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The Devil You Know
Up until yesterday I knew who I was. Up until yesterday my life wasn't a lie. Rosa Fisher is the smart girl, the good girl. At twenty-five and mid-way through a PhD in the psychology of fraud, she thinks she has herself all figured out. Until that night, when the house is dark and she is all alone, and she hears an intruder on the stairs. But the intruder isn't looking for Rosa Fisher. He's after someone else. And everything Rosa has ever known about her world is about to be turned upside down. Determined to find out who she really is, Rosa traces her origins back to a small Canadian town, to a fire in a barn and a devastating family tragedy. Which forces her to question - if she can lie with such ease, was she ever really the good girl after all?
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 18, 2019
23 people are currently reading
553 people want to read
About the author
Emma Kavanagh
15 books321 followersEmma Kavanagh was born and raised in South Wales. After graduating with a PhD in Psychology from Cardiff University, she spent many years working as a police and military psychologist, training firearms officers, command staff and military personnel throughout the UK and Europe. Now she is lucky enough to be able to write for a living. She lives in South Wales with her husband, young sons, and a dog named Dobby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
April 12, 2020
Title ‘Devil You Know’
4-5 stars rounded up.
One barn fire which transpires to be a murder suicide scene in Canada in September 1995, a few weeks later an abandoned baby in Madison, Wisconsin in November 1995, a half brother that seems to be untraceable and a missing boy. How do these connect? Rosa Fisher is midway through her psychology PhD studies and after a break in at her house which led to an accident which requires hospitalisation she makes a discovery that opens a huge can of worms. This is the second of the Jackson Wolf trilogy but can be read as a standalone as the main focus in this one is Rosa.
This is a very well written novel with good characters, in particular Rosa who is creative, intelligent, instinctive and brave which does lead to some foolhardy actions which she is powerless to stop as she’s drawn to finding the truth like a moth to a flame. She utilises all her psychology knowledge and background to solve the mystery which Wolf can help unlock. However, as she gets closer and her knowledge increases it’s as if she gone down a dangerous Alice style rabbit hole. From the start of the book to the end there is a sense of mystery and intrigue, there’s fear because it’s a dangerous pursuit and as the revelations are revealed the story gets shockingly twisty. Relief comes in the form of occasional dark humour which helps break some tension and there’s real love and care from Rosa’s family. There are occasions where it’s emotional too and it becomes difficult for Rosa to know who to trust. It’s good to see DS Alice Parr from the Met and Captain Gabriel Ortero of the NYPD who make a brief but welcome appearance as I like both of those characters from To Catch a Killer, the first of the Jackson Wolf trilogy. I really like the end of this book as it sets us up nicely for the third book and I for one can’t wait!!
Overall, another excellent read from Emma Kavanagh who writes really good psychological thrillers and I recommend both this book and her as an author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orion Books for the ARC.
4-5 stars rounded up.
One barn fire which transpires to be a murder suicide scene in Canada in September 1995, a few weeks later an abandoned baby in Madison, Wisconsin in November 1995, a half brother that seems to be untraceable and a missing boy. How do these connect? Rosa Fisher is midway through her psychology PhD studies and after a break in at her house which led to an accident which requires hospitalisation she makes a discovery that opens a huge can of worms. This is the second of the Jackson Wolf trilogy but can be read as a standalone as the main focus in this one is Rosa.
This is a very well written novel with good characters, in particular Rosa who is creative, intelligent, instinctive and brave which does lead to some foolhardy actions which she is powerless to stop as she’s drawn to finding the truth like a moth to a flame. She utilises all her psychology knowledge and background to solve the mystery which Wolf can help unlock. However, as she gets closer and her knowledge increases it’s as if she gone down a dangerous Alice style rabbit hole. From the start of the book to the end there is a sense of mystery and intrigue, there’s fear because it’s a dangerous pursuit and as the revelations are revealed the story gets shockingly twisty. Relief comes in the form of occasional dark humour which helps break some tension and there’s real love and care from Rosa’s family. There are occasions where it’s emotional too and it becomes difficult for Rosa to know who to trust. It’s good to see DS Alice Parr from the Met and Captain Gabriel Ortero of the NYPD who make a brief but welcome appearance as I like both of those characters from To Catch a Killer, the first of the Jackson Wolf trilogy. I really like the end of this book as it sets us up nicely for the third book and I for one can’t wait!!
Overall, another excellent read from Emma Kavanagh who writes really good psychological thrillers and I recommend both this book and her as an author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orion Books for the ARC.
May 20, 2020
The Devil You Know was another fantastic read from Emma Kavanagh who is busy putting the psychological back into psychological thriller, with this novel she takes one woman's search for the truth of her parentage and turns it into a massively addictive page turner that gets your brain working overtime both practically and emotionally.
A break in leads Rosa to hospital where a blood donation leads to a shock revelation. But maybe tracking down her birth family won't be the defining moment Rosa has been looking for. And her good girl persona will take a bit of a beating...
This is a cleverly crafted tale that within the midst of its intriguing mystery, looks at themes of nature v nurture and how we fit in with those we are close to. A self contained story with a wider loose connection, The Devil You Know is brilliant, both in storytelling and in resonance and I highly recommend it.
A break in leads Rosa to hospital where a blood donation leads to a shock revelation. But maybe tracking down her birth family won't be the defining moment Rosa has been looking for. And her good girl persona will take a bit of a beating...
This is a cleverly crafted tale that within the midst of its intriguing mystery, looks at themes of nature v nurture and how we fit in with those we are close to. A self contained story with a wider loose connection, The Devil You Know is brilliant, both in storytelling and in resonance and I highly recommend it.
May 7, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for an advance copy of The Devil You Know, a stand-alone thriller set in Madison, Wisconsin.
An intruder in her home leads 25 year old Rosa Fisher to learn that she was adopted in unusual circumstances. She is determined to investigate her past and it leads her to death and destruction in a small Canadian town and a telnet for deception she didn’t realise she had.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Devil You Know which is a tense thriller, full of twists and turns, the biggest of which are left for the finale. Apart from the prologue the novel is told exclusively from Rosa’s first person point of view. There are pros and cons to this depending on how you view Rosa. The good is that the reader can get totally immersed in her story and live it with her. She has a strong voice and a compulsive story to tell so it’s an easy read. On the downside, for an educated woman pursuing a PhD in criminal psychology she makes some frustrating (for the reader) choices and I could feel myself slapping my forehead at her decisions. It is a sign of a good book that I got involved enough to lament her decision making. It could further be argued that the emotion of the situation overrode her training and knowledge and that it makes for a better read but there’s definitely a few “oh no, why are you doing this?” moments.
This is a clever novel with a well conceived plot that draws the reader in from the start. The atmosphere is tense and edgy with some great twists thrown in to keep the reader even more off balance. The novel centres around a character who has appeared in a previous novel but works well as a stand alone. As the author explains in an excellent afterword there will be a further novel exploring this character’s interactions with a third woman. This is hinted at at the end of this novel. I like this idea of three stand-alones that explore one man’s psyche. It’s even better that the first two are good reads so I’m itching to get my hands on the third.
