El Diablo (Jessica Watts Southwest Suspense Series Book #2) by Kathryn Dodson – Review by Angela Hayes

El Diablo: A Jessica Watts Southwest Suspense Novel by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

He stroked her cheek and looked at her with intense black eyes. “Danger courts you.”
She had courted danger many times. It fed the darkest part of her. Perhaps it wanted something in return.

El Diablo is Book #2 in the Southwest Suspense series by Kathryn Dodson. It is set a couple of years after the events in Book #1 and even though you could read it as a standalone, I highly recommend reading ‘Tequila Midnight’, as not only is it a great little thriller, but it also provides a lot of character background, details, development, and other important information which will help you to fully appreciate this instalment.
Ms. Dodson has written quite a few books now, and I have enjoyed them all- but I have to admit that these Jessica Watts, and the Southwest Suspense novels are my favourite. There is just something about Jessica that draws me in. She’s tough, yet vulnerable, independent, and even a little ruthless at times. She can be forceful, sassy, brave, resilient, and stubborn. And she’s had quite a ‘colourful’ past awash with dark bars, intimate encounters, and liberal amounts of alcohol – tequila being her preferred poison. But she’s also awash with doubts and insecurities- especially since she has ‘turned over a new leaf’, so to speak. But underneath all her quirks and flaws, she’s fiercely loyal to her friends and ‘found’ family, and has a burning desire for justice, to help people in need. This desire has led to many dangerous situations, especially since she has a tendency to act first and ask questions later. She is having trouble accepting some of the ‘changes’ she’s had to make, and craves some of the excitement that her ‘wild’ days provided. She has been through a lot, but through it all her ‘gut’ instincts have held her in good stead. Which is exactly how she finds herself pitted against a twisted psychopath, because her gut tells her that the godly man is actually a monster in disguise, who has a sinister plot that involved preying on teenage girls. When he targets someone too close to home, Jessica’s protective instincts kick in and become a driving force as she is thrust into a tense game of cat and mouse. How far is Jessica willing to go? What price is she willing to pay? Will her quest come at the cost of her job, marriage, friendships, family, marriage, or even her life? Well, buckle-up, because Jessica’s about to take you on a gripping ride.
Another great instalment in this suspenseful thriller series. Woven with plenty of gritty mystery, intrigue, tension, danger, action, adventure, crime & investigation, family, friendship, agendas, well-developed interesting characters, action, emotion, and dramatic developments- which made putting this book down almost impossible.
Also, I adore the cover of this book!!! Just gorgeous. Along with Book #1, I would love poster-sized versions to hang on my office/library wall so I could gaze at them all the time.
Can’t wait to see what Jessica gets up to next, especially now she seems to have found a kindred spirit in the form of her new boss.
Happy Reading!

Thank you, Kathryn Dodson!

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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