When the Devil Drives

By: Christopher Brookmyre

Narrated by: Hilary MacLean

The second installment in Christopher Brookmyre's new crime series, When the Devil Drives is an intensely gripping literary thriller that delves into the darkest reaches of the human psyche.

Actress turned private investigator Jasmine Sharp has become accustomed to clients looking for long-lost relatives, so when a woman hires her to find her younger sister Tessa Garrion, Jasmine presumes the case will be relatively straightforward. The assignment takes her back into the world of professional theater, where she is warned off more than once for probing too deeply into the past. Meanwhile, Detective Superintendent and mother-of-two Catherine McLeod is called to the scene of a murder in the Highlands. Following a theatrical outdoor performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Cragruthes Castle, a prominent figure in the Scottish arts community is shot dead during a post-performance photo call. With her initial leads turning out to be red herrings, McLeod struggles to determine the killer's motive. Jasmine soon uncovers Tessa's involvement in a drug-riddled Highlands estate retreat replete with occult rituals, which implicates more than a few people in the upper echelons of Scotland's arts scene. Tessa's disappearance in the summer of 1981 begins to look increasingly like murder, but the guilty will stop at nothing to keep the truth hidden. As Jasmine's and McLeod's investigations intertwine, it becomes evident that both cases are far more convoluted and dangerous than anticipated.

©2012 Christopher Brookmyre (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

just as good as the 1st

Publishers summary is good idea of the storyline.

I really enjoyed the continuing character development and interwoven storylines. Past present, different walks of life. A nice change from serial killers r us. A real mystery book that doesnt try to be too deep and brooding and has moments of humor.

Jasmine continues to impress me as a a herione, not some glamorous unrealistic hollywood sterotype and not some uber tough chick.

Great listen unless you have a hard time with accents. I enjoyed wvwry minute.

I LOVE Christopher Brookmyre!!!!!

Would you listen to When the Devil Drives again? Why?

Yes. I love Hilary MacLean's performance and would gladly listen to her read this again. Also, the descriptions and dialogue in this book are wonderful.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

This is a very entertaining book with several twists and turns. I will say that I figured out one aspect of the story but not quickly. Another of the author's surprises caught me off guard. In much the same way that one might expect for an Agatha Christie mystery, there are plenty of suspects so the author doesn't make it easy for you to figure out the ending.

What does Hilary MacLean bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The author is from Scotland and the story takes place in Glasgow. Hilary MacLean's performance makes you feel as if you have traveled to Scotland and are listening in on local happenings. She brings the story and the characters to life. If you were to sit down and read this book you would miss out on that aspect. It is important to note however that while the book is written with plenty of Scottish slang, it is very easy to understand. I enjoyed the local color and the feel of being in another place but I didn't have to struggle to understand the reader.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Sooner or later, the past catches up with us.

Any additional comments?

This is a wonderful, quirky, author. I found his books a few years back and look forward to each new one. At first, it was difficult to find some of his books, especially on audio so it's great to see his work being offered on a wider scale.

Excellent Narration

Kudos to HilaryMacLean for an excellent narration. Other reviewer‘s have complained about the heavily accented Scottish narration. When you pick an audio book written by a Scottish author, with excellent unseen twists and turns, also with a Scottish narrator, one should expect the narration to be accented Scottish and not one’s native pronunciation. This is what I love the most about audiobooks. Not only do you get to listen to amazing stories but you get to listen to them in authentic pronunciation from which the storyline is written. Five stars all the way around.

outstanding narration

another excellent mystery by Mr Brookmyre. twists and turns to the end. Ms Maclean made you feel like you were in Scotland.