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Holly Lin/Nova Bartkowski Thrillers #3
The Devil You Know
Holly Lin returns in the highly anticipated sequel to No Shelter from USA Today bestselling author Robert Swartwood.
Javier Diaz is dead. Holly Lin knows this because she killed Javier and his men. Now, to protect her family, Holly must travel to Mexico to take out Javier's father before he learns about the death of his son.
It should be a simple mission, but nothing is ever simple for Holly Lin. The plan is to take out everybody in the Diaz compound — until she encounters a woman and two children hiding inside.
Suddenly, the night is only beginning. And by the end, Holly will come face to face with a new kind of evil — one that she will have no choice but to defeat.
Javier Diaz is dead. Holly Lin knows this because she killed Javier and his men. Now, to protect her family, Holly must travel to Mexico to take out Javier's father before he learns about the death of his son.
It should be a simple mission, but nothing is ever simple for Holly Lin. The plan is to take out everybody in the Diaz compound — until she encounters a woman and two children hiding inside.
Suddenly, the night is only beginning. And by the end, Holly will come face to face with a new kind of evil — one that she will have no choice but to defeat.
306 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2017
About the author
Robert Swartwood
62 books313 followersUSA Today bestselling and ITW Thriller Award–winning author of The Serial Killer's Wife, The Killing Room, Man of Wax, and several other novels. He created the term "hint fiction" and edited Hint Fiction: An Anthology of Stories in 25 Words or Fewer.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 6, 2018
Non Stop Action
Another edge of my seat, page turning installment in the Holly Lin series. Non stop action from start to finish. I’m off to read Holly’s next adventure!
Another edge of my seat, page turning installment in the Holly Lin series. Non stop action from start to finish. I’m off to read Holly’s next adventure!
March 13, 2025
Holly is back, penetrating a drug king's house in Mexico because he has threatened her. She is her usual brutal and efficient self. The mission is going smoothly until Holly finds a nanny and two of the kingpin’s grandchildren in the room with him. She kills him, but is unable to make herself kill the children. She ends up taking the nanny and the two kids with her when she leaves the scene of the crime and dropping them off at an old building before starting to get the heck out of Mexico.
Then she learns that the "Devil" – a vigilante serial murderer who has been killing the families of drug kingpins – somehow found the children and murdered them and the nanny. She knows she should leave, but she feels responsible and goes back to track down the Devil. In doing so, she ends up helping a lot of other people and getting into some seriously exciting action. Nova finally gets called down to help as things continue to escalate.
This is an exciting story with an interesting mystery or two at the heart of it.
Then she learns that the "Devil" – a vigilante serial murderer who has been killing the families of drug kingpins – somehow found the children and murdered them and the nanny. She knows she should leave, but she feels responsible and goes back to track down the Devil. In doing so, she ends up helping a lot of other people and getting into some seriously exciting action. Nova finally gets called down to help as things continue to escalate.
This is an exciting story with an interesting mystery or two at the heart of it.
May 25, 2018
Holly Does It Again
3.5 Stars
This book was another action packed Holly LIn novel. It was full of guns, explosions, downed helicopters, and all that is expected from this series of books. It ended up being more about Mexico's drug cartels than a serial killer hunt. This book got a bit tedious with all of the violence, and a couple of times I just wanted to say get on with so we can get to the end, but that is probably just me. I am not sure if I will buy the next book in this series, if there is one.
3.5 Stars
This book was another action packed Holly LIn novel. It was full of guns, explosions, downed helicopters, and all that is expected from this series of books. It ended up being more about Mexico's drug cartels than a serial killer hunt. This book got a bit tedious with all of the violence, and a couple of times I just wanted to say get on with so we can get to the end, but that is probably just me. I am not sure if I will buy the next book in this series, if there is one.
October 30, 2020
All the Holly Lin stories are enticing and gripping tales. I honestly expected more from this novel but it did deliver some great Holly Lin moments, but failed to deliver that exciting punch I was expecting. That said, I would still recommend this book and the series, and I would read another Holly Lin novel, and I did read book 3 in the series, Hollow Point, You have to read it if you like the Holly Lin stories.
November 19, 2019
Brilliant book
After reading Holly Lin book one I just had to read book two, and was not disappointed. Trouble seems to follow Holly Lin around after doing one job before walking away from the job altogether she creates a few more on her way. This is a very good I’ll just read another page before putting it down book and before you know it you’re at the end
After reading Holly Lin book one I just had to read book two, and was not disappointed. Trouble seems to follow Holly Lin around after doing one job before walking away from the job altogether she creates a few more on her way. This is a very good I’ll just read another page before putting it down book and before you know it you’re at the end
October 7, 2024
Enthralling action and drama
Another action packed drama with Holly Lin. The action is excruciatingly full on and continuously mind numbing. A series of mysteriousness a and intriguing deaths apparently actioned by a man who is reacting to the terrible death of his family by perpetrating a similar scenario on the original killers.
