This one was interesting and slightly more gruesome than I expected. Although, I must say, I am very glad that the man who did so many terrible things finally got what he deserved. One pretty big twist at the end. I sure couldn’t figure out who the killer was.

🌀Synopsis
There is a group of women who meet and the one thing that ties them together is a man. A man who hurt each one of them over time. A man who they’d all love to punish in their own way.
Until, finally, one of them does it. One of them finally gives him what he deserves. Now the question is- who did it.
As we travel back through the past to hear each woman’s story we find motives in all of them. The stories of abuse and even rape lead us to believe any of them could be the culprit. It all comes down to two women though. One who was trying to leave him and one who had already left. The two tales combine to tell us exactly how he certainly deserved what he got.

I love love love books about cults. But this one just didn’t do it for me. It was so slow. It did have a lot of promise, it just didn’t hold up.

DNF. I couldn't get into this one. From the start, it just felt all it was a bit all over the place, but the primary reason I couldn't finish was I did not like the narrator. I will try to read the physical book when it is released because I appreciate the author's intention for writing this book. I very rarely DNF a book I receive an ARC for, but I didn't want my opinion on the narrator to sour the entire book. I would recommend reading a physical or e-copy for readers who are on the fence.

The premise of this book was good, but there was something about it that didn't grab my attention. It started off strong, but when I got a few chapters in, I just didn't care much about the characters and their motives.

🎧⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

7 very angry women at 1 very bad man who is also very, very dead, and one of them killed him. But who did it? That I’m a nutshell is “Speak of the Devil.” It didn’t get stellar reviews so I had some reservations, but I thought the audiobook was nicely done. Thank you netgalley and Macmillan audio for this advanced copy.

Themes: 😡😤🤬👯‍♀️💀🪦🪓

My feelings: 🙂🤓🫡🤔🤫😡🧐🥳

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Thanks to Macmillan Audio and Minotaur for the free book.
What a book! This is a character driven mystery about seven women all linked by one man who's murdered. (Not a spoiler) This book intricately explored these women's lives and all of their possible motives for committing these murders. I was so impressed with how the author was able to create such distinct characters and scenarios. They were all so complex. I had so many feelings about them and what Jamie put them through - I enjoy when I am able to become so emotionally invested into the lives of characters. It's a sign that the book is making me care and think deeply. I had absolutely no problem keeping all of the women straight, and I liked the format of this. I think it helped keep me guessing and surprised by the ending.
The narration by Colleen Prendergast was fabulous. She handled narrating all of these women's stories and I never felt lost. The way she narrated kept me invested in the story and into each character. I applaud her for this performance that is so well done.

I don’t know how I feel about this. I didn’t like the narrator at all and it turned me off completely from a book I was interested in.

I may try the physical copy to see if I like it better.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review

Seven women overlooking a man’s head in a hotel room? I’m intrigued.

I’ve been on such a thriller kick I was excited to jump into this one to see where this ride went. I was extremely intrigued by the synopsis, but only the beginning of the novel packed the same punch. The story was pretty slow and steady with a lot of layers to uncover. While I was okay with how it ended, getting to the end was a bit of a drag.

Had there been less characters, I think it would’ve had a quicker pace. It felt a bit choppy and was difficult to remember how the ladies were connected as they got to know one another. Each woman is given her time to shine giving the readers the opportunity to learn how she knows Jamie (the head in the hotel room), but again, with the amount of back stories readers learn, it was kind of difficult to keep track.

It was dark and sort of repetitive so it’s not on the top of my thriller list of recommendations. If I hadn’t of read so many thrillers before it, I may have felt differently.

Content warnings: rape, murder, gaslighting, suicide, child abuse, death, toxic relationships, stalking

Big thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur books for the ARC.

3.5 stars. Seven women stand in a seedy hotel room, gathered in a circle around the severed head of a man named Jamie. Each of them knew Jamie, and each of them had a reason to kill him. So who did it, and why?

If that isn't a strong hook, I don't know what is, and it drew me in immediately. With a narrative that switches perspectives among the seven women and the police detective investigating the murder, Speak of the Devil has an ambitious structure, and it really worked for me. The mystery plays out slowly, giving Rose Wilding lots of time to develop her characters, making this novel just as much a character study as it is a mystery. The women are diverse and complex, and it didn't take me long to get into the flow of the story and differentiate between them. The narrator of the audio version (Colleen Prendergast) did a fantastic job of giving each of the women a distinct voice.

