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Let the Devil Sleep

(Dave Gurney #3)

John Verdon

3.89 · Rating details · 7,281 ratings · 621 reviews

In this latest novel from bestselling author John Verdon, ingenious puzzle solver Dave Gurney puts under the magnifying glass a notorious serial murder – one whose motives have been enshrined as law-enforcement dogma - and discovers that everyone has it wrong.

The most decorated homicide detective in NYPD history, Dave Gurney is still trying to adjust to his life of quasi ...more

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Hardcover, 449 pages

Published July 24th 2012 by Crown (first published 2012)

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Sep 16, 2019 Andrew Smith rated it liked it · review of another edition

I’ve grown really attached to Dave Gurney. I like his slightly grumpy manner, his total lack of a sense of humour but mostly I appreciate his logical thinking; he loves a puzzle and he’s good at solving them. In this episode he’s recovering from injuries and the trauma brought on by his last ‘puzzle’ when he’s asked by an old acquaintance to help her daughter out with some career advice – oh, and there’s also a small issue with a persistent ex-boyfriend, if he could just chat to her about this t I’ve grown really attached to Dave Gurney. I like his slightly grumpy manner, his total lack of a sense of humour but mostly I appreciate his logical thinking; he loves a puzzle and he’s good at solving them. In this episode he’s recovering from injuries and the trauma brought on by his last ‘puzzle’ when he’s asked by an old acquaintance to help her daughter out with some career advice – oh, and there’s also a small issue with a persistent ex-boyfriend, if he could just chat to her about this too.

Of course, this all quickly turns out to be a more significant endeavor than he’d expected and soon he’s exploring the case of a serial killer who preyed on rich drivers of Mercedes cars. The so called Good Shepherd was never caught but it’s been some years since he’s struck. And as he delves deeper into the detail it becomes clear that perhaps the killer is operational again. In addition, the ex-boyfriend issue may be developing into a significant case of harassment. Dave's now really got his hands full.

As always with this series, events are well layered (this happened because that happened, this event begat that event) and this structure works very well. The strained relationship between Dave and his wife Madeleine is again an interesting background issue and carry-over character Detective Jack Hardwick is, as ever, good value. My issue, though, is that the whole thing gets big quite quickly and as more bodies pile up the response from the police/FBI doesn’t seem to be of the scale one would expect. Now I know that this allows Dave to do his stuff pretty much unimpeded, but I’m not sure it all adds up to anything remotely believable.

I think this kind of thing can happen sometimes when an author has written a book or two and is looking to follow up his or her success – there’s a sense that the writer is trying to make the latest story in some way ‘bigger’. Unfortunately, in my experience bigger doesn’t usually mean better, and such is the case here. I’ll certainly pick up another Verdon book as I really do like the way he writes, the characters he draws and the way he gets them to interact, but this book isn’t his best. ...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Harry rated it it was amazing

Shelves: detective-mystery

It's 9PM and I'm thinking: "I'll lay in bed for a bit, read and call it a night. Gotta get up early, wake my daughter up, fix her lunch, get breakfast ready and then take her to school." The book I'm reading is John Verdon's latest: Let the Devil Sleep. The plate that sits on top of the chimney on the roof sends the sound of rain - like soft staccato bullets - down the chimney chute into the bedroom. I hit the power switch on my Kindle and focus on the page before me.

After reading a few hundred ...more

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Nov 29, 2016 Kat rated it liked it · review of another edition

Good story but could be shorter if not for the many descriptions that weren't always necessary. My favorite character remains Jack Hardwick and I wish he could be more present throughout the story. I can't remember if I liked Kim in my first reading of the story but I definitely didn't like her in my second. I liked Kyle Gurney's son though and I think he would make an excellent detective like his father. ...more

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Sep 04, 2017 Dana Moison rated it really liked it

Retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney returns with a new mystery to solve. For years and years no one has revealed the true identity of “The Good Shepherd”, the notorious serial Killer who chooses his victims well and wealthy. After ten years of silences, he returns to kill the victims’ families, supposedly because a television special about him was aired, driving him mad and ready to avenge.
Gurney thinks that there’s more than meets the eye about this case, and objects to the psychological profile Retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney returns with a new mystery to solve. For years and years no one has revealed the true identity of “The Good Shepherd”, the notorious serial Killer who chooses his victims well and wealthy. After ten years of silences, he returns to kill the victims’ families, supposedly because a television special about him was aired, driving him mad and ready to avenge.
Gurney thinks that there’s more than meets the eye about this case, and objects to the psychological profile assembled by the senior investigators who handled this case. This of course makes the hostility toward Gurney grow and prevents him from gaining access to relevant information about the case.
I love Jack Hardwick’s character! His conversations with Gurney seem to be a witty and comic relief, which brings out Gurney’s more pleasant side. Another character worth mentioning is Max Clinter: his chase after The Good Shepherd had ruined his career and life and made him abandon civilized life and move to a remote cabin – what can I say, I love these crazy folks (those who read my books already know – mischievous emoji).
This book reveals before us Gurney’s inner world. His contemplations and regrets pour from his thoughts to his actions. Dave Gurney is a complex character and it is intriguing to read the story through his point of view.
As a suspense author myself, who loves reading and interlacing in her books surprises and twists up to the very last page, I salute Verdon for making the obvious solution seem impossible and vice versa. As usual, he surprises with the simplicity of the solution. However, this is a long and detailed book and so it had occurred that I, a bookworm in nature, who finishes an average book in a few days, read this book over months, consuming other books while still reading this one. Maybe if I had read the whole story at once, I would have been less surprised from the thrilling discovery (Still, it took me some time to recall who was killed and why – apologetic emoji).
Nevertheless, I must commend Verdon’s writing, which made me climb back into the story with interest, even after a long break, and also for the fast pace of this twisted plot. This may not be Verdon’s best book so far, but it’s a good thriller that Dave Gurney fans will sure appreciate. ...more

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Jun 15, 2012 Kristina rated it did not like it

Shelves: brain-candy, disappointing, library-book, fiction, mystery-thriller, suck

This book is very disappointing. I'm so glad I didn't buy it. I was tempted to a few times when I saw it at B&N, but eventually borrowed it from the library. I'm beginning to think that the third book in a series is the make-it or break-it book. So many series I've read recently go really bad with the third book and unfortunately this seems to have happened with Dave Gurney, retired NYPD detective extraordinaire.

Dave is recovering from the near-fatal gunshot wound he received at the end of the s This book is very disappointing. I'm so glad I didn't buy it. I was tempted to a few times when I saw it at B&N, but eventually borrowed it from the library. I'm beginning to think that the third book in a series is the make-it or break-it book. So many series I've read recently go really bad with the third book and unfortunately this seems to have happened with Dave Gurney, retired NYPD detective extraordinaire.

Dave is recovering from the near-fatal gunshot wound he received at the end of the second book (Shut Your Eyes Tight), and he's not his normal calm, analytic self. A past acquaintance, a journalist, calls him and tells him that her daughter (a journalism major) is working on a news story and would like his help interviewing family members whose lives were disrupted by murder. Dave agrees to do this and finds himself being drawn into the details of the Good Shepherd murder spree that happened more than a decade ago; a murder investigation that he feels was mishandled by the FBI.

This book is very different from the other two. I understand that Dave is recovering from a gunshot to the head and may be experiencing (as is suggested by a thoroughly unlikeable psychotherapist) PTSD, so the fact that he is portrayed as being angrier and more aggressive is okay. What I found annoying was all the Dave musings about human nature and the cloyingly sentimental passages that pop up repeatedly throughout the book--in fact the novel ends with a lot of nonsensical statements that sound meaningful, but are total crap. John Verdon's talents as a writer aren't in his ability to write great dialogue or meaningful, emotional prose. He crafts detailed plots and his novels are paced well. Usually. One of the best things about Dave Gurney was his lack of introspection. He knew he wasn't always the most attentive husband and father, but he put that aside to concentrate on solving the puzzle of murder before him. That's what was appealing--Dave didn't spend a lot of time bemoaning his feelings and his past, he just soldiered on. However, this Dave unfortunately is not only in touch with his feelings, he's also reminiscing a lot about his past with his emotionally distant father. Too many flashbacks slow the pace of the novel.

The plot of this book is sloppy and not compelling at all. There's no active police investigation into a current murder, just Dave poking around. Kim Corazon, the young intrepid reporter, is annoying. She's whiny, cries a lot, freaks out, seems unable to make a damn decision on her own, and I dislike her intensely. She exclaims several times, "Dave, what should I do?" Dave, tell her to go to hell. However, this new touchy-feely Dave (who also is seemingly angrier) enfolds the little dipshit in his arms and tells her it will be alright. Gag.