The Devil You Know is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
An intruder in her home leads 25 year old Rosa Fisher to learn that she was adopted in unusual circumstances. She is determined to investigate her past and it leads her to death and destruction in a small Canadian town and a telnet for deception she didn’t realise she had.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Devil You Know which is a tense thriller, full of twists and turns, the biggest of which are left for the finale. Apart from the prologue the novel is told exclusively from Rosa’s first person point of view. There are pros and cons to this depending on how you view Rosa. The good is that the reader can get totally immersed in her story and live it with her. She has a strong voice and a compulsive story to tell so it’s an easy read. On the downside, for an educated woman pursuing a PhD in criminal psychology she makes some frustrating (for the reader) choices and I could feel myself slapping my forehead at her decisions. It is a sign of a good book that I got involved enough to lament her decision making. It could further be argued that the emotion of the situation overrode her training and knowledge and that it makes for a better read but there’s definitely a few “oh no, why are you doing this?” moments.
This is a clever novel with a well conceived plot that draws the reader in from the start. The atmosphere is tense and edgy with some great twists thrown in to keep the reader even more off balance. The novel centres around a character who has appeared in a previous novel but works well as a stand alone. As the author explains in an excellent afterword there will be a further novel exploring this character’s interactions with a third woman. This is hinted at at the end of this novel. I like this idea of three stand-alones that explore one man’s psyche. It’s even better that the first two are good reads so I’m itching to get my hands on the third.
The Devil You Know is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
May 28, 2020
The Devil You Know is a standalone novel set in Madison, Wisconsin and is Ms Kavanagh’s sixth thriller in which she uses her degree in psychology to give the plot a hefty dose of realism and intrigue. It is the second book in the Detective Superintendent Alice Parr trilogy, in which she chases master manipulator and career criminal Jackson Wolf from city to city and continent to continent, and although preferable it is not necessary to have read the series opener to enjoy this one as the plot is self-contained. When twenty-five-year-old Rosa Fisher is awoken one night by an intruder in her home she is, like all of us would be, terrified. Is she imagining it or has someone really broken in and if so what do they want? The injuries sustained accidentally during the attack led her to seek medical attention where her identity is questioned when she hands over details of herself; details she truly believed to be true. She decides then to investigate the fact that she may not be who she, for many years, thought she was and this shocks her to the core. The PhD student who was studying the psychology of fraud may, ironically, be subject a huge, devastating fraud herself.
This is a captivating slow-burn mystery where the author not only takes the time to develop the plot but also the cast of characters who are really well fleshed out and mostly easy to relate to. It must be so scary to hand over your details and be told that they are incorrect when they are all you've known your entire life and it takes guts and ballsiness to take the decision to search for the truth of your adoption and the circumstances surrounding it no matter what they may be. It's a tautly plotted, well-written yarn that becomes ever more twisty as it progresses and the feeling of danger and fear as Alice effectively descends into the rabbit hole is palpable. Rosa is a great protagonist who is easy to relate to and I admired her intelligence, strength and resilience at a time when many would've given up on the truth. The dark and emotionally resonant plot is given some contrast by the black humour interspersed throughout which I felt lightened the story well. This is an excellent psychological thriller that hooks you in and keeps you riveted until the end. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
This is a captivating slow-burn mystery where the author not only takes the time to develop the plot but also the cast of characters who are really well fleshed out and mostly easy to relate to. It must be so scary to hand over your details and be told that they are incorrect when they are all you've known your entire life and it takes guts and ballsiness to take the decision to search for the truth of your adoption and the circumstances surrounding it no matter what they may be. It's a tautly plotted, well-written yarn that becomes ever more twisty as it progresses and the feeling of danger and fear as Alice effectively descends into the rabbit hole is palpable. Rosa is a great protagonist who is easy to relate to and I admired her intelligence, strength and resilience at a time when many would've given up on the truth. The dark and emotionally resonant plot is given some contrast by the black humour interspersed throughout which I felt lightened the story well. This is an excellent psychological thriller that hooks you in and keeps you riveted until the end. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
August 17, 2024
oh my god this book was just amazing, the amount of plot twists and theories i had just for them to turn out completely wrong was insane
this is very much like a good girls guide to murder in that sense
this is very much like a good girls guide to murder in that sense
January 19, 2022
Packed with twists
June 1, 2020
I didn’t realise until quite far into this book that it was the second in a trilogy by Emma Kavanagh, even though I have actually read the first book featuring Jackson Wolf! In a way it actually didn’t matter as these books will all be standalone stories but I did like the fact that once I connected the dots, I was able to relate back to what had happened in To Catch A Killer to DS Alice Parr and why she also appeared in The Devil You Know. And now I can’t wait for the last book to be released, especially after the epilogue gave more clues and yet another dimension to the man who calls himself Jackson Wolf.
Rosa Fisher is 25 and thinks she knows everything there is to know about her family. But a break-in at her mothers home whilst she is staying there leads to her being seriously injured but more importantly, discovering that the intruder was after something far more important than Rosa herself. The shocking reveal that she is not who she thought she was means that Rosa is about to start on a dangerous journey of self discovery that will bring her into contact with a dangerous individual who will stop at nothing to prevent his secrets being told.
Emma Kavanagh understands the psychology behind what makes us who we are and shows this in the way she has developed the character of Wolf and even though he is mostly a shadowy figure in the background here we are still very aware of him and his actions. I was gripped by Rosa and her strength and determination as she sought to find out the truth about her past and how, if at all, the man called Wolf fits in. As she unravels the facts, the pieces of the puzzle start to fit together but some of them are still missing and I hope they appear the next time we meet him! But I like how the author uses certain points in his life to get us to “understand” the direction he is travelling in although I have a feeling there may be a bit of a u-turn coming!
I love books that leave you thinking about how and why characters change and develop and Emma Kavanagh has left me desperately needing to know more about certain characters in this book. This is a brilliant “series” that grabs the readers attention very quickly and runs with it. Very highly recommended!
Rosa Fisher is 25 and thinks she knows everything there is to know about her family. But a break-in at her mothers home whilst she is staying there leads to her being seriously injured but more importantly, discovering that the intruder was after something far more important than Rosa herself. The shocking reveal that she is not who she thought she was means that Rosa is about to start on a dangerous journey of self discovery that will bring her into contact with a dangerous individual who will stop at nothing to prevent his secrets being told.
Emma Kavanagh understands the psychology behind what makes us who we are and shows this in the way she has developed the character of Wolf and even though he is mostly a shadowy figure in the background here we are still very aware of him and his actions. I was gripped by Rosa and her strength and determination as she sought to find out the truth about her past and how, if at all, the man called Wolf fits in. As she unravels the facts, the pieces of the puzzle start to fit together but some of them are still missing and I hope they appear the next time we meet him! But I like how the author uses certain points in his life to get us to “understand” the direction he is travelling in although I have a feeling there may be a bit of a u-turn coming!
