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When the Devil Whistles
Allie Whitman and Connor Norman loved making the devils of the corporate world pay. Now, it’s their turn. And the price could be their lives.
“I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t.� That’s what Allie Whitman tells herself every night as she lies awake. Sometimes she even believes it. But mostly she knows deep down that her inability to make a hard choice has put millions of lives at risk, including her own. Now the only one who can help her is her lawyer, Connor Norman. Unfortunately, Allie’s actions have destroyed Connor’s trust in her—and may destroy much, much more.
“I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t.� That’s what Allie Whitman tells herself every night as she lies awake. Sometimes she even believes it. But mostly she knows deep down that her inability to make a hard choice has put millions of lives at risk, including her own. Now the only one who can help her is her lawyer, Connor Norman. Unfortunately, Allie’s actions have destroyed Connor’s trust in her—and may destroy much, much more.
339 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2010
261 people are currently reading
1581 people want to read
About the author
Rick Acker
17Ìýbooks155ÌýfollowersRick Acker writes novels during his commute to and from his "real job" as a Supervising Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice. His unit prosecutes corporate fraud lawsuits of the type described in the #1 bestseller, WHEN THE DEVIL WHISTLES, which award-winning author Colleen Coble describes as "a legal thriller you won't want to miss!"
Rick has led investigations and lawsuits that made headlines in and out of California. Most recently, he and his team won a string record-breaking judgments and settlements against the Wall Street players who created the toxic mortgage securities that triggered the Great Recession. Before joining DOJ, Rick was a senior litigator at Bingham McCutchen, where he worked on high stakes litigation, including a fight between two owners of the San Francisco Forty-Niners and a multibilllion dollar international fraud case. Rick has law degrees from the University of Oslo and the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with honors. In addition to his novels, he is a contributing author on two legal treatises published by the American Bar Association.
When Rick isn't writing or lawyering, you can usually find him with his wife, Anette, and their four children. They'll be exploring in the hills east of San Francisco, watching a good movie together, or, of course, reading. You can visit him on the web at
Rick has led investigations and lawsuits that made headlines in and out of California. Most recently, he and his team won a string record-breaking judgments and settlements against the Wall Street players who created the toxic mortgage securities that triggered the Great Recession. Before joining DOJ, Rick was a senior litigator at Bingham McCutchen, where he worked on high stakes litigation, including a fight between two owners of the San Francisco Forty-Niners and a multibilllion dollar international fraud case. Rick has law degrees from the University of Oslo and the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with honors. In addition to his novels, he is a contributing author on two legal treatises published by the American Bar Association.
When Rick isn't writing or lawyering, you can usually find him with his wife, Anette, and their four children. They'll be exploring in the hills east of San Francisco, watching a good movie together, or, of course, reading. You can visit him on the web at
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
June 5, 2012
This story engaged me from beginning to end. If you enjoy legal thrillers, this is a definite must read.
When Allie Whitman meets up with Connor Norman of Doyle & Brown, a law firm who specializes in fraudulent claim lawsuits, all sorts of sparks begin to fly. The Devil to Pay is run solely by Allie, who is a CPA sent into large corporations to dig around and find fraud against California's local government contracts. Of course, as Allie searches for these hidden frauds, some of the corporations don't much like it, and brings about many dynamic forces. There's a little murder, espionage, lots of law and a bit of romance tied in.
This story is extremely fast-paced, and reads like a good Law & Order episode. You will find it hard to put down. I came across this book as a recommendation from a friend on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, and I'm so glad I read it. Very enjoyable and not one dull moment.
When Allie Whitman meets up with Connor Norman of Doyle & Brown, a law firm who specializes in fraudulent claim lawsuits, all sorts of sparks begin to fly. The Devil to Pay is run solely by Allie, who is a CPA sent into large corporations to dig around and find fraud against California's local government contracts. Of course, as Allie searches for these hidden frauds, some of the corporations don't much like it, and brings about many dynamic forces. There's a little murder, espionage, lots of law and a bit of romance tied in.
This story is extremely fast-paced, and reads like a good Law & Order episode. You will find it hard to put down. I came across this book as a recommendation from a friend on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, and I'm so glad I read it. Very enjoyable and not one dull moment.
August 24, 2020
Interesting legal thriller based upon the decisions of a whistle blower.
October 3, 2011
WHEN THE DEVIL WHISTLES, by Rick Acker, is a great legal thriller rooted and realism and carried by interesting characters and fascinating twists and turns.
Connor Norman is the rich son of an ex-Senator and a partner in a law firm where he specializes in Qui Tam plaintiffs. These are whistleblowers who sue on behalf of the government, and get a cut of whatever the government recovers from the corporations committing fraud. Allie Whitman is the temp accountant that goes from corporation to corporation as an undercover whistleblower. She and Connor are friends only. Company policy forbids him from dating clients, and besides, Allie has a wannabe rocker boyfriend.
Trouble strikes when Allie's boyfriend gets in legal trouble, and Allie gets blackmailed into a situation that threatens her life. One of the companies Allie works for is involved in salvaging lost vessells at sea and looking for treasure. This company employs armed guards, and employees that ask too many questions are threatened. When Allie gets into too deep, her troubles begin.
Allie is a great character, a woman with a troubled past and a good heart who still struggles to make the right choices. I enjoyed her relationship with Connor, and could tell they longed to be together, but couldn't because of his work and her boyfriend. The momentum of their relationship stops midway through the novel, however, so that was a little disappointing, but it picks back up at the end.
