Katie Maguire is back with a bang - quite literally! Anyone who has read any of the previous eleven books will know that this author doesn’t hold back on the gore and violence, with this new, and eagerly awaited instalment being no different. That said, the author writes these parts succinctly, he describes the devastation and then moves on with the tale. This book starts with Katie being investigated following the outcome of her last case, and therefore suspended from active duty, and this is the case for a large portion of the book. Regardless of her suspension, Katie continues to be involved in police investigations, albeit from the outskirts. A lot of things happen in Cork whilst she is on suspension, and I found at times, the pace slowed right down, so I was keen for her to be reinstated. Once this happens, the pace picks back up, and the plot twists come quickly.

Katie Maguire is back and well worth the wait!! As always gripping with twists and turns. Two people are killed in what is thought to be a gas explosion in Cork, but it soon becomes apparent that this is not the case and is terror related, and does the force have a leak? Time will tell. Graham Masterton has given us yet another brilliant police procedural book that is hard to put done once you start and I urge you to start!!!! If you have never read a Katie Maguire this is the one to get you hooked.

I wanted to read this because I mostly like books set in Ireland and I like a good detective story too. I did like the setting of Cork city in this book. Katie is a detective currently being investigated and so not on active service. As the book starts, there are explosions which kill various families around the area. A policeman also disappears. The detective who is a temporary replacement for Katie does not seem to be making much progress on the cases and is also putting people's backs up within the station. A lot happens in this book, perhaps too much in the first half when Katie is still suspended. The writing is almost too Irish, feels stilted and I considered giving up on the book. It did pick up when she returned to work though and the investigation seemed to get going. I think her methods are questionable at times (Kevyn) and I had pretty much guessed who would be involved quite early on but I came to quite like Katie by the end. Not sure about her personal life.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

Katie Maguire is a competent detective (if you are new to the series) and this time she deals with a case in Cork.
Plot 3
Characterisation 3
Setting 4
Prose 3
Overall, 3-3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for my copy of Pay Back The Devil by Graham Masterton.

I know I am going to be in the minority here but I really didn't enjoy this book or like the character Katie Maguire.
I cannot write what I want to as I cannot think of a way of saying it without giving out lots of spoilers.
Maybe it's because it's the first book I have read in this series but I don't think so.
It wouldn't do for us all to be the same, and I do believe that all reviews should reflect the readers thoughts.

The Katie Maguire series certainly delves into the gorier side of the police procedural genre, featuring chilling crimes and levels of violence that can be quite disturbing. However, this isn't a drawback; in fact, the series is perfect for those who enjoy their crime stories with a healthy dose of horror. Masterson writes factually, not lingering on the gore but simply describing the scenes and moving on, which adds to the realism and impact of the narrative.

I particularly enjoyed the pacing of this story. The author keeps the momentum going, ensuring that readers remain engaged and on the edge of their seats throughout. Additionally, the setting is vividly described, allowing me to easily visualize many of the locations. This immersive quality enhances the overall experience, making the dark and eerie atmosphere even more palpable.

Overall, the Katie Maguire series stands out for its combination of gripping crime investigation and horror elements. It's a compelling read for those who appreciate a more intense and graphic approach to the genre.

3.5/5.

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I love this series and I could not put it down. What a ride

Thank you for the opportunity to review

Pay Back The Devil is the latest novel, the twelfth novel in the dark, crime series, starring Katie Maguire, a Cork guard (police officer). While this is a long running series, you can read the novels as a standalone, but this will spoil the events of the previous novels so I fully recommend that you find some time, make up some coffee and dive into the increasingly dark world of Maguire's Cork.
Now, there are many police procedural novels, what separates the work of Masterton from others? Well, the Katie Maguire series certainly walks on the gorier side of the police procedural with both very chilling crimes and levels of violence that are disturbing. That's not a negative, the series is ideal for those who enjoy their crime with a healthy side of horror. And Masterson writes factually, not drawing out the gore but simply describing the scene and moving on.
I enjoyed the pacing of this story and also the setting as I was able to visualise many of the locations. Also, the mix of Irish within conversations in commonplace in many communities and I loved to see the language used within the stories.