The Devil Takes You Home

by Gabino Iglesias

[Quirky Cat]

If you're looking for a unique thriller/mystery read – look no further! The Devil Takes You Home, written by Gabino Iglesias, is unlike anything I've read before, and I mean that in the best way possible.

Mario is drowning in debt – almost literally. His daughter is ill, and Mario would instead take on every ounce of debt than see his daughter without a single treatment, even if it doesn't make a difference, in the end. Meanwhile, his marriage is crumbling, forcing Mario to consider a desperate opportunity.

You see, Mario could stay with this quiet life and watch his world crumble due to finances and tragedy. Or he could become a hitman. Yes, the job is practically suicidal, especially given who he'd be working for, but it's the break Mario needs right now.

“Being broke is not a financial status; it’s a state of mind. It breaks you. Every setback pushes you closer to believing you don’t deserve better, that you’re struggling because you deserve it, because you’re worthless.”

Wow. The Devil Takes You Home is SUCH an intense read. You better emotionally prepare yourself before diving into this read. No, seriously – don't make the same mistake I did. (My dumb butt may have picked up this book late at night, only to read "a few chapters before bed." Yeah, right).

To be clear, this book is a lot (racism, abuse, child illness, poverty). I don't think it'll be suitable for all readers, but I can also see some fans adoring everything about this novel. So it's all about finding the right readers, right?

I'm really happy I got The Devil Takes You Home through BOTM, as it came with a super helpful translation guide. I want to be better about reading books outside of my perspective, and little touches like this make it all the more approachable.

I think it's the grief in this book that hit me the hardest. It's so...real. So human and so anguished. It's impossible not to relate to, which makes it all the heavier to read.

Long story short, The Devil Takes You Home is an intensely and painfully human read, one that I would highly recommend to anyone willing to follow Mario on this journey.

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