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Devil Within: A Detective Nathan Parker Novel
The border is a hostile place with searing heat and venomous serpents. Yet the deadliest predator targets the innocent.
A sniper strikes in the Valley of the Sun and Detective Nathan Parker soon finds a connection between the victims—each of them had a role in an organization founded to help undocumented migrants make the dangerous crossing. Parker discovers no one is exactly who they seem.
There’s the devil you know and then there’s the devil within—when the two collide, no one is safe.
A sniper strikes in the Valley of the Sun and Detective Nathan Parker soon finds a connection between the victims—each of them had a role in an organization founded to help undocumented migrants make the dangerous crossing. Parker discovers no one is exactly who they seem.
There’s the devil you know and then there’s the devil within—when the two collide, no one is safe.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2023
About the author
James L'Etoile
13 books254 followersJames L’Etoile uses his twenty-nine years behind bars as an influence in his novels, short stories, and screenplays. He is a former associate warden in a maximum-security prison, a hostage negotiator, facility captain, and director of California’s state parole system. He is a nationally recognized expert witness on prison and jail operations. He is a two-time Silver Falchion Award nominee and shortlisted for the Bill Crider Award for short fiction. His published novels include: Dead Drop( Lefty Award nominee), Black Label (Silver Falchion winner), At What Cost, Bury the Past, and Little River -The Other Side of Paradise. You can find out more at www.jamesletoile.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 10, 2023
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
DEVIL WITHIN: A Nathan Parker Detective Novel by James L’Etoile is an adrenaline rush of a thriller/ police procedural that is impossible to put down. I loved the first book, Dead Drop, in this series and this follow-up second book is just as gripping from start to finish. I feel that for the reader to really enjoy this book, they should read book one first because all the characters are carried over with continuing storylines.
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Detective Nathan Parker is assigned to investigate a series of shootings that are being labeled the Sun Valley Sniper murders. At first, the victims all seem random, but as he digs deeper, he discovers a disturbing connection between the Immigrant Coalition an organization that aides undocumented migrants, a Mexican gang, and the Aryan Nation. Nathan also must deal with the revelation that Estaban Castaneda, the gang leader who killed his partner is back on American soil and has kidnapped his foster son, Miguel.
This is another fantastic thriller/police procedural that kept me on the edge of my seat. All the characters we met in book one are back and just as dynamic and believably crafted. The mysterious Billie is once again integral to Nathan’s investigation and his education on immigrant problems. This multi-layered plot is intricately woven with varying hate groups, Mexican gangs, law enforcement, corrupt politicians, legal and illegal immigrants, human trafficking, and those fighting to aide the immigrants. I was completely surprised by the reveal of the sniper.
I highly recommend this thriller/police procedural and I am looking forward to many more in this series!
DEVIL WITHIN: A Nathan Parker Detective Novel by James L’Etoile is an adrenaline rush of a thriller/ police procedural that is impossible to put down. I loved the first book, Dead Drop, in this series and this follow-up second book is just as gripping from start to finish. I feel that for the reader to really enjoy this book, they should read book one first because all the characters are carried over with continuing storylines.
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Detective Nathan Parker is assigned to investigate a series of shootings that are being labeled the Sun Valley Sniper murders. At first, the victims all seem random, but as he digs deeper, he discovers a disturbing connection between the Immigrant Coalition an organization that aides undocumented migrants, a Mexican gang, and the Aryan Nation. Nathan also must deal with the revelation that Estaban Castaneda, the gang leader who killed his partner is back on American soil and has kidnapped his foster son, Miguel.
This is another fantastic thriller/police procedural that kept me on the edge of my seat. All the characters we met in book one are back and just as dynamic and believably crafted. The mysterious Billie is once again integral to Nathan’s investigation and his education on immigrant problems. This multi-layered plot is intricately woven with varying hate groups, Mexican gangs, law enforcement, corrupt politicians, legal and illegal immigrants, human trafficking, and those fighting to aide the immigrants. I was completely surprised by the reveal of the sniper.
