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Friend of the Devil
From acclaimed television writer Stephen Lloyd comes a devilishly good debut: a lightning-fast horror/noir mash-up for fans of Jim Butcher and Joe Hill.
It's the 1980s and Sam Gregory, a substance-abusing war veteran turned insurance investigator, arrives at the galactically elite Danforth Putnam boarding school off the coast of New England to find a stolen manuscript of incalculable value. He soon senses that something far stranger than missing books is afoot--and when students begin vanishing from campus, he realizes how serious it is.
At the same time, a reporter is keeping an eye on Sam. Harriet, a physically fragile but spiritually indomitable writer for the school paper, is trying to figure out precisely what he's up to.
As events at the school become increasingly terrifying, Sam and Harriet both venture into increasingly dark territory to crack the mystery. In the end, they uncover a truth more horrible than they could have imagined.
Put the novels of Raymond Chandler and Bram Stoker in a blender, splash in a couple drops of Stranger Things, and pour yourself a nice tall glass of Friend of the Devil.
It's the 1980s and Sam Gregory, a substance-abusing war veteran turned insurance investigator, arrives at the galactically elite Danforth Putnam boarding school off the coast of New England to find a stolen manuscript of incalculable value. He soon senses that something far stranger than missing books is afoot--and when students begin vanishing from campus, he realizes how serious it is.
At the same time, a reporter is keeping an eye on Sam. Harriet, a physically fragile but spiritually indomitable writer for the school paper, is trying to figure out precisely what he's up to.
As events at the school become increasingly terrifying, Sam and Harriet both venture into increasingly dark territory to crack the mystery. In the end, they uncover a truth more horrible than they could have imagined.
Put the novels of Raymond Chandler and Bram Stoker in a blender, splash in a couple drops of Stranger Things, and pour yourself a nice tall glass of Friend of the Devil.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2022
22 people are currently reading
2858 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
May 17, 2022
Well, I can honestly say, when I found out HIMYM and Modern Family’s executive producer and screenwriter Stephen Lloyd has written his thriller debut, I was so intrigued to read the book!
I had higher expectations even though this is first tango as novel author and I always keen on dark academia thrillers with its so mysterious character who is Vietnam veteran, gardener and now he’s an insurance agent is sent to investigate the stolen goods at boarding school.
The story takes place at east coast US on 1980. But descriptions and writing style reminded me of British series ( not books but tv series)
There are so many missing pieces about character developments including protagonist. Unnecessarily bloody, vicious murder scenes made me disturbed because they were far fetched and not truly matched with entire pilot.
The book seemed like developed as a screenplay and at last second it might be adapted into a book. It was too short,instead of character back stories, motivations, we only see action packed with high dosage of violence chapters and abrupt wrapping up.
Overall: I liked dark academia thriller idea and interesting plot about mysterious investigator who tries to solve the mystery about stolen manuscript but the execution was wobbling, taking readers to unknown and unnecessary directions. I’m still rounding up 2.5 stars to 3 because of the plot idea that attracted my attention. But I have to tell I was expecting more.
Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM/ G. P. Putnam’s Sons for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
I had higher expectations even though this is first tango as novel author and I always keen on dark academia thrillers with its so mysterious character who is Vietnam veteran, gardener and now he’s an insurance agent is sent to investigate the stolen goods at boarding school.
The story takes place at east coast US on 1980. But descriptions and writing style reminded me of British series ( not books but tv series)
There are so many missing pieces about character developments including protagonist. Unnecessarily bloody, vicious murder scenes made me disturbed because they were far fetched and not truly matched with entire pilot.
The book seemed like developed as a screenplay and at last second it might be adapted into a book. It was too short,instead of character back stories, motivations, we only see action packed with high dosage of violence chapters and abrupt wrapping up.
Overall: I liked dark academia thriller idea and interesting plot about mysterious investigator who tries to solve the mystery about stolen manuscript but the execution was wobbling, taking readers to unknown and unnecessary directions. I’m still rounding up 2.5 stars to 3 because of the plot idea that attracted my attention. But I have to tell I was expecting more.
Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM/ G. P. Putnam’s Sons for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
October 28, 2025
“Your problem,” he told himself as he headed back to the Devil’s Vale, “is that you can’t leave well enough the hell alone.”--------------------------------------
“Kid walks in here with a bullet lodged in him, I gotta call the cops. Kid walks in showing obvious signs of abuse, I have to contact a social worker. Kid walks in pregnant, I need to inform the parents. Beyond that, for the most part, I’m supposed to keep my trap shut.”Ok, island off the Massachusetts coast, private school, Danforth Putnam. (Thomas Danforth and Ann Putnam were judge and accuser in the Salem trials). Why a high school?
“Who do you call if a kid walks in pregnant, with a bullet wound, showing signs of abuse?” Sam asked.
“A career counselor,” she said, brushing her hair back, “’cause I’m outta here.
I still think high school is one of the scariest places there is. It’s a place where human beings, who are barely more than children emotionally and mentally, face calamitous, potentially life-ruining choices, while approaching the height of their physical powers and sexual energy…Boarding school is all that with no parental supervision, which just amplifies its Lord of the Flies quality. - from The Big Thrill interviewFriend of the Devil is an enclosed environment thriller of a familiar sort. Think Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. (the original book had a different, dodgier title) An eleventh century book has gone missing and SATCO Mutual, (we can imagine what the SAT stands for) the insurer on the hook, has sent Sam (for Sam Spade) Gregory to bring it back. Identifying the perp is not all that challenging for our gumshoe, but there is more to the tale than nabbing a thief. What is a prep school doing with such an ancient book? What is the nature of the book? Why was it stolen? The questions mount. Like what happened to that pre-teen who supposedly returned to the mainland to be adopted? Is he really having a better life?
Stephen Lloyd writing on an impressively retro word processor - image from The Big Thrill – image by Stephen Lloyd
Sam is a fun lead, with military hair, a capacity for violence, PTSD hellfire memories of ‘Nam, and not much else, and a determination to see his job through to completion. And then people begin dying, with a hint of brimstone in the air. Sam takes his licks, getting repeatedly knocked out in a running joke, but keeps on keepin’ on, following leads and doing what he does.
Harriet ( the spy ) is our student cozy investigator, epileptic, a nerd extraordinaire, black, bullied, and dogged. She gets her licks in by writing exposes in the school paper. If Sam fails to get to the very bottom of all there is, Harriet is sure to find her way there. Their paths can be expected to cross, eventually.
It is 1980. No cell phones. Memory of the Vietnam War is still fresh. Reagan has arrived in a sulfurous chariot to do some lasting damage to the nation. There is a specimen of that breed at the school, who behaves as one might expect, receiving some unwanted insight in return.
The references keep on coming. Mr. Chesterton is named for G.K.. There are plenty more, overt and not. Laura Hershlag is named for the title character of one of the classic noir films. Dr. Spellman is named for a character in Sabrina. There are references to Poe’s The Raven, the Tales of Hoffman and plenty more, a veritable cornucopia for those who enjoy playing literary treasure hunt.
The staff at this school are not the friendliest. Sam interviews Ms. (Annabel? ) Lee, the librarian, whose cat is named for Alistair Crowley.
When she saw Sam, her mouth twisted into a citrus pucker. “May I help you?” she asked in a voice that could freeze pipes.The students are no prize either. We expect rich kids to be spoiled, but even the scholarship kid is up to no good. One palooka hopes to juice his way into the NFL, while using his considerable physical brawn to dark purposes. Others are not much better.