I really enjoyed the realism of the legal aspects of the novel. Rick Acker is basically writing about the law he deals with in real life, and he makes it really interesting. Acker is an author I will continue to read. He creates good characters, solid supsense, and this book was a true page turner.
Connor Norman is the rich son of an ex-Senator and a partner in a law firm where he specializes in Qui Tam plaintiffs. These are whistleblowers who sue on behalf of the government, and get a cut of whatever the government recovers from the corporations committing fraud. Allie Whitman is the temp accountant that goes from corporation to corporation as an undercover whistleblower. She and Connor are friends only. Company policy forbids him from dating clients, and besides, Allie has a wannabe rocker boyfriend.
Trouble strikes when Allie's boyfriend gets in legal trouble, and Allie gets blackmailed into a situation that threatens her life. One of the companies Allie works for is involved in salvaging lost vessells at sea and looking for treasure. This company employs armed guards, and employees that ask too many questions are threatened. When Allie gets into too deep, her troubles begin.
Allie is a great character, a woman with a troubled past and a good heart who still struggles to make the right choices. I enjoyed her relationship with Connor, and could tell they longed to be together, but couldn't because of his work and her boyfriend. The momentum of their relationship stops midway through the novel, however, so that was a little disappointing, but it picks back up at the end.
I really enjoyed the realism of the legal aspects of the novel. Rick Acker is basically writing about the law he deals with in real life, and he makes it really interesting. Acker is an author I will continue to read. He creates good characters, solid supsense, and this book was a true page turner.
November 17, 2010
"When the Devil Whistles" is a legal thriller that also works in some military suspense. It's fast-paced and keeps the reader guessing as to how everything will work out. The suspense was created by possible physical danger to the various characters as well as curiosity about the various decisions they will make and how it will all play out. The characters were complex and dealt with realistic problems (though--specifically--not ones most people face). The vivid details of the job and setting brought the story alive in my imagination.
For those who care, Allie sometimes drank to excess and lived with her boyfriend. (It's implied they have sex.) She knew he used meth and he knew she disapproved, but she didn't take a strong stand on it until worried for her own neck. But she found some healing and made some hard choices after seeing where the easy ones got her, and I liked who she was by the end.
There was no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful and intriguing novel.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
For those who care, Allie sometimes drank to excess and lived with her boyfriend. (It's implied they have sex.) She knew he used meth and he knew she disapproved, but she didn't take a strong stand on it until worried for her own neck. But she found some healing and made some hard choices after seeing where the easy ones got her, and I liked who she was by the end.
There was no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful and intriguing novel.
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.
June 4, 2012
Allie Whitman had made a very comfortable living as a professional whistleblower. She and her lawyer, Connor Norman had partnered with California's Deputy Attorney General on numerous cases recovering millions of tax payer's dollars from corrupt companies. However, her latest job turns into a nightmare, when rather than finding dirt on the company she finds her secrets exposed and knowledge of a deadly plot that could cost millions their lives.
Meanwhile, the crew of the Grasp II believed they were looking for a sunken German submarine loaded with riches. Upon reaching the excavation site though, they realize the story about the German sub was nothing more than a cover. Far from their home port of Oakland and with their lives in danger, the crew was powerless to summon help or warn authorities of the impending disaster. In an intricate and intelligent story, When the Devil Whistles combines a legal drama, with an entertaining story line, a bit of romance, and an international terrorist plot to create an interesting, page turning novel.
Meanwhile, the crew of the Grasp II believed they were looking for a sunken German submarine loaded with riches. Upon reaching the excavation site though, they realize the story about the German sub was nothing more than a cover. Far from their home port of Oakland and with their lives in danger, the crew was powerless to summon help or warn authorities of the impending disaster. In an intricate and intelligent story, When the Devil Whistles combines a legal drama, with an entertaining story line, a bit of romance, and an international terrorist plot to create an interesting, page turning novel.
July 8, 2015
: I was thrilled to receive a review copy of a book with such an intriguing subject. This author weaves such a suspenseful and dramatic story, that I stayed up late reading to find out what happened next. Rick Acker gives us a sneak peek into his day job as a deputy attorney general in California's Department of Justice. This author takes the reader through the ins and outs of a high profile criminal case. It was captivating and chilling.
Rick says, "I try to put as little fiction as possible into my novels. Partly because I owe it to readers like you to get my facts right...I also enjoy the research, talking to fighter pilots and scientists…visiting museums and labs..." Not only does Rick Acker pen a suspenseful, legal drama, but I learned so much when I read his books. He takes the reader places we normally wouldn't go. I like that.
This book reminded me of the movie Duplicity with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. I had to pay close attention to the set up in the beginning, so I would catch the sting. Rick does the same with this book. He doesn't bog you down with too much, but just enough to peek inside this fascinating and scary subject. I had no idea a devil whistle blower existed and how they function in an actual case. This author states he has prosecuted corporate fraud lawsuits like those described in this novel.
The main female character is Allie, a young, smart business woman, who knows what she wants and goes after it. Allie says this about her temp work with large companies, "The first day of a new temp job was normally an exciting time. She was a spy setting foot in an energy country for the first time - an undercover Jane Bond who had tricked her way into the heart of a malevolent conspiracy to steal taxpayer dollars. The contrast and between her blah cover and her secret mission - spiced with just a touch of danger - was absolutely delicious."
I enjoyed Allie and felt compassion for the guilt that plagued her. Allie’s partner, Connor, is a brilliant attorney who prides himself on bringing in the bad guy. He says to Allie, "We really do get to fight crime. I love that - I wish everyone took the law as seriously as we do. If you commit a crime, you should pay the price. Every. Single. Time. No excuses, no compromises."
