Seven women, inextricably linked by one man, must figure out which of them killed him in order to protect one another in this electrifying debut thriller.

The premise of the book had me hooked from the start and kicked off just as crazy as I thought it would. If you love whodunit stories that keep you guessing the whole way through with multiple POVs, this is the book for you!

I do think I might have enjoyed the story more if I read it versus listening to it -- or if there were multiple narrators for so many different characters. I love multiple POV books, but found the audiobook a little hard to get into.

This book begins with seven women sitting around a severed head. If that doesn't catch your interest, I don't know what will.

Despite the gory beginning, overall this book was not gory.

Jamie Spellman is the man behind the head. He wasn't a good man.

As the book goes on, we get to know each of the seven women, their connection to Jamie and how he treated them. They all had reason to murder him. But who did it?

This one is a bit of a slow burn, but it starts to pick up as you go along. We do find out who the killer is and it wasn't a surprise.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur and MacMillan Audio for both an ARC and ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Rose Wilding for the advanced listening copy of Speak of the Devil in exchange for my honest review.

I unfortunately decided to DNF this one about 20% in. I could not keep any of the characters or their storylines straight, and to be frank I honestly do not care which one of them committed the murder because it sounded like the guy had it coming 😂

As always, NetGalley is the only consumer site I will review this on as I don't typically review or rate books I DNF.

3.75 out 0f 5 stars

Thank you to Netalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this in exchange for an honest review

New Years 1999- Seven women sit in a room with the decapitated head of a man that each one had very complicated relationships with. Now they must work together to figure out which one of them is the guilty party before they all go down.

The mystery was pretty good in this even though I think they guilty party is very easy to figure out. For me where this book really shone was the character studies of the women and of the absolutely horrific victim. I read a lot of books but the victim in this had to be one of the most horrible characters I have read in a long time. The topics discussed in this are very dark and I think that will pull you in and keep your interest and the narrator Colleen Prendergast was wonderful. Each character had their own distinct voice.

The story begins on New Year’s Eve, in 1999 with seven women in a hotel room sitting in a semicircle with a severed head in their midst. The head belongs to Jamie Spellman a man who is no stranger to any of them. Each of these women has been wronged by him in some way and they have been plotting to get their revenge but decapitating him wasn’t quite what they had planned. None of them is aware of who amongst them is responsible for the same but each of them harbors suspicions of who it might be. However, they are not interested in outing the culprit and focus on covering up the crime and protecting one another.
As the narrative progresses we get to know more about each of these women, how their stories intersect with the deceased, the events that led to their being in the hotel room with Jamie’s decapitated head, and what transpires in the two weeks following that fateful night as the women try to maintain their innocence. Complicating matters further is the fact that the investigator in charge of the case has a history with one of the women in question.
Narrated from multiple perspectives (in the third-person), Speak of the Devil by Rose Wilding is a well-crafted, immersive read. The narrative moves fast and at no point did I lose interest in the narrative. I enjoyed trying to figure out who the culprit could be (It’s not too hard, but I thoroughly enjoyed the build-up to the end!). What makes this story interesting is that Jamie was truly a despicable character and not only at no point do you feel sorry for what happened to him, you also can’t fault these women for wanting him dead. The novel does venture into dark territory, touching upon themes of rape, police negligence in investigating crimes against women, gaslighting, manipulation, abuse, gender politics and transphobia among others. Not all the characters are explored in equal depth but I did like the diverse cast of characters and how skillfully the author weaves their distinct backstories into the narrative. The ending was a tad abrupt but overall, I enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the DRC of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I paired my reading with audio narration by Colleen Prendergast which certainly elevated my experience with this novel. The narrator does an impressive job of voicing the characters, setting the mood and bringing the story to life. Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. I would not hesitate to recommend the novel, the audiobook or pairing both for an intense immersion reading experience.
Expected Date of Publication: June 13, 2023

I thought that this was really good! I enjoyed getting to know each of the seven women at the core of this book and it was quite clear that each of them had the motive to kill Jamie. Jamie was not a good man. In fact, he was pretty terrible, and the things that he did to each of these women left me feeling a lot of sympathy for them. I loved that the book kept me guessing until the very end.

The story opens with the discovery of the decapitated head of Jamie by a group of seven women with ties to the victim on New Year’s Eve 1999. We learn about Jamie’s connection to each of the women and the history that they share throughout the book. We do also see the police detective’s perspective as we work our way through the story. It was quite a few characters to juggle but each of them had such unique personalities that I had no trouble keeping things straight. It was obvious that all of the women had the motive but I wasn’t sure who the murderer was until it was revealed in the story.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Colleen Prendergast did a fantastic job with the story. I thought that she had a very pleasant voice and I had no problem listening to this book for hours at a stretch. I thought that the dialog between the characters flowed nicely and I liked that she was able to add just the right amount of emotion to her reading. I thought her narration added to my enjoyment of this book.

