THE DEVIL IN HER BED is the third book in Kerrigan Byrne’s “Devil You Know” series. Unlike many of Kerrigan Byrne’s other books, while this hero and heroine excel at deception and disguises, the villain in THE DEVIL IN HER BED is relatively easily spotted. I was eager to read this book after the author teased the reader in the previous book and hinted at a possible attraction between these two characters. In the opening of this novel, Kerrigan Byrne does what she does best – weave together a story that starts as a fairytale but ends up going horribly and tragically wrong. The fragments of that story are clues for the reader to piece together as THE DEVIL IN HER BED progresses. Needless to say, I read this book straight through without stopping.

The Devil of Dorset aka Vincenzo de Flor, the Count Armediano of Italy aka Lord Brendan Murphy aka a million other aliases, is a spy but one who usually does more good than anything else. When he comes across the Countess of Mont Claire, Francesca Cavendish he is somewhat spellbound. In addition to a visceral attraction, he is intrigued for deeper reasons. Francesca aka Pippa Hargrave is in a similar vocation to the Devil, but she is motivated solely out of a sense of vengeance rather than anything else. Unbeknownst to both, they have the same target – the evil Crimson Council. They initially think they are at cross-purposes and have an unusual flirtation and sexual tension, not unlike that between Batman and Catwoman. Francesca is pursuing leads to destroy the council members, and the Devil of Dorset isn’t sure whether Francesca is a good guy or a bad guy. Either way, he is beguiled by her and compelled to follow her. I like how Francesca uses her wits and skills to entrap the wicked, while keeping herself relatively safe.

THE DEVIL IN HER BED is about two people who are surprised to find love and light while battling the forces of evil. The parallels and juxtapositions in this story are interesting – like the virtuous and female Red Rogue Society as a contrast to the supremely evil and mostly male Crimson Council. Kerrigan Byrne does a phenomenal job of putting a gothic spin on the “second chance at love” trope. The dark themes and male malevolence in THE DEVIL IN HER BED are reminiscent, for me, of the kind found in an Anne Stuart story.