairs has really just began. But when it seems to have worked and Cat no longer has to worry about the musician she starts to worry about the cost. Everywhere she turns there seems to be a thread, the good stuff doesn't seem to come without strings and on top of all that she is investigating a potential fraud case that will see her in even bigger trouble than her last one.
Satanism, murder, friendship, sex, lust, devil worship, witches - there is a lot going on in this book. I think I liked it so much because Cat stays so grounded, a realist that even when things start to go a bit spooky she comes at it with a realist attitude. Often in books like this that can be missing so it was a refreshing change, I thought, and I liked how she was drawn into everything. A book that keeps you guessing is always a good shout, there was one or two things I was left a bit hanging with but that is going to be grand for the book chat discussion, reader speculation!
This was my first time reading this author and I would absolutely read them again, creepy vibes weaved in and out an "ordinary" every day person facing an every day issue, nightmare neighbour and the old actions and consequences scenario, I do like that. 3.5/5 for me this time, I would have liked a bit more insight into a few things within the story and I wonder if the author will ever revisit any of these characters, I certainly would like to read more on them!
October 16, 2019
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher.
Compelling, enigmatic, and deliciously dark, THE DEVIL UPSTAIRS by Anthony O'Neill is truly unique and held me captive from beginning to end.
Cat Thomas has had a traumatic past but she is tough and has built a reputation for herself as a fantastic fraud investigator. But after taking down a crime organisation in Florida, her home, she knows that it is time for a change and relocates to beautiful Edinburgh, where she has always felt an affinity. Soon she has settled into the perfect flat, has begun her new job, and is even making friends, which for Cat is definitely not the norm. Life is perfect. Or is it? Cat soon discovers that she has a neighbour who is a musician in the flat upstairs and she can hear everything - from him going to the bathroom to closing a press. And what's worse is that he is rude and unhelpful, and appears to enjoy making noise just to annoy her. Soon Cat isn't able to sleep, her work starts to spiral downwards and she feels like she is losing her mind. She would do anything to make this guy stop, even go to a charade of a meeting where everyone claims to be witches and worship Satan. It's not like it was real, right?
But when her neighbour ends up murdered, Cat begins to worry and as more dead bodies start to appear, all people who are making life difficult for Cat, it looks like someone is willing to do whatever it takes to make life easier for her ...
The devil is in the detail and boy does the detail work well in this story. The characters are quirky and interesting, and while it took a while to get to know Cat, I liked her instantly and wanted her to be happy. The mystic ambience that exudes from Edinburgh as a city is well portrayed and added that extra something to the drama and dark magic that was taking place throughout the story. There are plenty of twists and turns and I loved the fresh approach taken by the author at the end which made the story even more enjoyable.
THE DEVIL UPSTAIRS by Anthony O'Neill really defies being locked into a specific genre because it is truly distinctive but if you love a good mystery with an excellent setting and refreshing characters and plotlines, than THE DEVIL UPSTAIRS is for you. I look forward to more from this author.
Compelling, enigmatic, and deliciously dark, THE DEVIL UPSTAIRS by Anthony O'Neill is truly unique and held me captive from beginning to end.
Cat Thomas has had a traumatic past but she is tough and has built a reputation for herself as a fantastic fraud investigator. But after taking down a crime organisation in Florida, her home, she knows that it is time for a change and relocates to beautiful Edinburgh, where she has always felt an affinity. Soon she has settled into the perfect flat, has begun her new job, and is even making friends, which for Cat is definitely not the norm. Life is perfect. Or is it? Cat soon discovers that she has a neighbour who is a musician in the flat upstairs and she can hear everything - from him going to the bathroom to closing a press. And what's worse is that he is rude and unhelpful, and appears to enjoy making noise just to annoy her. Soon Cat isn't able to sleep, her work starts to spiral downwards and she feels like she is losing her mind. She would do anything to make this guy stop, even go to a charade of a meeting where everyone claims to be witches and worship Satan. It's not like it was real, right?
But when her neighbour ends up murdered, Cat begins to worry and as more dead bodies start to appear, all people who are making life difficult for Cat, it looks like someone is willing to do whatever it takes to make life easier for her ...
The devil is in the detail and boy does the detail work well in this story. The characters are quirky and interesting, and while it took a while to get to know Cat, I liked her instantly and wanted her to be happy. The mystic ambience that exudes from Edinburgh as a city is well portrayed and added that extra something to the drama and dark magic that was taking place throughout the story. There are plenty of twists and turns and I loved the fresh approach taken by the author at the end which made the story even more enjoyable.
