This book introduces the story of a cold case; that of a missing child, unsolved from eleven years ago. Kate, the main character, together with her work partner Tristran, is an ex-Met private investigator who literally by accident tumbles into the unclosed case and agrees to go over the old evidence for the still traumatised Grandmother of the child. But nothing is as it seems, and each layer of evidence seems to reveal other, unrelated and sometimes bizarre clues. The case of a missing child is so much more and will take Kate and Tris on a very unexpected investigative journey. Five stats.

This is a brilliant book: it has likeable, strong characters in the two private detectives, a good setting and a fast paced plot. Asked to investigate the disappearance of a three year old boy 12 years ago, the story becomes more complex. I did not see the twist coming at the end either!

As a huge Robert Bryndza fan was eager to be one of the first to read the latest in the Kate Marshall series. The character is being developed well with throwback references to the first book. The relationship with Tristan is growing although the last book focused more on Tristans private life.

The end was predictable but it is hinted at in the right stage in the book to keep you captured.

Love the location setting as a regular visitor to Devon you can visualise what is going on in those places.

Hope Kate remains a PI she is doing great work as does Bryndza in the way he writes.

First of all, I'd like to thank Netgalley and Robert Bryndza, as well as Raven Street Publishing for my advanced reader’s copy.

Plot
This is the fourth book in the Kate Marshall series by the author. In this book, Kate Marshall and her partner Tristan investigate the disappearance of a three-year-old boy that happened eleven years ago.
While being rushed to the hospital after being pulled up by a current in the sea, private investigator Kate Marshall befriends Jean, an elderly lady in the same ward. Jean confides in Kate that her three-year-old grandson disappeared from the campsite in Dartmoor eleven years ago.
Kate agrees to take on the case because Jean is still filled with grief after all this time, but she discovers that her dark past could have potentially put Charlie in jeopardy. Did he wander off and get trapped by the river’s riptide by Devil’s way, close to their campsite? Or even worse, was he abducted?
The investigation leads them to other discoveries, such as the murder of the social worker who was assigned to their case. What really happened to the little boy? And what about Anna, the social worker? Is her murder related to Charlie’s disappearance?

My Thoughts
This is my first Kate Marshall book, and I must say that I enjoyed it very much. After getting acquainted with the Erika Foster series I became a loyal fan of Robert Bryundza’s writing. Although this is my first one in this series, I find it just as addictive.
If you're not familiar with the author’s multi-layered storytelling style, you should definitely pick up his books. They can be read well as stand-alone, but to get really involved in the background stories, I strongly suggest you read them in order.
In the Devil’s Way, Kate and her partner are starting to fall into a routine that is still fairly new to them.
Although I have no background into Kate’s previous state, mental or physical, in this book she's vulnerable and shaken up by her accident. Therefore her partner Tristan, although younger and less experienced than her, picks up the slack while she’s recuperating. They make a great team, based on mutual respect and admiration.
The setting offers the readers an atmospheric vibe, something that I'm used to in Nordic noir books. I must say, I enjoyed the description of the location and the danger it poses. As I was reading, I couldn't help but feel worried about a little kid getting lost in the bogs, especially in the dark.
The characters are flawed and human, each dealing with their own issues. He doesn’t sugarcoat their present states of mind and allows their train of thought to follow their natural paths.
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much. I gave it four out of five stars and would recommend it to fans of chilling thrillers. If you love to follow the main character's personal journeys, this book is for you.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and pick up the first three books in this series!
Again, if you haven't read any books by Robert Bryndza, I really don't know what you're waiting for!