I love books that leave you thinking about how and why characters change and develop and Emma Kavanagh has left me desperately needing to know more about certain characters in this book. This is a brilliant “series” that grabs the readers attention very quickly and runs with it. Very highly recommended!
May 28, 2020
What an absolute blast to read such a thrilling, well constructed novel, it's no surprise that I absolutely loved it.
It is perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter's novels, and , I believe ,is Emma's first U.S set thriller-I haven't yet read all her novels so am prepared to be corrected on this!
As well as being a tautly written tale of suspense, it is a clever twist on identity and belonging as Rose falls-literally and metaphorically- out of her family tree.
The intruder into her house whilst she was there,alone,is a terrifying enough prospect-what happens after completely upends Rose's life.
A quest begins as the woman who is about to publish her research paper on fraud becomes,herself,the perpetrator of multiple frauds as she inveigles her way into records,crime scenes,care homes and so on under the pretence that she is trying to discover who she really is.
In doing so,she is unaware of the entire upheaval she has engendered-soon she is being followed but by who,and to what end? Are they surreptitiously taking her towards the truth of her origin or, are they using her for their own means?
As Rose delves further into where she came from and the levels of deception which kept this knowledge from her, the notion of family,loyalty and secrets is explored in full.
The sense of betrayal is so keenly felt and it's aftermath inevitable. How could you not want to know your origin story? Do parents really expect to keep things from grownup children without consequence?
As I read I kept thinking 'what would you do in the same circumstances ?
How would you react?
Would you search for the familywho a abandoned you? Or would you accept that the one you grew up with was your real family and leave any thought of tracking them down alone?
They say that curiousity killed the cat but then the cat was resurrected by having that satisfied-so is it worth it?
I would absolutelt recommend this read to any thriller lover,it is satisfying, questing and full of edge of your seat suspense . Another winner from Emma!
It is perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter's novels, and , I believe ,is Emma's first U.S set thriller-I haven't yet read all her novels so am prepared to be corrected on this!
As well as being a tautly written tale of suspense, it is a clever twist on identity and belonging as Rose falls-literally and metaphorically- out of her family tree.
The intruder into her house whilst she was there,alone,is a terrifying enough prospect-what happens after completely upends Rose's life.
A quest begins as the woman who is about to publish her research paper on fraud becomes,herself,the perpetrator of multiple frauds as she inveigles her way into records,crime scenes,care homes and so on under the pretence that she is trying to discover who she really is.
In doing so,she is unaware of the entire upheaval she has engendered-soon she is being followed but by who,and to what end? Are they surreptitiously taking her towards the truth of her origin or, are they using her for their own means?
As Rose delves further into where she came from and the levels of deception which kept this knowledge from her, the notion of family,loyalty and secrets is explored in full.
The sense of betrayal is so keenly felt and it's aftermath inevitable. How could you not want to know your origin story? Do parents really expect to keep things from grownup children without consequence?
As I read I kept thinking 'what would you do in the same circumstances ?
How would you react?
Would you search for the familywho a abandoned you? Or would you accept that the one you grew up with was your real family and leave any thought of tracking them down alone?
They say that curiousity killed the cat but then the cat was resurrected by having that satisfied-so is it worth it?
I would absolutelt recommend this read to any thriller lover,it is satisfying, questing and full of edge of your seat suspense . Another winner from Emma!
March 7, 2021
I didn't much enjoy this. Sassy lady psychologist (much Mary Sue here, author?) finds out her family background holds mysterious tragedy, and sets off to seek the truth - all the time pursued by a malevolent bad guy. There are reams of dramatic co-incidences in order to rack up the tension, layer upon layer of the lead character - who at 25 comes over both as ridiculously immature and as unfeasibly wise and resourceful - pulling off lies and feats of bravery, and a number of twists which were very f*cking obvious indeed. I never warmed to the irritating protagonist (apparently a massive science nerd, but not very scientific) and in truth felt a little insulted by the author's slightly patronising and simplistic treatment of what could've been an interesting plot.
July 30, 2024
The suspense starts as soon as you read the book which was great but it was a little slow in the middle and confusing at the end but I still enjoyed the majority of it!
November 25, 2024
3.5 Stars
April 27, 2020
Well, I wasn't aware until I finished reading this book that it is, sort of, part of a series. I say sort of because each of the stories is standalone and yet there are recurring characters between the books and one central character that links them - the elusive Jackson Wolf.
I'll be honest, this book kind of took me by surprise. I've always wanted to read a book by Emma Kavanagh, partly as I mentioned earlier, from having heard her speak at a few festivals but also because of her credentials in terms of personal experience in the field of Psychology. I knew she'd have great insight but I wasn't really ready for how much this story drew me in. The main character in the book, Rosa Fisher, is studying for her PhD, specialising in Fraud and white collar crime, when she finds herself embroiled in a mystery which is intense and ultimately deadly. After her home is broken into, Rosa discovers something unexpected about her past, something that makes her head off in search of the truth, and that puts her well and truly in the sights of the aforementioned Mr Wolf.
From the very beginning of the book I found myself completely drawn into the story. Although the first chapter ends in quite a surprising manner, the rest of story begins in a rather unassuming way. But it doesn't take long for the tension to start to build, with the author taking us not only on a journey into the world of the psychology of fraud via Rosa's studies, but also of fear. The way in which she develops Rosa's post traumatic stress following the break in, and the ensuing paranoia and nervousness as she makes her way to Canada and realises the extent of her situation is really powerful. There is nothing especially gratuitous, no great element of shock employed to set the reader on edge, more it is a culmination of lots of little moments that really gets under your skin and puts you one edge. Add to that the atmospheric tone of the writing and the landscapes, and you are set for all out chills.
The story is full of mystery and intrigue, with plenty to keep you guessing as to the real identity of Jackson Wolf. I know that I developed several theories during the course of the book, one of which proved a lot closer to the truth than most, but still I didn't quite crack it. I loved the kind of contradiction that the author created in Wolf's character. He is without a doubt menacing, and very deadly, and yet there is something about him which makes him hold back a little. You have no doubt that if he wants to, if he feels he needs to, he will not hesitate to kill. This is something that the author is able to explore both for Detectives and readers, using Rosa's experience and training to allow her to confront this aspect of his character. It works well and makes him all the more intriguing to me as a reader. I do love getting to know a character with a dark side ...
I liked the character of Rosa. She is stronger than she feels herself to be, but a little impetuous too, which gets her into trouble more than once. She is someone I was more than happy to follow throughout the book, and although her actions were sometimes foolhardy, they didn't feel forced or unbelievable. Yes, there were times I also wanted to shout at my kindle, wondering what she was playing at, but the ability to generate that kind of frustration with a character's actions is the sign of a good book (or a reader who needs to get out more - I'll leave Ms Kavanagh to analyse the psychology of that one ...)
I'm absolutely hooked now though. From the way in which the narrative really created a clear picture of the setting, of the history and tragedy that informed the main story, this is a series I want to know more about. Without question I'll be going to look out To Catch A Killer to find out what came before. Luckily I just happen to have a copy already ... Happy days.