I highly recommend this thriller/police procedural and I am looking forward to many more in this series!
July 31, 2023
In Dead Drop, author James L’Etoile introduced readers to Nathan Parker, a detective with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona. He and his partner, Josh McMillan, were assigned to patrol a road near the United States-Mexico border to interrupt the flow of undocumented immigrants accessing it to bypass Immigration and Customs Enforcement checkpoints. McMillan was brutally murdered by Esteban Castaneda, a vicious leader in the Los Muertos gang, and Nathan blames himself, convinced that had he responded faster to McMillan’s radio call, he might have saved his partner. And apprehended Castaneda who, five years later, remains at large.
Following the harrowing events described in Dead Drop, Nathan officially became Miguel’s foster father. Now approaching his eighteenth birthday and planning his future, Miguel was journeying across the border from San Salvador all by himself when Nathan encountered him while on a dangerous undercover mission. Miguel’s older brother was killed by a gang and Miguel fled because he knew he would also be killed for his refusal to join. Miguel’s parents were also deceased, and no one was waiting for him in America. He had no particular destination in mind, intent only on escaping the unrelenting dangers in his homeland and going to school. After Nathan and Miguel survived their ordeal together, Nathan was moved to give Miguel a stable home, unconditional support, and a bright future. As Devil Within opens, Miguel and Nathan have settled into a father-son relationship, and Miguel has graduated from high school and commenced classes at the community college, proving himself to be an excellent student with myriad opportunities awaiting him after he completes his education. Nathan is still single, focused only on his career and caring for Miguel.
L’Etoile pulls readers into the fast-paced thriller from the very first sentence: “Nia Saldana didn’t think today would be the day she died.” But unfortunately, she is involved in a fatal, high-speed accident on the freeway as she is traveling home from her job as a housekeeper. Her employer, Roger Jessup, a prominent and wealthy local attorney, appeared to have been in his own vehicle and chasing Nia’s car when he was killed in the same collision. But why was he in pursuit of Nia? It is quickly determined that the crash was no accident. Rather, it was again the work of the Sun Valley Sniper, who has been claiming victims at a frightening rate.
Nathan is assigned to head up the investigation and immediately begins the search for a connection between the victims. It appears that the crimes are motivated by hate and the sniper is a dishonorably discharged veteran and registered sex offender with a criminal record in which he is identified as a White Pride sympathizer (a small extremist offshoot of the Aryan Nation). When the suspect is apprehended, the Sheriff is politically motivated to announce that the case has been wrapped up and assure the public they are again safe from the sniper’s unpredictable attacks. Parker is not convinced.
Nathan is alarmed and appalled when he is notified by Deputy Linda Marsh that Miguel has been detained after participating in a protest against the current administration’s immigration policies sponsored by the Immigrant Coalition. The demonstration got out of hand when some of the protestors blocked an onramp to Interstate 10. Marsh has convinced the arresting deputy to release Miguel with only a warning, but Nathan cannot hide his shock when he learns that Miguel has been affiliated with the organization without his knowledge. Given his own experiences, Miguel is fiercely dedicated to the group’s cause. “People need to know what’s happening. The families, the conditions, and this government are forcing innocent people into the hands of the cartels. You’re the one who told me there are over two thousand people who died making the crossing, and they never identify most of them,” he tells Nathan.
Not surprisingly, Billie Carson is also a member of the group. Billie lives in a dilapidated travel trailer, surviving by scouring the desert for lost and abandoned items she sells to recycling yards. She and Nathan met several years ago when she was facing a trespassing charge and began regularly reporting minor disturbances in the desert to him. She became embroiled in an investigation when she happened upon four fifty-gallon drums, pried the lid off one of the barrels, and discovered the decomposing body of a man inside. It was the beginning of the unforgettable journey depicted in Dead Drop that forever changed both Nathan and Billie, and brought Miguel into their lives. A former coyote, Billie was familiar with the routes across the border that kept Miguel alive, and they formed an extremely close bond.
