Devil Winds Dance is a gritty work of thriller fiction penned by author Tracy Thorne. Though not excessively graphic in nature, this adult urban thriller does contain explicit language and themes of abuse. Our central character is Abbey Brennan, whose life takes a dramatic turn when she takes on the role of Child Abuse Investigator. A single mother herself, Abbey is beset by panic attacks and unsure if her new suspicions are brought about by the sheer madness of the new world she finds herself in. Crime, murder, and drugs abound, all surrounding the death of one young woman, and there will be more causalities if Abbey can’t get control of her mind to solve the case.

One of the most compelling things about this novel was the sheer strength of its central heroine Abbey despite the enormous pressure put upon her by the can of worms she opens in Child Protective Services. Facing a mental break from the strain, we still stand by Abbey thanks to author Tracy Thorne’s commitment to character development, weaving her heroine into a dangerous plot and giving her the grit to persevere through it all. The criminal underbelly where teenagers from the system find themselves is heart-wrenching and realistically portrayed, giving an undertone of the reality for many children in state care in the real world, which only adds to the tragic and compelling nature of the novel as a whole. Overall, Devil Winds Dance is a powerful, character-driven mystery which comes as a highly recommended read.

Devil Winds Dance by Tracy Thorne begins with a dramatic moment in which Abbey Brennan is attacked in her home. “There is a gun in your ribs. Do you want to die? Scream or fight and I'll shoot you.” The emotional and psychological intensity of the moment opens the narrative about a humanly flawed, compelling female protagonist who works as a Child Abuse Investigator. Abbey never thought about the whole scale of what she was getting into when she signed up for the job, but this single mother is about to discover that the Child Protection business hides pitfalls and secrets behind the lofty name. Abbey is plunged into a world she never knew possible, involving all kinds of child abuse, ranging from drug peddling to prostitution. She experiences problems of her own and her personal life is about to go through a crisis like never before.

Tracy Thorne is an incredible writer who opens a world up to readers they will hardly believe exists. The writing is great and from the very opening of the novel, the vivid descriptions capture the state of the mind of the protagonist, the sense of fear and apprehension that grips her soul and the uncertainty in her mind. The scenes are carefully written and they are focused. Readers will be shocked at how young and helpless kids get manipulated and hired into illegal trades. But their eyes open when it is too late. Devil Winds Dance captures the minds of the characters with forensic clarity. Readers will enjoy the depth of character development and will appreciate the author’s mastery of the world she describes. There is emotion, and a dash of realism that provokes readers to reflect on the reality of many homeless kids or those from foster homes.