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Cain Casey #1
The Devil Inside
Brains, guts, and ruthless ambition should be enough to come out on top in any fight. Except when the battle is over love, all bets are off. Derby Cain Casey was groomed from birth to take the reins of the Casey family enterprises, which just happens to be one of the major crime organizations in New Orleans. Surviving by never turning away from a fight and knowing how to win at all costs, Cain is as careful with her heart as she is with her business - until she meets Emma Verde. The farm girl from Wisconsin puts a hit out on Cain’s heart and leads her down a dangerous road filled with great joy and devastating sorrow. The Devil Inside is the story of unexpected passion, a shattering betrayal, and the challenge of love put to the test.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
51 people are currently reading
1388 people want to read
About the author
Ali Vali
58 books462 followersAli Vali is the author of the long-running Cain Casey "Devil" series and the Genesis Clan "Forces" series, as well as numerous standalone romances including two Lambda Literary Award finalists, Calling the Dead and Love Match, and her 2017 release, Beauty and the Boss. Ali also has a novella in the collection Girls with Guns.
Originally from Cuba, Ali has retained much of her family's traditions and language and uses them frequently in her stories. Having her father read her stories and poetry before bed every night as a child infused her with a love of reading, which she carries till today. Ali currently lives outside New Orleans, Louisiana, and she has discovered that living in Louisiana provides plenty of material to draw from in creating her novels and short stories.
Originally from Cuba, Ali has retained much of her family's traditions and language and uses them frequently in her stories. Having her father read her stories and poetry before bed every night as a child infused her with a love of reading, which she carries till today. Ali currently lives outside New Orleans, Louisiana, and she has discovered that living in Louisiana provides plenty of material to draw from in creating her novels and short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
October 28, 2015
A clear case for the argument that queer is not always good. I feel like going on a side rant about the depictions of lesbian relationships as butch/femme binaries and the invisibility of lesbians like me in most of these books in general. But coming back to the "butch" character with the odd name that is almost a given of these books, I found her one of the most unlikeable protagonists I have ever met.
She is controlling to the point of emotional abuse of her partner (even though she meets her every need (apart for the need for choice/agency) and acts tenderly. She seems to have no vulnerabilities, her cocky demeanour seems to hide an even cockier heart.
The other protagonist (or just love interest considering how little agency she has) is portrayed as being a "bitch" and/or having made a mistake for having decided that she could get over a traumatic sexual assault best by exercising some choice and being consulted not by passively/submissively letting her more dominant partner handle the situation. In general she is passive though, being a pawn of her wife (she gets to be "Mrs" Casey (vomit), her mother and even her supposed to be likeable father.
Cain objectifies all other women leading me to ask what is even queer about this book apart from Cain not technically having a penis? The story moves forward and back clumsily to flashbacks to the idealised time when Cain and Emma met.
As a feminist lesbian. As someone who thinks all women can and ought to exercise agency this book made me sick. Romance novels are meant to be predictable...however they are also meant to be enjoyable. Cain seems as abusive as a leading man in a traditional heteropatriarchal romance. Moving on...
She is controlling to the point of emotional abuse of her partner (even though she meets her every need (apart for the need for choice/agency) and acts tenderly. She seems to have no vulnerabilities, her cocky demeanour seems to hide an even cockier heart.
The other protagonist (or just love interest considering how little agency she has) is portrayed as being a "bitch" and/or having made a mistake for having decided that she could get over a traumatic sexual assault best by exercising some choice and being consulted not by passively/submissively letting her more dominant partner handle the situation. In general she is passive though, being a pawn of her wife (she gets to be "Mrs" Casey (vomit), her mother and even her supposed to be likeable father.
Cain objectifies all other women leading me to ask what is even queer about this book apart from Cain not technically having a penis? The story moves forward and back clumsily to flashbacks to the idealised time when Cain and Emma met.
As a feminist lesbian. As someone who thinks all women can and ought to exercise agency this book made me sick. Romance novels are meant to be predictable...however they are also meant to be enjoyable. Cain seems as abusive as a leading man in a traditional heteropatriarchal romance. Moving on...
December 28, 2017
There is no instance, I mean NO INSTANCE imo, where the word 'sweetling' should be used as a form of endearment. As far as I'm concerned, the 16 times sweetling was mentioned by the unbelievably UNSEXY narration done by Hilarie Mukavitz, were 16 times too many. That and the horrible accents & intonation used for each character were jarring to my poor ears.
Perhaps my rating would be higher if I'd not listened to the audiobook. But I had a credit to spend so c'est la vie. I think I'll stick to the ebooks going forward with the series.
- 4 stars for the plot which increased my initial rating from 2 to 3.
P.S. Netty you got me hyped with that one line review...so the rec honour goes to you. :)
Perhaps my rating would be higher if I'd not listened to the audiobook. But I had a credit to spend so c'est la vie. I think I'll stick to the ebooks going forward with the series.
- 4 stars for the plot which increased my initial rating from 2 to 3.
P.S. Netty you got me hyped with that one line review...so the rec honour goes to you. :)
August 12, 2022
BRILLIANT!!!
Wow, I read this book in a day. I just couldn't put it down. I felt like I was reading an American version of Martina Cole. I've read all her books and now I'm hooked on Ali Vali and I'm gonna read all hers too. It's really well written and the characters are very realistic. The storyline is of high quality and outstanding. It has to be one of the best books I've ever read. I'm off to read number two. But you have to read this. I'd give it ten stars if I could. Enjoy!
Wow, I read this book in a day. I just couldn't put it down. I felt like I was reading an American version of Martina Cole. I've read all her books and now I'm hooked on Ali Vali and I'm gonna read all hers too. It's really well written and the characters are very realistic. The storyline is of high quality and outstanding. It has to be one of the best books I've ever read. I'm off to read number two. But you have to read this. I'd give it ten stars if I could. Enjoy!
