What do you think?
Rate this book
Black London #4
Devil's Business
Pete Caldecott did everything she could to save Jack from Hell, even reigning in the dark machinations of the Morrigan to help bring him home. Still, Black London has not welcomed Jack back with open arms. . . So when a friend in Los Angeles asks for help tracking a sorcerous serial killer, Pete and Jack decide a change of scenery couldn’t hurt. . .Â
But the shadow side of the City of Angels turns out to be more treacherous than they ever imagined. Together, Pete and Jack must navigate a landscape teeming with hostile magic-users— and fight an unknown enemy. When their investigation leads to a confrontation with the demon Belial, Jack learns that he wasn't the only thing to escape from Hell. Now it’s up to him and Pete to track and eliminate an evil older than the Black itself—before it turns L.A. into Hell on Earth. And destroys life as they know it back at home…
Â
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2011
11 people are currently reading
962 people want to read
About the author
Caitlin Kittredge
170 books1,122 followersCaitlin started writing novels at age 13. Her first was a Star Wars tie-in. Fortunately, she branched out from there and after a few years trying to be a screenwriter, a comic book writer and the author of copious amounts of fanfiction, she tried to write a novel again. Her epic dark fantasy (thankfully) never saw the light of day but while she was struggling with elves and sorcerers she got the idea of writing a story about a werewolf who fought crime.
Two years and many, many drafts later, she pitched Night Life to a bevy of agents and one of them, Rachel Vater, sold the series to St. Martin’s.
Caitlin collects comic books, print books, vintage clothes, and bad habits. She loves tea, loud music, the color black (especially mixed with the color pink) and ghost stories. She can drive a stick shift, play the violin and knows more English curses than American ones.
Caitlin lives in Olympia, WA with two pushy cats.
http://us.macmillan.com/bonegods/Cait...
Two years and many, many drafts later, she pitched Night Life to a bevy of agents and one of them, Rachel Vater, sold the series to St. Martin’s.
Caitlin collects comic books, print books, vintage clothes, and bad habits. She loves tea, loud music, the color black (especially mixed with the color pink) and ghost stories. She can drive a stick shift, play the violin and knows more English curses than American ones.
Caitlin lives in Olympia, WA with two pushy cats.
http://us.macmillan.com/bonegods/Cait...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
September 10, 2011
Note to readers: This book contains an overabundance of foul language, crude humor, seedy environments and graphically detailed violence.
You have been warned .... or quite possibly intrigued.
"I do wish I was human sometimes. That endless optimism and idiotic hope, even when things are clearly fucked. I like it."
It's been several months since the events surrounding Nergal and the conclusion of "Bone Gods".
Pete and Jack are having a difficult time getting along, mostly due to Pete's silence and withdrawal from their relationship and Jack himself... the details of which are too spoilery (What? That's not a word?) to share.
Adding to Jack's list of problems is a magical community that is out for his blood. Jack's reputation has went from bad to worse. It seems you can't endanger lives and rip apart holes in the Black without making enemies. And as a result, we see a side of Mr. Winter that is more bitter and pessimistic than usual. In fact, he can be down right depressing at times.
He's trying to convince himself that allowing Pete to leave would be best for them both, keeping her out of harm's way and preventing him from screwing up her life anymore than he already feels that he has. Pete seems to agree and while Jack's mind is telling him that they're better off apart, his heart is having a difficult time adjusting to a new set of rules.
Which is easy to understand. Pete makes him whole. She's the only person that he's ever truly loved or cared for.
I very much enjoyed the story being entirely from Jack's point of view as he was the usual charming and cordial Mr. Winter that I've grown to love.
"Nobody walks in L.A.," Mayhew said..
Jack followed Pete. "You should try it sometime," he said. "Your shirt landscape might get a little less hilly."
As the story continues, Pete is asked to take a job in Los Angeles. Jack invites himself along despite Pete's initial protests. He wants to temporarily escape the local residents of the Black and their looming death threats. More importantly, he wants to keep Pete safe because he suspects that his enemies will become desperate enough to try and get to him by attacking her.
Shortly after they arrive and their work begins, Hell coughs up Belial and with his appearance emerges even more complications.
There is also another character from previous installments that makes a grand reappearance and provides an interesting contribution to the stories ending that should create some interesting developments in the future. We all knew the hag wasn't going to disappear and while her part is small, it's significant.
As you can always expect from Black London, this book was full of offensive language and brutal ass kickings. The only thing that could have improved this story was some really hot make-up sex.
I was very disappointed to discover that there is no gettin' it on in "Devil's Business".
Maybe next time? *fingers crossed*
"Everyone is afraid of something, Jack. Even you."
www.addicted2heroines.blogspot.com
You have been warned .... or quite possibly intrigued.
"I do wish I was human sometimes. That endless optimism and idiotic hope, even when things are clearly fucked. I like it."
It's been several months since the events surrounding Nergal and the conclusion of "Bone Gods".
Pete and Jack are having a difficult time getting along, mostly due to Pete's silence and withdrawal from their relationship and Jack himself... the details of which are too spoilery (What? That's not a word?) to share.
Adding to Jack's list of problems is a magical community that is out for his blood. Jack's reputation has went from bad to worse. It seems you can't endanger lives and rip apart holes in the Black without making enemies. And as a result, we see a side of Mr. Winter that is more bitter and pessimistic than usual. In fact, he can be down right depressing at times.
He's trying to convince himself that allowing Pete to leave would be best for them both, keeping her out of harm's way and preventing him from screwing up her life anymore than he already feels that he has. Pete seems to agree and while Jack's mind is telling him that they're better off apart, his heart is having a difficult time adjusting to a new set of rules.
Which is easy to understand. Pete makes him whole. She's the only person that he's ever truly loved or cared for.
I very much enjoyed the story being entirely from Jack's point of view as he was the usual charming and cordial Mr. Winter that I've grown to love.
"Nobody walks in L.A.," Mayhew said..
Jack followed Pete. "You should try it sometime," he said. "Your shirt landscape might get a little less hilly."
As the story continues, Pete is asked to take a job in Los Angeles. Jack invites himself along despite Pete's initial protests. He wants to temporarily escape the local residents of the Black and their looming death threats. More importantly, he wants to keep Pete safe because he suspects that his enemies will become desperate enough to try and get to him by attacking her.
Shortly after they arrive and their work begins, Hell coughs up Belial and with his appearance emerges even more complications.
There is also another character from previous installments that makes a grand reappearance and provides an interesting contribution to the stories ending that should create some interesting developments in the future. We all knew the hag wasn't going to disappear and while her part is small, it's significant.
As you can always expect from Black London, this book was full of offensive language and brutal ass kickings. The only thing that could have improved this story was some really hot make-up sex.
I was very disappointed to discover that there is no gettin' it on in "Devil's Business".
Maybe next time? *fingers crossed*
"Everyone is afraid of something, Jack. Even you."
www.addicted2heroines.blogspot.com
September 15, 2011
This is from Jack's POV and poor jack.. he don't seems to be getting enough rest before someone bite his ass or kick his ass!
Devil's business is not for the faint hearted.
The book has a mixture of intense , gritty moments with some dark humour and some heart-aching moments.
Usage of the "English" language can be offensive to some but hey.. it's Jack! ;)
Jack is not welcome in London after the last showdown with Nergal and everyone with magic want Jack to stay out.
When Pete's friend from LA asks for help, Jack reluctantly followed along.
What lies at LA, is a non-stop action where the demons are out to play.
However, this is also the time where you will find some strain in Jack's and Pete's relationship. What Jack feels and how he tried to reason with his inner self will just break your heart. The words they say... *sigh*
Anyway, I like this book because you can't figure out what everyone wants from Jack and what will be his ultimate decision.
Every choice given to him has a consequences, every decision he makes lead to another consequences.
This time, it is just not about him.
