Author: Sarah Barrie
ISBN: 9781489255297
RRP: $32.99
Publication Date: 17th June 2019
Publisher: HQ Fiction
This book needs to come with a warning: do not read if home alone!!
I first discovered Sarah Barrie when I read and reviewed Blood Tree River for Beauty and Lace last year which I loved. I was keen to get my hands on her new one The Devils Lair as soon as it was released on the 17th June 2019.
The Devil’s Lair is a “thrilling psychological suspense with Gothic overtones that takes us into the heart of Tasmania”. As a reader I was drawn to the eye catching cover and once I picked it up it engaged me immediately, I find the way Sarah writes hooks me and keeps me reading until I finish. I also love the way she describes the places where she sets her books, the locations become the central character in a way, in the Devil’s Lair we are taken to the Central Highlands.
After the violent death of her husband, Callie Jones seeks solace and sanctuary in Tasmania at a friend’s cottage located in the grounds of an old mansion. The mansion has a sinister past associated with witchcraft and murder which Callie is not aware of initially as she finds the remoteness of the place and the beauty soothing. Through her friend Paisley, whose father owns the mansion and Brother Ned who works at Calico Lodge (featured in Blood Tree River) we cross over to characters familiar to us: Connor, Tess, Indy and Logan from this previous novel. Sarah writes so the novels can be read as standalone stories but if you have read the others you are familiar with some characters so engaged and wanting to hear move about them. While Blood Tree River featured them all, it centred on Indy and Logan whilst Devil’s Lair is about Callie and Connor.
Callie agrees to help Tess out with some landscaping at Calico Lodge and starts to feel settled but when she heads back to the cottage at night she hears noises and feels unsettled and troubled by bad dreams. When objects start turning up in the cottage Callie starts to question her own sanity and security. A young boy she keeps running into on the grounds, talks of ghosts, devils and witchcraft and keeps saying “You’re one of us” to her. There were many moments in the book I was holding my breath and thinking ….”Don’t look out the window”, or “No!!! Don’t go outside” it really had me on the edge of my seat.
As the events build and escalate, you feel your heart racing and stay up to the wee hours to finish and by then you are breathless. Sarah knows how to engage and entertain readers that is for sure. I did not want to add much more to my review as I want to leave it free of spoilers but I highly recommend it. The only thing wrong with Sarah’s books are that you finish them too quickly as you want to know what happens but it is bittersweet as then you need to wait for the next one to be released, lucky for me I still have some of her previous books to read.
I knew this book was coming up for Beauty and Lace in the July reads but as mentioned above could not wait and rushed out to purchase it myself.
This guest review was submitted by Jode, one of our Beauty and Lace Club members. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us Jode.
Devil’s Lair is available now through HQ Fiction, Amazon, and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to HQ Fiction 15 of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading Devil’s Lair so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
Love reading especially on my train commute to and from work. Read most genres but my favorite would be Australian Rural Fiction. Love to support Australian Authors and Beauty and Lace have shown me some fantastic writers that I now read and follow.
A big thank you to Beauty & Lace and to Harper Collins for the wonderful chance to read this book. I haven’t had read any of Sarah Barrie’s books before but I will be going out to find her previous novels immediately! I thoroughly enjoyed Sarah’s style of writing finding it easy to read and immerse myself in the story. Her characters were likeable and believable and I loved the way she described the landscapes and settings so you could really picture them in your mind getting yourself even more involved in the storyline. I made the mistake of reading a few chapters at night and having very strange dreams afterwards so ensured I read it during the day from then on. I adore a book that can give me chills and thrills with some romance and mystery thrown in, what a fabulous combination! The ending actually made me a little sad as well so there is a story of loss weaved in as well but I did love how everything was wrapped up nicely and all loose ends tied so you felt satisfied.
Thank you again for such a great opportunity to read Devil’s Lair. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to discover more of Sarah’s books now!
If you like a nail biting, psychological, nerve shattering story this is the book for you.
After the suspicious death of her husband Dale, Callie moves from the Hunter Valley to a cottage in the grounds of an old mansion in beautiful Tasmania which is owned by the family of her close friend Paisley.
Callie starts to work there doing landscaping which she really enjoys but strange and creepy things begin to happen making Callie doubt her own sanity.
She has met handsome Connor here who tries to help with her fears. She has decided she doesn’t want any commitments just now so is keeping him at arms length.
Then gruesome murders begin to happen and Callie feels terrified by all that is going on.
This is a gripping, suspenseful thriller which will keep you guessing right to the end and the end will blow you away.
Thankyou to HarperCollins and Beauty and Lace for the opportunity of reading Devils Lair by Sarah Barrie.
OMG…. what a bloody brilliant novel!
This was fantastic, gripping and thrilling… loved every minute of it.
I do recommend you read Blood Tree River first. I read it some time ago and forgot the characters so it took a little of getting used to who’s who.
If you love a suspense thriller with a romantic love story, Sarah Barrie has it all in the fantastic novel, Devil’s Lair.
Well done Sarah.
Thanks to Beauty and lace and HarperCollins for letting me read and review this book.
Devil’s Lair by Sarah Barrie is a book that takes you on a journey of suspense and darkness but is brightened by a blossoming love story.
Callie Jones was shocked to the core and her life as she knew it changed forever after a stranger turned up to her and her husband’s bed and breakfast. Soon after and after the shocking death of her husband, Callie made the decision to move to Tasmania to start again.
Staying at her best friend Paisley’s house, Callie starts to make the place her home but was soon acutely aware of a cold feeling that engrossed her cottage and the main house.
As Callie settles in she meets locals and makes friends that both warm and chill her heart. Connor, a man she falls in love with and Paisley’s brother that causes chills to her bones are just two of the main characters that take you on this thrilling journey.
Witch craft, ghosts, secret tunnels and true love, this story definitely makes you want more after turning the last page. A definite read. Well done Sarah.
Thank you Beauty and Lave and Harper Collins for giving me the opportunity to read and review.
Absolutely loved this book, a must read!
Devil’s Lair by Sarah Barrie is a great read and a hard book to put down!
Callie runs a bed and breakfast with her husband Dale. Everything seems perfect until something happens and Dale is killed. The death is suspicious so Callie moves away with her PA Paisley to restart her life down in Tasmania.
There is twists and turns around every corner in this book and I love the suspense! If you haven’t read Blood Tree River, as another reader has said above, I would read this book too and probably first. It is not necessary to read Blood Tree River to follow this story though.
Great read highly recommend! Thank you so much Beauty and Lace and Harper and Collins for letting me read and review this book!