Wilding delves into a lot of dark, difficult subjects in Speak of the Devil, including infidelity, rape, suicide, homophobia and transphobia, police discrimination, narcissistic manipulation and gaslighting, and physical and emotional abuse. It's heavy, and it's a lot -- but somehow it all works, and adds depth and texture that you don't always find in contemporary mysteries.

I do like my bad guys with some shades of gray, and I found Jamie to be lacking in that department. He's straight-up just an asshole, and I would have liked a bit more nuance to his character to help me understand him more. The ending is also a bit too abrupt, it felt like there was more to be said. Overall, though, this is a solid mystery and a compelling feminist revenge story with more depth to it than I expected. If you like stories about women taking their power back, Speak of the Devil will be right up your alley. Thank you to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance reading opportunity.

DNF. Just a little too bizarre and spooky for my taste. Might be someone else’s cup of tea but I was put off.

Speak of the Devil is a whodunnit murder mystery. Seven women have been impacted by Jamie Spellman and one of them is responsible for his death.

While I enjoyed the story overall, I think it would have been more enjoyable had the cast of characters been reduced by about half. I still don't understand what Maureen, for one, added to the story. Her POV was meant to provide information about Jamie's past but we could've either skipped his childhood entirely or provided more substance to her character. She essentially just really resented him from the second he was born. Maureen wasn't necessary in my opinion and I think two characters could've been merged into one just to help cut down on some of the bulk.

Going back and forth between so many POVs meant that there were strings left dangling. Things were explained in quick one liners. For example, how does Kaysha even find these women to start this group. She just says, she watched him, implying that she stalked him well enough to know about all the women he had hurt throughout the years and then contacted them one by one to invite them into the group, I guess. The conclusion was semi satisfying but could have been wrapped up a bit better.

All in all, this one will be a hit or miss for most readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

You looking for a murder mystery with multiple POVs and will make you mad? You need to read this book. Just please be careful and check for trigger warnings, this book handles some pretty dark topics.

Now when I say make you mad, you will be so angry at how these women were treated in this book. They were ignored, abused, taken advantage of, manipulated, and gaslit so badly that I wanted to smash things. Wilding was not joking when she said she wrote this book out of her fury with the patriarchy.

And I loved that their connection to each other was slowly revealed, even though it was not in the best of circumstances. It was great to see these women take their power back and they had each other for support, because they all truly knew what the others had been through.

In the beginning of this book I was really overwhelmed with how many characters there were. But once you settle into the story, you become familiar with their stories and their voices so it becomes easier to manage.

I really didn’t know who had committed the crime until we got to the end! And even then there wasn’t much to lead you to the murderer. They all had a valid reason for wanting Jamie gone, and you felt absolutely no sympathy for him. He truly deserved what he got.

The narrator for this book was perfect. The accent added to the feel of the story, and made it more entertaining than just reading it from the page. Her intonation was perfect.

3.75 stars

This is a great debut, and readers will come away so glad that this horrible guy is dead that finding out who did it will be just an added bonus!

Jamie Spellman is a monster, and that titular phrase, "speak of the devil," is an absolutely appropriate way to think of any conversation that happens in reference to him. Through seven women who have been connected to him in one way or another at some point, the horrors of Jamie's gross acts and disgusting personal composition come up clearly. Without knowing that this guy had been eliminated from even this fictional world, I'm not sure I could have persisted knowing what he did to some of these folks. By incorporating the women's stories, Wilding effectively draws readers into not only wanting to solve the mystery but especially into wanting each of them to find justice and peace in any way that might be available to them.

There are a lot of characters to manage, and while that's sometimes a deterrent for me when it comes to selecting an audiobook over print, I was surprised to find that because the characters were well drawn (for the genre), it was easy enough to follow along. The narration adds a lot, so I recommend this format when and where accessible.

Readers should be mindful of the fact that this is a gross guy who has wronged many women. Expect all kinds of abuse, assault, rape, victim blaming, gaslighting, and more. If you are sensitive to this content - there's a particular scene after one of these incidents that I won't forget for a long, long time - this is not the summer thriller for you. If you can manage it, jump in with these women and find out who gets them the solution they may not have been searching for but certainly deserve.

I'll be on the lookout for more from this author.

