The Devil Inside By Author Barb Jones
Cover Blurb
Julie Simmons returns to her family’s secluded cabin expecting silence. Instead, the walls begin to hum with memories that are not her own.
Her father, Frank, a scientist who believes in proof over prayer, tries to contain what he cannot measure. But when Julie begins speaking in a voice that predates her, rational explanations fall away.
What unfolds is not a simple haunting, but the reawakening of a legacy tied to H.H. Holmes and a system built to preserve evil long after the body is gone. From the ruins of Chicago’s Murder Castle to hidden tunnels beneath a quiet Midwestern town, the past refuses to stay buried.
The Devil Inside is a gothic, psychological horror novel about inheritance, possession, and the terrifying persistence of obsession.
Other Titles By the Author
Barb Jones
Author Bio
Barb Jones is a best-selling and award-winning author of supernatural thrillers and horror, known for the Blood Prophecy and Heaven and Hell series: stories where ancient prophecy stirs, power corrupts, and evil never truly dies. Armed with advanced degrees in Accounting, Finance and Information Technology, she fuses analytical precision with a dark, immersive imagination, crafting intricate plots and morally complex characters driven by fate, obsession and consequence. Her work explores the thin, dangerous line between salvation and damnation, pulling readers into worlds shaped by myth, blood and memory. Barb writes for those who are drawn to darkness, not for shock, but for truth, and who understand that some stories follow you long after the last page is turned.
The Book Tour
Day 1 - Favourite Quotes
Day 2 - Character Summaries
Julia and Julie It is difficult to choose just one favourite character in Ms Jones’ Horror Fantasy book, The Devil Inside, so I will choose two. The first is Julia, the ill-fated lover of H H Holmes who finds herself murdered by his hand and curses him for his trouble. The second is Julie, the young girl whose fate it is to end the curse by bringing his sordid deeds to light, and then to erase them. Both women are strong characters. Julia finds out too late that that man she has loved and trusted is the Devil incarnate. Julie recognises him for who he is and does all in her power to stop his murderous rampage, even though he is now well and truly beyond the grave. (Phoebe Wilby)
Franklin My favorite character was Franklin. A man of method and science from the very beginning we see his unwavering love for his wife and daughter. At the beginning of the novel we see him support Julie as she encounters paranormal activity, but he is still seeing it through a scientific lens. As the novel progresses and the paranormal aspect balloons, it’s interesting to see his perspective shift, and embrace a more spiritual/writerly stance. His determination to save his daughter, help his friend Harold, and put an end to Holmes, are a constant in the story. His grit was commendable. Even his mistakes where he accidentally ‘helps’ Holmes/the ledger through ignorance are forgivable, because he learns from them, and in the face of the mounting horror that keeps shifting parameters, his persistence is awe inspiring. (Sophie Jupillat Posey)
Harold Harold Gentshaft - grocery store owner and long time Simmons family friend - plays an interesting part in the story, linking the two worlds together. Portrayed as a small town shopkeeper, he knows his regular clientele - and much more besides. The author hints that he knows more than he lets on, hence he is perfect for the role written for him. The character progression for all of the main characters, Julie and her dad Frank, and Harold, is shown through the telling of the story. The reader is rooting for them all, Harold included, but particularly Julie. Harold strikes me as the older man who looks upon Julie as a grandfather figure, and her dad as an older brother. You just know he has seen things and has great stories to tell - I’d like to meet him - but he is fictional! (Yvonne Marrs)
Day 3 - Favourite Excerpts
‘Before death claims my soul,’ she whispered, ‘I curse you to wander in purgatory. Your torment shall be my redemption. May Heaven send an angel to cast you into Hell when your suffering is complete.’ (Phoebe Wilby)
The air shimmered where Minnie’s body had been. For a moment, outlines formed in the smoke, other women, pale and flickering. Julie, her hair loose and wet. Clara, holding a single broken key. Pearl, a child of light barely taller than the bedframe. Their mouths did not move, yet the sound that rose was steady and sure, a single word stretched across time. "Remember.” (Sophie Jupillat Posey)
She'd been driving since midnight, chasing the direction her nightmares pointed. (Yvonne Marrs)
Day 4 - Video Interview
Day 5 - Reviews
Overall Star Rating: 4 Stars Barb Jones’ The Devil Inside’ is a gothic, psychological horror novel that blends supernatural terror with historical evil. Julie Simmonds and her father, Frank, go on a psychological tour of places associated with HH Holmes, a medical doctor and serial killer from the past, who still appears active, despite his supposed demise many years ago. What begins as a haunting gradually reveals connections to a much darker evil rooted in history. Julie and Frank uncover a terrifying truth that links the cabin, Julie's family, and a malevolent force that has endured across generations. As the entity's influence grows stronger, Julie must determine whether she can resist it or whether the darkness within her is already too powerful to overcome. Jones writes well-crafted characters who engage with each other to tell the story. The overall premise of the plot is for Julie and Frank to stop Holmes from reinventing himself through memory – if the people don’t remember him, he no longer has power over them. Some of the scenes were confusing at times, however, this adds to the mystery, and all is revealed in the end. The dialogue moves the story along, and is true to the timeframe of the different story parts. Jones uses pace to build tension and suspense, although I felt the story drags in places when you think they have finally solved the mystery, only to be told they must rethink their strategy. I enjoyed the story overall. Anyone who appreciates the intricacies of a gothic psychological thriller will love this book. (Phoebe Wilby)
Overall Star Rating: 4 Stars The Devil Inside is a supernatural horror novel that follows Julie and her father Frank as they become entangled in a terrifying legacy connected to H.H. Holmes. What begins as an eerie mystery gradually evolves into a reality-bending battle involving memory, storytelling, and the lingering influence of evil. The book’s strongest feature is its atmosphere. The author creates a dark, unsettling world filled with haunted places, strange visions, and an ever-present sense of dread that keeps building and building. Julie and Frank are likeable protagonists, and their relationship provides an emotional core that helps ground the increasingly supernatural events around them. The story contains innovative ideas and memorable scenes. However, there were times when the highly descriptive writing made it difficult for me to follow exactly what was happening, particularly during some of the more surreal sequences. The dialogue also became quite repetitive at points, and certain emotional beats or specific scenes felt revisited multiple times, which occasionally slowed the pacing. Overall, The Devil Inside is an imaginative horror novel with strong atmosphere, compelling themes, and an intriguing premise. Readers who enjoy supernatural horror mixed with psychological and metafictional elements will find much to enjoy here! I particularly appreciated the nature of storytelling themes that cropped up throughout the story, subverting expectations of the genre. (Sophie Jupillat Posey)
Overall Star Rating: 4 Stars The Devil Inside by Barb Jones rivals the thrill of any Stephen King novel. The parent and adult child at the centre of the story are aided by family friend and local store owner, Harold. Main character Julie is drawn into a scenario that only haunts many of our nightmares. Returning as an adult to her family’s remote cabin, she discovers the place remembers more than she does. Assisted by her science-minded father as walls hum with voices, mirrors do not show true reflections, they are both drawn into a cycle of horror that seems never ending. Will they survive, and be able to bring about redemption? Such real and vivid characters are supported with varying dialogue - through the usual speech medium and other methods. With a mixed pace throughout, the reader is given a true rollercoaster of a tale. Absolutely not a genre I'd choose, with my sensitive disposition, but if this is your thing, you will enjoy it. (Yvonne Marrs)
Book Tour Reviewers
