The Devil You Know, by Elisabeth de Mariaffi

Paperback review: Suspicions chop and change in this debut crime novel

The Devil You Know
The Devil You Know
Author: Elisabeth de Mariaffi
ISBN-13: 978-178329-7627
Publisher: Titan Books
Guideline Price: £7.99

Cub reporter Evie Jones uses her skills to investigate the cold-case murder of Lianne Gagnon, an 11-year-old girl who was abducted from a middle-class neighbourhood in Toronto in the 1980s. For Evie, the case is more of a vocation than a job. Popular and beautiful, Lianne was her best friend, overshadowing Evie with her attention-seeking ways. With dubious characters, a forensic approach to investigating that includes the Lexis-Nexis database, and the interspersing of background information from real Canadian murders, this debut novel is an intriguing blend of true crime and thriller. The serial rape crimes that tormented Toronto in the 1990s form the backdrop, with the culture of mass hysteria and fractured memories examined. Similar to the recent podcast Serial, the book reveals new clues in each chapter, as suspicions chop and change.

Sarah Gilmartin

Sarah Gilmartin

Sarah Gilmartin is a contributor to The Irish Times focusing on books and the wider arts