A masterpiece of a suspense thriller from beginning to end, "The Devil Came To Abbeville" showcases an impressive writing talent that was first debuted with author Marian Phair's first novel, "Shattered Lives" Very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted that "The Devil Came To Abbeville" is also available in a Kindle edition

– 5* rating. James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review.

The Devil Came to Abbeville by Marian Phair was an excellent book. I did have my suspicions as to who the murderer was about half way through the book, but even so I wasn’t certain until right at the very end. It kept me hooked right from the opening sentence and I couldn’t let go until I had read it all the way through. Excellent book, well thought out plot, great story line and great characters. Ms Phair has a real winner on her hands with this one – just be prepared for a bit of to-ing and fro-ing in the story line but it’s all worth it at the end!”

- 5* rating. Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers’ Favorite.

4.0 out of 5 stars
A gripping, horrifying and intense read that all murder mystery lovers will thoroughly enjoy and think about for days after.....
By Amazon Customer on 14 Oct. 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This is a truly gripping story from start to finish. I genuinely couldn't put it down and read it over a weekend.. The research that has gone into it is obviously thorough and sometimes gruesome when it comes to postmortems. There is sex and violence which the author has warned about but the whole book is beautifully written and nothing detracts from from the clever story-line and actually helps to reveal the characters in more detail. I do love a murder mystery and this is one of the best I've read and with all of its twists and turns it does keep you guessing until the very end then leaves you with a few unanswered questions which keep you thinking for days after the book is finished. Always a good sign. I would have given it 5 stars but I am a stickler for grammar which let it down a bit but didn't put me off continuing to read. I'm greatly looking forward to the sequel.

5.0 out of 5 stars
Nerve jangling thriller
By Truth42 on 13 Nov. 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This is a really great whodunit mystery written by another who knows how to lead her readers a merry dance. Without giving too much away the book is about a serial killer. As someone who enjoys Thomas Harris, it's a subject close to my ice pick! In fact, the Harris comparison is not too much of a leap of faith because Phair enjoys a lot of similarities with the American writer. Abbeville contains concisely written elegant prose that takes the reader on a wild joyride of suspense. It takes a lot of talent to pull off something like this.

I brought this book for my grandma as a Christmas present. As a lover of crime and thrillers I thought this would make a great stocking filler. It wasn't until February that my nan got round to reading the book and she would often talk about some of the plot lines with me, as like her, I too enjoy a thriller. After she finished I decided to borrow it and take a look at what all the hype was.

I was engaged after the first chapter in what turned out to be a classic "who dun it" mystery. The writing flowed in such a manner that it kept my attention and leaving me wanting more. Each chapter is cleverly written to give you just enough juice to beg for more, leaving you turning to the next page just to find out what a previous character is gonna do next! The thing that I loved the most about Marians style is that fact I am kept guessing. Without trying to spoil the ending for anyone let me just say: What ever you think, you will be wrong. The ending was a massive surprise in a genre that has become so diluted and over-played that plot lines are becoming more cliche and predictable; to that I take my hat off for Marian has brought something to the table that is only dished our to us by the likes of James Patterson or Karen Rose.

What is more surprising is how you connect to some of the characters. With most story tellers its an emotional connection weaved by the writers ability to present its characters in a believable state. However with detective Fletcher you connect on a much more intellectual level as he tries to put together a series of events that may or may not be connected. The realism really shows in Marians writing and it is clear to even a novice of forensics that Marian has done her research and that makes for a much more believable environment into which she spins this story.

If your a main stream CSI fan or a die hard thriller lover then this book will not disappoint. The only thing I can stress is my wish for a sequel! There is a clear ground for a potential follow up and even if one does not appear we shall at least have our imagination; a trait that some authors believe their readers not to have!

After reading Marian Phair's first book "Shattered Lives" I eagerly awaited the release of this book as I knew I could count on it to keep me entertained and enthralled throughout. After reading it I could not have been more right! It is an absolutely brilliant book from start to finish. Marian is a writer who ensures that you feel for each one of the characters and keeps you reading! I wont put any plot points on here as I don't want to give away any spoilers. But seriously if you want an amazing crime thriller that has more excitement than you could shake a stick at. Give this book a go. I will continue to closely follow this writers career because she seems to be going from strength to strength. Another AMAZING book from a TALENTED writer.

This is the 2nd book by this author i thoroughly enjoyed her first book shattered lives, although i was apprehensive as this book is a different genre from her first i was pleasantly surprised. she shows great knowledge and as usually a brilliant story by a talented author. Can't wait to see what she brings out next.

VERY WELL DONE! Terrific story line and a fast page turner. I highly recommend this outstanding book!

This second book by Marian Phair is a complete contrast to 'Shattered Lives'. This time there is a serial killer on the loose.The strong characters in the book I found were Percy Grimes, American Scott Holden and Father Patrick O'Connor. The novel has an excellent storyline and is well researched on the forensics side. Another great novel by this author and well worth reading. I eagerly look forward to her next book.

Gripping!! Page turning! Addictive!! Many colourful characters and twists and turns which keep you guessing until the end! What a fantastic read!
Well done on your second novel which I enjoyed as much as your debut novel, Shattered Lives.
I can't wait to see what you write next.