There are a lot of loopholes in this plot, lots of things that don't make a whole lot of sense to me but I didn't enjoy the book enough to get too upset about it. In the beginning, when the author completely forgets that Kim is supposed to have a cat, I knew it didn't bode well for the rest of the novel. RAM-TV is mentioned way too much in the book. So much so that I suspect the author despises FOX News (on which RAM-TV is clearly modeled) and his dislike/disgust is expressed so thoroughly through the mouths of several characters (and also in the way Rudy Getz, the slimy production executive at RAM, is portrayed)that it becomes intrusive and distracting. Descriptions of the countryside and the dinner menu are also excessive. Readers always know what the Gurneys are eating for dinner and I wouldn't have been surprised to see the recipes for these dishes in an appendix. It was exasperating and distracting. I think the author spent more time planning their evening meals than the plot.

Kyle, his son from his first marriage, has returned to his life and they are bonding. Unfortunately, Kyle is such a one-dimensional character with no impact on the story (except to make Dave weepy) I don't care if he's there and prefer him to disappear. Madeleine, Dave's wife, has never been a favorite of mine. I've never liked her and I didn't like her in this book. For different reasons. In this book, she's a different Madeleine--more patient with her husband, more willing to overlook his absentmindedness, and she also seems to have discovered a sense of humor. She's a totally different character and I find that disconcerting. She's different from the bitchy woman in the first two books who was constantly being passive-aggressive about her displeasure in Dave's inability to enjoy living the country life, but that doesn't mean I liked her more. Again, her character is so flat that she's not worth paying attention to.

If Verdon writes another book in the series I will probably read it, but this book was so incredibly sub-par I won't be surprised if the next one is bad too. ...more

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May 24, 2018 Jenn rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018-cover-to-cover

I don’t recall Gurney being like this. I remember him as stronger. Then again, I don’t recall much about the two prior books - just that I enjoyed them. I didn’t like who the murderer turned out to be. I had higher expectations on the whodunit part. All this being said, I loved most of the characters and found it fairly fast paced for 460+ pages.

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Jun 21, 2013 Jeanette rated it really liked it

Gurney novels are my fav for this particular genre of series in the thriller category. At least for all of those novels which have come out in the last 10 years. Despite the Nordic invasion.

His tension is really crisp and intact from the get-go and you just have to keep reading to see what happens next.

These are pretty graphic for most peoples' tastes, but without being occult or pure horror at all- he has still got that menacing chill factor foundation. And Dave fits into that slot (the react ...more

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Mar 18, 2018 Jaksen rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-series

All through this book I intended to give it a full five stars. I loved the locale - upstate New York; I adore the MC and his long-suffering wife - retired homicide detective Dave Gurney and the book-reading, forever-cooking Madeleine; and the plot is great - Dave agrees to help a young woman starting out on a journalistic career.

(Her idea: interview families who've lost a member to a serial killer. It's an idea being turned into a reality-TV program. But little problem here: the crimes were nev ...more

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Mar 12, 2016 Bandit rated it liked it · review of another edition

This was the longest (so far) and the least impressive (so far) of Verdon's books. Mind you, he's set the bar pretty high with the two previous Dave Gurney, retired detective extraordinaire, series, meaning that even a lackluster entry into his world would still be pretty decent, but it did lack a lot of the things that made books one and two so, so good. The character writing is still top notch, Gurney, his oddly balanced, yet very functional marriage (although by now one might start to questio ...more

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Jan 31, 2017 Μαρία Γεωργοπούλου rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars
Well, I am going to be honest here... Although I really liked the plot and I read it quickly because I was anxious to find the truth, I had a huge problem with the main character.. I didn't like the way he acted with his wife and with his son... Actually, I didn't like the way he treated almost everyone... He is always acting distant... I don't dislike him, I am intrigued by him and his mind but I wanted him more... human...
...more

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Dec 01, 2012 Gary rated it really liked it

The 3rd book in the Dave Gurney series by John Verdon.
I really enjoy his books but unfortunately there are not enough of them.

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Jul 29, 2015 Lisa rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: did-not-finish

For me the story did not grab me at all could not pick this up to keep reading might be me i don't know took to long to get into the story ...more

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Aug 19, 2018 Kathy rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I borrowed a couple of these Dave Gurney books to try out author and series, read this one and will return the other without reading. Maybe one has to start at the beginning, but I did not particularly enjoy this read.

