redheadtreefrog's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Angels Fall
4 Stars
In the aftermath of a traumatic event, Reese Gilmore is on a journey of healing and self-discovery when she arrives in the small town of Angel's Fist and finds herself putting down stakes. Life seems to be looking up for Reese until she witnesses a brutal murder while hiking in the mountains. Reese's past and a lack of evidence at the crime scene lead the police and many of the townsfolk to question Reese's account, but local author, Jamison Brody, is convinced and the two join forces to uncover the truth.
As this book is a re-read, I decided to listen to the audiobook narrated by Joyce Bean this time around. While Bean is not a go-to narrator for me, she does a very good job with both the male and female voices. She delivers Brody's cranky one-liners with aplomb and prevents Reese from sounding too overwrought and whiny.
Brody is definitely a different type of hero for Nora. It was difficult to like him at first because of his abrasive personality, but he eventually grew on me precisely because of his straightforward no-nonsense manner. It is very clear that he truly cares about Reece, believes in her, and does not pity her, which is exactly what she needs.
Reese is a likable heroine as, despite her apparent emotional fragility, she is a strong and resilient survivor. The fact that she doesn't cave to the villain's decidedly malicious tricks is a testament to her strength of character.
As a re-read, the identity of the killer was not a mystery, but it was fun retracing Reese and Brody's journey and the last few chapters are intense and exciting. That said, the book is in dire need of an epilogue with the reactions of all of the other characters to the revelation of the truth.
Overall, an engaging read, and I particularly enjoyed the small-town vibe and supporting cast.
4 Stars
In the aftermath of a traumatic event, Reese Gilmore is on a journey of healing and self-discovery when she arrives in the small town of Angel's Fist and finds herself putting down stakes. Life seems to be looking up for Reese until she witnesses a brutal murder while hiking in the mountains. Reese's past and a lack of evidence at the crime scene lead the police and many of the townsfolk to question Reese's account, but local author, Jamison Brody, is convinced and the two join forces to uncover the truth.
As this book is a re-read, I decided to listen to the audiobook narrated by Joyce Bean this time around. While Bean is not a go-to narrator for me, she does a very good job with both the male and female voices. She delivers Brody's cranky one-liners with aplomb and prevents Reese from sounding too overwrought and whiny.
Brody is definitely a different type of hero for Nora. It was difficult to like him at first because of his abrasive personality, but he eventually grew on me precisely because of his straightforward no-nonsense manner. It is very clear that he truly cares about Reece, believes in her, and does not pity her, which is exactly what she needs.
Reese is a likable heroine as, despite her apparent emotional fragility, she is a strong and resilient survivor. The fact that she doesn't cave to the villain's decidedly malicious tricks is a testament to her strength of character.
As a re-read, the identity of the killer was not a mystery, but it was fun retracing Reese and Brody's journey and the last few chapters are intense and exciting. That said, the book is in dire need of an epilogue with the reactions of all of the other characters to the revelation of the truth.
Overall, an engaging read, and I particularly enjoyed the small-town vibe and supporting cast.
rebeccatc's review
3.0
As usual, Nora Roberts does a good job of blending romance with mystery. This one is set in a tiny town in Wyoming where a chef from Boston who is recovering from a violent crime witnesses a murder, but no one will believe her except a local writer. I liked the setting, the characters and the dialogue.
tjwoho's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sarelizb's review
5.0
Loved this! It was a good story from the beginning, but mystery side it really started pick up in the last half. I can't wait to discuss it with the book club at the end of the month :)
clarissep's review
2.0
Well this took me forever!
I am not trying to discredit the trauma of the main character but the way the story was structured felt draggy and repetitive. The balance between the relationships and the mystery-thriller aspects felt off, and the way that it kept going around in circles made me feel like the reveal was a bit anti-climatic. It started out fine but fell flatter and flatter as the story went on. I think I prefer her style as JD Robb.
I am not trying to discredit the trauma of the main character but the way the story was structured felt draggy and repetitive. The balance between the relationships and the mystery-thriller aspects felt off, and the way that it kept going around in circles made me feel like the reveal was a bit anti-climatic. It started out fine but fell flatter and flatter as the story went on. I think I prefer her style as JD Robb.
sterialm's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
djacknurse's review
5.0
This one pushed all the right buttons for me! I enjoyed the romance between Reece and Brody along with all the other quirky town characters. It was all so very interesting to me. I don't always enjoy too much description but this was done perfectly. It seemed like such a gorgeous place to live. I had a short list of suspects for the murderer and that person ended up being on it. I still wasn't sure who the culprit was until the reveal. Well done N R! I get that the author is famous and wants to earn top dollar. I just wish her books were on Kindle Unlimited so readers who struggle financially could afford them, as they are pricey.