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on October 6, 2016
"The Devil's Work" by Mark Edwards was a novel in which suspicion, suspense and tension grew with every page.Sophie Greenwood showed up for her first day on her dream job at renown children's book publisher Jackdaw Press.
She had just returned to the job market four years after starting her family. She had no idea she walked into the workplace from Hell.
The person she replaced in the position quit suddenly. There existed some resentment that the slot was not filled by internal promotion, but Sophie was sure she could prove her worth.
Yet things began to happen that made her wonder just how toxic things were.
To say much more would spoil the story. Mr. Edwards' allowed Sophie's unfolding character, past and present , to develop the tension and suspicion that soon involves her family and workmates. We're things the happening directed at Sophie, or because of, Sophie?
Was she allowing a stressful new job and being upset at leaving her four-year old for a demanding job to make every slight seem like a threat, Or was someone trying to destroy her?
You will have to read the book to find out. Just make sure that you have a block of free time available because once started, "The Devil's Work" is hard to set aside.
Trigger warnings: a few, very few, brief sexual references. Some animal gore. And one of those," Do not go in there, you idiot," moment. This is a thriller, remember.
She had just returned to the job market four years after starting her family. She had no idea she walked into the workplace from Hell.
The person she replaced in the position quit suddenly. There existed some resentment that the slot was not filled by internal promotion, but Sophie was sure she could prove her worth.
Yet things began to happen that made her wonder just how toxic things were.
To say much more would spoil the story. Mr. Edwards' allowed Sophie's unfolding character, past and present , to develop the tension and suspicion that soon involves her family and workmates. We're things the happening directed at Sophie, or because of, Sophie?
Was she allowing a stressful new job and being upset at leaving her four-year old for a demanding job to make every slight seem like a threat, Or was someone trying to destroy her?
You will have to read the book to find out. Just make sure that you have a block of free time available because once started, "The Devil's Work" is hard to set aside.
Trigger warnings: a few, very few, brief sexual references. Some animal gore. And one of those," Do not go in there, you idiot," moment. This is a thriller, remember.
on December 10, 2016
I love Mark Edward's work. Read The Magpies a few years ago and, even today, certain images stay with and disturb me - but in a good way. I've since read all of his titles and eagerly anticipate each new release. He's definitely one of my favorite authors.
The Devil's Work didn't disappoint. I expected dark, suspenseful and the expected unexpected. Mark delivered - yet again. On the one hand, his characters add to their own unraveling by inserting their own perception of people, situations and events based on their own baggage BUT, to think there aren't more sinister forces at work is a woeful misjudgment. All characters in Mark's books are flawed but human; motivated by the same things we're all motivated by to some degree or another. Some are just more off balance than others and take things to an extreme level to obtain what they're after or what they think will bring about a sense of resolution to their own hopes, fears and issues.
And, again, the symbolism of birds. :)
Definitely a wonderful, creepy, dark read that I highly recommend. Thank you again, Mr. Edwards!
PS to the author - I read an article somewhere online where you'd listed your favorite books and a few of them I'd not read - so, on your recommendation, I did. I have to say, so far, not a single one of them holds a candle to your own brilliant mind. Not to say I didn't enjoy and appreciate the work from the authors you'd suggested... I did. But I like yours better. Please - more!!!
The Devil's Work didn't disappoint. I expected dark, suspenseful and the expected unexpected. Mark delivered - yet again. On the one hand, his characters add to their own unraveling by inserting their own perception of people, situations and events based on their own baggage BUT, to think there aren't more sinister forces at work is a woeful misjudgment. All characters in Mark's books are flawed but human; motivated by the same things we're all motivated by to some degree or another. Some are just more off balance than others and take things to an extreme level to obtain what they're after or what they think will bring about a sense of resolution to their own hopes, fears and issues.
And, again, the symbolism of birds. :)
Definitely a wonderful, creepy, dark read that I highly recommend. Thank you again, Mr. Edwards!
PS to the author - I read an article somewhere online where you'd listed your favorite books and a few of them I'd not read - so, on your recommendation, I did. I have to say, so far, not a single one of them holds a candle to your own brilliant mind. Not to say I didn't enjoy and appreciate the work from the authors you'd suggested... I did. But I like yours better. Please - more!!!
on January 3, 2017
There are definitely enough creeped-me-out moments in this book to make it a poor choice for bedtime reading. The story is about Sophie, a married mother of a four-year-old daughter returning to work at a new job at a publishing house after taking time out of the workforce to raise her daughter. Jackdaw publishing is her dream job, she just hopes no one will know her connection to the granddaughter of the publisher. The reader knows something bad happened between Sophie and Jasmine when they went to the university together, but it takes a while until we find out what that is.
