1/3/24
It’s dreadful weather and Isaac McFadden is driving on the A1 in the North East listening to The Big O when he sees blue lights flashing behind him. Has he been speeding? Will he be over the limit? A fraught conversation ensues resulting in the officer realising Isaac does not want him to see what’s in his boot and Isaac appreciating that he shouldn’t have gone out tonight. The game is up.

14/12/24
At his trial, Isaac is inevitably found guilty. Has a serial killer in the making been foiled? Discoveries made by his daughter Eleanor suggests otherwise and she calls DI Linus Sutton who enlists forensic psychologist Dr Olivia Winter to interpret what has been unearthed. Olivia is a survivor, can her ‘luck’ hold? She’s looked evil in the eye and lived.

If you’ve read Michael Wood before, you’ll fully appreciate the anticipation of starting a new novel. I didn’t think he could better the Matilda Darke series which I love but I think he might have hit the jackpot again with this one. It grabs me right from the start, keeps my attention fully engaged and takes me on a dark, fast paced rollercoaster ride of twists, turns and shocks in another brilliant chiller of a thriller. There are so many layers to it as well as the obvious investigation pursued by DI Sutton, Olivia and very able assisted by DC Ryan Sweetland who I hope we meet again. There is a clever, devious, horrifying puzzle to crack that requires them to be at the top of their game and places them in great danger.

It’s very much character driven, obviously central is Olivia and I find her increasingly fascinating as the past very much impacts on her, she carries a great deal of pain and is permanently on her guard. Perhaps the only person she can fully relax with is her partner Sebastian Lister at the Behavioural Science Administration and I really like their relationship and the trust that lies between them. Stanley the dachshund is also very important in her life.

Another interesting layer is the impact and fallout of Isaac‘s crimes on his daughter Eleanor and how she handles this burden. Nobody knows how they would cope when placed in a terrible situation such as Eleanor finds herself in and she’s very conflicted.

I like the ‘true crime’ angle too which gives much food for thought and as this type of drama is becoming increasingly common on tv, the storyline here makes you think of its ramifications.

Overall, Michael Wood has knocked it out of St James Park and nicely set us up for Number 3. If you are a fan of mystery thrillers and haven’t read this author before, what are you waiting for?!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, One More Chapter for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Dr Olivia Winter is a fascinating and complex character having survived the brutal murder of her mother and sister as a child, with the added twist the killer was her father. Her choice of career is understandable as she struggles to put the past behind her and move on in her own life. When Isaac McFadden is stopped and a dismembered body found in his carboot, she gets drawn in to assist the investigation.

As always with this author it’s beautifully written, very dark, taking you to places in your mind that you really don’t want to go but get drawn into regardless. To get into the mind of a serial must be intense and distressing but Michael Wood has done it so well, it’s a book that you don’t want to read late into the night but you find yourself pulled in nonetheless. Excellent read, very dark with surprising twists - can’t wait for,the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I’m a huge fan of Michael wood’s books. They veer towards the darker side of crime, but my god the author sure knows how’s capturing the readers’ attention from the off. You can read The Devil’s Code the second book in the series, as a standalone. But I would recommend you read both. The Devil’s Work is a dark, often brutal, gripping and unsettling psychological thriller that is nigh on impossible to put down.

The book follows forensic psychologist Dr. Olivia Winter as she faces her toughest challenge yet: deciphering a coded notebook linked to suspected serial killer Isaac McFadden, found with a body in his car. McFadden’s case grows increasingly complex as the notebooks suggest more victims.

Olivia, still haunted by Survivor guilt, faces her own vulnerabilities as she delves into the mind of the suspect. Her character brings emotional depth and resilience to the narrative, which is complimented by Michael Woods’ hallmark suspense. The coded notebook at the heart of the narrative adds a layer of mystery which I appreciated keeping the stake high and the tension palatable. It also gives the reader the opportunity to play an ‘arm chair’ sleuth and decipher the codes alongside Olivia.

Michael Wood cements his reputation as a master of crime fiction writing. He balances a gripping police procedure with the psychological exploration of a flawed and dangerous, manipulative serial killer’s mind. McFadden’s character actually gave me a couple of nightmares!!! And I call myself a hardened crime thriller reader. The pace is relentless, fuelled by unexpected twists and dark revelations. I absolutely loved The Devil’s Code, and this is a must read for fans who enjoy a dark crime thriller.

Boy this is dark! I have long maintained that Michael Wood is one of our finest crime writers and this just confirms it. His Matilda Darke series is stunning and this new strand promises much. Here we meet forensic psychologist Olivia Winter for the second time and this daughter of a serial killer has much to cope with in her private life while simultaneously helping the police in Newcastle. Absolutely enthralling!

Wow wow wow actually have chills !!
This was fantastic!!
Literally on the edge of my seat while reading this
I love Dr Olivia Winters and love how she works with different teams so we get to see more characters.
The case was truly shocking and gruesome
Michael wood’s just keeps writing better and better