No sooner does Nathan get Miguel safely home, but Billie arrives at their home. She is as nervous as the day she discovered those drums in the desert and afraid she might be followed. With good reason. Nathan’s blood runs cold when Billie declares, “He’s back. Esteban Castaneda. He’s back, and I saw him.” Nathan has wanted to bring Castaneda to justice since the day McMillan died and is determined not to let him slip away again.
The story’s pace never slows as Nathan continues the investigation into the sniper killings and soon finds that all of the victims were associated with the Immigrant Coalition in various capacities. In fact, an attempt is made on the life of Tim Brunell, the Coalition’s Vice Chair, who is launching his campaign for the state Senate. Nia Saldana’s sister turns a thumb drive over to Nathan. That Nia was in possession of it struck her sister as highly unusual, given that Nia did not own or use a computer. Did she steal it from Jessup? If so, why? Nathan is unable to decipher the spreadsheets he finds on the drum, and enlists assistance from forensics specialists while he attempts to unravel the workings of the Coalition and its leaders, extracting some helpful information from the organization’s legal counsel, Isa Sanchez. She reveals the extent of the threats regularly made against the Coalition and its members by various anti-immigrant factions. When two young men with leadership roles within the Coalition — Miguel’s friends and associates — are abducted, it becomes clear that Miguel is also in danger and Nathan must protect him. Is Castaneda the source of the threat to Miguel? Are his interests somehow entangled with those of the Coalition and its leaders?
As with Dead Drop, L’Etoile has crafted an intricately woven tale featuring many familiar faces, including Nathan’s colleagues and former love intrest, FBI Agent Lynnette Finch. They did not part on good terms, but she is willing to help. L’Etoile introduces numerous intriguing new characters, some of whom have nefarious intentions and scandalous backgrounds. At least one has gone to great lengths to prevent their true identity from being revealed in order to evade detection and execute a plan to become both powerful and wealthy. At whose expense and by what means? Surprising alliances, interconnected pasts, and hidden motives come to light as Nathan’s investigation proceeds, often resulting in more questions than pat answers. Other characters, particularly those who are vulnerable, marginalized, and subject to abuse and manipulation, are quite sympathetic and heartbreaking, their experiences a mirror reflection of the real-life struggles related by too many of America’s undocumented population.
The crisp dialogue and procedural aspects of the story are credible and believable, and L’Etoile deftly unveils clues at well-timed junctures. Readers are kept guessing as L’Etoile proves numerous theories wrong with additional revelations. He expertly ramps up the dramatic tension as the tale proceeds, and Nathan, aided by Billie, risks his own well-being in order to save the precious boy he loves unconditionally and considers his son. But the body count grows and time is running out. For Miguel, along with many others.
Devil Within is highly entertaining, but also richly moving and deeply thought-provoking. Nathan and Miguel have become a family, and Nathan shoulders his responsibility to protect Miguel at all costs. He carries the guilt he feels about not being able to save his partner and knows that letting Miguel down will finally and irrevocably break him. Eccentric, quirky, but endearing Billie, who has a mysterious past, is also a beloved member of their little family, a trusted and loyal confidante who blames herself for the predicament in which they find themselves. Once again, she and Nathan make a formidable team who refuse to be deterred from achieving their goal, no matter what personal sacrifices they might have to make.
Once again, L’Etoile uses his story to pose timely questions about the humanitarian considerations at the heart of the ongoing debate about events unfolding daily that are the topic of many news reports. Would-be immigrants flock to the border seeking refuge and opportunities. What immigration policies should be enacted and enforced, considering the dangers those individuals journeying north confront both along the way and when they finally reach the border? How can they be protected from further victimization once they arrive on American soil? Who profits from maintaining the status quo and what will it take to enact real reforms? L’Etoile does not provide ready or preachy answers. Rather, through his characters he invites readers to consider those difficult questions and formulate their own opinions, invoking a deep emotional response to his characters’ experiences in the process. And leaving significant plot points unresolved and ripe for exploration in the third installment in the series.
