- Hardcover: 432 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; hardcover edition (23 May 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007163967
- ISBN-13: 978-0007163960
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.4 x 4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 130,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Blood of Angels
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Product Description
Review
‘Marshall is a cracker at writing tense, rich scenes’ Observer
‘The writing is assured and the plot carefully calibrated’ Guardian
‘Just when you think there’s nothing new under the sun in the world of the suspense novel, along comes one hell of a nasty spider called The Straw Men. It’s brilliantly written and scary as hell. Be the first on your block to stay up all night with this one; it’s a masterpiece, reminding us that even paranoids really do have enemies.’ STEPHEN KING
'A staggering, suspenseful journey through the darkness of American crime … succeeds in revitalising the serial killer novel with assured gusto… A new beginning for a major British writer, whose crime debut instantly moves him into the Thomas Harris division' Guardian
‘Brilliantly plotted, stunningly written … I read this in one go … if this isn't a hit, I am a monkey's uncle. And I don't think I am’. Independent on Sunday
Guardian
'The writing is assured and the plot carefully calibrated’
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Generally I give them I wide berth because they are usually derivative nonsense. However, there's enough conspiracy theory stuff in this and the earlier books to make them interesting and the serial killer is just part of the plot, not *the plot*. All three novels make heavy use of converging plotlines which may not be to all tastes, but I like them and these hang together quite nicely. The dialogue is sharp, and over the three books the characters are developed quite well. I didn't much like the pages of pontifcation the various main characters have on the meaning of life the universe and everything, but they're not too heavy and relatively short.
Personally, I think the criticism levelled by other reviewers is misguided. The characters and plot have been carefully developed and for me at least the various threads are sufficiently resolved even if they're not as tidy as some might like, and it's done without blocking off the possibility of more 'Straw Men' novels.
Don't read this book unless you've read the other two as there's a lot of backstory that will make this one a more enjoyable read, and although MM tries to fill in the essential details you're going to lose a lot if you start here.
Personally, I think the criticism levelled by other reviewers is misguided. The characters and plot have been carefully developed and for me at least the various threads are sufficiently resolved even if they're not as tidy as some might like, and it's done without blocking off the possibility of more 'Straw Men' novels.
Don't read this book unless you've read the other two as there's a lot of backstory that will make this one a more enjoyable read, and although MM tries to fill in the essential details you're going to lose a lot if you start here.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Previously, Michael Marshall was a sci-fi/horror writer, who has taken a brave step of switching genres with 'The Straw Men' Trilogy (of which Blood of Angels is the third) which is a straight out and out thriller.
Whilst Michael's writing is as good as ever, I can't help but feel that he struggled writing this third book; whilst the plot builds up nicely with interesting twists at the end of each chapter the ending simply falls flat and is horribly open-ended without providing much in the way of resolution. In my mind it's a 'answers provided in the next novel' type story and that's where the problem lies.
Writing as Michael Marshall Smith his stories (the fantastic Spares, the sublime One of Us and a brilliant short story collection) are wonderfully inventive and written with style and verve. With book three of The Straw Men Trilogy everything feels diluted and washed out, as though Michael wasn't sure what to do with it. The characters are nowhere near as strong as previous novels and have, in my mind, struggled to develop over the three books.
Despite that it is a good read, and as an English author I feel we should be supporting our guys.
Look forward to the next one, which I've heard will be a horror. Can't wait!
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a previous reviewer commented "if only Michael Marshall could produce a book a month....". I couldn't articulate it any better myself!
This book is everything the Lonely Dead should have been. The multiple stories that ultimately collide are brilliantly written and keep the reader engaged throughout. The secret of this book's success is that you care about what is happening. Whilst I enjoyed the Lonely Dead, the second story within it did not captivate me, hence I lost interest and focused upon the main thread - that of the trio's search for The Upright Man. Blood of Angels makes you want the best for the newly-introduced characters - although you always have a feeling that they will ultimately end up victims within the tangled web that surround the society known as the Straw Men.
Perhaps this is the attraction of Marshall's books. He is not afraid to introduce you to a character, develop their personality, pshyche etc then kill them off. A criticism often levelled at other writers is their characters become stale, predicatable even. Marshall has yet to be accused of this.
My only criticism of the book is its reliance upon previous knowledge of the other two books - The Straw Men and The Lonely Dead. Whilst it is not a bad thing to have read them, not everyone purchases books in the order they were written.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Blood of Angels
First, unless you've read the previous two books, don't start here. This is the one that wraps everything up, which is the single strongest reason for reading it; otherwise, it's... Read more
Published 22 months ago by PJM
The end of the straw men trilogy
First and foremost this is NOT a stand alone novel. It is the last in the Straw Men series and i strongly recommend to read it only if you have already read the first two. Read more
Published on 20 May 2010 by L. Bezzina
The Straw Men Return for an 'Explosive' Finale - or is it???
This novel, the third in 'The Straw Men' trilogy, see's the pace pick back up after the incredibly suspenseful and action packed excitement of the eponymous title of the first... Read more
Published on 28 April 2010 by T. Wright
Outstanding sequel from a true master of suspense.
I had read 'The Straw Men' some time ago, eagerly followed by 'The Lonely Dead'- the two prequels to this story by the same author. Read more
Published on 21 Oct 2009 by R. Cooper
Third Book in the Straw Men Series
Michael Marshall is a new author to me but apparently has been quite prolific in his writing of Sci-Fi books under the name of Michael Marshall Smith, which I assume is his real... Read more
Published on 27 April 2008 by J. Chippindale
Enjoyed but there is a warning
I think I must start off by saying that this book is rather good, but I didn't realise when I bought it that it was the last in a trilogy, there were times that during this... Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2006 by gary
The conspiracy grows
Having been gripped by the premise of The Straw Men, I have read both follow-ups with eagerness but trepidation, and rightly so. Read more
Published on 11 July 2005
Practically unputdownable
If only Michael Marshall (Smith) could knock out a book every month or so...
Once I start reading one of his books, I can't seem to stop reading, and then it's all over before I... Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2005 by "kateykinz"
Cracking Book
I read The Straw Men in a matter of days, taking it to work to read and stealing a look at it when ever I could - so addictive was it. Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2005 by "ged42"
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