Ok, so I had a forked reaction to this one. First is that there were multiple LOL moments, including one ROFL. This is a HUUUUUGGE plus. Not at all surprising from one of the main writers and executive producers of How I Met Your Mother and Modern Family. And I loved all the references.
Second, was that it felt lean, to the point of gaunt. Not quite a novel in length, FotD settles in at a more novella-ish 45,000 words, give or take. Supporting cast was mostly of the cardboard cutout variety. Yes, some background is offered, but only enough to make them cast shadows. (Well, assuming that the characters are actually capable of casting shadows) This is a product of Lloyd’s very successful TV career, (four Emmy nominations) in which the clock is always ticking and descriptions and self-reflection are seen as tools of the devil’s workshop. (which may be in Iowa) There is plenty of gruesomeness, but it is handled with a light touch which, I know, sounds like an oxymoron, and maybe it is. There is a fabulous twist, which is always a delight.
Sam Gregory is a fun lead, an investigator with a Chandler-esque, noir sense of humor, and a war-veteran’s issues with sleep. Harriet, honor student in the civilian investigator role, is one of the better cast members. Their perspectives alternate throughout. It moves along at an over-the-limit pace, while building up a body count, and revealing more and more witchy elements.
Bottom line is that this a devilishly (helluva?) fun summer read. You will blaze right through, pausing on occasion to fall out of your seat laughing. Your brain can occupy itself with catching as many references as it can. This is a fast, pure entertainment, with only an occasional side-glance at real-world concerns. You will not risk eternal damnation if you read this one, so long as you keep your inner demons where they belong, but you may hurt yourself laughing.
Review posted – May 27, 2022
Publication date – May 10, 2022
I received an ARE of Friend of the Devil from G.P. Putnam's Sons in return for a fair review, and the tiniest sliver of a soul. Thanks, folks
This review has been cross-posted on my site, Coot’s Reviews. Stop by and say Hi!
----------------------------------------
Lloyd seems interested in writing a sequel, having set this one up to allow for the possibility. I hope he does.
Possible Titles for Volume 2 – Here, I’ll get you started
Dead Lasso
Demon Elementary
Devil Knows Best
Devil-ish
Distant Relation of the Devil
Everybody Loves the Devil
The Fresh Prince of Level Nine
Flight of the Demons
How I Met Your Devil
Kids Say the Most Demonic Things
Married with Demons
The Marvelous Mrs Scratch
Modern Satanic Family
Young Beelzebub
=============================EXTRA STUFF
From Penguin Random House
Stephen Lloyd is a TV producer and writer, best known as an executive producer of award-winning shows such as “Modern Family” and “How I Met Your Mother.”Interviews
-----The Crew Review - Stephen Lloyd | Friends of the Devil - 50:42 - by Sean Cameron, Christopher Albanese, Mike Houtz
-----* The Big Thrill - Up Close: Stephen Lloyd by Allison McKnight
Songs/Music
-----The Grateful Dead - Friend of the Devil
-----The Rollingstones - Sympathy for the Devil
May 10, 2022
Afterlife Insurance...
Creepy, violent, bloody and funny as hell, Stephen Lloyd's "Friend of the Devil" is a rushing roller coaster ride that does not land anywhere near where you would expect. It sounds like a simple enough premise: Sam Gregory is an insurance investigator sent to track down a rare book stolen at a boarding school on a spooky island. There are supernatural forces at play, there are students who are bullies, there are students who are nerds, and Sam's wise-cracking sarcasm runs throughout. I enjoyed this book and happily recommend it-- although you may want to think twice before pestering your librarian about it.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #FriendoftheDevil #NetGalley.
Creepy, violent, bloody and funny as hell, Stephen Lloyd's "Friend of the Devil" is a rushing roller coaster ride that does not land anywhere near where you would expect. It sounds like a simple enough premise: Sam Gregory is an insurance investigator sent to track down a rare book stolen at a boarding school on a spooky island. There are supernatural forces at play, there are students who are bullies, there are students who are nerds, and Sam's wise-cracking sarcasm runs throughout. I enjoyed this book and happily recommend it-- although you may want to think twice before pestering your librarian about it.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #FriendoftheDevil #NetGalley.
June 2, 2022
This wasn’t bad. It read like hard boiled detective fiction with a creepy occult twist until it didn’t. The main character, Sam, literally reminds me of Sam Spade. The writer’s wit comes through the character and usually works well unless it is overdone, which does happen.
The book felt a bit rushed towards the end. It wasn’t extremely long, and while I typically think that if a length of a book needs to be altered making it shorter usually makes it better; however, that’s not the case with this book. It could easily have been a hundred pages longer by working the mystery element which was, IMO, the best part of the book.
Overall this was a decent read and if there is another book with this/these characters I will certainly want to see what happens next. This is a four star read that wants to be a five star but isn’t given the chance.
Four stars.
The book felt a bit rushed towards the end. It wasn’t extremely long, and while I typically think that if a length of a book needs to be altered making it shorter usually makes it better; however, that’s not the case with this book. It could easily have been a hundred pages longer by working the mystery element which was, IMO, the best part of the book.
Overall this was a decent read and if there is another book with this/these characters I will certainly want to see what happens next. This is a four star read that wants to be a five star but isn’t given the chance.
Four stars.
January 23, 2023
Okay, this was not what I expected and it was better.
I loved Sam. He's sarcastic and smart and quick to act. Harriett is loyal and good and a damn delight. They work together, but not really and the scenes they had together were some of the best.
Plot wise, it felt a bit disjointed at first. Nearly every chapter follows a different person and as the story progresses, it makes sense why, but it took some time to get there. I loved the imagery and that I didn't see some things coming and the ending was fantastic.
Overall, this was a quick and engrossing read. I do love when I can be surprised.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved Sam. He's sarcastic and smart and quick to act. Harriett is loyal and good and a damn delight. They work together, but not really and the scenes they had together were some of the best.
Plot wise, it felt a bit disjointed at first. Nearly every chapter follows a different person and as the story progresses, it makes sense why, but it took some time to get there. I loved the imagery and that I didn't see some things coming and the ending was fantastic.
Overall, this was a quick and engrossing read. I do love when I can be surprised.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
July 2, 2022
3.5
When a rare and valuable book from the 11th century is stolen from a safe at a boarding school on a remote island off the coast of Massachusetts, insurance investigator Sam Gregory is brought in to investigate. When kids start disappearing and weird supernatural things start happening, Sam and school newspaper writer Harriet (a bullying victim of one the missing kids) investigate.
This novella is a quick read that can be finished in around 3 hours. The characters of Sam and Harriet are decently fleshed out for a novella of 240 pages. All the other side characters are pretty one dimensional though. I liked Sam and Harriet's snarkiness and there were several moments where I laughed out loud. However, I think the plot has some holes in it and the pacing was a struggle at first. The blurb compares it to ghe likes of Bram Stoker, Jim Butcher, and Raymond Chandler, I think it falls a bit short though, with the exception of the snark in Butcher's Dresden Files. A decent read if you're looking for something that can be consumed in just a couple hours.
My appreciation to G.P. Putnam, author Stephen Lloyd, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
When a rare and valuable book from the 11th century is stolen from a safe at a boarding school on a remote island off the coast of Massachusetts, insurance investigator Sam Gregory is brought in to investigate. When kids start disappearing and weird supernatural things start happening, Sam and school newspaper writer Harriet (a bullying victim of one the missing kids) investigate.