Another action packed drama with Holly Lin. The action is excruciatingly full on and continuously mind numbing. A series of mysteriousness a and intriguing deaths apparently actioned by a man who is reacting to the terrible death of his family by perpetrating a similar scenario on the original killers.
January 4, 2018
Action
Holly is complicated, with morals and a conscience. I found this book to be a good read. Characters are believeable.
Holly is complicated, with morals and a conscience. I found this book to be a good read. Characters are believeable.
November 21, 2019
very good read and I Will keep reading the series....character is very good assassin. beliveable
January 14, 2024
Action
A strong female lead. Many people die, good and bad. I did not read the first one. I did like it.
A strong female lead. Many people die, good and bad. I did not read the first one. I did like it.
January 14, 2024
F
Great story..very fast paced reading . well witten. Great plot lines. Quick interesting read with great characters. Look for more.
Great story..very fast paced reading . well witten. Great plot lines. Quick interesting read with great characters. Look for more.
April 27, 2025
A paper turner, it kept me glued to each page. The plot kept you guessing. I thought the killer was a man at first. The ending was surprising. Loved it.
May 16, 2025
Great bit of escapism reading. Plenty of action, decent storyline.
May 10, 2018
Great series
I really have enjoyed reading this series. The characters and story lines are well written. The series is definitely worth reading.
I really have enjoyed reading this series. The characters and story lines are well written. The series is definitely worth reading.
February 13, 2017
Holly Lin is back!! The Devil picks up directly following the events of No Shelter. No Shelter is suggested reading but not required to enjoy The Devil You Know.
Holly is a kick ass assassin type and starts the book having to do some kick ass assassin type stuff in Mexico in order to protect he family from No Shelter's events. At that point Holly is ready to start over and live a "normal" life. If that were to happen we'd get to hear all about feelings, bad dreams and indigestion. That does no happen. Holly gets mixed up with a murder investigation, cartels, an underground newspaper and a murderous vigilante called The Devil. Holly does some investigating and becomes a target herself by....almost everyone.
There is an interesting look at small town Mexico and the fear that the drug cartels inflict on them. I love when an action thriller has a great plot to go along with the high body count. There are also several fleshed out supporting characters my favorite being the underground journalist.
The action is intense and a couple of times very graphic. Even at book two, this has turned into a must read series. Highly recommended.
Holly is a kick ass assassin type and starts the book having to do some kick ass assassin type stuff in Mexico in order to protect he family from No Shelter's events. At that point Holly is ready to start over and live a "normal" life. If that were to happen we'd get to hear all about feelings, bad dreams and indigestion. That does no happen. Holly gets mixed up with a murder investigation, cartels, an underground newspaper and a murderous vigilante called The Devil. Holly does some investigating and becomes a target herself by....almost everyone.
There is an interesting look at small town Mexico and the fear that the drug cartels inflict on them. I love when an action thriller has a great plot to go along with the high body count. There are also several fleshed out supporting characters my favorite being the underground journalist.
The action is intense and a couple of times very graphic. Even at book two, this has turned into a must read series. Highly recommended.
January 20, 2017
The Devil You Know is the long awaited follow up to No Shelter and continues the story of Holly Lin. If you plan on reading No Shelter I would do that first, but it certainly isn't necessary.
It should be a quick job in Mexico and then Holly can change her identity and start a new life. Of course, it is never that easy. She soon winds up in the middle of a war between the cartels and a serial killer who targets their families. There is much more to the plot of course, but discovery is a lot of the fun.
I really like Holly's smart-ass attitude; think Deadpool but with a conscience. Robert Swartwood continues to reign as the king of written action, describing the movements so well that they are easy to picture without being overly complicated. The seemingly simple plot takes some very satisfying turns as well.
While not really connected to what I thought would be the overall direction of the series , The Devil You Know is an excellent standalone adventure. I look forward to more. 5 stars.
It should be a quick job in Mexico and then Holly can change her identity and start a new life. Of course, it is never that easy. She soon winds up in the middle of a war between the cartels and a serial killer who targets their families. There is much more to the plot of course, but discovery is a lot of the fun.
I really like Holly's smart-ass attitude; think Deadpool but with a conscience. Robert Swartwood continues to reign as the king of written action, describing the movements so well that they are easy to picture without being overly complicated. The seemingly simple plot takes some very satisfying turns as well.
While not really connected to what I thought would be the overall direction of the series , The Devil You Know is an excellent standalone adventure. I look forward to more. 5 stars.
January 17, 2017
Holly Lin strikes again in this take no prisoners bloody romp through the Mexican drug cartel world of violence and revenge just south of our border. With a tinge of The Magnificent Seven storyline Holly Lin blasts her way through a herd of deplorables, all improved by death, ending in a plot twist that is revealing. However, although the story takes place in Mexico there is a lack of Latin ambience except for Spanish names.
February 1, 2017
Holly took out Javier and his men but to protect her family she needs to kill his father before he finds out about his son. Unfortunately for her, things don't go smooth. There is a woman and children in the compound. What is she to do. An exciting suspense story that leaves you breathless until the end.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews