Twenty years ago, Philip McBride died in Happy Hollow. His death was ruled a suicide but was it just a tragic accident? Or was his death something far more sinister? In Billy Coffey's The Devil Walks in Mattingly, only one person knows the truth about what happened that day, but three people are tortured by their actions that may have led to Phillip's death.

Neither the past nor secrets truly remain hidden and no one is more aware of that than the sheriff of Mattingly, Jake Barnett. He is slowly being crushed by the weight of the events from twenty years ago as night after night in his dreams, he relives that day over and over. His wife Kate desperately tries to make amends for her role through good works, but she can never fully escape from her guilt. Taylor Hathcock's grip on reality is forever altered and he sets in motion a devastating chain of events in the present that will eventually make all three of them face what happened on that long ago day.

The Devil Walks in Mattingly is told from each of the key players points of view. Matt's character speaks in first person and his exhaustion, shame and despair are keenly felt throughout the novel. Kate's character always feels a little distant and removed since there is little context for her overwhelming need for penance. Taylor is the most confusing character because it is obvious that he is mentally unstable and there appears to be no rational reason for what he is seeking.

The most compelling of all the characters is not a person, but a place. Commonly referred to as the holler by the locals, Happy Hollow is a place to be avoided but reaching the gate to the holler is a rite of passage for most of the men in Mattingly. The holler is alive with what feels like an evil presence and few dare to venture into the malevolent forest. But it is always clear the holler is key to the unfolding story: Philip died within the holler, Taylor now makes his home in the holler and Jake steers clear of the holler at all costs. But the holler is where supernatural forces will provide salvation and quite possibly redemption, for Taylor, Jake and Kate.

The Devil Walks in Mattingly is not an action packed novel that moves at breakneck speed. It is a slow moving story that builds little by little to a rather impressive and dramatic conclusion that offers almost all of the answers that the readers and the characters have been searching for. But there is one intriguing secret of the holler that remains hidden but since Mattingly is also the setting of Billy Coffey's previous novels, I can only hope he plans to eventually reveal the truth in a future release.
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What a novel! I'm ready for another supernatural thriller by Billy Coffey, his style of writing is amazing. The ending is just as amazing.

Something terrible happened in the past and it's effecting people years later. Set in the charming south this secret has taken its toll on those who know the truth. This is more than a murder mystery, my heart was touched throughout the book. Read it! ( )

I very much enjoyed this book. I can't explain why some books grab my attention better than others. Maybe it's the way the author writes. Maybe it's the story line or the content. Maybe it's a throw-away phrase on the backmatter that beckoned me. Or maybe it's all the above tightly woven into a complex novel that registers on a deeply emotional level.

This isn't a book that should be read as quickly as possible. This is a deep, rich novel filled with nuggets of wisdom and truth that must be chewed on and thought about. Applied to our own lives. There is so much, so many lessons in this story, it's hard for me to put it all into one single review. This is a read-again, think-again type of novel. One that helps put the past into perspective and allows ourselves to reach out to God and ask for the forgiveness He so willingly offers. Especially when it's so difficult for us to forgive ourselves for our own heinous past.

Have you ever heard someone say, "If I'd do anything in my life over, it'd be..." and out pours some past regrets of something they did or didn't do? Now, what if you had pulled a senseless prank on someone and had to live with the awful consequences for the rest of your life? Would you allow your regrets to consume you and change your future? Or would you know that choice rather than fate governs our lives and those actions are the ones that will define us for what we would become?

Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone stumbles and falls. Bad things happen to good people. We all must live with the consequences of our actions; whether good or bad. Such is the case with Jake and Kate Barnett and Taylor Hathcock.

I've read my fair share of scary books, but I am convinced the scariest antagonist of a novel is one who is more than insane (if that's possible) and believes all the evil acts he/she does is God's will and is the right thing. The ones who look like us but who have been pushed or bullied so much and treated so badly that they break into a million scattered, hurting pieces that can only hurt in retaliation. The pitiful ones. The saddest ones who make each of us stop and remember all the terrible things we said or did as kids to others who were a little different.

"Am I good?"
"There is none good. There is only grace. Mercy and forgiveness." ( )

Title: The Devil Walks in Mattingly
Author: Billy Coffey
Pages: 400
Year: 2014
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
The author writes a gripping, mysterious and veiled story that kept me reading and pondering for days. Before I began the book, I read the back cover which helps set the stage for what the contents are as well as learning in the Publishers Note that the events in this book happen four years before When Mockingbirds Sing. While each story written by Billy Coffey can be read in any order, I was glad to have known before starting When Mockingbirds Sing that in the tale’s timeframe these events came first. Soon I will read When Mockingbirds Sing, which I wanted to read because of the interest the title aroused in me as it reminded me of a classic book, To Kill A Mockingbird, which I read in high school. Please note the stories aren’t related.
In The Devil Walks in Mattingly, there was a sense of discovery just waiting for me as I opened the book to begin. I wondered if the writing would be similar to Ted Dekker’s books which never cease to amaze me. Well, let me say I wasn’t disappointed in reading Billy Coffey’s book at all! It is uniquely written with a tale wrapped in mystery and an ending with a revelation that stays with the reader long after the book is closed.
The Devil Walks in Mattingly stirs within the soul of the audience the belief in God’s grace, which can bring freedom to the soul or unbelief and attempts to bring about one’s own salvation. Craftily written within the fabric of the characters are the various ways man believes will rid him of guilt. As people read the book, they will be able to identify either with particular characters or traits or behaviors they exhibit. Totally a must read by this author! It wasn’t one I could easily fly through; it is a novel that took me time to read. I cannot wait to begin When Mockingbirds Sing as I am sure it is thought-provoking, engaging and has a spiritual truth embedded within as well.
My rating is 5 stars.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ . Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )

What a novel! I'm ready for another supernatural thriller by Billy Coffey, his style of writing is amazing. The ending is just as amazing.

Something terrible happened in the past and it's effecting people years later. Set in the charming south this secret has taken its toll on those who know the truth. This is more than a murder mystery, my heart was touched throughout the book. Read it!

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ( )