He has Pete and his babe to think for.
As what one said to Jack: Everyone is afraid of something, Jack. Even you"
Time is ticking... Tick tock tick tock...
Last but not least, the ending was great.. but damn..
Devil's business is not for the faint hearted.
The book has a mixture of intense , gritty moments with some dark humour and some heart-aching moments.
Usage of the "English" language can be offensive to some but hey.. it's Jack! ;)
Jack is not welcome in London after the last showdown with Nergal and everyone with magic want Jack to stay out.
When Pete's friend from LA asks for help, Jack reluctantly followed along.
What lies at LA, is a non-stop action where the demons are out to play.
However, this is also the time where you will find some strain in Jack's and Pete's relationship. What Jack feels and how he tried to reason with his inner self will just break your heart. The words they say... *sigh*
Anyway, I like this book because you can't figure out what everyone wants from Jack and what will be his ultimate decision.
Every choice given to him has a consequences, every decision he makes lead to another consequences.
This time, it is just not about him.
He has Pete and his babe to think for.
As what one said to Jack: Everyone is afraid of something, Jack. Even you"
Time is ticking... Tick tock tick tock...
Last but not least, the ending was great.. but damn..
November 26, 2014
Devil’s Business is the fourth book by Caitlin Kittredge in her Black London series. The Series follows Jack and Pete (short for Petunia) as they battle the demons and evil spirits of the underworld in London.I did enjoy Kittredge’s development of her universe and storyline and I could see a great deal of potential in where she wanted to go with the book. It was sadly, unrealized, and Pete and Jack’s character flaws grew like a big black ink stain and covered up any potential with their voluminous hate filled words for each other and the world they have found themselves in.
I really think this series could be great, but it falls short and becomes just meh. If you have a lot of extra time on your hands and want some throw away escapism in the urban fantasy genre you wont hate this series. But, if like me, you work two jobs, try to keep a blog running, and have a super secret project you are working on while trying to get holiday presents ready then just skip it and check out Kim Harrison’s The Hollows series instead.
Read a longer review here: http://absurdlynerdly.wordpress.com/2...
I really think this series could be great, but it falls short and becomes just meh. If you have a lot of extra time on your hands and want some throw away escapism in the urban fantasy genre you wont hate this series. But, if like me, you work two jobs, try to keep a blog running, and have a super secret project you are working on while trying to get holiday presents ready then just skip it and check out Kim Harrison’s The Hollows series instead.
Read a longer review here: http://absurdlynerdly.wordpress.com/2...
September 5, 2011
These books...I think they get more and more intense the further we go. If you liked the first three in the series, then you should definitely like this one.
Keeping with the series' alternating viewpoints, this one is Jack's...which pleases me as I love his voice.
After the events of the previous book, Jack and Pete find it necessary to leave London for awhile, and end up in Los Angles on the request of a former LA police officer. What follows I won't even try to begin to explain, but it kept me glued to the pages and up until the wee hours of the morning finishing it. By the end of the book I was reading so fast that I found it necessary to read the last few chapters again this morning albeit a bit slower.
Pete remains one of my favorite badass female characters and both she and Jack are such atypical protagonists. I love the way their relationship is playing out, though it tends to make me nervous sometimes. ;)
Can't wait til the next book in the series comes out! :D
Keeping with the series' alternating viewpoints, this one is Jack's...which pleases me as I love his voice.
After the events of the previous book, Jack and Pete find it necessary to leave London for awhile, and end up in Los Angles on the request of a former LA police officer. What follows I won't even try to begin to explain, but it kept me glued to the pages and up until the wee hours of the morning finishing it. By the end of the book I was reading so fast that I found it necessary to read the last few chapters again this morning albeit a bit slower.
Pete remains one of my favorite badass female characters and both she and Jack are such atypical protagonists. I love the way their relationship is playing out, though it tends to make me nervous sometimes. ;)
Can't wait til the next book in the series comes out! :D
September 24, 2018
This was an interesting instalment, since Jack and Pete went on a work vacation together, and Jack spent half the time grumping about Pete potentially leaving him (do it, Pete! Save yourself!). The story became more complicated as Belial continues to show his face and the enemies mount against our hero and anti-hero. Once again, the story, writing style, and magic were the highlights, as well as Pete and her moments to shine. Jack just continued to drag everyone down and induced more eye-rolls than sympathy from me. I really do wish I enjoyed him more, but I'm just so sick of him at this point that I don't know how much longer I can put up with him.
September 23, 2011
WARNING! SPOILERS FROM BONES GODS ARE PRESENT!
Devil's Business is the latest in Caitlin Kittredge's Black London series, and this time Pete and Jack head for LA! Jack was told to leave London because of his past misdeeds and Pete is told to leave as well. Perfect timing for an acquaintance to call Pete up asking for her help with a case. Jack is reluctant to go but seeing as he has to leave the country and that's where Pete's headed he follows along.
A pregnant woman was mutilated and killed, with her unborn baby missing as well. It's obviously a demon, but which demon remains to be unseen. And with Pete being pregnant herself, there's this unspoken connection she has with the case. She wants to find the demon who's doing this and stop him once and for all.
But of course, this is more Jack's story. As it seems to be running now, if I remember right, the first book was more with Pete as the third person narrator, but lately it's Jack! And Jack is quite the character. Completely flawed, but yet he still tries to do the right thing. He's used and abused drugs, tangled with dark magics and demons, yet he still has a caring heart. And he too feels like he needs to be a better man since he's the father of Pete's child. He wants to be better than his own father, but he feels like he'll be a failure. So there's definitely a lot of self-growth there for him.
There were quite a few scheming demons in this story as well. It was hard sometimes to figure out who was the lesser evil, since they are demons none of them are good. They all have their own schemes and they all want Jack to be their posse and use him for their sinister purposes. And of course there are threats to Pete which causes him to act. It sort of comes down to wanting to rule the world and bring hell on earth while others don't want that necessarily and want to put an end to the other "worse" demons. Confusing to explain, but reads pretty well.
Jack will do whatever it takes to get himself out of the demon's plans, even if it means working with them temporarily. Especially when Pete's life--and their kid's--is at stake.
Overall it was an okay read. At times my mind did kind of wander, I think it has something to do with the world building. I have a hard time trying to keep track of all its rules and how things just "are". And I'm not 100% sure if this was the last book or not. It had an ending that feels like it can go either way.
Overall rating 3.5/5 stars
Devil's Business is the latest in Caitlin Kittredge's Black London series, and this time Pete and Jack head for LA! Jack was told to leave London because of his past misdeeds and Pete is told to leave as well. Perfect timing for an acquaintance to call Pete up asking for her help with a case. Jack is reluctant to go but seeing as he has to leave the country and that's where Pete's headed he follows along.
A pregnant woman was mutilated and killed, with her unborn baby missing as well. It's obviously a demon, but which demon remains to be unseen. And with Pete being pregnant herself, there's this unspoken connection she has with the case. She wants to find the demon who's doing this and stop him once and for all.
But of course, this is more Jack's story. As it seems to be running now, if I remember right, the first book was more with Pete as the third person narrator, but lately it's Jack! And Jack is quite the character. Completely flawed, but yet he still tries to do the right thing. He's used and abused drugs, tangled with dark magics and demons, yet he still has a caring heart. And he too feels like he needs to be a better man since he's the father of Pete's child. He wants to be better than his own father, but he feels like he'll be a failure. So there's definitely a lot of self-growth there for him.
There were quite a few scheming demons in this story as well. It was hard sometimes to figure out who was the lesser evil, since they are demons none of them are good. They all have their own schemes and they all want Jack to be their posse and use him for their sinister purposes. And of course there are threats to Pete which causes him to act. It sort of comes down to wanting to rule the world and bring hell on earth while others don't want that necessarily and want to put an end to the other "worse" demons. Confusing to explain, but reads pretty well.
