Evil Never Dies

Dark Devon Mysteries #2

by S.M. Hardy

The village of Slyford St James is no stranger to supernatural happenings, as long-time residents Jed and Emma know all too well. Although Jed’s spiritual connection with the dead was once a source of pride, it now fills him with dread. When he receives an invitation to the family estate of his old army friend Simon, who wants Jed to use his gift to solve the brutal murder of his elder brother, Jed is initially reluctant, but Emma encourages him to agree, hoping that this new sense of purpose might lift him out of his melancholy, despite the circumstances.

When they arrive at the estate, Jed is shocked by how fragile and fearful his friend has become. As Jed calls upon the spirit world for the first time in eighteen months, the results are dramatic, and a gruesome warning reveals dark and dangerous family secrets that threaten the safety of them all.

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 17, 2020

Reviews

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fast-paced thriller where I got to meet Jed and Emma. An invitation from his best friend soon led to Jed trying to talk to the spirits in order to solve the mystery.
My first foray into the author's writing was quite invigorating as I got to know the characters. Jed had to face a lot of challenges where the family was not simple in its ways, but dark and convoluted. The author led me down a merry chase. This was a thriller along with horror which kept me quite gripped by the story.
Book 2 of the series, this was one interesting read where the details didn't overwhelm me.

[Kourtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

I had very high hopes for this book, unfortunately, I found it to be a bit underwhelming. I loved the main characters Jed and Emma. Jed has the ability to communicate with the dead, which is pretty cool. The setting of the book being a creepy old mansion was amazing, as well. The first part of the book had me afraid to read my kindle with the light off.....I was waiting for something to grab my foot.

As I continued reading, without revealing too much detail, I think there may have been too many characters and their interconnected relationships were a bit much. I found myself zoning out. The action was great, as well, I just think that the "creepy' factor could have been played upon better.

A special thank you to NetGalley, Allison & Busby, and S.M. Hardy for providing me with an ARC.

[Laura Hundley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evil Never Dies by S. M. Hardy has to one of my favorite thrillers this year. In this book we meet Jed and Emma Cunning’s. Jed has long been considered someone who can speak to the dead. So when he received an invitation from an old friend, Simon Pomeroy, he and Emma get everything packed and ready to go for a visit. However, this is not a friendly visit. Simon’s brother Oliver has been murdered. As the story progresses there are lots of unexpected situations that Jed and Emma find themselves in and none are anything but terrifying. Blackmail, Family secret, murder, and the spirit world are sure to entice the reader. I love this authors writing skills and the ability to add just enough to give background and help the reader understand what is happening, but not too much to overwhelm the reader. I wanted more and did not stop reading until I finished reading the book. I truly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers and suspense novels.

Thank you netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Krystal - nerdy_book_lover_1987 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a wild ride this book was! I love a good thriller. The creepier the better! And this one does not disappoint. From crazy Satan worshipers to murders so have to save people you love. This book will keep you on your toes the entire time your reading it!

[Jolyon Tuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one so much I revisited it this summer and it’s a rollercoaster of supernatural mixed with family secrets and a feeling of folk horror along the way. It’s never so simple as ‘nobody is quite as they seem’ - if you like a mystery, this one has plenty. Highly recommended.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in this series, the first being The Evil Within. For full enjoyment, although the main story is self-contained, I would recommend you read that first.
So... Jed is shocked to hear from an old friend he served with in the army. An estranged friend he hasn't thought of or heard from in ages. But Simon wants Jed's help. Needs it! Jed has a special something that Simon thinks can help him solve the brutal murder of his brother. Jed isn't sure. It's been a while and they did have reasons for the estrangement but wife Emma persuades him. It's been long enough, maybe this will be the spark that reignites their friendship. Little do they know exactly what they are getting themselves into...
I really enjoyed book one of this series and this book continues in the same vein. It's spooky and scary and stars some larger than life characters all doing some very weird and strange things. There's also a theme around family and tradition and the setting of the big old house adds to the overall cloying and claustrophobic atmosphere which really brings the story alive. All this alongside a healthy dollop of secrets and lies and all things in between.
To say I really had no idea where we were going is a bit of an understatement but, reading so many books of this genre, it's not often I am completely flummoxed and it really does make for a pleasant change.
If you like a bit of paranormal spooky in your mystery and are willing to suspend belief a tad along the way to getting a thrilling but satisfying conclusion then maybe give this a go. I did and I'm now waiting for book three. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Damien Larkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evil Never Dies is book two in the Dark Devon Mysteries series and just like the first one it’s a beautifully written story with plenty of chills and surprises.

Eighteen months after the events of the last book, Jed Cummings and his wife struggle to come to terms with what happened to Jim. A surprise letter from Jed’s former military intelligence colleague spurs him into action. A shocking murder on the Kingsmeade country estate brings two estranged friends together and throws Jed into the epicentre of a mystery with an ever-growing body count. To save the life of an innocent young lady and his beloved wife, Jed must once again rely on his unique abilities and military honed skill set.

