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daja57's review against another edition
5.0
A woman kills herself and her sons, but not her daughter; did she believe the boys were fathered by the devil? Her brother was killed by the narrator, who was also her former lover; was he the father of her daughter? The daughter runs away, or is she abducted? Another woman is killed by a car driven by the town drunk, one of those who has been persecuting her family for years. Two men are abducted ... but only one is tortured and killed. Has this small seaside town been cursed by the devil whose snow-bound footprints crossed it from the sea to the countryside a hundred years ago?
Beautifully written, with a wonderful hook at the 3% mark: "Even though Moira didn't know it, even though nobody knew it but me, I was the one who had killed her brother, when I was thirteen and he was fifteen, killed him and left him to rot in the old limeroom on a weekday afternoon, when we should have been in school." (The Evening Herald; p 10). I defy you not to read on after that.
It continues, drip-feeding the avid reader with other nuggets. As the narrator says: "I was told this story as a child; or rather, I overheard it. I caught a fragment here, a glimpse there, and I put it together piecemeal, adding details and amendments of my own, making it richer, making it bright and mythical and sure. Making it up." (The Devil's Footprints; p 5) The construction is nearly perfect.
Beautifully written, with a wonderful hook at the 3% mark: "Even though Moira didn't know it, even though nobody knew it but me, I was the one who had killed her brother, when I was thirteen and he was fifteen, killed him and left him to rot in the old limeroom on a weekday afternoon, when we should have been in school." (The Evening Herald; p 10). I defy you not to read on after that.
It continues, drip-feeding the avid reader with other nuggets. As the narrator says: "I was told this story as a child; or rather, I overheard it. I caught a fragment here, a glimpse there, and I put it together piecemeal, adding details and amendments of my own, making it richer, making it bright and mythical and sure. Making it up." (The Devil's Footprints; p 5) The construction is nearly perfect.
erinmoore0199's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. it was very fast paced and kept you guessing all the way to the end. I will say the end seemed a little rushed but overall it was a very enjoyable read
angelad's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
Just this very second finished reading this dark, disturbing, wonderfully written book. Amanda Stevens just gets better, can't wait to read more of her thrillers.
suvata's review against another edition
4.0
• Read in August 2023 for Litsy Markup Postal Book Club #LMPBC Round 18 - Group H (is for horror)
Amanda Stevens is quite a prolific writer. It makes me wonder why I’m not familiar with her work before now. If you enjoy supernatural fiction, don’t let her books slip past you. I really enjoyed this fast-paced thriller that combines elements of folklore, mystery, and horror. 4 Stars from me!
***
The Devil’s Footprints is a novel of suspense and horror that follows the investigation of a series of murders linked to a mysterious phenomenon that occurred in 1922. In a small town in Arkansas, cloven hoofprints appeared in the snow, crossing walls and rivers, and disappearing without a trace. Some people believed that they were made by the devil, while others dismissed them as a hoax.
Seventy years later, in New Orleans, tattoo artist Sarah DeLaune is haunted by the unsolved murder of her sister, Rachel, who was killed near a similar trail of footprints. Sarah has always suspected that her sister’s killer was Ashe Cain, a man who appeared and vanished from her life on the night of the murder. When two more bodies are found near Sarah’s home, marked by the same footprints, Sarah becomes obsessed with finding out the truth. She soon realizes that the footprints are not only a physical clue, but also a symbol of the dark secrets and sins that plague the town and its inhabitants.
The Devil’s Footprints is a gripping and atmospheric novel that blends elements of folklore, mystery, and horror. The novel is well-written and fast-paced, with vivid descriptions of the settings and characters. The author, Amanda Stevens, creates a sense of dread and suspense throughout the story, as Sarah uncovers the hidden connections between the past and the present. The novel also explores the themes of guilt, redemption, evil, and faith. The Devil’s Footprints is a thrilling and chilling read for fans of supernatural fiction.
Amanda Stevens is quite a prolific writer. It makes me wonder why I’m not familiar with her work before now. If you enjoy supernatural fiction, don’t let her books slip past you. I really enjoyed this fast-paced thriller that combines elements of folklore, mystery, and horror. 4 Stars from me!
***
The Devil’s Footprints is a novel of suspense and horror that follows the investigation of a series of murders linked to a mysterious phenomenon that occurred in 1922. In a small town in Arkansas, cloven hoofprints appeared in the snow, crossing walls and rivers, and disappearing without a trace. Some people believed that they were made by the devil, while others dismissed them as a hoax.
Seventy years later, in New Orleans, tattoo artist Sarah DeLaune is haunted by the unsolved murder of her sister, Rachel, who was killed near a similar trail of footprints. Sarah has always suspected that her sister’s killer was Ashe Cain, a man who appeared and vanished from her life on the night of the murder. When two more bodies are found near Sarah’s home, marked by the same footprints, Sarah becomes obsessed with finding out the truth. She soon realizes that the footprints are not only a physical clue, but also a symbol of the dark secrets and sins that plague the town and its inhabitants.
The Devil’s Footprints is a gripping and atmospheric novel that blends elements of folklore, mystery, and horror. The novel is well-written and fast-paced, with vivid descriptions of the settings and characters. The author, Amanda Stevens, creates a sense of dread and suspense throughout the story, as Sarah uncovers the hidden connections between the past and the present. The novel also explores the themes of guilt, redemption, evil, and faith. The Devil’s Footprints is a thrilling and chilling read for fans of supernatural fiction.
rngilmer's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked it, but I felt like it was rushed at the end and there were still a ton of unanswered questions.