Kate Marshall and her able assistant Tristan are back in this excellent mystery set in Devon. They are now running their own Detective agency as equal partners as well as earning a bit of extra cash from a holiday caravan site left to Kate in a will. Kate is using her metropolitan police background to investigate and train Tristan
However she still has an alcoholic tendency and swims every morning in the sea to clear her head. One day whilst swimming she is sucked under and although fortunately rescued she ends up in the hospital where she shares a room with Jean,
Jean has her own dark past which is pulling her down- 11 years earlier her 3 year old grandson vanished on a camping trip on Dartmoor and has never been found. She feels responsible as she was looking after him at the time and when she discovers Kate’s occupation she begs her to look into the case. However it soon becomes apparent that Jean has demons of her own which may have lead to Charlie’s disappearance.
I loved catching up with Kate and Tristan and hearing about their lives. The mystery itself was heartbreaking- the thought of a young child disappearing was awful- what parent has not had that feeling of dread when they can’t immediately locate their child? I know I have.
I liked the way the investigation was very methodical with several different strands and I was pleased to see Tristan’s eventual maturity when he had to continue with everything alone as Kate recovered.
There were also some humorous sections, particularly when Maureen, one of the witnesses, was attempting to go on a cruise. This lightened the tone of a very dark story.
I definitely recommend “Devil’s Way”to all crime thriller fans and if you’ve read the previous books in the Kate Marshall series you will certainly love this new one which is published in January.
Thanks to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for my advance copy.

Private detectives, Kate and Tristram, are back on the trail of a missing boy - 10 or more years previously. A well-written tale of a missing child, mother committing suicide later, grandmother never forgiving herself, social workers not being quite who they should have been and some splendid descriptions of the Devon countryside. . Keeps the reader guessing as Kate and Tris chase shadows before giving closure to all concerned. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Be careful what you wish for was something Jean Julings should have considered before engaging Kate Marshall to look for her grandson, Charlie. The three year old boy went missing over eleven years ago. There can only be three outcomes, he's dead, he's alive or cannot be found. For Kate Marshall, this case will present a challenge which because of her personal life, makes her feel empathy towards Jean and wants to do her best for her. Along the way, Kate thinks that the death of a bludgeoned social worker is in some way associated with the missing child. What follows is a very good detective thriller. However, I will not be a plot spoiler, although I was halfway through the book when I had very strong suspicions that I knew what the outcome would be.
There are a few niggles I had with the story:
Riptides usually drag the swimmer offshore at a fast rate and do not normally tumble and drag under a swimmer. Most fatalities occur when fighting, rather than going with, the riptide.
Jean did not need to search for Declan's keys to start the car engine as it was already running
Kate's cliff top house should have its foundations checked as there is a sandy path right by her terrace.
Tristan applied for a visiting order to Exeter prison to visit Declan when he was not even in prison.
Deckchairs, originally designed for liners or cruise ships, have a wooden frame and do not rust.
Ground penetrating radar or GPR becomes GRP (glass reinforced plastic) in my copy.
Birmingham Airport (as far as I am aware) has no moving walkways and I fly from there regularly. The nearest ones are owned and operated by the National Exhibition Centre and only connect as far as the rail station.

I have read all of Robert Bryndza's books, so I figured I would love Devil's Way. This book seemed to be a bit of a slower burn than his usual books, but the last half really picked up and kept me glued to my phone. I finished it at 2 a.m. instead of sleeping! I feel a bit stupid because I didn't catch on to the twist until about 30 seconds before the characters did! Overall, it was an excellent book. It was a little lighter on character development than Bryndza's other books, but the plot was solid and the subplots tied together realistically. Devil's Way is definitely a five star read.

The Devil’s Way is the fourth book in the Kate Marshall private investigator series. This is my introduction to this author as well as this character and wow what fantastic read! Kate is an ex-detective and finally seems to have her life pretty much back on a good path to her future. She is no longer drinking, has a healthy relationship with son Jake, who at one time seemed to have been lost to her forever. Kate has also taken up therapeutic morning swimming in the chilly ocean. Although a strong swimmer, she one morning gets caught in a riptide where this terrifying experience lands her in hospital. As fate would have it, here she is faced with her next case she finds impossible to refuse. 