December 28, 2017
DNF @50%. Emma is so stupid I can't even wrap my head around it. Everyone in this book assumes and doesn't communicate. On top of that all characters are one dimensional and the general flow of the story too predictable while some plot turns come straight outta left field and don't make much sense to me.
Why Emma doesn't believe the words of her partner of what was it, 7 years? Why Emma left without proper explanation from Cain? She just assumes and leaves just like that. Why was she fine for 7 years with Casey lifestyle and now suddenly it's a problem? Why she does not stay in contact with her son for 4 friggin years and then expects to get him back? Why does her method of getting him back is so extremely stupid? She must know he would be like Cain by then and would be on Cain's side. Everything she does is STUPID and illogical. I have zero sympathy for her and I can't relate at all.
Cain is a bit better because she's not completely stupid like Emma is and she has a bit more depth but just barely. She's still quite one dimensional as is Hayden and literally everyone else in this book. And she also didn't try that much to stop Emma which was the main turning point in their relationship. That's why it feels forced, none of the characters are doing what most would do in that situation - talk about it. Instead a lot of assumptions are made, communication is skipped and a relationship of 7 years is broken because author needs it to be broken.
Furthermore what Cain did was completely justified so Emma is probably the most stupid and illogical character I've ever read about in any lesfic book. Shit, even Emma's father thinks she is stupid for running away for that reason and he would've done the same in place of Cain. I believe that's the only time author came to a brief self awareness of how stupid one of her main characters is but I wouldn't know. I didn't finish the book.
This is my second Ali Vali book and it seems she's all about style and sugar without much if any substance. Her characters are flat and often illogical, her plot lines are not paced well, she values superficial details over emotional depth and she forces the plot not because the story requires it but because she the author needs it that way. I'm not sure if I want to attempt another Ali Vali book in the future.
Why Emma doesn't believe the words of her partner of what was it, 7 years? Why Emma left without proper explanation from Cain? She just assumes and leaves just like that. Why was she fine for 7 years with Casey lifestyle and now suddenly it's a problem? Why she does not stay in contact with her son for 4 friggin years and then expects to get him back? Why does her method of getting him back is so extremely stupid? She must know he would be like Cain by then and would be on Cain's side. Everything she does is STUPID and illogical. I have zero sympathy for her and I can't relate at all.
Cain is a bit better because she's not completely stupid like Emma is and she has a bit more depth but just barely. She's still quite one dimensional as is Hayden and literally everyone else in this book. And she also didn't try that much to stop Emma which was the main turning point in their relationship. That's why it feels forced, none of the characters are doing what most would do in that situation - talk about it. Instead a lot of assumptions are made, communication is skipped and a relationship of 7 years is broken because author needs it to be broken.
Furthermore what Cain did was completely justified so Emma is probably the most stupid and illogical character I've ever read about in any lesfic book. Shit, even Emma's father thinks she is stupid for running away for that reason and he would've done the same in place of Cain. I believe that's the only time author came to a brief self awareness of how stupid one of her main characters is but I wouldn't know. I didn't finish the book.
This is my second Ali Vali book and it seems she's all about style and sugar without much if any substance. Her characters are flat and often illogical, her plot lines are not paced well, she values superficial details over emotional depth and she forces the plot not because the story requires it but because she the author needs it that way. I'm not sure if I want to attempt another Ali Vali book in the future.
December 23, 2016
There are so many things I didn't like here in this story: the main character on the wrong side of the law, her too mature eleven year son, her wife that didn't mind her shady dealings but disapproves "that incident" and flees back to her family in Wisconsin, the flashbacks, the corrupt and incompetent law enforcers, the mother back in Wisconsin... So sorry, but I didn't like this book.
May 21, 2021
I started reading this wonderfully and exciting series again because sometime ago I bought the newest title when it came out, but I thought that I’d enjoy it more after reading the other books again first. I finished the first four now and loved them again. These books make me lose sleep in a good way. They are exiting and romantic with a female mob boss, her partner, family and friends. The mobster is bad but somewhat honourable even if she doesn’t hesitate to kill sometimes. The Fed’s want to apprehend her so badly that it turns some of them in criminals or makes them act unethical. Still the mobster and her good mobster friends win. They also win the wars with the bad drugs dealing criminals. I am going on to The Devil’s Orchard now and look forward to it and the others.
August 9, 2025
3.25 ★
Cain is everything I love in a lead; suave, intelligent, and competent. Emma...is as blindingly idiotic as the day is long. So in the end, it was a bit of a wash.
Let me just say this book and I have made eye contact every time I come across it on goodreads as well as the rare times I've seen the paperback copy at a used bookstore, and I've inexplicably dragged my feet for a few years.
In the end, I'm glad I spent the time reading it as a sapphic romantic suspense enjoyer. You have a complex mafia plot with action, intrigue, and betrayals around every corner- and best of all, a protag who always finds a way to stay in control of any situation using her cunning and compelling barbarity. But then you have a lead in Emma who is allergic to making good decisions when it comes to treating her lover well. I could stretch my mind to understand her motivations, but could not for the life of me sympathize much less empathize. Despite that, I somehow didn't mind the mental leaps Cain seemed to make to make peace by the end of the book.
This is also a unique story in the sense that it is two women who already have a family together and are finding their way back to each other. I didn't come into it knowing it was a second-chance romance at all. Fair warning- it's a flashback heavy book. It needed to be given their history, and it was frustrating at times trying to sip from a slow dripping fountain to get all the pieces of the plot.
Cain is everything I love in a lead; suave, intelligent, and competent. Emma...is as blindingly idiotic as the day is long. So in the end, it was a bit of a wash.
Let me just say this book and I have made eye contact every time I come across it on goodreads as well as the rare times I've seen the paperback copy at a used bookstore, and I've inexplicably dragged my feet for a few years.
