The Devil Makes Three by Lucy Blue Publisher : Falstaff Books, LLC (14 Oct. 2021) Language : English Hardcover : 362 pages ISBN-10 : 1645541231 ISBN-13 : 978-1645541233 Content warnings: Racism, lynching, murder, rape A book review by Ben Langley If you’re looking for a heavy dose of racial tension, a twist of demonic possession and a big old drop of romance, Lucy Blue’s ‘The Devil Makes Three’ might be the book you’re after. Following a brief prologue set in Saxon County Courthouse, in which the Dark Man is teased, we hop across the Atlantic to meet Jacob McGinnis, a successful Irish writer who has decided to buy an old plantation in South Carolina after the name ‘Briarwood’ came to him in a dream. Next we meet Selina, a young widow forced back to Saxon County after the death of her husband, Trey in Vegas. She just so happens to be a huge fan of McGinnis, and when the opportunity to meet him when he arrives to check out the plantation is too much to resist. The start of the novel moves at a fair pace, as pretty soon Jacob’s in Briarwood, he loves the creepy old plantation with all of its history of multiple homicides, and he puts in an offer. When he meets Selina there’s an instant attraction between the two, but that could be complicated in Saxon County. Selina’s a black woman living with her former mother-and-father-in-law after her husband, Trey, was killed in mysterious circumstances. Jacob’s an older man, and an outsider. When we meet other residents of the area at a card game, we quickly realise that outdated prejudices are very much still in fashion in Saxon County. ‘The Devil Makes Three’ is an odd novel. Often the pace drops (for me this was when the romance between Selina and Jacob was at the forefront of the story) but shortly after something utterly seismic happens on the page. About a third of the way through, I was hit by a discovery so shocking that I sat in open mouthed shock for several minutes. A number of times the novel takes these twists and turns , and sometimes I was utterly with this, but others it took me away from key elements of the story in which I’d become most invested. When the terrible racist atrocities emerge in the novel, they are brutal and realistically depicted. It can be a little hard to read at times, but it never feels like it’s superfluous to the story or gratuitous. The horrible racist element not only raises its head when things take a turn for the worst, but they do so in a manner that suggests those responsible are used to getting away with it. Blue handles this well. There’s clear criticism of what goes on here, but it’s part of the story. While I’d been expecting something more supernatural in the story, when this thread does emerge, I wasn’t quite ready for it – I wanted more investigation into what had gone on. It’s a shame this aspect wasn’t explored further at the time. Often Blue does dwell in certain parts of the story. The letters that are discovered in the past for example, felt too long and too much of a distraction from the bulk of the story. History, however, is a key part of what happens at Briarwood, with some ancient evil that first emerged many years ago linked strongly to the events of the present. Some of the most shocking events in the story are what happened in the past, and with every new document this is discovered we get a new twist on this until we head for the conclusion. There is a wide array of characters in the novel as we see how the events at Briarwood affect a wider community. This expanded cast does allow Blue to explore the nature of small towns and how secrets can hold them together and pull them apart. Some of these characters (okay, a lot of these characters) are downright unpleasant, and there’s some satisfaction that comes from seeing their outcomes. There’s a hint too that redemption is possible. But it does mean some sub-plots run a little too far, some are abruptly brought to an end, and some I was left wanting more of. In one case we’re teased with the reveal of something crucial only for it to be crushed, literally, before our eyes. The ending, however, is bonkers. Whether what goes before was leading up to the chaos of the ending, I’m not quite sure. There are lots of aspects of this novel with promise, and sometimes it comes together really well in some shocking scenes. For me, though, the romance between Jacob and Selina takes up too much space on the page, including an unnecessary jaunt to Ireland. But if you’re not totally cold-hearted and look for that kind of aspect in a supernatural tale of ancient evil there’s a lot to enjoy. The racial tension is handled well and leads to some of the most shocking moments, and if Blue’s intention was to shine a light on some of the corruption within small towns and how insidious and pervasive is, she does a fine job with that. Overall, a mixed bag… and I am aware that I sound like I’m saying “No one told me this was a kissing book” but if the book’s called ‘The Devil Makes Three’ I want a little more time with The Dark Man! The Devil Makes Three |
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