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Devil's Bait

(Devereaux Chronicles #1)

Debbie Boek (Goodreads Author)

4.21 · Rating details · 135 ratings · 24 reviews

In this first book of the Devereaux Chronicles, we meet Emma Draper, whose life is about to change in every way imaginable.Moving with her husband and children to a new home is just the beginning. The supernatural occurrences in the old house begin on the very first day, but the reality of the situation takes time for Emma to understand and accept. Her sanity is challenged ...more

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Paperback, 248 pages

Published July 5th 2017 by Debra Boek

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Average rating 4.21 ·

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· 135 ratings · 24 reviews

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Sep 08, 2018 Peter rated it really liked it

Shelves: publisher-author-direct, horror

Supernatural
Not to be too cliché about linking books, but this is really Amityville Horror meets Supernatural. It is a book of 2 parts, the horror part, and the demon-busting, love interest, drama part.

Emma and Jeremy Draper have just bought their dream house in a rural town, just beyond the commuter belt, so Jeremy needs to take an apartment in the city during his working week. They have 2 young boys, Collin and James, and a 17-year-old girl Shelly, who is not impressed being moved from all her Supernatural
Not to be too cliché about linking books, but this is really Amityville Horror meets Supernatural. It is a book of 2 parts, the horror part, and the demon-busting, love interest, drama part.

Emma and Jeremy Draper have just bought their dream house in a rural town, just beyond the commuter belt, so Jeremy needs to take an apartment in the city during his working week. They have 2 young boys, Collin and James, and a 17-year-old girl Shelly, who is not impressed being moved from all her friends in the city.

As Emma starts unpacking and placing items around the house she starts questioning herself when they’re found in other places and wondering if others have moved them. The interweaving of house-move commotion and unusual happenings is very well captured and it gradually ramps up the tension and suspense, as the family start to realise that something just isn’t right. A dark, paranormal atmosphere starts to descend on the story and the family begin noticing that ethereal presence, the disgusting smells, the sound of footsteps, the cold draught, and then the movement of objects and doors. With Jeremy in the city most of the week, he believes it to be an overactive imagination mixed with coincidence. This build-up of tension is very well delivered as we move towards an emotional explosion of anger, despair and fear. Jeremy is eventually convinced to hire paranormal investigators when an incident causes him to start believing.

(view spoiler)

I loved both parts of the story as they were very well written and the gradual development of the paranormal forces was extremely well done. It did, however, feel disjointed, not from the storyline perspective, but from the mood and atmosphere, as there was a shift from horror to dramatic suspense. In horror stories, if you let the reader off the hook, the taut hold of terror is relaxed and the impact is gone.

I would like to thank Debbie Boek for providing me with a copy of Devil’s Bait in return for an honest review. ...more

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Jul 30, 2018 Marie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: horror-hauntings, horror-occult-demons, favorite-books, nightmare-scary-books, best-horror-i-recommend, 2018-read-books, horror-debbie-boek, kindle-owned-read

This was one of the creepiest haunted house stories I have read in awhile as I became so involved with the story that I literally had bad dreams from it which is very rare for me!

Emma Draper along with her husband and three children move into a new home out in the country. Not too long after moving in, things start happening in their home that is unexplained, along with some physical attacks from an unseen force. The events mostly happen to her and the children, but nothing happens to her husban This was one of the creepiest haunted house stories I have read in awhile as I became so involved with the story that I literally had bad dreams from it which is very rare for me!

Emma Draper along with her husband and three children move into a new home out in the country. Not too long after moving in, things start happening in their home that is unexplained, along with some physical attacks from an unseen force. The events mostly happen to her and the children, but nothing happens to her husband and he seems to think that it is all in Emma's mind. He believes that the house is just settling along with the moans and groans of an old house.

Lights flicker off and on in the house, cupboards open and close on their own, doors open and slam shut through the house, cold drafts of air waft over the family, but the story really starts to ratchet up when the electricity goes off and they send for an electrician to fix the problem. Something ends up happening to him and Emma decides that she needs to find help for the problems in the house. She makes friends with a new neighbor across the street who helps her decide about having someone come out to check out the house, like maybe a medium.

Emma not only tries the medium, she also enlists the help of two brothers who are a paranormal team. Once she gets the medium and the brothers involved, then things start really heating up in the house. Emma also starts having problems with her marriage and her husband decides not to stay with her as he would rather stay in the city to be close to his job.

With him not home, the house and the entities really take advantage of her and the children which ends up putting them all in danger. Does Emma and her children escape the clutches of the entities in the house? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book to find out what happens.

There is a little bit of romance in the book, but nothing to deter from the haunting as it continues throughout most of the book. The characters are very believable and it was very easy to get attached to them and their situations of what they were enduring.