I don’t tend to read many paranormal thrillers, but having immensely enjoyed the first book, I dived into this one as soon as I could and I wasn’t disappointed. Having Jed and Emma as the central characters was an excellent move. Their dynamic together is absolutely fantastic and it was great learning more about them.

The setting and the other characters were all well crafted and I definitely had chills reading some of those scenes. The mystery elements were well executed too and right up to the last few pages I had no idea how it would finish.

An excellent read and I look forward to reading more by the author.

[Lisa Shan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐ By the time I finished this book I was so disappointed! This book had such promise; a death investigation mystery entwined with a hint of paranormal activity. I couldn't put it down in the beginning, this cocktail of genres intrigued me and made me wanting more.

Then everything spiralled into a halt and just turned into such a drag, I couldn't decide if I wanted to keep going to get it over with, or to just stop because it was starting to waste my time. Jed the hero with a past and a talent was so cliche, his experience in the force and having intelligence background made him invincible. Survived gun shot thanks to his knife, his spidey senses help him navigate through dark woods he's not familiar with, his expertise with finding secret doors and compartments, his accurate yet deadly skills made everything a walk in the park... *Yawn*

Towards the middle of the book the story had me stop wondering about who killed who and why, the cult mentioned in there was thrown in at first, I thought was for extra flavour but it quickly turned out to be a way to get to the word / page count. I wouldn't recommend this book at all unless you are really desperate or just want to hear the narrator's voice as background noise.

[Ashley Twardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evil Never Dies is definitely a good title for this book, wow! I’m so glad I was able to read this. I enjoyed The Evil Within, but was disappointed at the ending. However, this one was great all the way through! S. M. Hardy wove a very dark and creepy story here.

Evil Lives Here is told through the eyes of Jed Cummings (who you are introduced to in the first book). I love that this book was told through his character! I wanted to know more about his story from the first book.

Jed Cummings is a medium and quite an excellent one. He is called upon by an estranged friend, Simon, to help him solve his brother’s brutal murder. Although Jed is reluctant, Emma persuades him to go. When Jed and Emma arrive at Kingsmead the icy dread overcomes them immediately. Something is definitely wrong with this whole situation. Jed’s instinct is telling him to stay far away, but he feels an obligation to help out his old friend. What follows is a never-ending nightmare that both Jed and Emma are afraid they won’t escape.

Great book! Mixes haunting paranormal activity with murder and mystery. Be warned; some parts of this book aren’t for the faint of heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for this ARC.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A creepy, gothic estate. A satanic cult. Underground passageways. A haunted pool. And a main character who is psychic and sees the dead. What more could you ask for in a ghost story that is also a murder mystery? Evil Never Dies, the second in a series by S.M Hardy delivers all this and more.

Jed Cummings has not seen his former friend Simon Pomeroy since a long ago argument so he is surprised when Simon invites him to visit Kingsmead, the Pomeroy country manor. Simon’s brother Oliver has been gruesomely murdered and he hopes that Jed can use his unusual talents to solve the case. Jed and his wife Emma accept and soon they a plunged into a shadowy world involving wills, blackmail, spies and ritual killing.

I love ghost stories and this is a great one. Don’t read this suspenseful thriller if you are alone at night! And kudos for one of the best named characters ever - Tanith Bloxborough. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Allison & Busby and S.M. Hardy for this ARC.

[Heath Henwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evil Never Dies
By S.M. Hardy

3 stars

Mystic murder mystery.

I found the story strange in places, with a few gaps in the plot, that are easy to overlook.

The story hero, Jed is aware of supernatural happenings. He hears or senses from dead people. Thrust into an old family estate when he receives a letter from an old friend, he encounters man of the dead reaching out to him. The body count brutally climbs as Jed tries to solve the crime. As Jed calls upon the spirit world, the results are dramatic, and a gruesome warning reveals dark and dangerous family secrets that threaten the safety of them all.

While the book is engaging, it falls far from any realism lodging it safely in the world of spiritual fiction.


This title has been reviewed by www.books-reviewed.weebly.com

This title was provided by Netgalley and the publisher in return for an open and honest review.

# EvilNeverDies #NetGalley

[Dana K · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced paranormal thriller, filled with ghosts, a spooky house, and the occult.

When Jed receives a letter from an old friend, Simon Pomeroy, who he fell out of touch with years before. Jed and his wife Emma travel to Simon's family estate, though the invitation wasn't for a holiday. Simon's brother was murdered in a very gruesome way, and Simon needs Jed's ability to communicate with the spirit world, in order to solve the crime. Family secrets are reveled throughout Jed and Emma's time at the estate and lead them a wild chase for answers.