They were a great team until Allie got caught in a serious situation she couldn’t share with anyone. She didn't want to hurt Connor. But the hand was dealt. She had no control over what happened next! It’s a deadly game they played - especially if the whistle blower is caught. The walls of Allie's perfect little world start to crumble when she starts to take matters into her own hands!
I took this book with me everywhere I went. I was mesmerized by this unusual story and Rick Acker's wide array of characters! You won't want to miss this author’s new book...it’ll will make you want to check out his others!
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising�
Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network
The Book Club Network blog
Book Fun Magazine
Rick says, "I try to put as little fiction as possible into my novels. Partly because I owe it to readers like you to get my facts right...I also enjoy the research, talking to fighter pilots and scientists…visiting museums and labs..." Not only does Rick Acker pen a suspenseful, legal drama, but I learned so much when I read his books. He takes the reader places we normally wouldn't go. I like that.
This book reminded me of the movie Duplicity with Julia Roberts and Clive Owen. I had to pay close attention to the set up in the beginning, so I would catch the sting. Rick does the same with this book. He doesn't bog you down with too much, but just enough to peek inside this fascinating and scary subject. I had no idea a devil whistle blower existed and how they function in an actual case. This author states he has prosecuted corporate fraud lawsuits like those described in this novel.
The main female character is Allie, a young, smart business woman, who knows what she wants and goes after it. Allie says this about her temp work with large companies, "The first day of a new temp job was normally an exciting time. She was a spy setting foot in an energy country for the first time - an undercover Jane Bond who had tricked her way into the heart of a malevolent conspiracy to steal taxpayer dollars. The contrast and between her blah cover and her secret mission - spiced with just a touch of danger - was absolutely delicious."
I enjoyed Allie and felt compassion for the guilt that plagued her. Allie’s partner, Connor, is a brilliant attorney who prides himself on bringing in the bad guy. He says to Allie, "We really do get to fight crime. I love that - I wish everyone took the law as seriously as we do. If you commit a crime, you should pay the price. Every. Single. Time. No excuses, no compromises."
They were a great team until Allie got caught in a serious situation she couldn’t share with anyone. She didn't want to hurt Connor. But the hand was dealt. She had no control over what happened next! It’s a deadly game they played - especially if the whistle blower is caught. The walls of Allie's perfect little world start to crumble when she starts to take matters into her own hands!
I took this book with me everywhere I went. I was mesmerized by this unusual story and Rick Acker's wide array of characters! You won't want to miss this author’s new book...it’ll will make you want to check out his others!
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising�
Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network
The Book Club Network blog
Book Fun Magazine
January 9, 2011
Title: WHEN THE DEVIL WHISTLES
Author: Rick Acker
Publisher: Abingdon Press
October 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4267-0767-4
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary/suspense
Allie Whitman works for a temporary agency as a CPA. But really she works as a whistle blower for the state, privately going through books of corporate giants and making them pay. But she is involved with a rock star on drugs, and her personal life is anything but happy.
Connor Norman is a clean cut lawyer, suing the corporations who Allie blows the whistles on. And both of them are very good at what they do.
But when Allie is “discovered� suddenly the world starts falling apart. The corporation agrees to keep “quiet� if she blows the whistle on someone else. If she doesn’t then they’ll expose her as the force behind the whistle blowing. What Allie decides could destroy Connor’s trust in her and much much more.
WHEN THE DEVIL WHISTLES is the first book I’ve read by Rick Acker. The writing is clean, stellar, and crisp, and the author has obviously done his research. The chapters are also short enough and has a good enough hook to make the “I’m just going to read to the end of the chapter before I put it down� reader (like me) keep reading for several chapters.
Corporate law is not a subject I’m real interested in, and there was a lot of terminology and abbreviations that I didn’t understand, but over all the plot was really good and kept my interest. The prologue especially was intriguing and I had to keep reading to see how that played into the story—and what happened when it was discovered. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. 14.99. 345 pages.
Author: Rick Acker
Publisher: Abingdon Press
October 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4267-0767-4
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary/suspense
Allie Whitman works for a temporary agency as a CPA. But really she works as a whistle blower for the state, privately going through books of corporate giants and making them pay. But she is involved with a rock star on drugs, and her personal life is anything but happy.
Connor Norman is a clean cut lawyer, suing the corporations who Allie blows the whistles on. And both of them are very good at what they do.
But when Allie is “discovered� suddenly the world starts falling apart. The corporation agrees to keep “quiet� if she blows the whistle on someone else. If she doesn’t then they’ll expose her as the force behind the whistle blowing. What Allie decides could destroy Connor’s trust in her and much much more.
WHEN THE DEVIL WHISTLES is the first book I’ve read by Rick Acker. The writing is clean, stellar, and crisp, and the author has obviously done his research. The chapters are also short enough and has a good enough hook to make the “I’m just going to read to the end of the chapter before I put it down� reader (like me) keep reading for several chapters.
Corporate law is not a subject I’m real interested in, and there was a lot of terminology and abbreviations that I didn’t understand, but over all the plot was really good and kept my interest. The prologue especially was intriguing and I had to keep reading to see how that played into the story—and what happened when it was discovered. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. 14.99. 345 pages.
December 28, 2017
R. Acker's When the Devil Whistles
Great book for an easy read after stepping away from stepping away from leisure reads. Still encourages thought regarding ethics, right and wrong, love, and word knowledge.
Great book for an easy read after stepping away from stepping away from leisure reads. Still encourages thought regarding ethics, right and wrong, love, and word knowledge.
