The Devil Close Behind: A Jeri Howard Mystery    by Janet Dawson Order:  USA  Can Perseverance Press, 2019 (2019) Softcover     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth If you are planning a trip to New Orleans, The Devil Close Behind by Janet Dawson is a must-read for you. If you are not already planning a trip, you will want to after reading this mystery. Private Investigator Jeri Howard is vacationing in New Orleans with her father when she receives a phone call from a friend asking Jeri to help her find the friend's sister, who has disappeared with her boyfriend. The boyfriend Slade has a dubious reputation and the sister, Laurette, has money! Not a good combination. The Devil Close Behind is the thirteenth in the Jeri Howard series, and another good one. The idea for the plot of this one comes from real life. Nine, so far, arson cases, in the Oakland area of large developments under construction remain unsolved. Janet Dawson inserted characters into the real-life scenario and ran with it, producing another winner. The missing woman had recently lost her husband and small son. She is looking to find a new life. But is Slade the right one to build that new life with? The Devil Close Behind is well-worth a read. I enjoyed it. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews