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The Devil Rides Out (Duke De Richleau Book 6) Kindle Edition

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 941 ratings

The aristocratic Duke de Richleau faces new, sinister challenges in this macabre tale of the dark arts. When his good friend Simon Aron's naïve curiosity is tested, the Duke, along with his ever-patient friends Rex Van Ryn, and Richard Eaton, must intricately plot a means of both physical and spiritual rescue. But with Van Ryn's affections for abeautiful woman caught in the web of Satanists, and Eaton's ongoing scepticism, they all risk being brought to the verge of madness through dabbling with the powers of evil.

From London to the West Country, the slums of Paris to a Christian monastery, the action of this powerful occult thriller moves with fantastic, compelling force.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“The word thriller has never been more aptly bestowed.” ―Lionel Hale, The News Chronicle

“He forcibly abducts the imagination.” ―Howard Spring, Evening Standard

“There is a thrill for you in every chapter of this book.” ―Richard King, Tatler

“One of the most popular storytellers of the century.” ―The Daily Telegraph

“The greatest adventure writer of his time.” ―The Daily Mail

“The word thriller has never been more aptly bestowed” ―The News Chronicle

“He forcibly abducts the imagination” ―Evening Standard

“There is a thrill for you in every chapter of this book” ―Tatler

About the Author

Dennis Wheatley (1897–1977) was an English author whose prolific output of stylish thrillers and occult novels made him one of the world's best-selling writers from the 1930s through the 1960s.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00EWL8VGI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury Reader; 1st edition (October 10, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 10, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4478 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 306 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 941 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
941 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book suspenseful with sophisticated plot twists. They describe it as an engrossing read that is better than the movie. The story is described as entertaining and fun. Readers praise the fast-paced and hard-to-put-down writing style. Many consider the author at his finest, while others criticize the dialogue.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

20 customers mention "Suspenseful"19 positive1 negative

Customers enjoy the book's suspenseful and action-packed story with sophisticated plot twists. They find it a great adventure story with horror elements that are well-researched. The drama and suspense within the pages are enjoyable, making it a fascinating and enjoyable read.

"...dabble in the occult and black magic which nevertheless remains a fascinating and enjoyable book to read." Read more

"...Tanith does provide a sort of fatalistic, romantic subplot—but this gets a little shortchanged at the finish when it comes to a convenient end...." Read more

"...it is a Hammer film and to this day, it, like all of them, it instills dread. Love them both." Read more

"...so well written and suspenseful and his flair for the dark side is so entertaining.Perfect for a night by the fire or just a rainy day." Read more

18 customers mention "Readability"16 positive2 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and engaging. They say it's better than the movie, reads like a comic book, and makes the ending of the film make more sense. The narrator is described as spot-on and the book is unabridged.

"...This novel is a highly enjoyable read and is recommended to all those who would take an interest in the novels of Dennis Wheatley...." Read more

"...You will not be disappointed, so well written and suspenseful and his flair for the dark side is so entertaining...." Read more

"...The novel is much better than the film, and the end of the film makes more sense now...." Read more

"...It's fun, reads almost like a comic book. I actually enjoyed looking up outdated/arcane words every few pages or so. I say it's a hoot . . ...." Read more

7 customers mention "Enjoyment"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it a quick and entertaining read with a good performance. The story is fun and true, and a movie adaptation was made in the mid-20th century.

"...Like a modern-day sitcom. Despite my criticisms, the story is fun and contains all the veracity of a Jules Verne novel, but without..." Read more

"...Too, a rather good movie of it was made mid 20th century which works despite primitive special effects...." Read more

"...It's fun, reads almost like a comic book. I actually enjoyed looking up outdated/arcane words every few pages or so. I say it's a hoot . . ...." Read more

"...a solid "here comes the devil" tale that is a quick and entertaining read." Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it engaging with strong characters and a compelling plot that keeps them hooked until the end. The writing style is described as fast-paced and evocative, keeping the stakes high.

"...a good job of balancing the characters with different strengths and weaknesses, while still providing strong moral centers for each...." Read more

"...Strong characterizations and a driving plot make it hard to put down...." Read more

"...doctrines involved in the plot, as well as just generally being a fast-paced and evocative read." Read more

"...a gorefest but a solid "here comes the devil" tale that is a quick and entertaining read." Read more

3 customers mention "Development"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's development. They say it's one of Dennis Wheatley's best books, action-packed, and a must-read.

"...He is deliciously developed with an almost comical revulsion, and yet with sufficient charisma to corrupt as befitting his reputation...." Read more

"Nick Mercer is great. He adds to what is already a great book. He makes a very entertaining performance." Read more

"Dennis Wheatley is a genius! One of his best books! Action packed! A must read!" Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"4 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development. Some find the characters well-developed and charismatic, while others feel the dialogue is inconsistent and unengaging.