I'll be honest, this book kind of took me by surprise. I've always wanted to read a book by Emma Kavanagh, partly as I mentioned earlier, from having heard her speak at a few festivals but also because of her credentials in terms of personal experience in the field of Psychology. I knew she'd have great insight but I wasn't really ready for how much this story drew me in. The main character in the book, Rosa Fisher, is studying for her PhD, specialising in Fraud and white collar crime, when she finds herself embroiled in a mystery which is intense and ultimately deadly. After her home is broken into, Rosa discovers something unexpected about her past, something that makes her head off in search of the truth, and that puts her well and truly in the sights of the aforementioned Mr Wolf.
From the very beginning of the book I found myself completely drawn into the story. Although the first chapter ends in quite a surprising manner, the rest of story begins in a rather unassuming way. But it doesn't take long for the tension to start to build, with the author taking us not only on a journey into the world of the psychology of fraud via Rosa's studies, but also of fear. The way in which she develops Rosa's post traumatic stress following the break in, and the ensuing paranoia and nervousness as she makes her way to Canada and realises the extent of her situation is really powerful. There is nothing especially gratuitous, no great element of shock employed to set the reader on edge, more it is a culmination of lots of little moments that really gets under your skin and puts you one edge. Add to that the atmospheric tone of the writing and the landscapes, and you are set for all out chills.
The story is full of mystery and intrigue, with plenty to keep you guessing as to the real identity of Jackson Wolf. I know that I developed several theories during the course of the book, one of which proved a lot closer to the truth than most, but still I didn't quite crack it. I loved the kind of contradiction that the author created in Wolf's character. He is without a doubt menacing, and very deadly, and yet there is something about him which makes him hold back a little. You have no doubt that if he wants to, if he feels he needs to, he will not hesitate to kill. This is something that the author is able to explore both for Detectives and readers, using Rosa's experience and training to allow her to confront this aspect of his character. It works well and makes him all the more intriguing to me as a reader. I do love getting to know a character with a dark side ...
I liked the character of Rosa. She is stronger than she feels herself to be, but a little impetuous too, which gets her into trouble more than once. She is someone I was more than happy to follow throughout the book, and although her actions were sometimes foolhardy, they didn't feel forced or unbelievable. Yes, there were times I also wanted to shout at my kindle, wondering what she was playing at, but the ability to generate that kind of frustration with a character's actions is the sign of a good book (or a reader who needs to get out more - I'll leave Ms Kavanagh to analyse the psychology of that one ...)
I'm absolutely hooked now though. From the way in which the narrative really created a clear picture of the setting, of the history and tragedy that informed the main story, this is a series I want to know more about. Without question I'll be going to look out To Catch A Killer to find out what came before. Luckily I just happen to have a copy already ... Happy days.
May 7, 2020
Rosa has never felt like she belonged in her family. Always the outsider, always that little bit different to her siblings. Then a burglary at her house one night turns her world upside down.
Determined to find out who she really is she traces her roots back to a farm in a small Canadian town.
This book was a bit of a slow burner to start with but once things started to escalate it became very fast paced and exciting! Its tense and edgy with lots of twist and turns. The characters are likeable but I did find Rosa a little bit frustrating at times with her lack of disregard for her own safety and for putting her family through the nightmare of almost losing her numerous times. But I guess that made for a great story, a great heroin and a very "edge of your seat" read!
The ending is spectacular. I did not see the twist coming until it was right in front of my nose!
I would definitely recommend this to all my customers who like a twisty, dark, psychological thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley for this book in exchange for my honest review.
Determined to find out who she really is she traces her roots back to a farm in a small Canadian town.
This book was a bit of a slow burner to start with but once things started to escalate it became very fast paced and exciting! Its tense and edgy with lots of twist and turns. The characters are likeable but I did find Rosa a little bit frustrating at times with her lack of disregard for her own safety and for putting her family through the nightmare of almost losing her numerous times. But I guess that made for a great story, a great heroin and a very "edge of your seat" read!
The ending is spectacular. I did not see the twist coming until it was right in front of my nose!
I would definitely recommend this to all my customers who like a twisty, dark, psychological thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley for this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 24, 2020
I liked it.... I just wasn't gripped by the story. It was interesting but not intense or shocking. It had twists, but nothing hugely twisty. Maybe I'd have enjoyed it more if I read the first book by Emma that was based on Wolf.
Rosa's character didn't really make me feel anything. The most I felt was confusion, I get that she would go looking for her her blood family after she found out, but why did she seem to completely cut off those that had been there for her for years. I think it's because I believe that family is so much more than just having the same dna, so I just couldn't understand from her point of view.
The wolf 'shock' didn't really hold much shock value to me. I'd forgotten who a few characters were towards the end, having to relook at clay, Laurie, Elliott, clays mother, Elizabeth, Anne.... to keep myself updated. There just seemed to be so many characters that didn't hold a lot to the story.
Rosa's character didn't really make me feel anything. The most I felt was confusion, I get that she would go looking for her her blood family after she found out, but why did she seem to completely cut off those that had been there for her for years. I think it's because I believe that family is so much more than just having the same dna, so I just couldn't understand from her point of view.
The wolf 'shock' didn't really hold much shock value to me. I'd forgotten who a few characters were towards the end, having to relook at clay, Laurie, Elliott, clays mother, Elizabeth, Anne.... to keep myself updated. There just seemed to be so many characters that didn't hold a lot to the story.
February 20, 2022
This book was probably one of the least thrilling 'thrillers' I have ever read. It ended up being a meh story, not particularly twisty or suspenseful. Okay, but not going to rock your world. The first half was so turgid I almost gave up reading it. I think I've failed to finish about 16 books in my whole life and I just pushed through but god I was not rewarded for my patience. I think the main reason I found it so boring was that I didn't care about the protagonist. I thought she was an idiot, and it seemed like the author wanted to make her hugely academic in the psychology field for some reason, but then couldn't back that up with much knowledge so it came across a bit like a teenager writing that they were going to be a forensic psychologist and interview interesting psychopaths when they grew up, but really they're 13 and the closest they've ever got was reading books like this.
There was also an error on page 287 where a British police officer (because obviously they travel to the US just to ask an academic about an experience she had with a wanted criminal, that's a thing that happens) says someone is "wanted in connected with" instead of "wanted in connection with." Something a spell check wouldn't have picked up but a proof reader or editor should have.
Anyway if there is literally nothing else to read and you like your protagonist to be allegedly super smart but full of idiotic actions, this is the book for you.
There was also an error on page 287 where a British police officer (because obviously they travel to the US just to ask an academic about an experience she had with a wanted criminal, that's a thing that happens) says someone is "wanted in connected with" instead of "wanted in connection with." Something a spell check wouldn't have picked up but a proof reader or editor should have.
Anyway if there is literally nothing else to read and you like your protagonist to be allegedly super smart but full of idiotic actions, this is the book for you.
October 10, 2020
This was another tense, clever read from this talented author. I was so excited to read another book from her as I’ve really enjoyed her previous books.
