Devils in Exile

by Chuck Hogan

With Prince of Thieves soon to be a movie under the title The Town starring Ben Affleck and Mad Men ’s Jon Hamm, and Hogan’s recent vampire novel The Strain , coauthored with Guillermo del Toro, an instant New York Times bestseller, Chuck Hogan is a star on the rise. Now, with Devils in Exile , he displays his trademark gift for pulse-pounding action and strong characterization in a gripping drama that is sure to further raise his profile and give him the audience he so richly deserves.

When Neal Maven and a crew of fellow Iraq War veterans begin ripping off Boston-area drug dealers for profit, their lives are quickly put into jeopardy. As Maven’s involvement deepens, two worrisome things he begins to suspect that their leader has a sinister ulterior motive, and he lusts after the leader’s girl—a tough former model with a drug problem. As the rip-off jobs get riskier, Maven and his crew are soon pursued by both a smart federal DEA agent and by a pair of psychopathic Jamaican hit men on a drug lords’ payroll. When everything goes bad—and it goes very bad—Maven embarks on a one-man crusade to right the wrongs in which he unwittingly participated. Not everyone will survive his crusade, and Maven himself may not live to see the final outcome….

Vividly told and featuring a stunningly complex plot, Devils in Exile is Chuck Hogan’s most satisfying and powerful thriller yet.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense

312 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Chuck Hogan is an American author. His story "Two Thousand Volts" appeared in The Best American Mystery Stories 2009. He is the co-author of The Strain Trilogy with Guillermo del Toro. His 2004 novel Prince of Thieves was adapted to film as the Ben Affleck directed The Town in 2010.

Reviews

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the 2020 collaboration with Guillermo del Toro The Hollow Ones and knew that I wanted to read more from my man Chuck Hogan.

This one is from 2010 and we find a recently discharged soldier down on his luck and not sure what to do with himself. In walks charismatic Royce and suddenly there are lucrative opportunities for someone with protagonist Neal Maven’s skill sets. Hogan lays down the foundations for a smooth but fairly unique crime thriller.

In Brad Royce, Hogan has given us an intriguing character in crime fiction. While we got to know Maven and some other characters, Royce in person and by influence stole the show here.

The way Hogan describes Maven’s background and the philosophical machinations going on in the periphery sets this apart from a fun but shallow action book. Some of the characterization was thin and this was also somewhat formulaic, and I did not like the ending, but the overall quality of the narrative kept the pages turning.

Recommended and I’ll read more from Hogan.

[CC · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Hogan's previous novel, Prince of Thieves (aka The Town) better, I have to admit. I'll peg this novel at three.

The premise was rousing -- an Iraq vet working two crappy jobs -- at a convenience store and parking lot attendant in Boston -- is pursued by the slick Brad Royce, a Robin Hood type character who steals massive amounts of cash in phony drug deals and then flushes their product. He recruits Maven to join his crew. Maven gets involved with his girl. The busts go bust and all hell breaks loose.

The characters were well drawn in the beginning -- surprisingly so. Rich, specific dialogue distinguished them from one another. Instead of reading the usual vomitting of names/characters in an average thriller, one could actually keep track of who was who. However, after the first third or so the character building dropped off and it became something of an ordeal, action-wise.

I think the main character, Maven, might have to be Superman to pull off that many kills. He was half-dead one too many times before rising up to wallop someone else for it to feel like anything other than overkill. Locations were interesting -- the flower exchange, for one. But instead of lingering, it was all a blur.

The detective -- Lash -- had little to do. Too little. With a great start and character development, I expected him to play a much bigger role. Unfortunately, he was just sort of there without purpose.

However, there were many instances of good, descriptive writing. Gems of Danielle's necklace being a "second smile" around her neck or Maven breathing "high and tight" made me know Hogan can really write. I enjoyed much of that sort of flavor, too bad it was so overshadowed.

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A veteran having trouble re-adjusting to the civilian world joins up with a band of merry men, who rob from dope dealers. Wanted by both the cops and the crooks, he wants out, but can't see a way.

This is basically the premise for Bulldog Drummond, but this book doesn't have any sense of fun to it.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun, action-packed crime story.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. What a fun and action-filled thrill ride this was!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

well - this is definitely not a book I would have never picked up on my own - that's for sure! as mentioned before I got this book from the library during Valentine's week - Blind Date With a Book was the name of the game. books were wrapped up and you could check them out - title and synopsis unknown. it was actually pretty nerve wracking, just as a real blind date would be...

I was actually kind of disappointed when I unwrapped my book. This was such a manly book! great quality for a real life date... but a book... I didn't think so.

but, I decided it was best to give the book a try, afterall there is a raffle involved if I turned in a review.

the book is about a Iraq war Veteran named Neal Maven. trying to readjust to civilian life - he finds himself working 2 dead end jobs, with no money, no friends and nothing to show for his war time achievements.

that's when he meets Brad Royce - also a Vet - a very smooth talking Vet, that has a dream - and a job for Maven.