Thanks to the author for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book via Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.
Following the harrowing events described in Dead Drop, Nathan officially became Miguel’s foster father. Now approaching his eighteenth birthday and planning his future, Miguel was journeying across the border from San Salvador all by himself when Nathan encountered him while on a dangerous undercover mission. Miguel’s older brother was killed by a gang and Miguel fled because he knew he would also be killed for his refusal to join. Miguel’s parents were also deceased, and no one was waiting for him in America. He had no particular destination in mind, intent only on escaping the unrelenting dangers in his homeland and going to school. After Nathan and Miguel survived their ordeal together, Nathan was moved to give Miguel a stable home, unconditional support, and a bright future. As Devil Within opens, Miguel and Nathan have settled into a father-son relationship, and Miguel has graduated from high school and commenced classes at the community college, proving himself to be an excellent student with myriad opportunities awaiting him after he completes his education. Nathan is still single, focused only on his career and caring for Miguel.
L’Etoile pulls readers into the fast-paced thriller from the very first sentence: “Nia Saldana didn’t think today would be the day she died.” But unfortunately, she is involved in a fatal, high-speed accident on the freeway as she is traveling home from her job as a housekeeper. Her employer, Roger Jessup, a prominent and wealthy local attorney, appeared to have been in his own vehicle and chasing Nia’s car when he was killed in the same collision. But why was he in pursuit of Nia? It is quickly determined that the crash was no accident. Rather, it was again the work of the Sun Valley Sniper, who has been claiming victims at a frightening rate.
Nathan is assigned to head up the investigation and immediately begins the search for a connection between the victims. It appears that the crimes are motivated by hate and the sniper is a dishonorably discharged veteran and registered sex offender with a criminal record in which he is identified as a White Pride sympathizer (a small extremist offshoot of the Aryan Nation). When the suspect is apprehended, the Sheriff is politically motivated to announce that the case has been wrapped up and assure the public they are again safe from the sniper’s unpredictable attacks. Parker is not convinced.
Nathan is alarmed and appalled when he is notified by Deputy Linda Marsh that Miguel has been detained after participating in a protest against the current administration’s immigration policies sponsored by the Immigrant Coalition. The demonstration got out of hand when some of the protestors blocked an onramp to Interstate 10. Marsh has convinced the arresting deputy to release Miguel with only a warning, but Nathan cannot hide his shock when he learns that Miguel has been affiliated with the organization without his knowledge. Given his own experiences, Miguel is fiercely dedicated to the group’s cause. “People need to know what’s happening. The families, the conditions, and this government are forcing innocent people into the hands of the cartels. You’re the one who told me there are over two thousand people who died making the crossing, and they never identify most of them,” he tells Nathan.
Not surprisingly, Billie Carson is also a member of the group. Billie lives in a dilapidated travel trailer, surviving by scouring the desert for lost and abandoned items she sells to recycling yards. She and Nathan met several years ago when she was facing a trespassing charge and began regularly reporting minor disturbances in the desert to him. She became embroiled in an investigation when she happened upon four fifty-gallon drums, pried the lid off one of the barrels, and discovered the decomposing body of a man inside. It was the beginning of the unforgettable journey depicted in Dead Drop that forever changed both Nathan and Billie, and brought Miguel into their lives. A former coyote, Billie was familiar with the routes across the border that kept Miguel alive, and they formed an extremely close bond.
No sooner does Nathan get Miguel safely home, but Billie arrives at their home. She is as nervous as the day she discovered those drums in the desert and afraid she might be followed. With good reason. Nathan’s blood runs cold when Billie declares, “He’s back. Esteban Castaneda. He’s back, and I saw him.” Nathan has wanted to bring Castaneda to justice since the day McMillan died and is determined not to let him slip away again.