Firstly I thought the characters in this book were brilliant. My favourite was definitely Rosa who was a strong, impulsive character who I liked immediately and I enjoyed following her throughout the book. She makes some rather questionable decisions sometimes which gets her into trouble and had me wishing I could somehow go into the book to give her a talking to as I found her so frustrating! I always think this is a sign of a well written character when they can make you feel so strongly about their actions. Jackson Wolf was also an interesting character as although on one hand he was quite terrifying and I felt he’d kill anyone in an instant if he got the chance, on the other I felt there was a hint of something a bit softer about him which I found very intriguing.
The tension in the book gradually increases as the story goes on with the wonderful writing and vivid descriptions ensuring that I couldn’t put this book down. The author has a background in psychology and includes a little bit about the psychology of fraud and the effect it can have on a person. I thought it was incredibly clever how Rosa’s paranoia after the break-in was described as it wasn’t written in a hugely dramatic way but rather with small subtle changes to her which gradually increased as time went on. This made it seem very realistic and meant I felt a lot of sympathy to Rosa.
Overall I really enjoyed this tense, clever read which kept me guessing until the end. I had many theories about who Jackson Wolf was but was proven wrong multiple times which I really enjoyed.
Huge thanks to Alainna from Orion for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Orion for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
Firstly I thought the characters in this book were brilliant. My favourite was definitely Rosa who was a strong, impulsive character who I liked immediately and I enjoyed following her throughout the book. She makes some rather questionable decisions sometimes which gets her into trouble and had me wishing I could somehow go into the book to give her a talking to as I found her so frustrating! I always think this is a sign of a well written character when they can make you feel so strongly about their actions. Jackson Wolf was also an interesting character as although on one hand he was quite terrifying and I felt he’d kill anyone in an instant if he got the chance, on the other I felt there was a hint of something a bit softer about him which I found very intriguing.
The tension in the book gradually increases as the story goes on with the wonderful writing and vivid descriptions ensuring that I couldn’t put this book down. The author has a background in psychology and includes a little bit about the psychology of fraud and the effect it can have on a person. I thought it was incredibly clever how Rosa’s paranoia after the break-in was described as it wasn’t written in a hugely dramatic way but rather with small subtle changes to her which gradually increased as time went on. This made it seem very realistic and meant I felt a lot of sympathy to Rosa.
Overall I really enjoyed this tense, clever read which kept me guessing until the end. I had many theories about who Jackson Wolf was but was proven wrong multiple times which I really enjoyed.
Huge thanks to Alainna from Orion for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Orion for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
October 23, 2023
The Devil You Know is a book that I've had on my shelf for a long time now. And it's always a nice surprise when you finally get around to reading something that you don't remember much about and actually enjoying it.
It's an original story that is well-written, cleverly plotted, and brilliantly developed. With strong characters and a number of interesting twists, I really liked Rosa and her journey to find out the truth. There was certainly a lot of mystery to uncover, and I enjoyed following Rosa's lead.
I think the story could definitely have been darker at times. I especially wanted it to expand on the theme of nature versus nurture. But overall it was an amateur detective story that held my intrigue.
Apparently this is the second of Kavanagh's books which contain a few of the same characters, although not technically a series, but I wouldn't have guessed as I felt like it worked really well as a standalone.
I did find the ending a little messy and wanted everything to be better tied up, but I am definitely excited to read more by this author now.
It's an original story that is well-written, cleverly plotted, and brilliantly developed. With strong characters and a number of interesting twists, I really liked Rosa and her journey to find out the truth. There was certainly a lot of mystery to uncover, and I enjoyed following Rosa's lead.
I think the story could definitely have been darker at times. I especially wanted it to expand on the theme of nature versus nurture. But overall it was an amateur detective story that held my intrigue.
Apparently this is the second of Kavanagh's books which contain a few of the same characters, although not technically a series, but I wouldn't have guessed as I felt like it worked really well as a standalone.
I did find the ending a little messy and wanted everything to be better tied up, but I am definitely excited to read more by this author now.
August 29, 2020
I like that 'The Devil You Know' is told from only one, first-person perspective, that of 25-year-old Rosa Fisher. I found this refreshing in a literary crime world of multiple, changing POVs, as it kept the momentum going.
When Rosa Rosa Fisher decides not to go with her family to Chicago, the home she lives in with her mother is broken into. She hears an intruder deep into the night, while in her bed. When she ventures out armed with a lamp as a weapon, Rosa is sent flying over a flight of stairs, doing her shoulders and brain significant injury. All for some cash, a few personal papers, photographs of Rosa at her graduation and her thesis on why white criminals turn 'red', (in other words, kill). That is, nothing too valuable is taken. This gets Rosa wondering what the intruder was after. It sounded personal.
While in hospital, Rosa discovers from her blood type that she was adopted, and that her family is not whom she thought it was. [Got to say, the prologue has it all wrong, surely.] Forgoing the concerns of her adopted mother, elder sister, Addison, brother, Andrew, and cop brother-in-law, Gray, Rosa embarks on a risky jaunt to find out her origin story. It takes her to her place of birth in small town Canada. I was reminded of a manger, as Rosa's place of birth. Rosa realises she's being stalked, her emails read, her phone hacked. She also figures out, too late, that some things are better left alone. But Rosa can't back out now, because once she's started to unpick the threads, the entire quilt starts to unravel before her eyes. Mayhem, murders and calamity ensues.
Rosa's birth family: mother, father, one brother and a baby were found killed in a barn in Canada 25 years ago. Another brother, Elliott was a school camp in another place. It was ruled murder-suicide by her father, Hadley Lynch. Open and shut case. Rosa was that baby, Mia Lynch. That much Rosa knows. What she hopes to find out is who saved her life as a baby, and where that person is. Also, she would like to meet the only other surviving member of her family, brother, Elliott. These facets, along with the identity of the identity of the burglar in her mother's home, are the bases of the plot. Who is Jackson Wolf? Rosa realises she's getting deeper in danger. The threat is from someone she knows.
While investigating a 25-year-old cold case that the police have given up on, Rosa discovers her own knack for low-level fraud, masquerading as a sham Canadian detective. She interviews her grandmother who is losing her memory in a rest home, the neighbours of her birth family, the new occupant of the original family home, even the childhood friend of one of her brothers, not realising he is a detective.
Rosa doesn't make use of her learnings in her ongoing PhD in forensics psychology, until the very end. This is when the story becomes more compelling. She finally asks herself the questions that should allow her to get into the mind of a psychopaths. What makes psychopaths / the perpetrator tick? What are his motives? Most importantly, what is his next move? Unfortunately, if she'd used these skills earlier, murder wouldn't have followed in her wake. Rosa is helped along by policeman brother-in-law, Gray. The supporting cast of characters that mostly hinder her movements, include her Mom, sister, Addison, brother, Andrew, Laurie, who found her, best friend, Evie, and in the background, two little nieces.
Potential suspects are Elliott Lynch himself and a drifter teen of Rosa's brothers' childhoods, Clay Rutherford.
Things I liked are: the single POV, the unusual theme for the story, the absence of child abuse that could have formed such a story, the small reveals that occur at regular intervals. I liked the description of what a psychopath is, how they think, and ultimately, how to outwit them. The pace of the novel was good, the twists and turns and revelations interesting.