Maven is quickly thrust into a life of money, drugs, and Danielle Vetti - his high school crush.

believing he is doing the right thing by stopping drug sales - he continrs down this dangerous path - and it turns deadly. Can Maven right the wrongs before its to late?!

At first I found this book a little hard to get into - it's rough and ready - written for a man, by a man.

But it is well written, with gradual character development and a plot that thickens, boils over and then twists.

I won't say that I was on the edge of my seat, but I did find myself rooting for certain characters and wanting to know if they were going to make it through alive. I could actually imagine this as a movie.

I am curious to know if there is, or will be a sequel due to the ending words - so I will need to do my research.

I would recommend this to a few of my friends.

funny little moral to my "blind date" story - don't judge a book by its cover :)

PS I debated on giving this book 3.5, but went ahead with 4 only because it did keep my attention pretty well for being a book I would never think to even pick up on my own.

PPS if you're wondering why it took me so long to read it, I did read the first 20 or so pages but then left for a weekend trip and didn't bring the book with me - so I stared another book. this book has really only taken me a few days - it is a pretty fast read.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing Prince of thieves (The Town), which was easily my favorite read of 2011, I admittedly had extremely high expectations for Devils in Exile. But I wasn't near as impressed with it as I had hoped to be in the end, but this does happen when I expect too much, or too little from a book, movie or most other types of art forms. Apart form that, I will say that this is a good story, with compelling twists and and ending that I didn't see coming. Neal Maven, a recent (8 months out) veteran, is working a minimum wage job, living in a shoddy apartment, and spending his every dollar on cheap thrills. He wasn't really cut out for civilian life, he's slowly realizing, after spending his days in the military since he set foot out of high school. While the atrocities of the combat zone life haunt him constantly, it seems he is more acclimated to the feel of the battlefield. Working his usual late night shift, Maven encounters an unusually bizarre set of events during the course of the evening. He is later approached by an old high school crush, Danielle Vetti. She later offers a proposal to meet her boyfriend, Brad Royce, who is in charge of a crack team of, not unlike himself, special ops veterans to take down big time drug dealers, flushing the product and pocketing the cash from major deals. It seems almost as though Maven's dream has come true. He is working alongside like minds with similar backgrounds to his own, making the world a better place, all the while being near the girl of his adolescent dreams. But things this good tend not to last for a man of Mavin's luck. His world is quickly transformed by unforeseen events into a nightmarish game of survival. I'm not a strong reader but found it hard to put down and finished it within the span of maybe 4-5 days. It'll definitely keep you reading, as does a quintessential Chuck Hogan novel, in my experience, and is fun and fast paced. While there are no portions of the book I would consider slow, the beginning and, most definitely, the last 50 or so pages are wildly entertaining. I can't say it's as good, or believable as Prince of Thieves. And I'm not the type to judge an author's work based on my liking of another piece by said novelist. But it's unmistakeably an awesome riot of a face melter.

[Ross Cumming · Rating 4 out of 5]

I initially became aware of Chuck Hogan's writing through 'The Strain' trilogy and also through the film 'The Town', which was a brilliant film adaptation of his novel 'Prince of Thieves', which is even better than the film.
"Devils in Exile' tells the story of ex-Iraqui war veteran Neal Maven, who has now left the service and is struggling to adjust to civilian life back in his hometown of Boston. Maven works as a car park attendant and also covers the graveyard shift at a gas station convenience store along with another vet, Ricky, who was invalided out after being wounded by a roadside IED. One night two guys try to rob Maven of the car park takings and if not for the intervention of one of the patrons, Brad Royce, Maven would have ended up killing the robbers. Royce however is also a ex-vet and likes what he has seen and enlists Maven to join his crew which specialise in ripping off drug deals. Maven is soon seduced by the money and lifestyle and is also drawn to Royce because Maven had a schoolboy crush on Royce's girlfriend Danielle Vetti.
Marcus Lash is a DEA agent who through various informants and contacts gets to learn of the series of robberies and is soon on the trail of the crew, as are two Jamaican 'hitmen' hired by one of the Boston crime lords to deal with the situation and whose speciality is to collect the eyes of their victims.
This is a fast paced and action packed crime thriller which is filled with great characters that keeps you guessing all the way through. Who is Brad Royce and what are his motives ? Is Danielle Vetti just an innocent caught up in the game or is she too part of the crew and will she and Maven eventually 'get it on' ? Will Maven continue with the crew as the jobs get more daring and dangerous or will he try and leave, taking Danni with him ? These are just some of the questions I asked myself while reading this book, that kept me gripped till the end, where there is also quite a twist in the tail.

