By: Candice Fox
Narrator: Kirsten Potter
ISBN: 9781250351159
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: 06/04/2024
Format: Audio
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
Devil's Kitchen is a fast-paced, heart racing thriller from Candice Fox, "a bright new star in crime fiction." (James Patterson)
This tight-knit, four-person unit has worked together to save countless lives and stop out of control fires before they cause major destruction.
They've also stolen millions from banks, jewelry stores, and art galleries. Under the cover of saving the city, they've used their knowledge and specialist equipment to become the most successful heist crew on the East Coast.
Andy Nearland is the newest member of the unit, and she's helping them prepare for their largest heist yet -- New York's largest private storage facility, an expensive treasure trove for the rich and famous. She's also an undercover operative, and keeping her true motives hidden proves more and more dangerous as the day of the heist approaches.
A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Forge.
My Review
The Aussie Queen of Crime fiction, bestselling author Candice Fox (a favorite author), returns following Fire with Fire and The Chase with her latest (another novel with FIRE), DEVIL'S KITCHEN —When a city’s heroes become its worst criminals and a tenacious female agent goes undercover in this NY firefighting crew—more dangerous than the fires they fight.
A group of four New York firefighters have a side hustle — they are high-level thieves. Burglaries/heists—high ticket items. They are not saving lives or posing for the hunky calendars. They are criminals disguised as heroes in this high-octane crime thriller that will leave you breathless.
DEVIL'S KITCHEN is prime for the big screen! A powerhouse of a novel. Candice is at the top of her game and once again wows readers with her creativity and mad writing skills! You will not read anything quite like this one.
DEVIL'S KITCHEN is the fourth of Australian author Candice Fox’s stand-alone crime novels set in America.
Audiobook...
I listened to the audiobook narrated by the fabulous (favorite) Kirsten Potter for an outstanding and electrifying performance! Bringing the characters alive. Highly recommend the audiobook.
About...
Set in New York City, under the guise of saving the city, four firefighters, the Crew of Engine 99, have turned to the dark side and have gone rogue. Matt (chief), Engo, Jake, and Ben. Matt does not want anyone talking about 9/11.
For the past 10 years, they have been using the fires to set up burglaries, and thus far, they have got away with it. However, is their luck running out?
Using their equipment, the city's resources, skills, and knowledge, they rip off jewelry stores, banks, art galleries, businesses, and more—they have stolen millions! If it goes up in flames, it's just collateral damage. Who would suspect these city heroes are running heists and ripping people and businesses off across the city?
When Ben (one of the firefighters) suspects one of them may be responsible for his missing girlfriend, Luna, and her son, Gabriel, he contacts the authorities for help.
Enter Andy Nearland (an enigma-not her real name). Under disguise, she is now a firefighter, the newest member as they prepare for their largest heist at a storage facility. However, she is a freelance undercover operative. She has a complex backstory—tough, smart-mouthed, and always one step ahead of those she is watching.
Will the others catch on? They must keep their secrets. Nothing or no one will stop them.
Andy and Ben pretend to be in a relationship to keep the others in the dark. Will the others suspect she is undercover? They must play it by the book. Where is Luna and Gabriel?
Trust no one!
Her handler wants to put them away for the millions of dollars for robberies. The mission is risky and dangerous. Who will go up in flames? Will they turn on one another? Will she blow her cover?
My thoughts...
Smartly written, a highly original adrenaline-fueled crime thriller, DEVIL'S KITCHEN is gritty, dark, and dangerous. Meticulously researched—highly impressive.
I loved Andy's character —beautiful, smart, tough, confident, complex, and calculating. She reminds me a bit of Eden in the Hades series (loved). She likes being off the books and no one looking over her shoulders. She works alone and does not like being supervised. (Which Tony does not abide by) She does not do this job for credit. She does it to find bad guys and get justice. The cops or FBI take the credit.
There is a lot of male testosterone here, and Andy holds her own. The author keeps you guessing as to how this will all turn out. Get ready for a wild ride about the underbelly of New York firefighters.
As always, the author keeps the suspense high, and the twists coming with each page turned. There is so much tension, and loyalties are tested.
DEVIL'S KITCHEN is action-packed with complex well-developed characters. Things get pretty HOT in the kitchen in this high-wire suspense, heart-pounding crime thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The author's writing and storytelling are firing on all cylinders like a ticking time bomb! Underneath it all is an unforgettable story of redemption. Trust me, read one Candice Fox book, and you will become a Fox fan!
Recs...
The novel is for fans of the author (with her signature style) and fans of Karin Slaughter, Michael Robotham, Paul Cleave, Lisa Gardner, Michael Connelly, and James Patterson, whom the author co-writes. You will devour Fox's crime thrillers if you enjoy thoughtful, intelligent written thrillers with strong cop procedurals, gritty characters, detailed forensics, and her signature dark humor. I'm a huge long-time fan, and I can't wait to see what comes next!
Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: June 4, 2024
Praise for Candice Fox
‘Candice Fox is way up my list of must-read authors.’
—Ian Rankin
‘Candice Fox books should come with a warning label- remember to breathe.’
—Michael Robotham
‘Breathless and enthralling with a premise like no other, Devil‘s Kitchen is one of the best crime novels I’ve read in years. Candice Fox just goes from strength to strength.’
—Anna Downes
‘Imagine Michael Mann’s cinematic masterpiece Heat but with Fox’s indelible storytelling swagger. Devil’s Kitchen is a relentless, action-packed thrill-ride . . . Candice Fox is a titan of the genre.’
—Simon McDonald
‘One of the world’s most original thriller writers.’
—Reader’s Digest
‘Australia’s globally bestselling crime queen.’
—Australian Women’s Weekly
‘One of Australian’s finest new-gen crime writers.’
—Sydney Morning Herald
“One of our brightest crime fiction stars.”
―Adrian McKinty, New York Times bestselling author of The Chain
“If you haven't read Candice Fox yet, you're missing out! I can't wait to read what this talented writer does next!”
―Chevy Stevens
“Definitely a writer to watch.”
―Harlan Coben
“Sign me up as a big-time Fox fan!”
―Lee Child
"If you are not currently reading Candice Fox, you need to remedy that right now."
"Candice Fox is at the top of my MUST READ pile."
―Ian Rankin
“Candice Fox has written an addictive, compulsive novel that’s not just about a missing girl, it’s about the power of redemption and forgiveness. One of the best crime novels I’ve read this year.”
―Samantha Downing, USA Today bestselling author of My Lovely Wife and He Started It on Gathering Dark
"That rarest of things - a thriller that completely exceeds the promise of a remarkable premise – this is breakneck stuff and you’ll need to remind yourself to take a breath.”
―Lisa Jewell on Fire with Fire
About the Author
Candice Fox is the author of nine solo novels, three of which have one Australia's prestigious Ned Kelly Award. All of her novels have been shortlisted for the award. She has multiple tv and film adaptations currently in production, with the adaptation of her bestselling Crimson Lake hitting screens as Troppo starring Thomas Jane and Nicole Chamoun in 2022.
In 2015, Candice began collaborating with James Patterson. Every one of their seven novels together have been New York Times best sellers.
Candice lives in Sydney with her family and is a volunteer rescuer of injured wildlife.
The best way to hear Candice’s story is in her own words. Listen to some of her best tales on her podcasts. WEBSITE
