The Devil's Playground

'Amazing. I'd give someone else's right arm to write so beautifully' Sarah Pinborough 'Superb! T he Devil's Playground is imagination on steroids... breathtaking!' Jeffery Deaver 'A terrifying tale of the true power in Hollywood... (Russell's) precise, gorgeous prose shines' New York Times 'A masterpiece. Captivatingly authentic, steeped in Hollywood lore' Chris Brookmyre 'Addictive. . . the most sheerly entertaining novel I've raced through in at least a year. . . fresh, forceful, elegant but wild' A.J. Finn 'The Devil's Playground is definitely on the shortlist for best mystery of the year' Bookpage.com 'When it comes to Gothic crime, Craig Russell is peerless. Absolutely stunning' M W Craven FROM CWA DAGGER AND DOUBLE McILVANNEY AWARD WINNER CRAIG RUSSELL COMES ANOTHER DARK, GRIPPING MASTERPIECE . . . A dark, riveting thriller set in 1920s Hollywood about "the greatest horror movie ever made", the curse said to surround it, and a deadly search, decades later, for the single copy rumoured still to exist. 1927 : Hollywood studio fixer Mary Rourke is called to the palatial home of "the most desirable woman in the world", silent movie actress Norma Carlton, star of The Devil's Playground . When Rourke finds Carlton dead, she wonders if the dark rumours she's heard are true: that The Devil's Playground really is a cursed production. But nothing in Hollywood is ever what it seems, and cynical fixer Rourke, more used to covering up the truth for studio bosses, finds herself seeking it out. 1967 : Paul Conway, film historian and fervid silent movie aficionado, is on the trail of a tantalizing rumour: that a single copy of The Devil's Playground -a Holy Grail for film buffs that was supposedly cursed and lost to time-may exist. His search takes him deep into the Mojave Desert, to an isolated hotel that hasn't changed in forty years but harbours only one occupant-and a shocking secret. Separated by decades, both Rourke and Conway begin to suspect that the real Devil's Playground is in fact Hollywood itself. Praise for The Devil's Playground 'Horrifying, mesmerising, beautifully imagined. The Devil's Playground is Craig Russell at his unrivalled best' Chris Whittaker 'The Devil's Playground has a depth of period detail and atmosphere that lifts it above the ordinary. It's elegant, absorbing and thrilling' Michael Malone 'Totally engaging' Kathy Reichs, New York Times bestselling author of the Temperance Brennan series 'Brilliantly written, with repeated surprises' The Critic 'Seamlessly blends noir, gothic and mystery in a way that's unique to crime fiction. Populated with a truly memorable cast, Playground is a guaranteed one-sitting read...and how can you resist a novel about the scariest movie of all time? Bravo!' Jeffery Deaver, author of The Bone Collector Praise for Hyde 'Stephen King meets Robert Louis Stevenson... an imaginative gothic tale guaranteed to send a shiver down your spine the next time you walk a dark Edinburgh night' David Hewson 'Gloriously diabolical. A terrifying thrill ride through the hidden chasms of the human soul' Chris Brookmyre 'I absolutely adored it. Intense, harrowing and hugely entertaining. . . Spectacular' Chris Whitaker 'The story is a thrilling ride through the murky depths of madness and horror, written with all Craig's trademark skill and style. Definitely five stars from me' James Oswald 'An engaging Gothic thriller full of atmosphere and surprises'

From behind her came a noise, and she whirled around. Two pairs of cold, murderous eyes stared back at her from beneath hooded cloaks. She stood cemented in place, even as her brain screamed at her to run… It's their usual Thursday girls' night in, and best friends Skye, Elena, and London are enjoying hanging out at Skye's house in New Mexico, eating junk food, drinking wine, and playing with Skye's little children, Carter and Abigail. Until the intruders arrive. Hearing the horrific screams from Elena and Skye, London hides the children, tiptoes out to see what has happened… and disappears. After Carter raises the alarm, Detective Alyssa Wyatt is called in to investigate a bloodbath that appears to have no motive, no evidence, and worse still – no sign of London. As Alyssa and her team dig deeper, the truth is always out of their reach… but what is clear is that they need to find London, and fast. And as they uncover a link between the murders and a sinister local cult, can Alyssa find the young woman who has vanished without a trace – before London joins the list of victims? An utterly addictive, dark and twisty detective novel with a twist that will leave you gasping. If you're a fan of Kendra Elliot, Lisa Regan or Angela Marsons, you'll fall in love with Charly Cox's stunning detective series. Readers are loving The Devil's Playground : 'This one came with a twist that I just did not see coming and it was one of those moments that I had to read two or three times…!' Reader Review 'I was seriously terrified at times but could not stop reading …A tale filled with what one could only describe as your worst nightmares come to life .' Reader Review 'Believe me, you will want the criminals caught, and to find out why they did what they did! If you are looking for a new, well-written series, this is for you! ' Reader Review ' Bone chilling! murder, devil worshippers, and a crazy race to find the killer keep the pages flying . If you're in the mood for an intense thriller that holds no punches this is it.' Reader Review 'Omg this book is absolutely amazing! I went through it in a day and loved every second of it. This will keep you up reading through the early hours .' Reader Review 'Holy SMOKES! What a ride. From the first page my heart was pounding . I could not look away. This book was so good. And I literally teared up at the end. So dang awesome.' Reader Review 'OMG WHAT A READ!!! Bone chilling, visceral and bloody terrifying . This very talented author is well on the way to being known as the Mistress of the Dark.' Reader Review 'When I saw that another book was coming out in this series I literally squealed with happiness. This book will keep you reading into the night so plan on not sleeping or doing anything! Perfect thriller!' Reader Review