THE DEVIL UPSTAIRS by Anthony O'Neill really defies being locked into a specific genre because it is truly distinctive but if you love a good mystery with an excellent setting and refreshing characters and plotlines, than THE DEVIL UPSTAIRS is for you. I look forward to more from this author.
December 5, 2019
Cat has arrived in Edinburgh, starting a new job. She lived in Florida and was very successful until her position meant that she was getting threats and it was time to move. She investigates fraud in banking and has a nose for what goes on under the surface. She buys a flat which appears a real steal, she then finds out why. The person in the flat above is hellishly noisy and despite all her best efforts she is kept awake most nights as he bangs and clatters his way around. She finds a friend at work in Alice who after Cat being sleep deprived and having to take herself to a hotel a couple of nights a week, comes up with a possible answer. What transpires is beyond Cat’s imagination and just who is the dishy new owner of the upstairs flat who is so steely quiet? Oooh!!! I loved this. There was a magic about it- of the writing and the plot and characters that made me smile and transfixed me between the pages. As they say ”The devil is in the detail” and this does it so well. Details that don’t bog a reader down as some books do but enough to stimulate the imagination- you can picture Cat and Alice easily and how they tackle life. Cat is a gritty woman and very likeable and you can’t help but root for her. As the saying goes ”be careful what you wish for... it may very well come true”! A truly wonderful, very different entertaining read.
October 20, 2019
The Devil Upstairs is a dark yet intriguing read with a gripping and entertaining plot that I just couldn’t get enough of. It was well written and had some had great characters which I felt were very well written and developed. I really felt for the main character Cat, who was having a trouble with a noisy neighbour, especially as I myself, can hear nearly everything our neighbour does through the walls of our house, and it can be very frustrating and while you’re trying to get some good sleep.
There are some really cleverly written twists that I wasn’t expecting at all, and the ending was really good and satisfying.
This was such a fab read. It had me hooked right from the start. This was my first book by Anthony O’Neill and if his other books are like this one then definitely won’t be my last.
If you love a good dark suspense novel with a chilling plot I think this would be an ideal read.
I would like to thank Jaz at Black & White Publishing for sending me both an eBook through NetGalley and a physical hardback copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
There are some really cleverly written twists that I wasn’t expecting at all, and the ending was really good and satisfying.
This was such a fab read. It had me hooked right from the start. This was my first book by Anthony O’Neill and if his other books are like this one then definitely won’t be my last.
If you love a good dark suspense novel with a chilling plot I think this would be an ideal read.
I would like to thank Jaz at Black & White Publishing for sending me both an eBook through NetGalley and a physical hardback copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
November 10, 2019
I'm ambivalent about this one. The writing is engaging and the plot pulls you in, Edinborough is always a great background for any suspense novel, but there's nothing here we haven't seen before and I'm not sure what the point is - O'Neill himself did it much better in his previous novel, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Seek, which I thought was brilliant. This is why I was so disappointed with this one. Hope his next novels sees him back to form.
September 3, 2019
A very good horror: it's creepy, well written and kept me on the edge till the end.
I loved the atmosphere, the well written cast of characters and the gripping and entertaining plot.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I loved the atmosphere, the well written cast of characters and the gripping and entertaining plot.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
November 22, 2019
This was a brilliant book. Spooky without being scary or creepy. Set in Edinburgh it features Cat who leaves Florida after being involved in investigating a bank scam. Against her best interests she finds herself involved in a similar case with an extra edge. Well written and laced with tongue in the cheek humour! I would recommend you to read this.
August 9, 2022
First third was a good easy thriller. Then it went discovery of witches and the end where she became the devil was ridiculous. Cat is an American fraud investigator who buys a flat in Edinburgh. The descriptions were good as I could visualise them from visiting recently especially Cowgate. (Our Ghost walk). She gets mixed up with witches, as one is a work colleague and it’s downhill from there.
September 10, 2020
Title: The Devil Upstairs
Author: Anthony O’Neill
Pages: 304
Publisher: Black and White Publishing
Rating: 3/5
A huge thank you to Anthony O’Neill, Black and White Publishing and Love Books Group for letting me be part of the tour!