Jack will do whatever it takes to get himself out of the demon's plans, even if it means working with them temporarily. Especially when Pete's life--and their kid's--is at stake.
Overall it was an okay read. At times my mind did kind of wander, I think it has something to do with the world building. I have a hard time trying to keep track of all its rules and how things just "are". And I'm not 100% sure if this was the last book or not. It had an ending that feels like it can go either way.
Overall rating 3.5/5 stars
March 7, 2016
Playlists for books seem to be all the rage right now, so here's a short playlist for this book/review: "As Heaven Is Wide," "Only Happy When It Rains," "The World Is Not Enough," and "Bad Boyfriend" -- all by Garbage.
I took longer to read this only because of some eye strain and because I was trying to savour it. (Waiting for the next book to come out is so hard!) This one is as good as the first two installments and even better than the third.
Kittredge didn't jump the shark with the baby storyline or by sending Jack and Pete to Los Angeles. It's an old joke that L.A. has connections to Hell, but it really works here.
This book is told from Jack's POV, and I like the Jack books better than those told from Pete's POV. There's just something I love about Jack--he's so effed up; but he's so believable, even when some truly bizarre stuff is happening. He's not exactly nice, he's a chronic smartass, but under all that is a lot of complexity stemming from a lot of pain. And he is becoming a better person with each book. Pete has always overcompensated for being a woman in a world controlled by men, and she got so angry in the last book. Her bad attitude continued in this one--until she became the damsel-in-distress and Jack got to rescue her. It was a fitting role swap, since Pete was the one who took the job in L.A. even though Jack warned her it was a set-up. And Jack got a chance to play the hero. I really liked the last few pages, when Jack and Pete reconciled and were able to show some true affection for each other.
While the plot was gripping and scary--and all about dealing with the consequences of doing things you never should've done--it was funny to see Jack and the demon Belial working together this time. Some of the Abaddon & company business was truly gut-churning. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Kittredge has a real gift for rendering vivid detail. I'm looking forward to what she'll come up with next for Jack and Pete.
One small quibble about the cover, and it's not the author's fault--Jack's hair is the wrong colour. In the book, it's the same bleach-blond it was in the other three books.
I took longer to read this only because of some eye strain and because I was trying to savour it. (Waiting for the next book to come out is so hard!) This one is as good as the first two installments and even better than the third.
Kittredge didn't jump the shark with the baby storyline or by sending Jack and Pete to Los Angeles. It's an old joke that L.A. has connections to Hell, but it really works here.
This book is told from Jack's POV, and I like the Jack books better than those told from Pete's POV. There's just something I love about Jack--he's so effed up; but he's so believable, even when some truly bizarre stuff is happening. He's not exactly nice, he's a chronic smartass, but under all that is a lot of complexity stemming from a lot of pain. And he is becoming a better person with each book. Pete has always overcompensated for being a woman in a world controlled by men, and she got so angry in the last book. Her bad attitude continued in this one--until she became the damsel-in-distress and Jack got to rescue her. It was a fitting role swap, since Pete was the one who took the job in L.A. even though Jack warned her it was a set-up. And Jack got a chance to play the hero. I really liked the last few pages, when Jack and Pete reconciled and were able to show some true affection for each other.
While the plot was gripping and scary--and all about dealing with the consequences of doing things you never should've done--it was funny to see Jack and the demon Belial working together this time. Some of the Abaddon & company business was truly gut-churning. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Kittredge has a real gift for rendering vivid detail. I'm looking forward to what she'll come up with next for Jack and Pete.
One small quibble about the cover, and it's not the author's fault--Jack's hair is the wrong colour. In the book, it's the same bleach-blond it was in the other three books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2017
This addition to the Black London series was really quite dark, I'm talking Jack the Ripper dark. Now don't get me wrong, I do like some dark grittiness to the stories that I read but some of what happened in this novel made my stomach clench.
I guess that holds as a testament to how well Kittredge can pull on my emotions but some of the time I felt it was a bit much. Like always Pete and Jack are in trouble it's just that this time seemed a lot more grim to me than usual.
However the book was still good. This installment is told from Jack's PoV which I quite like. Flipping PoV's every book gives an interesting take on the characters. Jack is a straight up git who is trying to do right by Pete and the baby. He is willing to walk away so that they can both be safe, even though he doesn't want to leave.
Danger strikes in White Chapel so the two of them leave for LA to do a job that may or may not be otherworldly. Turns out the job is way more than the duo bargained for and very very dangerous. Super grizzly too but it was still good. Not a mind blowing book by any means but it was enjoyable for the most part.
It's weird to say but one of my favorite characters in this series is Belial. He is a demon for goodness sake and yet I find him to be so fascinating. Devil boy definitely keeps things interesting for everyone reading that's for sure.
I'm excited to see where the next Black London book will take me and how things will pan out for Jack due to the constant trouble that seems to be nipping at his heels. It will be told from the perspective of Pete so I am quite curious how this is all going to go. Devil's Business had a happy ending and I can only hope that the next book will too.
I guess that holds as a testament to how well Kittredge can pull on my emotions but some of the time I felt it was a bit much. Like always Pete and Jack are in trouble it's just that this time seemed a lot more grim to me than usual.
However the book was still good. This installment is told from Jack's PoV which I quite like. Flipping PoV's every book gives an interesting take on the characters. Jack is a straight up git who is trying to do right by Pete and the baby. He is willing to walk away so that they can both be safe, even though he doesn't want to leave.
Danger strikes in White Chapel so the two of them leave for LA to do a job that may or may not be otherworldly. Turns out the job is way more than the duo bargained for and very very dangerous. Super grizzly too but it was still good. Not a mind blowing book by any means but it was enjoyable for the most part.
It's weird to say but one of my favorite characters in this series is Belial. He is a demon for goodness sake and yet I find him to be so fascinating. Devil boy definitely keeps things interesting for everyone reading that's for sure.
I'm excited to see where the next Black London book will take me and how things will pan out for Jack due to the constant trouble that seems to be nipping at his heels. It will be told from the perspective of Pete so I am quite curious how this is all going to go. Devil's Business had a happy ending and I can only hope that the next book will too.
February 25, 2014
I would have probably given it 5 stars if I had bothered to re-read the last book in the series. I read that one about 4 years ago so I was really fuzzy on the backstory but I still enjoyed it thoroughly. As usual Jack makes for a fun narrator, I enjoy the entries with his POV more than Pete's... In fact I like Pete more through his eyes than I do when she's the narrator which is odd because I do like her. Now to see if any other books have been released since this one ;)
September 1, 2011
Once again, Caitlin Kittredge doesn't disappoint! I had no idea how this book was going to end, which made it very difficult to put the book down. Absolutely loved it
July 1, 2017
After he managed to almost unleash Nergal and destroy the world as we know it, the denizens of Black London are (understandably) not Jack's biggest fans. They want him dead, or at the very least out of their city, and he can't so much as drop by a store without getting attacked. A request for help with a series of gruesome murders that might have a supernatural connection from an acquaintance of Pete's in LA offers a welcome escape from their suddenly hostile home environment, and even though Jack isn't convinced the case is worth looking into, Pete insists on investigating. With new enemies popping out of the woodwork at every turn and Pete and their unborn child in danger because of their (currently immensely strained, but nevertheless still existant) relationship, Jack sticks around to try and protect them, but that sounds a whole lot easier than it turns out to be, especially since Belial is in town and has some thoroughly unpleasant news: Nergal may have been contained, but something else ancient, powerful and extremely malevolent escaped from Hell - and Belial is calling in the favour Pete owes him by putting her and Jack in charge of recapturing said ancient evil.