Prepare to be captivated and disturbed by the uncomfortable truths we often shy away from……

Book Information

"Speak of the Devil," a gripping novel by Rose Wilding is slated for release on June 13, 2023. The audio version of the book, skillfully narrated by Colleen Prendergast, spans 10 hours and 15 minutes, while the print version encompasses 304 pages. This remarkable work marks Wilding's debut as a novelist. Thanks to MacMillan Audio for providing me with an advanced reader copy for review.

Summary

Seven women gather in a hotel room to find a man's severed head. Each of them had a reason to want him dead, but they all deny involvement.

The women include an ex with secrets, a seemingly happy wife, a skeptical widow, a trapped teenager, a guilt-ridden mother figure, a conflicted friend, and a journalist who unknowingly connects them. As time passes, their secrets come to light, revealing a shocking killer.

My Thoughts

With its gritty atmosphere and unflinching examination of taboo topics, “Speak of the Devil” pushes boundaries and challenges readers to confront the uncomfortable realities that plague our society. The story revolves around multiple points of view, presenting the perspectives of a detective and seven women who were each terrorized by the same man. While this multitude of perspectives adds complexity, it also poses a challenge in keeping track of the numerous characters.

The book provides glimpses into the lives of each woman, offering insights into their reasons for despising Jamie, the central figure of the story. Throughout the narrative, the reader and the detective embark on a journey to unravel the truth behind Jamie’s death and the events in each woman’s past that may have led to it. Wilding fearlessly confronts a range of intense and somber subjects. The narrative delves into the depths of human experiences, exploring themes of brutal violence (including beheading), sexual assault, discrimination against transgender individuals, domestic violence, psychological manipulation, self-inflicted harm, and infidelity within marriages. At the outset of the book, the author thoughtfully provides a warning regarding the explicit content. This upfront acknowledgment serves as a precautionary note, ensuring that readers are well-informed about the nature of the content they will encounter as they delve into the story.

One drawback of the book is the difficulty in maintaining a clear understanding of all the characters. With so many individuals to keep track of, it can be challenging to distinguish one from another. However, the author and the narrator, Colleen Prendergast, enrich the listening experience by incorporating accents and slang into the characters' conversations, adding depth to their portrayal.

"Speak of the Devil" exudes female pain and anger, exploring the struggles women face in abusive situations, while society often fails to support them. The book's atmosphere is gritty, dark, and at times, challenging to read, yet it remains profoundly compelling and addictive. It is a mystery--but one that simultaneously deals with genuine issues.

In the end, this is a powerful book that deals with uncomfortable but critical topics. “Speak of the Devil” serves as a potent reminder that behind closed doors, women battle unimaginable horrors, and it's high time we listen, learn, and take action.

Recommendation

Overall, "Speak of the Devil" is a thought-provoking and disturbing novel that sheds light on the hardships endured by women. Despite some minor issues with character clarity, the book captivates readers with its raw storytelling and unflinching exploration of dark themes. Recommended.

Rating

4 Dark Stars

Seven women meet in a rundown hotel, gathering around a man’s severed head; a man that each one of them knew quite well. This description immediately had me like, “hello, yes please.” From the onset I assumed the plot would progress as a typical whodunit, it does not.

Following seven characters is very difficult, especially with backstories that need to be told. The author uses third person for each and begins each chapter with a name and a timeline. I found this to be incredibly helpful. The audio narration is well done using different accents, tone, etc. to accompany each woman’s pov.

It is immediately evident that Jamie Spellman is the villain and as such he deserved to die. No one is taking responsibility for the murder, although each woman has potential motive. The biggest issue I have with the plot inception is the loosely defined connections between each of the women. There are also A LOT of relationships to keep straight, not only between the women and Jamie, but amongst themselves.

I appreciate more authors are examining crimes against women and the systemic disregard for these cases by law enforcement. I believe the more we talk or read about these abuses the more opportunity we have to correct them. I wish this novel had progressed more along these lines with a strong sense of resolution or an attempt at one. The ending was quite disheartening; highlighting the lack of mental health support and empathy for victims of abusive relationships.

The premise of Speak of the Devil is quite interesting. One severed head, and seven woman who had a reason to commit murder. The story revolves around how Jamie Spellman, our murder victim, impacted seven different women's lives.. He had treated women poorly his entire life and it was easy to not feel bad about his murder. As the story progresses, we get to know each of the women involved. In addition to how Jamie treated these women, the story explores how women are treated in general. How women who report assault are treated by men as well as other woman. I think the author did a good job of pulling all the threads together. I liked how none of the women know who actually committed the murder. This allowed us to really dig into each of their stories. While I had hoped for a little more for the ending this was a satisfying read.

