On Halloween night in 1994, five teenagers from Southport, Long Island, went into West Cypress Woods for an evening of drinking, drugging, heavy metal music and allegedly some satanic worship. Only three came out alive. Andre Villiers was murdered by his friends, and Ricky Hell --- the ringleader of the gang --- was shot and killed by a cop who arrived on the scene.

"I was well aware of the actual satanic killing that took place in the Suffolk County village of Northport in 1984. I imagine McIver came across this story when she was doing her research for the book, and the fact that it hit so close to home made this great debut ring true for me."

This shocking incident has forever haunted Erin Sloane, who was only 16 at the time and knew the teens. She is now an investigative reporter for Inside Island, a Long Island magazine supplement seeking to get answers that have long been whispered about. This is the crux of Australian author Ruth McIver’s award-winning first novel, I SHOT THE DEVIL, which is now available in the US following its release overseas.

Erin has not divulged everything she knows and is sure that what went down in the woods is shrouded in untruth. Her editor is aware that this could be a major story, assuming she can step back into the past and blow the doors off this crime. Erin plans to interview the remaining three members of the group --- Danny Quinlan-Walsh, Carole Jenkins and Cormac O'Malley --- and find out what their recollections were from that night. Erin also wants to get in touch with Andre’s relatives. Although he was the victim, he had some major skeletons in his own closet involving young girls.

Danny, Erin's short-term boyfriend back in the day, is working for his family's boat business on Long Island and remains an elusive and mysterious figure. Carole wrote a book about the murder, Dancing with the Devil, and supposedly has found God. Cormac is living in Australia and writing his own book about the events of that night. Since he has all but dropped out of sight, Erin must go through his sister, Aisling, who sends her portions of what he has written, chapter by chapter. What she reads is quite eye-opening.

Erin will find out that the past is sometimes best left alone. You cannot alter it; you only can learn from it. What she learns about everyone involved, including her own father, will change her forever.

Having grown up in Queens, New York, I was well aware of the actual satanic killing that took place in the Suffolk County village of Northport in 1984. I imagine McIver came across this story when she was doing her research for the book, and the fact that it hit so close to home made this great debut ring true for me.