Looking for a deliciously convol

The latest Sam Harper mystery may leave the devil waiting, but not the readers. This gritty mystery series lies at the crossroads of crime and thrillers, both 87th Precinct and Da Vinci Code. Bodies of teenagers are washing ashore in an apocalypse of murder and intrigue spanning the dark dangerous world, from Vatican to Colombia to Harper's hometown of Chandler, Mass. Drugs to ancient religious secrets to serial killers, this book has it all.

But the book's unrelenting drama isn't what captures me. It is the character Sam Harper and author Stephens. She writes with a forensic authority that makes these pages bleed with real world angst. Detective Harper is a well-realized, no-nonsense cop, a streetwise guy who refuses to give up despite the odds. When the going gets rough, everyone else has given up, an easy option looms, and the race becomes overwhelming, Harper is just getting started. He is the original it ain't over guy. He literally pushes himself beyond physical collapse to solve crimes. He refuses to let any criminal escape on his watch.

The Devil Can Wait is a good mystery. Sam Harper is a better cop. I can't wait to follow his next career move.

Reviewed by Thomas Fortenberry
For Midwest Book Reviews

I was impressed by Marta Stephens’ first novel Silenced Cry, and was looking forward to her next book. I was not disappointed, finding The Devil Can Wait even more enjoyable. Again, as with her first book, I was drawn in by the realistic character interplay, especially the portrayal of the often frustrating work of a homicide detective.

The book begins in the middle of a messy crime spree, with the discovery of the latest teenage body in a string of possibly related murders. Short-handed and overworked, Sam Harper and his partner have no leads and a workload of aggravation. Throw in several more strange murders, a homicidal Colombian, a cursed ring that could bring the apocalypse, an attractive, vibrant reporter slated to become a damsel in distress, and Sam Harper is up against the clock to save lives by solving the case.

“He didn’t need one of Jack’s lectures on viable evidence. Not now. What he wanted was a neon sign pointing straight to the killer. As it was, there were as many possibilities for how that tiny bruise got on the boy’s finger as there were reasons to keep digging for answers.”

Marta Stephens does an admirable job of blending a solid crime mystery with an exotic supernatural touch and the undertone of religious beliefs. She never veers into the outrageous or unbelievable, but still manages to keep that small air of “what if”, integrating it all into a fabulous whole.

“The urgency that prodded him two minutes ago was suddenly gone. It’s nothing but hogwash, he told himself. A wives’ tale told to scare the shit out of weak men and innocent children.”

I am fast becoming a rabid fan of Ms. Stephens, appreciating her reliable plot work and her memorable characters. Her superb protagonist, Sam Harper, is a genuine, somewhat imperfect, thoroughly human personality. From his dedication to the job to his rather messy personal life, it is this character that breathes vivid life into the pages of her books.

A definite recommend for all fans of crime/mystery fiction.

Reviewed by A. F. Stewart
http://afallon.bravehost.com

Marta Stephens weaves several stories into a puzzle of a thriller. She mixes voodoo with Catholicism, murder, the antichrist, and a little bit of romance to create a story that makes one wonder what if? THE DEVIL CAN WAIT is an exciting adventure. Quite the enjoyable read. The twists and turns will keep you page turning!
On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4.8.

Cynthia Clark

If you like your crime fast with brilliantly developed plotlines and believable characters on every page, Marta Stephens' latest Sam Harper mystery, The Devil Can Wait, is going to be right up your street.

Sam Harper is tracking down the murderers of some local teenagers who have washed ashore in the city of Chandler, Massachusetts and so plunging the place into a hive of terror. What Harper doesn't know, however, is that the origins of the crime are wrapped in a sinister plot that emerges from overseas and will take his investigation into the depths of the South American jungles and The Vatican before threatening to harm those he holds most dear.