From behind her came a noise, and she whirled around. Two pairs of cold, murderous eyes stared back at her from beneath hooded cloaks. She stood cemented in place, even as her brain screamed at her to run… It's their usual Thursday girls' night in, and best friends Skye, Elena, and London are enjoying hanging out at Skye's house in New Mexico, eating junk food, drinking wine, and playing with Skye's little children, Carter and Abigail. Until the intruders arrive. Hearing the horrific screams from Elena and Skye, London hides the children, tiptoes out to see what has happened… and disappears. After Carter raises the alarm, Detective Alyssa Wyatt is called in to investigate a bloodbath that appears to have no motive, no evidence, and worse still – no sign of London. As Alyssa and her team dig deeper, the truth is always out of their reach… but what is clear is that they need to find London, and fast. And as they uncover a link between the murders and a sinister local cult, can Alyssa find the young woman who has vanished without a trace – before London joins the list of victims? An utterly addictive, dark and twisty detective novel with a twist that will leave you gasping. If you're a fan of Kendra Elliot, Lisa Regan or Angela Marsons, you'll fall in love with Charly Cox's stunning detective series. Readers are loving The Devil's Playground : 'This one came with a twist that I just did not see coming and it was one of those moments that I had to read two or three times…!' Reader Review 'I was seriously terrified at times but could not stop reading …A tale filled with what one could only describe as your worst nightmares come to life .' Reader Review 'Believe me, you will want the criminals caught, and to find out why they did what they did! If you are looking for a new, well-written series, this is for you! ' Reader Review ' Bone chilling! murder, devil worshippers, and a crazy race to find the killer keep the pages flying . If you're in the mood for an intense thriller that holds no punches this is it.' Reader Review 'Omg this book is absolutely amazing! I went through it in a day and loved every second of it. This will keep you up reading through the early hours .' Reader Review 'Holy SMOKES! What a ride. From the first page my heart was pounding . I could not look away. This book was so good. And I literally teared up at the end. So dang awesome.' Reader Review 'OMG WHAT A READ!!! Bone chilling, visceral and bloody terrifying . This very talented author is well on the way to being known as the Mistress of the Dark.' Reader Review 'When I saw that another book was coming out in this series I literally squealed with happiness. This book will keep you reading into the night so plan on not sleeping or doing anything! Perfect thriller!' Reader Review

'Amazing. I'd give someone else's right arm to write so beautifully' Sarah Pinborough 'Superb! T he Devil's Playground is imagination on steroids... breathtaking!' Jeffery Deaver 'A terrifying tale of the true power in Hollywood... (Russell's) precise, gorgeous prose shines' New York Times 'A masterpiece. Captivatingly authentic, steeped in Hollywood lore' Chris Brookmyre 'Addictive. . . the most sheerly entertaining novel I've raced through in at least a year. . . fresh, forceful, elegant but wild' A.J. Finn 'The Devil's Playground is definitely on the shortlist for best mystery of the year' Bookpage.com 'When it comes to Gothic crime, Craig Russell is peerless. Absolutely stunning' M W Craven FROM CWA DAGGER AND DOUBLE McILVANNEY AWARD WINNER CRAIG RUSSELL COMES ANOTHER DARK, GRIPPING MASTERPIECE . . . A dark, riveting thriller set in 1920s Hollywood about "the greatest horror movie ever made", the curse said to surround it, and a deadly search, decades later, for the single copy rumoured still to exist. 1927 : Hollywood studio fixer Mary Rourke is called to the palatial home of "the most desirable woman in the world", silent movie actress Norma Carlton, star of The Devil's Playground . When Rourke finds Carlton dead, she wonders if the dark rumours she's heard are true: that The Devil's Playground really is a cursed production. But nothing in Hollywood is ever what it seems, and cynical fixer Rourke, more used to covering up the truth for studio bosses, finds herself seeking it out. 1967 : Paul Conway, film historian and fervid silent movie aficionado, is on the trail of a tantalizing rumour: that a single copy of The Devil's Playground -a Holy Grail for film buffs that was supposedly cursed and lost to time-may exist. His search takes him deep into the Mojave Desert, to an isolated hotel that hasn't changed in forty years but harbours only one occupant-and a shocking secret. Separated by decades, both Rourke and Conway begin to suspect that the real Devil's Playground is in fact Hollywood itself. Praise for The Devil's Playground 'Horrifying, mesmerising, beautifully imagined. The Devil's Playground is Craig Russell at his unrivalled best' Chris Whittaker 'The Devil's Playground has a depth of period detail and atmosphere that lifts it above the ordinary. It's elegant, absorbing and thrilling' Michael Malone 'Totally engaging' Kathy Reichs, New York Times bestselling author of the Temperance Brennan series 'Brilliantly written, with repeated surprises' The Critic 'Seamlessly blends noir, gothic and mystery in a way that's unique to crime fiction. Populated with a truly memorable cast, Playground is a guaranteed one-sitting read...and how can you resist a novel about the scariest movie of all time? Bravo!' Jeffery Deaver, author of The Bone Collector Praise for Hyde 'Stephen King meets Robert Louis Stevenson... an imaginative gothic tale guaranteed to send a shiver down your spine the next time you walk a dark Edinburgh night' David Hewson 'Gloriously diabolical. A terrifying thrill ride through the hidden chasms of the human soul' Chris Brookmyre 'I absolutely adored it. Intense, harrowing and hugely entertaining. . . Spectacular' Chris Whitaker 'The story is a thrilling ride through the murky depths of madness and horror, written with all Craig's trademark skill and style. Definitely five stars from me' James Oswald 'An engaging Gothic thriller full of atmosphere and surprises' Irish Independent 'Russell writes a pacy, ever-twisting mystery that will keep you turning the pages' Ian Rankin Praise for Craig Russell 'A masterclass in suspenseful, character-driven prose fiction. Simply exceptional' Frank Darabont, writer & director of The Shawshank Redemption & The Green Mile