This novella is a quick read that can be finished in around 3 hours. The characters of Sam and Harriet are decently fleshed out for a novella of 240 pages. All the other side characters are pretty one dimensional though. I liked Sam and Harriet's snarkiness and there were several moments where I laughed out loud. However, I think the plot has some holes in it and the pacing was a struggle at first. The blurb compares it to ghe likes of Bram Stoker, Jim Butcher, and Raymond Chandler, I think it falls a bit short though, with the exception of the snark in Butcher's Dresden Files. A decent read if you're looking for something that can be consumed in just a couple hours.
My appreciation to G.P. Putnam, author Stephen Lloyd, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
May 6, 2022
This book snuck up on me. I didn't expect it to be quite so creepy and weird. I enjoy horror stories set in upper class twit boarding schools, and figured this story would be another along the lines of multiple others I have read. I was wrong....oh so wrong. Joyously wrong. Stephen Lloyd weaves sarcasm and wit around a horror plot with grace and style. He caught me by surprise with some of the twists and turns of this plot. A fun creepy read!
The basics: Sam Gregory is a detective for an insurance company. Sam is a product of Too Much and Too Many. Too Many Vietnam memories. Too Much Smoking. Too Much work. Too Many vices. Too much Stress. He's called to investigate a case involving a stolen rare book at Danforth Putnam, an elite boarding school. The setting is perfect -- the school is on an isolated island. The school is creepy. The faculty is creepy. And the kids are......teenagers. Scary as hell!
This tale rapidly becomes more than just a search for a priceless book gone missing from a safe. There is much, much more going on at Danforth Putnam. It's not a long book -- the pacing is fast. This was a binge read for me. The sort of warped Scooby Doo feel coupled with the jaded aging detective all tangled in a supernatural edged mess.....the tale sucked me right in. Despite several obvious clues and misdirections, I didn't really see the end coming. But then again I'm also the one who knows the jump scare is coming....I know it's coming....then it comes and I still scream and jump like an idiot. Every time!!
Very entertaining story. It reads like a fleshed-out television script. Short, fast paced, a bit of humor thrown in to break up the creepy, a few tropey side characters and just a couple MCs, and a completely cinematic awesome setting.
Glad I read this book! It was engaging and very creepy! But not something that was going to weigh on my mind for long after I finished reading. Creepy, entertaining and quick dash of horror -- just what I like for a rainy afternoon scary read!
This is the first book by Stephen Lloyd that I've read. I will definitely be reading more.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Penguin/Putnam Group. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
The basics: Sam Gregory is a detective for an insurance company. Sam is a product of Too Much and Too Many. Too Many Vietnam memories. Too Much Smoking. Too Much work. Too Many vices. Too much Stress. He's called to investigate a case involving a stolen rare book at Danforth Putnam, an elite boarding school. The setting is perfect -- the school is on an isolated island. The school is creepy. The faculty is creepy. And the kids are......teenagers. Scary as hell!
This tale rapidly becomes more than just a search for a priceless book gone missing from a safe. There is much, much more going on at Danforth Putnam. It's not a long book -- the pacing is fast. This was a binge read for me. The sort of warped Scooby Doo feel coupled with the jaded aging detective all tangled in a supernatural edged mess.....the tale sucked me right in. Despite several obvious clues and misdirections, I didn't really see the end coming. But then again I'm also the one who knows the jump scare is coming....I know it's coming....then it comes and I still scream and jump like an idiot. Every time!!
Very entertaining story. It reads like a fleshed-out television script. Short, fast paced, a bit of humor thrown in to break up the creepy, a few tropey side characters and just a couple MCs, and a completely cinematic awesome setting.
Glad I read this book! It was engaging and very creepy! But not something that was going to weigh on my mind for long after I finished reading. Creepy, entertaining and quick dash of horror -- just what I like for a rainy afternoon scary read!
This is the first book by Stephen Lloyd that I've read. I will definitely be reading more.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Penguin/Putnam Group. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
February 2, 2022
2.5 ?
I thought this was going to be a story about a detective-type guy who struggles with addiction as we follow him grappling with a case that hits too close to home. Instead, I got a Riverdale episode.
Now, I've never actually seen a single Riverdale episode in my life, but I can tell you for sure that that's what this is. They're in a college (?) and kids are going missing and there's a drug gang and murderous teenagers and demons and satanic cults and so much Latin. It was kind of camp actually how insane it was. And Sam is the straight guy (TM) who doesn't know what's going on and is just trying to do his job. Also funny descriptions of women I won't talk about. Read if you're insane.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy.
I thought this was going to be a story about a detective-type guy who struggles with addiction as we follow him grappling with a case that hits too close to home. Instead, I got a Riverdale episode.
Now, I've never actually seen a single Riverdale episode in my life, but I can tell you for sure that that's what this is. They're in a college (?) and kids are going missing and there's a drug gang and murderous teenagers and demons and satanic cults and so much Latin. It was kind of camp actually how insane it was. And Sam is the straight guy (TM) who doesn't know what's going on and is just trying to do his job. Also funny descriptions of women I won't talk about. Read if you're insane.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy.
May 14, 2022
Woof this was…not good. It was a pretty quick read and if I could categorize it it would be something between YA and adult only because of the graphic parts. The way that this was marketed as a cross between Dracula and Stranger Things absolutely did it a huge disservice to my expectations. It was very …childish and bleh.
November 23, 2022
An insurance investigator seeks an ancient tome stolen from the library of a ritzy New England prep school, only to find himself pulled into a plot involving blood rituals, pentagrams, and demonesque violence.
The early going is simply fun, as the investigator pairs observational skills with a razor wit to eviscerate imperious faculty and entitled, destructively wealthy students.
When it turns, it turns hard. Disembowelings, de-face-itations, traumatic abdominal bifurcations, woodwind defecation, and acute disrespect of a Dungeons & Dragons session. It's quite the occult noir whodunnit.
While Friend of the Devil would have benefitted a lot from a little post-climax expansion, I do like how it resolves. I look forward to Lloyd's next project.
The early going is simply fun, as the investigator pairs observational skills with a razor wit to eviscerate imperious faculty and entitled, destructively wealthy students.
When it turns, it turns hard. Disembowelings, de-face-itations, traumatic abdominal bifurcations, woodwind defecation, and acute disrespect of a Dungeons & Dragons session. It's quite the occult noir whodunnit.
While Friend of the Devil would have benefitted a lot from a little post-climax expansion, I do like how it resolves. I look forward to Lloyd's next project.
Read
March 24, 2022This review originally was published at Mystery & Suspense Magazine
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/fr...
Sam Gregory is an insurance investigator prone to his vices and wise guy remarks. He is sent to a posh boarding school located on an island to inquire about a stolen, seemingly important, book.
Sam makes his acquaintance with the school’s faculty and students, interviewing them about the book and diving deeper and deeper into the mystery surrounding its origins. Along the way, he bumps into a young journalist who has been tracking Sam’s every move.
Stephen Llyod’s writing style is accessible. Readers will find it easy to engage; sprinting toward the halfway point in no time at all. The words come together like a little movie for the mind–not surprising since Lloyd writes for television; effortlessly bringing that casual, audience engagement to his storytelling. Marketing for the book included a read-alike for fans of Joe Hill and Jim Butcher but that is pretty misleading. This book lands squarely in the hands of a much younger readership. A better comparison would be dark academia, like The Umbrella Academy mashed with Only Murders in the Building.
Sam Gregory’s salty personality and witty banter with literally everyone he meets is clever and entertaining. But the scenes read like thirty-five minute episodes for network television. The young characters feel like child actors delivering rehearsed lines delivered just right to land the punch and Sam, the grizzled war veteran is too on the nose. Nobody seems grounded in the story, just some cliched versions of people, like props, positioned throughout the story to contribute their piece before exiting stage right.