This is a novel that will have its readers engaged from the off and hungry for more, as each lead Harper unearths builds into a tense crescendo through some superb writing. It is, however, Stephens' sense of place that marks this book from so many others. In the hands of a lesser writer, things might become a little bit of a mess. Not so here and it is possible to smell the sea salt, feel the humidity and taste the fear of the protagonists on each and every line.

The Devil Can Wait is an absolute joy of a book that deserves every ounce of coverage it receives and the next Harper is already being awaited with much anticipation.

Chris High, author, freelance writer

The Devil Can Wait, but I can't! Once I started reading this one, I had to keep going until the end. I've read both novels by Stephens and think this one is even better than the first, Silenced Cry. Highly recommended

Author, Susan Whitfield

"The Devil Can Wait" is a Sam Harper Crime Mystery and is the second in the series. I have not read the first, and you certainly don't need to in order to appreciate this book. But I will certainly be looking for the first in the series, especially if it is anything like this book. The book focuses, or course, on the main character, Sam Harper. He is on the case of what appears to be a serial killer ...

... I really feel as if I am unable to do this book justice in reviewing it, without giving away too much of the story. Let me just say that if you are in the mood for a fast paced, well written novel there is no need to look further.

The Book Czar

... A great read. It is well written, smartly plotted and fast paced. I found it absorbing and had a hard time putting it down. It has believable, interesting characters and the mystery has plenty of twisting turns that kept me guessing. If you like a good mystery, give Marta Stephens a try! This is the second in the Sam Harper series, the first one is Silenced Cry.

Carey, The Tome Traveller

The Devil Can Wait draws the reader in headfirst and does not allow them up for air until the very last word has been inhaled. A brilliant addition to the mystery/suspense genre, The Devil Can Wait is an action packed story centered in Chandler, Massachusetts. Homicide detective, Sam Harper, is on the search for a serial killer, after three local teenager's bodies are washed ashore. With only a dead end lead, his search becomes desperate before another victim is claimed.

If that is not enough, news reporter Jennifer (Jennie) Blake, who has been trying everything in her power to get an interview with Sam, about the teenage victims, is suddenly and unwittingly thrown into life or death danger. Jennie agrees to pick up a black pearl ring, at a nearby pawnshop, for an old college professor. Jennie does not believe in "voodoo" or black magic, however when the pawnshop owner is found dead the next morning, with his skull crushed in, Jennie begins to wonder if she may have caught a glimpse of the murderer the night before.

With the powers of the cursed black pearl ring, there is someone who will stop at nothing to claim it as his own and take over the power that he feels is rightfully his. As justice is sought and lives hang on the line, an unimaginable evil may change everything forever, unless Sam can put a stop to it before it is too late.

Good vs. evil and the Devil vs. God in this nonstop thrill ride. The Devil Can Wait is the second in the Sam Harper Crime Mystery series, the first being Silenced Cry. While I have not yet read Silenced Cry, I have put it on the top of my list. Not because I was lost or unsure of what was going on in this story ( I find The Devil Can Wait is an excellent stand alone and will not leave a reader wondering or confused in any way, if the first book in the series had not been read prior), but because I was honestly blown away by the talent of the author, Marta Stephens. Not once did I find the story lagging nor felt cheated by the excellent characterization. I can honestly say that I am thrilled to be able to add The Devil Can Wait to my list of 2008 favorite books and Ms. Stephens as a new author favorite.

I highly recommend The Devil Can Wait to anyone who enjoys an engrossing and hard to put down book. This is perfect! Also, what a perfect gift for that reader on any list or even a perfect gift for those who may not be much of a reader (I gasp at the thought that not all are book obsessed fiends, as I, but know it to be true, lol) - The Devil Can Wait is sure to grip anyone in its clutches and may even turn the most stubborn of non readers into readers.

*overall rating 5/5

April, Cafe of Dreams

A cursed papal ring, a Columbian drug smuggler, three dead bodies washed ashore in Massachusetts, and a demonic prophecy, mingle together to create a captivating, suspenseful and action-packed mystery in The Devil Can Wait by Marta Stephens.

