Devil's Due

Red Letter Days #2

by Rachel Caine

The New York Times–bestselling author of Devil’s Bargain brings back two kick-ass female private investigators in a case of premonitions and peril.
 
While Jazz Callender is recuperating from nearly losing her life during their first case for the mysterious Cross Society, Lucia Garza hires a new investigator to their none other than Ben McCarthy. The former Kansas City cop has finally been exonerated of murder, and just in time. Jazz and Lucia have received a new red letter. 
 
But instead of instructions for a high-priority case, this missive contains nothing but a “One of you has made a mistake.” And it’s on letterhead from the Cross Society’s major adversary in a psychic war. With Ben filling them in on his past secretive dealings with the organization, Jazz and Lucia start to believe they may be in bed with the enemy, one that they’ve underestimated at their own peril . . . 
 
Praise for Devil’s Bargain
 
“Rachel Caine gives us a major savvy, swift and smart heroine in a tense, fast-paced story that demands to be read in one sitting! I’m addicted for life and can’t wait for her next book!” —P. N. Elrod, author of Drawing Dead and Other Stories
 
“Filled with murder, mystery, bad ass chicks and a good ole kick in the head twist.” —Under the Covers Book Blog
 
“A fast paced, action packed thriller with a paranormal twist.” —Book’d Out

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Mystery, Ebooks, Fiction

287 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2006

About the author

Rachel Caine was a pen name of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad.

She has also published as:
Roxanne Longstreet
Roxanne Conrad
Julie Fortune
Ian Hammell

Her Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/rachelcainef...

Her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/rachelcaine...

Reviews

[Trip · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been years since I read the first book so I was expecting to struggle getting into this one, however it was a lot easier to jump into then expected. This book continues from the last except from Lucias pov and there's lots i'd forgotten from Jazz, luckily there is recap here for certain parts which helped a lot.

Lucia is amazing, I adored her from start to finish. She is very much an independent, badass, full of secrets and flaws that just made me love her even more. The friendship with Jazz is wonderful as always, I really liked how many characters we see of her past here too with Omar and Gregory who are both incredibly fascinating.

Oh and I liked Ben, seeing how he fit into everything was interesting and I liked the slow burn romance between him and Lucia. This book takes place over a short length of time, so definitely a start to a relationship by the end and well he has an interesting history. I feel him and Lucia just fit together so well, they both are a mess in many ways and have great chemistry. Somehow it works.

Reminded me of my love of Rachel Claines writing, the character building and development is beautiful. She bring so much life to all of them even ones only known for a few pages, everyone is flawed and I was so here for it! Give me imperfect people, who can still be good in their own way or even villains I adore all of them here. Damn they're awful beings, but hell yes to development and interesting ideas.

The fantasy element here is rather subtle in a lot of ways, involving talk of various realities and how choices we make have an impact. Oh and there are psychics. It's all rather complicated and yet it works perfectly for me, such a unique and interesting outlook that I appreciate so much!

Also I am not usually a huge fan of mystery, secrets and manipulation which this book/world contains a large amount off. However I enjoyed this story so much! The ending is hilarious and so fitting to these two books, I loved it!

P. S I do recommend reading these close together, as I definitely feel I missed out on a lot since I couldn't remember anything really of the first other then basics.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil's Due was a fast-paced, action packed tale. It was even better than Devil's Bargain because the world has already been established. The tale has it all. Secret Societies, romance, suspense and well-developed characters I rooted for. I am saddened that there will be no more books in this series.

McCarthy is now free, and Jazz is eager to see her ex-partner. The interactions between Lucia and McCarthy are sizzling and Jazz picks up on their chemistry. It was fun seeing what developed between her ex-partner and new partner.

Danger soon presents itself, and all of them will need to work together. We've got secrets, betrayal, and plenty of explosions. The pacing is relentless with twists and turns that will leave you breathless. The story shines and showcases Caine's writing. If you've never tried her, this is a fun duology to start with.

Fans of urban fantasy, private investigators, secret societies and action will love the Red-Letter Days served with a side of romance.

