5+ stars for Devious by Mark Love #mystery #romanticmystery #bookreview
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  • N. N. Light
    • Jun 14, 2023
    • 2 min read

5+ stars for Devious by Mark Love #mystery #romanticmystery #bookreview



Title: Devious

Author: Mark Love

Genre: Mystery, Romantic Mystery


Book Blurb:


Jamie Richmond, reporter turned author, is doing research for her next book. Attempting to capture the realism of a police officer’s duties while on patrol, she manages to tag along for a shift with a state trooper. A few traffic stops and a high speed chase later, Jamie’s ride takes an unexpected turn when she witnesses the trooper being shot.


Although it is not a fatal injury, Jamie becomes obsessed with unraveling the facts behind this violent act. While she is trying to sort out this puzzle, she becomes romantically involved with Malone, another trooper with a few mysteries of his own. Now Jamie’s attention is divided between a blooming romance and solving the crime which is haunting her.


Jamie begins to question the events that took place and exactly who could be behind the shooting. It was a devious mind. But who?


My Review:


Doing research for her next mystery novel puts Jamie in the crosshairs of someone devious. I’m a huge mystery reader and from the first chapter, I was hooked. Jamie is a clever main character with an eye for detail. She makes an idea amateur detective. She and Malone light the sky with their chemistry. Then, there’s the person behind the attempted killing of a trooper. Are you hooked yet? No? Well, read on.


It starts and ends with the characters. Jamie makes this mystery exciting to read. She’s an author/reporter which is a huge plus for me. Her inner dialogue is at times funny, at times insightful, and at other times profound. She has a quick wit and thinks fast on her feet. Her relationship with Malone is complex yet makes for excellent reading. The other characters are well-written, and I found them interesting.


The mystery itself is professionally written and is easy to follow along. Mark Love throws in clues along the way but never reveals too much. I kept trying to solve the mystery before Jamie did, and gasped aloud when it was revealed. Well done.


The setting and descriptive narration round out this book nicely. The descriptive narration is intricate with language any reader can understand. The setting is very detailed which immersed me into the story. After a little while, I forgot I was reading fiction. It read like a crime drama on tv.


If you’re a mystery reader, stop what you’re doing and pick up Devious. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for me.


My Rating: 5+ stars


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Author Biography:


Mark Love lived for many years in the metropolitan Detroit area, where crime and corruption are always prevalent. A former freelance reporter, Love honed his writing skills covering features and hard news. He is the author of the Jamie Richmond romance mysteries, Devious,Vanishing Act, Fleeing Beauty, and the soon to be released, Chasing Favors, along with the novella Stealing Haven. His novella, Don’t Mess with the Gods, was written with Elle Nina Castle and included in the Magic & Mischief anthology. Love also writes the Jefferson Chene mystery series, WHY 319? Your Turn to Die and The Wayward Path. Love resides in west Michigan with his wife, Kim. He enjoys a wide variety of music, books, travel, cooking and exploring the great outdoors.


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Reviewed by: Nancy

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