I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a well-done mystery that was nearly impossible to set aside. I thought that this was a great debut novel and look forward to reading more of this author’s work in the future.

I received a review copy of this book from Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio.

Speak of the Devil by Rose Wilding presents a complex narrative that initially piqued my interest, despite my initial hesitation about the witchcraft theme in the first chapter. While the book kept me engaged through its intriguing hook, I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters or develop a genuine liking for them. The central mystery of the victim's murder kept me invested, but I often felt confused about the intense hatred the women harbored for him. The narrator's skillful delivery enhanced the overall experience, yet I believe the author missed an opportunity to fully develop the readers' emotional connection to the characters and the depth of their animosity towards the victim. Nevertheless, Speak of the Devil offers a challenging exploration of hatred and mystery that will leave readers contemplating the complexities of human emotions.

One dead man and the seven women who all have their own reasons for wanting him dead. Only one of them is the killer, but they’re not saying, thus it’s up to all of them to figure out who before the cops do.
I wasn’t sure what I was jumping into, but I love a good scorned woman getting even story, so I took a chance on this audiobook. This story was one hell of a ride. Trying to keep track of eight POVs was a bit more complex than I would have liked, in this situation I feel like multiple narrators may have served the story a bit better. This is not to say that Colleen Prendergast didn’t do a fantastic job conveying the needed emotion to tell this story. I would also say that I enjoyed getting each woman’s backstory at different times, I think that had this story been told chronologically we wouldn’t care whodunit we’d just be happy Jamie was dead. The ending was the ultimate ‘WHAT?!?!?!’ moment in a story full of twists. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and think anyone who loves a good twisty revenge story should pick it up, but check the content warnings first.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for early access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

"All of us knew him. One of us killed him..."

Speak of the Devil is a multiple POV story of seven women. The story begins with the seven women in a room with a decapitated head. The murdered man is Jamie Spellman. Each of the seven women knew Jamie and the book goes back in time to show their relationship and each of their reasons for wanting Jamie dead. I really enjoyed the mystery and the outcome surprised me. I feel like I may have enjoyed this one more via physical copy as the large cast of characters was really confusing at the beginning. I enjoyed the narration but audiobooks are difficult to backtrack. Overall, a solid murder mystery/thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me access to the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Excellent narration in this audiobook. Suspenseful novel about a man whose head ends up in a hotel room surrounded by women who all have ample reason to kill him. All seven of the women ended up there under false pretenses, all have no idea who committed the heinous act. The story has alternating points of view and is very fast paced.

Thank you to Macmillan audio for this audio book in exchange for a review. I thought this book definitely started out with a bang that made me not want to stop listening for sure! All the atrocities this man committed throughout his life and making it all the way to this point was a bit of a shocker if I'm being honest. I liked the way the story was told in flashback pieces of all the women, it made for an incredible shocker of an ending. The audio was incredible with all the different dialects and accents. I would say to do your research before reading because there was quite a bit of triggering content, but needed for the story. Overall, this is one I would recommend going forward!

This debut novel delivers an exhilarating murder mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The story revolves around seven women, each with their own compelling reasons for wanting the deplorable Jamie dead. The narrative skillfully unfolds through chapters that seamlessly transition between the present and the past, delving into the lives of these women and their complex connections to Jamie. This alternating timeline adds depth and richness to the storytelling, as readers uncover the layers of their relationships and the motivations driving them.

With the severed head discovered on New Year's Eve 1999, tension rises among the women who gather for a secret meetup, unsure of who among them is responsible. As suspicions loom and trust is tested, the suspense intensifies, compelling readers to constantly reassess their theories and search for clues.

The array of potential suspects adds further intrigue to the plot. Could Jamie's current wife, Sadia, harbor a hidden darkness? Or perhaps it is Maureen, the aunt who struggled to raise him, seeking retribution for all the evil that has been done. This read explores the lives of widower Olive, pregnant teenager Josie, lesbian couple Sarah and Kaysha, and Jamie's betrayed longtime friend, Ana, creating a diverse tapestry of characters with complex motives.

Throughout the novel, Detective Nora Stokoe takes center stage as she works to unravel the mystery and uncover the killer. Her pursuit adds a compelling investigative angle; engaging readers to ponder the outcome.

With its constant sense of intrigue, this book will leave readers enthralled and eagerly turning pages until the final revelation.

I read this as an audiobook and it was really good! I thought the narrator did a great job with the story, different characters and keeping it interesting.