In the end, I'm glad I spent the time reading it as a sapphic romantic suspense enjoyer. You have a complex mafia plot with action, intrigue, and betrayals around every corner- and best of all, a protag who always finds a way to stay in control of any situation using her cunning and compelling barbarity. But then you have a lead in Emma who is allergic to making good decisions when it comes to treating her lover well. I could stretch my mind to understand her motivations, but could not for the life of me sympathize much less empathize. Despite that, I somehow didn't mind the mental leaps Cain seemed to make to make peace by the end of the book.
This is also a unique story in the sense that it is two women who already have a family together and are finding their way back to each other. I didn't come into it knowing it was a second-chance romance at all. Fair warning- it's a flashback heavy book. It needed to be given their history, and it was frustrating at times trying to sip from a slow dripping fountain to get all the pieces of the plot.
November 8, 2017
While reading The Devil Inside I often wondered how can any couple bounce back from that much pain, betrayal and mutual inflicted suffering? Derby Cain Casey and Emma Verde sure seem to have all of that stuff going on between them in spades. Then add to that the son Emma left behind when she walked out on Cain 4 years ago. Oh boy, major drama-rama with a nice big helping of angst.
Ali Vali paints a very intruiging picture of the machinations inside the various New Orleans crime families, the Irish Casey clan in particular. I like her broody, honorable, tough as nails, butch character of Cain Casey. Like all characters in the book she is larger than life (sometimes a bit too large, but she is growing on me).
Emma Verde (or Mrs. Casey) is a tougher nut to crack. I could not completely understand her character and her motivations to walk out on her family. To leave the love-of-your-life and your son to go back to cow country Wisconsin and your bible thumping condescending bitch of a mother just on an assumption and hearsay is already a stretch. But then to be a Judas and hand said love-of-your-life over to a man hell bend on destroying the whole Casey legacy out of personal spite is spectacularly devastating. Yeah, the woman has some flaws to overcome and hopefully grow a backbone towards the end of the story (and in the books to come).
Their son Hayden is the only character that didn’t gel with me. He is 11-going-on-45. He was waaaay to mature for his age in both body and mind. That was just creepy and it would have suited better had the author made him a mature for his age 17-year-old.
I am looking forward to dive into book two, it’s fun. I like to see how Emma and Cain learn to trust each other again. How much squirming Emma has to do before she is allowed back into the marital bed. Like I said, it’s a bit over the top, a tad heavy on the schmalz, but entertaining nevertheless.
f/f explicit
Themes: no way Hayden behaves like an eleven-year-old boy, that was just creepy and it kept me unsettled throughout the whole story, are all the female Caseys lesbians?, there is a little surprise waiting for Cain back at the farm and it ain’t the feds, flashbacks galore, shades of Xena in her War Lord days, you know... 10 winters ago, so yeah uber Xena and Gabby.
3.8 stars
Ali Vali paints a very intruiging picture of the machinations inside the various New Orleans crime families, the Irish Casey clan in particular. I like her broody, honorable, tough as nails, butch character of Cain Casey. Like all characters in the book she is larger than life (sometimes a bit too large, but she is growing on me).
Emma Verde (or Mrs. Casey) is a tougher nut to crack. I could not completely understand her character and her motivations to walk out on her family. To leave the love-of-your-life and your son to go back to cow country Wisconsin and your bible thumping condescending bitch of a mother just on an assumption and hearsay is already a stretch. But then to be a Judas and hand said love-of-your-life over to a man hell bend on destroying the whole Casey legacy out of personal spite is spectacularly devastating. Yeah, the woman has some flaws to overcome and hopefully grow a backbone towards the end of the story (and in the books to come).
Their son Hayden is the only character that didn’t gel with me. He is 11-going-on-45. He was waaaay to mature for his age in both body and mind. That was just creepy and it would have suited better had the author made him a mature for his age 17-year-old.
I am looking forward to dive into book two, it’s fun. I like to see how Emma and Cain learn to trust each other again. How much squirming Emma has to do before she is allowed back into the marital bed. Like I said, it’s a bit over the top, a tad heavy on the schmalz, but entertaining nevertheless.
f/f explicit
Themes: no way Hayden behaves like an eleven-year-old boy, that was just creepy and it kept me unsettled throughout the whole story, are all the female Caseys lesbians?, there is a little surprise waiting for Cain back at the farm and it ain’t the feds, flashbacks galore, shades of Xena in her War Lord days, you know... 10 winters ago, so yeah uber Xena and Gabby.
3.8 stars
April 27, 2021
This was painful to watch. Poor Hayden and Hannah!
Emma's arc really changed in this one and wow, it was as shocking the first time I read it just as it is now. Good stuff!!
Also, Hayden is WAY too adult and tall for an 11 year old. YIKES!
Emma's arc really changed in this one and wow, it was as shocking the first time I read it just as it is now. Good stuff!!
Also, Hayden is WAY too adult and tall for an 11 year old. YIKES!
January 18, 2020
Now I'm Hooked
I've read a few of Ali Vali's book and after the two book in the Call Series I figured I'd read this one and hot dog will my book budget take a hit. The characters were really developed in this one and even though it got a bit annoying how dumb I felt Emma was being I still liked her. I did find the constant flashbacks a bit annoying bit I guess it was necessary. I cant wait to read the second one which I'm debating if i should go ahead and buy now or wait until next month...oh heck i think I'm just keep going lol
I've read a few of Ali Vali's book and after the two book in the Call Series I figured I'd read this one and hot dog will my book budget take a hit. The characters were really developed in this one and even though it got a bit annoying how dumb I felt Emma was being I still liked her. I did find the constant flashbacks a bit annoying bit I guess it was necessary. I cant wait to read the second one which I'm debating if i should go ahead and buy now or wait until next month...oh heck i think I'm just keep going lol
August 16, 2023
Really good
How do you get me to cheer for the bad guy? I really was surprised that I enjoyed this book so much. I tried the audio book a couple years ago and couldn’t get very far. The narrator was not my cup of tea. I really liked reading the book and I can’t wait to read the next one.
