The Devil's Song

Written by Lauren Stahl

Narrated by Rebecca Gallagher

Up-and-coming Mission County, Pennsylvania, prosecutor Kate Magda has been given the assignment of a lifetime: lead counsel on a string of murders rocking the community. As the privileged daughter of a powerful local judge, Kate views the case as her chance to show her boss, her family, and the public that she is more than just “the judge’s daughter.”

As Kate delves into the case, she becomes convinced that she shares a personal link with the killer, who seems to know intimate details about a tragic childhood event from Kate’s past—an event she’d long been trying to forget. Paranoia sets in, the night terrors return, and Kate has a strong sense that she’s the killer’s next victim. She no longer feels assigned to the case...she is the case, and solving it is her only chance for survival.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Everand Productions
• Release date: Jan 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094414447

Lauren Stahl

LAUREN STAHL began her legal career as an assistant district attorney, prosecuting felonies with a focus on SVU crimes. She is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University’s Dickinson School of Law and received her MFA from Wilkes University. Stahl resides in northeastern Pennsylvania with her husband, two children, and a giant but sweet mastiff, Myra Ellen. The Devil’s Song is her debut novel.

Reviews for The Devil's Song

[Karen Chandler · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an interesting storyline, with kidnapping, buried alive, and corruption. Enjoy

[Mary Littlefield · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Terrible ending Just write another book. No need for cliffhanger

[Reici Newsom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thought this book had an excellent story line and was well told. I did get a little put out by the lengthy explanation towards the end. The story did not need that degree of detailed commentary explaining the who, what, where and when. I do hope to see a sequel.

[Phyllis Hadley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great suspense mystery! The narrator needs to learn how to properly pronounce legal terms. I hope there's a sequel, and that it's either already out or will be soon.

[Terri Keehan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not bad for a first novel! Interesting story and characterat

[Rebecca Byrne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This has all of the right hooks and twists you don’t see coming

[Daelynn Copeland · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book! I anticipate a sequel to tie up the loose ends.

[Mari · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the book, the characters (but dang people slept around a lot even if it was just mentioned and not explicit sex stories) and the story line. This appears to be the only book she has written, despite the last chapter. If you are wondering about that, you might want to look up her father, Judge Mark Ciavarella. Just saying...

[Tracy Stapp · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was easy to follow and the narrator was good

[Shayla Hansen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I didn’t think I’d be able to get into this one, but it was on my list and I gave it a go. I enjoyed it a lot- more for the characters than the story, though story did have some great intensity and twists (kind of predictable but as a debut, I won’t nitpick. I’m really not into the series of crime thrillers that feature the same main character, but I have to admit I want to see where Kate goes from here. I hope there’ll be a sequel. ?

[pomo58 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Devil's Song from Lauren Stahl is a wonderfully twisty suspense novel. There are plenty of possible explanations for the crimes and at any given moment you will feel certain you know who is responsible. This is one of those novels where you were likely right several times but only partly so with no one quite playing the role you expected.The ending leaves a nice lead-in for another Kate Magda story but it is not a cliffhanger in the sometimes annoying sense. It is simply some new developments, aside from the killings in this novel, that will, hopefully, be played out in the next volume.I do have one thing that bothered me even though the small amount that it detracted from the novel was minuscule. That said, it was only so small because it was only brought up once. Had it been used as part of the story any further I would have been disappointed in both the novel and in Stahl. Many mysteries and suspense novels take place, to some degree, in DA offices and around other positions that are elected. If an upcoming election is mentioned, and even when it plays a significant role in the story, most writers have the sense to avoid playing partisan politics and just stick to general terms that can be easily defended from either major party. Terms like "hard [or soft] on crime" when presenting the so-called good or bad character. Neither party has a stronger argument for being hard on crime and both parties also have plenty to be ashamed of when they have been soft on crime. To mention a party affiliation, especially when it is a strong partisan view, begs for readers to then also take a partisan political stand where it is unnecessary for the story. As an example, in Alabama recently, a child predator was hailed as strong on crime mainly for his party affiliation while his opponent was labeled weak on crime even though he had successfully prosecuted a high profile KKK case, which is no small feat in Alabama. Of course, those in the other party consider him weak because he was going after the "wrong" criminals, which is another completely different social issue than simple partisan politics. Basically what I am saying is that unless an author wants to appeal only to people who are strong partisans politically they, like the vast majority of good ones do, avoid mentioning party names when implying good vs bad. That said, the story itself was wonderful and I would highly recommend this to any reader of suspense crime thrillers. As long as future novels don't turn into partisan political nonsense I see this as the start of a strong series and other standalone books as well.Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

[dianne47-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Prosecutor Kate Magda becomes involved in a case of a killer which has eerie similarities to an event that happened to her and her cousin in their childhood. Very suspenseful, I could not put it down. And the ending seems to be setting up for a sequel.