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Nov 18, 2014 JanB rated it liked it

This third installment of the Dave Gurney series follows the same formula as the first two. Dave is once again brought in on a seemingly unsolvable case, but unfortunately, the plot lacks the suspense of the first 2 books and the story didn't warrant >400 pages. Also, for being such a Supercop legend Dave does some amazingly stupid things and he never actually solves the case (the same device was used in the first 2 books). Instead there is a climactic scene where Dave gets in a bind, his life i ...more

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Feb 03, 2019 Michael Martz rated it liked it

I've really enjoyed getting to know the Dave Gurney character through the couple of books I've read in John Verdon's series. He's a retired NYC 'supercop' detective living in upstate New York, trying to take it easy and finding it difficult to do so. He's smart, data driven, fairly unemotional, humble, and, in "Let the Devil Sleep", recovering from injuries he endured in his last adventure. Trouble seems to follow him, though, and it succeeds yet again in finding him.

Gurney is pulled into lookin I've really enjoyed getting to know the Dave Gurney character through the couple of books I've read in John Verdon's series. He's a retired NYC 'supercop' detective living in upstate New York, trying to take it easy and finding it difficult to do so. He's smart, data driven, fairly unemotional, humble, and, in "Let the Devil Sleep", recovering from injuries he endured in his last adventure. Trouble seems to follow him, though, and it succeeds yet again in finding him.

Gurney is pulled into looking at a serial killer investigation when the daughter of a writer who had penned a nice article about him while he was still 'on the job' talks him into reviewing her master's thesis project, which is based on the murders. A Fox News-type organization wants to make a sensational series out of her work and she feels she needs the perspective of a former supercop for credibility. So far, so good. In true Gurney fashion, though, he quickly determines something doesn't feel right about the investigatory work. Instead of the one-day consulting gig he signed up for, it quickly becomes an all-consuming project that lands him in hot water with law enforcement and puts he and his family in the cross hairs of the original killer. It turns into a decent mystery that's resolved but in a way that's not to this reader's satisfaction. The plot is fine but the story meanders along with no real breakthroughs until Gurney, who's managed to piss off the entirety of law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels, is given a day to extricate himself from the investigation. Then all hell breaks loose.

The writing in 'Let the Devil Sleep' is nothing special, with the dialogue being stilted at times. The main characters, especially Gurney himself, his wife, and his former colleagues that provide him with off-the-books help, are pretty well developed. The other characters specific to this book- the young lady (Kim) whose project kicked the whole thing off, Gurney's son, the FBI guys, the surviving family members of the serial killer's victims who are being interviewed as part of the project, another retired cop who'd been injured in the original investigation, etc. are all over the board. Some are nicely drawn, others caricatures. The procedural work seemed fine and the relationship and dynamics between the different law enforcement agencies appeared realistic.

The major problem I had with 'Let the Devil Sleep' was its conclusion. It's a relatively long novel (around 450 pages) where there's a ton of activity for the first 75% of it but not much real progress, followed by a conclusion that seems to be 'made for TV', which it was, in effect. This seems to be a decent series with a very good lead character that I expect to get further into. ...more

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Apr 03, 2013 Maddy rated it liked it

Shelves: 2013-reads

PROTAGONIST: Dave Gurney, retired homicide detective
SETTING: New York State
SERIES: #3 of 4
RATING: 3.25

How does the most decorated homicide detective in NYPD history go into retirement? For Dave Gurney, it hasn’t been an easy journey. He was grievously injured while working on his last case, and now he’s living in a kind of twilight zone, feeling depressed, lethargic and angry. He and his wife, Madeleine, have moved to upstate New York; but Dave has no interest in what is going on around him. Bas PROTAGONIST: Dave Gurney, retired homicide detective
SETTING: New York State
SERIES: #3 of 4
RATING: 3.25

How does the most decorated homicide detective in NYPD history go into retirement? For Dave Gurney, it hasn’t been an easy journey. He was grievously injured while working on his last case, and now he’s living in a kind of twilight zone, feeling depressed, lethargic and angry. He and his wife, Madeleine, have moved to upstate New York; but Dave has no interest in what is going on around him. Basically, he has withdrawn from life.

