The Devil May Lie - Let's talk about a pivotal moment in the book 😱 (Updated)

Until about the halfway point of  The Devil May Lie, the format was similar to previous books in the series. Not to suggest that the story was predictable, but fans understood how my characters reacted to any given situation. For that reason, I decided to throw a monkey wrench in the halfway point of the book, intrigued to see how things would fall into place.

I wrote about a tragedy in an indigenous community, then demonstrated a combination of racism and government neglect. This was reflective of what I believe is often happening in indigenous communities in my country. The event in the book was difficult to write about and didn't get easier with each set of edits but, I felt it was necessary to make a point. In the story, it's this straw that broke the camel's back and causes outrage throughout the country that quickly spills over to the demographic of Canadians who also feel neglected by the government; those living in poverty, immigrants, and essentially anyone who seems to have slipped off the radar. In turn, this pushes the government to do something drastic; they approach a charismatic Canadian named Jorge Hernandez to join their team.

I don't need to point out the irony of a dangerous criminal with blood on his hands asked to join a political party. But you have to remember, nothing is officially 'known' by the public, and therefore, they see a strong candidate who isn't afraid to say what he thinks on the platform. They see an immigrant, someone who calls out his government and has risen from rags to riches, making him both relatable and inspiring at the same time. I feel it also demonstrates how low many political parties are willing to sink to find a winning candidate. Perhaps it is not such a stretch to say that they would nominate the devil himself if they thought it would result in them winning.