The Devil You Know

October 27, 2014
Set in and around Toronto in 1993, Canadian author de Mariaffi’s artful first novel chronicles the efforts of journalist Evie Jones to track down the man who murdered a friend of hers, 11-year-old Lianne Gagnon, in 1982. Robert Nelson Cameron was identified as a suspect but never caught. Jones researches the killer through old newspaper articles using the nascent Internet, aided by her cautiously flirtatious friend, David Patton. Since Lianne’s death, Evie has suffered from some form of post-traumatic stress; the man she often sees at her apartment window could be real or the product of an overheated imagination. When Evie points out to her mother, Annie, that women read more true crime than men, Annie replies the reason is not entertainment but survival: “It’s so we learn how to get away.” Hooked readers will silently implore Evie to refrain from entering a basement or a cabin in the woods in pursuit of a story—and a killer. Agent: Samantha Haywood, Transatlantic Literary Agency (Canada).

December 1, 2014

Having lived half her life in the aftermath of a friend's abduction and murder, twentysomething Evie Jones has learned to function in a constant state of paranoia--always looking over her shoulder and wondering if the things she sees are real or imagined. Working on a local newspaper during the crimes of real-life Canadian serial killer Paul Bernando, the young reporter finds herself covering the story and researching other unsolved cases. The assignment hits a little too close to home, and Evie's compulsive behavior soon spirals out of control, as she obsessively tries to piece together the circumstances surrounding her friend's murder. VERDICT The author (whose short story collection How To Get Along with Women was longlisted for the Giller Prize) expertly builds suspense throughout this character-driven debut novel. As it nears its climax, readers will dread turning the pages for fear of what comes next. Unfortunately, the promise of a spectacular conclusion isn't fully fulfilled, but loose ends are tied up and Evie receives answers to many of her questions. The use of dialog without quotation marks creates an intimacy to the storytelling, but the unconventional style may be bothersome for some readers. Give this one to patrons who can't get enough of creepy, psychological thrillers.--Vicki Briner, Westminster, CO

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