Can a new case help him recover from his physical and emotional injuries? He receives a phone call from journalist Connie Clarke, who wrote a flattering piece on him some time ago, asking for his help. Her college-aged daughter Kim has a school project and needs Gurney’s assistance. She is putting together a documentary focusing on the families of the victims of the serial killer known as the “Good Shepherd”. The murders occurred ten years earlier; Kim is interested in seeing how the families are faring after suffering the loss of their loved ones. She plans to examine the horror of murder by examining its impact on the victim’s family. Gurney is meant to serve as a mentor to her; but of course, he can’t help reopening the investigation as the killer had never been found. It doesn’t help that he believes that the original investigation was totally flawed, that the killer manipulated the police. He’s vocal about expressing this opinion, which doesn’t earn him any friends in the law enforcement community.

And then the killing resumes, with the family members being the new targets of the Shepherd. Only his behavior has escalated—the deaths are occurring on almost a daily basis. Could the Good Shepherd be threatened by the first episode of Kim’s documentary, which was aired on a reality TV show? In addition to the murders, there are several alarming threats aimed at Kim. She blames her ex-boyfriend, Robby Meese—but could these be the work of the Shepherd as well?

I had several problems with the book. The first was that Dave relied on a cop friend, Jack Hardwick, to ferret out obscure information for him. He made many requests of Jack—it was hard to believe that Hardwick would be so much at his beck and call. The second issue had to do with a psychologist who had profiled the Good Shepherd. A lot of her beliefs (as well as Gurney’s) were expressed in psychologically technical terms; e.g.:

“….the concept of pattern resonance emphasizes the transference of energy from an original trauma into a current situation—which makes the current manifestation essentially an inanimate vehicle that is given life by the past. The application of the imitation-instinct paradigm would give the current situation a greater validity of its own.”

Huh??? Working through those kinds of passages certainly slowed the pace down. The last issue had to do with the identity of the Good Shepherd. Suffice it to say the revelation was very superficial—after investing a good deal of time in reading the book, I expected that I would be able to better understand the killer.

On the other hand, Verdon does an excellent job describing Gurney’s life since the time of the shooting and its deep-hitting impact on his life. At times, he’s not very likeable; but that feels entirely natural given what he’s been through. The one positive thing to come out of the situation is that he and his son, Kyle, have begun a reconciliation that looks to be long lasting. I really wonder where Verdon is taking this series next. I’m pretty sure that Dave Gurney isn’t going to be happy going on nature walks with his wife!

...more

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May 19, 2013 Robert rated it it was ok

Shelves: crime-detective

The third volume in an on-going detective series sees a former NYC super-cop, now retired to the sticks get dragged into yet another investigation on an amateur basis. Once again the story is eminently readable and it is an improvement over its predecessors in that it is not blatantly obvious who the mystery killer is - in fact I guessed incorrectly this time.

THIS REVIEW HAS BEEN CURTAILED IN PROTEST AT GOODREADS' CENSORSHIP POLICY

See the complete review here:

http://arbieroo.booklikes.com/post/ ...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Pamela rated it it was ok

Will probably be my last in this series. The wife is just too annoying. The main character is turning into a dullard. And the son is far too eager to please his absentee father.

Mystery wasn't bad, but can't make up for totally unlikeable characters. Count me out from now on. ...more

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Jul 16, 2019 Alan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I don’t know if this is a 5 star read. It’s more cohesive and satisfying than the first two in the series and a little less far fetched. It appears that Dave Gurney’s near death in his last case was, oddly, beneficial to his mental health in serendipitous ways. Still an obsessive curmudgeon, he is more likeable for his shortcomings and an increasing awareness of his human frailties.

His wife, too, is a more compelling and likeable character in this story. In fact, while she comes close to being p ...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Luanne Ollivier rated it really liked it

was lucky enough to be an early reader (and fan) of John Verdon's debut novel - Think of a Numb3r. I love getting in on the ground floor of a new series. His second book - Shut Your Eyes Tight - was just as good and proved that Verdon wasn't a one book wonder. The latest book in his Dave Gurney series - Let the Devil Sleep - was fantastic! John Verdon just gets better and better.

Retired NYPD Homicide Detective Dave Gurney has spent the last six months recovering from gunshot wounds sustained du was lucky enough to be an early reader (and fan) of John Verdon's debut novel - Think of a Numb3r. I love getting in on the ground floor of a new series. His second book - Shut Your Eyes Tight - was just as good and proved that Verdon wasn't a one book wonder. The latest book in his Dave Gurney series - Let the Devil Sleep - was fantastic! John Verdon just gets better and better.

