A strange but captivating novel, and one I bought on a whim when I came across it in used bookstore, Up Jumps the Devil had me turning pages late into the night. John Scratch, the main character and the Devil, has to be one of the most well-rounded characters I've seen. I enjoyed the way Poore continually threw Scratch into pieces of history, from the pyramids to Egypt to Rome, and eventually America. The novel is shockingly hilarious, at times, which is something that it needed with such an over-the-top premise. I'd never heard of this book or the author (Michael Poore), so if this review is your first exposure to either, take a chance on this novel. You won't regret it. "Up Jumps the Devil" is a delightful whirlwind of fiction, comedy, and history. He title character, also known as John Scratch, is funny, misunderstood, and mischievous, but not evil in the way we typically think of the devil. At times he is even more human than the three Americans he brings into his fold; other times his supernatural abilities are evident; and downtime Scratch seems subhuman, or at least below us on the evolutionary scale. A fun, witty, enjoyable read.
What do You think about Up Jumps The Devil (2012)?
Best for short quick bursts of reading. Contrary to what you might think, it's fairly lighthearted.
—Booklover99
Clever and entertaining. I laughed outloud at times. Who knew the devil could be so endearing?
—redbird