"...The author does a good job of balancing the characters with different strengths and weaknesses, while still providing strong moral centers for each...." Read more

"...Characters are constantly speaking nonsense with authority and getting away with it...." Read more

"...lack of gore, the novel is suspenseful and the psychology of the characters interesting. "..." Read more

"...The characters are well developed, the premise and plot exciting, the content scary, leading to it's logical finale...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2008
    _The Devil Rides Out_, first published in 1934 and made available here by Wordsworth Editions Tales of Mystery & The Supernatural, is an occult suspense novel by British novelist Dennis Wheatley that features themes of black magic and Satanism. Dennis Wheatley (1897 - 1977) was a British novelist who is perhaps best known for his occult thriller novels. Wheatley was a fierce defender of British royalty, the empire, and the class system and an opponent of Communism, and his novels feature characters who adhere to that particular point of view. This novel features one of Wheatley's central characters the Duke de Richleau, a French royalist living in exile in England, who had previously appeared in _The Forbidden Territory_ (a tale concerning the Soviet Union in which the characters were pursued by the OGPU), including the American Rex Van Ryn, the English Jew Simon Aron, Richard Eaton, and Princess Marie Lou, along with her daughter Fleur. Wheatley's novels feature themes of black magic and Wheatley was to write about this field after encountering such individuals as Aleister Crowley, the Reverend Montague Summers, and Rollo Ahmed. Wheatley was religious and held towards belief in Christianity; although, certain of his beliefs were unorthodox in that he believed in reincarnation (as expressed for example by Joan Grant in her novel _Winged Pharaoh_). When asked about black magic Wheatley would always reply "Don't meddle!", indicating his opinion on the subject and his note at the beginning of this novel notes the dangers of dabbling in the occult.

    The novel begins with the Duke de Richleau and Rex Van meeting again and then wondering what has kept their friend Simon from meeting with them. Together they decide to pay a visit to Simon's house, where they find him to have a series of bizarre guests and to have purchased an observatory. Simon's guests include Tanith, a woman whom Rex has seen around the world on numerous occasions, the old crone Madame d'Urfe, and Mocata, the black magician who will play a major part in this novel, along with several other mysterious individuals. At this point, the Duke and Rex conclude that Simon has been dabbling in black magic and decide to rescue him along with Tanith from the evils of the black magic cult they are involved in. In the meantime, the Duke explains the "esoteric doctrine" underlying the world's religious systems to Rex and they encounter a demon in the observatory. The Duke and Rex manage to get Simon out of the house by knocking him out and thus the satanic coven will not have thirteen, the magical number needed to perform the ritual. They realize that in order to stop the satanic cult they will have to rescue Simon and Tanith before the night of Saint Walpurga's Eve. Rex manages to find Tanith after meeting up with Madame d'Urfe and takes her with him to Cardinal's Folly where Richard and Marie Lou reside. However, first he learns that Tanith is doomed to die within the year. In the meantime however, Tanith manages to escape and travels to the Sabbat. Together with the Duke, Rex kidnaps Simon and Tanith and take them back to Cardinal's Folly. There they must fight off Mocata, who proves to be a skilled hypnotist and uses his powers against Marie Lou. Eventually they must create a magic circle where they can fend off the forces of darkness and prevent Mocata and his minions from retrieving the Talisman of Set and unleashing a terror upon the world worse than the First World War. The angel of death appears and must carry off one of them, and initially it appears that Tanith will be that person as she is found dead. However, things are not as they seem and the group must travel to Paris and Greece to fight Mocata and his evils there, after learning from Tanith's spirit that Mocata has kidnapped Fleur and intends to use her in his diabolical ceremonies. There is also an appearance made by the dread Goat of Mendes, who appears after Mocata's satanic rites have summoned him.

    This novel is a highly enjoyable read and is recommended to all those who would take an interest in the novels of Dennis Wheatley. The atmosphere is extremely mysterious and the interplay of black and white magic is found throughout. The novel offers an important warning to those who would dabble in the occult and black magic which nevertheless remains a fascinating and enjoyable book to read.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2017
    Dennis Wheatley writes quickly and keeps the stakes high. He masterfully balances the provision of vital information and background with stake raising in the plot game. Most of his skill lies here. The storyline feels effortless despite the amount of research he manages to doll out along the way. There are those critical of his prose and dialog, and Wheatley himself even admitted as such—still nothing gets in the way of the plot or the continual and subtle way he integrates his research.

    This is the second book to use his familiar cast of aristocratic do-gooders: the Duc De Richleau, Rex van Ryn, Simon Aaron and Richard Eaton. The author does a good job of balancing the characters with different strengths and weaknesses, while still providing strong moral centers for each. One of my favorite aspects of this book was the fact that the very wise and learned Duc De Richleau was not infallible and that he got things wrong at times—despite his almost superhuman knowledge of the supernatural forces the protagonists were up against.

    The chief antagonist is a portly fellow named “Mocata” (a perfect name for a villain by the way). He is deliciously developed with an almost comical revulsion, and yet with sufficient charisma to corrupt as befitting his reputation. The secondary evil-doers compliment Mocata and add to the mystique and world-building of this occult-centric story. Wheatley does an okay job of keeping the female characters part of the action, but he could have done better. Princess Marie Lou serves to add to the world building with her exotic backstory, but Tanith Carlisle and Fleur feel a bit more like plot devices. Tanith does provide a sort of fatalistic, romantic subplot—but this gets a little shortchanged at the finish when it comes to a convenient end.