April 2, 2020
Intriguing Premise
Fast-moving, my favorite attribute in a mystery novel . Excellent and believable characters that are well developed. An ending that I totally didn't expect. Worth spending your reading time.
Fast-moving, my favorite attribute in a mystery novel . Excellent and believable characters that are well developed. An ending that I totally didn't expect. Worth spending your reading time.
July 8, 2017
Once I got into this book, I didn't want to put it down! I finished the book at 4:32 this morning!
Loved it.
Loved it.
April 3, 2024
All the thrills, action, and excitement of.... qui tam actions? Yeesh. Maybe *don't" write what you know....
Acker's 2010 "When the Devil Whistles" has been describes as part romance (it's not), part Christian fiction (it's not), part legal drama (I'll give you that), and part thriller (it's not).
What it is is a hodgepodge of barely connected plot devices featuring generally two unlikeable protagonists in pursuit of....something (money)? Along the way they discover... something nefarious (other people getting the money). Oh, and a plot to blow up San Francisco by SOUTH Korea using sunken Russian warheads.
The saying "write what you know" should only apply if what you know is interesting. Acker apparently works for the California Dept of Justice so has some experience with qui tam actions (where a private part sues another party on behalf of the gov't alleging they've defrauded the gov't , and gets a nice fat cut of damages/recovered). Interesting, it ain't. Noble, it ain't.
So Acker's attempts to make his two main protagonists Allie Whitman and Connor Normal sympathetic as they go about inserting Allie as a temp in various companies to then uncover and whistleblow their bad bookkeeping so attorney Connor can sue them doesn't make either come across as Atticus Finch. It reads for the bulk of the novel as a moneymaking ploy (BECAUSE IT IS), so the reader's sympathies are a little strained, even if random company X is defrauding the State of California (again, hard to feel sympathetic towards THE STATE).
Moreover, Acker has an annoying tendency to make his few legal scenes (either in court or depositions) very, very SHOUTY(!) -- with people throwing documents at one another or threatening with jail at every turn. It's overdone and wears quickly.
Anyway, Allie gets placed again as a temp into a company with LOTS of secret government contracts. So naturally, she's given almost immediate access and discovers, again, bad bookkeeping. But wait! It was a setup! The company wants her to spy on ANOTHER company. Oh, and did I mention Allie (when not temping) is dating/touring with a wanna be rock star/meth dealer? This character is very, very important and contributes substantially to the plot (read: not really).
But because of reasons, Allie ends up in the Bahamas to "escape," and then there's the salvage operation for the Russian nukes by the South Koreans pretending to be North Koreans pretending to be simple businessmen. And don't forget Connor owns/flies a restored WWII fighter WITH WORKING MACHINE GUNS -- which he uses IN THE CITY WITH LIVE AMMUNITION ("just until the cops arrive").
The writing is adequate, the characters are wafer thing and never likable, and there's simply wayyyyy too much plot to speak of here.
Acker's 2010 "When the Devil Whistles" has been describes as part romance (it's not), part Christian fiction (it's not), part legal drama (I'll give you that), and part thriller (it's not).
What it is is a hodgepodge of barely connected plot devices featuring generally two unlikeable protagonists in pursuit of....something (money)? Along the way they discover... something nefarious (other people getting the money). Oh, and a plot to blow up San Francisco by SOUTH Korea using sunken Russian warheads.
The saying "write what you know" should only apply if what you know is interesting. Acker apparently works for the California Dept of Justice so has some experience with qui tam actions (where a private part sues another party on behalf of the gov't alleging they've defrauded the gov't , and gets a nice fat cut of damages/recovered). Interesting, it ain't. Noble, it ain't.
So Acker's attempts to make his two main protagonists Allie Whitman and Connor Normal sympathetic as they go about inserting Allie as a temp in various companies to then uncover and whistleblow their bad bookkeeping so attorney Connor can sue them doesn't make either come across as Atticus Finch. It reads for the bulk of the novel as a moneymaking ploy (BECAUSE IT IS), so the reader's sympathies are a little strained, even if random company X is defrauding the State of California (again, hard to feel sympathetic towards THE STATE).
Moreover, Acker has an annoying tendency to make his few legal scenes (either in court or depositions) very, very SHOUTY(!) -- with people throwing documents at one another or threatening with jail at every turn. It's overdone and wears quickly.
Anyway, Allie gets placed again as a temp into a company with LOTS of secret government contracts. So naturally, she's given almost immediate access and discovers, again, bad bookkeeping. But wait! It was a setup! The company wants her to spy on ANOTHER company. Oh, and did I mention Allie (when not temping) is dating/touring with a wanna be rock star/meth dealer? This character is very, very important and contributes substantially to the plot (read: not really).
But because of reasons, Allie ends up in the Bahamas to "escape," and then there's the salvage operation for the Russian nukes by the South Koreans pretending to be North Koreans pretending to be simple businessmen. And don't forget Connor owns/flies a restored WWII fighter WITH WORKING MACHINE GUNS -- which he uses IN THE CITY WITH LIVE AMMUNITION ("just until the cops arrive").
The writing is adequate, the characters are wafer thing and never likable, and there's simply wayyyyy too much plot to speak of here.
July 21, 2017
This is a book of intrique involving whistleblowers, attorneys, fraud of the government, nuclear subs, Koreans, P-51's, danger, personal secrets, and love. This is a church library book, and the past person to read it said it wasn't interestering. So I needed to review it. Glad I did because I enjoyed it very much. It might be more of a man's book, but the main character is female.
July 10, 2017
It took me forever to read this book. it started out and good and held my attention and then it slowed down a little and then it was over.