All of this to say the result is a lack of authenticity preventing readers from full investment beyond basic curiosity. Friend of the Devil is a book written to be adapted. It doesn’t add anything unique to the genre of supernatural suspense or leave a memorable, lasting impact on readers. Maybe it will be a great TV show.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/fr...
Sam Gregory is an insurance investigator prone to his vices and wise guy remarks. He is sent to a posh boarding school located on an island to inquire about a stolen, seemingly important, book.
Sam makes his acquaintance with the school’s faculty and students, interviewing them about the book and diving deeper and deeper into the mystery surrounding its origins. Along the way, he bumps into a young journalist who has been tracking Sam’s every move.
Stephen Llyod’s writing style is accessible. Readers will find it easy to engage; sprinting toward the halfway point in no time at all. The words come together like a little movie for the mind–not surprising since Lloyd writes for television; effortlessly bringing that casual, audience engagement to his storytelling. Marketing for the book included a read-alike for fans of Joe Hill and Jim Butcher but that is pretty misleading. This book lands squarely in the hands of a much younger readership. A better comparison would be dark academia, like The Umbrella Academy mashed with Only Murders in the Building.
Sam Gregory’s salty personality and witty banter with literally everyone he meets is clever and entertaining. But the scenes read like thirty-five minute episodes for network television. The young characters feel like child actors delivering rehearsed lines delivered just right to land the punch and Sam, the grizzled war veteran is too on the nose. Nobody seems grounded in the story, just some cliched versions of people, like props, positioned throughout the story to contribute their piece before exiting stage right.
All of this to say the result is a lack of authenticity preventing readers from full investment beyond basic curiosity. Friend of the Devil is a book written to be adapted. It doesn’t add anything unique to the genre of supernatural suspense or leave a memorable, lasting impact on readers. Maybe it will be a great TV show.
January 11, 2022
Holy s**t. I just finished this. In like a day. This was such a great book. Where do I begin...
Vietnam War vet turned insurance investigator meets high-end boarding school, searching for a missing - and very valuable - book. What he finds is a lot more than he ever bargained for.
Sarcastic and intelligent, Sam Gregory takes his job.... fairly seriously. He smokes too much, takes too many meds, but maintains a solid grip on reality. Usually.
Brilliant and stubborn, Harriet is on a mission to discover just who messed with her D&D nerd pals. What she stumbles into would make even a veteran gamer suck their thumb in fear.
Read this book. You won't be sorry.
I was allowed to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, this book was fantastic. Thank you Netgalley, Stephen Lloyd and G.P. Putnam's Sons Publishing for aliasing me the honor.
All opinions are my own.
Vietnam War vet turned insurance investigator meets high-end boarding school, searching for a missing - and very valuable - book. What he finds is a lot more than he ever bargained for.
Sarcastic and intelligent, Sam Gregory takes his job.... fairly seriously. He smokes too much, takes too many meds, but maintains a solid grip on reality. Usually.
Brilliant and stubborn, Harriet is on a mission to discover just who messed with her D&D nerd pals. What she stumbles into would make even a veteran gamer suck their thumb in fear.
Read this book. You won't be sorry.
I was allowed to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, this book was fantastic. Thank you Netgalley, Stephen Lloyd and G.P. Putnam's Sons Publishing for aliasing me the honor.
All opinions are my own.
June 30, 2022
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2022/06/30/...
Wow, what did I just read? I don’t even know where to begin with explaining exactly how this book made me feel. I can probably say with certainty I didn’t love it, but at the same time, it wasn’t bad. For better or worse, Friend of the Devil kept me entertained and it was nothing like I expected.
The story takes place in the 1980s, and follows insurance investigator Sam Gregory. Our protagonist is a war veteran, is a no-nonsense hard-boiled detective kind of character. For his latest job, his company has dispatched him to a posh private school situated on its own little island off the coast of Massachusetts. Danforth Putnum, a boarding school for children of the elite, has reported a theft of a priceless 11th century manuscript from its library safe, which was supposed to be impregnable. The case is too low priority for the police, so it’s up to Sam to gather up all the necessary information.
While poking around the campus, however, he discovers something far stranger going on at the school beyond missing manuscripts and mean bullies. After interviewing some of the staff and students, he learns of some missing kids and hears rumors of a possible demonic entity stalking the island. At the same time, Sam’s presence has caught the attention of a brilliant and tenacious school reporter named Harriet, who is determined to find out what he’s up to.
First, the positives. I enjoyed the setting. I make it no secret that books set in elite prep schools are like my catnip. I’d hate to have to ever attend a school like Danforth Putnam, but I sure loved reading about dynamics between its trouble students and following all the drama unfolding within its walls. The fact that the campus was on its own creepy little island simply added to the appeal.
I also liked the main character. Despite being employed by an insurance company, the role played by Sam Gregory clearly draws inspiration from the protagonists in tough and gritty hard-boiled pulp crime mysteries made popular in the 1930s. Sam has the attitude and the dry wit, but he’s even more rough around the edges, jaded by his time in the military and struggling with substance abuse. He’s seen so much in his line of work that pretty much nothing surprises him anymore, and anyone who thinks they can mess with Sam has got it coming.
And now for the not-so-great. Ultimately, it was the plot that failed to pull its weight for this book, and I hate to say it, but much of it was in the way it was written. You had a strong setting, a powerful main character, a decent story, but it was like the threads holding it all together were untidy and left huge holes. The flow of the novel felt disjointed and sometimes left me with the feeling that something important was missing or didn’t segue right.
Then there was the bloody gore and gruesomeness. Again, it’s not so much the actual content I object to, but more the way it was written. I felt like some of the more graphic scenes were out of place and did not match the overall tone of the book, and descriptions of the brutal killings felt overly self-indulgent and not very necessary.
It made me wonder if the author’s experience as a TV writer and producer might have had something to do with the overall choppiness of the story structure. Writing a novel is quite different than writing a screenplay for a show, and in Friend of the Devil, I sensed that heavier emphasis was placed on individual scenes rather than the transitions between them and the overall flow. So, for example, bursty action-filled sequences were given a lot more attention while anything that was more related to character and plot development was glossed over.
I think with a little bit of polishing and smoothing out of some of its rough edges, this book could have been a great. Still, while Stephen Lloyd’s horror debut did not quite meet all my high expectations, it still delivered the creepiness and suspense where it mattered. Ultimately, Friend of the Devil gets a solid three stars because it kept me turning the pages, despite its flaws.
Wow, what did I just read? I don’t even know where to begin with explaining exactly how this book made me feel. I can probably say with certainty I didn’t love it, but at the same time, it wasn’t bad. For better or worse, Friend of the Devil kept me entertained and it was nothing like I expected.
The story takes place in the 1980s, and follows insurance investigator Sam Gregory. Our protagonist is a war veteran, is a no-nonsense hard-boiled detective kind of character. For his latest job, his company has dispatched him to a posh private school situated on its own little island off the coast of Massachusetts. Danforth Putnum, a boarding school for children of the elite, has reported a theft of a priceless 11th century manuscript from its library safe, which was supposed to be impregnable. The case is too low priority for the police, so it’s up to Sam to gather up all the necessary information.
While poking around the campus, however, he discovers something far stranger going on at the school beyond missing manuscripts and mean bullies. After interviewing some of the staff and students, he learns of some missing kids and hears rumors of a possible demonic entity stalking the island. At the same time, Sam’s presence has caught the attention of a brilliant and tenacious school reporter named Harriet, who is determined to find out what he’s up to.
