The Devil You Know is not something that you read for pleasure, because I felt so many things while reading the novel--pain, agony, shock, frustration--and pleasure was definitely not one of them. I'm putting this out in the open right now: this is not a happy story (at least not my idea of happy). The angst here is so intense that it seemed over-the-top already. 
 It is devastatingly dark, and so overwhelmingly realistic, that it will make you cry. God knows I cried enough while reading it. 
 Both the heroine and the hero were flawed. Freddie was strong, but frustratingly reckless. Despite that flaw, she was able to redeem herself by the end of the book. 
 And Bentley... 
 Oh, God, where do I start? Bentley was just... extremely complicated. I feel so conflicted about him, because over the course of the novel, I have grown to hate and love him at the same time--with the same intensity. I felt really bad for Freddie because Bentley was such an asshole at times (more than an asshole, really!), but--hell, I can't believe I'm saying this--he was a... justified asshole. I understand that he had his reasons for acting the way he did, but that doesn't stop me from wishing that he could have acted differently. He broke my heart so many times I actually lost count. And you know what, I'm not entirely convinced that he was even worth all that crap. He definitely did not redeem himself in the end. Sigh. If I were Freddie, I would have left him ages ago. 
 So why exactly did I give this a 3 star rating? Well, I guess, it's because I respect the fact that it's the kind of book that makes you feel things, whether you want to or not. I also appreciate that it's so beautifully written. Ms. Liz Carlyle should be proud of not only her flawless writing style, but also of her ability to weave such such a realistic and complex tale. 
 ... It can get too realistic at times, though, so if you're looking for a fun, light read, move along.