I have never read this author before and I was pleasantly surprised by this creepy thrill ride into this haunted house. Looking forward to more from this author! Five stars for giving me bad dreams and keeping me awake to read it.

...more

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Jul 16, 2018 Dianne rated it really liked it

Shelves: dark-fiction, own, netgalley, supernatural-thriller

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Do you like things that go bump in the night? Have you ever felt an unexplainable touch that sent the hairs on your neck on full alert? Maybe you just moved and the new place has unfamiliar creaks and groans…Welcome to DEVIL’S BAIT by Debbie Boek where one old house may have more than just architectural character and the new owners may not be the only occupants.

For Emma and her family, this seemed like a good move. Sure, the house needed a lot of work, but it was far safer to ...more

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Aug 14, 2018 julianne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, 4-stars, bump-in-the-night, contemporary, ghosts, paranormal, paranormal-romance

As haunted house stories go this was good! Spooky with a hint of romance, it started off like The Conjuring then turned into Supernatural fan fiction.

I really enjoyed this, it had the right level of spookiness to keep me intrigued. The romance is the only part that didn't feel entirely believable. The ending my what I expected at all and I'll have to get the second one in the series now.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. ...more

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Nov 25, 2019 Debbie rated it it was amazing

I think I have found myself a new author. I absolutely and thoroughly enjoyed the way this book flowed . Dean Koontz, step back! Debbie Boek is here to stay. Can't wait to read the next book of hers! ...more

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Oct 06, 2018 Cathy rated it really liked it

Fun read. Sort of a Supernatural meets Poltergeist vibe.

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Aug 04, 2018 BookLoversLife rated it really liked it

Shelves: for-review, netgalley

Emma wanted to move her family away from the city and so buys a house in the country. Right from the start though, things start to happen, unexplainable things, and Emma realises that something is wrong with the house. Her husband doesn't believe her because he has to live in the city during the week for work and only comes home on the weekend and he hasn't seen anything. But when his kids are put into danger, he has no choice but to believe his wife and so they call on a medium. This woman tell Emma wanted to move her family away from the city and so buys a house in the country. Right from the start though, things start to happen, unexplainable things, and Emma realises that something is wrong with the house. Her husband doesn't believe her because he has to live in the city during the week for work and only comes home on the weekend and he hasn't seen anything. But when his kids are put into danger, he has no choice but to believe his wife and so they call on a medium. This woman tells them their house is inhabited by a lot of malevolent spirits and she will do her best to help clear them off, but she isn't able to. Emma's last hope is two brothers who claim to be able to fight the Supernatural and who are willing to help her.

This book was awesome!! It was like an episode of my absolute favorite show, Supernatural!! We start we Emma, who is such a great character. She is strong, brave and a badass really. When the mysterious things happen, instead of hiding in a corner cowering, which is probably something I'd do, though I'd probably be gone from the house at the first hint of anything spooky, she does what she needs to do to keep herself and her family safe. Something happens about half way through the story that is a real show of character for Emma, she finds out some secrets that are being kept from her, and she does the right thing (I know I'm being vague but I don't want to spoil anything), it just made me like her more!

This part of the book was so good, it was atmospheric, spooky and the build up was amazing, then the brothers enter and it felt like I was reading a Supernatural fan fic book, which is totally awesome by the way!! The boys come and things start getting answered and spirits start getting their butt kicked and I loved it!!. I actually didn't realise that this series is focused on the boys because Emmas story was front and center nearly the whole way through. I am so looking forward to more from the boys!!!

In all, this was a great read. Al the characters were well written and developed and I found myself immersed in their story. My heart went out to Emma and her family and then my heart sang when the brothers came because they are awesome. I so need the second one right now!!

I received this from Netgalley and have voluntarily left this review. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts. ...more

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Sep 08, 2018 Susan rated it it was amazing

Jeremy and Emma Draper with their children move into a home in the country. Jeremy will spend the workweek living in an apartment near his work. He will be home on the weekends. Soon Emma starts to experience things that aren’t normal. Unfortunately, her husband does not so is not convinced that anything strange is happening. When she finds out that the kids are seeing ghosts, she decides to call in a medium for help. Unfortunately, the medium has some difficulties with getting the ghosts out of ...more

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Nov 14, 2019 Ivan rated it really liked it

Wow! This book is awesome to sum it up. It kept me reading one more and another more chapters in it. I had to do things in life, but when I had time to read it, I stayed hooked. It has some romance, I'm not so keen on romance, but the story kept me from doing some things. This is a brilliant start to a series and I definitely recommend this book if you like scary stories. I was reading and when I heard noises around my house, I got a little freaked out; especially when my kitty also reacted to t ...more

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Jul 25, 2018 S.K. Gregory rated it really liked it

A good mix of the supernatural and a romance story. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to fans of paranormal fantasy.