Meanwhile, Sophie’s dream job quickly becomes a thing of nightmares. First, there is the mysterious disappearance of the woman Sophie is replacing. At home, her husband says his Twitter account was hacked and he never sent a tweet that seems to support an abusive husband. Whether he’s telling the truth or not, his career as a freelance writer is currently shuddered, so Sophie needs her job more than ever.
Other mysterious emails are sent. One employee is fired and another is beaten up. All of this can be explained away, but Sophie thinks the series of scary events are to blame on one woman. For a while, you’re with Sophie, then you think, as the cops do, that she’s a little crazy.
This is a fun enough read, but I didn’t love it.
Meanwhile, Sophie’s dream job quickly becomes a thing of nightmares. First, there is the mysterious disappearance of the woman Sophie is replacing. At home, her husband says his Twitter account was hacked and he never sent a tweet that seems to support an abusive husband. Whether he’s telling the truth or not, his career as a freelance writer is currently shuddered, so Sophie needs her job more than ever.
Other mysterious emails are sent. One employee is fired and another is beaten up. All of this can be explained away, but Sophie thinks the series of scary events are to blame on one woman. For a while, you’re with Sophie, then you think, as the cops do, that she’s a little crazy.
This is a fun enough read, but I didn’t love it.
on September 30, 2016
Mark Edwards is one of my favorite authors. "The Devil's Work" is full of many unforeseen twists and turns,. I highly recommend this book. It is difficult to put down.
on March 17, 2017
I enjoyed this book even though most of it read much like many other books I've read. College kids rebelling which later turns into a "who dunnit".
You can easily figure out where this book is going and there are no startling twists. Dull, unpopular girl meets dark and daring girl...they both get involved with broody boy and trouble starts all around them. Later in life, when dull girl is married and a mother, dark secrets (but not really) raise their ugly head as murder and mystery unravel pieces of her college days that she had buried deep within.
Even the ending is quite easy to figure out but I did enjoy the book never-the-less.
You can easily figure out where this book is going and there are no startling twists. Dull, unpopular girl meets dark and daring girl...they both get involved with broody boy and trouble starts all around them. Later in life, when dull girl is married and a mother, dark secrets (but not really) raise their ugly head as murder and mystery unravel pieces of her college days that she had buried deep within.
Even the ending is quite easy to figure out but I did enjoy the book never-the-less.
on November 2, 2016
Personally, I've only read 3 books from Mark Edwards. This one was my least favorite. I felt that the main character, Sophie, was a bit too naive so I skipped a few pages because she wasn't believable.
In any case, I thought the book was OK. The twist at the end was definitely a surprise. Unlike other readers, I did not read this book in one night. It took me like 3 days or even longer.
In any case, I thought the book was OK. The twist at the end was definitely a surprise. Unlike other readers, I did not read this book in one night. It took me like 3 days or even longer.
on April 28, 2017
I like Mark Edward's work. He tells a good story. This book was no exception, but the ending did not work for me. Just way too improbable. I have got to feel that the story, in whatever world environment it is set, could have happened. Too much was going on here, to many things had to fall into place, too many red herrings. I could have related better to a pared down story. Mark Edwards writes really well. I finished the book in three sittings though I admit I sped read about the last 50 pages.
on October 31, 2016
Sophie and Guy are married and have a young daughter, Daisy. Sophie is returning to work in a dream job, albeit with maternal pangs about leaving her daughter. Her husband is supportive and she starts her new position in publishing at Jackadaw Childrens Books. The owner/publisher is Franklin Bird and Sophie realizes that he is the grandfather of her closest college friend, Jasmine. The book shifts back and forth between present and past, so it takes a while before Sophie's college years and life are described, but the reader learns early in the book that there was some sort of unpleasant event involving Jasmine. Sophie is reluctant to discuss her friendship with Jasmine with Franklin, assuming he's unaware of it. Strange things begin to happen and soon Sophie is beginning to think she made a mistake in accepting her position with Jackadaw but Guy suddenly receives a very public 'black eye' in the press with damaging accusations. He is a free-lance writer, making it impossible for him to find work until the accusations are resolved. His job loss means that Sophie is now the sole bread-winner and must therefore stay in her job. Sophie begins to suspect several of her co-workers and is ultimately forced to confront the past and present.
on September 18, 2016
A page turner from the start. We always start a new job with so much hope and high expectations. The Devil's Work takes those dreams and spirals the reader into madness and revenge. Maybe I will call off from work tomorrow or at the very least keep a closer eyes on my co-workers. You will read this book in one sitting _ if you dare! Mark Edwards is the king of psychological terror. Behave at work _ I will be watching you!