We're back to Jack's POV in this book, which I'm not overly happy about since Jack's character development is fairly nonexistant and he's therefore still wallowing in selfpity half the time and being a colossal dick to everyone about everything for no particular reason for the other half. His and Pete's terrible car crash of a relationship is also still thoroughly unpleasant to read about, and the pregnancy plot really doesn't help. I was a lot more interested in the rest of the story, which came with plenty of action (and plenty of Belial, whom I find a lot more interesting than the actual protagonists of the series) and kept me engaged despite my frustration with Jack's character.
We're back to Jack's POV in this book, which I'm not overly happy about since Jack's character development is fairly nonexistant and he's therefore still wallowing in selfpity half the time and being a colossal dick to everyone about everything for no particular reason for the other half. His and Pete's terrible car crash of a relationship is also still thoroughly unpleasant to read about, and the pregnancy plot really doesn't help. I was a lot more interested in the rest of the story, which came with plenty of action (and plenty of Belial, whom I find a lot more interesting than the actual protagonists of the series) and kept me engaged despite my frustration with Jack's character.
September 19, 2018
There is something quite engaging about Jack Winter and seeing things from his point of view.
December 21, 2018
This series is pretty consistent in it's fun. Book 4 and it's still a lot of fun.
January 12, 2025
I found this book to be painfully long winded, torture porn, and pretty unpleasant to read, not sure if I want to read the rest
April 3, 2019
Jack and Pete head to Los Angels to help with a demon problem. But as with anything they might have bitten off more than they can handle. Maybe. These books just keep getting better and better!
January 28, 2013
Fourth in the Black London dark, dark urban fantasy series revolving around Pete, an ex-copper, and Jack Winter, the crow mage.
Read this one with the lights on and well before bed.
My Take
Whew. Kittredge must have some amazing nightmares to come up with this stuff. And she's an amazing writer. She's certainly taken the subgenre of BLACK magic and turned it on its head. Who knew there would be a good guy practicing on the wrong side of magic?
I love what Kittredge has done with this series. It's an atypical pairing between Jack and Pete with a huge twist on the magic and demon pairings one usually sees. You'll understand the storyline and them better as a couple if you've started with the first book, Street Magic .
This story is all Jack's perspective, and we get a heart-rending look into his innermost thoughts and worries as well as quite a bit of background about past deals made with demons.
I have a hard time believing that Pete could be so obtuse, that mean, or that unaware.
I do enjoy Jack's sense of humor. I just wish he didn't let loose with it at the most inappropriate times…
I do feel confused. Kittredge has Jack falling and failing all over the place and yet hints that he's so very important.
Oh man, this story is just one betrayal after another and another and…
The Story
Jack is persona non grata in London, so when Pete gets a request for help from a fellow PI in Los Angeles, they're both glad to be outta there.
Only, events in LA make London look positively peaceful.
The Characters
Petunia "Pete" Caldecott is a couple months pregnant, a former copper, and not too happy with Jack. Jack Winter is the crow mage with a lousy sense of self-preservation, tied to the Morrigan, and hounded by Belial . Although, he is off the heroin these days.
Benjamin Mayhew used to be a cop in LA and now has his own investigation business. He needs Pete's help with the Herrera and Case murders. Sal is Ben's auto mechanic with a lot full of spare vintage cars used in the movies. Detective Shavers is Ben's former partner. Sliver is another of Ben's friends. He's also a wraith and owns the bar. Ana, a.k.a., La Flaca, is a death avatar running a magic shop in LA.
Belial is a Named demon of Hell, a general. A worried, nervous demon who demands Jack's help in payment of someone else's debt. The Princes of Hell are Beelzebub, Azrael, and Baal.
Harlan Sanford is a producer in LA of many, many B movies. He's also a collector. Parker and Gator are bodyguards and more interested in mayhem. Anna is a sex magician and Travis and Kim are people she's pulled into her web. Basil Locke is a film star from the 1930s with a fascination for the occult and Nazis. Lucinda Lanchester is a B-movie actress from the 1930s with whom Locke was infatuated.
Abaddon/Abbadon, call me "Don", the Destroyer, is an original denizen of Hell who managed to escape decades ago. Another collector. Little Miss Spree Killer, Levi, and Teddy are, well, cohorts seems the best description.
The Morrigan is a goddess of death three times:"the maiden of death, the bride of war, and the hag of the ashes and dust that came after". Ethan Morningstar of the Order of the Malleus is a mage and not one of Jack's friends.
The Cover
The cover is orange and pink, perfect for conveying the bright lights of Hollywood, and the sparkling of its glamor and Jack's magic. Also perfect for hiding the shadows of a town where darkness flourishes. I do like Pete and Jack's pose, together. There's hope there.
The title is much too accurate, for this story is all about the Devil's Business.
Read this one with the lights on and well before bed.
My Take
Whew. Kittredge must have some amazing nightmares to come up with this stuff. And she's an amazing writer. She's certainly taken the subgenre of BLACK magic and turned it on its head. Who knew there would be a good guy practicing on the wrong side of magic?
I love what Kittredge has done with this series. It's an atypical pairing between Jack and Pete with a huge twist on the magic and demon pairings one usually sees. You'll understand the storyline and them better as a couple if you've started with the first book, Street Magic .
This story is all Jack's perspective, and we get a heart-rending look into his innermost thoughts and worries as well as quite a bit of background about past deals made with demons.
I have a hard time believing that Pete could be so obtuse, that mean, or that unaware.
I do enjoy Jack's sense of humor. I just wish he didn't let loose with it at the most inappropriate times…
'Hell is ancient," Don said. "Hell is older than Death…'
'And then the man upstairs said let there be light, booze, and porn?' Jack said.
I do feel confused. Kittredge has Jack falling and failing all over the place and yet hints that he's so very important.
Oh man, this story is just one betrayal after another and another and…
And his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him."
The Story
Jack is persona non grata in London, so when Pete gets a request for help from a fellow PI in Los Angeles, they're both glad to be outta there.
Only, events in LA make London look positively peaceful.
The Characters
Petunia "Pete" Caldecott is a couple months pregnant, a former copper, and not too happy with Jack. Jack Winter is the crow mage with a lousy sense of self-preservation, tied to the Morrigan, and hounded by Belial . Although, he is off the heroin these days.
Benjamin Mayhew used to be a cop in LA and now has his own investigation business. He needs Pete's help with the Herrera and Case murders. Sal is Ben's auto mechanic with a lot full of spare vintage cars used in the movies. Detective Shavers is Ben's former partner. Sliver is another of Ben's friends. He's also a wraith and owns the bar. Ana, a.k.a., La Flaca, is a death avatar running a magic shop in LA.
Belial is a Named demon of Hell, a general. A worried, nervous demon who demands Jack's help in payment of someone else's debt. The Princes of Hell are Beelzebub, Azrael, and Baal.
Harlan Sanford is a producer in LA of many, many B movies. He's also a collector. Parker and Gator are bodyguards and more interested in mayhem. Anna is a sex magician and Travis and Kim are people she's pulled into her web. Basil Locke is a film star from the 1930s with a fascination for the occult and Nazis. Lucinda Lanchester is a B-movie actress from the 1930s with whom Locke was infatuated.
Abaddon/Abbadon, call me "Don", the Destroyer, is an original denizen of Hell who managed to escape decades ago. Another collector. Little Miss Spree Killer, Levi, and Teddy are, well, cohorts seems the best description.
The Morrigan is a goddess of death three times:"the maiden of death, the bride of war, and the hag of the ashes and dust that came after". Ethan Morningstar of the Order of the Malleus is a mage and not one of Jack's friends.
The Cover
The cover is orange and pink, perfect for conveying the bright lights of Hollywood, and the sparkling of its glamor and Jack's magic. Also perfect for hiding the shadows of a town where darkness flourishes. I do like Pete and Jack's pose, together. There's hope there.
The title is much too accurate, for this story is all about the Devil's Business.