    Some criticisms I have for this book have to do with the stakes and ending. Much of the book centers around chasing after the evil practitioners of black-magic whom are hell-bent on kidnapping and corrupting (or worse) the loved ones of our fearless group. The motivations behind this are explained satisfactorily enough. However, when the underlying goal of the ring leader is revealed and then the fate of the entire world hangs in the balance—I felt that it lacked some of the weight which it presupposed.

    Here the story seemed to have a bit of the episodic feel to which it was written. The real peril which was professed did not feel quite real enough. Even though the story expands beyond the proximity of English countryside and the cast of characters grows, it’s not quite enough to give that full believability that turmoil would be felt beyond the circle of characters we’d already been introduced to.

    The ending too falters a tad (as other reviewers have noted). It’s fitting enough for the story which has been woven and Wheatley introduces enough elements to set things up for the ultimate conclusion. However, the bow is tied a little too neatly and all the plotlines are wrapped up a little too conveniently. Again, here, we feel that pressing episodic feel in which the author needs to hit the “reset” button to bring things to a resolution so that all will be ready for the next installment. Like a modern-day sitcom.

    Despite my criticisms, the story is fun and contains all the veracity of a Jules Verne novel, but without feeling the weight of the labor involved. A great adventure story with horror elements based thoroughly and effortlessly in a scholarly bed of research. Enjoyable and informative.

    I would like to add that I have read the 2013 reprint by Bloomsbury Reader, which I suspect to contain some editing to make this work more appealing to the sensibilities of modern readers without entirely sacrificing the original prose.

    Podcast: If you enjoy my review (or this topic) this book and the movie based on it were further discussed/debated in a lively discussion on my podcast: "No Deodorant In Outer Space". The podcast is available on iTunes, Tune-In Radio, Stitcher, Google Play Music, YouTube or our website.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2023
    The air of absolute accuracy really draws the reader into this occult romance. Strong characterizations and a driving plot make it hard to put down. Too, a rather good movie of it was made mid 20th century which works despite primitive special effects. I believe it is a Hammer film and to this day, it, like all of them, it instills dread. Love them both.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • philetienne
    4.0 out of 5 stars Il libro e' arrivato intatto.
    Reviewed in Italy on June 18, 2023
    I wanted to read it out of curiosity, as the Terence Fisher movie is a favorite of mine; it seems to me the book drags on and on at times, which the film never does; the script and of course the direction by Fisher never flag. Lee is quite good as De Richlau.
  • Cllr Chris Burke MBA
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Traditional Black Arts Wheatley
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2021
    If you have come to enjoy the style and pace of a Wheatley this early example will not disappoint. In addition to his well researched subject material (a subject he is enthusiastic about) he reintroduces established characters, something he is very good at. Wheatley's stylistic approach is very easy on the eye so to speak and he never found a good reason to change it. He does let rip in involving this group in areas of demonic action fairly new at the time in popular fiction but much more accurate in those facts he deploys than his modern imitators. You have to allow for the occasional emergence of quite right wing views but they are not that unusual for the 1930's middle classes and less toxic than those you might encounter today. A good yarn, enjoyable and great fun, if you like elegance and the cars of a bygone age you will love this.
  • Mary M. Bourque
    5.0 out of 5 stars kudo's for an old master!
    Reviewed in Canada on February 4, 2017
    I read all of Dennis Wheatley's books as a child, and young adult.
    I enjoy his books just much 50 years later. He is an excellent writer who pens a good yarn!
    Some of his terms are now considered politically incorrect, but consider the times in which he wrote and enjoy an entertaining author!
  • D. Worsley
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Story Rides Out
    Reviewed in Australia on August 2, 2014
    Tense and suspenseful, "The Devil Rides Out" pits the best of humanity - ingenuity, friendship, compassion, creativity and love- against the worst - greed and villainy of all stripe and order and the very literal spawn of Hell itself.
    The Duc de Richeleu, experienced, sombre and ultimately trustworthy, Rex Van Ryn passionate and practical, Simon Arron curious and Richard Eaton and his wife Mary Lou, stolid and defiant standing against Diabolists and Magicians (black of course) in order to save the souls of two people dear to them.

    Sir Christopher Lee when talking about his performance in the movie "The Devil Rides Out" (as the Duc, rather a surprise given how he's described in the book hardly a good match to Lee, but that's entirely another thing) says it shows the sheer peril of dabbling in the Dark Arts, and he's right. There is a very good sense of how endangered everyone is, even the virtuous and somewhat knowledgable about White Magic Duc, because of Simon Arron and Tanith's dabbling in the Dark side of world. For all their courage and skill, they are at every turn out matched by the loathesome forces arranged against them, even a nominal victory like surviving an encounter with the Angel of Death doesn't result in a true victory as it leaves them mentally drained and emotionally devastated.
  • kelowna Kid
    5.0 out of 5 stars Used paper back
    Reviewed in Canada on January 4, 2021
    Loved it - read it when I was very young. In good condition

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