Oct 15, 2008 10:26 AM
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Rage of Angels is a thrilling-yet-predictable-yet-unpredictable yarn from the stables of Sidney Sheldon with a woman as the pillar of the tale.
Jennifer Parker has it all that makes a Sheldon heroine – youth, beauty, brains, guts, luck, talent, and sexual appeal. She begins her legal career on the wrong foot but soon makes it to the top. After all she’s Sheldon’s babe. Michael Moretti (Mafia) gets her framed but Adam Warner a future Senator backs her and then falls in love with her. Adam’s marital life is devoid of happiness but Jennifer has him grinning from ear to ear. Unfortunately, fate and Adam’s wife decide to separate the two lovebirds. Not before Jennifer finds herself with a bulging tummy. Enter baby Joshua Adam Parker.
Time for Michael Moretti to stage a dramatic re-entry. He saves Joshua’s life and an indebted Jennifer offers him her body beautiful. But things aren’t as simple as this. Micheal loves Jennifer and makes full use of her reputation as America’s leading attorney. Soon, Jennifer starts working for the Mafia. Jennifer loves Michael but cannot get over Adam. She needs him physically as well as emotionally.
Adam is contesting for the Presidential elections. As a Senator his chief battle is against the Mafia. Jennifer is stuck between the two men she loves most – one is a law protector and the other a lawbreaker. The novel then races to a thrilling finale.
Rage of Angels is a superb story superbly told. Sheldon always earns brownie points with me for narrating his stories the way he does. The novel is remarkable on several accounts:
Characterization – This remains Sheldon’s forte. Each and every character is described to the minutest detail. The way he walks, eats, talks, makes love … nothing is left out. Even minor characters are presented with utmost precision. Sheldon creates life and blood characters, not lifeless caricatures. Jenniffer Parker, Michael Moretti, Adam Warner, Joshua, Attorney Robert D’silva, Ken Bailey, and Father Ryan are delightful creations.
Twist in the tale - Sheldon is a master of the twist in the tale. Every chapter ends with a twisted tale, much in his trademark style making the reader rush on to the next chapter.
Pace – Like all Sheldon novels, this one too moves at a breathtaking pace. Right from the time Jennifer makes an error in the court, Sheldon is at his readers with relentless pace till the very last chapter.
Sidney Sheldon’s novels are all character driven. This one too is no different. The actions of his protagonists affect the proceedings. Had Jennifer Parker been clever enough in the first chapter she would never have needed Adam Warner’s help. Had Jennifer Parker not fallen in love with Adam Warner she would have never got herself into an emotional mess and would have clearly stayed away from the likes of Michael Moretti.
Sidney Sheldon does not write first-rate literature. But his novels, with a dash of suspense, sex, and drama are tailor-made for great reading. Read them once, twice, as many times as you want, but you would not be able to put his books away into the trash bin. Rage of Angels falls into the same bracket.
