Devil's Cut

A Bourbon Kings Novel

By: J. R. Ward

Narrated by: Alexander Cendese

Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

In New York Times best-selling author J. R. Ward's thrilling finale to her Bourbon Kings series, the Bradford family dynasty teeters on the edge of collapse after the murder of their patriarch - and a shocking arrest.

At first the death of William Baldwine, the head of the Bradford family, was ruled a suicide. But then his eldest son and sworn enemy, Edward, came forward and confessed to what was, in fact, a murder. Now in police custody, Edward mourns not the disintegration of his family or his loss of freedom...but the woman he left behind. His love, Sutton Smythe, is the only person he has ever truly cared about, but as she is the CEO of the Bradford Bourbon Company's biggest competitor, any relationship between them is impossible. And then there's the reality of the jail time that Edward is facing.

Lane Baldwine was supposed to remain in his role of playboy, forever in his big brother Edward's shadow. Instead he has become the new head of the family and the company. Convinced that Edward is covering for someone else, Lane and his true love, Lizzie King, go on the trail of a killer - only to discover a secret that is as devastating as it is game changing.

As Lane rushes to discover the truth and Sutton finds herself irresistibly drawn to Edward in spite of his circumstances, the lives of everyone at Easterly will never be the same again. For some this is good; for others it could be a tragedy beyond imagining. Only one thing is for certain: Love survives all things. Even murder.

©2017 J. R. Ward (P)2017 Random House Audio

Great book

I enjoyed all 3 books in this series. I wish there was more books, but loved how this one wrapped up and ended.

Absolutely fantastic!!!

I love J R Ward!! And this series just proves her diversity and talent.
The narration was absolutely amazing!!!
Hope she writes a fourth - I can wish!!

Excellent series.

Ending was a bit surprising. Enjoyed all the characters in the book. The narrator was not so great changing his voice for the different characters.

all wrapped up

Narrator made this series. This book nicely wrapped. up the series... although I think some of the endings for each character was not valid based on their personality (trying not to spoil). Overall entertaining although this was my least favorite of the series.

Bourbon King Series

The series was great. I have enjoyed all the authors books. Only thing I had to get around was the voice given to the women.

Freaking awesome ending to a great story!!!

I loved this book! Narrator could of had a better grasp on the female character voices, they all sounded old and rough, other than that I would repeat the listen.

Really enjoyed it!

The reviews definitely gave me pause before purchasing the series. However, I decided to take the plunge and I'm not sorry that I did. I love J R Ward and I truly did enjoy this entire series. However I did have a problem with the narrator and the way he characterized the female voices. He did a great job with the male voices and that smooth Kentucky accent however the female voices were almost painful to listen to. Luckily the story was good enough that I continued on. In typical J R Ward fashion, sometimes it gets a little difficult when the characters can't get out of their own way to find what's best for them. But that's what she does so one has to accept that that is part of her method. Overall I really thought it was a great story and she finished it up very nicely.

So Sad It's Done

I am so sad this series is done but it was wrapped up perfvectly. I really didn't know how a story this huge and with so many chracters and things happening could be finished but it was done amazingly well.

The family and the characters are going to stick with me. I am sure I will go back and listen to the series again in the future, the narrator couldn't have done a better job with the voices for these characters and the setting of the book.

Unmatched, unforgettable, must read/listen too!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes because it's amazine

Who was your favorite character and why?

multiple faves

Which scene was your favorite?

many

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes but impossible

Any additional comments?

Book #3 in The Bourbon Kings trilogy
DEVIL’S CUT
JR Ward

The final installment of JR Ward’s The Bourbon Kings trilogy is akin to a mangled train wreck, it’s not pretty, it’s painful to experience but you have no choice but to watch it unfold. It’s a heady mix of Dallas and Dynasty and book three is all about solutions, closures and new beginnings of a family who easily puts the D in dysfunction.
The absolute mastery of her storytelling is clearly evident in this finale by the way she puts a solid conclusion to a story still so up in the air when it started. The eloquent narrative will take readers back to a more “gentile” time but with all the present day toys, vices and technology plus the constant play on words dialogue give the read a certain timely realism. Her characters run the gamut from over-the-top to salt of the earth, and each and every one is absolutely necessary to the telling of the tale.
Book three picks up right where book two left off so this is NOT a story you can skip around with, and is a trilogy I will definitely revisit.
This series/trilogy is a must read for all lovers of family dynamics, dysfunction and those who love a good mystery. And is a yet another impressive work from an author I love and respect.
One footnote; do not pass over the JR’s dedication at the beginning of the book. It’s amazing.
Narration:
I was fortunate enough to listen to each of the novels in the trilogy and whoever chose Alexander Cendese for the narrator outdid themselves.
His southern drawl-y baritone is unmatched and I could easily picture him reciting these novels with a cigar in one hand and a neat glass of Bradford reserve in the other. He’s dots every i and crosses every t and perfects, men, women, Kentucky drawl, NYC banker, drunk, sober, high-class or blue collar and does it with style. Even if you read these novels don’t ever pass the chance to experience the mesmerizing voice of this über-talented narrator.

SUMMARY:
The four Bradford/Baldwine siblings have a lot on their plate these days at their family estate in Charlemont, Kentucky. Funds are dwindling. Except for the bare minimum the staff has been let go. The family’s bourbon empire is in dire straights. And if that isn’t enough their father’s death was not a suicide.
The youngest son of the family Tulane (Lane) has finally after years of being a playboy grown up and is trying to keep the family’s failing Bourbon business solvent while keeping his true love, the estate’s former gardener, Lizzy happy and the rest of the family close and safe. And on top of that the woman who raised him, the woman who’s more a mother to him than the woman who birthed him, is dying and he doesn’t think he can go on without her.
The oldest, Edward has confessed to his father’s murder, will not accept any form of legal help or aid from his family or his long suffering love and business competitor, Sutton.
The baby, Virginia Elizabeth (Gin) is starting to rethink her decision to marry an ogre just to keep her in Armani and Pearls, starting to regret the bad decisions her entire life is made up of. Is it too late to change or is it easier just to stay the same shallow, selfish debutante she’s always been?
The middle son Max, a grubby, bearded, tatted mess couldn’t run far or fast enough away from his family and the stars in all of his nightmares. After making this short appearance his only thought is when can I get the hell out of out Dodge.

Nicely tied up with a bow.

Final novel lives up to the author's love of the T.V. Show Dynasty. Some revelations you saw coming, other plot twist I still don't believe. And always room for another script. Oh, I meant novel.