The Devil's Due by Ali Vali

The Devil's Due by Ali Vali

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Ack. I forgot to write a review and now . . . hmms.

1) There is a short story in Girls With Guns that I strongly encourage people to read before reading this book here. A few new to the series characters make their first appearance in that short story and they have a somewhat significant impact on the story-line in this book here.

2) I rather liked this specific book, hence the 4.5 rating. Though it is hard to discuss (beyond the note in 1, and noting rating) as this is a book late in a series in which each book before it matters to the one that comes after it (or, in other words, I kept 'spoiling' myself just from looking at the book
descriptions). So what can I really put here?

3) I like the characters that appeared in this book. Solid characterizations.

4) Strong solid plot.

5) There are, as may or may not be expected - since this is more of a slice of life type book about a criminal than a mystery, romance, or anything else - so there are things that occurred before this book that are of importance, and things that are of importance that are still 'dangling' at the end of this book (hence that 'slice of life' tag - it's a look in on a character as they go about their life - not a recap of their entire life).

6) Odd how basically everyone whose sexual preference is made known is a lesbian except for, maybe, two women in New Orleans.

7) I didn't particularly care about some of the subplots - like the one involving Marisol (or however Hector's daughter's name is spelled) and the one involving Nicolette (again, however that is spelled); or, for that matter, the one involving Stacey .. . um . . something or other - Hector's mistress (and even though that's a MF relationship, there was one specific scene when Stacey thought to herself about a lost opportunity that involved another woman - am I reading into that? Any other book I'd say yes. Here where 99.9% of New Orleans is a lesbian? No, probably not reading more into that thought than I should).

Rating: 4.5

January 5 2017



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The Devil's Orchard by Ali Vali

The Devil's Orchard
by Ali Vali
Pages: 264
Date: June 18 2013
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: Cain Casey (5th in series)

Review
Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0
Read: August 15 to 16 2016

It's interesting in its way how I am mostly unable to write reviews for this series, and I do not plan to do more than mention a few things this time either.

I was tempted to rate this 2.5 stars, but one specific series of events/scene should not lead me to doing so. But there was enough there, positive/negative, for me to land on 3 stars for this specific book. Despite all plot strings that get wrapped up in this book. I did not like the reactions of Cain Casey and Emma to certain revelations. I realize this is hidden behind a spoiler tag but I will not be clearer.

ETA: Okay, I will be slightly more clear. I'm referring specifically to the Fiona situation.

August 16 2016

The Devil Unleashed
by Ali Vali
Pages: 175
Date: December 1 2006
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: Cain Casey (2nd in series)

Review
Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0
Read: July 30 to 31 2016

Book two in this series follows directly upon the close of book 1. As in book 1 ends with some ‘actions’ being taken by a rival gang. And book 2 started . . . with those same actions occurring.

There are several relationships that fluctuate in this series. Mostly involving Casey Clan members.

So – book one involved Cain and Emma circling the idea of getting back together, somewhat tentatively agreeing on that; while book two has, for the most part, moved on from that ‘tentative’ nature, and moved into ‘back together – solidly’. So, that’s one relationship.

Another involves cousin Muriel Casey and some tentative inching between her and Shelby Daniels that began in book one – very tentative, and then imploded. Implosion due completely to the part wherein Daniels is an FBI agent watching the Casey clan, while Muriel is that clan’s ‘legitimate’ representative (and, specifically, their lawyer). I was kind of hoping to see more of a connection this book, since a big deal was given to having Shelby have a point of view, but, alas, there’s that FBI thing. Though the possibility of a relationship is not dead yet.

Strangely, somewhat out of the blue, a relationship for Merrick occurred with yet another Casey cousin, this one being a ‘hidden’ cousin, a cousin that most do not know is a cousin. Both work security. For the most part, I do not have any inherent desire to have the amount of knowledge I now have about Katlin Patrick and Merrick; nor to read more about them. But they continue circling in this book. (Well, not continue, start . . and more than circling).

Wow this little bunch of words of mine came out really roughly. Like pulling teeth. Mmphs. Odd considering how I thought I was going to enter by noting that I rather like these books by Vali, and have, to a certain extent, finally found why the author is liked by so many. Instead I awkward stumble along.

Plot wise the book involves a gang war between the Casey gang and the Bracato gang. On the side are two other gangs loyal/in a good relationship with Casey; and the FBI, who are watching all of them. Somewhat ineffectively.

Fun exciting series. First book I couldn’t get myself to actually write anything. Second took me a while to get anything down. And painfully at that. Maybe by the end of the series I’ll actually write coherently. This is what the series deserves, the coherent part, since it is rather well written.

The Devil Inside by Ali Vali

The Devil Inside
by Ali Vali
Pages: 240
Date: January 1 2006
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: Cain Casey (1st in series)

Review
Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0
Read: July 29 2016

The book opens somewhat abruptly, or, I mean, after the ‘action’ has already started.

Four years ago, after a mistaken impression of how events unfolded, Emma Verde fled back to her parents’ home in Wisconsin. Leaving behind her son and partner (wife, if it had been legal for her to be wife). For, while she understood the concept that Cain Casey might be operating on slightly the wrong side of the law, she didn’t realize blood might be involved. A realization developed when she literally saw Casey covered in blood – at least her hands were. She just . . . Emma just couldn’t stay, especially when Casey lied to her face as to what whether or not she happened to have killed someone (it is not spoiler to note that Casey did not in fact kill this individual, since it is revealed more or less immediately when the issue comes up).

Somewhat out of the blue, Emma has contacted Casey. She wants to make amends, though to the son left behind. For the sake of Hayden and any potential future relationship with his mother, Casey allows Emma to take Hayden back to Wisconsin for a visit. Where Hayden meets a real nasty bitch by the name of Carol (Emma’s mother), and a rather great guy (Ross, Emma’s father). And lots of cows.

Meanwhile the FBI is monitoring Casey, since she runs a criminal organization in New Orleans (mostly importing/distributing cigarettes (and other tobacco products) and alcohol without paying the tax on them). She also happens to run one or more bars.

So, Hayden and Emma, and her family spend a little bit of time in Wisconsin. Somewhat earlier than expected, Casey is called upon to come get her son – mostly because of a mention of Marie – Casey’s sister/Hayden’s aunt, who had just recently been brutally killed.

To a certain extent, considering everything that had happened, the reconciliation between Emma and Cain Casey seems a little farfetched. What with Emma running off on Cain. After having begged Casey not to kill someone. Which Casey obeyed. Allowing said individual to, about 4 years later, brutally kill Casey’s beloved somewhat mentally challenged sister. That’s kind of a heavy burden to overcome. And then there’s the second child that Cain and Emma had; who Cain has no knowledge about, since Emma, when she fled, had fled while pregnant. So: 1) Emma ran off after begging Casey not to kill someone, Casey doesn’t kill that person; 2) That person who Emma kept Casey from killing goes on to, later, kill Casey’s beloved sister (last remaining immediate family member still alive, what with brother Billy, father Dalton, and mother Theresa having been killed a long while back); 3) Emma ran off while pregnant and took four years before allowing Casey to know that she has a daughter; 4) Emma brings in the FBI to try to allow them to ‘catch’ Casey so that Hayden would end up needing to be with her (Emma). Ah love. They allow you to . . . overcome so much, eh?

Action takes place in New Orleans and Wisconsin (Haywood Wisconsin to be exact, if you want to be exact).

I liked the book, despite some of my off ball comments.

August 1 2016