The story’s pace never slows as Nathan continues the investigation into the sniper killings and soon finds that all of the victims were associated with the Immigrant Coalition in various capacities. In fact, an attempt is made on the life of Tim Brunell, the Coalition’s Vice Chair, who is launching his campaign for the state Senate. Nia Saldana’s sister turns a thumb drive over to Nathan. That Nia was in possession of it struck her sister as highly unusual, given that Nia did not own or use a computer. Did she steal it from Jessup? If so, why? Nathan is unable to decipher the spreadsheets he finds on the drum, and enlists assistance from forensics specialists while he attempts to unravel the workings of the Coalition and its leaders, extracting some helpful information from the organization’s legal counsel, Isa Sanchez. She reveals the extent of the threats regularly made against the Coalition and its members by various anti-immigrant factions. When two young men with leadership roles within the Coalition — Miguel’s friends and associates — are abducted, it becomes clear that Miguel is also in danger and Nathan must protect him. Is Castaneda the source of the threat to Miguel? Are his interests somehow entangled with those of the Coalition and its leaders?
As with Dead Drop, L’Etoile has crafted an intricately woven tale featuring many familiar faces, including Nathan’s colleagues and former love intrest, FBI Agent Lynnette Finch. They did not part on good terms, but she is willing to help. L’Etoile introduces numerous intriguing new characters, some of whom have nefarious intentions and scandalous backgrounds. At least one has gone to great lengths to prevent their true identity from being revealed in order to evade detection and execute a plan to become both powerful and wealthy. At whose expense and by what means? Surprising alliances, interconnected pasts, and hidden motives come to light as Nathan’s investigation proceeds, often resulting in more questions than pat answers. Other characters, particularly those who are vulnerable, marginalized, and subject to abuse and manipulation, are quite sympathetic and heartbreaking, their experiences a mirror reflection of the real-life struggles related by too many of America’s undocumented population.
The crisp dialogue and procedural aspects of the story are credible and believable, and L’Etoile deftly unveils clues at well-timed junctures. Readers are kept guessing as L’Etoile proves numerous theories wrong with additional revelations. He expertly ramps up the dramatic tension as the tale proceeds, and Nathan, aided by Billie, risks his own well-being in order to save the precious boy he loves unconditionally and considers his son. But the body count grows and time is running out. For Miguel, along with many others.
Devil Within is highly entertaining, but also richly moving and deeply thought-provoking. Nathan and Miguel have become a family, and Nathan shoulders his responsibility to protect Miguel at all costs. He carries the guilt he feels about not being able to save his partner and knows that letting Miguel down will finally and irrevocably break him. Eccentric, quirky, but endearing Billie, who has a mysterious past, is also a beloved member of their little family, a trusted and loyal confidante who blames herself for the predicament in which they find themselves. Once again, she and Nathan make a formidable team who refuse to be deterred from achieving their goal, no matter what personal sacrifices they might have to make.
Once again, L’Etoile uses his story to pose timely questions about the humanitarian considerations at the heart of the ongoing debate about events unfolding daily that are the topic of many news reports. Would-be immigrants flock to the border seeking refuge and opportunities. What immigration policies should be enacted and enforced, considering the dangers those individuals journeying north confront both along the way and when they finally reach the border? How can they be protected from further victimization once they arrive on American soil? Who profits from maintaining the status quo and what will it take to enact real reforms? L’Etoile does not provide ready or preachy answers. Rather, through his characters he invites readers to consider those difficult questions and formulate their own opinions, invoking a deep emotional response to his characters’ experiences in the process. And leaving significant plot points unresolved and ripe for exploration in the third installment in the series.
Thanks to the author for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book via Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.
August 6, 2023
Devil Within is my first experience reading a book by James L’Etoile, and I was drawn to it from the first line – “Nia Saldana didn’t think today would be the day she died.” – and captivated by the end of the first chapter. An undocumented young mother driving home after a long day at work cleaning upscale houses, anxious about having snooped in her employer’s office. A black SUV cuts her off in traffic, and two pops later the SUV careens into the guardrail, the driver slumped over, while Nina’s sedan is shoved into incoming traffic and a desperately-trying-to-stop semi. Whew. Caught your breath yet? That’s how I felt reading the first few paragraphs of this story, and I knew I needed to see where it all led.