[voracious_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As the daughter of a judge, Kate has found it difficult to land the challenging cases as a new prosecutor. When Kate is unexpectedly handed a case involving the serial murders of local women with red hair, she can't help but wonder if the cases are related to her in some way. As Kate and her ex-boyfriend, Nick, investigate the crimes, Kate puts her job on the line to finally get the answers she has sought since she was abducted and almost murdered as a young child.This was an enjoyable but disturbing thriller with some twists that weren't predictable. As the first of a planned series, I would enjoy reading more from this new author, who is also a district attorney.

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is author, Lauren Stahl's debut novel. Ms. Stahl comes swinging out of the gate. I can't wait to read what Ms. Stahl comes out with next. Instantly, I connected with the characters and the storyline. Kate is a strong woman. I like that she not only could walk the walk but talk the talk as well. Yet, she was not afraid to admit when she needed help or support as well. Which, she had in Sam. Sam is the type of guy that any woman would want in their corner. Now to the story. A really good one. I really did not find any faults with it. In fact, the connection to the victims and the reveal of the murder was great. A bit of a surprise when it came to the reveal. Here is hoping that I see Kate and Sam again in the future. The Devil's Song sung to me and it was beautiful. A book worth picking up and reading.

[jfe16 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Kate Magda is an assistant district attorney trying to forge her own way out of the shadow of her father, the president judge. Assigned to the high-profile Mission County Killer case, she soon becomes convinced that the killings have a connection to a horrific event from her childhood. As the evidence mounts, Kate endeavors to solve the mystery . . . before she becomes the killer’s next victim.Although the characters are well-defined and believable, the backstory for many of them is far too similar, giving the tale an aura of implausibility. Coupled with a cast of mostly-unlikeable individuals, readers are not likely to find themselves feeling particularly empathetic toward any of them. Astute readers will identify the killer early on, however, the unfolding mystery, with a few unexpected plot twists, keeps the pages turning. The mounting urgency surrounding Kate’s private investigation to identify the killer creates a strong tension, builds the suspense, and works to keep the reader invested in the story spinning out in the pages of this narrative. Recommended.I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers program

[niaomiya · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love discovering new authors, especially when they write good books! Lauren Stahl’s debut mystery thriller “The Devil’s Song” (which I received as an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review) was a whale of a good ride.Prosecutor Kate Magda has been assigned lead counsel on what appears to be a serial killer case. As she becomes more deeply involved in the case, though, she begins to suspect that there is a personal connection between the crimes and a horrific childhood trauma that she and her cousin Tess endured decades ago.Stahl writes Magda’s role with the confidence of someone who has walked in her protagonist’s shoes, and that’s no surprise, as Stahl is an attorney herself. The author ably tosses out legal jargon and procedures without coming across as know-it-all and without bogging down the story with legalese.Supporting characters are sufficiently developed to be interesting all on their own, although I wish Magda’s father would have been better fleshed out. For the majority of the novel he seems very one-dimensional because he is offstage, so to speak; we get to know him only through the eyes of Magda and Detective Sam Hart, who is assigned to the same case. When Magda’s father finally makes an appearance (albeit by phone), it is clear that he is not at all one-dimensional. I found him very interesting and would have liked to have had more of him in the storyline. Based on how the book ended, though, it’s clear that the next book in the series will involve Magda’s father considerably more.“The Devil’s Song” was a gripping novel with a solid plot, fast pace, and good character development. Five stars go to this smashing debut. I look forward to reading the next Kate Magda novel!

[srazz-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a pretty fast read, I finished faster than I was expecting. Lauren Stahl grabbed me from the first page and sucked me in and while I figured out a couple things before the end there was still enough of a twist at the end that I finished the book satisfied. I will definitely look out for the next book, although it does work as a stand alone for anyone not wanting to read this as a series. I am hoping in the next book, Kate is fleshed out a little more as it was really easy not to like her and, in fact, get tired of her antics. Overall, would recommend to anyone looking for a new mystery to read!