August 4, 2017
Riveting
Not my norm for books but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this book was great secrets and lies by companies to save money scary men with secret ships
Not my norm for books but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this book was great secrets and lies by companies to save money scary men with secret ships
May 7, 2014
I am slowly making my way through the many books I have downloaded on my Kindle. It is hard to resist a bargain, but I have so many I am not sure I will ever be able to read them all! To whittle the pile down, I am randomly choosing books. I just finished When The Devil Whistles by Rick Acker. A legal suspense/international thriller, the book was just the ticket for a fast-paced escape novel.
Allie Whitman is a professional whistle blower who, through her company Devil to Pay, provides the California Department of Justice with evidence on companies that cheat in their state contracts. Her attorney, Connor Norman, loves helping Allie bring down corrupt businessmen. But Allie gets in over her head when her cover is blown and she is blackmailed into investigating a marine salvage and construction contractor. What starts as a look into some cooked books becomes a deadly game involving foreign governments and terror plots.
As a legal suspense novel, When The Devil Whistles follows a standard formula, but Acker diverts from the expected when he introduces terrorists, nuclear weapons and a twisting plot that has the reader guessing. Yes, the plot is a bit implausible (how does the US government not know there is a Soviet-era nuclear sub on the bottom of the sea floor off the west coast?), but it is not so different from action adventures so popular in theaters. I liked the twisting action and I liked the characters. I took the plot devices at face value and just went with the story. The biggest negative in many of the reviews I read was that the book was blatantly Christian, which annoyed or disgusted some of its detractors. What I found was a book with some Christian characters and others not. The Christians were never preachy. In fact their faith was exhibited in natural ways � they prayed or spoke of God’s help. I would say the message portrayed was subtle.
When The Devil Whistles was a fun, quick read and I would definitely read another by Acker.
Recommended.
Allie Whitman is a professional whistle blower who, through her company Devil to Pay, provides the California Department of Justice with evidence on companies that cheat in their state contracts. Her attorney, Connor Norman, loves helping Allie bring down corrupt businessmen. But Allie gets in over her head when her cover is blown and she is blackmailed into investigating a marine salvage and construction contractor. What starts as a look into some cooked books becomes a deadly game involving foreign governments and terror plots.
As a legal suspense novel, When The Devil Whistles follows a standard formula, but Acker diverts from the expected when he introduces terrorists, nuclear weapons and a twisting plot that has the reader guessing. Yes, the plot is a bit implausible (how does the US government not know there is a Soviet-era nuclear sub on the bottom of the sea floor off the west coast?), but it is not so different from action adventures so popular in theaters. I liked the twisting action and I liked the characters. I took the plot devices at face value and just went with the story. The biggest negative in many of the reviews I read was that the book was blatantly Christian, which annoyed or disgusted some of its detractors. What I found was a book with some Christian characters and others not. The Christians were never preachy. In fact their faith was exhibited in natural ways � they prayed or spoke of God’s help. I would say the message portrayed was subtle.
When The Devil Whistles was a fun, quick read and I would definitely read another by Acker.
Recommended.
July 8, 2012
It took me a couple of chapters to really get into "When The Devil Whistles" by Author Rick Acker but I'm sure glad I persisted because this is one great book! First of all, I had never heard of the concept of Qui Tam actions whereby a person takes legal action against a business that is defrauding the U.S. government. If I understand correctly, some businesses do intentionally make false quotes when it comes to the costs of certain government projects. If a whistleblower can prove that the business is guilty of fraud, they can sue that company. If they win the case, they can end up with a percentage of the settlement which can be a hefty sum.
In a nutshell, Attorney Connor Norman and Qui Tam investigator Allie Whitman, form the unique and lucrative lawyer/client relationship that brings them together in a thrilling and suspenseful way. Allie Whitman is the undercover whistleblower as she plies her trade by becoming a temp worker in a variety of businesses. With her CPA background, she manages to have access to the required accounting data....with her skills and expertise, she is able to access the situation in every company where she is temporarily employed. If a fraud is taking place, she secretly copies files or invoices that ensure the success of a lawsuit.
Allie Whitman and Connor Norman have a great thing going as he makes millions of dollars for his law firm and she financially benefits from a piece of the pie until...something goes terribly wrong. She ends up in way over her head at Deep Seven where she suspects much more than fraud. Allie Whitman risks it all to do the right thing and Connor Norman learns to be more than a lawyer. There are plenty of enticing and unpredictable twists and turns in this well-written suspense novel that are sure to captivate the reader!
In a nutshell, Attorney Connor Norman and Qui Tam investigator Allie Whitman, form the unique and lucrative lawyer/client relationship that brings them together in a thrilling and suspenseful way. Allie Whitman is the undercover whistleblower as she plies her trade by becoming a temp worker in a variety of businesses. With her CPA background, she manages to have access to the required accounting data....with her skills and expertise, she is able to access the situation in every company where she is temporarily employed. If a fraud is taking place, she secretly copies files or invoices that ensure the success of a lawsuit.
Allie Whitman and Connor Norman have a great thing going as he makes millions of dollars for his law firm and she financially benefits from a piece of the pie until...something goes terribly wrong. She ends up in way over her head at Deep Seven where she suspects much more than fraud. Allie Whitman risks it all to do the right thing and Connor Norman learns to be more than a lawyer. There are plenty of enticing and unpredictable twists and turns in this well-written suspense novel that are sure to captivate the reader!
September 9, 2010
Connor Norman and Allie Whitman have a good thing going with Devil to Pay, Inc. As a corporate whistleblower, Allie digs up the dirt on corrupt companies getting rich on government dollars. As a lawyer, Connor sells them out to the Department of Justice, and he and Allie both lined their pockets with the profits—honestly and with integrity, which is the only way Connor operates.