Synopsis:
Cat Thomas has relocated from Florida to Edinburgh for a fresh start and for her own safety. Everything seems perfect, she is living the peaceful life she always wanted, that is until her noisy, Rockstar wannabe neighbour returns home to the flat above her. Her bliss is ruined and her mental health begins to suffer, she is willing to do anything to make him stop, even making an appeal to Satan himself! Suddenly, everything is quiet again but Cat’s nightmare is only just beginning…
Review:
I found the description for this book to be intriguing, it didn’t give much away, but the set the tone and this appealed to me, making me eager to find out more. The reviews also looked promising, some stating that they found it creepy and I hoped it would have the same effect on me. I am a thriller lover so I hoped to be thrilled, and without knowing what to expect, I couldn’t wait to get struck in.
The tone of the book was down to earth, but I couldn’t quite decide if I liked the writing style at first, however the more I progressed the more I connected with this. I also loved how some of the speech was written in Scottish slang, and I found I was reading with the accent in my head!
I found most of the characters to be slightly odd which intrigued me, especially Agnes she was weird but interesting. Robin Boucher was a mysterious character, I was eager to find out more about him, but I was definitely surprised that I had him all wrong. As for Cat, you could feel her despair but at the same time she wasn’t your typical damsel in distress, she had a darkness to her too. Despite these characters being interesting, unfortunately I did struggle to connect with them but I feel that maybe due to their personalities others may find they have the same issue too, they are definitely an acquired taste.
The Devil Upstairs is split into three parts, part two for me felt a little slow compared to part one but the way it ended left me eager for part 3. Throughout all the parts at times I was captured and even taken aback by some of what I was reading which I liked, but at times I did struggle to maintain my level of absorption and struggled to get my head around what was going on. The Devil Upstairs is quite a weird and strange read so I feel this played its part but that aside I loved how weird and strange it actually was! So, at times I was sat on the fence with this one.
The Devil Upstairs is unlike any other book I have read before, it is definitely unique. I was also unable to predict what would happen and how things would work out, the ending made so much sense but I didn’t see it coming so this was a positive for me. I also liked how we had plenty going on to keep the reader on their toes, we had satanism, murder, friendships, lust and witches to name a few aspects! The pace in which we had all this was a good pace, it didn’t take me long to get through.
By reading The Devil Upstairs I also learnt things I never knew about Satanist’s views, it was a dark read but also informative at times with it. The book also highlights that you have to be careful what you wish for and that inside of us we all have a dark side; we have to decide if we let this out or not.
So, to summarise this was an intriguing read that weirded me out at times, despite not overly exciting me in a way I’d hoped. The Devil Upstairs is definitely a read for Winter Nights and would be perfect for a Halloween read!
Author: Anthony O’Neill
Pages: 304
Publisher: Black and White Publishing
Rating: 3/5
A huge thank you to Anthony O’Neill, Black and White Publishing and Love Books Group for letting me be part of the tour!
Synopsis:
Cat Thomas has relocated from Florida to Edinburgh for a fresh start and for her own safety. Everything seems perfect, she is living the peaceful life she always wanted, that is until her noisy, Rockstar wannabe neighbour returns home to the flat above her. Her bliss is ruined and her mental health begins to suffer, she is willing to do anything to make him stop, even making an appeal to Satan himself! Suddenly, everything is quiet again but Cat’s nightmare is only just beginning…
Review:
I found the description for this book to be intriguing, it didn’t give much away, but the set the tone and this appealed to me, making me eager to find out more. The reviews also looked promising, some stating that they found it creepy and I hoped it would have the same effect on me. I am a thriller lover so I hoped to be thrilled, and without knowing what to expect, I couldn’t wait to get struck in.
The tone of the book was down to earth, but I couldn’t quite decide if I liked the writing style at first, however the more I progressed the more I connected with this. I also loved how some of the speech was written in Scottish slang, and I found I was reading with the accent in my head!
I found most of the characters to be slightly odd which intrigued me, especially Agnes she was weird but interesting. Robin Boucher was a mysterious character, I was eager to find out more about him, but I was definitely surprised that I had him all wrong. As for Cat, you could feel her despair but at the same time she wasn’t your typical damsel in distress, she had a darkness to her too. Despite these characters being interesting, unfortunately I did struggle to connect with them but I feel that maybe due to their personalities others may find they have the same issue too, they are definitely an acquired taste.