The case in question is Charlie Julings who would be a teenager today, that is if he hadn't disappeared one night eleven years ago on a secluded family camping trip. Charlie’s grandma, Jean, upon learning of Kate’s profession, begs her to reopen the search for her grandson. Once discharged Kate and Tristan, her only work colleague, begin looking into the facts surrounding the night in question and anyone remotely involved, with this little boy.

Immediately they discover the cold case most difficult to search due to lack of evidence concerning the circumstances of Charlie’s departure that night from his tent. Little guy disappeared without a trace, leaving no clues, sightings, or remains? 

This book has it all, intrigue, fast pacing, wonder and those treasured aha moments strategically placed. I liked the characters who were well developed in their personalities and the fact that there were no loose ends when I finished reading the afterward.

This book is brilliant and captivating from start to finish

Kate Marshall is a recovering alcoholic who is a private investigator. Taking her usual morning swim turns dangerous when she is caught in a riptide. Awakening in a hospital, she meets her roommate Jean. Jean's grandson, Charlie, disappeared 11 years ago on a camping trip. She hires Kate to find out what happened to him. Kate and her assistant, Tristan, start the search. Secrets come out. They are led to a murder that might involve the disappearance.
This is the first book I have read in the series. I would like to read the others. Kate is smart, but flawed. She has deep feelings of guilt over her inability to care for her son. She is working with a partner who she is training.
I sort of figured it out at the end, but not entirely. Thanks, NetGalley! Another great suggestion.

I received a complimentary ARC of Devil's Way by Robert Bryndza in exchange for my honest review.
Eleven years ago, three year old Charlie went missing while on a camping trip with his Grandmother, Jean and his parents on Dartmoor. Charlie's body was never recovered.
Kate, a private investigator, was swimming alone when she was caught up in a dangerous rip tide and nearly drowned. During her recovery in hospital, Kate meets Jean, her roommate, and she tells her the story of her grandson who went missing while camping eleven years ago. Jean begs Kate to take on the case and she reluctantly agrees.
Kate and her business partner, Tristan, start the cold case investigation and along the way discover that Jean has a dark past. Could something from Jean's history have played into Charlie's disappearance? Could Charlie have fallen into Devil's Way, a rushing river, where they were camping? Could someone have taken Charlie?
Shortly after Charlie's disappearance, a social worker who had logged concerns about Jean and her daughter was found murdered. Jean hasn't been honest with Kate, Jean has secrets, but there are others with secrets too. Secrets worth killing over. Will Charlie's disappearance ever be solved? Could Charlie still be alive?
This book grabbed me from the very first page. I loved the twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Just when I thought I had it figured out...I was wrong! The conclusion will be one that you don't expect! I really enjoyed this, It was the 4th in a series, but it was absolutely a stand alone book too.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. I have read other books by this author and liked them too.

ex-cop, private-investigators, near-drowning, disappearance, Devonshire, friendship, law-enforcement, due-diligence, cold-case, AA, suspense, thriller, mystery*****

Fast pace but full of apparent dead ends.
About a third of the story regards Kate's near drowning in a riptide and her necessarily difficult recovery as well as her business partner's efforts on the case Kate acquired while in hospital.
The case is mainly that of a small boy who disappeared while family were camping in the wilds of Dartmoor eleven years ago. Pulling in friends and acquaintances to help, they come across a possibly related bludgeoning murder of an ancillary social worker with some very peculiar aspects. The red herrings are very skillfully done, the characters ring true, and the plot twists are astounding. I plan to read more in this series quite soon!
I requested and received an EARC from Raven Street Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

I wasn’t sure at first whether I liked PI Kate Marshall, but this is her fourth adventure and she has grown on me. So much so that I was terrified at the opening scene of the book when Kate is swimming in the sea, as she does every morning, but this time she gets caught up in a rip tide. The description was heart stopping and Kate almost paid with her life. She woke up in hospital with very little recollection of what had happened to her. She had been rescued by two surfers and the impact on her mentally and physically terrorised her.

