Tautly Plotted Mystery Reflects Legacy of South
Devil Sent the Rain
By Lisa Turner
William Morrow
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date: 27 September 2016
Review
Initially I expected Devil Sent the Rain to be a classic Southern gothic. Instead, it is a realistic police procedural set in a Deep South strongly affected by tradition. Like a building left uncared for, corruption runs throughout, despite the pleasant facade.
When Caroline, the daughter and heir apparent of the Lee family is murdered, it is Detective Billy Able and his partner who seek justice. Caroline's family is more interested in appearances and what Caroline's murder will cost them socially and business wise. The esteemed status of the Lee family hampers the investigation.
Lisa Turner understands the South in a way that most prefer not to vocalize. Although class plays more of a role than race, her explanations are poignant, particularly when the depth of the Lee family's corruption is revealed. Lisa Turner makes judicious use of irony, but does not rub the reader's nose in it. The comparisons are left to the reader. The author's perception elevates the novel from good to great.
Unlike British police procedurals, Lisa Turner's lead detective picks potential culprits and then looks for evidence of guilt, rather than looking first at evidence. This may not sit well with fans of British police procedurals. On the other hand, if you are a mystery reader who enjoys more of an American style investigation Devil Sent the Rain is a fantastic choice.
5/5
I received a copy of Devil Sent the Rain from William Morrow in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Description
Edgar-nominated and bestselling author Lisa Turner’s hard-boiled Detective Billy Able returns in this dark Southern mystery about the murder of a dazzling Memphis socialite—and the scandals revealed in the wake of her death.
The heart can be an assassin. Detective Billy Able knows that from experience.
Fresh from solving Memphis’ most sensational murder case, Homicide Detective Billy Able and his ambitious new partner Frankie Malone are called to a bizarre crime scene on the outskirts of town. A high society attorney has been murdered while dressed in a wedding gown. Billy is shocked to discover he has a very personal connection to the victim. When the attorney’s death exposes illegal practices at her family’s prestigious law firm, the scandal is enough to rock the southern city’s social world.
In a tale of the remnants of Old South aristocracy and entitlement, twisted by greed and vengeance, Billy must confront the secrets of his own past to have any chance at solving the murder of the girl he once knew. But as he seeks the truth, he’s drawn closer to an embittered killer bent on revenge—and eliminating the threat Billy poses.
