Official Review: Broken Angels by Russell Heath

Aubrey Lewis · Post by **Aubrey Lewis** » 22 Sep 2019, 11:36

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Broken Angels" by Russell Heath.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Broken Angels by Russell Heath introduced Kris Gabriel who received a letter from her mother one day. Kris, who left home nine years ago because of her mother Evie’s drinking problem, came to Juneau to discover that Evie wasn’t waiting for her at the airport. Not long after, she was attacked by an unknown man who chased her through the woods. Kris managed to escape, and the next day, after finding out about her mother's death on the news, she met a detective named Barrett who gave her the details of how they found Evie's body. The police didn't know who the killer was, but Kris was determined to find out.

What I liked about this book was that, even though every character had their own flaws and weren't exactly likable, the story still piqued my curiosity since I kept wondering who Evie's killer was. The book hinted at three characters who were possible suspects, so I analyzed their personalities and was almost convinced that one of them was guilty. Like that, the plot kept me guessing until the end when I finally predicted it right.

On the other hand, what I disliked about the book was mostly about the ending. It ended quite abruptly in my opinion, and I wanted more details on what happened afterward. Perhaps the author was aiming for an open ending or something like that, but it felt unsatisfactory for me. Additionally, I didn't feel anything for the main character, Kris, as she was quite a stubborn woman with unlikable traits. However, I do have to commend the author for keeping me engaged with the storyline despite being emotionally detached with the main character, as it's a rare event for me.

All in all, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. There were a few punctuation errors and typos, but nothing too drastic. I deducted one star from the rating because of my dissatisfaction with the ending as well as the writing style. The author tended to be wordy in his descriptions sometimes, so, as a result, the imagery of the novel wasn't vivid enough for me.

I recommend this book to readers who like reading about mysteries and dark, complex stories like this one. The characters are damaged and have gone through some sufferings in their lives, so they tend to make bad decisions. I don't, however, recommend this to young readers or to those looking for something light to read since this novel contains sex, violence, and a few graphic scenes.

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Broken Angels
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Rachel Lea · Post by **Rachel Lea** » 24 Sep 2019, 05:56

I also have a hard time getting into a story if I can't connect emotionally with the main character. It's cool that the author is able to keep the reader's interest despite the heroine being unlikeable. Thanks for your detailed review!

Post by **Ngozi Onyibor** » 24 Sep 2019, 06:03

How creative of the author to maintain a compelling plot despite the not so likable characters! I like the premise; I'm looking forward to reading the novel. Thanks for your insightful review.

Post by **Madiha_** » 24 Sep 2019, 15:43

Looks like a very interesting novel, I like mystery books like this one. Thanks for the complete review!

KDJ · Post by **KDJ** » 24 Sep 2019, 17:48

Thank you for your review. I enjoy reading dark and complex stories. It's unfortunate the ending fell a bit flat, but the story itself sounds like a good mystery novel. Thank you for your recommendation.

Helene_2008 · Post by **Helene_2008** » 24 Sep 2019, 21:09

There are few novels that I've read and don't relate/like the main character. I admit I would still read this book though. If my mom was killed, I'd be determined to find her killer too!

Prisallen · Post by **Prisallen** » 25 Sep 2019, 08:20

I like fast-paced mysteries, but I enjoy them so much more if I like and can identify with the protagonist. I'm on the fence about this one since she doesn't seem so likable. Thanks for a wonderful review!

kdstrack · Post by **kdstrack** » 25 Sep 2019, 11:14

I love stories where the author is able to keep you guessing. This one looks really good. I will put it on my list. Great review. Thanks.

Sangeetha+Narayan · Post by **Sangeetha+Narayan** » 26 Sep 2019, 05:06

I love flawed characters in a book. It makes it more realistic. And authors need to be brave enough to show their characters making mistakes, it helps in enhancing the appeal of a book. I was sad to read that ending was not satisfactory though. I often find that in books they start out with us holding ojr breath and then rush the ending. Yet, I'm interested in reading this book, thanks to your good review.

Kathleen Wolfe · Post by **Kathleen Wolfe** » 27 Sep 2019, 22:16

The plot seems very interesting but it's a shame that the ending isn't as nice. I like that the main characters aren't perfect but at the same time I'm not sure of how far the author goes in that way. Thanks for the review!