The Devil Takes You Home: A Novel by Gabino Iglesias
“Being in the presence of monsters is okay as long as you don’t think too much about what they’re capable of. The scarier thing is when you realize what you’re capable of yourself.” - an except from The Devil Takes You Home
The Devil Takes You Home is a paranormal suspense, supernatural crime thriller by Gabino Iglesias. Weighing in at 311 pages, this novel is filled with darkness and horrors that will haunt you. Published by Mulholland Books on August 2, 2022, this story will grab you by the heart and take you on a wild ride that will leave you breathless.
I’ve been looking forward to writing this review. I’ve followed Gabino Iglesias on social media for a while now. I appreciate his daily and weekly posts. Not only does he leave tidbits of light-hearted (dark) humor, but he goes out of his way to leave words of wisdom for authors such as myself to keep working and get through the struggle in hopes of attaining what success means to each of us. My hope is that I can give The Devil Takes You Home the proper respect it deserves. Not only because I enjoyed the book, but because I want to respect an author who is out there defying the “rules” he’s been given and lifting others to succeed in the process.
This gritty book is about Mario, a husband and father who is battling the illness of his child, mounting debt, and the strength it takes to keep his marriage together. Desperate, an opportunity that could land him $200,000 entices him to go down a road of violence. He learns he enjoys it, though he battles his inner demons along the way. Ignoring the sixth sense that tries to keep him safe, he charges ahead in hope of finding solace and peace in the cash reward. In the end, he’s a changed man, though for better or worse is up to the reader to decide.
The majority of the characters in this story are despicable, but I found myself getting as comfortable with them as Mario did. As I dove deeper into the drug cartel and the paranormal events that became “normal” as the story continued, I didn’t bat an eye at the atrocities they left in their wake. Iglesias does a great job creating believable characters, and their need for reconciliation bundled with an underlying theme of hope makes the story go down smoothly.
I’ve heard that some reviewers have commented that this book is too violent. I didn’t see it that way at all. In fact, I was shocked there wasn’t more, especially after the scene in Chapter 11. This is a spoiler free review, so I won’t share what happens, but the story really picked up for me in that chapter. Things got real. That’s the moment where Mario is in deep. I was hooked.
The layout of this book is a braiding of the hell Mario has been through with his wife and child and the violent journey he takes to try to fix things. Yes, there’s violence sprinkled with supernatural elements, but there is also a deep sadness and longing in Mario that you experience along the way. He’s hurting, and it’s palpable. It makes you wonder what you’d be willing to do under the same circumstances.
This book’s subject matter straddles the line of what’s right and what’s wrong and how it applies to which side of the fence you’re sitting on. The author sells it for both sides, giving all of the main characters well-rounded lives and situations that make what they’re doing seem right and ethical. I found myself straddling that line. Underneath the violence is a sense of humanity that is trying to break free.
There are so many great moments and quotes in this book, so many lines that hit home and make you want to rage alongside Mario. He’s such a deep
character, and Iglesias allows us to spend equal amounts of time with his thoughts and emotions as well as his actions. At times it feels almost existential. There is an abundance of beautiful descriptions and imagery, moments of eloquence. Then you’re hit with a scene so wrought with violence and pain it reminds you that not everything in this world is beautiful, and the darker side won’t be ignored. It’s a startling combination.
Some subjects I noticed throughout the book were: hope, fear, suffering, pain, memories, omens, religion, racism, rationalization, poverty, righteous violence, and anger. It also has one of my favorite themes: revenge. There are levels of vengeance and acceptance and the characters coping with it each in their own unique way. Watching them work out the details and decide what they are willing to do or ignore for the reward/outcome in the end is enlightening. There is so much talk of new and old gods, I found myself feeling like I was reading about a great quest.
This is one of those books where when you finish you want to immediately go back through it and find hints and clues you might have missed. I love that. I love feeling like I had an experience when I read something, like I was somehow an active participant and not just a spectator. This story will frazzle you, shock you, and leave your gut aching with hope for the characters.
I loved the aha moment of why the book title is The Devil Takes You Home. Iglesias gives an explanation via one of the characters, but if you go deeper you’ll figure out what it truly means for Mario. It’s just another wonderful layer to experience.
I’d like to share some of my immediate reactions and comments I jotted down while reading:
It was as if Iglesias dragged my soul through dirt, mud, and glass. As a parent, parts of this book destroyed me. As a wife, I understood. As an outsider looking in, I couldn’t stop eavesdropping on what was unfolding.
Beautiful Spanish throughout - I would love to hear the audiobook.
I feel like I need a shower after reading this - but that’s a good thing!
Do yourself a favor - grab a copy.
Other books you might enjoy by Gabino Iglesias:
Who is Gabino Iglesias?
Gabino Iglesias is a writer, journalist, professor, and literary critic living in Austin, TX. He is the author of ZERO SAINTS and COYOTE SONGS and the editor of BOTH SIDES and HALLDARK HOLIDAYS. His work has been nominated twice to the Bram Stoker Award as well as the Locus Award and won the Wonderland Book Award for Best Novel in 2019. His nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Electric Literature, and LitReactor. In 2021, he received the Horror Writer’s Association Diversity Grant. Iglesias has worked as a mentor with the San Francisco Creative Writing Institute and the Periplus Collective. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association, the Mystery Writers of America, and the National Book Critics Circle. He teaches creative writing at Southern New Hampshire University's online MFA program.
***information taken from the Amazon author page of Gabino Iglesias