When the third body of a teenage boy is uncovered by a man and his dog along Chandler Bay, Detective Sam Harper and his partner, Dave Mann are left with more questions than answers. With little to go on, they search to find the one thing that connects these murders and will lead them to the killer.

Jennifer Blake, an ambitious newspaper reporter looking for the story that will catapult her to the top, agrees to pick up a ring from a pawnshop for her former college professor. When both the pawnshop owner and the professor turn up dead, Blake is moved to the top of Harper's prime suspect list.

What makes the ring so valuable that someone would kill to get his/her hands on it? How are the deaths of the pawnshop owner and the professor connected to the boys pulled from Chandler Bay? And will Harper be able to uncover the truth before the murderer finds the ring and unleashes pure evil upon the earth?

This is the second book in the Sam Harper Crime Mystery series by Marta Stephens and the first book of hers that I have read. I'll definitely be spending the money to get Silenced Cry - the first book in the series.

The Devil Can Wait captivated me so deeply that I had to go back and look over some of the details in order to write this review. Stephens wove a complex plot into a set of engaging and creepy characters and came up with a huge winner for mystery fans. As the reader flows through each chapter, the mystery deepens; twists and turns drive the reader forward as she seeks to uncover the truth right along with Harper.

Sam Harper is a well-written character. Edgy and driven, but still vulnerable after the loss of his last partner, Harper still hasn't managed to clear his ex-girlfriend's clothes out of the closet.

The Devil Can Wait will draw the reader in from the first word to the last, and leave her anxiously awaiting the next book in the Sam Harper Crime Mystery series!

Cheryl C. Malandrinos, The Book Connection

When the bodies of three teenagers wash ashore, each killed in a unique and ritualistic way, detective Sam Harper steps on the job. As he plunges into the mystery surrounding these murders, things aren’t always as they first appear. Then, there is another murder, but this one seems to be a copycat—or is it?, for while evidence can lead astray, a “dead body never lies.” There are strange goings-on in the city of Chandler, and the bodies will multiply if Harper doesn’t find answers. Add to the mix lack of sleep, pressure from community leaders and colleagues, a snarl in witnesses and the evidence, and Harper’s frustration deepens.

While Harper works to solve the murders, there is evil and intrigue emerging in South America. A black pearl ring, traced back to the Vatican (and perhaps even fashioned by Satan himself?) becomes another “character.” When the black pearl ring’s mistress is murdered and the ring is stolen from her lifeless fingers, its purported successor is enraged, and he wants the ring back at any human cost. The ring will find its way to America via shady dealings, greed—and perhaps even by prophecy and the supernatural?

Enter reporter Jennifer Blake, who is not the clichéd crime drama blonde, blue eyed, and leggy, but a real Human Woman who Stephens fashioned strong and independent (but not invincible!). When she comes in possession of the ring as a favor to her old college professor, she not only puts herself in danger from a malevolent stranger, but when the pawnshop dealer she retrieves the ring from is murdered, she is considered a suspect by Sam Harper.

What forces are really behind the ring’s legacy?

As Harper and Blake search for answers, the ring, the evil stranger, the Catholic Church, the innocent and the seemingly innocent will converge. As the plot unravels, danger comes not only from the expected, but from the unexpected. And, to make matters more intense, homicide detective Harper is cautioned he must hurry, for the alignment of the planets will occur on Christmas Eve, and what evil may come from the uniting of events that this mysterious ring portends?

I was swept away by intrigue and plot twists, for The Devil Can Wait is a true page-turner. Marta Stephens does an excellent job with scene setting, snappy, quick-paced dialogue, and well-written narrative. As well, since I read from an advanced review copy (the book went on sale November 3), I was impressed with the editorial mechanics of the novel.