Jennifer Aquino helped sent the tone with her narration and gave voice to the characters capturing their personalities. The narration enhanced the tale and added to my overall enjoyment. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Kirsty (Amethyst Bookwyrm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin UK Ltd for giving me this book to review.

Lucia Garza is stuck in the middle of a power struggle between two powerful but sinister psychic organisations The Cross Society and Eidolon. She and her partner Jazz have been working with The Cross Society believing they are the good guys however, she is not sure who she can trust anymore, even Jazz’s ex-partner and their newly hired private detective Ben McCarthy.

Devil’s Due is the Second book in Caine’s Red Letter Day series and starts right where Devil’s Bargain left but from the point of view of Lucia instead of Jazz. This book is fast paced and has nonstop action and tension.

While I enjoyed this book I just could not connect with Lucia even though I am more like her than Jazz. I think part of this might be because her past is mentioned quite a bit but we never get to find out much about it.

I also could not feel the chemistry between Lucia and her love interest and just could not understand why they were drawn together. However, I could feel that Jazz and Lucia clicked as, while they are both different, they are really good friends and work well together.

While I did prefer Devil’s Bargain, this book did wrap up the series nicely and has a good and interesting story. I would recommend Devil’s Due to people who like Devil’s Bargain.

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucia Garza and Jazz Callender, both with law enforcement backgrounds, started up a PI firm with the financial backing of a mysterious organization, The Cross Society. Of course, there are strings. They have to commit to drop everything if they receive a red envelope and follow its instructions. They seem to be acting on some sort of precognitive information from this society, and they do help avert some terrible tragedies, but it seems the organization doesn’t mind letting innocents die for “the greater good”. When Lucia and Jazz start to push back and question their assignments, things turn dangerous! Thankfully, both women are smart and have support as they go up against two powerful organizations.

I read the first book, Devil’s Bargain, back in 2013, grabbed up the second book and then never read it! I had hazy recollections but remembered more and more as I kept reading. There’s a bit of a sci-fi/fantasy element with the nature of The Cross Society’s mission.

Devil’s Due was an entertaining combination of action, danger, romance with two kick-butt female leads at the center! This series ended up being a duology, as the story wrapped up nicely by the end. Both books are now available through Kindle Unlimited.

I voluntarily read and advanced readers copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ummed and ahhed about what to rate this, but I think my mixed feelings probably leaves it at a solid three. I inhaled this book in a day; Caine's writing was always addictive, and her pacing is on point for a thriller. Plus it's not really a long book. But there were a number of things I didn't like. I couldn't connect to Lucia the way I did Jazz; I missed Jazz, as she's cloistered away for most of the novel, which also means you don't get enough of their partnership, which was such a strong element in book one. Details of the plot remain elusive, as does the reason why Lucia and her love interest are attracted to each other. And to be honest, I found the romance quite troubling by the end, given what's happened. I struggled to believe that Lucia seemingly processes certain events so calmly, and it's times like these where I think the book could have done with some slowing down to fully explore that. Not least because the plot gets complicated - sometimes confusingly so - and it gets dark. As incredibly readable as this one is, I prefer the first book.

[AH · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Not your usual Rachel Caine book.

Devil’s Due is the second book in Rachel Caine’s Red Letter Days series. If you’ve read and loved Rachel Caine’s other books, be prepared for something completely different. The Red Letter Days series is more like a conspiracy thriller with a touch – and I mean touch – of the paranormal. No vampires, zombies, nor djinn in this series. Devil’s Due starts off slowly, especially if you are expecting a regular urban fantasy or paranormal book. It’s more cerebral.

Devil’s Due has an intriguing premise. There are two corporations that orchestrate events that occur in the world. The Cross Society works against the Eidolon Corporation. In the previous book, Devil’s Bargain our heroines Jazz Callendar and Lucia Garza are brought together and ordered to form a detective agency by the Cross Society. They are free to conduct business as they see fit with the caveat that when they receive a Red Letter, they are required to give the letter priority.

This book focuses on Lucia and reveals here intriguing spy background. Lucia’s past is very shady black ops style, and some of her past contacts make an appearance in this novel, giving this book more of a spy thriller feel. There are a lot of shifty characters and nothing is really as it seems.

