The Devil Riding

by Valerie Wilson Wesley

Book Overview

Tamara Hayle is never going to be as rich as the Desmonds, one of Newark, New Jersey's most affluent and influential black families. But the struggling p.i. wouldn't want their troubles either, now... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380732084
• ISBN13: 9780380732081
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

The Devil Riding is a H**l of a Book!

AA Newark PI Tamara Hayle is at it again. This time she's in the glitz, grime and sin of Atlantic City trying to locate the runaway daughter of a wealthy client. And as always Tamara's delicious dark guardian angel Basil Dupre is not far behind, showing up just when Tamara needs him.I think this is the best Tamara Hayle mystery in the series. The Devil Riding finds Tamara on one of her most dangerous assignments. She has to go undercover and mingle with crime bosses, druggies, the late night ladies and all of the underbelly people in Atlantic City. When her car is literally blown to pieces as a warning, she knows that she is in over her head. Yet as frightening as the worse scenario is, it still can't touch the horror she finds in the runaway's own home with her "loving" family.The Devil Riding finally gives us a further peek into Basil's life. This time around although he's here to help Tamara he is also here to find a daughter he never knew he had.This is excellent writing and very good reading.Vannie(~.~)

Valerie Wilson Wesley at her best

Tamara is back, bumbling and guessing wrong, but still a top notch crime solver, kind of like TV's Columbo. All the while reading this book, I felt like a was watching a black and white gumshoe detective movie. The story was written in such a way that one is able to close their eyes and visualize each scene. It was almost as you were there with Tamara. This time Tamara is in Atlantic City searching for the teenage daughter of the wealthy Desmond family. Clueless going in, she meets all the right people but can they or will they help her, that's the question. And, Basil is in town, adding spark to Tamara's quest.This is one book that I highly recommend for the mystery lovers.

The Devil Riding

Tamara Hayle is back again! Valerie Wilson Wesley again does a tremendous job with earthy Tamara Hayle. The story was wonderful and I love the way that the characters of whom we are familiar, keep showing up. When you read the Tamara Hayle mysteries, you will simply ENTER into her world. I love the way that Tamara grows throughout each novel. She is much richer, more grounded, more level headed with each novel. Each book also allows us to follow her successes and changes in her life. The end of this book leaves you anticipating one large decision that she will have to make and will manifest itself in the next novel. Personally, I think that is the fun and excitement and an added bonus of following Ms. Wesley's writing.Again, read this one. It is well worth your time. If you haven't read the other Tamara Hayle mysteries, read those also(preferably in sequence). You will never regret entering into the world of Tamara Hayle world.

The Devil Riding

I was very pleased with this book. I thought that Tamara Hayle was about to retire after the last case, but I was wrong. This book kept me guessing until the end. And I love the way Basil just appears in her life. If you are looking for a good mystery, this is it. I read it in less then 24 hours.

Mind-boggling and fast paced reading experience

Tamara Hayes is a beautiful African-American woman, raising a son by herself. She earns a living as a private detective, traveling to wherever the job requires her to go. This time she is in Atlantic City looking for a teenage runaway belonging to an influential family. As she searches for the eighteen-year old, Tamara wonders why four months passed before someone hired anyone. Tamara is shocked to learn that she has been employed only because someone brutally murdered Gabrielle Desmond's roommate and six other runaways.Tamara goes undercover at a coveted party hosted by a person who preys on the depravations of others. He provides victims to his clients to use as they see fit. Tamara is stunned to find her sometimes lover, mercenary Basil DuPre, attending the same party. Basil thinks Tamara is in over her head with this case. However, the tough Tamara intends to see the case through to its' completion although it means running over her clients, her lover, and a monster that devours innocents.In THE DEVIL RIDING, highly acclaimed author Valerie Wilson Wesley brings the ambiance and decadence of Atlantic City into the forefront. Although a mystery, the literary prose gives the tale a mainstream feel. Tamara never seems to accept an easy case, but this one appears even more difficult than usual because several different crimes muddy the water. Ms. Wesley never writes a poor novel, but this one is extraordinary as she describes the middle class African-American experience inside a well-designed detective story.Harriet Klausner