Stephens writes with a firm, confident hand, and each chapter, even when changing points of view, glides smoothly to the next. The Devil Can Wait gives the reader plenty of twists and turns and, though she could easily have, Stephens does not rely on gratuitous violence but instead lets her good writing and a good crime story shine.

It is obvious from Stephen’s crafting of character that Harper isn’t some one-dimensional gumshoe, so more of his voice would have made me happier. However, there is enough about him to entice me to read more Sam Harper crime mysteries, for I found Harper to be tough, intelligent, a little hard-headed, but with a vulnerable side (who loves eating dinners with his dad) that made him human and likeable—I may have even fallen in love with him, just a little bit.

I look for more quick-paced, well-written novels from Marta Stephens. After many years of leaving this genre sitting on the shelves, Stephens has brought me back to the crime-mystery novel.

Kathryn Magendie for The Rose & Thorn Literary Ezine.

The Devil Can Wait by Marta Stephens is a much anticipated sequel to Silenced Cry, the first Sam Harper mystery. This sophomore book one is even better than her debut novel. I love Sam Harper, cynical cop aware he's losing his idealism but not knowing how to get it back. He is faced with a string of gruesome murders and must figure out if they are linked or are the work of more than one killer.

Meanwhile, in Columbia a man seeks revenge for the death of his mother and the recovery of a strange artifact, a black pearl ring, with a mysterious history. Are there powers associated with the ring? A curse?

Stephens kept me guessing throughout who the bad guys were, a hard feat when you write similar stories. But she did it with a host of complex characters and a dynamite plot. Bodies pile up and the mystery deepens. Two mysteries in fact, one began in Columbia the other in Massachusetts. When they converge in Chandler, Massachusetts things really start to get interesting. Not to mention dangerous for all concerned.

Pat Brown, author of L. A. Heat

Boys are dying in Chandler, Massachusetts and their deaths are not natural. Teenagers are being murdered, and Detective Sam Harper is running into dead ends in his pursuit of the killer. Sam and his partner Dave Mann can’t even find a connection to help them understand the reason behind the deaths of these boys.

Finally the medical examiner finds a small connection that leads Sam and Dave to a location that might have been the place of the murders. A suspect is arrested but no hard evidence is found to charge him with the murders.

Jennifer Blake, a newspaper reporter, is running up against a wall in attempting to get a story out of Sam but all that changes abruptly when Jennifer agrees to do an old college professor a favor. She picks up a ring at a pawnshop, and that little favor plunges her into the middle of a murder investigation headed up by Sam.

Can there possibly be a connection between a black pearl ring picked up by Jennifer as a favor and the deaths of the young boys? Jennifer has placed herself in grave danger just by doing her old professor a favor. More than one person desires to possess the ring and will doing anything to have it.

The mystery of the murders and that of the ring and its history, make for an exciting story. This book is a stand-alone but I read Silenced Cry, the first Sam Harper book first, and was glad I did.

Armchair Interviews says: A mystery with a lot happening to keep any reader interested.

Patricia E. Reid for Armchair Interviews

Literarily speaking, the murder mystery genre has been excavated so thoroughly that one wonders how any author, emerging or seasoned, might find a way to put new spin on the unrepentant dastards who commit crimes, and the noir characters, some pensive and some quick with the snappy one-liners, who solve them. How do writers distinguish themselves in a seemingly saturated market?

Ask Marta Stephens. With a website that highlights her own works (www.martastephens-author.com) and another (http://murderby4.blogspot.com/) that welcomes new authors to her world of perps, molls and gumshoes, Marta knows how to put a fresh face on old caricatures. Her second novel, THE DEVIL CAN WAIT, proves that there still exists much yellow-taped, cordoned off territory to be explored.

Detective Sam Harper (the protagonist in Stephens’s first novel, SILENCED CRY) of the Chandler Police Department in Massachusetts, is summoned out of bed on a freezing morning before sunrise to view a floater by the bay, the third tattooed teenaged male to wash ashore in weeks, each murdered by different means; bludgeoning, strangulation, and now this, a throat rendered open by what appears to be knife-play. Sure, there seems to be a link among the deaths but where are the clues? At this point, there are none.