[lisasharvey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

THE DEVIL’S SONGLauren StahlMY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️PUBLISHERAkashic BooksPUBLISHEDJanuary 2, 2018A fabulous debut novel about a female prosecutor who questions everything to find the truth about both the present and the past. SUMMARYSomeone is killing redheaded women in Mission County, Pennsylvania. Three women have died so far. Prosecutor Kate Magda is assign the lead on this high profile case and she sees it as an opportunity to make a name for herself, and finally get out from under the shadow of her father, a well connected, long standing local judge. The more Kate reads about the case the more convince she is that she has a personal connection to the killer. When Kate, a redhead was only 5, she and her cousin, Tess experienced a traumatic childhood event, the killer seems to know all about the details of that horrific event. Then the case gets even closer. Kate’s intern is murdered and left on the courthouse steps. Fearing she will be the next victim, Kate pull out all the stops to solve the case. It may be the only way she can survive. REVIEWTHE DEVIL’S SONG is a heart pumping and riveting tale of unrelenting tension. It’s a story about a serial killer investigation; and it’s a story about a real family and the history that haunts them. LAUREN STAHL has written a fascinating debut novel that grabs her readers and doesn’t let go. The writing is fluid, the characters well-developed, and the plot has many interest elements. Kate Magna, is a bluestocking woman, who stands up to trouble, questions everything, and is determined to seek justice. I hope to read more books about her in the future. The title was the only thing about this book that scared me. It was the key reason that I put off reading this book for over six weeks, and then after reading it I failed to see how the title connected to the story. Despite that I would recommend this book to anyone with an inkling for strong women characters and legal thrillers. Can’t wait for the next LAUREN STAHL book. Thanks to LibraryThing, Akashic Books and Lauren Stahl for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[courtneygiraldo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I snagged a copy of this read from LibraryThing as part of their early reviewers program in exchange for an honest review. Prosecutor Kate Magda has landed a career defining case at the DAs office. A series of brutal murders have claimed the lives of two young women in Mission County, Pennslyvania and the circumstances surrounding their deaths niggle at Kates senses that this case is more personal than she originally thought. It seems an old childhood traumatic event has been unearthed and each new clue brings her deeper into a past she would much rather forget, but one step closer to catching the killer. Can Kate piece together clues from her past to the current murders before the killer catches up to her?This was a pretty strong debut novel for Stahl. The story jumps off pretty much right away with Kate diving into the case headlong. She is immediately caught up in the similarities to her own childhood trauma which begins a downward spiral and unwinding of the always polished and put together attorney. I wish there had been a little more of a buildup to Kate realizing the connections to her past, more of a slow and sickening realization versus the immediate recognition. Despite that, it was still an immensely enjoyable read, in fact I finished it in two settings. The plot line was engaging and exciting, all the characters were well defined and concrete. The ending took a different turn than I was expecting, and everything fit nicely into place. It looks like Stahl is setting us up for book two with that ending, which is exciting! I think the characters have great potential to make for a good running series, and Stahl certainly has the writing chops to do it! If you are a fan of thrillers or legal fiction, this is most definitely your next read. 

[diana.hauser · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

THE DEVIL’S SONG by Lauren Stahl.From the Press Kit: “Up and coming Mission County, Pennsylvania, prosecutor Kate Magda has been given the assignment of a lifetime: lead counsel on a string of murders rocking the community. As the privileged daughter of a powerful local judge, Kate views the case as a chance to show her boss, her family, and the public that she is more than just ‘the judge’s daughter’.As Kate delves into the case, she becomes convinced that she shares a personal link with the killer, who seems to know intimate details about a tragic childhood event from Kate’s past.”The characters are very interesting and are well-detailed. Kate Magda is the main character; Sam Hart is a very resourceful homicide detective; Tess is the unstable cousin; PJ or President Judge Magda is Kate’s father (I was uneasy about him - very suspicious of him and didn’t experience/feel the relationship between Kate and her father the way it was portrayed); Gina; Judy; Ron Wells; Winter-Dawn; Nick.The plot is very suspenseful with a lot of tension and good pacing..The chapters are short, clear, and crisp, full of details.There are several background stories with one becoming very prominent at the end of the book. I am hoping for a sequel.I really enjoyed reading this title and found it hard to believe that this was Ms. Stahl’s debut novel. It was that good. I would very much recommend this book. And I thank Akashic Books for the opportunity to read and review it.*****

[Nora Perlmutter · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I know this is the author's first book so I made allowances for that. I thought the storyline was quite good and believable. However, I thought the character, Tess, was not fleshed out well. I plan to read another book by this author in the hopes that she improves with every book!

[Saira Valdez · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Left me hanging. But I enjoyed the book, new give me the next one!

[Cheryl Bryant · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thought it was a pretty good book as a debut. Awesome narrator.

[Kim Daniels · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderfully written. Can't wait for her next book. I will be waiting in line to buy it,

[Angela Ayers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent read! Didn’t expect that particular ending. Well done! Thanks.

[April Kimbrell McDonald · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book!! Lots of suspense and easy to follow! I really loved the characters!

[Josie Moore · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Quite a good who dun it! I hope the author will continue with this cast of characters.

[Lisa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well read, well written; kept me entertained, interested and intrigued. Several times I thought I had it figured out, but no. :) Two thumbs up.
I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Delaney Polito · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I hope there is a follow up novel, enjoyed this legal thriller very much and I want to read more about these characters and see their relationships evolve.

[Tonja Apostolico · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic. I couldn’t stop till I finished it. Can’t wait to see more from this author.