Retired NYPD Homicide Detective Dave Gurney has spent the last six months recovering from gunshot wounds sustained during his last attempt to bring down a serial killer. Yes, he's retired - but can't help himself - puzzles intrigue him and unsolved cases still call his name. He had the highest solve rate in the NYPD's history when he retired. But this time, he just can't seem to shake things off - he's out of sorts, short tempered with his ever patient wife Madeleine, can't stop worrying about his lingering symptoms and has no interest in doing anything. When Connie, an old journalist friend contacts him to ask a favour, he agrees out of a sense of obligation. Her daughter Kim is doing a series of interviews with families of the victims of a serial killer dubbed The Good Shepherd. Ten years ago, the killer targeted the wealthy, specifically those driving black Mercedes. The case remains unsolved and Kim would like to have him look over what she's doing with his cop's eye and give her feedback.

But a lot occurs in that one day - there's more going on with Kim than she initially mentioned. And the interviews and files on The Good Shepherd pique Gurney's interest. It is Madeleine who notes that Gurney has done more in a day than he has in months - and he's not worrying about his symptoms every five minutes. Slowly, but surely, Dave is hooked again. He believes the initial investigation was flawed.

In the beginning of the series, I wasn't sure what I thought about Gurney. But, as the series grows, so
does Dave. This time out, we get to meet his son Kyle, with whom Dave has a difficult relationship. Verdon explores this dynamic well, letting us get a view of Gurney beneath the controlled exterior. Gurney's enigmatic wife Madeleine continually intrigues me. Her love of nature, colour and life are in stark contrast to Gurney's pursuit of killers. What makes this marriage work? Verdon allows to see into this relationship a little more every time. Madeline is still my favourite supporting character. Another recurring character is Detective Jack Hartwick. The testy relationship between Jack and Dave is entertaining. I did find it hard to warm up to Kim; I found her to be manipulative and self centered.

So, the characters are great. What about the plot? Well, this is where Verdon shines. The plotting is impeccable, complex and devious. There are two plot lines running simultaneously - could they connected? Gurney's reasoning and thought processes were fascinating. I enjoyed the matching of wits between the FBI, their psychologist consultant and Dave. We get to reopen the case with Dave as he explores past files. However, the past is not content to stay buried and the tension, thrills and stakes are heightened as the killer puts Dave squarely in his line of sight. I had absolutely no idea whodunit until the last few pages. I love not being able to figure out the case until the end.

Just a great series. You could read any of the books as a stand alone, but I bet you'll be hunting down the other two! ...more

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Jan 25, 2020 Karen Nagai rated it it was ok · review of another edition

The best think in this book is the relationship between Gurney and Madeleine with complicity and love that I had never seen in books. The method of the killer was also a great surprise. But it is just that.

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Aug 26, 2015 John Wiltshire rated it it was amazing

Started this one today having enjoyed both the first two Think of a Number and Shut Your Eyes Tight.
I'm going into this with great expectations that the author has been toying with us about the deranged wife, and that it's this book which will expose her and see Dave saved from her evil clutches. Yeah. But I like Dave Gurney enough to overlook this little flaw in his character (that he hasn't quietly murdered his wife) and enjoy some great writing and plotting.
I'll update when finished...
Finis Started this one today having enjoyed both the first two Think of a Number and Shut Your Eyes Tight.
I'm going into this with great expectations that the author has been toying with us about the deranged wife, and that it's this book which will expose her and see Dave saved from her evil clutches. Yeah. But I like Dave Gurney enough to overlook this little flaw in his character (that he hasn't quietly murdered his wife) and enjoy some great writing and plotting.
I'll update when finished...
Finished.
I think this is the best of the series so far, which is odd in a way as this is a novel where Dave is the only one who thinks there is a crime to solve. He becomes involved with a young journalist who is doing a story on a serial killer called the Good Shepard, who murdered six people. Ten years after the crimes, she is interviewing relatives to see what impact the deaths had on them. Dave begins to suspect the whole rationale of the killings, much to the chagrin of the FBI agent who worked the case. However, Dave's also still recovering from the shooting at the end of the previous novel, so his responses to most things are slightly off. No one believes him, and his stubborn refusal to drop the investigation ultimately brings the Good Shepard's ire down on him.
I've been pondering these novels as I've read them and come to conclusion now that the wife isn't supposed to be an evil character. So it's odd that she causes such a jarring, unpleasant reaction in me every time she makes an appearance. I've actually fabricated a theory where she isn't actually real--that only Dave can see her, and thus her weird behaviour can be explained because she's only in his head. I have lots of evidence to make this theory work (as well as they do in The Uninvited, anyway) as she doesn't appear to interact with any other characters in the book. She's either utterly passive aggressive in her relationship with Dave (as voices in your head often are), or she's described in almost post-LSD-trip hallucinatory, intensely mismatching colours and exhibiting loony out-of-context behaviours (always drifting in and out on walks and blathering on about air and sunshine).
And my final piece of evidence (for those of you who've read through to the very final page of this third novel),(view spoiler)
So why the five stars? Well this story had me returning to it at every opportunity. This is just a well written novel. The supporting characters (other than she who shall remain nameless) were excellent, the plot complex and engaging, and Dave is a consistently enjoyable person to spend time with. If only he could get rid of the voice in his head... ...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Evan Lewis rated it it was amazing