And so begins Harper’s search for a serial killer. This kind of assignment is routine stuff to him, but in no way is he prepared for the journey that leads to the crime’s resolution. And here is where THE DEVIL CAN WAIT parts company with other novels of this genus. From a small city in Massachusetts, we are suddenly transported to Mitu, an equatorial republic of Colombia, South America, where we are introduced to Alejandro, badly beaten as a consequence of skimming drugs from a dealer named Lorenzo. Alejandro’s mother, Anita Salas tends his wounds while he ponders her fate. She is wanted by the military for the alleged murder of three priests from a local church who regarded her as a witch and devil worshiper. More worrisome, is her possession of an inscribed, black pearl ring believed to be prophetic and that is coveted by Lorenzo the drug dealer . . . and others.

The body count increases. We eventually meet Chandler Times reporter Jennifer Blake who receives a phone call from her former Professor of Anthropology, Gaylord Mittendorf. Apparently, he possesses some inside scoop about the origins of a certain black pearl ring in South America that is drawing attention of individuals not of the legitimate auction variety.

Where does all of this lead us? To the Vatican and a mesmerizing, centuries-long history of a corrupt and perverse papacy tied to the black pearl ring and ultimately to the serial killer whose handiwork we were introduced to at the book’s start. Where is Sam Harper and how is he linking these seemingly disparate events to the story’s exciting closure? You will just have to be patient and read THE DEVIL CAN WAIT.

Marta Stephens’ keen knowledge of forensics and her use of crisp dialogue and descriptive locales allow her to peek over the heads of other mystery writers in this overcrowded field. As Harper stands above the teenaged corpse, we can feel icy wind blowing over a snow-covered, New England beach. Alejandro struggles to sustain consciousness while a thug chauffeurs him through the jungle to his mother’s house, and we smell the jungle canopy steaming with rainfall and palpate our own face as Stephens describes Alejandro’s multiple head wounds. And finally, Sam Harper is not the caricature of a wise guy, fast-talking urbane dick but is instead a believable police detective rife with character flaws and a doggedly determined persona. THE DEVIL CAN WAIT is a perfectly paced, 5-star read from beginning to end.

Harry Hughes, author of THE BAIT SHACK

Sam Harper relies upon gut instincts to help find clues to the deaths of several teens in Chandler, Massachusetts. Trouble is things are not always as simple as they look. Sam’s gut instincts seem to come up short in this tale when the case is complicated by a news reporter, a cursed ring and what authors like to call red herrings, but Sam still trusts the intuition years of criminal investigations have developed.

Perseverance is Sam’s middle name. He doesn’t take the easy route and he doesn’t give up. Through it all, Sam yearns for a woman that can fulfill his every dream of a normal life. Sam thinks Jennifer Blake is that woman, but when she rises to the number one position on his list of suspects his desires war with common sense. However Sam can be counted on to do the right thing no matter how it hurts.

The Devil Can Wait is the second book in the Sam Harper Crime Mystery Series. I met Sam in the first book—Silenced Cry—and his down-home virtues and compassion for the victims captured my heart on the spot. Each of these books can stand alone so if you missed Silenced Cry don’t let that stop you from picking up The Devil Can Wait. Any mystery lover who loves to detect will enjoy pitting personal abilities against the Chandler Police Department especially when the case is managed by Sam Harper.

If you’re looking for sex, violence and profanity similar to today’s hair raising action packed adventure movies forget it. The Devil Can Wait doesn’t need those contrived scenes to capture a reader’s attention. It has plenty of action and even a touch witchcraft to do that.

Marta Stephens knows how to feed the reader the clues and we’re given the opportunity to sit with the detectives as they hash over the cases. I recommend this series to any reader and am convinced it would interest anyone wanting to broaden their reading pleasure.