First, the positives. I enjoyed the setting. I make it no secret that books set in elite prep schools are like my catnip. I’d hate to have to ever attend a school like Danforth Putnam, but I sure loved reading about dynamics between its trouble students and following all the drama unfolding within its walls. The fact that the campus was on its own creepy little island simply added to the appeal.
I also liked the main character. Despite being employed by an insurance company, the role played by Sam Gregory clearly draws inspiration from the protagonists in tough and gritty hard-boiled pulp crime mysteries made popular in the 1930s. Sam has the attitude and the dry wit, but he’s even more rough around the edges, jaded by his time in the military and struggling with substance abuse. He’s seen so much in his line of work that pretty much nothing surprises him anymore, and anyone who thinks they can mess with Sam has got it coming.
And now for the not-so-great. Ultimately, it was the plot that failed to pull its weight for this book, and I hate to say it, but much of it was in the way it was written. You had a strong setting, a powerful main character, a decent story, but it was like the threads holding it all together were untidy and left huge holes. The flow of the novel felt disjointed and sometimes left me with the feeling that something important was missing or didn’t segue right.
Then there was the bloody gore and gruesomeness. Again, it’s not so much the actual content I object to, but more the way it was written. I felt like some of the more graphic scenes were out of place and did not match the overall tone of the book, and descriptions of the brutal killings felt overly self-indulgent and not very necessary.
It made me wonder if the author’s experience as a TV writer and producer might have had something to do with the overall choppiness of the story structure. Writing a novel is quite different than writing a screenplay for a show, and in Friend of the Devil, I sensed that heavier emphasis was placed on individual scenes rather than the transitions between them and the overall flow. So, for example, bursty action-filled sequences were given a lot more attention while anything that was more related to character and plot development was glossed over.
I think with a little bit of polishing and smoothing out of some of its rough edges, this book could have been a great. Still, while Stephen Lloyd’s horror debut did not quite meet all my high expectations, it still delivered the creepiness and suspense where it mattered. Ultimately, Friend of the Devil gets a solid three stars because it kept me turning the pages, despite its flaws.
June 3, 2022
I was so excited to read this one. The cover is so well done and I was hooked by the spooky vibe of the synopsis and the cover. But it took me a minute to get the vibe of the story down. I went in being too serious - think of a gory but silly horror movie. THAT is the vibe. Once I reset it, I loved it.
This is a fast read, hopping from one POV to the next, seamlessly giving us the details happening around the campus as secrets are revealed and bodies start piling up. I had so many guesses on who it was but ultimately, did guess at least part but wasn't disappointed at all.
The best part was how the story was left open for more. I would absolutely love another book or 2 or 3 of this one.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
This is a fast read, hopping from one POV to the next, seamlessly giving us the details happening around the campus as secrets are revealed and bodies start piling up. I had so many guesses on who it was but ultimately, did guess at least part but wasn't disappointed at all.
The best part was how the story was left open for more. I would absolutely love another book or 2 or 3 of this one.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
June 19, 2022
What a breath of fresh air! I have read about ten duds in a row, and by the tenth page I knew I had a winner! This book is clever, very funny, and filled with blood! That's right, lots of gore! I loved it! The ending was shocking, and thought provoking. At 240 pages, it's a super fast read. Pick this one up if you need a break from your standard fare, and you aren't afraid of some blood!
December 23, 2024
Abandoned at 30%. Reads like a first draft and not a finished novel. Disappointing.
January 14, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Friend of the Devil.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
The story sounds pretty straightforward; a PI from an insurance company named Sam Gregory has been called in to investigate the theft of a rare book on the grounds of a privileged boarding school on an island.
At the same time, an intrepid student reporter named Harriet has begun her own investigation and eventually, her and Sam's paths will collide, but not in the way you imagined.
Events happen and things get weird. Really, really weird.
Good thing I like weird.
You could feel it practically from the first page; the setting of a boarding school on an isolated island, the downright creepy librarian, the indifference of the teachers, the sociopathic students.
I didn't mind the gore and violence; that stuff doesn't bother me but I do mind cliches.
Sam is a stereotype of a cliche of a trope; a former military vet suffering from PTSD, he smokes too much with a devil-may-care attitude (pun intended).
The twist at the end reminded me of a horror movie I watched last year called The Empty Man.
I won't go into details but the book's twist mirrors the movie's climatic ending.
The tone and writing style reads a bit YA, especially since the majority of the characters are students and the chapters shift back and forth between some of the students.
Some of the chapters started off oddly, almost as if I had started reading in the middle of a paragraph, which gave me a disoriented feeling.
Not sure if this was an editing error, the writing style or done on purpose.
This had so much potential and if there had been character development and exposition on the boarding school's founder, how the book came to be, more magic and devilry, I would have added an extra star.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
The story sounds pretty straightforward; a PI from an insurance company named Sam Gregory has been called in to investigate the theft of a rare book on the grounds of a privileged boarding school on an island.
At the same time, an intrepid student reporter named Harriet has begun her own investigation and eventually, her and Sam's paths will collide, but not in the way you imagined.
Events happen and things get weird. Really, really weird.
Good thing I like weird.
You could feel it practically from the first page; the setting of a boarding school on an isolated island, the downright creepy librarian, the indifference of the teachers, the sociopathic students.
I didn't mind the gore and violence; that stuff doesn't bother me but I do mind cliches.
Sam is a stereotype of a cliche of a trope; a former military vet suffering from PTSD, he smokes too much with a devil-may-care attitude (pun intended).
The twist at the end reminded me of a horror movie I watched last year called The Empty Man.
I won't go into details but the book's twist mirrors the movie's climatic ending.
The tone and writing style reads a bit YA, especially since the majority of the characters are students and the chapters shift back and forth between some of the students.
Some of the chapters started off oddly, almost as if I had started reading in the middle of a paragraph, which gave me a disoriented feeling.
Not sure if this was an editing error, the writing style or done on purpose.
This had so much potential and if there had been character development and exposition on the boarding school's founder, how the book came to be, more magic and devilry, I would have added an extra star.
October 27, 2021
Thanks to Edelweiss for allowing me a chance at reading this early.
The summary of this book sounded really interesting. I just felt that I missed something?
The main character had a backstory that is kind of dropped here and there throughout the book, but you feel like you're missing a chunk of history and how he works as an insurance agent. There is also the fact that he seems used to supernatural goings on but again, you don't really get to know if this was truly his first encounter.
I feel like the plot and the characters didn't really connect to one another and that both of them were doing their own thing and shoved together in a story that seemed to ride at a speed that was too fast for me to settle and enjoy.
Side Note: The location of the story is on the east coast of the US, but the writing and tone of the characters is VERY UK. They say and or reference things that would make sense in a UK setting. I had to double read passages to make sure that I was indeed on the east coast.
I think if anything readers will find this book to be interesting and with quirky dialogue, but that it can't be saved with characters and a plot that seem separated from one another.
The summary of this book sounded really interesting. I just felt that I missed something?
The main character had a backstory that is kind of dropped here and there throughout the book, but you feel like you're missing a chunk of history and how he works as an insurance agent. There is also the fact that he seems used to supernatural goings on but again, you don't really get to know if this was truly his first encounter.
I feel like the plot and the characters didn't really connect to one another and that both of them were doing their own thing and shoved together in a story that seemed to ride at a speed that was too fast for me to settle and enjoy.