The Devil Upstairs is split into three parts, part two for me felt a little slow compared to part one but the way it ended left me eager for part 3. Throughout all the parts at times I was captured and even taken aback by some of what I was reading which I liked, but at times I did struggle to maintain my level of absorption and struggled to get my head around what was going on. The Devil Upstairs is quite a weird and strange read so I feel this played its part but that aside I loved how weird and strange it actually was! So, at times I was sat on the fence with this one.
The Devil Upstairs is unlike any other book I have read before, it is definitely unique. I was also unable to predict what would happen and how things would work out, the ending made so much sense but I didn’t see it coming so this was a positive for me. I also liked how we had plenty going on to keep the reader on their toes, we had satanism, murder, friendships, lust and witches to name a few aspects! The pace in which we had all this was a good pace, it didn’t take me long to get through.
By reading The Devil Upstairs I also learnt things I never knew about Satanist’s views, it was a dark read but also informative at times with it. The book also highlights that you have to be careful what you wish for and that inside of us we all have a dark side; we have to decide if we let this out or not.
So, to summarise this was an intriguing read that weirded me out at times, despite not overly exciting me in a way I’d hoped. The Devil Upstairs is definitely a read for Winter Nights and would be perfect for a Halloween read!
September 9, 2020
This book was so much fun. with just the right mix of horror, mystery and pitch black humour to make it a hugely entertaining read.
Cat Thomas, fraud investigator from Miami, goes back to her Scottish roots by relocating to Edinburgh for what she hopes will be a quiet life, but her dreams are quite literally smashed to pieces by the presence of the noisy neighbour from hell in the flat upstairs. Night after night with very little sleep leads Cat to think some extremely dark thoughts about the fate of Mr Noisy Neighbour, and pushed to the very edge she embarks on a course of action that will take her on an unexpected, dangerous and violent journey... but no spoilers in this review.
Cat makes for a very likeable protagonist, and her work-mate, self-confessed witch, Agnes is an absolute hoot. There are also some gritty bad guys, not the least of which is Mr Noisy upstairs, as Cat finds herself on the trail of some crafty criminals as well as trying to resolve her own personal issues.
The story runs at full tilt, as the pages fly by, and all the threads work themselves out in a most enjoyable way - with the kind of ending that I did not see coming, but found most delicious. There is an undeniable feel of Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby, weirdly entwined with a vein of Neil Gaimanesque macabre humour that I found eerily diverting, and somehow that dark and tormented story feels right at home in Edinburgh.
As a connoisseur of excellent book titles, I also have to say that this a corker - very clever Mr O'Neill!
There is scope here for a sequel that could be most intriguing, and I would dearly love it if Anthony O'Neill decided to take up his pen and write more for Cat, and the adorably foul-mouthed Agnes, as they could have a rollicking time together setting the world to rights!
Cat Thomas, fraud investigator from Miami, goes back to her Scottish roots by relocating to Edinburgh for what she hopes will be a quiet life, but her dreams are quite literally smashed to pieces by the presence of the noisy neighbour from hell in the flat upstairs. Night after night with very little sleep leads Cat to think some extremely dark thoughts about the fate of Mr Noisy Neighbour, and pushed to the very edge she embarks on a course of action that will take her on an unexpected, dangerous and violent journey... but no spoilers in this review.
Cat makes for a very likeable protagonist, and her work-mate, self-confessed witch, Agnes is an absolute hoot. There are also some gritty bad guys, not the least of which is Mr Noisy upstairs, as Cat finds herself on the trail of some crafty criminals as well as trying to resolve her own personal issues.
The story runs at full tilt, as the pages fly by, and all the threads work themselves out in a most enjoyable way - with the kind of ending that I did not see coming, but found most delicious. There is an undeniable feel of Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby, weirdly entwined with a vein of Neil Gaimanesque macabre humour that I found eerily diverting, and somehow that dark and tormented story feels right at home in Edinburgh.
As a connoisseur of excellent book titles, I also have to say that this a corker - very clever Mr O'Neill!
There is scope here for a sequel that could be most intriguing, and I would dearly love it if Anthony O'Neill decided to take up his pen and write more for Cat, and the adorably foul-mouthed Agnes, as they could have a rollicking time together setting the world to rights!
