The Devil’s Claw: A Jennifer Dorey Mystery

If you enjoy mysteries featuring serial killers, you’ll enjoy The Devil’s Claw. Unlike most novels in the genre, this contribution avoids grisly details of the victims’ gory deaths, focusing instead on building a suspenseful atmosphere surrounding the killings. The tension derives from the main characters’ troubled pasts, the devil-worship prominent in the folklore of Guernsey (the location for the story), and memories of the island’s Nazi occupation. After discovering a drowned woman on the beach, Jenny, a local reporter, learns about another young woman who drowned in a bathing pool fifty years earlier. Looking for a story, she checks out other drownings over the last half-century. Sensing a pattern, she confides in Detective Chief Inspector Michael Gilbert. His review of half-a-dozen files reveals an unusual feature common to all the young, look-alike women. Convinced they are dealing with a serial killer, he and Jenny concentrate their investigation on a handful of suspects fitting the age profile. The villain is finally exposed as Jenny and Michael push themselves to the limit to prevent another tragedy. With frequent use of flashbacks and vivid descriptions of Guernsey, The Devil’s Claw is a strong entry from a debut author.