Side Note: The location of the story is on the east coast of the US, but the writing and tone of the characters is VERY UK. They say and or reference things that would make sense in a UK setting. I had to double read passages to make sure that I was indeed on the east coast.
I think if anything readers will find this book to be interesting and with quirky dialogue, but that it can't be saved with characters and a plot that seem separated from one another.
January 9, 2022
This book was pitched as a mashup of horror and noir and for those who enjoy Stranger Things. I agree ! The novel is set at Danforth Putnam Boarding School. Sam Gregory, an angry lone wolf detective (well, an investigator for an insurance company) arrives to find a stolen manuscript previously kept in a safe.
There is definitely a noir tone and horror abounds through the dark academia plot. As Sam gets closer to solving the case he partners with the small but mighty Harriet, a high school journalist far too smart for her own good. The plot moves quickly and there are plenty of non sequiturs about high school culture and the Reagan years in general. If you like YA, Stranger Things, hard boiled detectives, mighty little angry dungeons and dragons players, or just like a twisty horror fantasy novel, than this is the book for you! #FriendofTheDevil #Putnam #GPPutnam #Netgalley #YA
There is definitely a noir tone and horror abounds through the dark academia plot. As Sam gets closer to solving the case he partners with the small but mighty Harriet, a high school journalist far too smart for her own good. The plot moves quickly and there are plenty of non sequiturs about high school culture and the Reagan years in general. If you like YA, Stranger Things, hard boiled detectives, mighty little angry dungeons and dragons players, or just like a twisty horror fantasy novel, than this is the book for you! #FriendofTheDevil #Putnam #GPPutnam #Netgalley #YA
May 3, 2022
6 / 10 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
1980’s New England. An 11th century manuscript of untold value and much deeper worth has gone missing from haut monde boarding school Danforth Putnam, where the elite intermingle with the destitute. Sam Gregory—insurance investigator and scarred war vet—sets forth to the isle to investigate.
Upon landing Sam finds more cause for concern than just a lost manuscript. There are students missing—not that anyone seems too concerned. Danforth Putnam has an interesting system on the books to balance its aristocratic pedigree. Namely, granting orphans a full tuition at the school so long as they help out with some of the more unsavory labor, below the status of the rich and famous. The students that have gone missing, of course, belong to the lower class—motherless urchins that no one will miss. And indeed no one seems to.
But Sam is only here for the book. And while the missing students worry him—he really can’t do anything about them.
But the longer he spends at Danforth Putnam, the more Sam worries that the missing students might tie-in to the absence of the book. Confronted with wild rumors of witchcraft and murders, he must navigate the warren of gossip and lies that exist at any school, at least so long as he hopes to find the book. But Sam is tireless and ardent in his duty, which is good—for one never knows just how deep the rabbit hole might go.
—
“Cops know how much the book’s worth?”
Thomas Arundel sighed. “Danforth Putnam is technically in West Cabot County. Last year, West Cabot County had three murders, two dozen rapes, nearly four hundred aggravated assaults and eighteen arsons. I called about a stolen book. Trust me, Mr. Gregory, they don’t care what it’s worth. As far as anyone own that side of the Atlantic is concerned, this is an island full of spoiled rich kids with spoiled-rich-kid problems, and a stolen book, even a valuable one, fits firmly in that category.”
—
The story is entertaining, exciting, and immersive. The mystery itself is interesting and fast-paced, so I never had any trouble reading it. Sam Gregory is a little bit of a cliché—a Vietnam vet who uses cigarettes and a wise-ass routine to mask his PTSD, while refusing to play by the rules. Good thing he’s a PI and not a detective, or it would’ve been an unacceptable level of cliché. But I guess my tolerance for freelance or third-party gumshoes is a lot more lenient than beat cop. I actually quite enjoyed his renegade persona and sarcasm, though I still feel like it’s the default state for any 80’s cop. Don’t get me started on the reporter angle. If there are two POVs in any mystery/thriller nowadays, odds are they’re a reporter and some kinda detective.
The character development in this was about as deep and intricate as the characters themselves. As in, they weren’t. Everyone—even Sam and Harriet—were one-sided and shallow. Only one character showed anything even remotely like growth, and yet I really wouldn’t’ve called it that.
While Friend of the Devil doesn’t try anything new at the outset, the more you dig into the story, the more it threatens to exploit these clichés in unexpected ways. Overall, the story was interesting, immersive, and thrilling. An 11th century manuscript missing, a wayward teen obsessed with magic and power, missing students, terrible secrets, a plot that refused to slow down once it got rolling. And then comes the end.
And the main issue I had with it. The scene comes close to the end and is the lynchpin for everything that follows. And it’s… ridiculous. It’s clear that the author had an ending in mind, and had written up a thrilling conclusion to match, but was having trouble connecting the two. And instead of reworking one or the other—they forced it.
Beware spoilers for the following paragraph
And forcing it—particularly in this manner, in this case—just doesn’t work. Like, at all. It soured me on the ending, and a bit on the plot to this point. Which just had (I’ll point out) dropped another bombshell on us, which I was still working through, deciding if it made any more sense (it DID, but only just, not that that mattered for very long). I’m not saying that this was the intent, but it just struck me as lazy: you’ve written a thrilling and entertaining story; you dropped your big twist; and now see fit to ruin it with some uncooked scenario just so you wouldn’t have to rewrite a conclusion that actually makes sense.
Two weeks out, and I still find myself looking back on the tale: the immersion of the setting, the story; the way the tense atmosphere slowly devolves into horror and terror; the mystery that’s there to solve, that has you looking one way for so long and then suddenly opening your mind to a dozen new possibilities—and then I remember the ending. And it’s mostly soured.
TL;DR
If you happened to read the entire review—welcome to the end! If you didn’t, that’s okay too, I guess. But only one of you will understand just how hard it is for me to rate this book. I mean, you’ve seen my star-rating above, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book—or around 90% of it. Around the 80% mark things started to get a little weird, but that’s to be expected with these horror titles. 9/10ths of the way down, Friend of the Devil was sailing towards an 8 star rating, with little that could derail its bright, bright future. But at the close, everything fell apart. An impossibility; a ridiculous moment that should’ve been laughed off and rewritten, but instead went down as a major plot-point, something the entire ending hinged on. And it soured everything for me. And yet… I guess I’m still going to recommend this. Maybe it won’t be as big an issue for you. Maybe you’ll be willing to overlook a few clichés, a few shallow characters, a few stumbles.
After skimming the other reviews of this, it seems I’m hardly alone in my disappointment. So, maybe… wait for it to go on sale. Or look for it at your local library. Or go in with an open mind, but temper your expectations.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
1980’s New England. An 11th century manuscript of untold value and much deeper worth has gone missing from haut monde boarding school Danforth Putnam, where the elite intermingle with the destitute. Sam Gregory—insurance investigator and scarred war vet—sets forth to the isle to investigate.
Upon landing Sam finds more cause for concern than just a lost manuscript. There are students missing—not that anyone seems too concerned. Danforth Putnam has an interesting system on the books to balance its aristocratic pedigree. Namely, granting orphans a full tuition at the school so long as they help out with some of the more unsavory labor, below the status of the rich and famous. The students that have gone missing, of course, belong to the lower class—motherless urchins that no one will miss. And indeed no one seems to.
But Sam is only here for the book. And while the missing students worry him—he really can’t do anything about them.
But the longer he spends at Danforth Putnam, the more Sam worries that the missing students might tie-in to the absence of the book. Confronted with wild rumors of witchcraft and murders, he must navigate the warren of gossip and lies that exist at any school, at least so long as he hopes to find the book. But Sam is tireless and ardent in his duty, which is good—for one never knows just how deep the rabbit hole might go.