In the Devil's Playground, a Sinner always plays to win. Nicolette Back in Springfield for the first time in years, I needed money, and I needed it fast. When my job as a hostess at the local Italian place wasn't going to earn me enough to cut it, I did the one thing I promised I would never do: I got involved with one of the syndicates that rule the seedy city. Considering I'm trying to avoid anyone with ties to the Libellula Family, I head to the West Side, and hope like hell the Sinners Syndicate will give me a chance. The Devil's Playground isn't my first choice, but what else can I do? I make it clear that I'm only interested in serving drinks... until some big shot gambler offers me ten grand for one night. I take him up on it-only to have him wager his night with me to another guy... and lose. Now I'm expected to honor my deal with the Syndicate's underboss, and the charming bastard who hired me for this job in the first place... while also hiding any ties I have to his enemies. Royce From the moment Nicolette walked into the Playground, I wanted her-but then I brought her on as one of our girls, and she was suddenly off-limits. I learned the hard way: work and pleasure don't mix. If I'd met her anywhere else, I might've taken a shot at the waitress, but she needed the job more than she needed a boyfriend, so I backed off. And, okay, that's a damn lie. I didn't pursue her, but hell if I didn't take a page out of Devil's book and start watching over Nic from the shadows... I would have left it at that, though, until one of the Playground's more well-known wallets set his eyes on my girl. They don't call me "Rolls" for nothing. I played him for the night she agreed to, telling myself that I was just saving her from what the sick and twisted customer wanted to do to her. Then I get my first taste of Nicolette, and I realize that one night will never be enough... and I'll stop anyone who tries to take her from me. *The Devil's Playground is the second book in the Deal with the Devil series, a collection of interconnected standalones set in the fictional crime hotspot of Springfield. It tells the story of "Rolls" Royce and the one woman he'll do anything to save, Nicolette Williams.

In the Devil's Playground, a Sinner always plays to win. Nicolette Back in Springfield for the first time in years, I needed money, and I needed it fast . When my job as a hostess at the local Italian place wasn't going to earn me enough to cut it, I did the one thing I promised I would never do: I got involved with one of the syndicates that rule the seedy city. Considering I'm trying to avoid anyone with ties to the Libellula Family, I head to the West Side, and hope like hell the Sinners Syndicate will give me a chance. The Devil's Playground isn't my first choice, but what else can I do? I make it clear that I'm only interested in serving drinks... until some big shot gambler offers me ten grand for one night. I take him up on it-only to have him wager his night with me to another guy... and lose . Now I'm expected to honor my deal with the Syndicate's underboss, and the charming bastard who hired me for this job in the first place... while also hiding any ties I have to his enemies. Royce From the moment Nicolette walked into the Playground, I wanted her-but then I brought her on as one of our girls, and she was suddenly off-limits. I learned the hard way: work and pleasure don't mix. If I'd met her anywhere else, I might've taken a shot at the waitress, but she needed the job more than she needed a boyfriend, so I backed off. And, okay, that's a damn lie. I didn't pursue her, but hell if I didn't take a page out of Devil's book and start watching over Nic from the shadows... I would have left it at that, though, until one of the Playground's more well-known wallets set his eyes on my girl. They don't call me "Rolls" for nothing. I played him for the night she agreed to, telling myself that I was just saving her from what the sick and twisted customer wanted to do to her. Then I get my first taste of Nicolette, and I realize that one night will never be enough... and I'll stop anyone who tries to take her from me. * The Devil's Playground is the second book in the Deal with the Devil series, a collection of interconnected standalones set in the fictional crime hotspot of Springfield. It tells the story of "Rolls" Royce and the one woman he'll do anything to save, Nicolette Williams.