How do you get me to cheer for the bad guy? I really was surprised that I enjoyed this book so much. I tried the audio book a couple years ago and couldn’t get very far. The narrator was not my cup of tea. I really liked reading the book and I can’t wait to read the next one.
May 22, 2020
I had the privilege to have read the prequel before I had any knowledge of the Cain Casey series. When I began 'The Devil Inside' I already was familiar with some the characters, which softened the blow of my feelings towards Emma Verde, and my feelings towards Cain's younger sister, Marie, was just all the more precious because we got to know her in the prequel.
I already knew who and what Cain Casey was and the kind of business she did just from reading the prequel, but in this story we got to see a more, if not different, angles and sides to Cain's personality and temperament. She has continued to show us how much of a badass she really is in all her "crime boss" ways. I loved how calm and reserved she always remained whenever she was faced with a challenge or someone who had gone rogue and decided to go against the wrath of Cain Casey and her family. Don't f*** with Cain Casey's family and don't f*** with Cain Casey. In this story we learned that Cain had been abandoned by her wife, Emma, years before, due to the fact that Emma assumed the worst of her wife without giving Cain a chance to explain. With Emma's heavy decision made, she lost out on a life with their son and her wife. Cain raised their son to the best of her ability and at times I wondered if the author hadn't been around 11 year-olds very much, because Hayden spoke and acted more like a young adult than a kid inching towards puberty. But then I would ask myself if maybe his mature outlook on life had anything to do with the kind of mother he had, and I would nod in agreement that the young boys behaviour would be the norm. Especially raised surrounded by security guards, guns, crime lords, and the police. Emma herself, had a secret, or I should say, secrets, that she withheld from Cain and figured she could use one very precious secret to re-enter Cain's and Hayden's life without a problem, four years later. A part of me sympathized with Emma for previously running scared, and you can thank the prequel for softening my heart towards her, but the other part, the part that saw a naïve, stupid woman jumping to conclusions, felt nothing but anger towards her. If she hadn't had that innocent soul with her, I'd'a jumped in the book and told Cain to run and never look back. The romantic in me, though, wanted to see a happy reunion for the little mob family, and we started to see it, but then bad guys and the such, kind of ruined it. Can't give anything away.
Ali Vali did a brilliant job at piecing parts of this book into the prequel, because I remembered those scenes from the prequel. She also did an amazing job at pissing me off at times because I thought she was hanging us, the readers, out to dry without so much as an explanation, but then I'd flip to the next page or chapter and everything would flawlessly come together and my heart, mind, and rage would settle down. It's been a while since I read a book with very little romance or erotica that kept me wanting more, needing to read the next chapter, begging to know what would happen next. I most certainly plan on continuing with this series.
I already knew who and what Cain Casey was and the kind of business she did just from reading the prequel, but in this story we got to see a more, if not different, angles and sides to Cain's personality and temperament. She has continued to show us how much of a badass she really is in all her "crime boss" ways. I loved how calm and reserved she always remained whenever she was faced with a challenge or someone who had gone rogue and decided to go against the wrath of Cain Casey and her family. Don't f*** with Cain Casey's family and don't f*** with Cain Casey. In this story we learned that Cain had been abandoned by her wife, Emma, years before, due to the fact that Emma assumed the worst of her wife without giving Cain a chance to explain. With Emma's heavy decision made, she lost out on a life with their son and her wife. Cain raised their son to the best of her ability and at times I wondered if the author hadn't been around 11 year-olds very much, because Hayden spoke and acted more like a young adult than a kid inching towards puberty. But then I would ask myself if maybe his mature outlook on life had anything to do with the kind of mother he had, and I would nod in agreement that the young boys behaviour would be the norm. Especially raised surrounded by security guards, guns, crime lords, and the police. Emma herself, had a secret, or I should say, secrets, that she withheld from Cain and figured she could use one very precious secret to re-enter Cain's and Hayden's life without a problem, four years later. A part of me sympathized with Emma for previously running scared, and you can thank the prequel for softening my heart towards her, but the other part, the part that saw a naïve, stupid woman jumping to conclusions, felt nothing but anger towards her. If she hadn't had that innocent soul with her, I'd'a jumped in the book and told Cain to run and never look back. The romantic in me, though, wanted to see a happy reunion for the little mob family, and we started to see it, but then bad guys and the such, kind of ruined it. Can't give anything away.
Ali Vali did a brilliant job at piecing parts of this book into the prequel, because I remembered those scenes from the prequel. She also did an amazing job at pissing me off at times because I thought she was hanging us, the readers, out to dry without so much as an explanation, but then I'd flip to the next page or chapter and everything would flawlessly come together and my heart, mind, and rage would settle down. It's been a while since I read a book with very little romance or erotica that kept me wanting more, needing to read the next chapter, begging to know what would happen next. I most certainly plan on continuing with this series.
June 20, 2016
Cain Casey Series – Ali Vali
I just read the first 5 books of Ali Vali’s Cain Casey ‘Devil’ series straight through, book a day, no stopping for anything. Wow.. brilliant! I don’t actually know how I hadn’t read them all before. They are favourite books of a friend, and I have really enjoyed Ms Valis’ other books.
For those who haven’t enjoyed them yet – Cain Casey is head of an Irish clan in NOLA. The family business if hooch, importing illegal alcohol and tobacco, and make the Casey clan one of the main mob families. The series follows the trials and tribulations of Cain and her family, the FBI team trying to catch her out, and the other families she interacts with. Each book does stand alone, but the whole is much greater than the sun of the parts.
A significant number of the current generation family leaders are women, and lesbians at that, giving Ms Vali a huge range of opportunities for romance and attraction between the players.. some long term and successful, others fleeting but significant. There’s plenty of hot scenes as well as on-going commitments which develop as the series unfolds.
As well as the romances the books are packed with FBI style drama; intrigue and war between the families, plotting and scheming to get on top and take each other out, or maintain position and keep the peace. There are chases and battles, fairly gruesome murders and revenge killings and some intense page turners along the way.