—
“Cops know how much the book’s worth?”
Thomas Arundel sighed. “Danforth Putnam is technically in West Cabot County. Last year, West Cabot County had three murders, two dozen rapes, nearly four hundred aggravated assaults and eighteen arsons. I called about a stolen book. Trust me, Mr. Gregory, they don’t care what it’s worth. As far as anyone own that side of the Atlantic is concerned, this is an island full of spoiled rich kids with spoiled-rich-kid problems, and a stolen book, even a valuable one, fits firmly in that category.”
—
The story is entertaining, exciting, and immersive. The mystery itself is interesting and fast-paced, so I never had any trouble reading it. Sam Gregory is a little bit of a cliché—a Vietnam vet who uses cigarettes and a wise-ass routine to mask his PTSD, while refusing to play by the rules. Good thing he’s a PI and not a detective, or it would’ve been an unacceptable level of cliché. But I guess my tolerance for freelance or third-party gumshoes is a lot more lenient than beat cop. I actually quite enjoyed his renegade persona and sarcasm, though I still feel like it’s the default state for any 80’s cop. Don’t get me started on the reporter angle. If there are two POVs in any mystery/thriller nowadays, odds are they’re a reporter and some kinda detective.
The character development in this was about as deep and intricate as the characters themselves. As in, they weren’t. Everyone—even Sam and Harriet—were one-sided and shallow. Only one character showed anything even remotely like growth, and yet I really wouldn’t’ve called it that.
While Friend of the Devil doesn’t try anything new at the outset, the more you dig into the story, the more it threatens to exploit these clichés in unexpected ways. Overall, the story was interesting, immersive, and thrilling. An 11th century manuscript missing, a wayward teen obsessed with magic and power, missing students, terrible secrets, a plot that refused to slow down once it got rolling. And then comes the end.
And the main issue I had with it. The scene comes close to the end and is the lynchpin for everything that follows. And it’s… ridiculous. It’s clear that the author had an ending in mind, and had written up a thrilling conclusion to match, but was having trouble connecting the two. And instead of reworking one or the other—they forced it.
Beware spoilers for the following paragraph
And forcing it—particularly in this manner, in this case—just doesn’t work. Like, at all. It soured me on the ending, and a bit on the plot to this point. Which just had (I’ll point out) dropped another bombshell on us, which I was still working through, deciding if it made any more sense (it DID, but only just, not that that mattered for very long). I’m not saying that this was the intent, but it just struck me as lazy: you’ve written a thrilling and entertaining story; you dropped your big twist; and now see fit to ruin it with some uncooked scenario just so you wouldn’t have to rewrite a conclusion that actually makes sense.
Two weeks out, and I still find myself looking back on the tale: the immersion of the setting, the story; the way the tense atmosphere slowly devolves into horror and terror; the mystery that’s there to solve, that has you looking one way for so long and then suddenly opening your mind to a dozen new possibilities—and then I remember the ending. And it’s mostly soured.
TL;DR
If you happened to read the entire review—welcome to the end! If you didn’t, that’s okay too, I guess. But only one of you will understand just how hard it is for me to rate this book. I mean, you’ve seen my star-rating above, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book—or around 90% of it. Around the 80% mark things started to get a little weird, but that’s to be expected with these horror titles. 9/10ths of the way down, Friend of the Devil was sailing towards an 8 star rating, with little that could derail its bright, bright future. But at the close, everything fell apart. An impossibility; a ridiculous moment that should’ve been laughed off and rewritten, but instead went down as a major plot-point, something the entire ending hinged on. And it soured everything for me. And yet… I guess I’m still going to recommend this. Maybe it won’t be as big an issue for you. Maybe you’ll be willing to overlook a few clichés, a few shallow characters, a few stumbles.
After skimming the other reviews of this, it seems I’m hardly alone in my disappointment. So, maybe… wait for it to go on sale. Or look for it at your local library. Or go in with an open mind, but temper your expectations.
June 8, 2022
4.8. I thoroughly loved this book!! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I'm hard-core horror and I needed more blood, guts and gore! This story had me captivated, I couldn't put it down. And then when I got to the twist.... OMG I didn't see that coming!!!! Highly recommended!!
February 9, 2023
I enjoyed the story and the ending was cool.
November 15, 2024
I did not see that ending coming, so fun
April 29, 2022
The private boarding school of Danforth Putnam was founded on an island off Massachusetts by the puritan leader Mason Alderhut. Since then it has been a high school for the children of elite families and also housing for orphans as its charitable mission.
When a valuable old book is stolen, insurance Investigator Sam Gregory, is called in to find it. Being housed on an island, Sam thinks this should be a fairly simple search, but he is very wrong. Children begin to go missing and there are stories of occult activities.
Through it all Sam finds himself inspired by a 16 year school news reporter, Harriet. Her righteous indignation and loyalty to her friends leaves Sam searching for something within himself, along with getting to the bottom of what is happening on this weird island.
I must say, I never guessed the final reveal of the story. A very entertaining and fast read. Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP/ Putnam for opportunity to enjoy this e-ARC
When a valuable old book is stolen, insurance Investigator Sam Gregory, is called in to find it. Being housed on an island, Sam thinks this should be a fairly simple search, but he is very wrong. Children begin to go missing and there are stories of occult activities.
Through it all Sam finds himself inspired by a 16 year school news reporter, Harriet. Her righteous indignation and loyalty to her friends leaves Sam searching for something within himself, along with getting to the bottom of what is happening on this weird island.
I must say, I never guessed the final reveal of the story. A very entertaining and fast read. Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP/ Putnam for opportunity to enjoy this e-ARC
June 4, 2023
Friend of the Devil releases May 10th:
Slasher-tastic kills, Multiple POVs, Unrealistic Satanism, Twisty Weird Ending
Sam Gregory is a chain-smoking Vietnam vet turned investigator looking into a book theft at a rich kid's boarding school. The 80s-fabulous setting was super entertaining and, oh my word, does author Stephen Lloyd know how to set a scene! The mystery is intriguing and the teen characters described are nostalgic and hilarious. I loved Sam's bad attitude. His character drove the pace nicely. All in all, an enjoyable read with nice cover art. 'Friend of the Devil', as the name implies, deserves a cool 80s playlist complete with a Jerry Garcia t-shirt and pack of Kent candy cigarettes to go with it's "satanic panic" vibe. It reads like a R-Rated Scooby-Doo movie mash-up with 'Mean Girls' and some nameless cop drama. Unfortunately I wanted a different ending but it definitely was unexpected, so there's that. Extreme horror fans will find it too mild and cozy mystery fans won't like some of the language. However with slasher and paranormal horror fans I think this book will find a happy audience. Thanks to Putnam Books for providing my free review copy. @putnambooks
Slasher-tastic kills, Multiple POVs, Unrealistic Satanism, Twisty Weird Ending
Sam Gregory is a chain-smoking Vietnam vet turned investigator looking into a book theft at a rich kid's boarding school. The 80s-fabulous setting was super entertaining and, oh my word, does author Stephen Lloyd know how to set a scene! The mystery is intriguing and the teen characters described are nostalgic and hilarious. I loved Sam's bad attitude. His character drove the pace nicely. All in all, an enjoyable read with nice cover art. 'Friend of the Devil', as the name implies, deserves a cool 80s playlist complete with a Jerry Garcia t-shirt and pack of Kent candy cigarettes to go with it's "satanic panic" vibe. It reads like a R-Rated Scooby-Doo movie mash-up with 'Mean Girls' and some nameless cop drama. Unfortunately I wanted a different ending but it definitely was unexpected, so there's that. Extreme horror fans will find it too mild and cozy mystery fans won't like some of the language. However with slasher and paranormal horror fans I think this book will find a happy audience. Thanks to Putnam Books for providing my free review copy. @putnambooks
May 29, 2022
El libro es un 3,5⭐ casi todo el tiempo, pero el giro del final es sorpresa de verdad, y tiene más mérito si tienes en cuenta que hay una pista muy gorda todo el rato, y hasta aquí puedo leer. A veces es un poco capítulo de Riverdale y baja a 3⭐.