Things I didn't like were to do with the storytelling/ language. They slowed the momentum down as you had to stop and digest them. Firstly: that Rosa's sister and brother, only 6 and 4 years elder to her respectively, kept calling her kid, as did her brother-in-law. With siblings and children of my own, I know that that age difference leads to more a peer relationship. Emma Kavanagh has a habit of inserting double, repeated subjects in her sentences, which is extremely jarring. For example, "these children, they have value to him" instead of 'these children have value to him.' And, "psychopaths, they often have a problem with…" instead of, 'psychopaths often have a problem with…' This happens throughout the book; makes me wonder why the editors didn't edit more extensively, as it didn't read well. There are also errors in vocabulary, e.g. "there is a certain cache to being a single father", when she means 'cachet'.
Then, to the story and plot. As previously mentioned, the prologue is patently wrong. Bookending the story, you have a cliff-hanger, as other reviewers have noted. This is a no-no, in my reading pleasure. Finish the story so it's not dependent on the one after it for a resolution. That did not happen here. In between, I struggled with Rosa's voice at times. She repeated over and over, sometimes thrice in the same page, "who are you?" in her mind, to the unknown antagonist. Rosa comes across as quite whinging, and she made some dumb decisions for someone so rational that she's doing a lecture on statistics.
I would read other books by Emma Kavanagh again, particularly if her writing quirks are smoothed out by editors/ proof-readers.
This review also appears in https://thereadersvault.blogspot.com/... & Amazon.com.
When Rosa Rosa Fisher decides not to go with her family to Chicago, the home she lives in with her mother is broken into. She hears an intruder deep into the night, while in her bed. When she ventures out armed with a lamp as a weapon, Rosa is sent flying over a flight of stairs, doing her shoulders and brain significant injury. All for some cash, a few personal papers, photographs of Rosa at her graduation and her thesis on why white criminals turn 'red', (in other words, kill). That is, nothing too valuable is taken. This gets Rosa wondering what the intruder was after. It sounded personal.
While in hospital, Rosa discovers from her blood type that she was adopted, and that her family is not whom she thought it was. [Got to say, the prologue has it all wrong, surely.] Forgoing the concerns of her adopted mother, elder sister, Addison, brother, Andrew, and cop brother-in-law, Gray, Rosa embarks on a risky jaunt to find out her origin story. It takes her to her place of birth in small town Canada. I was reminded of a manger, as Rosa's place of birth. Rosa realises she's being stalked, her emails read, her phone hacked. She also figures out, too late, that some things are better left alone. But Rosa can't back out now, because once she's started to unpick the threads, the entire quilt starts to unravel before her eyes. Mayhem, murders and calamity ensues.
Rosa's birth family: mother, father, one brother and a baby were found killed in a barn in Canada 25 years ago. Another brother, Elliott was a school camp in another place. It was ruled murder-suicide by her father, Hadley Lynch. Open and shut case. Rosa was that baby, Mia Lynch. That much Rosa knows. What she hopes to find out is who saved her life as a baby, and where that person is. Also, she would like to meet the only other surviving member of her family, brother, Elliott. These facets, along with the identity of the identity of the burglar in her mother's home, are the bases of the plot. Who is Jackson Wolf? Rosa realises she's getting deeper in danger. The threat is from someone she knows.
While investigating a 25-year-old cold case that the police have given up on, Rosa discovers her own knack for low-level fraud, masquerading as a sham Canadian detective. She interviews her grandmother who is losing her memory in a rest home, the neighbours of her birth family, the new occupant of the original family home, even the childhood friend of one of her brothers, not realising he is a detective.
Rosa doesn't make use of her learnings in her ongoing PhD in forensics psychology, until the very end. This is when the story becomes more compelling. She finally asks herself the questions that should allow her to get into the mind of a psychopaths. What makes psychopaths / the perpetrator tick? What are his motives? Most importantly, what is his next move? Unfortunately, if she'd used these skills earlier, murder wouldn't have followed in her wake. Rosa is helped along by policeman brother-in-law, Gray. The supporting cast of characters that mostly hinder her movements, include her Mom, sister, Addison, brother, Andrew, Laurie, who found her, best friend, Evie, and in the background, two little nieces.
Potential suspects are Elliott Lynch himself and a drifter teen of Rosa's brothers' childhoods, Clay Rutherford.
Things I liked are: the single POV, the unusual theme for the story, the absence of child abuse that could have formed such a story, the small reveals that occur at regular intervals. I liked the description of what a psychopath is, how they think, and ultimately, how to outwit them. The pace of the novel was good, the twists and turns and revelations interesting.
Things I didn't like were to do with the storytelling/ language. They slowed the momentum down as you had to stop and digest them. Firstly: that Rosa's sister and brother, only 6 and 4 years elder to her respectively, kept calling her kid, as did her brother-in-law. With siblings and children of my own, I know that that age difference leads to more a peer relationship. Emma Kavanagh has a habit of inserting double, repeated subjects in her sentences, which is extremely jarring. For example, "these children, they have value to him" instead of 'these children have value to him.' And, "psychopaths, they often have a problem with…" instead of, 'psychopaths often have a problem with…' This happens throughout the book; makes me wonder why the editors didn't edit more extensively, as it didn't read well. There are also errors in vocabulary, e.g. "there is a certain cache to being a single father", when she means 'cachet'.
Then, to the story and plot. As previously mentioned, the prologue is patently wrong. Bookending the story, you have a cliff-hanger, as other reviewers have noted. This is a no-no, in my reading pleasure. Finish the story so it's not dependent on the one after it for a resolution. That did not happen here. In between, I struggled with Rosa's voice at times. She repeated over and over, sometimes thrice in the same page, "who are you?" in her mind, to the unknown antagonist. Rosa comes across as quite whinging, and she made some dumb decisions for someone so rational that she's doing a lecture on statistics.
I would read other books by Emma Kavanagh again, particularly if her writing quirks are smoothed out by editors/ proof-readers.
This review also appears in https://thereadersvault.blogspot.com/... & Amazon.com.
September 24, 2021
The Devil You Know is Emma Kavanagh’s follow up to To Catch A Killer. Rosa is writing her PhD thesis on the psychology of fraud, in particular the latent traits required and events causing them to be triggered.
A seemingly random break-in at her mother’s house reveals itself to be anything but and Rosa sets off on a quest to find answers.
The Devil You Know is an especially enjoyable read. The excellent writing style and pace more than compensate for Rosa’s ill-advised and unlikely one-woman investigations. It is nearly half-way before the link with the previous book is established, but once it is, this read is action-packed until the end.
A seemingly random break-in at her mother’s house reveals itself to be anything but and Rosa sets off on a quest to find answers.
The Devil You Know is an especially enjoyable read. The excellent writing style and pace more than compensate for Rosa’s ill-advised and unlikely one-woman investigations. It is nearly half-way before the link with the previous book is established, but once it is, this read is action-packed until the end.