Devil Within is part police procedural and part suspense novel, as readers follow Detective Nathan Parker and his team (and their connections) in a race against time where the stakes become more personal by the minute. It seems like every lead they chase down results in more questions raised than there were dots connected, and Parker’s frustration and urgency is tangible as the story progresses. He is a likable protagonist (though Billie was my fave character, hands down) with an even-keel personality, despite the frustration and urgency I just mentioned. The author’s ability to weave several random threads together into a cohesive and riveting plot is definitely to be commended, and my brain whirred with possibilities from beginning to end. I tried to stay ahead of the investigation, and sometimes I was (and hollering at the book for Parker not to forget xyz), but other times I didn’t see the next revelation coming. This always makes for an enjoyable suspense read for me, and it kept me on my toes for sure.
Bottom Line: Devil Within by James L’Etoile is an engaging suspense novel with intricate layers and plenty of twists and turns to leave readers engrossed. It also raises awareness of important immigration and human trafficking issues that we need to be talking about more, whether we live in a border town or not. I thought the story perhaps could have been wrapped up sooner as there were several times the energy seemed to be ramping up to a big resolution only for me to realize there was still over an hour (or more) left in the book. But overall I was invested in the outcome and felt satisfied in how everything played out in the end. It would read well as a standalone, but I also got the sense that some things could maybe come back into play in future books. I don’t know that I will keep following the series (since I prefer books without moderate cursing) but I’m also intrigued and could very well be persuaded to read more.
Reviewer’s Note: Because I typically only review reads that include little to no cursing, followers of my reviews may want to be aware that there are several ‘stronger’ curse words and a couple of profanities used in this book. BUT I will also add that there are large stretches of text without any strong language, so while I would call the cursing level and extent ‘moderate’, I wouldn’t say it was completely saturated.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Devil Within is part police procedural and part suspense novel, as readers follow Detective Nathan Parker and his team (and their connections) in a race against time where the stakes become more personal by the minute. It seems like every lead they chase down results in more questions raised than there were dots connected, and Parker’s frustration and urgency is tangible as the story progresses. He is a likable protagonist (though Billie was my fave character, hands down) with an even-keel personality, despite the frustration and urgency I just mentioned. The author’s ability to weave several random threads together into a cohesive and riveting plot is definitely to be commended, and my brain whirred with possibilities from beginning to end. I tried to stay ahead of the investigation, and sometimes I was (and hollering at the book for Parker not to forget xyz), but other times I didn’t see the next revelation coming. This always makes for an enjoyable suspense read for me, and it kept me on my toes for sure.
Bottom Line: Devil Within by James L’Etoile is an engaging suspense novel with intricate layers and plenty of twists and turns to leave readers engrossed. It also raises awareness of important immigration and human trafficking issues that we need to be talking about more, whether we live in a border town or not. I thought the story perhaps could have been wrapped up sooner as there were several times the energy seemed to be ramping up to a big resolution only for me to realize there was still over an hour (or more) left in the book. But overall I was invested in the outcome and felt satisfied in how everything played out in the end. It would read well as a standalone, but I also got the sense that some things could maybe come back into play in future books. I don’t know that I will keep following the series (since I prefer books without moderate cursing) but I’m also intrigued and could very well be persuaded to read more.
Reviewer’s Note: Because I typically only review reads that include little to no cursing, followers of my reviews may want to be aware that there are several ‘stronger’ curse words and a couple of profanities used in this book. BUT I will also add that there are large stretches of text without any strong language, so while I would call the cursing level and extent ‘moderate’, I wouldn’t say it was completely saturated.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
August 10, 2023
This is my third book by this author, and never disappointed. This book was not only very good, it was very interesting and also very eye-opening. Living up here in central PA and only seeing things in the skewed news... my mind can only imagine all the horrors that happen at and around the boarder. Even though this is a fiction story, Jim brings it to life. It all seems very real, sadly so.