The audiobook narrator Colleen Pendergast did a incredible job at bringing the characters to life. I did take a few notes at the beginning of the book because of all of the characters. I think it helped me keep everyone straight.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy. This is my honest review.

Thanks to MacMillan Audio & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was a slow starter, with TONS of characters, but once it got going (this took a few chapters) it was pretty good overall.

Jamie Spellman's head is found in a disused hotel room, but only after (unbeknownst to police) it's been clocked by a group of women who have all been abused by Jamie, including his current wife. They've met before - they were brought together by Kaysha, a reporter who was roofied by Jamie in college. an unknown number has summoned them all to their regular meeting spot - aforementioned hotel room - and now here they are. Kaysha goes into damage control mode since they ALL have a reason to want Jamie dead. She draws a cypher on the wall to mimic the one found at some scenes where animals have been sacrificed. Then she conspires to insert herself back into the love life of her ex, a female police officer working that same case where the previous cyphers were found. This bit stretches the bounds of imagination a bit, but whatever.

We go back and forth in time to find out what awful things Jamie has done to these women over the years, even the ones with whom he was once good friends. Jamie is a bad 'un, so be prepared for trauma - although what exactly he did to Maureen is not clear, other than be a burden? It's not evident if Wilding is trying to say that Maureen helped him become the sociopath he is or if his unknown father contributed bad genes; Wilding seems to suggest a little from Column A and a little from Column B.

The ending is abrupt and I had kind of figured it out by then, but the story was still quite listenable and I looked forward to putting it on during my commute.

Colleen Prendergast is a capable narrator but not the best voice actor; there was not much differentiation between voices. Her accent brought to mind the Vera Stanhope audio series, though, so I'll award extra points.

Solid 3 stars.

Once I got into this book, I was enthralled and could not wait to find out who did it. The problem? It took me SO long to get into it. This book has a LOT of characters and in the beginning, it was difficult for me to keep them all straight. Once I learned who they were and was able to connect some dots, I enjoyed this book immensely. It was not anything spectacular, but I did enjoy the journey.

If The No Show by Beth O’Leary was a thriller (and SPOILER for TNS, if Joseph Carter was actually a terrible person).

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

I received an ALC from the published through Netgalley. Thank you!

2.5 stars. Too many characters to keep straight and it's too long. Much of it is back story and how the charcters are linked each other and to the murder victim. And for a 10 hour listen, it ended kind of abruptly. I also had questions that weren't answered (but that gets into spoiler territory).

The narrator is good. She differentiates between the varies characters and accents well (which helped me figure out who was who).

Overall, I liked the idea of this one, but wasn't keen on the execution.

3.7 stars

I'm surprised by the low average/poor ratings this book is getting. I rather enjoyed this book; perhaps the difference is that I listened to the audio. The narrator/different voices were terrific. I also liked how this story was told; it was striking in how different it is compared to most stories in this genre (more below).

SUMMARY: Jamie has been murdered. There are multiple suspects; a number of women that he has harmed over the years. Examples include his coworker whose work he stole, his wife that he's abusive to, the woman he raped in college, the teenager he had an affair with (etc).

The only hard sell to the book is that these women all know each other and have formed a sort of support group. This was totally unnecessary for the book. Nevertheless, the book switches between "now" when Jamie's death is being investigated and the various "Thens", meaning the different times Jamie was involved with one of the suspects and detailing what he did to them.

Admittedly the reveal as to which of the women killed him was a little bit of a putter. It wasn't that I was let down as much as it was just "oh." I appreciated there was no long drawn out confessional. It was a bit anticlimatic if I'm entirely honest but I also can't imagine a different resolution. The ending also felt abrupt, so much that I checked three times I wasn't missing a chapter but the more I sit with it the more I see the book couldn't have continued. It had circled back to the first page, sort of like how these crime TV shows do.

What I liked most is that in each "then" you get the fully backstory of the woman. She is very developed and I liked reading about each of them far more than about Jamie. To that extent this book is an honest portrayal of women and I think that is why I liked it as much as I did.

If you're a fan of who-dun-it, this may be a refreshing selection for you. For those who like psychological thrillers with the wife or girlfriend, I think you would enjoy this.

Thanks netgalley for my ARC/ALC