April 13, 2021
I couldn’t breathe. My hands were trembling. Turning the pages were a huge effort. But I had to do it. Why did I not follow the advice of others? They thought I was deranged to read a novel about stolen identity and psychopaths. But I did it to find out who I really was.😰
December 14, 2021
Rosa is completing her PHD on people who are white collar criminals. She is the victim of what appears to be a random burglary in the home she shares with her Mum. As a result she is forced to face some surprising information. Well paced and a page turner.
August 19, 2023
SO good. A real page turner of a whodunit with twists and turns over decades and unexpected revelations up to the last page. The perfect holiday read.
January 2, 2024
I couldn’t put this book down. Quick, clear, heart-stopping. A good example of the genre.
April 13, 2020
Thanks to Orion Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A compelling thriller from Emma Kavanaugh. This wonderfully addictive novel absolutely oozes with suspense and intrigue. But be warned: this is not an easy book to put down once you start reading. 'The Devil You Know' is a twisty thriller that revolves around the fate and identity of one Rosa Fisher. Rosa is a PhD student, but unbeknown to her, she is not who she thought she was. After a home invasion that leaves Rosa injured, it comes to light that she was adopted. More than this, Rosa was abandoned as a baby, but no one knows why. Or, do they? This addictive tale is all about Rosa. Who she was and how she came to be 'Rosa Fisher'. To expand on this would be to spoil an absolutely cracking read. What I will say is that this first-class thriller is unpredictable, full of red herrings, with enough twists and turns to make your head spin. Tautly-plotted, told in crisp, resonant prose, this was a definite winner for me.
4.5 stars.
A compelling thriller from Emma Kavanaugh. This wonderfully addictive novel absolutely oozes with suspense and intrigue. But be warned: this is not an easy book to put down once you start reading. 'The Devil You Know' is a twisty thriller that revolves around the fate and identity of one Rosa Fisher. Rosa is a PhD student, but unbeknown to her, she is not who she thought she was. After a home invasion that leaves Rosa injured, it comes to light that she was adopted. More than this, Rosa was abandoned as a baby, but no one knows why. Or, do they? This addictive tale is all about Rosa. Who she was and how she came to be 'Rosa Fisher'. To expand on this would be to spoil an absolutely cracking read. What I will say is that this first-class thriller is unpredictable, full of red herrings, with enough twists and turns to make your head spin. Tautly-plotted, told in crisp, resonant prose, this was a definite winner for me.
4.5 stars.
May 23, 2020
Reading Stuff 'n' Things
I have read a couple of books by Emma Kavanagh - Hidden and The Missing Hours - that I have enjoyed but, unfortunately, not this one quite as much.
Having said that, I found the plot was different and interesting, the twists and turns were great and kept me guessing, wrongly most of the time, and the sense of tension was good. The characters were ok but no one really stood out for me and I felt they were a little unforgettable and I found the descriptive writing style became a tad tedious and I admit to skim-reading some parts. This is what let it down for me in the end - I got a little bored but persevered and so pleased I did because the ending was great.
I may not have enjoyed this book quite as much as I would have liked but it certainly will not put me off reading Emma's books in the future.
Thank you Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I have read a couple of books by Emma Kavanagh - Hidden and The Missing Hours - that I have enjoyed but, unfortunately, not this one quite as much.
Having said that, I found the plot was different and interesting, the twists and turns were great and kept me guessing, wrongly most of the time, and the sense of tension was good. The characters were ok but no one really stood out for me and I felt they were a little unforgettable and I found the descriptive writing style became a tad tedious and I admit to skim-reading some parts. This is what let it down for me in the end - I got a little bored but persevered and so pleased I did because the ending was great.
I may not have enjoyed this book quite as much as I would have liked but it certainly will not put me off reading Emma's books in the future.
Thank you Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
May 5, 2020
This story starts off with an intruder entering Rosa’s home while she’s asleep. Little does she know that this will lead her down a dark and winding path discovering parts of her past she never knew.
I read this book in a day, I literally could not put it down! It had me gripped from the very beginning.
This is a fast paced thriller that leaves you not only wanting but needing to turn the next page to find out what will happen next.
I was certain I had the ending figured out but I didn’t and it kept me guessing until the very last page.
This is definitely one I will be recommending to customers in work.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I read this book in a day, I literally could not put it down! It had me gripped from the very beginning.
This is a fast paced thriller that leaves you not only wanting but needing to turn the next page to find out what will happen next.
I was certain I had the ending figured out but I didn’t and it kept me guessing until the very last page.
This is definitely one I will be recommending to customers in work.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 20, 2020
Despite branding itself as a fast-paced thriller, this book was slow and relatively stereotypical.
March 8, 2021
Rating: 3 stars
What I Liked: I was excited to read this because I really, really enjoyed the previous novel in this ‘series’ (it’s not really a proper series but the stories are connected). The concept of these books - having the same antagonist running through each book - is an intriguing one. I didn’t enjoy it as much as that one, but it’s a well-written, engaging thriller with an interesting story. Kavanagh has a nice, crisp, clean writing style that’s very easy to follow, and the characters are quite well fleshed-out.
The plot is well-paced and moves along well; there are a lot of twists and turns throughout, some of which really do come out of the blue, especially the final ones which really shocked me. It’s a good, well-plotted mystery in that sense.
Also, a thread running through it that I really liked was women helping women - there were a couple of occasions where the main character, Rosa, is helped by other women in a way I found nice to see represented
What I Didn’t: I had two issues. One of them is that this, as I said at the start of the review, is not technically part of a series, but is one of three books sharing the same antagonist (this is based off the fact that the books are usually listed as standalones - I find it a bit weird that they aren’t just listed as a series as they more or less are, but whatever). For a book that is meant to be a standalone, a lot of the plot does rely on the reader having read the previous book. A lot of
Secondly, I did find Rosa a bit irritating.
Overall: I think this was quite a strong thriller - it’s very pacy with lots of twists and turns and it was enjoyable. I just wish I’d reread the previous book before diving into this one as I feel like I missed things.
Would I Recommend It?: Yes, if you want a fast-paced thriller with some decent twists, but make sure to read Kavanagh’s other book, To Catch a Killer.
Would I Read Something By The Author Again?: Yes.
Content Warnings:
What I Liked: I was excited to read this because I really, really enjoyed the previous novel in this ‘series’ (it’s not really a proper series but the stories are connected). The concept of these books - having the same antagonist running through each book - is an intriguing one. I didn’t enjoy it as much as that one, but it’s a well-written, engaging thriller with an interesting story. Kavanagh has a nice, crisp, clean writing style that’s very easy to follow, and the characters are quite well fleshed-out.
The plot is well-paced and moves along well; there are a lot of twists and turns throughout, some of which really do come out of the blue, especially the final ones which really shocked me. It’s a good, well-plotted mystery in that sense.