This book kept me guessing the entire time. There were unexpected twists and turns, a LOT of family secrets, and was a great way to kick off the spooky season! The characters and plot were well developed and there were no loose-ends at the end of the book.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this book!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

This story had so much promise. I loved how Emma could communicate with ghosts and Jed has a special connection with the dead but tries to close himself off from it. But now his friend wants his help to solve his brothers murder.

I liked the beginning. But to be honest there was so much thrown into this book that I really didn’t enjoy the second half of the story. It became all too much and lost the uniqueness of the story.

If the author had taken a bit more time he/she would have been a bit more consistent in the telling of the story and keeping the whole story as good as the first half.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephen Whq · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jed Cummings sees dead people, and when his old friend Simon asks for his help, after the murder of his brother, Jed and his other half Emma head off to investigate. We met Jed and Emma in The Evil Within but it’s a standalone novel. You should read the first one but it doesn’t matter if you haven’t. Things soon take a nasty turn with brutal murders, a curious will, and some of those who have passed giving Jed glimpses of what is afoot. There’s a contrast between the usual world and something hidden, old and very wrong… Jed has his feet firmly on the ground but he could be in over his head

Exciting and creepy, it’s haunted house and murder mystery with some classic British gore. It could be on Netflix.

[Nik · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is pretty good. Not as good as it's predecessor The Evil Within but still worth reading.

This is the second book in The Dark Devon Mysteries and again features spiritualist Jed Cummings, this time he has been summoned by an old friend, Simon Pomeroy, whom needs help in finding out what happened to his recently murdered brother. When Jed and his wife Emma arrive at Simon's impressive mansion, strange happenings occur and they soon discover dark family secrets that threaten to destroy anyone and everyone involved, including themselves.

It's a pretty light thriller and, though it's not as good as the first book it's still very worth it though you should read The Evil Within first.

Yes, I definitely think that... Hang On... "Who's there?"

[Escapereality4now · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Evil Never Dies” is a spooky, paranormal mystery. Jed and his wife Emma are invited to stay at the home of their friend Simon Pomeroy. The visit is not a leisurely one when Simon’s brother Oliver has been murdered. Jed, a psychic that sees the dead, is fighting the urge to find out what happened.


I absolutely loved the creepy atmosphere in the mansion and all the paranormal activity. The first half of the book had me hooked. I got a good sense of the house and the grounds. As the story progressed, there was a lot of unexpected events that added to the story, including several family secrets that are exposed and the chase for answers. This book had a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing and there was never a dull moment.

Thank you Netgalley for my review copy

[Shawna S · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Favorite narrator Joe Jameson drew me to this one. Great job as always. Jeb has a special ability, he can see and communicate with ghosts. When an old friend he has not spoken to in years invites he and his wife to visit his estate. Jeb is both wary and intrigued. When they arrive and shortly find themselves in the middle of a murder, family secrets exposed and a possible cult formed amongst the staff. This was well told and a gradually layered who-doneit with lots of suprises and unexpected twists. I had a good time and was shocked to gasping out loud several times.

[NICOLA LUNT · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spooky Paranormal mystery - Jed and his wife Emma are invited to an old colleague’s house for a stay. But things are not quite what they seem. A death in the family has Jed trying not to use his powers to find out what happened, whilst trying to keep himself and his wife safe.
Having not read the first in the series, I wasn’t sure if I would follow what was happening, but all was explained throughout the book
A gripping read.

[Larckla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally a really good book which I enjoyed a lot. I listened to it as an audiobook read in by Joe Jameson, who was brilliant and the reason I found the book in the first place. Well made main characters with a complex mystery to solve.
The author seems to have gotten a couple of key details wrong though, has clearly confused satanism with devil worship.

[Louise Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book couldn’t quite decide what it was - mystery/thriller or ghost story - but was so cleverly written that it didn’t matter. The two aspects worked well together. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and hope we will see more of them.

[Jill Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has all of the creepy, gothic vibes you are looking for. There is so much spooky atmosphere that makes this quite eerie. I found the plot to be a bit choppy though and wish it could have been as strong as the setting.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hoped for more. It was OK, but I didn't find it believable. I finished it, then couldn't remember much about it after a few days.

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn’t quite realised how much of the supernatural was in this book. That’s usually not my thing, but I enjoyed this book nevertheless.

[Koniah · Rating 5 out of 5]

i wanna read it

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well paced and plotted thriller with a very demented family at the center of it. What a wild, wild ride...disturbing too, but wild and exciting (in a morbid way) regardless.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[✨CAROLINE’S LIBRARY✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I really loved the first book as well. Hopefully there will be more books by this author soon.

[Ellen Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay but not as good as the 1st one

[Laura-Jane & Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book but didn't enjoy it as much as the 1st one.

[Shannon]

DNF 30% I enjoyed the first novel but I am bored out of my mind with this one.