I’ve always been drawn to thrillers that keep me up at night, heart pounding, desperately needing to know how it ends. You know the type – where you tell yourself “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s 3 AM and you’re wrapped in your coziest blanket, jumping at every little noise. That’s exactly what happened with Trish Doller’s “The Devil You Know.”
When this book arrived on my doorstep, I was initially intrigued by its premise: a road trip thriller with a dash of romance? Sign me up! As someone who regularly plans hypothetical road trips (that I rarely take because, let’s be honest, my reading list keeps me plenty busy), the idea of combining that wanderlust with spine-tingling suspense was irresistible. However, the execution didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
The story follows Cadie, who makes a decision that had me wanting to reach through the pages and shake her – she decides to go on a road trip with two complete strangers. Now, teen Jana would NEVER have done something this reckless (I was more of a “triple-check the locks and never talk to strangers” kind of girl), but I know plenty of teens who would. While this makes the premise believable, it also made it harder for me to sympathize with Cadie’s choices throughout the book.
The characters, unfortunately, fell a bit flat for me. While I understand the author’s choice to keep certain characters mysterious, I found myself wishing for more depth, especially from Cadie. For a protagonist making such life-altering decisions, I wanted to understand her motivations better. The romantic elements also felt somewhat forced – almost as if they were added because YA thrillers are expected to have them rather than serving the story organically.
That said, Doller does excel at creating atmosphere. There’s this constant undercurrent of unease that never quite goes away, even in seemingly normal moments. The setting and tension are vividly written – I found myself looking over my shoulder while reading late at night (much to my cat’s confusion – she keeps wondering why I jump every time she knocks something over).
The pacing is another strong point. The story moves forward with the inevitability of an approaching storm, building tension with each page turn. I literally couldn’t put it down – though this was partly because I felt the plot wouldn’t hold up as well if I had time to think too deeply about some of the more implausible moments.
One of my bigger issues was with the resolution. Without spoiling anything, certain plot threads felt either too neatly tied up or not addressed satisfactorily. There were moments where convenience seemed to win out over logic, which can be particularly frustrating in a thriller where the details really matter.
Months later, I still find myself thinking about this book, though not always for the right reasons. While it definitely succeeded in keeping me engaged for one tension-filled evening, it didn’t quite deliver the satisfying psychological complexity I look for in my favorite thrillers.
If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, atmospheric read and don’t mind suspending your disbelief a bit, “The Devil You Know” might be worth picking up. Just maybe don’t expect it to revolutionize the genre – and definitely don’t use it as a guide for your next road trip!
Perfect for fans of quick, suspenseful reads who prioritize tension over character development. Just remember to lock your doors before you start reading!
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