Also, a thread running through it that I really liked was women helping women - there were a couple of occasions where the main character, Rosa, is helped by other women in a way I found nice to see represented
What I Didn’t: I had two issues. One of them is that this, as I said at the start of the review, is not technically part of a series, but is one of three books sharing the same antagonist (this is based off the fact that the books are usually listed as standalones - I find it a bit weird that they aren’t just listed as a series as they more or less are, but whatever). For a book that is meant to be a standalone, a lot of the plot does rely on the reader having read the previous book. A lot of
Secondly, I did find Rosa a bit irritating.
Overall: I think this was quite a strong thriller - it’s very pacy with lots of twists and turns and it was enjoyable. I just wish I’d reread the previous book before diving into this one as I feel like I missed things.
Would I Recommend It?: Yes, if you want a fast-paced thriller with some decent twists, but make sure to read Kavanagh’s other book, To Catch a Killer.
Would I Read Something By The Author Again?: Yes.
Content Warnings:
September 5, 2023
the devil you know - Emma Kavanagh
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Up until yesterday I knew who I was. Up until yesterday my life wasn't a lie. Rosa Fisher is the smart girl, the good girl. At twenty-five and mid-way through a PhD in the psychology of fraud, she thinks she has herself all figured out. Until that night, when the house is dark and she is all alone, and she hears an intruder on the stairs. But the intruder isn't looking for Rosa Fisher. He's after someone else. And everything Rosa has ever known about her world is about to be turned upside down. Determined to find out who she really is, Rosa traces her origins back to a small Canadian town, to a fire in a barn and a devastating family tragedy. Which forces her to question - if she can lie with such ease, was she ever really the good girl after all?
—————————
This sort of book is my thing - and there is a reason I picked it up from the library - I like the mystery and the thrill and trying to have a go at guessing what the ‘twist’ will be. But I didn’t get a chance to do much guessing about what it could be because it became sooo obvious so quickly. But the storyline was good even after finding out, (which I did before the character 👀) it was so good watching the character find out and how she went about it. Then we have the little twist at then. I love when there is a twist at the end that I didn’t quite for see.
I really liked the protagonist Rosa, she was fierce and strong-willed and pretty determined. All whilst still being so vulnerable. One part of this book that does stand out to me was how I was made to feel - I felt so anxious when Rosa put herself in all these dangerous situations. I kept being like girl, go home and work it out from there. Which obviously isn’t going to happen and wouldn’t make a good book.
This was a good one, not a lot of solving to do for the reader, if you like that thing. But it’s not too heavy and it’s a quick read. But for a random library find, it was one of the good ones 🤗 (I feel random library finds can be a hit or a miss) If you are in your local library and not sure what to pick - here is a quick pick for you!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Up until yesterday I knew who I was. Up until yesterday my life wasn't a lie. Rosa Fisher is the smart girl, the good girl. At twenty-five and mid-way through a PhD in the psychology of fraud, she thinks she has herself all figured out. Until that night, when the house is dark and she is all alone, and she hears an intruder on the stairs. But the intruder isn't looking for Rosa Fisher. He's after someone else. And everything Rosa has ever known about her world is about to be turned upside down. Determined to find out who she really is, Rosa traces her origins back to a small Canadian town, to a fire in a barn and a devastating family tragedy. Which forces her to question - if she can lie with such ease, was she ever really the good girl after all?
—————————
This sort of book is my thing - and there is a reason I picked it up from the library - I like the mystery and the thrill and trying to have a go at guessing what the ‘twist’ will be. But I didn’t get a chance to do much guessing about what it could be because it became sooo obvious so quickly. But the storyline was good even after finding out, (which I did before the character 👀) it was so good watching the character find out and how she went about it. Then we have the little twist at then. I love when there is a twist at the end that I didn’t quite for see.
I really liked the protagonist Rosa, she was fierce and strong-willed and pretty determined. All whilst still being so vulnerable. One part of this book that does stand out to me was how I was made to feel - I felt so anxious when Rosa put herself in all these dangerous situations. I kept being like girl, go home and work it out from there. Which obviously isn’t going to happen and wouldn’t make a good book.
This was a good one, not a lot of solving to do for the reader, if you like that thing. But it’s not too heavy and it’s a quick read. But for a random library find, it was one of the good ones 🤗 (I feel random library finds can be a hit or a miss) If you are in your local library and not sure what to pick - here is a quick pick for you!
January 21, 2024
Rosa Fisher thought she knew who she was, until a break in reveals that she was adopted and her real family were murdered in a murder-suicide. Terrified of who broke into her house, Rosa uses her PhD in psychology of fraud to track down the truth of her family, no matter the risk.
I just want to start this by saying I had no idea this was part of a trilogy from the author, Emma Kavanagh. In fact, I didn’t realise it was a trilogy had I not read the authors note at the end (something I don’t normally do, but felt really compelled to after being disappointed by the book). With that being said, I do think this works as a standalone, to some extent, but it would’ve been good for me to have read the first instalment as this maybe would’ve made me enjoy this more.
I really didn’t enjoy the main protagonist, Rosa. She felt clumsily written and was just unlikeable to me. I struggled to bond with her and didn’t find myself rooting for her, more so rolling my eyes at her.
The writing style was really gripping, however. There’s a certain flow that Emma uses to bounce between the past and present tense which is great for those fast paced moments. Although this was great at sucking me back in after periods of not reading The Devil You Know, it wasn’t enough to keep me around at times and I found myself getting bored easily.
Emma is great at painting a scene and really immersing you into a set or atmosphere, which is a welcoming change in the thriller world. I did really enjoy this element of the story, and it made up for the stumbling dialogue.
In terms of plot; I don’t really remember much about the book (and I have just finished it) which says a lot. It was predictable at times and struggled to keep me guessing. A lot of the time I found myself skimming and having to go back and read properly as I was just uninterested.
I wish I liked this more than I did, but I can’t bring myself to give it more than 2.5 stars (3 rounded up - thanks Goodreads).
I just want to start this by saying I had no idea this was part of a trilogy from the author, Emma Kavanagh. In fact, I didn’t realise it was a trilogy had I not read the authors note at the end (something I don’t normally do, but felt really compelled to after being disappointed by the book). With that being said, I do think this works as a standalone, to some extent, but it would’ve been good for me to have read the first instalment as this maybe would’ve made me enjoy this more.
I really didn’t enjoy the main protagonist, Rosa. She felt clumsily written and was just unlikeable to me. I struggled to bond with her and didn’t find myself rooting for her, more so rolling my eyes at her.
The writing style was really gripping, however. There’s a certain flow that Emma uses to bounce between the past and present tense which is great for those fast paced moments. Although this was great at sucking me back in after periods of not reading The Devil You Know, it wasn’t enough to keep me around at times and I found myself getting bored easily.
Emma is great at painting a scene and really immersing you into a set or atmosphere, which is a welcoming change in the thriller world. I did really enjoy this element of the story, and it made up for the stumbling dialogue.
In terms of plot; I don’t really remember much about the book (and I have just finished it) which says a lot. It was predictable at times and struggled to keep me guessing. A lot of the time I found myself skimming and having to go back and read properly as I was just uninterested.
I wish I liked this more than I did, but I can’t bring myself to give it more than 2.5 stars (3 rounded up - thanks Goodreads).
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