Lucille P Robinson for Alternative Read

"The Devil Can Wait" mixes a little Stephen King with some John Sandford for an enjoyable book filled with unexpected twists and dark mystery.

Reviewed by -T. S. Franklin www.tsfranklin.com

Three young teenager bodies wash up on the shores of Chandler, Massachusetts in eighteen days. If they all decayed at the same rate, it means someone is killing one teen every week and probably will continue at the same rate. Sam Harper knows that solving these murders has to be quickly accomplished but he doesn't have a single clue connecting the whys and wherefores to reach a credible, evidence-based conclusion.

A small village Mitu in southeastern Colombia, South America is home for a woman branded as a witch by her neighbors and a son who wants the ring she wears, a wide silver band encasing a black pearl with an inner inscription. For he knows that he will possess the powers of the ring's curse, power that can only pass to a natural heir of its present owner. Alejandro desperately needs this power to cement the security and revenge against a threatening drug dealer. From there anything's possible and more.

Jennifer Blake, a Chandler journalist, receives a mysterious call from a pawnshop owner. He wants her to deliver something to an anthropologist and knows she can accomplish it because she clearly has no belief in superstition and curses. That link somehow connects her in Sam Harper's mind to the unsolved murders and he's determined to ferret out the truth of the connection.

Marta Stephens has developed her crime mystery plotting and scheming to a remarkable degree! The Devil Can Wait is a tautly plotted, driven tale interweaving local revenge with an exotic tale about the twisted consequences of Vatican meddling and demonic prophecy sure to engage every true lover of superb mystery thrillers and making them want more, more, more.

Marta Stephens is a writer who deserves wider public recognition and high praise!

Viviane Crystal, Crystal Reviews

Author Marta Stephens has managed to pull off another stunningly suspenseful tale with her latest release in the Sam Harper crime series, THE DEVIL CAN WAIT.

With three dead teenaged boys washed up from the bay and a major flu outbreak among the officers of Chandler, Massachusetts, Sam Harper definitely has his hands full. What he isn’t prepared for is the possible supernatural force behind the murders, propelled by an ancient black pearl ring that has made its way from the Vatican to the jungles of Columbia and has surfaced in a local pawn shop, leaving a bloody trail behind it. Men are literally dying—and killing—to get their hands on the ring and the power it allegedly holds. Even less prepared is Harper for the other force that is about to enter his universe: That of the beauteous Jennifer Blake, an ambitious reporter who is unwittingly sucked into the drama surrounding the ring, yet sees a story and recklessly pursues it.

Harper struggles to see the facts amid the legends, to follow seemingly endless trails of evidence that have him and his partner running in circles, and to balance duty with his emotions as his fear for Blake’s safety takes hold.

Stephens’ compelling characters, razor-sharp dialogue, fascinating forensic detail, and complex plot twists make this second book even more entertaining than the first. Stephens introduces the element of the supernatural into the cutting world of Sam Harper, giving the reader something new to savor, and undoubtedly hooking her fans with longing for the next release in the series. THE DEVIL CAN WAIT more than lives up to the expectation set by Stephens’ first book!

Jennifer Luzadder, Librarian and Adult Services Supervisor
Muncie (IN) Public Library

Sam Harper is back in the blistering follow-up to 2007'S SILENCED CRY. Serial murders, small-time crooks, an ancient prophecy tied to a cursed ring, and a beautiful reporter who's as dogged in her pursuit of the truth as Harper himself--Marta Stephens fits the pieces of the intricate plot together with the assured skill of a master craftsman. It's a pure joy to watch it all come together.