For fans of Ms. Caine’s Revivalist series, the Red Letter Days series introduces Manny and Pansy. More of Manny’s background is revealed and it is truly horrific, reminiscent of a CSI episode.

I would recommend this series to readers who enjoy conspiracy thrillers and police procedurals with just a touch of the paranormal. For fans of Ms. Caine’s Revivalist series, this book is a must read and will help pass the time until the Terminated is published in August.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for a review copy of this book.

Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.

[Anastasia ｼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Review on NetGalley

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the previous book in this series last year, Devil's Bargain, and have been waiting for Devil's Due to be re-released so I could read it. When I found it on netgalley I was very excited and requested it immediately. The Cross Society and Eidolon are still on the scene, and sometimes I got confused over what their initial purpose was and whether they were 'Team Good' or 'Team Bad', but as the story progressed it became clearer what side they were on.

Getting to catch up with Jazz and Lucia and get involved with all the action was great. Getting to see more of Manny and Pansy and how their relationship is progressing was an added bonus. Manny is just a quirky as ever and Pansy surprised me by not acting like I thought she would, she is actually quite tough on the inside but they way she is portrayed originally made this a pleasant surprise.

I really enjoyed Devil's Due more than the previous book. There is even more tension and action and at one point I had doubts over whether certain characters would survive. Some questions left over from Devil's Bargain are answered and some lose ends are tied up. The last few chapters I could not read fast enough. I HAD to know what was going to happen and if Jazz and Lucia's plan would work or fail.

One thing I really liked is how the friendship between Jazz and Lucia has developed more and that they are closer, not only as partners but also friends. ;They each have the others back no matter what, even if they probably couldn't save their own life in the state they are in, and you can actually feel how strong their bonds are, when one worried over the other I found myself worrying with them.

Devil's Due was a quick read but one that I really enjoyed and did not want to end.

[Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I got a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review*

This and other reviews can also be found on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews.

This was so fast paced I'm actually out of breath now! The writing is excellent, I love most of the main characters, and I think the mystery and suspense parts were so expertly done I could have never guessed any of what happened... Then again, my name isn't Simms ;)

Devil’s Due is even better than Devil’s Bargain, with not only one, but two strong female protagonists! I also loved where the story went, both with the mystery of the psychics and with the way Jazz and Lucia interacted with each other and the other characters.

As McCarthy is liberated from prison, only Lucia is there to greet him, because James and Lucia made sure Jazz was far away from the courthouse during the hearing. To keep her safe – or so they convinced themselves. When Jazz realizes that McCarthy is no longer in prison, the first thing she wants to do is to find him, to let him know how happy she is that he was finally cleared of murder. She quickly understands that something is going on between her ex-partner and her current partner, her keen sense of observation never slowing down.

[Yolanda Sfetsos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can this woman write or what? I'm a huge fan of her Weather Warden series, so when I heard she was writing for Bombshell, I was ecstatic! And having already read, and thoroughly enjoyed Devil's Bargain, I was anticipating this one. And it didn't disappoint.

The tension in this book is so thick, it swallows you up until all you want to do is keep reading to find out what's going to happen next. Lucia Garza is a very interesting character with a dark past we only get a glimpse into. Jazz and Borden are back in this one too... and so is an array of new characters from Lucia's life. And we met Ben McCarthy properly, after he's released from prison. The buzz between Ben and Lucia is sizzling.

And the situation... well, it's a hell of a thrill ride, that's for sure. I don't want to get into the nitty-gritty of it because there's no way to properly talk about the happenings without kinda spoiling it for everyone.

So, if you're a Rachel Caine fan -- this is an amazing book! Check it out!

[Joan{missing the vampire bunny slippers!} · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first book a little better I think. Reading from Lucia's pov was really interesting for a while but then I started missing jazz's firy disposition. Lucia is a good character and I can't complain about a lack of twists and action.
For some reason I can't pinpoint I also liked Borden more than McCarthy. Maybe it was the whole dynamic of the relationship with jazz that I liked but still... :)
Overall it was a good read. I cant wait to be introduced to the next amazing world Rachel Caine conjures! :)

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
 

Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Red Letter Days duology uses a style I have read one other time and it's one I LOVE!  There are two female main characters in this series.  Devil's Bargain was from the point of view of Jazz who is an ex-cop.  Devil's Due is from Lucia's point of view, an ex-federal agent.

 

James Borden had volunteered to keep her distracted - not exactly a sacrifice; the man had been madly in love with her for almost a year - and the significant lack of Jazz's presence this morning might mean they'd finally tipped over from flirting to... something more.

Or alternatively, knowing Jazz, it could mean she'd had a massive fight with Borden, gotten drunk, taken on a motorcycle gang in a fist fight, and was celebrating her victory with a hospital visit.

 

It was great to listen to these stories back-to-back.  I enjoyed getting Lucia's point of view and her romance.  I didn't expect the duology to work this way but really liked it.  There was tons of action and each character had a background romance.  The team spends a lot of time staying alive.

Eventually, they have to come up with a longer term plan to get out of the crosshairs and just reacting to attacks.  Lucia has some real experience with this kind of thing and they do all agree on a plan.  It's another on the edge adventure!

Narration:
I continued to enjoy the narration.  I appreciated the different tone for Lucia's voice. It was flatter, smoother, less emotional than Jazz and that was right for her.  I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.

Listen to a clip: HERE

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I was initially thrown by the change of viewpoint from Jazz to Lucia, it quickly became apparent that this was definitely Lucia's story, and therefore the decision to tell it from her perspective was really the only thing that made sense. Lucia was little more than a mystery in the first book, and though it's very much drip fed in on the slowest setting, it's nice to see her character fleshed out with a bit of background detail.

Games are raised with anthrax scares, abductions and more veiled threats from the 'are they good or bad?' guys and there's a definite step up in the mythology. Lucia no longer feels like a bit player in the conspiracy of the Cross and Eidolon movements, but an integral part of something massive, and as we discover things as she does, we are right there with every moment of disorientation and confusion. A lot of the time, I didn't really know what was going on in this book. In the best possible way.

It was a shame that, though this was obviously Lucia's story, Jazz felt a bit lost in the background. After spending so much time with her in the first book, it was more than a little jarring to have her relegated so completely to the background. It would be nice if the next book featured an equal spread of their viewpoints, though with the focus so much on the romance side of things, I wonder if some other character might not be introduced.

But, overall it retained the same fun, fast and sexy qualities of the first book, and I'll be keeping my eye out for the next instalment.

[Mary Hladio · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Devil’s Due” by Rachel Caine, the third installment in the Red Letter Days series, earns a solid three-star rating. It delivers a mix of suspense and supernatural elements but struggles with pacing issues and some predictable plot developments that prevent it from fully realizing its intriguing premise.

The novel continues to follow the exploits of Jazz Callender and Lucia Garza, partners in a private investigation firm with a twist: their cases are subtly influenced by supernatural forces. In “Devil’s Due,” Jazz and Lucia find themselves deeper in the web of the enigmatic Cross Society, which manipulates events from the shadows. As they untangle the complex motives of the society, they are drawn into a high-stakes game that threatens their lives and tests their loyalties.

Rachel Caine’s strengths in crafting compelling action scenes and snappy dialogue are evident in this book. The chemistry between Jazz and Lucia is dynamic, providing a strong anchor for the series’ ongoing narrative. Their partnership, imbued with trust and witty banter, is one of the highlights of the novel, offering readers a steady dose of both tension and relief amidst the chaos.

However, “Devil’s Due” tends to suffer from uneven pacing. Some sections of the novel are gripping and fast-paced, while others drag, getting bogged down in details that do not significantly advance the plot or develop the characters. This unevenness can occasionally pull the reader out of the immersive experience that Caine usually delivers so well.

Moreover, while the supernatural aspect remains a unique feature of the series, it sometimes feels underdeveloped or hastily explained. The potential for a richer, more detailed exploration of the supernatural elements is vast, but the book stops short of delving deeply into the mechanics and implications of these forces, which could have added a more compelling layer to the story.

