I wish to express my thanks to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for an advance copy of 'The Devil to Pay' in return for an honest review. I have read all four of Barbara Fradkin's books that feature the former foreign aid worker, Amanda Doucette, and enjoyed them immensely. This police procedural introduced to me her longer running series involving highly respected detective, Inspector Green. This is the 11th book in a series that is new to me. It works well as a stand-alone but has inspired me to seek previous books and learn more about Green's previous cases. He is now on administrative duty and misses his role in solving difficult crime cases.

This was a well-plotted, complicated murder mystery, but I thought it a bit slow in part, and the suspense and tension were not always well maintained. The characters had depth and were memorable. Green is out of active murder investigations. He still hovers on the periphery as he misses his previous assignments. He has reason to be aware of these cases because his daughter, Hannah, is now a rookie police constable. Hannah was a rebellious teenager but is now a smart, impulsive member of the Ottawa police department. She feels determined to prove her worth independent of her father's reputation and avoid the suspicion that she gained her position through Green's influence. Hannah is receiving conflicting messages from her father. He encourages her to follow her hunches, gives her suggestions, but at the same time, reminds her that she lacks the authority to interfere in active police investigations. Neither father and daughter strictly abide by rigid department rules and procedures. The pandemic seems to be winding down, but wearing masks is mentioned.

During her early training, she accompanies an older officer on a call regarding a domestic disturbance at the home of a hot-tempered lawyer and his wife. There are reports that neighbours have occasionally heard screaming from home on the part of the husband, his wife, and their young boy thought to be autistic. This occurs during the pandemic, which has caused the husband's income to decline, and his nerves are frazzled. He hates the small family dog, which is a comfort to his wife and son. Hannah assumes that the wife is a victim of spousal abuse, which she denies and refuses to lay charges. She becomes obsessed with the case and becomes more involved in follow-ups with the wife and family members when the husband disappears. He left home with the dog and didn't return, then saying he had gone on a business trip. The police believe he has willingly left an unhappy marriage, and there is no need to investigate. The wife fears the ill-tempered man has harmed their dog. When the man is found murdered, police are assigned to the case. Hannah has no authority but has ideas of her own. She feels she knows the people involved better than the police team assigned to it.

She is headstrong and makes mistakes while secretly questioning witnesses and suspects. She dropped some information that may have lead to the murder of a young Ph.D. student who found the missing and injured family dog and has been caring for it. Inspector Green tries his best to protect his daughter from her impulsive mistakes and influence her original theories about the crime.

This twisted and complex case has many suspects among the wife's extended family. Hannah refuses to stop questioning witnesses. With the police involved, there are many twisted paths on the way to a solution. Some of these paths lead to a dead-end, and some are leading Hannah into lethal danger. The action accelerates towards the end with dramatic results.

Recommended to readers who enjoy a well-written, puzzling, and complex police procedural with well-rounded characters.