Review: Where Death Meets the Devil by L.J. Hayward

Title: Where Death Meets the Devil

Author: L.J. Hayward

Length: 395 Pages

Category: Contemporary, Suspense/Thriller

At a Glance: I just can’t say enough about how very well-written this novel is, down to the fight scenes and the environment being so descriptive.

Reviewed By: Maryann

Blurb: Jack Reardon, former SAS soldier and current Australian Meta-State asset, has seen some messy battles. But “messy” takes on a whole new meaning when he finds himself tied to a chair in a torture shack, his cover blown wide open, all thanks to notorious killer-for-hire Ethan Blade.

Blade is everything Jack doesn’t believe in: remorseless, detached, lawless. Yet, Jack’s only chance to survive is to strike a bargain with the devil and join forces with Blade. As they trek across a hostile desert, Jack learns that Blade is much more than a dead-eyed killer—and harder to resist than he should be.

A year later, Jack is home and finally getting his life on track. Then Ethan Blade reappears and throws it all into chaos once more. It’s impossible to trust the assassin, especially when his presence casts doubts on Jack’s loyalty to his country, but Jack cannot ignore what Blade’s return means: the mess that brought them together is far from over, and Ethan might just bring back the piece of Jack’s soul he thought he’d lost forever.

Review: Jack Reardon has worked his way into Valadian’s criminal organization, but now he’s caught. Valadian is holding him captive to torture information from him when Jack then also finds himself facing the most dangerous assassin alive, Ethan Blade. So why isn’t Blade trying to kill Jack? Or will he? Why is Jack even taking a chance on teaming up with Blade to escape Valadian and his men?

One year later, Jack has made it back to civilization and the ‘Office’, but he’s not really happy about his situation. He has cooperated fully, passed all the tests and has no problems, so why isn’t he allowed to go back into the field? He’s up against three Sydney office directors who keep his mind spinning: ITA Director Donna McIntosh, Intelligence Director Glen Harraway, and Internal Threat Assessment’s Alex Tan. Each one in their own way has made Jack very suspicious.

When Ethan Blade shows up at the Office, Jack is befuddled but knows for sure this will lead to trouble. Ethan is thrown into a room and is now being held prisoner, but Jack isn’t in any better shape; he has guards wherever he goes. When he makes his superiors believe that he could get info from Blade, he once again finds himself taking a chance with Ethan. But little are the others aware that Blade and Jack have a secret code. And Jack is surprised by what Ethan tells him. Someone in the Office is a traitor, but who? It becomes clear that Jack can no longer trust his superiors. When his handler is found dead, Jack is accused and placed under house arrest, and as things start to get crazier, Jack knows, once again, there’s only one person he’s willing to take a chance with—Ethan Blade.

This was my first time reading L.J. Hayward. Where Death Meets the Devil is excellent, and it will keep you guessing! The title alone was intriguing enough for me to select it, and I was not disappointed. There’s high espionage, a great deal of fast-paced action and danger and suspense and mystery, with a touch of futuristic technology too. I just can’t say enough about how very well-written this novel is, down to the fight scenes and the environment being so descriptive. I also like how the plot is set up in a Then and Now way, each Now chapter coinciding with the flashback Then chapters. I couldn’t see this story being told any other way.

Both Jack’s and Ethan’s personal stories are heartfelt. They each have their quirks and issues, and their banter brings the humor—their sincerity is just so pure. The chemistry between them is explosive, and they are a force to be reckoned with. I also have to mention Sophia, who is definitely a star in her own right!

The ending for me is a definite ‘I want more!’ There has got to be a sequel! Where Death Meets the Devil was a page-turner for me and worth reading again!

You can buy Where Death Meets the Devil here:
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