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Dec 12, 2018 Luis Humberto Molinar Márquez rated it liked it

Shelves: randr

(Review in English + Reseña en Español)

Devil's Bait is a novel that flirts successfully between the most classic paranormal terror and romance.

The story revolves around a housewife worried about saving her family from a threat of paranormal origin while she is faced with the difficult task of achieving true balance between the stability of her family and her own happiness.

Emma is a housewife with strong values, a lot of love for her family and a broad sense of duty. A series of paranormal events ...more

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Nov 02, 2019 Debbie Viscosi rated it it was amazing

Families often leave the city and move to the suburbs. Better schools, less traffic, homes that have yards, are some of the reasons the suburbs can be attractive. The Draper family leaves the city and buys an older home that has been vacant for some time. The home needs some work but stay at home mom Emma is up to the challenge. There are many unusual things about this house. Things are moved around. There is an occasional bad smell. The basement is cold, eerie and scary. Why do the kids prefer ...more

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Feb 22, 2018 Book Blast rated it it was amazing

Devil's Bait by Debbie Boek is a well written thriller that will take you on a wild ride. If you like things that go bump in the night with no seeming explanation, then this book is for you. When Emma and her family move into an older home, one that needs massive restoration, they are mostly excited. Well, maybe Emma's daughter isn't too excited. But the chance for a new beginning is a positive note, and they are on they way to a new adventure in a new town. When odd things begin to happen, Emma ...more

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Feb 12, 2018 No Shelf Control rated it it was amazing

I found Devil’s Bait grabbed me as soon as I began reading, so much so that I slept through my alarm the following morning after staying up reading into the early hours. There have been a whole load of movies with a similar type of premise as this in recent years, but none did anywhere near as good a job as Boek has done here. This is the first book I’ve read from this athor but I can’t wait to check out more.

It looks like lovers of supernatural thrillers have a new go-to author to lead the line ...more

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Feb 21, 2019 Irene rated it liked it

When Emma and her family move into their new home they obviously don’t do enough research into why no one stays very long. Almost immediately strange things happen and the atmosphere is not very pleasant. A story of good v bad, romance and creepy goings on. It was an enjoyable, sometimes chilling story but I probably wouldn’t have chosen it had I realised it was the first of a trilogy. However, for those who do enjoy their books in series, then it’s a good read. I was given this ARC by the publi ...more

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Mar 29, 2019 G. Edward Smith rated it really liked it

Devil's Bait is an excellent read. Author Debbie Boek twists and turns her way through a great story. If you enjoy a good paranormal tale that will leave you guessing, then you have found the right book to grab. So happy this is the first book in a series. I am going on to the next book to continue the ride with these well thought out characters and their relationships with each other. I definitely recommend this to anyone with a few evenings on their hands because you won’t be able to put it do ...more

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Nov 03, 2020 Deedra rated it really liked it

Audible:This was a very good story.Emma and her family move to a new neighborhood.They have no idea they moved into a 'murder house' until the kids go to school.When things start to happen,Emma tries everything she can to get rid of the spirits by herself,since her husband is no help.I was dissapointed in the preview for the next book,though I want to read it!lol Jenny Kelly was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. ...more

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Jun 13, 2019 Marsha Welsh rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved this book! It's has it all Horror, thrills and romance! I am an avid reader but to be honest past wee while struggling to get through some books but I couldn't put this one down! No spoilers from me just read it you will not regret it! ...more

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Sep 02, 2019 Crystal Mayfield rated it really liked it

This was a great story and an entertaining read. I suggest reading at night by candlelight.

I recieved this for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Aug 23, 2018 Cindy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-netgalley, 2018

Doesn't everyone want to move their family to an old house in the country away from the city? Emma did but life didn't turn out like she could have ever imagined!

I was grabbed into the storyline from the beginning. It was a well written suspense book with very strong paranormal happenings. Personally, I loved the creepy goings on in the house but was glad I didn't live there.

Things got so bad, two brothers come in to rid the house of its evil entities. This is a good spooky book to read and even ...more

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Jul 31, 2018 Nichole Sellers rated it really liked it

This book is so much like my favorite supernatural series that I watch on tv. I think it started out hitting u hard in the feelings then ends with a mind spinner. I will pick up the second book in the series. GreatJob!

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About Debbie Boek

Debbie Boek

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Debbie Boek is an independent author who lives in upstate New York. She currently has published four historical romance novels, If Not For The Knight, When the Knight Falls, Winter’s Knight and Sommers’ Folly.
Debbie has also published five books in the Devereaux Chronicles series, Devil’s Bait, Devil’s Retribution, Devil’s Gathering, Devil’s Veil and Devil's Jubilee. They are supernatural thrille ...more