October 7, 2020
Thanks to the author, publisher and Love Books Tours for the digital copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
This was a great book to kick off my September reading, when my reading preferences lean towards the eerie and peculiar. Cat is a strong character who is finding her feet in a foreign land. With the help of her larger than life colleague and friend, Agnes, she tries to settle into her new life and learn the local customs and dialect which has done humorous moments.
Agnes soon becomes more than eccentric though as she takes Cat on a journey into the darker side of Edinburgh and it’s history. Things begin to happen to those who have crossed Cat and she struggles to reconcile what is happening with what she hardly dares accept as being true.
Robin Boucher was a slick character, and I imagined him stepping out of one of Joey Tribuani’s episodes of Days Of Our Lives, but I felt that persona worked for this particular character.
Edinburgh itself is almost a character of its own and having visited there many times, I could picture the cobbles streets and stunning architecture.
I enjoyed the pace of the story as it raced towards its finale and the ending was perfect for me. A great, quirky read for autumn! 3.5 / 5 stars
This was a great book to kick off my September reading, when my reading preferences lean towards the eerie and peculiar. Cat is a strong character who is finding her feet in a foreign land. With the help of her larger than life colleague and friend, Agnes, she tries to settle into her new life and learn the local customs and dialect which has done humorous moments.
Agnes soon becomes more than eccentric though as she takes Cat on a journey into the darker side of Edinburgh and it’s history. Things begin to happen to those who have crossed Cat and she struggles to reconcile what is happening with what she hardly dares accept as being true.
Robin Boucher was a slick character, and I imagined him stepping out of one of Joey Tribuani’s episodes of Days Of Our Lives, but I felt that persona worked for this particular character.
Edinburgh itself is almost a character of its own and having visited there many times, I could picture the cobbles streets and stunning architecture.
I enjoyed the pace of the story as it raced towards its finale and the ending was perfect for me. A great, quirky read for autumn! 3.5 / 5 stars
September 13, 2020
This book was pure perfection. It had everything I love; mysterious characters, thrilling scenes, and that addictive, story-telling element that forces you to read pages and pages without a break. I just couldn’t get enough! Such a dark, captivating read that I recommend to everyone who loves a good thriller. Things aren’t always as they seem with this one!
Witches, satanic rituals and the devil upstairs quite literally make this one of the most weird yet wonderful books I’ve read this year. Completely thrilling from beginning to end, this book combines an intense horror with a demonic story line to create an addictive, mesmerising read. I’m gobsmacked, but at the same time, I loved everything about this book! The author throws you off course constantly and creates the ultimate twist that not even the best detective could have predicted. I’d definitely recommend for anyone who loves a thriller but is craving something that little bit different to the norm. Absolutely incredible!
Read my full review over on my blog: https://aquintillionwords.com/2020/09...
Witches, satanic rituals and the devil upstairs quite literally make this one of the most weird yet wonderful books I’ve read this year. Completely thrilling from beginning to end, this book combines an intense horror with a demonic story line to create an addictive, mesmerising read. I’m gobsmacked, but at the same time, I loved everything about this book! The author throws you off course constantly and creates the ultimate twist that not even the best detective could have predicted. I’d definitely recommend for anyone who loves a thriller but is craving something that little bit different to the norm. Absolutely incredible!
Read my full review over on my blog: https://aquintillionwords.com/2020/09...
June 7, 2021
I really, really want to give this book, this weird, quirky, tipsy turkey read of a novel no stars but the Devil is making me give it 5 and you know what? When the devil makes you do something you go helter-skelter along for the ride.
Cat Thomas is a completely different heroine for the new millennium-I hope so much to meet with her again, because I loved, laughed, thrilled, shook my head in disbelief at this book but, in the end, I enjoyed myself no end and, in these miserable fag end days of Covid, that’s no mean feat, not at all. I live in Scotland and I spend all my time here and I can honestly say that everything you read about Scotland in this book is true. We are inhabited by the drunk, louche, pugilistic, immoral, drug-addled, fraudulent, lousiest of acolytes and, guess what, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Rejoice in this book-it’s a hoot (an owl’s hoot in a foggy foggy - “har” to the initiated -night in Edinburgh) but nevertheless a hoot; read it and reap your revenge.........
