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The Black Angel

Author: John Connolly
Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

17 reviews
Sales Rank: 10780

Media: Paperback
Edition: New Ed
Pages: 608
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 4.4 x 1.9

ISBN: 0340837675
EAN: 9780340837672
ASIN: 0340837675

Publication Date: February 27, 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: In stock - Immediate despatch from an efficient and professional leading British bookselling firm.

Also Available In:

•	Hardcover - The Black Angel
•	Paperback - The Black Angel
•	Hardcover - The Black Angel (Charwood Large Print)

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.co.uk Review
With The Black Angel, John Connolly takes his Charlie Parker series a step further away from the conventional serial killer thriller and over the border into supernatural horror--which, in fairness, is where these extraordinary books have been heading from the beginning. The question of why and how so many bad people find their way into Parker's orbit has always been lurking in the background of his novels; why so many ghosts of victims point him the way to vengeful justice and why so good a man is so fond of his killer for hire friends Louis and Angel. Many writers would just leave these as givens, but Connolly has too much integrity for that.

The search for Louis' junkie whore cousin, and her abductors, leads the trio ever further into darkness. They have fought evil obsessives before, but none as bad as the Believers, a group obsessed with fallen angels and with the strange sculpted objects men have made from human bones. This time at least there is a possibility that what the Believers believe is true, both what they believe about the world and what they believe about Parker--this is a book which ought to be insane and ludicrous and is in fact chilling. --Roz Kaveney

Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

At last a crime thriller writer who can actually write! December 18, 2007
This was my introduction to the Charlie Parker series and I was hooked from the start. Well described characters, constant action, a touch of the supernatural - and all beautifully written. I read it in two sittings. I have subsequently read all the others in the series and some of them rate 5/5! I recommend them to anyone who tires of the poor English in other crime fiction (Patterson, Cornwell etc.). Best to read in order though - Every Dead Thing first.

5 out of 5 stars

True Depth October 11, 2007
I'm inspired to write this recommendation after reading this book. Others before me have reviewed it far more eloquently and in detail. For me, the charm of this book (the first of John Connolly's that I've read) is in the engrossing detail with which he describes the gothic dramas of earlier times and entwines them with the modern setting. I have wasted days months and years reading books which have been derivative, lazy cut and paste rip-offs written by high profile authors. I can't remember a novel I've read recently which has had such a profound and lasting after-effect as this one. It isn't an easy read as you have to concentrate to get the best out of it but it is rewarding. Give it a try - you won't be disappointed.

4 out of 5 stars

Well I liked it October 3, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Make no mistake, this is a superbly researched piece of work, far removed from the mundane "Serial killer on the loose" school of thriller. If you have read "The Mephisto Club" by Tess Gerritson, this uses the same source material, the Book of Enoch, but is immeasurably better.

Other reviewers have pointed out that this book has something of a split personality, and while that is true to an extent, Connolly has always employed the supernatural to inject some originality. Here, it's the supernatural that is front and centre, with the serial killer angle the device which draws Parker into the medieval insanity which is the centrepiece of the story.

If you have read previous Parker novels then there has always been an unexplained element to him, which will be resolved here, and in such a way as to allow further stories to evolve. True, as noted by other reviewers, the ending lacks something - it's all a little too simple for my liking, but taken as a whole this is a worthy addition to the Parker series

2 out of 5 stars

A bit gutted actually June 16, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Loved the previous books in this series and couldn't wait to read this one....but this one really didn't do it for me. Charlie Parker is a truly great character but the history to his past seems so far removed from what's gone before as to set off into la la land. I was really looking forward to discovering more about this guys gifts and the relationships he has with the other main characters..which is why I love the books..but now I don't see how any of it can be plausibly tied up. Sorry to sound all negative and disappointed ...am about to buy the new book as I want to keep the faith..just a bit gutted about this one...can't recommend the previous books enough...they are awesome...

3 out of 5 stars

So so May 4, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Fans of Connolly will enjoy this but as others have pointed out it feels a bit flat. Like it can't make its mind up whether it wants to be a thriller or a horror book (a thorror or a biller?!) and in the end it falls between two stools. The supernatural elements of the book, while well written, seem very detatched from the main story and not explained very well, either during the book or at the end.

Certainly better than the run of the mill stuff out there but the Charlie Parker character is a bit stale and needs some serious freshening up. Or killing off.