Devious (Bentz and Montoya) [Hardcover]

I've finished "Devious" 7th the book in her Bentz and Montoya series by Lisa Jackson.

Product Description

The crime scene at St. Marguerite’s cathedral in New Orleans is shocking, even to seasoned detectives like Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya. A novice nun named Sister Camille has been found dressed in a yellowed bridal gown and viciously garroted, her body covered with an altar cloth. Valerie Houston is devastated by her sister’s death. For weeks, she’d begged Camille to leave St. Marguerite’s, where she seemed determined to live as some kind of martyr. But Camille had a knack for making bad choices — she joined the convent in part because she’d fallen for Val’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Slade. Convinced the police aren’t doing enough, Val begins to investigate. Slade, on a mission to repair their marriage, is determined to help her. But the deeper Val’s inquiries go, the more twisted the case becomes. St. Marguerite’s is far from the tranquil retreat many believe, and everyone, from handsome Father Frank O’Toole to the mysterious Mother Superior, has their own agenda. Despite their closeness, even Camille had a hidden life Val never suspected. But someone knew about Camille’s past — and Val’s, too. Now she has no choice but to catch a devious, depraved killer intent on purging St. Marguerite’s of all its sins — before she becomes the next victim…

Product Details
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Kensington; 1 edition (April 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758225652
ISBN-13: 978-0758225658

My Review:

Camille Cammie Renard has always been the black sheep of the family.  In high school she was an outrageous flirt, liked to flaunt her sexuality and toeing the line.  After she felt guilty breaking up her older sister Valerie's marriage she joined the St. Marguerite's convent in New Orleans to seek forgiveness and redemption.  She has trouble giving up her old life and reverts back to her old ways.

She becomes pregnant but before she can leave the church she is found dead dressed in a yellowed bridal gown, viciously garroted and her body covered with an altar cloth.  She is found by Sister Lucia who has an unusual power.

Camille's older sister Val was the more serious one of the family and studious and extremely outspoken.  She's an insomniac and has always been protective of her younger sister.  She had a falling out with Camille when she betrayed Val with Slade when she lived with them.  She filed for a divorce and opened up a Bed and Breakfast with one of her closest friends in New Orleans.  Camille reaches out to her to reconcile but before that happens she is murdered.  Meanwhile Slade arrives in New Orleans helping to reconcile and save his marriage.

Val and Detective Rick Bentz's top suspect is Father Frank O'Toole.  Father Frank is handsome, virile, strong and very athletic.  All the young nuns or novices fall for his charm and good lucks while he is a priest at St. Marguerite's.

Detective Reuben Montoya is getting weird vibes while investigating. In his teen years he dated Cammie, was a friend of Frank's and his brother dated Lucia in high school.  Sister Charity, the 60-year-old mother superior at St. Marguerite's withholds evidence and is secretive concerning what she knows about Cammie and the other sisters. The investigation seems to heat up after another nun is found murdered in the same perverted fashion as Camille, two more nuns go missing, and Val's life is threatened.

Also during the investigation the murder of a red-head streetwalker is called in.  The return of Father John (a serial killer who dresses up as a priest  who murders red-head streetwalkers who leaves his calling card of a $100 dollar bill with the defaced eyes of President Lincoln.  While killing them he listens to a certain station who's radio personality was his first victim (she's the only one who lived).

Cruz Montoya is Reuben's younger brother who is the rebellious one in the family.  He's a detective and he inserts himself into the investigation when he finds out Lucia is at St. Marguerite's.  They use to date in high school when he crashed his car one night while driving very fast.  Her dad drove him off and when he went to see Lucia at the hospital she was gone.  He tried finding her but he had no luck.  It's quite obvious both of them still love each other.

I really like the romance between Reuben and Abby because she really understands what his job means to him and how he really cares for the victim's and their families.  They have a son.

I also like Rick and Olivia's romance too for the same reasons.  Rick has a daughter from a previous marriage and he has a daughter with Olivia.

The main killer was very psychotic and had abandonment problems.  They thought they were doing God's Will and had no remorse for their killings.  Had a very bad childhood with a lot of bullying.

4/5

New Orleans Series:


1. Hot Blooded
2. Cold Blooded
3. Shiver
4. Absolute Fear
5. Lost Soul
6. Malice