I liked this crime procedural. I haven’t read the previous books and didn’t feel too lost with the backstory. I feel like the author did a great job keeping me in the loop with it. I enjoyed the numerous quirky characters and the surprising twists, turns and inner connectivity of the plot. Good mystery!

This is the 3rd book in the series but I didn’t know that until after I started reading and felt like I was missing some backstory so I looked up the author and found out. I continued reading it as a stand-alone but I’m certain it would have been better read in order. There were a lot of storylines going on in this book, at times it felt like it was chaotic. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was good, different voices for the characters and emotions shown through. I’m not sure I would read more in this series but I know this will be a favorite for some!

Edited- I just listened to the first two books in the series and then this one. Reading it in order made all the chaos make complete sense. I’m raising the rating from 3 to 5, highly recommend this series!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Devil You Know.

I feel that this book would have been better for me if I had read the books in order. I had not read the other 2 books that came before this one. I would recommend to any reader that they read the first 2 books, so they can enjoy this one.

Right from the beginning I was confused, and found it difficult to immerse myself in the book and the characters, since their histories had already been started in the previous books.

"The Devil You Know" by P. J. Tracy is a gripping thriller that follows the story of a homicide detective, Magozzi, and his partner, Gino. They are investigating a series of brutal murders that have taken place in the Minneapolis area. Meanwhile, a young woman named Grace MacBride, who runs a software company, is also entangled in the mystery. As the plot unfolds, the characters are drawn into a web of danger and deception, culminating in a shocking climax. The book skillfully combines suspense, action, and well-developed characters, making it a compelling read.

The Devil You Know (Detective Margaret Nolan #3) was a great read by P.J. Tracy. LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan's latest case plunges her into a realm of privilege that shows her the darkness. Beloved actor Evan Hobbes' body is found in the rubble of a Malibu rockslide. He was discovered the day after a fake video ruins his career. Nolan isnt sure what happened and her investigation gets murkier the more she investigates. Hobbes' agent is dealing with a lot when his powerful brother-in-law is murdered. Nolan must find out what happened while dealing the dark underbelly of Hollywood untouchables. I enjoyed reading this book and cant wait to read more by the author.

Another great entry in the Detective Margaret Nolan series. If you love police procedurals, like I do, you won't want to miss this new series.

The Devil You Know by P. J. Tracy and narrated by Abby Craden - 4/5

Mystery & Thrillers
Audiobook- 7 Hours, 13 Minutes

The Devil You Know is book 3 in the Detective Margaret Nolan series and they continue to surprise me. Nolan and Al's investigation is something out of this world. It is slow paced but complex, intriguing, and keeps your wondering what is going to happen next with the twists and turns. With this being book 3, the reoccurring characters are phenomenal, I love watching them grow and the new characters are always built in such a way that complements the story. The audio version did a great job, I am a firm believer that a Narrator can make or break a story and Abby Craden did not disappoint.


Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio eARC.

The Devil You Know is book 3 in The Detective Margaret Nolan series by PJ Tracy. Do you LOVE a good who dunnit? If so this one is for you. Twisty ride all the way until the end!! A great performance by the narrator. The narration kept me engage and guessing to the very end.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this listening copy in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend reading this entire series. So binge worthy!!

This was my first P.J. Tracy's book. This is the third book in The Detective Margaret Nolan Series, a detective murder mystery. Nolan and Al's investigation is complex, slow paced, and intriguing, filled with murders, and twists and turns. The cast of characters is impressive. There is a lot going on in this story. Abby Craden did a great job bringing this story to life. She has a great range of voices, and the characters were easy to distinguish. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, a Dreamscape Media Audio production, for an honest review. #NetGalley

I did the audiobook and I just can't listen to this narrator at all. The moody vocal is so off-putting. So unfortunately I did DNF this book. This is my opinion so others may enjoy the audiobook. If you have been reading this series grab this one just in case it wasn't my thing.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to this ARC for my honest opinion.

I'm a sucker for a good detective story so I was excited for this one. I did enjoy the read, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first two books in the series. I got the sense that the characters were explained in much more detail before I jumped into the story. The language and imagery in this book were quirky and amusing. I liked the relationships and the interactions between the characters. It was fun to jump into this world, but as I said, I felt like I was missing some of the inside jokes.
I did like the narration, and I felt like the narrator tried hard to embrace the character personalities and quirks. The pacing was great and the intonation kept my interest.

Los Angeles possesses multiple facets: the authentic realm where ordinary individuals reside and toil, the sordid underbelly inherent in any metropolis, and the rarefied domain of affluence, influence, and stardom. LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan finds herself thrust into this secluded world of privilege when her latest case exposes her to the shadows lurking beneath the glimmering surface.

