by D. L. Hicks
Of course, this book wouldn’t be possible without the wonderful people at Pantera Press. Writing has always been a love of mine, and publishing a novel was always the ultimate fantasy, a mirage that seemed so unattainable until Pantera came along and made it a reality. To all the staff at Pantera, particularly Alison Green, Anabel Pandiella and Anna Blackie, thank you so much for welcoming me into your fantastic company and for your infectious positivity about my work. I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with you all.
An exclusive thanks, of course, to my editor and champion, Lucy Bell. It is difficult to express enough gratitude to the person who spotted the diamond in the rough that was my manuscript, who presented it so strongly to the company, and then who assisted me so much in moulding it into the finished product. You are a smiling assassin, Lucy, a killer with a red pen, and I am so grateful for all the work you have put in to making The Devil Inside the story it has become. It has been a long road but you have helped me every step of the way and I am so appreciative of your contribution to my writing, and look forward to working with you in the future.
Last – but certainly not least – a huge thank you to my beautiful wife Ginny, and my two wonderful children, Sam and Amy. Your love and support has been unflappable, and your capacity to believe in me when I have wavered is invaluable. From the excitement of getting signed by Pantera, through the challenges of editing and adapting the manuscript, you have always been there to pep me up and keep things on track just when I needed it. Time away from family – even just in the next room writing – is time that you can never get back, so I hope the release of this book makes it all worthwhile, and makes you proud.
To you, the reader, a huge hug and a warm handshake. Thanks.
BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS
1. At what point in the novel were you able to start piecing together what had happened? Were you able to pick up on the clues, or was it a mystery until the killer was revealed?
2. How did the flashbacks influence the reading experience? What did they add, if anything, to the story?
3. How important did you feel the small-town setting of Gull Bay was to the story?
4. The point of view is shared between several characters. Whose voice did you find most compelling and why?
5. The line between justice and vengeance is inherently blurry. Discuss.
6. Did you ever feel sympathy for the killer? Why or why not?
7. Charlotte Callaghan and Katelyn McBride are two women trying to excel in their careers. Compare their tactics. Is one ultimately more effective than the other?
8. What challenges does Charlotte face as a female in her job? How do you feel about the way the author presented these?
9. Do you think Charlotte was capable of doing her job to the best of her ability? What would you do in her situation?
10. Why does Charlotte keep her illness a secret from her colleagues and loved ones?
11. Do you think Jack’s feelings for Charlotte were genuine?
12. When dealing with younger officers, Charlotte notices them behaving unprofessionally and speaking to their superiors without respect. What do you think this says about modern values and older values? Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve shared Charlotte’s observations?
13. When Ben’s trauma resurfaces, he must find the courage to file a report with the police. How accessible is this system in your opinion?
14. Authority figures abusing positions of trust is a recurring theme in the novel. Was there a particular instance that shocked you more than others?
15. Why do you think Ben and Johnny handle their history differently?
16. What does the jigsaw puzzle on Charlotte’s table represent, and what is its significance?
17. What is your interpretation of the final scene? Is Joseph guilty or not?
18. D.L. Hicks has more than twenty-five years of experience as a police officer. Do you think this helped make the novel more realistic?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Hicks is a police officer with the Victorian Police. In his twenty-five years of service he has been on the frontline of everything from drug busts to serious collisions and all manner of violent crime, a job which he describes as giving him a front seat to crime and humanity in all its colour.
Through his stories, David hopes to challenge readers to examine the line between good and evil, and how circumstance can alter a person’s life in the blink of an eye.
David lives in Geelong with his wife and two children. The Devil Inside (2020) is his first novel.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organisations, dialogue and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, organisations, events or locales is coincidental.
First published in 2020 by Pantera Press Pty Limited
www.PanteraPress.com
Text copyright © D.L. Hicks, 2020
D.L. Hicks has asserted his moral rights to be identified as the author of this work.
Design and typography copyright © Pantera Press Pty Limited, 2020
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This work is copyright, and all rights are reserved. Apart from any use permitted under Copyright legislation, no part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, nor may any other exclusive right be exercised, without the publisher’s prior permission in writing. We welcome your support of the author’s rights, so please only buy authorised editions.
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A Cataloguing-in-Publication entry for this work is available from the National Library of Australia.
ISBN 978-1-925700-81-7 (Paperback)
ISBN 978-1-925700-82-4 (eBook)
Cover Design: Christa Moffitt, Christabella Designs
Cover Image: Arcangel/Tony Worobiec
Publisher: Lex Hirst
Editor: Lucy Bell
Proofreader: Lauren Finger
Typesetting: Kirby Jones
Author Photo: Melinda A Johnson Photography
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