September 16, 2011
Originally posted at WickedLilPixie Reviews
3.5 stars
Devil’s Business is the fourth book in Caitlin Kittredge’s Black London series. Jack Winter is enemy number one in London after the events in the previous book. Everyone is gunning for him since he almost let Nergal’s dragon loose on London’s Black. Ben Mayhew is a P.I. in Los Angeles and has requested Pete (short for Petunia) Caldecott’s help with solving some murders he believes are related to the Black. Pete reluctantly lets Jack accompany her to L.A. to investigate, also allowing the both of them to get out of dodge for a while. Turns out there are some new releases from Hell running around, and they are older and way more frightening than the former residents we have previously met.
Devil’s Business is told from Jack’s point of view, though not in his point of view. The book never lags, the story keeps up a wonderful pace, and it is one dark turn after another. Ms. Kittredge continues to build upon the Black London series where the heroine, Pete, is strong and compassionate, yet has a mouth like a sailor (love herrr). The unlikely hero, Jack, couldn’t be any more flawed if he tried. He is a dirty scoundrel but he can charm you right off the page. Jack is completely unredeeming, and yet you cannot help yourself from loving him and wanting him to triumph despite himself. He is a smartass extraordinaire, with a dash of double smartass for good measure, and I love it. It does seem as though he’s finally learned a lesson or two from when we first met him in book one, and he really steps up to the plate when help is needed. Finally it’s not Pete chasing after him trying to save him. I admit, that was refreshing.
Some of my favorite colorful Jack lines:
“Fuck me,” Jack muttered. “Did Dean Martin’s corpse projectile vomit this shit into his sitting room?”
“Would it make you feel better about your goatee looking like a stripper’s pubic hair if I said yes?” Jack snapped.
“Tell me,” he said to Parker. “Are you mean because you’re ugly? Or are you ugly because your mum sucked the cock of a rabid werewolf and vomited you out afterward?”
One thing that irked me was at the end of the previous book Bone Gods, it seemed that Pete harbored minimal anger with Jack once she discovered she was with his child, but right off the bat in this book Jack indicates she hasn’t been talking to him hardly even though they��ve still been sharing his flat. I felt as though I missed something between the two books. I suppose it’s due to the change in Pete’s perspective in Bone Gods to Jack’s in Devil’s Business. While I let that slide, I felt the ending was also giving us an “everything is fine between Pete and Jack” vibe that felt contrived. Why was she so mad at him at the beginning? I mean aside from him just being Jack? And why was she so okay with him at the end? Eh, this is the first Black London series book where I didn’t understand what was going on between them and not because it was part of the story. Also, I didn’t love the setting in Los Angeles. London is where Pete and Jack are meant to be.
Not for the faint of heart, Devil’s Business continues the Black London style of entertainingly crude language, but appropriately so to capture the gritty tone of the series. Pete seriously calls everyone a twat, especially Jack, it makes me giggle. Ms. Kittredge once again delivers with the dark and depraved world building I’ve come to expect. There was a lot of Belial in this one, and with all the new characters from Hell introduced, I definitely want to see how the overall arc plays out. If you like your urban fantasy raw and brassy, this might be a good pick for you.
Black London is set to be a 6 book series, and here is the reading order:
Street Magic
Demon Bound
Bone Gods
Devil’s Business
Soul Trade ~2012
Title TBA
3.5 stars
Devil’s Business is the fourth book in Caitlin Kittredge’s Black London series. Jack Winter is enemy number one in London after the events in the previous book. Everyone is gunning for him since he almost let Nergal’s dragon loose on London’s Black. Ben Mayhew is a P.I. in Los Angeles and has requested Pete (short for Petunia) Caldecott’s help with solving some murders he believes are related to the Black. Pete reluctantly lets Jack accompany her to L.A. to investigate, also allowing the both of them to get out of dodge for a while. Turns out there are some new releases from Hell running around, and they are older and way more frightening than the former residents we have previously met.
Devil’s Business is told from Jack’s point of view, though not in his point of view. The book never lags, the story keeps up a wonderful pace, and it is one dark turn after another. Ms. Kittredge continues to build upon the Black London series where the heroine, Pete, is strong and compassionate, yet has a mouth like a sailor (love herrr). The unlikely hero, Jack, couldn’t be any more flawed if he tried. He is a dirty scoundrel but he can charm you right off the page. Jack is completely unredeeming, and yet you cannot help yourself from loving him and wanting him to triumph despite himself. He is a smartass extraordinaire, with a dash of double smartass for good measure, and I love it. It does seem as though he’s finally learned a lesson or two from when we first met him in book one, and he really steps up to the plate when help is needed. Finally it’s not Pete chasing after him trying to save him. I admit, that was refreshing.
Some of my favorite colorful Jack lines:
“Fuck me,” Jack muttered. “Did Dean Martin’s corpse projectile vomit this shit into his sitting room?”
“Would it make you feel better about your goatee looking like a stripper’s pubic hair if I said yes?” Jack snapped.
“Tell me,” he said to Parker. “Are you mean because you’re ugly? Or are you ugly because your mum sucked the cock of a rabid werewolf and vomited you out afterward?”
One thing that irked me was at the end of the previous book Bone Gods, it seemed that Pete harbored minimal anger with Jack once she discovered she was with his child, but right off the bat in this book Jack indicates she hasn’t been talking to him hardly even though they��ve still been sharing his flat. I felt as though I missed something between the two books. I suppose it’s due to the change in Pete’s perspective in Bone Gods to Jack’s in Devil’s Business. While I let that slide, I felt the ending was also giving us an “everything is fine between Pete and Jack” vibe that felt contrived. Why was she so mad at him at the beginning? I mean aside from him just being Jack? And why was she so okay with him at the end? Eh, this is the first Black London series book where I didn’t understand what was going on between them and not because it was part of the story. Also, I didn’t love the setting in Los Angeles. London is where Pete and Jack are meant to be.
Not for the faint of heart, Devil’s Business continues the Black London style of entertainingly crude language, but appropriately so to capture the gritty tone of the series. Pete seriously calls everyone a twat, especially Jack, it makes me giggle. Ms. Kittredge once again delivers with the dark and depraved world building I’ve come to expect. There was a lot of Belial in this one, and with all the new characters from Hell introduced, I definitely want to see how the overall arc plays out. If you like your urban fantasy raw and brassy, this might be a good pick for you.
Black London is set to be a 6 book series, and here is the reading order:
Street Magic
Demon Bound
Bone Gods
Devil’s Business
Soul Trade ~2012
Title TBA
September 25, 2011
*Rating* 3.0
Genre: Urban Fantasy
*Review*
Devil’s Business, by Caitlin Kittredge, is fourth book in the Black London series. This time around the story is told in the POV of Jack Winter. Jack has finally worn out his welcome in London after his escapades with the releasing and subsequently putting down of a demon named Nergal in Bone Gods.
Jack has sorcerers, white magic cabals, kitchen witches and mages all gunning for his head, and all looking to make a name for themselves by taking down the infamous crow mage whose soul is owned by Morrigan.
Pete Caldecott, who I shalt not name Petunia under any circumstances from this point onward, and Jack are also having some relationship issues for which Pete is serious considering walking away from and going to Los Angeles without Jack.
I would highly recommend reading Bone Gods so that I don’t end up spoiling what happened to cause the friction in the first place or the fact that this story seems to be a transition into a new phase in this series and their relationship.
Pete is contacted by a private investigator in Los Angeles, asking for her help with something that she is good at; investigating the supernatural and a cold case that is 10 years old. With everything that has happened recently, a change of scenery seems to be the ideal thing for both Jack and Pete.
Upon arrival, Pete and Jack, discover that something even more sinister than Nergal escaped from Hell and, these creatures are older than dirt itself and more dangerous than any demons in existence.