[Andrew Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright, this started out amazing. Veterans of recent wars, their skills and training having no use in a modern world, have a scheme: rob drug dealers, destroy all the drugs and take the money for themselves.

However, the final 1/4 of the book was just too unbelievable. Made no sense. I love Chuck Hogan — Prince of Thieves is one my most favorite novels of all time — but this one went off the rails at the end.

The ride getting there was badass though. The first 75% of the book is worth the cover charge.

[Marty Fried · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was OK, but I found it hard to really care about the characters. The main character didn't seem especially capable or smart, and mostly got through with sheer determination and the ability to not die when he should. I almost stopped reading early on, but I was a little too vested in it and I was curious to see if and where it might go. In the end, I think a solid 3, or 3 1/2 rating fits for me.

[Mike Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never heard of Chuck Hogan so, when reading this book, it was a complete surprise on how well written it is. The author certainly has a talent for writing books.

It's hard for me to keep track of characters but Mr. Hogan reminds the reader who the character is when he/she appears again and again in the story. My kind of author!

[Paul McBride · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took awhile to get into, the writing was really good but the story took a while to get going.
Interesting idea, Iraq vets ripping off major drug dealers, but there is far more to the story and the motivations as to why.

[David Bruner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deserves 5 stars, in my opinion, even if the only thing you get out of it is the "Tomorrow Man" theory.

"The Tomorrow Man theory. It’s pretty basic. Today, right here, you are who you are. Tomorrow, you will be who you will be. Each and every night, we lie down to die, and each morning we arise, reborn.

Now, those who are in good spirits, with strong mental health, they look out for their Tomorrow Man. They eat right today, they drink right today, they go to sleep early today–all so that Tomorrow Man, when he awakes in his bed reborn as Today Man, thanks Yesterday Man. He looks upon him fondly as a child might a good parent. He knows that someone–himself–was looking out for him. He feels cared for, and respected. Loved, in a word. And now he has a legacy to pass on to his subsequent selves…. 

But those who are in a bad way, with poor mental health, they constantly leave these messes for Tomorrow Man to clean up. They eat whatever the hell they want, drink like the night will never end, and then fall asleep to forget. They don’t respect Tomorrow Man because they don’t think through the fact that Tomorrow Man will be them. So then they wake up, new Today Man, groaning at the disrespect Yesterday Man showed them. Wondering why does that guy–myself–keep punishing me? But they never learn and instead come to settle for that behavior, eventually learning to ask and expect nothing of themselves. They pass along these same bad habits tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, and it becomes psychologically genetic, like a curse.

Looking at you now, Maven, I can see exactly where you fall on this spectrum. You are a man constantly trying to fix today what Yesterday Man did to you. You make up your bed, you clean those dirty dishes from the night before, and pledge not to start drinking until six, thinking that’s the way to keep an even keel. But in reality you’re always playing catch-up. I know this because I’ve been there.

The thing is–you can’t fix the mistakes of Yesterday. Yesterday Man is dead, he’s gone forever, and blame and atonement aren’t worth a damn. What you can do is help yourself today. Eat a vegetable. Read a book. Cut that hair of yours. Leave Tomorrow Man something more than a headache and a jam-packed colon. Do for Tomorrow Man what you would have wanted Yesterday Man to do for you."

Beyond that, the story is pretty good. It took a turn I didn't expect and ended with an exciting conclusion.

[Braden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would probably be a really entertaining movie. That’s probably the best way to summarize my thoughts. In a movie, there often isn’t time for appropriate character development, certainly not amongst multiple characters, and the action is much more entertaining on screen. For this book, where most of the characters really seem pretty sterile and almost cardboard cutouts, but excels with the frenzied, page-turning action scenes, I think it would be a perfect fit. The most interesting character in the book, DEA agent Lash, is given some depth, but I feel a lot more could have been done there. Royce delivers some forceful dialogue, but as the book progresses he is revealed to be completely one-dimensional, as are Maven’s cohorts, friends, and honestly, Maven himself. I feel like story would have benefited greatly from the author doing a better job of underscoring Maven’s experiences and how it shaped him, because right now it feels like Maven is “generic struggling veteran guy” and we root for him throughout because we’re supposed to, not because the author was able to build a sympathetic, relatable character.

But, with that said, I’m not sure that was the authors goal. I think the author’s goal was to deliver an action packed, easily defined good vs easily defined bad conflict, with enough twists, turns, bullets and bodies to keep the pages turning at a brisk pace. In this sense, it’s very successful. Lots of well-done, satisfying action. An enjoyable read overall.

[Michael Martz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Hogan's writing reminds me of a combination of Dennis Lehane's Boston-centric tales, George V. Higgins' great dialogue, and George Pelecanos' ability to create characters who aren't good people but who you sort of root for anyway. Not a bad combo, I'd say.