But when Allie gets caught—and blackmailed—by one of those companies, both she and her handsome lawyer could pay with their lives. Connor’s rigid belief system makes Allie fear confiding in him. But when she tries to handle the situation on her own by running away, her conscience makes for a cruel bed partner.
She decides to right her own wrong, with or without Connor’s help. Lives have already been lost, and more are at stake. Connor, facing a career crisis of his own, thanks to Allie, is not inclined to be of assistance. He no longer trusts her. And yet…can he justify allowing his old partner to fight this dangerous battle on her own?
When the Devil Whistles is jam-packed with intrigue and bursting with suspense. A well-written tale of bruised reputations, wounded pride, questionable honor, and a desperate woman’s effort to make it all right. Warring government factions add to the churning whirlpool of activity, while Allie’s guilt-ridden memories and Connor’s tug-of-war between his conscience and his desire to do what’s “right� leave the reader with no choice but to keep turning pages. The author’s background in corporate law adds a core of believability to the storyline, while his brisk, no-holds-barred writing style makes for an entertaining read. Recommended for anyone who enjoys the world of legal battles and corporate money games.
But when Allie gets caught—and blackmailed—by one of those companies, both she and her handsome lawyer could pay with their lives. Connor’s rigid belief system makes Allie fear confiding in him. But when she tries to handle the situation on her own by running away, her conscience makes for a cruel bed partner.
She decides to right her own wrong, with or without Connor’s help. Lives have already been lost, and more are at stake. Connor, facing a career crisis of his own, thanks to Allie, is not inclined to be of assistance. He no longer trusts her. And yet…can he justify allowing his old partner to fight this dangerous battle on her own?
When the Devil Whistles is jam-packed with intrigue and bursting with suspense. A well-written tale of bruised reputations, wounded pride, questionable honor, and a desperate woman’s effort to make it all right. Warring government factions add to the churning whirlpool of activity, while Allie’s guilt-ridden memories and Connor’s tug-of-war between his conscience and his desire to do what’s “right� leave the reader with no choice but to keep turning pages. The author’s background in corporate law adds a core of believability to the storyline, while his brisk, no-holds-barred writing style makes for an entertaining read. Recommended for anyone who enjoys the world of legal battles and corporate money games.
January 14, 2012
While this book took me awhile to read....it had nothing to do with the book at all but more with my time constraints. If I had time to do nothing but read....I would have finished this book in a day. It was a great read......there was NEVER a slow or boring part.......the characters were likeable and they showed that they had the capability to make tough decisions and finish thru to the end...no matter what the end brought. They tried to do what was right and this often would put them in difficult situations. There was also a background storyline of religious beliefs which was a nice addition. Think of Conner Norman....a very wealthy young man who is working as a partner in a very prestigious law firm who goes to church and believes in God and has a kind heart. He doesn't let the family money affect him in the negative way and he tries to make his own way in the world and do what is best in helping others that have wrong done to them. Pretty unusual characterization for a lawyer in general (not saying they are all bad...just that it's not the norm in literature.) Allie is a great gal that really tries to help others and takes very good care of her mother and sister....she just has issues to deal with that is making her life less than it could be. Throw in a blossoming romance.....an international terrorist situation....2 bumbling sweet good guys.....a very streetwise intelligent private eye....and a fabulous WWII airplane and you have a great little thriller to read. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to any who are looking for a short & exciting read.
September 14, 2023
2.5 stars
Note: I received this book free from Amazon.
Allie Whitman and Connor Norman, once lovers who reveled in taking down corporate devils, find themselves on the other side of the equation. Allie is tormented by the choices she made, and the consequences could be fatal for both of them. To navigate this perilous situation, Allie seeks the assistance of her lawyer, Connor, but her previous actions have eroded his trust in her. Their shared past now threatens not only their relationship but also the lives of many, leaving them in a precarious and challenging situation.
This book, despite its promising premise in the realm of legal thrillers, left me rather disappointed. As a paralegal, I had high hopes, but unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark. The characters failed to engage me, and the narrative felt disjointed, hindered by short and fragmented chapters that disrupted the flow of the story. Ultimately, I struggled to connect with the characters and found it challenging to immerse myself in the plot, resulting in a less than satisfying reading experience.
Note: I received this book free from Amazon.
Allie Whitman and Connor Norman, once lovers who reveled in taking down corporate devils, find themselves on the other side of the equation. Allie is tormented by the choices she made, and the consequences could be fatal for both of them. To navigate this perilous situation, Allie seeks the assistance of her lawyer, Connor, but her previous actions have eroded his trust in her. Their shared past now threatens not only their relationship but also the lives of many, leaving them in a precarious and challenging situation.
This book, despite its promising premise in the realm of legal thrillers, left me rather disappointed. As a paralegal, I had high hopes, but unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark. The characters failed to engage me, and the narrative felt disjointed, hindered by short and fragmented chapters that disrupted the flow of the story. Ultimately, I struggled to connect with the characters and found it challenging to immerse myself in the plot, resulting in a less than satisfying reading experience.