But the glue that holds it all together is the complex inter-relationships between the players. Within the families, across the partnerships, between those who hate each other.. and among all of them and the FBI team who never stop watching. While the interactions and battles are serious the FBI in particular are often the cause of as much humour as angst, assuming the mob are stupid and that their downfall is always imminent.
Cain is a complex character that we continue to learn as the series progresses, and Ms Vali surrounds her with powerful women, mobster bosses of the old and new school, an intriguing family dynamic and a deep family history. The other families and FBI are also well drawn and provide a series of major characters which sustain the growth and depth of the storyline.
I recently compared Cain Casey to RE Bradshaw’s Rainey Bell.. the opposite side of the law to be sure, but their strength, intelligence, commitment, loyalty, sense of self and willingness to do almost anything for friends and family.. yet with an underlying ethic they wont budge from, makes them almost mirror images.
If you haven’t read Ali Vali’s Devil books yet, but love a great series, FBI/cop drama, strong women characters, constant intrigue and hot sex.. what are you waiting for.
I cannot wait for book 6.. and hope there are many more to come.
I just read the first 5 books of Ali Vali’s Cain Casey ‘Devil’ series straight through, book a day, no stopping for anything. Wow.. brilliant! I don’t actually know how I hadn’t read them all before. They are favourite books of a friend, and I have really enjoyed Ms Valis’ other books.
For those who haven’t enjoyed them yet – Cain Casey is head of an Irish clan in NOLA. The family business if hooch, importing illegal alcohol and tobacco, and make the Casey clan one of the main mob families. The series follows the trials and tribulations of Cain and her family, the FBI team trying to catch her out, and the other families she interacts with. Each book does stand alone, but the whole is much greater than the sun of the parts.
A significant number of the current generation family leaders are women, and lesbians at that, giving Ms Vali a huge range of opportunities for romance and attraction between the players.. some long term and successful, others fleeting but significant. There’s plenty of hot scenes as well as on-going commitments which develop as the series unfolds.
As well as the romances the books are packed with FBI style drama; intrigue and war between the families, plotting and scheming to get on top and take each other out, or maintain position and keep the peace. There are chases and battles, fairly gruesome murders and revenge killings and some intense page turners along the way.
But the glue that holds it all together is the complex inter-relationships between the players. Within the families, across the partnerships, between those who hate each other.. and among all of them and the FBI team who never stop watching. While the interactions and battles are serious the FBI in particular are often the cause of as much humour as angst, assuming the mob are stupid and that their downfall is always imminent.
Cain is a complex character that we continue to learn as the series progresses, and Ms Vali surrounds her with powerful women, mobster bosses of the old and new school, an intriguing family dynamic and a deep family history. The other families and FBI are also well drawn and provide a series of major characters which sustain the growth and depth of the storyline.
I recently compared Cain Casey to RE Bradshaw’s Rainey Bell.. the opposite side of the law to be sure, but their strength, intelligence, commitment, loyalty, sense of self and willingness to do almost anything for friends and family.. yet with an underlying ethic they wont budge from, makes them almost mirror images.
If you haven’t read Ali Vali’s Devil books yet, but love a great series, FBI/cop drama, strong women characters, constant intrigue and hot sex.. what are you waiting for.
I cannot wait for book 6.. and hope there are many more to come.
February 10, 2017
What is not bad in this book ?
It's kinda hard to say.
Everything is wrong and feels wrong.
To sumup, very caricatural characters.
No mystery, no romance and story is just angsty. Left a very bad taste in my mouth.
I will never pick it up again and won't read what follow.
It's kinda hard to say.
Everything is wrong and feels wrong.
To sumup, very caricatural characters.
No mystery, no romance and story is just angsty. Left a very bad taste in my mouth.
I will never pick it up again and won't read what follow.
January 18, 2016
Cain is the head of one of New Orleans' mob families. That in and of itself catches your attention. A women with swag, sex appeal and a monolithic devotion to family. To enjoy this book you need to be okay with some questionable occurrences and responses. I was captivated by the characters and their commitment to family. There is definitely something intriguing about Cain, Emma and Hayden. The flashbacks were written in such as way to inform the reader about why things are the way they are right now.
April 7, 2022
Cain Casey is amazing. She has a brilliant mind. You can’t help but love her and her loyalty to her family. This book draws you in, and then, the next thing you know, it’s over and you are looking to start book number two. I have to admit that I wasn’t an Emma fan in the beginning, but as I continued to read she wormed her way into my heart right next to Cain. I heart sick over the time lost to them because of Barney.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2016
I put off reading this series, didn't think it was something I would like. It wasn't at all what I thought it would be and I'm totally hooked. Ali Vali is a great story teller and I was enthralled right from the start. I listened to this as an audio book and it was great. Book two here I come!
April 28, 2022
In this first book of the series, we meet Cain and Emma only after they have separated when Emma left New Orleans and their home to return to her family in Wisconsin, believing Cain had lied to her and no longer wanting to be enmeshed in Cain's criminal business. But she didn't just leave Cain. Emma also left 7 year old Hayden, their son. It's 4 years later and Emma has a plan that involves her return to ask Cain for Hayden to come to Wisconsin to meet his grandparents. But Hayden, mature beyond his age and the spitting image of Cain, will only go if Cain does too.
Because this is a romance, we know how it might end, but we have no idea how it'll get there. There's many surprises and twists, both in the story of Cain and Emma as well as Cain's ongoing business dealings, enough to keep me riveted and wishing I could be reading every second. That's why this book gets 5 stars. Well, actually 4.5 rounded up. The one flaw is the number of flashbacks, especially toward the end when we just want to learn how it's all gonna turn out. Those were especially distracting.
I wish the author had written what became the prequel first, because so many of the flashbacks ended up in that book. But it's not where she started and still, this is a really good story and worth reading. I've got 4 more Devil books to go and I'm hoping they're all as good as this one.
