The Stalking Angel

by Ted Allbeury

When Anna's husband was killed outside their Paris home, she takes it upon herself to investigate. Then she learns her husband was a secret Nazi hunter, and they have eliminated him. From Texas to Toronto, and from Amsterdam to Albufeira, she tracks the enemy for her own revenge.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

1917 - 2005. Also wrote under the pseudonyms Richard Butler and Patrick Kelly.

Ted Allbeury was a lieutenant-colonel in the Intelligence Corps during World War II, and later a successful executive in the fields of marketing, advertising and radio. He began his writing career in the early 1970s and became well known for his espionage novels, but also published one highly-praised general novel, THE CHOICE, and a short story collection, OTHER KINDS OF TREASON. His novels have been published in twenty-three languages, including Russian. He died on 4th December 2005.


See also: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/j...
and
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/a/t...

Reviews

[George K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Ο θεριστής", εκδόσεις Bell.

Βαθμολογία: 7/10

Καλούτσικο και ιδιαίτερα ευκολοδιάβαστο θρίλερ, που όμως δεν με ξετρέλανε. Την κεντρική ιδέα δεν τη λες και πρωτότυπη: Η Γερμανίδα Άννα Βόλτμαν είναι πλέον μια ευτυχισμένη κοπέλα, μέχρι που ο αγαπημένος της σκοτώνεται από μια έκρηξη έξω από το σπίτι τους, με την ίδια να τραυματίζεται πολύ σοβαρά και να χάνει και το παιδί που κυοφορούσε. Ο Εβραίος σύζυγός της έψαχνε στοιχεία για πρώην Ναζί που κατάφεραν να διαφύγουν, κάτι που φυσικά αναστάτωσε μερικούς εξ αυτών. Η Άννα, αφού επουλωθούν οι πληγές της, θα αρχίσει έναν αγώνα εναντίον των συγκεκριμένων Ναζί, που πιθανότατα ευθύνονται για τη δολοφονία του άντρα της. Εντάξει, έστω και αν δεν είναι πρωτότυπη, σαν ιδέα έχει σίγουρα το ενδιαφέρον της, όμως δυστυχώς η εκτέλεση δεν ήταν και η καλύτερη δυνατή. Νομίζω ότι χρειαζόταν περισσότερος χώρος και χρόνος για να αναπτυχθεί η όλη ιστορία, για να γίνει πιο πειστική η μεταμόρφωση της πρωταγωνίστριας από μια απλή κοπέλα σε εκτελέστρια. Πολλά πράγματα έγιναν γρήγορα και πολύ βολικά, χωρίς ιδιαίτερες περιπλοκές, με το φινάλε να είναι αρκετά προβλέψιμο. Βέβαια υπάρχουν διάφορες δυνατές σκηνές εδώ κι εκεί, ενώ και η ατμόσφαιρα είναι πολύ ωραία, όμως θα έλεγα ότι το βιβλίο πάσχει λιγάκι σε αληθοφάνεια και χαρακτήρες. Πάντως είναι αρκετά καλογραμμένο, ενώ διαβάζεται πολύ ευχάριστα και γρήγορα.

[Victoria Conlan · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this started out as an interesting story, with an odd but readable protagonist. I was interested in her, and I was rooting for her. And then she went to America, and she had horribly stilted and wooden conversations with the American man.
And then she went away and did some stuff, and it was interesting again.
And then the American man came back, and the book became about him, his thoughts, his back story, and even his ex-wife. And the sex. Dull dull dull.
The first half of the book was probably a 2.5-3, the end was a 1.5, so I've averaged it out. But mostly I would say don't bother, which is a shame, but this is just such an unsatisfactory read. :-(

[Chris Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a tightly constructed plot, and I'm gaining a love for 1970s/early '80s thrillers, maybe because they remind me of the films I used to watch as a kid. Alistair MacLean stories and the like.
This is my first Ted Allbeury, and it probably won't be my last. 50p from a charity shop - it was the write-up on the back that reeled me in. I mean, killing nazis. What's not to like?
Actually, there are a couple of things in this book I don't like so much, but nothing to stop me from giving it 4 stars.
I won't give you any spoilers though.

[Tim Trewartha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of Allbeury's best efforts. Run of the mill revenge thriller, made interesting by the fact the assassin is female. Ending unsatisfying, as if the author himself got bored with it all. 2.5 stars

[Julian Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw someone reading this and had never hear of the author so downloaded and absolutely loved it.

A cracking thriller and great story, which rattles along at a fast past with tension ratcheted up and up as the end approaches.

I’ll definitely be reading more of his work.

[Sera Satterly · Rating 1 out of 5]

In the second chapter it very clearly describes how two main character proudly and repeatedly raped children. I went no further and literally through the book in the garbage, because that’s where a book about child rapists belongs.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

A spy-type novel. OK for a 20-cent book. Just 200 pages. A one-day read.

[Nigel Pinkus · Rating 1 out of 5]

This reader had problems with both the storyline (improbable) and, in particular, the ending (too predictable) with this read. It was essentially about a woman (Anna Woltman) who went on a revenge killing of four ex-SS Nazi officers who had killed her husband. We found out many years later than many Nazi officers went to South America, but in this version we find ourselves still predominately in Europe. (It appeared that some had come back). This reader also thought the ending was incredibly predictable. (I foresaw it after about page seventy five, oh dear)...... two stars.

Ted Allbeury wrote a staggering 42 novels and wrote under two other pen names ~ Richard Butler and Patrick Kelly as well. Here are 28 read’s from Allbeury, all rated accordingly:

THE GOOD (Four to Five Stars): ‘The Lantern Network’, ’Shadow of a Doubt’, ’A Wilderness of Mirrors', 'A Time Without Shadows' aka 'The Rules of the Game', 'The Only Good German' aka ‘Mission Berlin’, 'The Dangerous Edge', ‘Palomino Blonde’ aka 'Omega- minus', 'The Lonely Margins', ’The Crossing' aka ‘The Berlin Exchange’, 'Seeds of Treason', 'Other Kinds of Treason', 'Special Forces' aka 'Moscow Quadrille', the feel good, 'The Girl From Addis', 'Pay Any Price' and the rather exceptional, and this person's favourite, 'The Line-Crosser' (published in 1993).

THE AVERAGE (Two or Three Stars): 'Show Me a Hero', 'No Place to Hide' aka ‘Hostage’, ‘The Reckoning’, ’The Twentieth Day of January’ a.k.a. ‘Cold Tactics’ and ‘Deep Purple’. He also wrote, ’The Choice' which is not espionage and this reader thought (even though it was critically acclaimed) not a good one.

THE UGLY (One or two stars): It’s, however, probably best to stay away from: ‘Aid and Comfort’, 'The Reaper' aka 'The Stalking Angel', ‘The Assets' aka “Due Process’, 'The Secret Whispers’, 'The Alpha List', ’Consequences of Fear' aka ‘Smokescreen’ and ’The Spirit of Liberty'.

[Lysergius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hunting Nazis should be everyone's favourite pastime.