The romance in the book is exciting and adds a lot to Leamas s character His relationship with Mariangela shows how hard it is to balance a personal life with being a spy It shows the sacrifices he has to make and how his job affects his feelings and choices. The book starts with a clear idea but changes smoothly as you read New things come up in a way that you don t even notice the change Characters like Nesemis and Chiara s father seem important at first.

Prologue My name is Leilac Leamas although those who truly knew me understood that even that identity was just a mask a fa ade behind which lurked a complex figure By trade I was a corporate consultant operating at the intersections where commerce politics and influence coalesced But beneath the surface of that seemingly innocuous professional label I was an operative My currency was the clandestine information that could either build empires or bring them tumbling down As I lowered myself into the plush expanse of my airplane seat the cabin enveloped me in a hushed stillness Only the muted roar of the engines and the distant furtive mutterings of other passengers broke the silence There within the confined space of the cabin ninety precious minutes of contemplation stretched ahead a fleeting respite to untangle the complex web of my forthcoming mission This was no ordinary endeavor no pedestrian bout of corporate subterfuge or international political maneuvering Rather it promised a descent into the very bowels of organized crime under the banner of Sacra Corona Unita This syndicate s history was a dark quilt of familial oaths and criminal legacy stretching back through the annals of time Previous missions had me face to face with power brokers and kingmakers men and women whose machinations could topple governments But that journey was a different breed of monster I was to tread into a realm where legality held no court a sphere dominated by criminal factions like the Camorra and the Ndrangheta their dominion vast and menacing My task To procure documents so incendiary they could shatter the judiciary rocking the very pillars upon which the law stood Risky Indubitably Yet from the perspective of my unique expertise a vital expedient to uncover greater monstrosities. To further muddy the waters was the Nemesis a shadowy enigmatic force A phantom presence felt chiefly through abrupt disappearances their machinations seemed particularly focused on commandeering telecommunications in Portugal and Brazil But these were just some of the formidable and feared adversaries that I would face on a mission lasting several years perhaps love with its many nuances curves countercurves ups and downs was the most fearless and unexpected of adversaries My squad had been instrumental in digging up those volatile files We operated in the twilight zones of legal ambiguity offering our expertise to the highest bidder not merely in terms of wealth but in pledges toward a loftier morality Although our tactics often danced on the knife s edge of ethics we saw ourselves as a counterbalance in a world rife with systemic imbalances As the plane commenced its descent a gnawing unease wormed its way into my consciousness That mission loomed as a transformative force one with the power to alter not just my career but my emotional landscape There at that critical crossroads love could evolve from a fleeting diversion to a vital element in a devilishly complex puzzle a test of not just my skill set but the fragile human fibers that make me who I was So steel yourself for a roiling journey into a sphere where criminal empires and human frailties collide where loyalty is a two faced coin and each move ripples through a tangled network of bonds and duplicities At stake was than my life s work it was the very essence of who I am and perhaps who you might become Secure your seatbelt We descend into a maelstrom of chaos a piece of the Devil s puzzle waiting to be fit into the heart DEVIL S PUZZLE Love Sex u0026 EspionageDevil s Puzzle by Leilac Leamas takes readers on an adventure through the world of espionage with a twist of romance and very hard core erotic scenes The main character also named Leilac Leamas is not the typical spy you see in movies or read in books Instead of just sneaking around and doing daring physical tasks he works behind the scenes He uses his brains to influence important decisions trade secrets and even blackmail decision makers. Spoiler Alert Throughout the book it becomes clear that Leilac is about manipulating events and outcomes than engaging in typical spy actions This makes him seem like a real spy one who works quietly sometimes on the desk but has a big impact. The story takes you to many beautiful places in Europe like Milan Rome Lisbon Madrid Paris and Barcelona Each place is described so well that you feel like you are there This makes the setting very important in the story almost like it is a part of the action. Leamas s relationship with his assistant Toscin then their roles change as the story goes on This shows how friends and enemies can switch places depending on what is happening in the world of spying. Devil s Puzzle is a bit complex and makes you think You might find yourself needing to take a break especially in the first few chapters to really understand all the details But overall it s a very good book It feels real and sometimes you might even think it s telling a true story The book is one of the best in its genre that I ve read recently especially if you like stories that mix action smart spying and deep emotions. It s got the spy stuff which reminds me of another spy Alec Leamas from a famous book by John le Carr I think Leilac Leams is inspiried on Carr s book And like Alec Leamas in John le Carr s book who is portrayed as a pawn in the grand puzzle of espionage Leilac Leamas in Devil s Puzzle similarly follows the strategic directives set by his team in Madrid and his project manager all under the guidance and orders of his assistant Toscin to complete the grand puzzle of espionage too However unlike Alec s interaction with Liz Gold Leilac s relationship with Mariangela introduces a different kind of personal drama This deepens his character and shapes his decisions in unique ways The book skillfully balances these romantic and erotic elements with action packed scenes enriching the narrative and adding complexity to all story. The places in the book are amazing As someone from Italy I can tell you that the author got it right From Milan in the north to the historic streets of Rome and further south to the Amalfi Coast and Matera and even in the lesser known but remarkable Pietrapetrossa and Castelmezzano every place is described so vividly that it feels like you re really there And it s not just Italy other exciting cities in Europe like Paris and Barcelona are also brought to life. Leilac s helper Toscin is also very interesting You never see Toscin but you can feel how important she is throughout the story It s like she s a secret thread pulling everything together which makes me think she could totally have her own book I would love to read these stories narrated from Toscin s perspective. What s different about this book from other spy stories is the way it shows the life of a spy Yes there s danger and action but there s also love and really intense moments that make you think about the choices spies have to make The relationship with Mariangela Leilac s lover adds a lot of emotion and shows the tough sacrifices spies make. Considering that Leilac s missions often involve encounters with various women including past lovers like Mia tensions rise These encounters trigger jealousy in Mariangela leading her to distance herself from Leilac and return to her ex boyfriend Mateo Despite this Leilac continues his mission struggling to move past Mariangela s departure However they remain connected through am important project GOG which aims to develop an important application using graphene Even as Leilac finds himself involved with other women such as Mia in Milan Brescia Padova or Verna during a lavish sex party at Lago Bracciano and in Rome his thoughts continually drift back to Mariangela This ongoing inner conflict acts as a form of torment a consequence of his actions. Finally in Devil s Puzzle the meticulous attention to the landscapes and cityscapes mirrors the style of Daniel Silva s Gabriel Allon series Specifically books like Portrait of a Spy The Rembrandt Affair and the recent The Collector similarly transport readers across Europe with a rich sense of place and atmosphere making the settings almost as central to the narrative as the characters themselves This element of Devil s Puzzle adds depth to the narrative and enhances the immersive experience much like Silva s evocative storytelling,

Adds a lot of mystery to the story Toscin helps him a lot but always stays hidden This makes you curious about who Toscin really is and what his story might be. Now important this book does something cool by mixing different kinds of stories together: A book to read Paperback Devil s Puzzle was a real page turner It had me hooked from the start Mariangela and Leilac are so cool but thenbam Espionage and danger jump in: I couldn t wait to find out if they d make it through or if everything would explode. If you like sexy love stories with a twist of suspense definitely try this book Paperback

DEVIL'S PUZZLE: Love, Sex \u0026 Espionage By Leilac Leamas

9798882554810

English

535

Paperback

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.Leilac Leamas did a great job keeping me guessing