Because this is a romance, we know how it might end, but we have no idea how it'll get there. There's many surprises and twists, both in the story of Cain and Emma as well as Cain's ongoing business dealings, enough to keep me riveted and wishing I could be reading every second. That's why this book gets 5 stars. Well, actually 4.5 rounded up. The one flaw is the number of flashbacks, especially toward the end when we just want to learn how it's all gonna turn out. Those were especially distracting.
I wish the author had written what became the prequel first, because so many of the flashbacks ended up in that book. But it's not where she started and still, this is a really good story and worth reading. I've got 4 more Devil books to go and I'm hoping they're all as good as this one.
June 29, 2023
2.5 stars
The first official book in the series and this one takes a huge nose dive for me. I don’t really like time jumps anyway but to see how starkly different the prologue book was compared to this one was jarring as a reader trying to get into the story. Emma seemed really out of character in comparison. She was whiny and annoying and I just couldn’t understand her actions. I’d like this story more if Emma just weren’t in it to be honest. The huge jump in personality in this one where before her mother was this interesting figure in her life she was trying to get away from, to now being a mini version of her mother almost just completely turned me off of her as a character. Her wishy washiness was just so annoying. The relationship between Cain and Emma was also kind of heteronormative, the prologue book also has this issue but it was less glaring because I enjoyed it way more. I’m really happy I read the prologue book first because had I read this one first I don’t know if I would have continued with the series.
The first official book in the series and this one takes a huge nose dive for me. I don’t really like time jumps anyway but to see how starkly different the prologue book was compared to this one was jarring as a reader trying to get into the story. Emma seemed really out of character in comparison. She was whiny and annoying and I just couldn’t understand her actions. I’d like this story more if Emma just weren’t in it to be honest. The huge jump in personality in this one where before her mother was this interesting figure in her life she was trying to get away from, to now being a mini version of her mother almost just completely turned me off of her as a character. Her wishy washiness was just so annoying. The relationship between Cain and Emma was also kind of heteronormative, the prologue book also has this issue but it was less glaring because I enjoyed it way more. I’m really happy I read the prologue book first because had I read this one first I don’t know if I would have continued with the series.
November 16, 2023
➬➱➫➩➪【3.5 Stars】
This is my third book by Ali Vali. I was expecting a lot because of the good reviews. I wasn’t sure what I was going into.
Emma is a bit one-dimensional for my taste. I understand where she is coming from with her actions and character flaws, but she just wasn’t complex enough for me to like her that much. Cain Casey probably had enough layers for the both of them. Her story was really interesting and intrigued me. Her background was what kept me going through the book. There are a few spicy scenes which were appreciated, but the plot and mystery were the main focus.
For those who love second changes and mafia and mobster romances, this is for you!
➢Happy reading!
This is my third book by Ali Vali. I was expecting a lot because of the good reviews. I wasn’t sure what I was going into.
Emma is a bit one-dimensional for my taste. I understand where she is coming from with her actions and character flaws, but she just wasn’t complex enough for me to like her that much. Cain Casey probably had enough layers for the both of them. Her story was really interesting and intrigued me. Her background was what kept me going through the book. There are a few spicy scenes which were appreciated, but the plot and mystery were the main focus.
For those who love second changes and mafia and mobster romances, this is for you!
➢Happy reading!
March 7, 2015
Decent, but not great.
Oddly this book reads like the third book in a ongoing series, not the first. So you have a lot of ongoing threads and plots you are just kinda dropped into the middle of, instead of getting any kind of set up. Mind you, it's not a bad book if you like that sort of style, but it didn't entirely work for me.
Oddly this book reads like the third book in a ongoing series, not the first. So you have a lot of ongoing threads and plots you are just kinda dropped into the middle of, instead of getting any kind of set up. Mind you, it's not a bad book if you like that sort of style, but it didn't entirely work for me.
April 9, 2019
Gangsta, chase, espionage, some gore... I felt this was a full package of the female "Untouchables". I enjoyed it and so look forward to reading the rest in the series.
That said I agree with another commentator (Olivia) about the overuse of a word🤣😁... But for me that didn't diminish my enjoyment
That said I agree with another commentator (Olivia) about the overuse of a word🤣😁... But for me that didn't diminish my enjoyment
April 30, 2015
This was a really fun read. Cain Casey is a great character. And you might as well go ahead and buy book two, The Devil Unleashed. You'll want it the minute you finish book one :-)
August 13, 2010
The Devil inside is one of the best books I’ve read recently. It’s a well written suspense story with characters that totally pop. Cain Casey is one of the most provocative and unique characters I’ve read in a long while. The Devil Inside is also pretty heavy on parent/child relationship dynamics, which was different as well.
Cain and Emma come from completely different worlds. Emma is a farm girl from Wisconsin with a strict, closed minded, religiously conservative mother who condemns her for being a lesbian, although her father is a lot more open.
Cain is from a tight knit Irish crime family. She’s been brought up in an atmosphere in which loyalty and family are number one. When her father died, he left the family business to her and she’s become one of the most powerful crime bosses in New Orleans.
Cain and Emma fell in love, set up house together and had a child; the sperm donation from Cain’s brother. One day, something bad happens to Emma and Cain takes care of, um, punishing the person, which freaks Emma. Emma decides she can’t stand being part of whatever Cain does for the family business and leaves, never contacting them again.
The story starts to really kick in when Emma suddenly shows up after 4 years wanting to be back in their son Hayden’s life, but with an ulterior motive and a few secrets she’s hiding. At the same time, Cain is in a constant mouse and cat game with the FBI, while she seeks revenge on the person who killed and tortured her developmentally challenged sister.
The suspense part of this story is full of intrigue and realistically written. Cain is brilliant, but has vulnerabilities and is always one step ahead of the FBI, although the FBI head who’s been on Cain’s tail for years has become obsessed with bringing her down at any cost. Ali Vali constantly switched things up so I never really knew what was going on with Cain, Emma, the FBI and other intrigue and this kept the suspense and tension very high.