I learned something this week: John Verdon is a heck of a writer. I read LET THE DEVIL SLEEP in two days, which is saying a lot, because it's a BIG book, running 449 pages. It was just hard to stop.

This is Mr. Verdon's third novel, and third in the continuing adventures of retired NYPD homicide detective Dave Gurney. And now, God help me, I'm going to have to find and read the first two, THINK OF A NUMBER and SHUT YOUR EYES TIGHT.

LET THE DEVIL SLEEP begins with Gurney at home, lamenting the guns ...more

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Sep 04, 2019 Vicki rated it it was amazing

Shelves: cold-case, inheritance, forensics, ptsd, friendship, serial-killer, suicide, murder, police, psychology

I'm really enjoying the Dave Gurney series: great plotting and characterization. ...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Diane S ☔ rated it liked it

3.5 I enjoy Verdon because his books are like puzzles. So many layers to uncover and try to fit the pieces where they belong. This one I felt was a little awkward with the conversations in the beginning but true to form they smoothed out and gave the reader an in depth analysis of the storyline and what the characters are thinking. Another very good read from this author.

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Jun 03, 2013 Heather rated it liked it

I found this book a bit disappointing after the first two by Verdun. The plot is weaker; Gurney doesn't truly get entangled in the mystery until the final third of the story, and I found it hard to really care about what was happening as a result. ...more

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Jul 01, 2018 Marty Fried rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: police-procedural, mystery, audiobooks

Once again, Dave proves how brilliant a detective he is, then does something a bit dumb, almost dies, and ends up in the hospital. Still, the stories are interesting, with a good mix of suspense and humor, and a lot of interesting characters. I guessed fairly early one of the key parts of what was going on, although it didn't really spoil the story as I was never really sure. I think I've read so many mystery novels that my mind automatically finds these tricks.

All in all, it's an interesting se ...more

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Mar 24, 2018 Russ added it

Another serial killer mystery. Only this time with a twist. Instead of the serial killer du jour, this is about a string of killings 10 years in the past. A little slow warming up, but once it got started ...whew. A few new bureaucratic adversaries to deal with makes me want to read the next installment of Dave Gurney, Serial Killer Hunter.

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Apr 10, 2018 Alyson Larrabee rated it really liked it

Not my favorite of the series, but still great because of Dave Gurney, and his long suffering, mystically wise spouse, Madeleine. Some of the scenes I liked best in this book can't be described in a review, because I don't want to include spoilers. ...more

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Aug 06, 2018 Jane Brant rated it liked it

The book focuses its energy in its complex portrayal of Dave Gurney's struggles as a wounded, vulnerable, aging human being who is extremely close to "breaking". There are suggestions from characters that he is suffering from PTSD from his last case and the attack on him. The murder mystery seems a little lackluster as well as the revelation of who the killer is surprises most readers; in fact, it's hard to accept who it is. So many other characters seem a more logical choice. ...more

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About John Verdon

John Verdon

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JOHN VERDON has held several executive positions with Manhattan advertising firms, but like his protagonist, he recently relocated with his wife to rural upstate New York.

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Quotes from Let the Devil Sleep

“The sun sets and we sleep. The sun rises and we wake. We wake and, ever so briefly, ever so blindly, we enjoy the fantasy of beginning anew. Then, without fail, reality reasserts its presence.” — 31 likes

“Oysa tek gerçek şu; yeterince uzun yaşarsanız her şeyi, herkesi kaybedersiniz.” — 2 likes

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Let the Devil Sleep

(Dave Gurney #3)

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