Author: Rose Wilding
Narrator: Colleen Prendergast
Length: 10h 3m
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Pub day: June 13, 2023

The first chapter was... WOW. It starts off as 7 completely different women, of different ages sit in a dingy motel around the decapitated head of Jamie Spellman. Jamie Spellman is a scientist and respected man in his community, and all these woman want him dead, and have a reason for it. But who actually killed him?? The first chapters might start off slower, since we have so many different POVs to introduce the individual characters and their stories, but it certainly picks up. I loved all of the different POVs and trying to figure out what happened, right alongside Nova. I thought this book was well written, interesting and it kept me guessing, but I was hoping for more character development. The ending felt rushed when the whole story was leading up to that moment, but I did like it. Now if we had some chapters of Jamie's POV, that would have been great (creepy)!

Read if you enjoy:
• unique plot
• multiple POVs
• different timelines
• whodunit mystery
• dark storyline

Tw: murder, rape, domestic abuse, grooming

This book has a lot to say. I saw some question why one (terrible) man would be so diverse in the women he tormented and it's a fair question, but I viewed it more as using one man to show 7 different scenarios that someone could put a woman through. It definitely has a lot to say and I enjoyed the conversations/commentary that was brought up. Mothers not believing their daughters, police not believing women, etc. It was interesting in that aspect and I enjoyed that aspect immensely. It could also get slow, though, and the audiobook likely wasn't the way to go for it. I think the reading experience could've been better if I had read it physically. It is a book a could see myself buying and annotating due to the conversations, but I didn't find myself caring for any characters. The stores they had were upsetting and sparked emotion, but the characters themselves (aside from two that I loathed) just didn't connect with me.

The women have finally had enough. They have all been wronged in some way by Jamie Spelman even if one of the seven has yet to acknowledge this fact. They begin meeting to discuss their pain and hurt and hopefully to find some way to get back at him. Maybe the police will finally believe that Jamie is a bad person if they unite and find others he has hurt. Then they receive a call from an anonymous number to meet in the secret room they have been using because of an undisclosed emergency. When they arrive Jamie’s severed head is sitting on a table in the center of the room. One of them must have killed him and he definitely deserved it, but can they find out who did it and at the same time protect them. This clever but definitely dark mystery is told from 7 points of view of the women who knew Jamie, plus that of the policewoman who is the past lover of one of the women and who is also fed up with being mistreated and not listened to by men and fed up with her job. Each of the characters has a distinctive voice and as their stories are told you will soon get to know each one of them and while you will want to know who killed Jamie and why, you will also understand why no one should be punished.

Speak of the Devil by Rose Wilding had a very intriguing premise but it did take me a while to get my head wrapped around what was going on. There were a lot of characters and each of them had their own reasons to be murderer. It was interesting to learn all the wrongdoings of that man and it all really does fall into places by the end of the book. I feel like the first third of the book was a bit tough to get through. The narration by Colleen Prendergast was fantastic and really elevated the experience. I feel like maybe it was just me that had a tough time in the beginning and I can see a lot of people enjoying this book especially since it does have a strong message in it as well. I'd read more books by this author and listen to more books narrated by Colleen Prendergast for sure!

I don't think I've EVER encountered a more heinous murder victim than Jamie Spellman. You'll almost wish you had a hand in his death after reading this wild ride of a novel.
7 women have been meeting together to discuss what to do about Jamie Spellman, the evil man who inextricably links them all. But on New Years' Eve of 1999, the women come together to a gruesome discovery; Jamie's severed head sits among them and no one knows who finally exacted their revenge against him.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Minotaur books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I first want to start by saying that the premise of this book really intrigued me and it sounded so good. However, this was a tough book to get into and I honestly might have DNF it had I not requested and gotten approved for the audiobook version. I feel like the audiobook version drew me in a bit more and helped me finish the book. So where to begin. I guess the first place was the amount of people and POV. It was sooo difficult for someone like me with ADHD to continue to pay attention to who was who and which person had which feelings and what not. I felt so confused for most of the book. There was also so much to unpack for each of the female characters who were under suspicion because Jaime did so much to each of the women to ruin their lives that it wasn’t just cut and dry.

I really enjoyed the narration and felt like that kept my attention more than just reading the book. I really like the narrators voice and felt like she was able to keep the listeners attention throughout the book!

Overall, for a debut novel, I feel like Rose’s writing was pretty strong and it did keep me somewhat engaged. I also feel like the ending of the book is where most of my attention went to and felt like the ending was pretty strong. I would definitely give her books another chance because of the writing style!

I’ve never been pulling so hard for the murderer to get away with the crime as I was in this book. I loved MOST of the women and Jamie deserved all he got! This was a tense thriller where the victim is the real sociopath. Not the killer. Definitely pick this up!

This story seemed all over the place. Bouncing between so many different characters and storylines it was really hard to follow as an audio book. It could have been better had I opted to read it as a physical book instead of listening. Overall a good concept for a story but not super well executed.