The relationships in this story are real and complexly developed as well. Cain herself is such a delicious character. One would think that what she does and who she is would be a turn off and cause the reader to chose Emma to root for, however, Ali Vali walked a really tight line with her. She’s not as cut and dry as one would think. Things that both Cain and Emma do ask the reader to question actions that aren’t usually considered kosher or agreeable to most.
Even though she does what she does, Cain has a strong code of ethics, honor and loyalty with all the people she loves and she will do whatever it takes to protect them. The way she deals with Hayden as a parent is so clean cut and mature, while she acknowledges that Emma is his mother and she deserves some respect for that even if she herself is angry and unforgiving of Emma for leaving. She's definitely a character that leaves you thinking a lot.
Emma in this story is not as developed as Cain. It’s clear that she’s got the best intentions but she’s done several things against Cain and her son that say “I’m not with you through thick and thin.” She also goes back home to her parents after leaving, which I just didn’t get. Her mother really is one of those nasty people who think their piousness makes them better than everyone else while they condemn everyone who don’t think like them. Particularly she treats Emma like crap. I just couldn’t get why Emma would go back to that or even listen to her mom, whom she still lets influence her.
The contrast between Cain and Emma though is what makes part of this story good. It’s clear that they do have strong feelings for each other, feelings that might still have to be dealt with. But trying to work it out is part of this story, so it’s not really a love story, but more a love story of two people who are trying to heal on some level with a bumpy road ahead. And for those who like family dynamics with kids and all, this story has a lot of that.
The only thing that bugged me in how this book was written was the use of flashbacks. I found that they were awkward at times and I felt they were inserted too often to let us know some of the back story. Sometimes flashbacks work really well on the level of keeping a story on a current pace while giving more background, but in this case sometimes it was too much information or went overboard. But this was Ali Vali's first book, so one might expect a few funky things. Mostly though, I really enjoyed Ali Vali’s style of writing and it came across as very polished and well done.
One thing I did really like about the fact that this story is about two lesbians basically, is that it was written as if being a lesbian was normal and accepted in society. Not one person questions it for either women outside of Emma’s mother. Not anyone in the FBI, nor the crime families, nor anyone else in the story. It was treated as if being a lesbian were a common, everyday thing in society. I loved this because wouldn’t it be so cool if that were the case?
One thing I do have to warn people about, I didn’t realize this was the first book of a series and I was very disappointed in the end. It was left off rather abruptly and with no resolution to Cain, Emma and Hayden’s working things out, or Cain’s war with a rival crime boss. But knowing there are 3 more books that continue on with the story made me feel better.
All in all The Devil Inside is an excellent read and a definite recommend to anyone who likes suspense.
Cain and Emma come from completely different worlds. Emma is a farm girl from Wisconsin with a strict, closed minded, religiously conservative mother who condemns her for being a lesbian, although her father is a lot more open.
Cain is from a tight knit Irish crime family. She’s been brought up in an atmosphere in which loyalty and family are number one. When her father died, he left the family business to her and she’s become one of the most powerful crime bosses in New Orleans.
Cain and Emma fell in love, set up house together and had a child; the sperm donation from Cain’s brother. One day, something bad happens to Emma and Cain takes care of, um, punishing the person, which freaks Emma. Emma decides she can’t stand being part of whatever Cain does for the family business and leaves, never contacting them again.
The story starts to really kick in when Emma suddenly shows up after 4 years wanting to be back in their son Hayden’s life, but with an ulterior motive and a few secrets she’s hiding. At the same time, Cain is in a constant mouse and cat game with the FBI, while she seeks revenge on the person who killed and tortured her developmentally challenged sister.
The suspense part of this story is full of intrigue and realistically written. Cain is brilliant, but has vulnerabilities and is always one step ahead of the FBI, although the FBI head who’s been on Cain’s tail for years has become obsessed with bringing her down at any cost. Ali Vali constantly switched things up so I never really knew what was going on with Cain, Emma, the FBI and other intrigue and this kept the suspense and tension very high.
The relationships in this story are real and complexly developed as well. Cain herself is such a delicious character. One would think that what she does and who she is would be a turn off and cause the reader to chose Emma to root for, however, Ali Vali walked a really tight line with her. She’s not as cut and dry as one would think. Things that both Cain and Emma do ask the reader to question actions that aren’t usually considered kosher or agreeable to most.
Even though she does what she does, Cain has a strong code of ethics, honor and loyalty with all the people she loves and she will do whatever it takes to protect them. The way she deals with Hayden as a parent is so clean cut and mature, while she acknowledges that Emma is his mother and she deserves some respect for that even if she herself is angry and unforgiving of Emma for leaving. She's definitely a character that leaves you thinking a lot.
Emma in this story is not as developed as Cain. It’s clear that she’s got the best intentions but she’s done several things against Cain and her son that say “I’m not with you through thick and thin.” She also goes back home to her parents after leaving, which I just didn’t get. Her mother really is one of those nasty people who think their piousness makes them better than everyone else while they condemn everyone who don’t think like them. Particularly she treats Emma like crap. I just couldn’t get why Emma would go back to that or even listen to her mom, whom she still lets influence her.
The contrast between Cain and Emma though is what makes part of this story good. It’s clear that they do have strong feelings for each other, feelings that might still have to be dealt with. But trying to work it out is part of this story, so it’s not really a love story, but more a love story of two people who are trying to heal on some level with a bumpy road ahead. And for those who like family dynamics with kids and all, this story has a lot of that.
The only thing that bugged me in how this book was written was the use of flashbacks. I found that they were awkward at times and I felt they were inserted too often to let us know some of the back story. Sometimes flashbacks work really well on the level of keeping a story on a current pace while giving more background, but in this case sometimes it was too much information or went overboard. But this was Ali Vali's first book, so one might expect a few funky things. Mostly though, I really enjoyed Ali Vali’s style of writing and it came across as very polished and well done.