When she was in hospital she got talking to a lady called Jean Julings, whose three year old grandson went missing eleven years earlier. Jean’s daughter had been unable to cope with his loss and committed suicide. On hearing that Kate is a Private Investigator, Jean asks her and her partner Tristan to take on the case and help her to find answers that the police failed to find. Kate and Tristan start immediately, with Kate not giving herself enough rest following her near death experience.

Kate and Tristan leave no stone unturned as they dive deeply into everyone’s background. They look back into the police investigation to try to discern whether anything was left without proper investigation. The social worker who had been assigned to the case was herself murdered just after Charlie went missing. In Kate’s view, this wasn’t given enough priority.

The action takes place around Dartmoor. This is a beautiful part of the country but it has many dark edges. For example, there are huge swathes of land that is boggy in the area. People go missing in the bogs and there is a lot of credence given to the spooky tales and folklore of the area. Close to where Charlie went missing is a tree that has natural swirls in the bark that look like a human ear and there is also a tree the locals refer to as the Pixie tree.

It is against this backdrop of sinister happenings that Kate’s cold case comes to life. Kate and Justin find links that weren’t found by the police and they draw conclusions that the police didn’t seem to have the time to formulate. Kate is a formidable figure. She doesn’t allow a little thing like a near death experience to slow her down. It is this determination that proves crucial to her solving this cold case. The conclusions are left until the very end, which I’m sure will delight crime and mystery readers. There are no spare words in this fabulous conclusion.

Oh, this one may be the best Kate Marshall one yet! I was enthralled from the get-go and really enjoyed the unraveling of the various threads on the cold case that Kate and Tristan were hired for. Strong characters, excellent mystery, and a satisfying payoff. Loved it!

Kate gets caught in a riptide and ends up in the hospital. While there, she meets the elderly woman in the bed next to her who decides to hire her to find her grandson...who went missing a decade previously. As Kate and Tristan begin working on this very cold case, they find out that nothing is what it seems and everyone is lying to protect something or someone.

This is not the first Kate Marshall book I have read as Robert Bryndza is one of my favourites but I do believe this could be read as a standalone.
I love the way this author writes and find it a fast and easy read.
The plot is great and has twists and turns and the ending gives you a great feeling of satisfaction whether you have guessed it or not.
I would recommend this one and will do so.

From the first page this plot galloped along. I love Robert Bryndza , I have read all of his books and enjoyed every one. I couldn’t put it down and it finished all too quickly. Brilliant.

This one took me a while to get into and grab hold of, and it was a struggle for me to finish. I hadn't read any other books from this series, and I appreciated that the characters had flaws that made them more human. That being said, I didn't feel that either of the main characters were fully developed, and I honestly didn't care what happened to them throughout the story.

The plot itself was ok, and held my interest. All in all it was an enjoyable read.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, Raven Street Publishing and Robert Bryndza for the opportunity to read an advance copy of DEVIL’S WAY, to be published 12 January 2023. This read like a Police Procedural, which was great. It was about a former Police Detective who had turned to Private Investigations and her male partner in the business and how they solved a cold case. There were no current murders, but plenty of old unsolved cases to look into. I enjoyed this book.

PI Kate Marshall and her assistant Tristan take on the case of missing child Charlie who disappeared on a camping trip to Dartmoor when he was a small child. It was presumed that he drowned in the river. Charlie's grandmother asks Kate to investigate. Kate then finds out about the murder of Charlie's interfering social worker soon after Charlie's disappearance. This raises questions about the family and their behaviour at the time. Kate has a good relationship with the police, and gets more clues from the evidence they hold, leading her to other suspicious people who help her to unravel the mystery. Very twisty and interesting plot, with a few red herrings. Kate and Tristan are well-rounded characters with their own histories and problems. I liked that they just lived with themselves and dealt with the issues, and that they did not need to be "solved" along with the plot. Recommended.