Jack has personal issues to resolve in this story, especially when it comes to dealing with Pete who he knows is his one true love and the fact that Belial is once again chirping at Jacks heels to get him to join him in hell where he will be his one true soldier. Jack is afraid that he will end up screwing up their relationship and their future together if he stays around much longer because of who he is tied to and because so many demons and magic users want to see him dead.
Devil’s Business is a dark fantasy novel, with lots of vulgarity and bloodletting throughout the story. There’s one thing constant in this series, and that is the way Jack ends up getting his head kicked in time and time again, only to somehow find the determination to do what is right, especially when it comes to Pete and defeating the bad guys.
Black London is set to be a 6 book series, and here is the reading order:
1. Street Magic
2. Demon Bound
3. Bone Gods
4. Devil's Business
5. Soul Trade ~2012
6. Title TBA
Genre: Urban Fantasy
*Review*
Devil’s Business, by Caitlin Kittredge, is fourth book in the Black London series. This time around the story is told in the POV of Jack Winter. Jack has finally worn out his welcome in London after his escapades with the releasing and subsequently putting down of a demon named Nergal in Bone Gods.
Jack has sorcerers, white magic cabals, kitchen witches and mages all gunning for his head, and all looking to make a name for themselves by taking down the infamous crow mage whose soul is owned by Morrigan.
Pete Caldecott, who I shalt not name Petunia under any circumstances from this point onward, and Jack are also having some relationship issues for which Pete is serious considering walking away from and going to Los Angeles without Jack.
I would highly recommend reading Bone Gods so that I don’t end up spoiling what happened to cause the friction in the first place or the fact that this story seems to be a transition into a new phase in this series and their relationship.
Pete is contacted by a private investigator in Los Angeles, asking for her help with something that she is good at; investigating the supernatural and a cold case that is 10 years old. With everything that has happened recently, a change of scenery seems to be the ideal thing for both Jack and Pete.
Upon arrival, Pete and Jack, discover that something even more sinister than Nergal escaped from Hell and, these creatures are older than dirt itself and more dangerous than any demons in existence.
Jack has personal issues to resolve in this story, especially when it comes to dealing with Pete who he knows is his one true love and the fact that Belial is once again chirping at Jacks heels to get him to join him in hell where he will be his one true soldier. Jack is afraid that he will end up screwing up their relationship and their future together if he stays around much longer because of who he is tied to and because so many demons and magic users want to see him dead.
Devil’s Business is a dark fantasy novel, with lots of vulgarity and bloodletting throughout the story. There’s one thing constant in this series, and that is the way Jack ends up getting his head kicked in time and time again, only to somehow find the determination to do what is right, especially when it comes to Pete and defeating the bad guys.
Black London is set to be a 6 book series, and here is the reading order:
1. Street Magic
2. Demon Bound
3. Bone Gods
4. Devil's Business
5. Soul Trade ~2012
6. Title TBA
October 16, 2011
After releasing an old dangerous god, even though he captured him again, people have not been asking for Jack to work any cases or even want him around period. None of the magically inclined will forgive Jack and are hunting him. Jack's wondering where Morrigan, the maiden of death who marked him young, is at as he disobeyed her. Pete is a few months pregnant and now completely silent towards Jack. He figures she is shutting down with him slowly and will leave him soon to raise the kid away from this life style. But Jack is determined to protect Pete and the baby as long as she is around. So with all the threats in London Jack needs to take Pete and leave. Pete decides she is taking a case in Los Angeles, America. And Jack can't let her go alone, even though he doesn't like the sounds of it.
Jack seems to be different in this book ever so slightly. Even though his life style is not one for raising a child in and the dangerous magic all around him is deadly to a baby, he sounds as he wants the baby. I liked this growth in Jack. He's becoming a bigger person, and even though he thinks himself a dead-beat dad he wants to be more. Jack even makes a HUGE change in the end of the book. ;) Thanks to something...special... to him after Bone Gods. I really liked this.
I did feel like I missed a story here somewhere when it came to Pete. I couldn't really place her feelings. I know she's pregnant and that should explain a lot, but well... for me I felt she was more disconnected here and not as much in the story as Jack, our leading man. But the baby is a HUGE focus for both Pete and Jack, and they each want the baby to be safe and raised properly, which is another reason for her distancing.
We get to see Jack, and Pete, outside of their usually comfort zone of London. They are now in America for this story. Los Angeles of all places. Los Angeles has a special feel to it as well, which is an attraction for the magical type, the Black, and demons. I have to say we do make a trip to Hell with Jack as well. I enjoyed this different view this time around.
Oh the demons... Jack finds an alley in someone he never thought he would. And makes a few new enemies. Jack, of course, is not the most likable person, but seems to find trouble no matter where he is. Being the Crow-mage seems to attract them all like a beacon in the night.
Again such a dark urban fantasy read. This book is not full of rainbows, but more of hell and fighting. I feel as this book is taking us through a transition period, with Jack and even the new baby to be. There is more to come and that baby is going to have some serious issues, good and bad. I'm looking forward to seeing what is to come here.
Jack seems to be different in this book ever so slightly. Even though his life style is not one for raising a child in and the dangerous magic all around him is deadly to a baby, he sounds as he wants the baby. I liked this growth in Jack. He's becoming a bigger person, and even though he thinks himself a dead-beat dad he wants to be more. Jack even makes a HUGE change in the end of the book. ;) Thanks to something...special... to him after Bone Gods. I really liked this.
I did feel like I missed a story here somewhere when it came to Pete. I couldn't really place her feelings. I know she's pregnant and that should explain a lot, but well... for me I felt she was more disconnected here and not as much in the story as Jack, our leading man. But the baby is a HUGE focus for both Pete and Jack, and they each want the baby to be safe and raised properly, which is another reason for her distancing.
We get to see Jack, and Pete, outside of their usually comfort zone of London. They are now in America for this story. Los Angeles of all places. Los Angeles has a special feel to it as well, which is an attraction for the magical type, the Black, and demons. I have to say we do make a trip to Hell with Jack as well. I enjoyed this different view this time around.
Oh the demons... Jack finds an alley in someone he never thought he would. And makes a few new enemies. Jack, of course, is not the most likable person, but seems to find trouble no matter where he is. Being the Crow-mage seems to attract them all like a beacon in the night.
Again such a dark urban fantasy read. This book is not full of rainbows, but more of hell and fighting. I feel as this book is taking us through a transition period, with Jack and even the new baby to be. There is more to come and that baby is going to have some serious issues, good and bad. I'm looking forward to seeing what is to come here.
August 25, 2012
Jack Winter and Pete (Petunia if you want your arse kicked) Caldecott need to escape London for a bit, after what happened with Nergal the whole of London's magical community have put Jack at the top of their to-kill-on-sight list. When Pete is all too conveniently asked to go to Los Angeles, City of Angels, it seems the best route out of a nasty death in the bowels of London. But far from being full of angels LA is a cesspit where all the things that go bump in the night go to hide, but Nergal's escape from Hell's prison has split the cell wide open and things far older and deadlier then demons and ghosts are now stalking LA's streets.
This was another fantastic instalment in the Black London series, just as dark and gritty as the previous books this one is instead set mainly in LA. I thought the change of place would take away from the grim and foreboding atmosphere as the Black in London is a character almost as much as Pete and Jack. I am happy to report that I was wrong, LA had a feeling of its own, not with the same impact as London, which has had three other books to build it up, but it was interesting to see a new place for Jack and Pete to wreak havoc in.
Devil's Business was told entirely from Jack's POV, which was fantastic, Jack is one of my favourite UF heroes (I use the word hero lightly here!) he is deliciously fucked up and completely different from any other male characters I have read. But in this book we saw him be the reluctant saviour and see Jack willing to sacrifice anything to save Pete was unexpectedly sweet as you know he wouldn't bother for anyone else.
As in all the other books in this series the writing was engaging and coarsley beautiful and the plot was fast moving, bleak and threatened the apocalypse, all of which kept me riveted to the page. It also gave hints of things to come, it seems like Jack and Pete are in the centre of something big and world ending and I can't wait to see what that is!