Cat Thomas is a completely different heroine for the new millennium-I hope so much to meet with her again, because I loved, laughed, thrilled, shook my head in disbelief at this book but, in the end, I enjoyed myself no end and, in these miserable fag end days of Covid, that’s no mean feat, not at all. I live in Scotland and I spend all my time here and I can honestly say that everything you read about Scotland in this book is true. We are inhabited by the drunk, louche, pugilistic, immoral, drug-addled, fraudulent, lousiest of acolytes and, guess what, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Rejoice in this book-it’s a hoot (an owl’s hoot in a foggy foggy - “har” to the initiated -night in Edinburgh) but nevertheless a hoot; read it and reap your revenge.........
September 7, 2020
This story is not what it first seems to be, and that's its charm. Told from Cat's point of view the story follows her moving from Florida to Edinburgh after a dangerous case in the world of financial fraud. She is a likeable character and relatable, but she has secrets as everyone does.
The real story begins when Cat's idyllic new start is ruined by and a noisy and obnoxious neighbour. This story remains credible because Cat's feelings are recognisable and make her easy to empathise. Her meeting with Agnes and the strange encounter at the castle change Cat's life.
The plot is a mix of noir crime, noir humour and suspense with paranormal elements. Cat isn't sure whether she is losing her mind, a victim of organised crime or something less quantifiable. The final twist will be unexpected for most and gives the story a powerful conclusion.
I received a copy of this book from BW Publishing in return for an honest review.
The real story begins when Cat's idyllic new start is ruined by and a noisy and obnoxious neighbour. This story remains credible because Cat's feelings are recognisable and make her easy to empathise. Her meeting with Agnes and the strange encounter at the castle change Cat's life.
The plot is a mix of noir crime, noir humour and suspense with paranormal elements. Cat isn't sure whether she is losing her mind, a victim of organised crime or something less quantifiable. The final twist will be unexpected for most and gives the story a powerful conclusion.
I received a copy of this book from BW Publishing in return for an honest review.
June 22, 2024
What the actual….
I picked this because… Edinburgh. Quite possibly my favourite place on Earth. It’s dark, and smoky, and haunted with history, but it’s also beautiful, and atmospheric, and filled with culture. Why does fiction always paint it in such existentially dark colours?
I picked this because… Edinburgh. Quite possibly my favourite place on Earth. It’s dark, and smoky, and haunted with history, but it’s also beautiful, and atmospheric, and filled with culture. Why does fiction always paint it in such existentially dark colours?
June 14, 2020
weird story!
September 2, 2020
This story was just not believable (as in I could suspend disbelief) and the main character was very clearly written by a man. Just very unfemale like to me.
May 15, 2021
Not my usual read , little twist at the end , readable , not brilliant
April 24, 2022
A completely different book page turner but u gotta love supernatural stuff
September 26, 2022
A little farfetched but it still kept me coming back to it ☺️ the twist at the end was a little absurd but I still enjoyed the journey getting there!!
July 3, 2025
Did this have an editor? So many errors and missing words in my copy that a previous reader had actually taken a pencil to it to correct the multitudes.
September 26, 2025
enjoyable, fast paced, wasn't too happy with how it ended but overall good read
February 13, 2020
What can I say about this one? I read it pretty quickly, so that is a good sign. It kept my attention the whole time too; but there is definitely something missing.
The story reads like a good gossip, one that you just want to know more about, but the writing is not up there, honestly. At some points it made my eyes roll, like when he spends almost an entire page describing the sounds a chair makes or the flushing of the toilet by writing “whoooshhhh, trrrrrsch, eeeeeekkkk”. I mean, wth?
What I did love about the book is that it takes place in Edinburgh, so I knew exactly where and what he was taking about the whole time. Loved that, truly.
Story is about a woman who moves into a new flat and has the most horrid neighbour upstairs that makes her life a living hell with all the racket he makes. Long story short, she turns to Satan to help her with the problem, lol.
Oh! Ending is a bit of a floozy.
All in all, a meh quick read.
The story reads like a good gossip, one that you just want to know more about, but the writing is not up there, honestly. At some points it made my eyes roll, like when he spends almost an entire page describing the sounds a chair makes or the flushing of the toilet by writing “whoooshhhh, trrrrrsch, eeeeeekkkk”. I mean, wth?
What I did love about the book is that it takes place in Edinburgh, so I knew exactly where and what he was taking about the whole time. Loved that, truly.
Story is about a woman who moves into a new flat and has the most horrid neighbour upstairs that makes her life a living hell with all the racket he makes. Long story short, she turns to Satan to help her with the problem, lol.
Oh! Ending is a bit of a floozy.
All in all, a meh quick read.
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