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Maria Mcdonald

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The Devil's Own: A tantalising historical mystery Kindle Edition

by Maria McDonald (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.4 112 ratings

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A set of century-old diaries found in an attic draws an Irish couple into a tale of murder and madness, in this absorbing new suspense.

After forty years in the Irish army, Brian is looking forward to retiring and spending time with his wife—though he worries about adjusting to civilian life. While clearing the attic before they move house, he makes a discovery: three journals dating back to the early twentieth century.

One was written by Arthur, an ex-Connaught Ranger; another by Arthur’s wife, Edith, a colonel’s daughter; and the third by Henry, a British soldier and Arthur’s best friend.

Brian and his wife are soon engrossed in reading the diaries and following the intertwined stories of these three people from the past. But it soon becomes chillingly clear that these diaries contain more than the daily adventures of ordinary lives. Because one of the three is a killer . . .

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BQ6LP15Y
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloodhound Books (January 11, 2023)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 11, 2023
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1690 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 330 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1504082915

Best Sellers Rank: #867,145 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #2,217 in Historical Thrillers (Kindle Store)
- #4,539 in Psychological Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #5,057 in Military Thrillers (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 112 ratings

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About the author

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Maria Mcdonald

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Originally from Belfast, Maria McDonald lives in Kildare, with her husband Gerry.

Maria is an avid reader who loves to write but only indulged in her passion for writing fiction after retirement. Since then, her short stories and articles have been published in Woman’s Way and Ireland’s Own, as well as numerous anthologies; Intermissions, Grattan Street Press Melbourne; Same page anthology, University College Cork; Fragments of Time, Amber Publishers. Maria is a founder member of Ink Tank Writing Group, based in Newbridge library and contributed to their anthologies, Timeless in Kildare and Let Me Tell You Something.

Since signing with Bloodhound Books she published two historical fiction novels in 2023, The Devil's Own and Tangled Webs. The Keeper of Secrets, her third novel with Bloodhound Books, is due for release in March 2024

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

112 global ratings

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Kindle Customer

Want to read again

Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2023

Verified Purchase

Quit reading several real times cause I didn't want it to be over. That doesn't happen often, and I read a lot.

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Casey Sutherland

The Devil's Own Mystery

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2022

Although this book was long, overall it was still well written. I do feel as if some of the chapters/information in the chapters could have been cut way down and you will would have understood what was happening. The overall plot was good, as well as the mesh of characters. The story flowed nicely and it was a good touch to get Brian and Jeans thoughts on the journals. Reading through Arthurs and Ediths journal entries was very interesting and the perspective from each over the years really helped you understand the narrative during each time of their lives. The twist was one I did not see coming and my jaw dropped when I read it, so a definite positive there. If you like historical mysteries or military stories then add this to your TBR!

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2023

A first-rate novel, well written and well plotted. The main narrator is Brian who is just retiring from the Irish military. In preparing the move for he and his wife Jean to new private accommodation, Brian comes across three diaries in a locked filing cabinet. Many families have lived in these army quarters over the decades.

The diaries are those of Arthur Torrington, his wife Edith and a soldier named Henry who is often referred to as Arthur's "best friend." Arthur was born in Ireland. His father was a drunkard and his mother earned money as a prostitute. After disaster at home Arthur escapes to England where he is raised for a while by a kind old chap who has little but raises his own produce and teaches Arthur to do so. When his caretaker dies, Arthur has to embark upon a venture of his own. He joins the British army as a member of the Connaught Rangers, often referred to as the Devil's Own. After various adventures Arthur ends up as an officer in India. Throughout this part of his diary Arthur often takes up heavy drinking egged on by his friend Henry.

In India, Arthur meets up with Edith, the daughter of an army commander much further up the food chain than Arthur. Against her father's wishes, Edith marries Arthur. Arthur cannot provide the life style to which she is accustomed. Arthur appears to be a good officer but, according to Edith's diary, often falls prey to drinking, encouraged by "Henry". The diary bearing the name Henry does not provide much information about Henry beyond his drunken escapades during which he records encountering young women whom he murders as he is having sex with them.

Arthur and Edith ultimately end up in Ireland at the end of his career after it becomes the Irish Free State. The British presence has dwindled and the barracks where decades later Brian resides is practically deserted until taken over later by the Irish. Arthur returns from the tavern drunk one night in a terrible fit of anger. He finds his gun and commits suicide. When Edith comes across "Henry's" diary she suddenly realizes why.

She abandons Ireland and returns to live with a relative in India. She leaves behind the diaries which are later found and read by Brian and Jean decades later.

I guessed the major secret to this story about two thirds of the way through but that did not diminish my desire to finish the novel.

I would highly recommend it as a welcome departure from British police procedurals and psychological thrillers which are so popular these days.

Thanks to Bloodhound Books for providing me with an Advance Review Copy.

One person found this helpful

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el

Brilliant

Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2023

A true page turner, couldn’t put it down!

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Linda N.

Pulls you in right from the start.

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2023

While cleaning out the attack for their move, Brian finds three diaries from the 1880’s. The book weaves between the present day and the three diaries he found as Brian and his wife try to solve the murders revealed in the diaries. I also enjoyed the historical backdrop of Ireland and India.

Helpful

sugevad

To sum this book up in a phrase – RIVETING READ!

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2023

The opening story of Arthur living in Manchester and struggling in an environment where domestic violence, alcoholism and prostitution is part of the normality of life – sets the tone for a read that with keep the reader captivated. From Arthur’s growing into a young man who eventually “adopts” the military life and the Connaught Rangers, which in some ways becomes his saviour, we are brought through a world of service and loyalty as he takes up the mantle of soldering in different parts of the world.

As I read the stories of Arthur and Edith – Brian and Jean, and the worlds that they live in, I identified with their lives and struggles, having servered in the military myself (both home and abroad).

Maria has masterfully interwoven historical fact with a storyline that becomes a tapestry of intrique, suspence, horror, love, happiness and all thoes emotions and feelings in between. It draws the reader in and immerses them into the tandem lives of the central characters where you feel like a “voyurestic time traveller” as you move back and forth between their stories and the reading of the journals.

Definitely a book that is hard to put down once you open the first page. Worthwhile read.
/GG

Helpful

Carl

Really good, convincingly very well researched novel.

Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2023

And for those who give this book a two or three star review, have the guts to tell us what you found wanting in the story. In the use of the language? What? Not going to give the plot away. Just read it.

One person found this helpful

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Bobbi Jo Wagner

great story

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2023

This is a new author for me which I enjoyed reading. This is a suspenseful historical mystery that is engaging and hard to put down. I enjoyed how the characters pulled me into the story from the start. They kept the story fast paced and brought it to life. For me they really made the story and they added to the story which made it easy and entertaining to read. This is a great story that is full of mystery and some suspense. I enjoyed the growth of the plot and a well written story. I really enjoyed reading this story. I highly recommend this book.

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Top reviews from other countries

BMB

A slow burning mystery

Reviewed in Canada on November 27, 2023

Verified Purchase

I really liked the way the mystery is so buried in the main plot & it unravels very slowly … unsettling but perfect how it all fits in the end .. a great read I would recommend👍

Fionnuala Belfast

Unbelievable read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2023

Verified Purchase

Absolutely fantastic read, throughly enjoyed it. Beautiful to understand the history side of the story and love anything to do with the Curragh...well done Maria..you smashed it!!!

fiona gorman

Page Turner.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2023

Verified Purchase

Downloaded yesterday and finished tonight. Had to finish it needed to know how it would end. Clever plot, clues are given but still leave you doubting, all in all very well written. Been a long time since I had a book that I needed to finish.