June 17, 2019
Dark and twisted with edgy humor
Fantastic addition to the previous adventures of Jack and Pete. As always the storyline goes places you NEVER expect, literally and figuratively. The characters are flushed out and true to themselves that is difficult to find outside of boring books. The humor is edgy and the world gritty and you better love every minute of it.
Fantastic addition to the previous adventures of Jack and Pete. As always the storyline goes places you NEVER expect, literally and figuratively. The characters are flushed out and true to themselves that is difficult to find outside of boring books. The humor is edgy and the world gritty and you better love every minute of it.
February 25, 2013
(Note: These are my thoughts about the series up till Book 4.)
Good: The world-building is impressive with several interesting concepts about the supernatural.
Bad: Badly-written, unsympathetic lead characters suck most of the wonder out of the book.
I tried hard to like this series. Heck, I even read all the way up to Book 4. But it seemed that with every book, Jack and Pete got more and more aggravating as characters.
They make one bad decision after another, usually driven by their feelings for each other, which I can't even really get into. They're made out to be some kind of destiny-bound couple, but I just don't see it. I don't see why anyone would be attracted to someone like Jack and I don't see Pete as this brilliant, driven woman she's supposed to be. I think their relationship is abusive and shallow and they both would be better off without each other. I started reading Book 5 soon after I finished this, but when I got to the first scene with Jack and Pete, I just gave up. I couldn't keep reading anymore, no matter how much I may enjoy the way the supernatural is presented in this series.
It's a shame since I enjoy the world that Caitlin Kittredge has created, but I just wish that I had been introduced to it through the viewpoints of better people.
P.S. I didn't know Caitlin Kittredge was an American when I read the first book, but something about her writing immediately struck me as non-British, if that makes sense. Her characters try hard to sound British with the use of slang and such, but it got to the point when I would just cringe whenever they opened their mouths. Just because you throw in 'bollocks' or 'sodding' in every other sentence doesn't make the dialogue authentic.
Good: The world-building is impressive with several interesting concepts about the supernatural.
Bad: Badly-written, unsympathetic lead characters suck most of the wonder out of the book.
I tried hard to like this series. Heck, I even read all the way up to Book 4. But it seemed that with every book, Jack and Pete got more and more aggravating as characters.
They make one bad decision after another, usually driven by their feelings for each other, which I can't even really get into. They're made out to be some kind of destiny-bound couple, but I just don't see it. I don't see why anyone would be attracted to someone like Jack and I don't see Pete as this brilliant, driven woman she's supposed to be. I think their relationship is abusive and shallow and they both would be better off without each other. I started reading Book 5 soon after I finished this, but when I got to the first scene with Jack and Pete, I just gave up. I couldn't keep reading anymore, no matter how much I may enjoy the way the supernatural is presented in this series.
It's a shame since I enjoy the world that Caitlin Kittredge has created, but I just wish that I had been introduced to it through the viewpoints of better people.
P.S. I didn't know Caitlin Kittredge was an American when I read the first book, but something about her writing immediately struck me as non-British, if that makes sense. Her characters try hard to sound British with the use of slang and such, but it got to the point when I would just cringe whenever they opened their mouths. Just because you throw in 'bollocks' or 'sodding' in every other sentence doesn't make the dialogue authentic.
November 23, 2018
First read: 2011
Re-read: June - July 2015
The plot: Jack has a bounty on his head and decides to get out of London for a while, at the same time Pete has been given an opportunity to work on a gruesome murder investigation in L.A. so they head over there together to help with the investigation. Meanwhile Jack is struggling with the change in his relationship with Pete.
This is the slowest book of the series so far for me. I actually put this down for over a month when I was half way though and read a couple of other novels before I came back to this. I think the main reason for this is that I didn't like the switch of locations in this novel.
One of the things I love about the Black London series is the British setting. Kittredge doesn't always get it quite right but I enjoy reading an urban fantasy series that is set in a world recognisable to me (at the beginning of Devil's Business Jack almost gets assassinated in a Sainsbury's!). Most urban fantasy series are set in America - a setting I am only familiar with through the medium of books, film and television, which makes it almost as fantastical as the actual fantasy - and by switching the action in this book to America it loses a lot of that uniqueness and makes it a more generic UF novel.
However the plot is still decent, Jack is still one of the best anti-heroes in urban fantasy, and Kittredge's writing is as descriptive and wonderful as ever:
"This Hell was a mass of corridors made of stone and iron, veiled in steam. Machines clanked from far below his feet, and noxious yellow smoke poured from crooked chimneys that bent in over the street like arthritic fingers." (pg 245)
Overall rating: 3.5/5 stars (rounded up to 4/5 stars)
Re-read: June - July 2015
The plot: Jack has a bounty on his head and decides to get out of London for a while, at the same time Pete has been given an opportunity to work on a gruesome murder investigation in L.A. so they head over there together to help with the investigation. Meanwhile Jack is struggling with the change in his relationship with Pete.
This is the slowest book of the series so far for me. I actually put this down for over a month when I was half way though and read a couple of other novels before I came back to this. I think the main reason for this is that I didn't like the switch of locations in this novel.
One of the things I love about the Black London series is the British setting. Kittredge doesn't always get it quite right but I enjoy reading an urban fantasy series that is set in a world recognisable to me (at the beginning of Devil's Business Jack almost gets assassinated in a Sainsbury's!). Most urban fantasy series are set in America - a setting I am only familiar with through the medium of books, film and television, which makes it almost as fantastical as the actual fantasy - and by switching the action in this book to America it loses a lot of that uniqueness and makes it a more generic UF novel.
However the plot is still decent, Jack is still one of the best anti-heroes in urban fantasy, and Kittredge's writing is as descriptive and wonderful as ever:
"This Hell was a mass of corridors made of stone and iron, veiled in steam. Machines clanked from far below his feet, and noxious yellow smoke poured from crooked chimneys that bent in over the street like arthritic fingers." (pg 245)
Overall rating: 3.5/5 stars (rounded up to 4/5 stars)
November 5, 2011
By the time we get to Devil's Business, the fourth book in the Black London novels, Pete is a few months pregnant, and the members of the supernatural world are not too happy about having Jack around. He's being hunted... and after getting his butt kicked by a grocery store clerk, Jack's starting to think it might just be a perfect time to pack up and leave London... with Pete, of course.
And Pete has plans to do just that. With no work for their investigative business available to them in London, Pete decides to take a case in L.A. The case is concerning a family that was murdered in a home they were renting. The most disturbing part of the crime is that the pregnant woman's unborn baby is missing. Interestingly, there was a similar case ten years earlier and this detective in L.A. is determined to solve both crimes.
And, of course, Pete and Jack aren't in L.A. very long when the demon Belial makes an appearance to collect his debt from Pete. Turns out there's an "evil older than the black" haunting the City of Angels, and this evil is harvesting the bodies of the unborn to create their own little... I have no idea what they are, but when the one kid shows up in the book things got a little creepy. Like.. real creepy. And when they went after Pete and Jack's unborn baby, and Pete could feel the baby changing inside here... I totally panicked. In fact I found myself silently screaming; "DON'T HARM THE BABY!"
Will Jack and Pete's unborn baby be a vessel for all that is evil, or will they destroy the evil and restore order in the Black? Hmmmm... I guess you'll need to read the book and find out.
And Pete has plans to do just that. With no work for their investigative business available to them in London, Pete decides to take a case in L.A. The case is concerning a family that was murdered in a home they were renting. The most disturbing part of the crime is that the pregnant woman's unborn baby is missing. Interestingly, there was a similar case ten years earlier and this detective in L.A. is determined to solve both crimes.
