The Angel Makers (Hardcover)

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Review
Jessica Gregson's stunning debut novel tells the story of the women in a small Hungarian village at the time of the First World War who spontaneously started murdering their menfolk. It may sound far-fetched, but The Angel Makers is actually based on a well-documented true story. Although Gregson's characters are fictional, they're complex and ultimately unforgettable, especially Sari, the former outcast who becomes a central part of village life. Lyrical, moving and disturbing, this is a gripping read. --Review

The Angel Makers by Jessica Gregson is without a doubt the best book I have read in years, period. It has been a long time since I have been so entranced by a book that I wanted to do nothing else but read it; and I ve read a lot of books. I can t even begin to describe how good this book is, how incredible it is, but I m going to try. This is Gregson s first novel but it reads like a more mature work; I would have thought it was her third or forth work; the voices are so clear the writing so crisp. This novel is just so bloody refreshing! That she has written such a finely tuned story of war, death, love and revenge in a first novel is incredible and I can only hope that her second novel is just as good. There are a few things that make this novel so incredible. The main reason is Gregson s writing. Though the novel covers a good expanse of time, the story never loses its pace; it flows beautifully through one year to the next and never becomes choppy. The novel never loses its stride or its focus; this is a difficult task with so many things happening. Not many authors could write a first novel covering fourteen years with such ease, but Gregson pulls it off with style and grace. Another plus about the novel is that it never becomes needlessly depressing. Most historical fiction or novels detailed around the First World War leave you wanting to down your sorrows or wandering around in misery. The Angel Makers is different because, while it is by no means a happy novel, it manages to make the grimness of war beautiful. Gregson doesn t focus on the war itself but those affected by the war, pulling you gently into their story at first. By the time you re half way through the novel and the tone and story pick up pace, you re emotionally involved with the characters; you live and breathe Sari s plight. Not ever author can manage such a deft trick of emotion. I can honestly say that The Angel Makers is one of those life changing novels; one where you really, truly, know --The Book Pedler http://thebookpedler.wordpress.com/2007/02/28/the-angel-makers-by-jessica-gregson/

The Angel Makers by Jessica Gregson arrived via Scott Pack's free give-away and I was just going to slot it into its place on Mount TBR (To Be Read, if anyone's in any doubt) and thought I'd get to it eventually. But you know how it is, you open the book, read a page or two, ten, fifty and then you can't put it down until it's finished. It's difficult to talk about this book without giving away great swathes of the plot because it's based on a true story, so look away now if you want a great read full of surprises. Read on if you still want a great read, still full of surprises but you know roughly what's coming. The plot rang bells and yes, it is based on the true story of The Angel Makers of Nagyrev, the group of women living in Nagyrev in Hungary who were estimated to have poisoned up to 300 people between 1914 and 1929. The problem began when the men of the village went off to fight in the First World War and in their absence were replaced by some rather dashing, smooth-talking prisoners. The husbands returned to find themselves somewhat outclassed in the charm department. The poison of choice was clever and painful and by all accounts the killing all became so easy it then became the first line of action against anyone remotely annoying. Jessica Gregson presents this fictional account from a very sympathetic point of view. The scenes of domestic violence and the imbalance of power it creates in a relationship have real latter-day resonance. At several points I was almost shouting at the pages and Jessica Gregson steered me cleverly into being well onside for the retribution, in fact I was quietly cheering. Apart from the fact that the denouement felt a bit rushed and tempus fugit maximus quickly towards the end of the book this was a great, unputdownable read and I was then intrigued to look up some background on original events. --Dove Grey Reader http://dovegreyreader.typepad.com/dovegreyreader_scribbles/2007/02/the_angel_maker.html#comments

Product Description
The Bleak Hungarian Plain, 1914, an isolated village shrouded in superstition and rumours of witchcraft... 'I have made mistakes. As surely as those eight women are twisting in the wind now, in my own way, I've been twisting in the wind my whole life. At least that's what I tell myself when I cannot face up to what I am and what I've done...' Outcast from village life, Sari is tormented by a loneliness like no other. The daughter of a taltos, Sari has the second sight and a reputation as a witch. At the outbreak of war, the men of the village are called away to fight and a powerful bond develops between the women left behind. Sari, for the first time, finds herself with friends. However, these friendships come at a price as the women struggle to hold on to the freedom that war has brought them. Things take a sinister turn and suspicions are alerted, as one by one the villagers begin to uncover Sari's dark secret... BASED ON AN ASTONISHING TRUE STORY

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5 Reviews 5 star:  (4) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.8 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars The Angel Makers, 28 Feb 2007 By  I. K. Anchant "tchiko" (London, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I honestly can't remember the last time I wrote a book review although I suspect it may be as much as twenty years, nor can I remember the last time I was inspired to write one. The Angels Makers is one of the best books I have read in years. The characters are engaging and you really get involved in their journey. Although this is Jessica Gregson's first novel it reads like a masterpiece from a seasoned pro. I'm not going to go into a synopsis of the story because you can do that at the top of the page, but this is so much more than a story and so far removed from your usual train journey trash fiction. Basically, I simply can't recommend this moving book enough. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Making more than angels, 27 Feb 2007 By  The Horse (Cambridge, UK) - See all my reviews This is not the usual genre that I read, but I could not put it down. The story moves at a fast pace and you just have to find out what will happen next to Sari, the central character, and everyone else. This is a book I will keep to read again. It was a great escape. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars The Angel Makers sent me to Heaven , 23 May 2007 By  D. Neal (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Thanks to this book I had no feeling in my bottom for several hours and my eyes may be permanently focussed a few inches away from my nose. This is because this book is a cliche which in this case is true: it's un-put-downable. My poor boyfriend didn't get a look in for the fews hours it took me to read the story of Sari and the village the book is based on. I was suspicious at first - I seriously dislike fantasy novels and when I first heard about the book with the words "witch" and "magic" I was dubious. But inside I found a finely tuned historical novel focussing, for once, on the women of World War One Hungary. Strongly written and perfectly balanced, I personally can't wait for the next novel from this wonderful author. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 5 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Good book, great service. The book came earlier than expected, in good condition and with the added bonus of a plastic cover. Not only that but it was a great read. Result!!! Published 28 days ago by Mrs. Katherine Fenlon 4.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely un-put-downable Don't start reading this book unless you have a day with no other commitments. I well and truly lost an afternoon to it - and have no regrets whatsoever. Read more Published on 20 Mar 2007 by Helen Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 5 customer reviews...

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