The first 90% of the book was quite good. The suspense built nicely. The climatic scene was only alright, I felt a bit cheated that it was all over so quickly and without much detail. Polatin definitely could have fleshed that out more, as it's the main reason for me only rating 3 stars. The story was good, I just wish the attention to detail at the end would have matched the attention to detail in the rest of the book.

I did enjoy the epilogue. There's a reference in the final scene that, if you understand it, alludes nicely to the potential for a sequel book. ( )

Literary Merit: Good +
Characterization: Great
Recommended: Yes
Level: High School

In Devil in Ohio, readers are plunged into the world of 15-year-old Jules. Her mother, Suzanne, is a psychologist at a local hospital in small-town Ohio. One day Jules is surprised to find that her mother has brought home one of her patients out of fear for her safety, completely disregarding protocol and the well-being of her family. Mae is not like anyone Jules has met before; she doesn't seem to understand technology and other modern aspects of being a teenage girl. As it turns out, Mae has run away from a small community in rural Ohio that is comprised of Satan worshipers. Threats abound in the attempts of the leaders of this cult to bring Mae back and punish her for her attempt at leaving. It is up to Suzanne and Jules to decide how far they are willing to go to be a beacon of hope and safety for Mae.

This book overall was captivating due to the fact that it is based on a true story. The author captured the story from the perspective of the teenage daughter and how the presence of Mae affected her life, touching on topics such as relationships, jealousy, and fitting in. There were a couple scenes that I felt could have been developed to a higher degree, but overall this is a solid work (and has absolutely stunning artwork on the dust jacket). Give this to readers who enjoy true crime stories with a darker tilt. ( )