Wicked Devil

I’ll admit, I went into *Wicked Devil* skeptical. Mob romances often drown in clichés—brooding alphas, damsels with guns, revenge plots that fizzle into steam. But Cross subverts expectations by making both leads *equally* terrifying in their competence. Caitríona isn’t just a wronged woman with a sniper rifle; she’s a strategist who outthinks Matteo at every turn, and his tech-genius schtick actually *matters* to the plot. Their dynamic is less ‘enemies to lovers’ and more ‘enemies who might destroy each other but can’t stop touching,’ which is far more interesting. The narration is where this audiobook *shines*—and occasionally stumbles. Tor Thom’s Matteo is a masterclass in layered performance: his smirk is audible, his rare moments of panic gut-punchingly real. Fiona Clare, though, takes a few chapters to hit her stride; her early scenes feel slightly over-modulated, as if she’s searching for Caitríona’s rage. Once she finds it, though, the contrast between her raw, guttural fury and Thom’s cool detachment becomes the audiobook’s secret weapon. My only real critique? The pacing drags in the middle during a *very* detailed heist sequence—Cross’s tech explanations are immersive but could’ve been tightened. Still, the final act’s twist (which I *did not* see coming) makes the slog worth it. If you love your romance lethal and your villains charming, this is your next obsession—just maybe don’t listen while operating heavy machinery.