Neal Maven is an Iraq war vet who returns to Boston and has a bit of a problem getting integrated back into a more normal world. He's working minimum wage jobs, although he'd been a Special Forces killing machine overseas, and barely making ends meet when he comes to the attention of a guy who's always on the lookout for someone with special skills. Maven gets 'hired' and joins a team of fellow war vets who perform a Robin Hood-style service to make big money (although the 'giving to the poor' part of Robin Hood's creed really doesn't apply....) by ripping off drug dealers. What they do is very risky and will inevitably blow up, but their smooth leader keeps pressing forward. The big question, though, is whether their jefe' is who he says he is, and is what they're doing having the intended effect? But the money keeps rolling in and they keep moving forward....

Maven is a great character, full of contradictions, energy, rage, and lots of other stuff. The story line is propulsive as heck and moves inexorably toward an ending that's both unexpected but also logical. I realize some of Hogan's work has already made it to film and this novel would seem to be a prize candidate as well.

[Thomas Alcott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when I find a good new author, and that's exactly what Chuck Hogan is to me. I saw "The Town" and I loved it. I just didn't think to find out if it was based on a book. After reading "Devil's in Exile", I will now read everything by Hogan. I'm from Boston and recognize everything he writes about which is a bonus. With the exception of the fictional town of Gridley in this book, everything was accurate. This was a fabulous book, no matter where you come from. Good story, tons of action, love, revenge, love gone bad etc. I especially liked that the author didn't finish the story with a predictable ending. Not a pulitzer candidate, but great action.

[Gatorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid crime thriller from Hogan about Neal Maven, an Iraqi war veteran who is recruited by a man named Royce to join a group of fellow veterans to inflict some damage on the Boston drug trade. Maven learns that all is not as it may seem, as the group plans one takedown after another and Maven meets up with an old high school crush who is now with Royce. It's well-written, full of plenty of action and characters that are interesting to read about. It's not all that original but it's well-executed and entertaining, keeping you turning the pages to see how it all turns out. Not as good as his Prince of Thieves (which became the movie The Town) but that's a hard one to top.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mostly sworn off these testosterone-laden crime novels but I remember being intrigued by this premise a decade ago when I saw the book in a bookstore: ex-Iraqi vet has a problem getting a job back home in Boston so he gets involved with a drug theft ring. When I saw it at a used store a decade later, I decided to grab it. It's good enough, if predictable, with horribly written female characters. Hogan was on to something here, I just wish he fleshed it out in a different way. Read Cherry instead.

[Jason Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book on a whim and thought I'd try it out. I am so glad I did. The story was so compelling and exciting. The only thing that could have helped the story any more is if it was told from first person of the main character. Other than that, I'd recommend it! They should definitely make a movie out of it!

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pour quiconque aime les histoires sans fioritures, straight to the point sans verbiage qui finalement ajoute pas grand chose à l’histoire, alors ce roman fait là job. Seul bémol, peu de profondeur sur le personnage principal, d’où il vient, sa vie antérieure notamment dans l’armée, ses expériences et influences. Il est parachuté la, dans l’histoire et rame pour s’en sortir…

[Tj · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and gritty Boston crime thriller. Can absolutely tell it's from the guy who gave us the Town, as the chowdah and Go Sawx drips off this, and I loved it because. Seemed to be setting up a series, so here is hoping we get a Maven book two soon.

[Allen Schirmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great action packed book with a little bit of high school crush Love the character I love the idea of the book and these guys coming together The ending you had the sad downs and still had a happy ending I love that

[James Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chuck Hogan is a good author and this is a step above some of the normal heist fiction you typically pick up. I enjoyed the story most of the way through, it deviated slightly from the standard formulas which was nice. Last few pages were a little questionable but overall a solid story.

[Josh Hains · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devils in Exile is a tough, taut, slicker than oil thriller that ought to easily quell the appetites of those craving stories similar to those found in films like Wrath of Man, Heat, Den of Thieves (and it's sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera). I had a hard time putting this one down.

[Terry Hinkley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story with intriguing concept of war veterans using their skills to rip off drug dealers. Nice build up to dramatic conflict between partners and ultimate betrayal from their leader.

[Dean Lombardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying action-packed thriller threaded with deception, exploding with violence and revenge.

[Joe Gleason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty cool book. Had no idea he wrote the adaptation for the town, but having read this is makes sense.

[Arthur Okun · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is not what you did yesterday . You are the The Tomorrow.Man.
A gripping novel that tells the life of the streets,

[Bret Eubank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope this gets made into a movie. Good stuff.

[Ruben · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it was a horror story. Made it through 60% of the book.
It's a drama. I don't like dramas.