The plot of “Devil’s Due” is predictable at times, with twists that seasoned thriller readers might see coming. Though the narrative attempts to weave complexity, it often falls into familiar patterns, which might leave readers wishing for more unexpected turns or deeper intrigue.

Despite these issues, “Devil’s Due” is a decent continuation of the Red Letter Days series. It remains true to the spirit of the characters and the world that Rachel Caine has created. Fans of the series will likely appreciate the further development of Jazz and Lucia’s story, even if the novel doesn’t quite capture the freshness of the series’ debut.

Overall, “Devil’s Due” is a satisfactory read for those following Jazz and Lucia’s adventures. It serves as a functional bridge in the series, setting the stage for future developments that, hopefully, will capitalize more fully on the rich potential of the series’ premise.

[Melindeeloo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars =It was pretty good but I had nits - There were a couple triggers for me in this book that kept me from liking Devil's Due as much as Devil's bargain. There is an off-screen rape, this also left me feeling uneasy about the consumption of the romance and I was very sad about a side character's murder. The other PI partner and former spy Lucia is in the lead with Ben, the partner of the cop leading lady from the previous book, as Lucia's love interest. The romance is not really in the forefront of the story as the two lady PIs are left with trying to deal with the two competing woo woo organizations that are trying to shape the future - and neither organization seems to actually be the good guys. I enjoyed seeing more of Lucia, but didn't really feel like we got enough of her back story -she never has the tell all convo that she promises her leading man. The insight into what really ended landing Ben in prison for murder was interesting as is the fallout from the big confrontation at the climax of the story.

[Nicole Luiken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spy action stuff + opposing psychics + romantic subplot. I strongly advise starting with book one Devil's Bargain. There was a lot going on here in a short book and a lot of plot twists. Most of which I liked (especially Lucia actually getting sick), but one that went too far in my opinion and the last betrayal one felt anticlimactic (plus I saw it coming).

[roy douglas lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robuster

For as good as this book was it had a terrible ending. The hook was amazing but in the end the author took the easy road to end it. Plus the poor editing interrupted the flow and rhythm of the story.
I enjoyed the story but was disappointed with it at the same time. It could have been so much better .
Good book . Well worth the time and effort .

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the first book.

The predictions and foresight and timelines became a really ridiculous convoluted mess.

The completely blockheaded Stewart was ridiculous. And how do the two super rich people have so much money squirreled away? The ex-fbi guy has lots of money to build elaborate and crazy hideouts constantly? He’s an ex-forensics specialist. Where did it come from?

And everyone had to know the abused wife was a plant. Seriously?

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually better than the first book, as it fleshes out more details about how Simms works his “magic” and also gives us a bit more back story about Lucia.
There are also more firefights & other action to keep the pages turning quickly! 😁

[Lyndsey Gollogly · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this was the second in a duology and this time it’s more from Lucia’s point of view and her journey where book one followed Jazz. I enjoyed but got a little bored in the middle which is so unlike me with a Caine book. Overall it was a good read but just not past a 3 star.

[Jennie Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!

The plot came from left field and caught me flat-footed,I certainly wasn't expecting it! What a pleasant surprise! This series has a lot of twists and turns and you never knew what will happen next, I loved it!

[Robert Huckestein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wishing for more

This is the second book of a two book series. Several typos prevent a rating of five stars. The story itself was excellent. A nice fast read with plenty of action and twists and turns.

[Rebecca Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I did like this book a little more then the first. Theses books are worth the read if you are looking for something quick.

[Jessica Kunz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

Another amazing read from Rachel. I loved all the action and how many plot twists there were. Enjoyed every bit!

[Kris Rhodes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too quirky and bizarre, with logic gaps.

[loraine cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil's due

Good follow on from the first book. Non stop action between all involved. Would recommend Rachel Caine's books she's a great author.

[Just This · Rating 3 out of 5]

more of jazz & co & the red envelopes...

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5

[Piroska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still no idea what's going on but loved the change of POV. Pretty obvious love interest with a "holy shit, what???" at the end.

[Sallie Bedford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love everything about Rachel Caine novels. Read this so quickly, couldn’t put it down.