Expertly written, this book was more and more shocking as time went on. The more pages I read, the more invested I became. Even though I never really felt connected to Parker (main character) as a person, but I did like him and I loved following the trail of clues and discovering bits and pieces right along with him. Or it felt like I was with him anyway! And of course I loved the return of Billie (my fave).
A twisty, spider webby, edge-of-your-seat, good solid crime thriller you won't regret reading. I did read book 1 (Dead Drop), but while reading this I feel like you wouldn't really have to... but why miss out? Just read them both.
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Partners in Crime Tours - Thank You!!
Expertly written, this book was more and more shocking as time went on. The more pages I read, the more invested I became. Even though I never really felt connected to Parker (main character) as a person, but I did like him and I loved following the trail of clues and discovering bits and pieces right along with him. Or it felt like I was with him anyway! And of course I loved the return of Billie (my fave).
A twisty, spider webby, edge-of-your-seat, good solid crime thriller you won't regret reading. I did read book 1 (Dead Drop), but while reading this I feel like you wouldn't really have to... but why miss out? Just read them both.
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Partners in Crime Tours - Thank You!!
July 29, 2023
As a follow up to his award winning novel, Dead Drop, James L'Etoile brings back Detective Sergeant Nathan Parker for another grab-you-by-the-throat thriller with Devil Within. In Parker's latest case, a sniper is terrorizing Maricopa County. However, Parker soon realizes that the targets are not random. Instead, they are carefully chosen immigrants fighting for a better life or those trying to help them. The case hits particularly close to home for Parker when his immigrant foster son, Miguel, goes missing.
L'Etoile is a master at weaving together a multi-layered plot and he doesn't disappoint with Devil Within. Part police procedural, part thriller, L'Etoile's well crafted prose is packed with the raw emotion and depth of a cop on the edge.
L'Etoile is a master at weaving together a multi-layered plot and he doesn't disappoint with Devil Within. Part police procedural, part thriller, L'Etoile's well crafted prose is packed with the raw emotion and depth of a cop on the edge.
August 4, 2023
Author James L'Etoile ruined my whole work day. I was going to focus on my own stuff, and discovered I couldn't put down his latest thriller, DEVIL WITHIN. The fact is, L'Etoile is rapidly becoming one of my favorites, and DEVIL WITHIN, the sequel to the award-winning Dead Drop will show you why. As the US border crisis persists along the Arizona border, the story addresses the thorny issues faced by law enforcement, the immigrants themselves, and society writ large--but he manages to do so without the taint of politics or ideology, but rather the clear-eyed practicality derived from the author's years of experience as a law-enforcement professional.
But make no mistake, DEVIL WITHIN is a thriller, and all that implies; propelled by fascinating characters and action that will move you to the very edge of your favorite reading chair. L'Etoile perfectly captures the ambience and ethos of contemporary Arizona, and delves into the complexities and dangers faced by a no-nonsense, heads-up sheriff's detective, deftly weaving a swiftly-moving narrative that is both compelling and suspenseful, overarched by a unique sense of compassion.
DEVIL WITHIN is a finely crafted thriller, a story in perpetual motion--a story at once timeless and resonant with today's headlines-- and written with the sure hand and confidence of a gifted and imaginative author. I forgive you, James L'Etoile, for derailing my day's writing plans. But it was most certainly worth it. Highly recommended.
But make no mistake, DEVIL WITHIN is a thriller, and all that implies; propelled by fascinating characters and action that will move you to the very edge of your favorite reading chair. L'Etoile perfectly captures the ambience and ethos of contemporary Arizona, and delves into the complexities and dangers faced by a no-nonsense, heads-up sheriff's detective, deftly weaving a swiftly-moving narrative that is both compelling and suspenseful, overarched by a unique sense of compassion.
