The Devil and Mrs. Davenport
The first day of autumn brought the fever, and with the fever came the voices.
Missouri, 1955. Loretta Davenport has led an isolated life as a young mother and a wife to Pete, an ambitious assistant professor at a Bible college. They’re the picture of domestic tranquility―until a local girl is murdered and Loretta begins receiving messages from beyond. Pete dismisses them as delusions of a fevered female imagination. Loretta knows they’re real―and frightening.
Defying Pete’s demands, Loretta finds an encouraging supporter in parapsychologist Dr. Curtis Hansen. He sees a woman with a rare gift, more blessing than curse. With Dr. Hansen’s help, Loretta’s life opens up to an empowering new purpose. But for Pete, the God-fearing image he’s worked so hard to cultivate is under threat. No longer in control of his dutiful wife, he sees the Devil at work.
As Loretta’s powers grow stronger and the pleading spirits beckon, Pete is determined to deliver his wife from evil. To solve the mysteries of the dead, Loretta must first save herself.
Author Comments
The Devil and Mrs. Davenport is an exploration of domestic life at midcentury, inspired by homemakers of the era and their undersung contributions to society. Loretta Davenport is a woman desperately trying to carve out a place in a man’s world–a wife, a mother, but also a woman with untapped talent, fortitude, and inner strength who discovers her true calling in the midst of harrowing circumstances.
What People Are Saying
“With a mystery that steadily builds, this gothic novel masterfully captures the horrors and sexism of 1950s suburbia. A bewitching page-turner with author Kennedy's signature: a strong heroine who cleverly navigates twist after twist.”
—Booklist
“Shirley Jackson fans will appreciate this novel with a distinct vintage vibe; readers of gothic and supernatural titles will be drawn in by the book’s feminist empowerment narrative.”
—Library Journal
“Taut with suspense, haunting, and unapologetically feminist, in The Devil and Mrs. Davenport Kennedy masterfully nods to gothic greats such as Shirley Jackson and Daphne du Maurier while cementing her own voice as one of the strongest in the genre today. A true masterpiece.”
— Hester Fox, author of The Last Heir to Blackwood Library
“I laughed, I raged, I gasped—The Devil and Mrs Davenport is a vibrant, heartfelt novel that kept me turning the pages into the wee hours. I can’t wait to see what Kennedy does next!”
—Dawn Kurtagich, award-winning author of The Madness
“Mesmerizing from start to finish! Paulette Kennedy delivers suspense, empathy, compassion, resilience, and just a hint of the paranormal in a way that keeps the reader guessing until the last page.”
— Mansi Shah, bestselling author of The Direction of the Wind
“Paulette Kennedy is the rare species of author who somehow manages to outdo herself with each new book. It seems like a cliché to describe The Devil and Mrs. Davenport as “haunting,” and yet this book has undeniably haunted me—with its eerie imagery, its taut mystery, and unrelenting danger that crescendos below an outwardly perfect midcentury American life. A must-read for Shirley Jackson fans!”
— Olivia Hawker, bestselling author of October in the Earth
“I love a good gothic novel and this one hit the mark on page one. With echoes of Shirley Jackson and Daphne du Maurier, plus a touch of the supernatural, gothic readers will devour this one. The writing flowed, tension was on every page, and I held my breath through the last quarter of the book. A great story about personal empowerment and discovery of self. I thoroughly enjoyed.”
—Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal bestselling author
“A brilliantly layered suspense thriller and feminist nightmare wrapped into one, The Devil and Mrs. Davenport grips you and never lets go. This book will cement Kennedy as one of the most important voices in modern feminist literature at a time when we need it most.”
— Constance Sayers, bestselling author of A Witch in Time
“A spellbinding mystery that crackles with suspense, The Devil and Mrs. Davenport cements Paulette Kennedy as one of the most exciting new voices in gothic fiction. A propulsive coming-of-age story swirled with dark magic, I was enthralled from the very first page. Skillfully plotted and masterfully paced, you'll want to savor every word.”
— Susan Walter, bestselling author of Good As Dead and Lie by the Pool
“The Devil and Mrs. Davenport left me speechless. If you like stories that hold on to you until the last breathless page, then look no further. This story isn’t just a home run—it’s a grand slam!”
—Andie Newton, USA Today bestselling author of A Child for the Reich
“Paulette Kennedy is the modern Daphne du Maurier with her dazzling ability to usher readers into any point in history while making it feel vibrant and fresh with her magical, gothic touch. Her newest novel deftly captures both the simplicity and horrors of being a midcentury housewife in a patriarchal society. With gorgeous lyricism and a determined heroine, the story spellbinds from the first page until the harrowing end.”
— Heather Levy, Anthony Award– nominated author of Walking Through Needles