J.D. Rhoades, author of BREAKING COVER

Is it prophecy fulfilled or selfishness, greed, and bad choices? . . The Devil Can Wait is a suspenseful freight train of action . . . Can the Devil really wait? . . . If you read one book this season make it The Devil Can Wait. . . reminiscent of . . . (more)

Lynn Pritchett, Suite101.com Media Inc Contributing Writer

The Second Coming of Sam Harper was not a disappointment. Three times I just knew I had the plot figured out only to have Sam Harper, prove that candidate innocent. Twists and turns take us from a Voodoo Priestess in Columbia, to the bowels of the Catholic Church, to astral projections. A wicked good story by Marta Stephens.

Jake George, Senior Editor, Virtual Tales.
Author of Grandfather’s Song and A New Dawn

A flu outbreak leaves Detective Sam Harper short handed and over extended as he searches for a serial killer. The Devil Can Wait by Marta Stephens grabs you from the first chapter when a man and his dog discover the body of a young man washed up from the bay, the third victim of a serial killer and not a single clue. The local press and a pesky female reporter from the Chandler Times complicates his life further when she withholds evidence to get a story.

Stephens feeds threads of evidence throughout a multi-dimensional and intricate plot that spans two continents and leads to conclusions that increase the urgency to find a suspect before another young boy is murdered. This fast-paced thriller masterfully weaves mystery into the lives of believable characters and a well-crafted setting. Can the murder of a woman in a small Colombian pueblo, and the theft of her black pearl ring be related to the murder of the boys found in Chandler Bay? Or could the simpleton working in Dominick Ray's Garage actuality be the serial killer? The author creates solid leads raising suspicions that weave a web connecting to three possible suspects and then raises a new question. The death of each victim is different. Could this mean four different killers?

The Devil Can Wait interlaces a complex plot that grabs the reader and doesn't let go. This book will appeal to readers with varied interests as it has everything: tension, conflict, murder, mystery, romance and the ability to keep the reader turning the page as Sam Harper is thrust into a world that leads to a cursed papal ring tied to biblical prophecies in the book of Daniel. Sam's not a religious man, but it raises the question of whether a series of unrelated murders are the result of a sick mind or are they actually connected to the beasts in Daniel chapter 7? Harper's investigation leads him on an unpredictable trail making him more of a believer with each turn. This one is a must read.

Donna Sundblad, author of Pumping Your Muse

Looking for a deliciously convoluted tale that will twist its way through your brain and keep you up late into the night? Look no further, for Marta Stephens has just released the second book in the Sam Harper crime mystery series, The Devil Can Wait.

Stephens' debut novel, Silenced Cry, was addictive, propelling readers into the action from page one and corkscrewing through a wild ride of corruption and abuse. Unlike many "seconds" in a series, The Devil Can Wait does not disappoint, and expands Detective Sam Harper's world from the fictitious seaside town of Chandler, Massachusetts to the steamy jungles of Columbia and through shocking revelations in the Vatican itself.

Stephens has skillfully detailed police procedures in a realistic fashion, a task not easy for one who hasn't worked a real life police investigation. But on top of this, the author has woven intriguing subplots with a love entanglement that thrusts the story forward to its climatic end. The sexual tension between Harper and reporter Jennie Blake is natural and sublime - adding icing to this already delectable confection of supernatural elements, grisly murders, and the stoic talent and courage of one very likeable cop. Don't take my word for it - buy it and read it today.

Stephen's has hinted at a third in the Sam Harper series. We'll wait with bated breath, in anticipation of her next taut thriller.
Aaron Paul Lazar, author of the LeGarde Mystery Series

The Devil Can Wait (A Sam Harper Crime Mystery) is the latest in what looks to be a winning crime mystery series from Marta Stephens. The book hits the stands November 3 and I've just finished reading the review copy. Well written and definitely recommended, this complex yet fast paced thriller mostly follows Detective Sam Harper, first introduced in Silenced Cry, as he attempts to stop what appears to be a serial killer on the loose.

As the story progresses and the bodies pile up, all the threads of the story weave together, linking the ring and the serial killer cases together.
K. Oland