The book we’re taking off the shelf today to discuss is a hard-hitting thriller that pulls you into the seedy underworld of street gangs, the
violence they inflict on those they touch and how that violence spirals out to others.In SPEAK OF THE DEVIL by Allison Leotta we find federal sex-crime prosecutor Anna Curtis trying to stop a vicious street gang before it destroys more lives and possible her own family.
The author, through her own hard-earned experience, depicts the inner workings of criminal investigations with an eye for detail. She describes in great detail gang life and how young people are pulled into that world of violence and destruction.
Here’s a synopsis:
On the very night she gets engaged to the man she loves, sex-crimes prosecutor Anna Curtis’s professional life takes a shocking turn that threatens everything she holds dear.
While Anna is enjoying a romantic dinner capped off by a marriage proposal, a few miles away two separate groups are gearing up to raid a brothel. A vicious killer known as Diablo—the Devil—leads one group. A few minutes later, Anna’s own investigative team heads in to search the brothel, as part of the fight against human trafficking in D.C. Both groups are caught off guard, with deadly results.
As Anna investigates the bloody face-off, the boundaries between her work and home life begin to blur. Though eager to focus on her new fiancé, the chief homicide prosecutor Jack Bailey, and her soon-to-be stepdaughter, Olivia, this case and the search for Diablo are never far from her mind.
The investigation soon leads Anna to MS-13, one of America’s most brutal street gangs. When Anna discovers a web of long-buried secrets and official lies leading straight to her doorstep, the truth about this case threatens to rob her of the happiness she seemed so close to securing. And everything Anna counted on becomes a question mark as Diablo moves in for yet another kill.
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL will hold you spellbound as you negotiate the ins and outs of this case with Anna. The twists and turns will keep you guessing and keep you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what’s next.
Author Allison Leotta uses her many years of experience as a D.C. sex-crimes prosecutor to add authentic to this stunning story. Her knowledge of the inner workings of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the secret world of the Witness Protection Program adds greater depth to the story.
Her thorough knowledge of one of America’s most dangerous gangs makes SPEAK OF THE DEVIL that much more chilling. Between her prosecuting experience and her creative writing ability, Leotta weaves a fascinating tale of intrigue that’s hard to know where fact ends and fiction begins.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
She grew up in Michigan, a graduate of Harvard Law School and currently resides outside D.C. with her husband, a federal prosecutor, and two children.
For more on Leotta and her writing, as well as the other 2 books in the Anna Curtis series, visit her website at www.allisonleotta.com.
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL (ISBN-13: 978-1451644852) was released August 6th by Touchstone. The 288 page book is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, IndieBound, and Books-A-Million.
Here is a trailer where author Allison Leotta talks about behind the scenes of SPEAK OF THE DEVIL. Enjoy and thanks for stopping by today.
Mason - This one sounds like a really intense look at gangs, gang life and the consequences of gang activity. And it sounds as though the author makes good use of her background. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteI bet it's intense and gritty.
ReplyDelete