August 6, 2010
I just finished the most interesting book, "When The Devil Whistles" by Rick Acker. I read his previous book, "Blood Brothers" and just loved it, now with The Devil he has gone to a whole different direction and I like it. He takes us inside the world of whistle blowers who uncover contractors defrauding the government on contracts. They sue the contractors and then the Department of Justice steps in and goes after them and the whistle blower then gets a cut of the settlement. Very interesting and then Rick throws in some possible romance, international espionage, nuclear warheads and things really start to heat up. I love the fact that the characters are not perfect, even the Connor who is the Christian makes mistakes and doesn't always act like he should. Allie makes more than her share of mistakes and there are consequences - lots of them. Rick has a style that is engaging and full of energy - the subject matter was so unique that I couldn't put this book down until I finished. Excellent. Put this one on your list to get when it comes out in October!
December 19, 2010
I’m usually not a finicky reader. I like a lot of different stories and writing styles. But there is one genre that I am very particular about, and that genre is suspense � especially legal thrillers. These books have to be really good and they absolutely cannot have a slow beginning. When the Devil Whistles is an excellent legal thriller. It has all the elements that I like to see in a book like this. The writing is good; the story is complex, but not difficult to follow. I fell right into the story from the very beginning and never felt like the story was moving slowly. I had a very enjoyable time reading this book. The pages turned very quickly and I was always anxious to see where the story was going next.
If you like legal thriller, When the Devil Whistles is definitely one to read. It is smart, edgy, fast-paced and exciting. The premise is interesting and the complexity of the story and the characters makes this book feel very real. I have not read a legal thriller that I enjoyed as much of this one in a long time. I highly recommend this book.
If you like legal thriller, When the Devil Whistles is definitely one to read. It is smart, edgy, fast-paced and exciting. The premise is interesting and the complexity of the story and the characters makes this book feel very real. I have not read a legal thriller that I enjoyed as much of this one in a long time. I highly recommend this book.
November 27, 2013
I liked this book pretty well. It was a quick, light read. I haven’t read many legal thrillers, so I enjoyed reading something that was a little different from my usual genres. The plot wasn’t particularly complex or thought-provoking, but it was quite interesting.
I liked the characters, but sometimes I was annoyed by the decisions they made. Occasionally it felt like they made bad decisions just to increase the drama of the story rather than because their decisions made logical sense. On the other hand, sometimes I feel the same way about people in real life, so I guess this wasn’t unrealistic.
Although this book seems to be classified as Christian fiction, don’t let that turn you off if you prefer to avoid religion-based books. I noticed very little content that I would consider to be Christian-specific and I would never have considered it to be a Christian book if I hadn’t seen that it was tagged that way. There is some discussion of morality, but concerns about morality are hardly limited to Christians.
I liked the characters, but sometimes I was annoyed by the decisions they made. Occasionally it felt like they made bad decisions just to increase the drama of the story rather than because their decisions made logical sense. On the other hand, sometimes I feel the same way about people in real life, so I guess this wasn’t unrealistic.
Although this book seems to be classified as Christian fiction, don’t let that turn you off if you prefer to avoid religion-based books. I noticed very little content that I would consider to be Christian-specific and I would never have considered it to be a Christian book if I hadn’t seen that it was tagged that way. There is some discussion of morality, but concerns about morality are hardly limited to Christians.
September 26, 2010
When the Devil Whistles by Rick Acker has a strong message to tell. The plot revolves around what it means to be a person of good character, living what you believe and making things right when you have done wrong.
Conner Norman is an honest, ethical lawyer. He believes that you should always do right, and if you break the law � you pay the price. His friend Allie works through a temp agency to infiltrate companies suspected of defrauding the government. Together they try to bring the crooks to justice. Allie has problems her own, and Conner learns that she may not be the person of character he thought.
I enjoyed reading this legal drama and the unique story of the very lucrative business of a whistle-blower. The importance of honesty, ethical behavior and restoration is evident throughout this exciting story. They fight for justice and at times, their lives.
Thank you to Netgalley.com for an e-copy of When the Devil Whistles.
Conner Norman is an honest, ethical lawyer. He believes that you should always do right, and if you break the law � you pay the price. His friend Allie works through a temp agency to infiltrate companies suspected of defrauding the government. Together they try to bring the crooks to justice. Allie has problems her own, and Conner learns that she may not be the person of character he thought.
I enjoyed reading this legal drama and the unique story of the very lucrative business of a whistle-blower. The importance of honesty, ethical behavior and restoration is evident throughout this exciting story. They fight for justice and at times, their lives.
Thank you to Netgalley.com for an e-copy of When the Devil Whistles.
August 5, 2011
I have had this book on my kindle since Nov 2010...I do that with the free ones that sound ok put them on and then when I have nothing to read pick on and read it...wish I had done that sooner with this one.
Well written keeps your attention while giving you back ground into Allie and Conner without boring you and then bringing it all together as they basically keep another World War from starting. There are times you will not like Allie and times you will love and relate to her. She starts off with a drug addicted, user of a rocker boyfriend, but is strong willed in other parts of her life, to running away to standing up and fighting for what is right and not what is easy. Conner is a lovable lawyer who you enjoy from the start then might think wow he is a bit hard nosed!! To seeing that he opens his eyes that life is not always black/white. A very enjoyable / quick read. I look forward to seeing more from Acker.
Well written keeps your attention while giving you back ground into Allie and Conner without boring you and then bringing it all together as they basically keep another World War from starting. There are times you will not like Allie and times you will love and relate to her. She starts off with a drug addicted, user of a rocker boyfriend, but is strong willed in other parts of her life, to running away to standing up and fighting for what is right and not what is easy. Conner is a lovable lawyer who you enjoy from the start then might think wow he is a bit hard nosed!! To seeing that he opens his eyes that life is not always black/white. A very enjoyable / quick read. I look forward to seeing more from Acker.
