Why the Devil Stalks Death cover art

Why the Devil Stalks Death

Death and the Devil, Book 2

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Why the Devil Stalks Death

By: L.J. Hayward
Narrated by: Rowan Scott
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About this listen

Publishers Note: Listening order. To heighten your enjoyment of Jack and Ethan's developing relationship, please listen to the novellas Bargaining with the Devil, When the Devil Drives, and Devil in the Details before this audiobook. Thank you.

Jack Reardon uncovers secrets for a living, and the Meta-State spy is pretty good at it. Or rather he thought so until he met Ethan Blade—assassin, warrior, enigma. The unlikely pair have decided to give living together a shot, but Jack's not entirely certain what he's gotten himself into—or exactly who he's in it with. Jack's worries are compounded when he's assigned to a police strike force hunting a serial killer. With each new puzzle piece, Jack considers the true nature of a serial killer—and how similar it is to an assassin...one particular assassin who's having trouble adjusting to retirement. Jack's unsure how to help Ethan; or if he even can.

When the killer strikes close to home, Jack must race against the clock to stop another murder, despite the price someone has put on his head. Could the matters be connected? Is a certain assassin at the center of both? Surrounded by killers, the only one Jack wants near disappears, leaving Jack drowning in secrets. He'll have to do what he does best—unravel the secrets, including Ethan's—to stop the killer and save the life he and Ethan have only just begun to build.

Content warning: Child abuse and child sexual abuse in a character's history but not depicted directly.

©2019, 2022 LJ Hayward (P)2022 Decent Fellows Press
Romance Romantic Suspense Suspense Espionage

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All stars
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A well written story with and interesting  concept.  The characters are likeable and the narration is very good.

Enjoyable Story

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A brilliant story with unexpected twists, a heady alchemical high, a blast all the way 😀

Briliant

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Listener received this title free

This story has a LOT of moving parts, and it’s one of those audiobooks where you really have to concentrate; no listening while you’re focusing on something else, or you’ll miss something important!

The author once again makes use of a dual timeline structure, and once again, we open with Jack handcuffed to a chair – although not in a shack in the middle of the Australian desert this time. No, he’s been arrested on suspicion of the murder of one of his colleagues on the Task Force he's working with to track a serial killer – but nobody will tell him which one. This kicks off the “After” part of the story, in which we follow Jack as he continues to hunt for the killer while contending with the possibility that he’s completely screwed things up with Ethan, who might not only have left him, but could also be out for his blood. And in the “Before” sections, we witness everything that happens between Ethan and Jack’s reunion up to Jack’s arrest.

L.J. Hayward executes her dual time-line story with great skill and precision. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea – and I admit that it can be frustrating at times – but the way she dovetails together the events of “Before” with those of “After” is breathtakingly clever, one timeline frequently providing answers to questions posed in the other.

As in all the previous stories, though, Jack, Ethan and their relationship are at the very heart of this one. They’re complex, damaged and intensely loveable; they see and want each other for who and what they truly are and despite the secrets they’re still keeping, despite the trust issues that arise here, they’re prepared to stand up and fight for each other. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the author writes every aspect of their relationship – affection, passion, humour and vulnerability – superbly well. There are some amazing moments of character growth and incredible poignancy, such as when Ethan opens up more about his past (which will make you want to cry and then throw things), and when Jack tells Ethan about some of his own deepest hurts.

I really look forward to listening to Rowan Scott in these books; the stories are amazing and I already loved them, but he’s bringing a new dimension to them. He absolutely nails the characterisations of Jack and Ethan, bringing out all the different facets of their personalities and their relationship – the humour, the tenderness, the heartbreak – conveying all the emotional nuances in the story and bringing it vibrantly to life. The pacing is spot on – the action scenes are infused with urgency, and the love scenes have that degree of confidence that makes them extra sexy – and the secondary characters are appropriately voiced and differentiated using a variety of accent and timbre. The one criticism I have is that sometimes, Two and Ethan can sound similar because they both have English accents – but for the most part, the subtle differences between them are enough to differentiate their dialogue.

Why the Devil Stalks Death is action-packed, clever, sexy and completely gripping, and the narration is excellent. I really can’t recommend this series highly enough.

Another terrific addition to this awesome series!

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I'm loving the continuation of the series, lots of action and suspense for Jack and Ethan. Looking forward to the final book.

Excellent series

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The voices were absolutely amazing. Props to the guy speaking. And the plot is brilliant

So much emotion

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The series just gets better .
Jack is chasing The Judge a serial killer what he doesn’t know is The Judge is closer than he thinks.
Ethan and Jack are still trying to work out their relationship which is causing issues as both of them are more alike than they realise .
I full on belly laughed at the drag queens name Dixie Normous and I’m wondering why it’s never been used by real drag queens .

Brilliant

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Ethan had a fabulously written growth arc and the villain was so interesting that I wished for more!! The Thailand sojourn was such good fun - so colourful and vibrant! However the before | after narrative structure was beyond aggravating. If there was a payoff when the time lines synced up, l missed it. I was most annoyed with the ‘after’ that was 80% Jack’s self pity party and 20% plot advancement. I adored Book #1 & Novellas so l hope that Book #2.5 is a return to mid-season form.

Rowan Scott just barreled through heartfelt writing like a bull in a china shop?!! So when the narrative spoke to Jack’s grenade or when Jack mourned or Ethan’s powerful realisation in the Coda, you realise that Rowan's narration is disappointingly one nasal note. The final straw? Adam’s vocals are Ethan but with an Australian accent.

Misfiring Cylinders

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