The lifeless body of beloved actor Evan Hobbes is discovered amidst the wreckage of a Malibu rockslide, a mere day after a fabricated video shatters his career. Uncertainty shrouds Nolan as she attempts to discern whether it was an accidental demise, a deliberate act of self-destruction, or a chilling act of homicide. Matters grow increasingly obscure as her investigation expands to encompass Hobbes' esteemed circle of acquaintances and colleagues.

Meanwhile, Hobbes' agent grapples with the arduous task of damage control, contending with his unstable superior and the repercussions of a woman he has scorned. However, when his influential brother-in-law falls victim to murder, both he and Nolan find themselves ensnared in an audacious web of deceit, one that threatens to dismantle the very foundations upon which Hollywood's untouchables rest.

I requested based on the cover, and I was not aware that it was book #3 in a detective series. Of course, I have to go back and read the first two books! Characters are likable, and I will definitely continue the series.

Unfortunately, this just wasn't for me. I made it over a third of the way through, and I still wasn't following along. There are many characters that I just couldn't keep straight, and I didn't really care what happened.

*Thank you @dreamscape_media for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape for the advanced copy of the audiobook. When I requested the audiobook, the premise sounded right up my alley along with it being a detective investigation. I didn’t realize this was the 3rd book in a series.
I highly suggest reading the first two in the series to fully enjoy the book, it doesn’t work as a standalone and that’s my error. However, even though some of the plot and character connections were confusing without the backstory, the story itself was good enough it made me want to keep listening to see who had committed the murder and why.
I really enjoyed the twists even without having the proper background so I think if you read the first two this would be an excellent read/listen.

So far I liked the second book the most of out the three books published. This one also felt weak like the first one did. I feel like the AMOUNT of deaths in the first and third books are wayyyy over the top. Just dropping like flies, it's insane. It's too much. I'll probably continue the series if I keep getting them from NetGalley/Libby/Kindle Unlimited. I have liked and still like the narrator of this series.

The audio version for The Devil You Know was so well done! I really enjoyed the narrator and the whole production. The book was great to begin with but the added consumption of the audio made it so much better! I didn't have to stop reading while driving my car!

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was not a bad read though i wish i had read the other books first to get a better feel for the characters. Interesting enough read, would read more of the series.

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW by P.J. Tracy
Publication: 1/18/2023 by Minotaur Books / Macmillan Audio
Narrated by: Abby Craden
Duration: 7 hrs, 12 min

This is the third in a series of police procedural / detective mystery - thrillers involving Detective Margaret Nolan. Explored is the many of facets of Hollywood - Los Angeles, from the degenerate underbelly to the pompous and pretentious world of the wealthy, the power brokers and the elite celebrities. Supposedly wholesome and beloved Disney star, Evan Hobbes’ career is in jeopardy as photos and video appear of him in a sexual liaison with underage fans.
He insists they are deep fakes… and his agent, Seth Lehman goes into a concerted damage control mode. Before his reputation can be cleared Evan is dead. His broken and twisted body lies below the cliffs of a Malibu mansion. There were more than a hundred elites attending a celebratory party at the mansion of Disney exec, David Keller. Who knows what really happened…. an accident, a murder or even suicide. David’s wife Essie, just happens to be the sister of the Hobbes’ agent, Seth Lehman. Detective Nolan is summoned to the scene to investigate the death of Evan Hobbes. He was one of many wealthy guests attending the mega party. In the course of interview and interrogation of the many potential suspects and witnesses, Margaret must deal with the colossal egos and subterfuge of the Hollywood elite. On the morning after the death, Seth is actually buying caviar for his guest of the night… well known actress Daphna Love. He’s convinced her to break her contract with his boss, Rebecca Wodehouse, better known as “The Dragon Lady”, and sign on with him, as he forms a new agency. Nolan uncovers the sordid pasts of the multiple repellent Hollywood characters … the so-called glitzy and glamorous people. Most are nvolved in some type of scandalous deception. Before the weekend is over, other bodies will fall … including the lecherous David Keller.
P.J. Trace concocts a compelling narrative replete with unbelievable twists and turns … uncovering many “secret affairs” and documents extensive back-stabbing. It is tale of great atmospheric depth, populated by extensive odious personalities. The audio version was narrated by professional actress, and voice personality, Abby Craden, Her incredible voice, intonations and tone brought forth into reality the multiple different and varied characters. It is obvious why she has twice been the recipient of the Audio File Earphones Award. Her presentation saves this tale from being a simple soap opera.
Thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books & Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced version of the audio novel in exchange for an honest review.

DNF’ed.
I just could not get into this novel. I love P.J. Tracy and their work but this book just missed the mark for me! I could not get into how quick the main character went from grieving widow to sleeping with her husbands best friend .