DEVIL WITHIN is a finely crafted thriller, a story in perpetual motion--a story at once timeless and resonant with today's headlines-- and written with the sure hand and confidence of a gifted and imaginative author. I forgive you, James L'Etoile, for derailing my day's writing plans. But it was most certainly worth it. Highly recommended.
July 29, 2023
This novel really shows the horror of human trafficking across the southern border. Detective Parker is again involved in trying set right terrible wrongs against vulnerable people. It starts with the mystery of a sniper and a number of murders but then points toward Cartel activity. And Billy, that quirky and lovable desert dweller, is back helping Parker.
The plot is quite complex and includes some surprising twists near the end. There are several suspects presented and even I was fooled. The denouement is long and involved. I am not sure I fully understand who was really associated with which group doing what things.
This is a good novel for readers who would like an idea of how undocumented immigrants are treated and mistreated by those seeking to benefit from them. There are some gruesome scenes revealing how little some value human life. Parker is a good hero and I look forward to his next adventure.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
The plot is quite complex and includes some surprising twists near the end. There are several suspects presented and even I was fooled. The denouement is long and involved. I am not sure I fully understand who was really associated with which group doing what things.
This is a good novel for readers who would like an idea of how undocumented immigrants are treated and mistreated by those seeking to benefit from them. There are some gruesome scenes revealing how little some value human life. Parker is a good hero and I look forward to his next adventure.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
August 15, 2023
You know teenagers. Sometimes they make you want to just grab them and give them a good shake. I don’t know how many times I wanted to reach out and grab Miguel.
He had a good life but he also had a history which made him want to help undocumented migrants. There were others who appeared to have this same goal. But did they?
The devil you know and the devil you don’t. That would be the devil within a person.
Thank you, Mr. L’Etoile. I’m looking forward to more Detective Parker books.
***Book received without charge from PICT.***
He had a good life but he also had a history which made him want to help undocumented migrants. There were others who appeared to have this same goal. But did they?
The devil you know and the devil you don’t. That would be the devil within a person.
Thank you, Mr. L’Etoile. I’m looking forward to more Detective Parker books.
***Book received without charge from PICT.***
January 8, 2024
This is the third book I've read by James L'Etoile and each one is better than the last. Gripping plot and characters and lots of heart. The last 30 pages..! So exciting I couldn't put it down and was late for an appointment! Highly recommend.
August 14, 2023
Devil Within is the second novel from James L’Etoile featuring Detective Nathan Parker, who we first met in the author’s outstanding thriller, Dead Drop. Parker is a complex, interesting character who the author has surrounded with a winning supporting cast. The story is complex and fascinating as what initially appears to be a sniper intent on terrorizing the Phoenix area turns out to be something even more sinister. The author takes us on an exciting, surprising journey into the dark world of cartels and human smuggling. This tightly written novel races through numerous twists and turns before delivering a satisfying ending that I didn’t see coming. Another great read from James L’Etoile.
September 20, 2023
In “Devil Within,” the second novel in the Nathan Parker series, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department Detective Sergeant investigates a seemingly random string of sniper killings, which soon becomes all too personal. Readers will be hooked from the very first line, “Nia Saldana didn’t think today would be the day she died,” and will stay hooked until the final plot twist is revealed.
“Devil Within, A Nathan Parker Novel” is everything I look for when buying a new mystery: well-crafted characters, well-developed plot, great pacing, and a satisfying ending.
With a decades-long background in law enforcement, award winning author James L’Etoile writes authentic police procedurals that are compelling, timely and, in my opinion, must-reads for fans of crime fiction.
“Devil Within, A Nathan Parker Novel” is everything I look for when buying a new mystery: well-crafted characters, well-developed plot, great pacing, and a satisfying ending.
With a decades-long background in law enforcement, award winning author James L’Etoile writes authentic police procedurals that are compelling, timely and, in my opinion, must-reads for fans of crime fiction.
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