G. Jackson reviewed Devilry (The Richard Carter Novels Book 7)
FAVE! March 14, 2015
“Devilry”
is book seven in the Richard Carter series. Don’t let the series number scare you. Even if you have not read another
Richard Carter book you will have no problem enjoying this one as a stand-alone. This book is so good that I am going to have
to use the “F” word… my Favorite thus far. As a history lover, I was thrilled with the Civil War side-storyline
that complimented sections of this present day murder-mystery set in the Missouri Ozarks.
A young man
discovers two dead bodies at the start of deer season. Hiram and Margaret Stout, father and daughter, appeared to have been
shot. The Stouts are one of the oldest and wealthiest families in the County. Cyrus Stout, patriarch, is known to be a hard-ass
and somewhat tyrannical. He runs his family like a business with some very antiquated beliefs and practices. Hiram was his
eldest son and first in line to inherit his father’s kingdom. Fortunately Cyrus had an heir and a spare. Second son,
Berlin, was now the new heir and Berlins son, Harrison, after him. As Richard Carter works to determine suspects AR Simmons
gives the reader an intimate look at the Stout family and its dynamics. Before Richard Carter has time to solve the Stout
murders another body is discovered, lynched and burned. Are these murders connected? They both have very different elements
but is there a common denominator? Who had the greatest motive to commit these murders?
I absolutely loved this book. AR Simmons has
done a marvelous job of creating another intensely interesting and entertaining mystery novel! Simmons writes substantial
novels and "Devilry" will have you turning pages for hours. As events and clues unfold and come together you will
not want to put this book down. The Stouts, particularly Cyrus, were fascinating. I loathed the old man but pitied him at
the same time. Definitely not a character I will forget anytime soon. Brilliantly written, well edited (not a single typo
or grammatical error noticed) and perfectly formatted. If you are seeking a great mystery infused with a bit of history this
is the perfect book.