June 27, 2012
Entertaining legal thriller. Allie is a CPA who is partnered with her lawyer Conner in a corporation called Devil May Pay. Allie works for a temp agency and finds companies who are committing fraud against the state of California. Conner then prosecutes them and they both end up with big bonus money. Conner has no need of it as his family has plenty of fortune. Allie spends hers on wild vacations and supporting a druggie boyfriend who is in a band. She also gives large sums of her earnings to her widowed mother. But it all leaves her a bit empty on the inside.
Things take on a different spin when a corporation calls Allie's hand and blackmails her. The story then leads to international espionage. This results in Allie having to confront the wrongs in her life and dealing with guilt she has carried for years. Conner also has to make some decisions about the directon his own life will take and how to live true to his principles.
Things take on a different spin when a corporation calls Allie's hand and blackmails her. The story then leads to international espionage. This results in Allie having to confront the wrongs in her life and dealing with guilt she has carried for years. Conner also has to make some decisions about the directon his own life will take and how to live true to his principles.
June 28, 2015
I am not really into political/legal intrigue books as a general rule, so I wasn't sure about picking this book up. Well, I'm glad I did. This book was really good, interesting, the legalities were there but not overpowering along with a splash of romance (really just a touch, this is no romance novel) and a little dose of morality thrown in there. When the Devil Whistles was a real page turner, and it successfully kept me up into the wee hours of the morning because I was not putting it down until it was finished.
This is the first book by Rick Acker I have had the pleasure of reading, but I am looking forward to checking out his other works too. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thriller/suspense novels, political and/or legal intrigues (with or without an excessive amount of detail and focus on the specifics here as they are there but thrown into the storyline so well as to not feel like a textbook), and of course a great storyline.
This is the first book by Rick Acker I have had the pleasure of reading, but I am looking forward to checking out his other works too. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thriller/suspense novels, political and/or legal intrigues (with or without an excessive amount of detail and focus on the specifics here as they are there but thrown into the storyline so well as to not feel like a textbook), and of course a great storyline.
June 30, 2011
I found this on Amazon. It was under the free books for the kindle, so I thought why not?
I was really surprised. It's a long time since a book has gripped me as much as this one did!
I wasn't sure what to expect but it turned out to be a good thriller/spy/bring down the big guns type story. Written almost like a film, it jumps from scene to scene. It is also very technical, but not too complicated. In fact reading the technicalities of the Department of Justice, the Finances and what not, makes me feel smart!
The characters are really interesting. Allie, is the most multi dimensional and the one to read. She's not perfect, this is her saving grace. Too many heroines in books nowadays are perfect and untouchable, but Allie was written with vulnerability, naivety and though she is really selfish, you forgive her when she tries to amend her mistakes.
I actually wish it was longer!
I was really surprised. It's a long time since a book has gripped me as much as this one did!
I wasn't sure what to expect but it turned out to be a good thriller/spy/bring down the big guns type story. Written almost like a film, it jumps from scene to scene. It is also very technical, but not too complicated. In fact reading the technicalities of the Department of Justice, the Finances and what not, makes me feel smart!
The characters are really interesting. Allie, is the most multi dimensional and the one to read. She's not perfect, this is her saving grace. Too many heroines in books nowadays are perfect and untouchable, but Allie was written with vulnerability, naivety and though she is really selfish, you forgive her when she tries to amend her mistakes.
I actually wish it was longer!
March 25, 2013
Rick Acker has masterfully written a suspenseful legal thriller that will keep you turning pages. In "When the Devil Whistles," Acker successfully keeps two concurrent plot lines going, both of which meet a common conclusion in the final chapters of the story. I was introduced to the world of corporate whistle blowing, of which I knew next to nothing about. Acker's bio indicated that he is not only an attorney, but also has tried these kinds of cases, so the details are both accurate and believable. While the story has a Christian theme, it is not heavy-handed at all; rather the themes of trust, moral choices, and forgiveness are much stronger. I am not a John Grisham fan and I do not usually read this genre (this was a free Kindle download), however, Acker provided a very interesting and entertaining read for me.
December 19, 2010
This book was interesting, it was almost like 2 books in one. The two books merged into one book at the end, but for most of the book I felt like I was reading two different books. The books were good, in fact, one was great. I really like the parts with the whistle blower and lawyer, the story line was creative and the characters were multi-dimesional. Just like actual human being, making normal mistakes and yet never sure what the right answer is. I really enjoyed that part of the story. The other part of the story was very good, but less my style as it dealt less with personal delimma and relationships. It was interesting when the two stories combined, and how the story ended. I recommend this book, but make sure your brain is on, you will need it. : )
June 11, 2012
As Mr. Rick Acker wrote in his acknowledgment, a lot of research was done for the non-legal parts; and that shows. ÌýThere's nothing better than a well-researched fiction. ÌýThe events themselves may be borne out of a creative imagination, but a realistic Ìýbackground and setting lends much to the credibility of the story. Ìý
I like this legal thriller that's also a Christian fiction. ÌýIt thrills but it does not preach. ÌýThe preaching part is up to the reader.
The author's style of leaving the height of one scene and switching to another is cinematic, I can imagine watching it. ÌýThe switch is subtle enough to not irk the reader, and it adds to the thrill.
Recommended to those who like to find nuggets of life lessons while teetering on the edge of their seats.
I like this legal thriller that's also a Christian fiction. ÌýIt thrills but it does not preach. ÌýThe preaching part is up to the reader.
The author's style of leaving the height of one scene and switching to another is cinematic, I can imagine watching it. ÌýThe switch is subtle enough to not irk the reader, and it adds to the thrill.
Recommended to those who like to find nuggets of life lessons while teetering on the edge of their seats.
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