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The Devil's Staircase
 
 

The Devil's Staircase [Kindle Edition]

Helen Fitzgerald
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)

Print List Price: £7.99
Kindle Price: £3.82 includes VAT* & free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
You Save: £4.17 (52%)
* Unlike print books, digital books are subject to VAT.

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Kindle Edition £3.82  
Hardcover £11.50  
Paperback £5.99  

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Review

'Accomplished and gloriously black comedy' --The Daily Telegraph

'As elegant and witty as it is disturbing.' --Allan Guthrie

'Lovely, sparse, elegant writing, highly original plot and ever- building tension make this book irresistible.There's sex and drugs and rock-and-roll, a whiff of true evil and a scream-out loud finale. Wow!' --Australian Women's Weekly

Product Description

As elegant and witty as it is disturbing.' – The Daily Telegraph 'Accomplished and gloriously black comedy' – Allan Guthrie 'Lovely, sparse, elegant writing, highly original plot and ever- building tension make this book irresistible. There's sex and drugs and rock-and-roll, a whiff of true evil and a scream-out loud finale. Wow!' – Australian Women’s Weekly 'Scary and stylish slice of urban noir' – Boyd Tonkin, Independent 'Colourful characters, dramatic plot twists and vibrant vernacular ... a great read' The Bookseller 'Brilliant, shocking and unputdownable' – Sydney Morning Herald Bronny, a young Australian, finds herself down and out in London. She's a sweet girl who has spent her teenage years in a fearful, cautious bubble. She's never taken drugs, had sex or killed anyone. Within six weeks she's done all three. A group of backpackers break into an abandoned London townhouse seeking a rent-free life of debauchery. They don't realise someone's already there: a terrified woman bound and gagged in the basement. "The Devil's Staircase" combines a chick-lit voice and a dark crime noir environment. Not for the faint-hearted, "The Devil's Staircase" is funny, sexy and disturbing – it will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 898 KB
  • Print Length: 217 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1846970458
  • Publisher: Polygon (17 Dec 2012)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00ANO510W
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #69,002 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fast, Funny & Genuinely Frightening 25 May 2009
Format:Hardcover
The Devil's Staircase is like two books in one - the tale of hedonistic Bronnie, who flees across the world to try to escape her demons, and the brutalised Celia, held captive & paralysed only inches from home - and, literally, inches beneath Bronnie's feet. FitzGerald's skill is how she cleverly combines these two journeys into one adrenaline-filled ride, racking up the tension while still making us care. The scenes below stairs are not for the faint-hearted, but truly, it is both wonem, not just Celia, who are living out their nightmares. Fast, funny and genuinely frightening, the Devil's Staircase goes down into the dark places that lurk under innocent facades.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Wanted to re-read it as soon as I'd finished it 16 Mar 2010
By Lou Ice
Format:Hardcover
I wanted to re-read The Devil's Staircase as soon as I'd finished it because it was something in the writing, something in the tone that was absolutely beautiful. I admire the way Fitzgerald has managed to make quite a complex story so simple and short, yet addictive with its enigmatic protagonist.

18-year old Australian Bronny has lived in fear of death all her life as it's a fifty percent chance that she's got the same illness that took her mum. Before finding out about the test results she escapes to London where she moves into a squat with a bunch of expat backpackers from the hostel next door. Just following Bronny on her path to coming-of-age and dealing with her health condition is exciting enough, but Fitzgerald has very cleverly managed to tie in a serial killer with the plot. It's an ironic contrast between the squat drug orgies and what's going on in the basement of the same house ...

The portrait of London from a young Aussie's point of view are very funny (trimmed hedges instead of eucalyptus plants) and the description of the backpacker scene is very accurate: how everybody loves you when you're drunk or stoned, but couldn't care less if you were not there the next day. And of course there's the endless hunt for money, doing meaningless jobs.