January 15, 2022
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. But I will start with what I did enjoy. The overall story, from where it starts to how it concludes, I thought was interesting. A lot of the red herrings were really obvious, but the ending still felt more or less earned and was a fun direction to take the story (and a potential series). I also liked the pacing, which kept the book moving. It was a short book, and the pacing and overall structure combined with enough interest in the story to finish it in a day. But there were some areas that didn’t work as well for me. It felt like a YA adventure book, even in the way it introduced characters and what it chose to focus on, but it has violence that was a little more than expected in a YA novel. In addition, it borrowed tropes from noir/detective genres, as well as horror, but never felt committed to any one thing, and as a result didn’t feel like it knew what it wanted to be or who it wanted to speak to.
When I realized the author writes for television some of it made sense, there is a definite episodic nature to the structure, and you can almost feel how the chapter breaks are little more than commercial breaks. Most characters are basically introduced as needed, nothing felt seeded or like it was looking to a long view, it felt very episodic. None of the characters felt like they were more than a thin veneer of character. In some cases, as many characters hold secrets, there is some plot reason for characters being portrayed somewhat thinly. But from the budding incel to the nerdy journalist to the drama queen playwright to the burnout gardener to the alcoholic boatsman to the raging jock, it just felt like caricatures all around. And while our leading protagonist, in typical noir fashion, does come wrapped in an air of mystery, “war vet with PTSD” isn’t a character trait. I actually think the book would have benefited from being a little longer, and giving us more time to get to know our main and secondary protagonists better. We did get some back story on some of the kids, but overbearing mother breeding self-righteous misogyny and disappointed father generating indiscriminate anger and so on, nothing felt more than cliché with these kids. Granted, some of them are here just to die, but if you’re going to give us any semblance of story about them and not just feed them mindlessly to the body mill than I want to feel something about them, not just feel they are cut and paste characters. The book hinted at wanting to be more robust with its characters, but it never quite got there, and the short length may have been part of the reason.
And, lastly, there was absolutely no reason to set this story in the 80s, and it is only mentioned in passing. The story and characters aren’t developed enough to cash in on nostalgia in any meaningful way. My guess is this was just a convenient way to avoid the characters having contemporary technology, at least that is what it felt like. Other than serving that purpose, there is absolutely nothing that needed the 80s setting. If set in the present day then the protagonist couldn’t be a Vietnam vet with PTSD but America has offered more than enough wars in the Middle East since then and still refuses to show any meaningful concern for its vets well-being, so very little would have to change to make the story set in the present. If a story is set in a very distinct time period it should be for a reason, I want to feel that time period and its rules and customs and limitations and excesses as a character in the plot, and here it didn’t feel like it contributed anything.
In brief, this wasn’t really for me, and I do feel like it was a little confused about what it wants to be and who it wants to speak to. But I enjoyed the story and the pacing and I don’t think this is a bad book, just not great. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement, but if you like YA-ish genre fiction and have boarding schools and supernatural mystery in your reading wheelhouse, this could very well click for you.
I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, who gave me a complimentary eARC in exchange for an honest review.
When I realized the author writes for television some of it made sense, there is a definite episodic nature to the structure, and you can almost feel how the chapter breaks are little more than commercial breaks. Most characters are basically introduced as needed, nothing felt seeded or like it was looking to a long view, it felt very episodic. None of the characters felt like they were more than a thin veneer of character. In some cases, as many characters hold secrets, there is some plot reason for characters being portrayed somewhat thinly. But from the budding incel to the nerdy journalist to the drama queen playwright to the burnout gardener to the alcoholic boatsman to the raging jock, it just felt like caricatures all around. And while our leading protagonist, in typical noir fashion, does come wrapped in an air of mystery, “war vet with PTSD” isn’t a character trait. I actually think the book would have benefited from being a little longer, and giving us more time to get to know our main and secondary protagonists better. We did get some back story on some of the kids, but overbearing mother breeding self-righteous misogyny and disappointed father generating indiscriminate anger and so on, nothing felt more than cliché with these kids. Granted, some of them are here just to die, but if you’re going to give us any semblance of story about them and not just feed them mindlessly to the body mill than I want to feel something about them, not just feel they are cut and paste characters. The book hinted at wanting to be more robust with its characters, but it never quite got there, and the short length may have been part of the reason.
And, lastly, there was absolutely no reason to set this story in the 80s, and it is only mentioned in passing. The story and characters aren’t developed enough to cash in on nostalgia in any meaningful way. My guess is this was just a convenient way to avoid the characters having contemporary technology, at least that is what it felt like. Other than serving that purpose, there is absolutely nothing that needed the 80s setting. If set in the present day then the protagonist couldn’t be a Vietnam vet with PTSD but America has offered more than enough wars in the Middle East since then and still refuses to show any meaningful concern for its vets well-being, so very little would have to change to make the story set in the present. If a story is set in a very distinct time period it should be for a reason, I want to feel that time period and its rules and customs and limitations and excesses as a character in the plot, and here it didn’t feel like it contributed anything.
In brief, this wasn’t really for me, and I do feel like it was a little confused about what it wants to be and who it wants to speak to. But I enjoyed the story and the pacing and I don’t think this is a bad book, just not great. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement, but if you like YA-ish genre fiction and have boarding schools and supernatural mystery in your reading wheelhouse, this could very well click for you.
I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, who gave me a complimentary eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2022
A private investigator goes to a private school on an island off the New England coast to investigate the theft of a rare book. Soon he's also being investigated by a teenage school reporter, and they form an alliance. The story's a mix of black humour, horror, and noir, almost like a Jack Reacher vs. teenagers mystery. There's lots of violence and gore and plot twists. Not a big read but enjoyable, especially for a debut novel.
April 4, 2025
3.25 stars
sam is an investigator and is summoned to a boarding school on an island full of kids from all walks of life. His mission is to find a rare book that was stolen from a safe. But what he doesn't know is that this is about to take him on a wild ride to find who did it. What he isnt prepared for are the kids who are getting murdered as he searches...who is doing this? What does this book contain? Will ye save them?
sam is an investigator and is summoned to a boarding school on an island full of kids from all walks of life. His mission is to find a rare book that was stolen from a safe. But what he doesn't know is that this is about to take him on a wild ride to find who did it. What he isnt prepared for are the kids who are getting murdered as he searches...who is doing this? What does this book contain? Will ye save them?
March 1, 2022
This was such a fun horror noir novella! It hits all the major beats I like in the genre: Mysterious cult, secluded island, something witchy and demonic afoot, 80s setting, nosy kids in way over their heads, a grumpy investigator, and a dash of gore. The pacing and length make 'Friend of the Devil' easily a single-sitting read. Lloyd balances multiple points if view in an enticing way that builds suspense and keeps you wondering which characters will stumble upon which reveals first. I adamantly recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, dark, exciting read.
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this earc in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this earc in exchange for an honest review!
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