One thing I did really like about the fact that this story is about two lesbians basically, is that it was written as if being a lesbian was normal and accepted in society. Not one person questions it for either women outside of Emma’s mother. Not anyone in the FBI, nor the crime families, nor anyone else in the story. It was treated as if being a lesbian were a common, everyday thing in society. I loved this because wouldn’t it be so cool if that were the case?
One thing I do have to warn people about, I didn’t realize this was the first book of a series and I was very disappointed in the end. It was left off rather abruptly and with no resolution to Cain, Emma and Hayden’s working things out, or Cain’s war with a rival crime boss. But knowing there are 3 more books that continue on with the story made me feel better.
All in all The Devil Inside is an excellent read and a definite recommend to anyone who likes suspense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2016
The book opens somewhat abruptly, or, I mean, after the ‘action’ has already started.
Four years ago, after a mistaken impression of how events unfolded, Emma Verde fled back to her parents’ home in Wisconsin. Leaving behind her son and partner (wife, if it had been legal for her to be wife). For, while she understood the concept that Cain Casey might be operating on slightly the wrong side of the law, she didn’t realize blood might be involved. A realization developed when she literally saw Casey covered in blood – at least her hands were. She just . . . Emma just couldn’t stay, especially when Casey lied to her face as to what whether or not she happened to have killed someone (it is not spoiler to note that Casey did not in fact kill this individual, since it is revealed more or less immediately when the issue comes up).
Somewhat out of the blue, Emma has contacted Casey. She wants to make amends, though to the son left behind. For the sake of Hayden and any potential future relationship with his mother, Casey allows Emma to take Hayden back to Wisconsin for a visit. Where Hayden meets a real nasty bitch by the name of Carol (Emma’s mother), and a rather great guy (Ross, Emma’s father). And lots of cows.
Meanwhile the FBI is monitoring Casey, since she runs a criminal organization in New Orleans (mostly importing/distributing cigarettes (and other tobacco products) and alcohol without paying the tax on them). She also happens to run one or more bars.
So, Hayden and Emma, and her family spend a little bit of time in Wisconsin. Somewhat earlier than expected, Casey is called upon to come get her son – mostly because of a mention of Marie – Casey’s sister/Hayden’s aunt, who had just recently been brutally killed.
To a certain extent, considering everything that had happened, the reconciliation between Emma and Cain Casey seems a little farfetched. What with Emma running off on Cain. After having begged Casey not to kill someone. Which Casey obeyed. Allowing said individual to, about 4 years later, brutally kill Casey’s beloved somewhat mentally challenged sister. That’s kind of a heavy burden to overcome. And then there’s the
Action takes place in New Orleans and Wisconsin (Haywood Wisconsin to be exact, if you want to be exact).
I liked the book, despite some of my off ball comments.
August 1 2016
Four years ago, after a mistaken impression of how events unfolded, Emma Verde fled back to her parents’ home in Wisconsin. Leaving behind her son and partner (wife, if it had been legal for her to be wife). For, while she understood the concept that Cain Casey might be operating on slightly the wrong side of the law, she didn’t realize blood might be involved. A realization developed when she literally saw Casey covered in blood – at least her hands were. She just . . . Emma just couldn’t stay, especially when Casey lied to her face as to what whether or not she happened to have killed someone (it is not spoiler to note that Casey did not in fact kill this individual, since it is revealed more or less immediately when the issue comes up).
Somewhat out of the blue, Emma has contacted Casey. She wants to make amends, though to the son left behind. For the sake of Hayden and any potential future relationship with his mother, Casey allows Emma to take Hayden back to Wisconsin for a visit. Where Hayden meets a real nasty bitch by the name of Carol (Emma’s mother), and a rather great guy (Ross, Emma’s father). And lots of cows.
Meanwhile the FBI is monitoring Casey, since she runs a criminal organization in New Orleans (mostly importing/distributing cigarettes (and other tobacco products) and alcohol without paying the tax on them). She also happens to run one or more bars.
So, Hayden and Emma, and her family spend a little bit of time in Wisconsin. Somewhat earlier than expected, Casey is called upon to come get her son – mostly because of a mention of Marie – Casey’s sister/Hayden’s aunt, who had just recently been brutally killed.
To a certain extent, considering everything that had happened, the reconciliation between Emma and Cain Casey seems a little farfetched. What with Emma running off on Cain. After having begged Casey not to kill someone. Which Casey obeyed. Allowing said individual to, about 4 years later, brutally kill Casey’s beloved somewhat mentally challenged sister. That’s kind of a heavy burden to overcome. And then there’s the
Action takes place in New Orleans and Wisconsin (Haywood Wisconsin to be exact, if you want to be exact).
I liked the book, despite some of my off ball comments.
August 1 2016
February 25, 2018
Not a well written book. If I counted the number of times I rolled my eyes, it would be well into the double digits. Multiple annoying, unlikable characters starting with the main one. And all given the most annoying dialogue. Not even sure why I'm giving it 2 stars.
January 7, 2023
I will binge-read this series if it keeps this pace.
March 21, 2020
I had so many feelings reading this book. Granted, I read the newest addition first, so finding out that they hated each others guts in this one was as painful as it could get. It was one emotional roller coaster that had me flying through the chapters and unable to put the book down for more than an hour. I'm madly in love with Cain and Emma. The entire Casey family (the good ones) are awesome. Merrick is amazing... oh and little Hannah and Hayden. I love this family. I was especially sad to realize that Therese, Billy and Marie died right after I've grown to love them in the book I first read...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2017
3.5 stars
Took me a while to get used to the writing style, but overall good read. It was a little dragging, and was sometimes unbelievable -- especially Hayden's age and all. Still, I'll be reading the next in the series.
Took me a while to get used to the writing style, but overall good read. It was a little dragging, and was sometimes unbelievable -- especially Hayden's age and all. Still, I'll be reading the next in the series.
April 2, 2019
See Netta's review: Oh! Dear! I'm not.
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