The only thing that annoys me a bit is that the point of view sometimes changes in the middle of a chapter and it can be confusing. Most chapters are written in first person from Bronny's point of view, but Fitzgerald sometimes switches and observes Bronny and her so-called friends from an ominous viewpoint or tells the story from another character's viewpoint. It's necessary though to have different viewpoints for the intrigues, but the switch between them could be more clear.
... Read more ›
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Dark and Disturbing 18 Mar 2011
Format:Paperback
When Bronny escapes Australia three weeks after her eighteenth birthday, it's because she doesn't want to find out whether she has the disease which killed her mother. So she decides to go to London and do some living. Living consists of cleaning the hair out of the drains in a female sauna and steam rooms, living in a squat, taking loads of drugs, trying to lose her virginity, and worrying about the noises coming from the basement. Less overtly humourous and with a darker feel than most of her other books, this one is a fast and furious read with plenty of heart-stopping moments and twists and turns.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Devil's Staircase: A great read 19 Sep 2010
By CodyJ
Format:Paperback
I'm a big fan of Helen Fitzgerald, having being introduced to her books late last year. This offering was slightly different from the other two books I have read; the main character being younger than usual. The book had a slightly different feel, but this by no means detracted from the depth of the storyline, totally compelling, suspenseful and kept you guessing to the very end. Helen's books are notoriously easy to read, but you are still able to become completely immersed in the character and their surroundings. One of my favourite thrillers of the year so far.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A DEVILISHLY GOOD READ 13 May 2009
Format:Hardcover
This is a tremendous book which has a great plot, is fast moving, full of suspense and really quite scarey.The author has a brilliantly humourous turn of phrase throughout.
The detail she gives of the responsibility free life of a London Squatter has left me wondering if Fitzgerald was writing with some personal experience?, and I am left regretting my rather mundane younger life! To be honest I didn't read this type of novel but having read her previous book Dead Lovely which I thought was great I could not resist reading The Devil's Staircase. I would definitely recommend this book to the uninitiated readers of this genre and have no doubt that those of you who do read this will thoroughly enjoy it.
Congratulations are in order for yet another great Novel. I am officially hooked! Five stars !
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging.... 5 Jan 2013
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
A great light read, kept me turning the pages.....bit disappointed in the ending but can't have everything. Would recommend this book.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars amazing and gruesome!! 2 Jan 2010
Format:Hardcover
this is one of helens best books although not for the faint hearted or easily offended!!you are on the edge of your seat through out and on every turn you think thats got to be it there is another twist in the story she is brilliant!!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars the devils staircase 28 Jun 2009
By carol
Format:Hardcover
was a great read from start to finish just had to keep reading to see what happened next cant wait for next book by helen fitzgerald hope its not to long
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars Awful
I hated it. I tried to get into this book but it was very boring and confusing. I couldn't cope with it and had to delete it from my kindle.
Published 16 days ago by Mrs Lesley James
1.0 out of 5 stars Not great
Very average book. Poorly written and the characters lack depth and fail to provoke any empathy. I wouldn't recommended it.
Published 21 days ago by J L. da Silva
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Really enjoyed this book- some parts were a bit sad/ upsetting but on the whole I felt it had some good twists and kept me interested all the way through. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lauraaa
5.0 out of 5 stars OMG
couldn't get into it at first but after a few pages i was hooked , thank you Helen , i will be looking out for more of your books
Published 2 months ago by j.m.woodin
3.0 out of 5 stars Gory tale
Would only read this book if nothing else was not available. Good part is the switch of who did it at the end of the book. Read more
Published 2 months ago by George Lazur
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping.
Very good read. Had me on the edge of my seat. Didn't want to put the Kindle down. Would recommend.
Published 2 months ago by Hayley Monaghan
3.0 out of 5 stars An o.k. read
This book is a bit skittish at the start and then becomes pretty dark. Not an easy read at bedtime .
Published 2 months ago by isca chica
4.0 out of 5 stars Quick read
Definately a page turner, and I not a big book reader! Maybe a little far fetch at times, but still kept me reading.
Published 2 months ago by Dutchrose
4.0 out of 5 stars A good story.
A good story which kept me gripped from start to finish,would definitely recommend this book.Also an excellent price which I got this book for.
Published 2 months ago by Neilsouth
3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed feelings
This is quite a gripping thriller, but I couldn't really like the characters. Perhaps I'm too old but I did get exasperated with the dope smoking, drunkenness and fecklessness. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Vivienne Bate
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