And, of course, Pete and Jack aren't in L.A. very long when the demon Belial makes an appearance to collect his debt from Pete. Turns out there's an "evil older than the black" haunting the City of Angels, and this evil is harvesting the bodies of the unborn to create their own little... I have no idea what they are, but when the one kid shows up in the book things got a little creepy. Like.. real creepy. And when they went after Pete and Jack's unborn baby, and Pete could feel the baby changing inside here... I totally panicked. In fact I found myself silently screaming; "DON'T HARM THE BABY!"
Will Jack and Pete's unborn baby be a vessel for all that is evil, or will they destroy the evil and restore order in the Black? Hmmmm... I guess you'll need to read the book and find out.
September 27, 2011
I am a huge fan of the Black London series. When we got to the big surprise at the end of the last book I got a little worried about what would happen next. I really don’t care for books that head in that particular direction. This was really no exception.
I am not sure what on earth transpired to make Pete such an irrational bitch. I understand that she is worried, and scared, but my goodness. Her attitude and behavior was so self centered and just completely inexcusable. She really turned me off for most of the book. When we left her in the previous installment she seemed to be ok with things and not hostile towards Jack. I really felt lost as to what happened between then and when this took pace.
It was nice to have a lot of the book from Jack’s perspective. At the same time he was so self deprecating I just wanted him to slap Pete and ask her what her problems were.
Once we got to the ending of this book everything seemed fine and dandy once again. All in all I felt like there were huge pieces of the story missing. Quite a few of the character’s motivations seemed to come out of nowhere.
Inter character relationships aside, the story itself was nothing to write home about either. There were some confusing plot points in the over all “mystery”.
All in all I was pretty disappointed in this book. I am not sure I like where the storyline is heading. I admit I was a little against where we were headed before I even started.
I am not sure what on earth transpired to make Pete such an irrational bitch. I understand that she is worried, and scared, but my goodness. Her attitude and behavior was so self centered and just completely inexcusable. She really turned me off for most of the book. When we left her in the previous installment she seemed to be ok with things and not hostile towards Jack. I really felt lost as to what happened between then and when this took pace.
It was nice to have a lot of the book from Jack’s perspective. At the same time he was so self deprecating I just wanted him to slap Pete and ask her what her problems were.
Once we got to the ending of this book everything seemed fine and dandy once again. All in all I felt like there were huge pieces of the story missing. Quite a few of the character’s motivations seemed to come out of nowhere.
Inter character relationships aside, the story itself was nothing to write home about either. There were some confusing plot points in the over all “mystery”.
All in all I was pretty disappointed in this book. I am not sure I like where the storyline is heading. I admit I was a little against where we were headed before I even started.
September 20, 2011
I love this series. This book is more Jacks story than Pete's. Pete's pregnant and they seem to be having communication problems and drifting very far apart. However throughout all Jack's trials and tribulations his love for Pete is an absolute constant.
Even though it's a fantastical fantasy book their relationship,insecurities and reactions all ring true for me. Jack is a genuine bad boy. A complete f**k up. Definitely not the strong, dangerous, clever, in control alpha male of most romance stories. He does not make anyone feel safe.
He spends a lot of time getting beaten up and not understanding exactly what's going on. But back him into a corner, threaten his better half, and he comes out fighting, with absolutely everything he's got.
I would have liked to have seen more of Pete in this book, she seems to have been relegated to taxi driver and damson in distress. The story did,t end in a cliff-hanger which was nice.
However there are still many issues to be resolved, for one their sex life seems non existent.....
Even though it's a fantastical fantasy book their relationship,insecurities and reactions all ring true for me. Jack is a genuine bad boy. A complete f**k up. Definitely not the strong, dangerous, clever, in control alpha male of most romance stories. He does not make anyone feel safe.
He spends a lot of time getting beaten up and not understanding exactly what's going on. But back him into a corner, threaten his better half, and he comes out fighting, with absolutely everything he's got.
I would have liked to have seen more of Pete in this book, she seems to have been relegated to taxi driver and damson in distress. The story did,t end in a cliff-hanger which was nice.
However there are still many issues to be resolved, for one their sex life seems non existent.....
February 10, 2012
Oh man, I have to be honest here. I'm slightly but only slightly disappointed. I miss seeing Pete's view on everything. She is pregnant and dealing with so many emotions and her character in my opinion hasn't evolved enough in this whole series.
I'm glad Jack and Pete will stick by each other and they both figured out a way to get out from under Hell's thumb. Now they only really have to worry about future attacks and Morgie.
The ending was left off in such a way that made me wonder if the series could possibly be over. After this I'll have to check that out. All in all it wasn't a complete fail in my opinion. Things are shifting and Jack is learning/changing. It's worth the read if you are a lover of this series, life changing choices have been made numerous times in this book. Leading Jack, Pete and their unborn daughter down a different path.
I'm glad Jack and Pete will stick by each other and they both figured out a way to get out from under Hell's thumb. Now they only really have to worry about future attacks and Morgie.
The ending was left off in such a way that made me wonder if the series could possibly be over. After this I'll have to check that out. All in all it wasn't a complete fail in my opinion. Things are shifting and Jack is learning/changing. It's worth the read if you are a lover of this series, life changing choices have been made numerous times in this book. Leading Jack, Pete and their unborn daughter down a different path.
October 21, 2012
The beginning of this book is difficult because of the distance between Pete and Jack as they both try to come to terms with the pregnancy. They love each other but know if they stay together then the baby will always be at risk because of who/what Jack is. Pete is thinking about leaving. Jack is thinking about leaving. The first couple of chapters, everyone takes a turn beating up on Jack (including Jack himself) and it's all just painful to witness.
Then somebody touches Pete and Jack's like OH-HELL-NO. That's what I love about Jack. He's screwed up enough that you doubt him, but when push comes to shove, he's there. The end was rewarding seeing them realize that they're stronger together than apart.
Reluctant hero against impossible odds. Unique world with interestingly flawed characters.
Really like this series.
Then somebody touches Pete and Jack's like OH-HELL-NO. That's what I love about Jack. He's screwed up enough that you doubt him, but when push comes to shove, he's there. The end was rewarding seeing them realize that they're stronger together than apart.
Reluctant hero against impossible odds. Unique world with interestingly flawed characters.
Really like this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2012
I always have a hard time getting through this series, which is likely why it always ends up on the bottom of my series to catch up on. Made it almost halfway through before I got majorly stalled this time. Some mild amusement added to the mix as I'd forgotten Pete was pregnant and I'm currently pregnant myself. Jack never seems to have things easy and somehow always ends up in more of a fix at the end then he started with, despite trying to get out of everything. At least he seems to have patched things up with Pete and about their daughter. That could have kept degrading real quick what with the rest of the changing info-structure and his new marks. Still curious to see how the series ends, but not enough to bump it up the priority list. Will get to it whenever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2011
3.5/5
I really love this series so when I finally got a chance to read Devil’s Business, I was really excited. And then somewhere towards the middle, Kittredge lost me. I’m not sure if it was the change of scenery or the change in POV character or something else entirely, but a lot of the book really dragged for me. There was a lot of storytelling going on and it reminded me a lot of the history lesson we got in Nancy Holzner’s Hellforged. The storytelling was all background on the history of Hell and of this actor that I really didn’t care much about, but was apparently important to the story. The end brought me back into the story and I’m happy with how things ended up and I am once again eager to read the next book in the series.
I really love this series so when I finally got a chance to read Devil’s Business, I was really excited. And then somewhere towards the middle, Kittredge lost me. I’m not sure if it was the change of scenery or the change in POV character or something else entirely, but a lot of the book really dragged for me. There was a lot of storytelling going on and it reminded me a lot of the history lesson we got in Nancy Holzner’s Hellforged. The storytelling was all background on the history of Hell and of this actor that I really didn’t care much about, but was apparently important to the story. The end brought me back into the story and I’m happy with how things ended up and I am once again eager to read the next book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews