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All Those Broken Angels
Comforted by a shadow. Haunted by the truth.
Richard Anderson was the last person to see his friend Melanie alive. She vanished when they were six and while the police never found Melanie, a part of her remained—a living shadow that is now Richard’s closest friend.
For ten years, Richard has never questioned the shadow that keeps him company . . . until a new girl moves to town, claiming to be Melanie. Desperate to prove the girl is a fake, the shadow leads Richard to the place where her killer buried her bones. But Richard finds skeletons from several different children . . . and evidence suggesting that perhaps the shadow isn't who she says she is.
Richard Anderson was the last person to see his friend Melanie alive. She vanished when they were six and while the police never found Melanie, a part of her remained—a living shadow that is now Richard’s closest friend.
For ten years, Richard has never questioned the shadow that keeps him company . . . until a new girl moves to town, claiming to be Melanie. Desperate to prove the girl is a fake, the shadow leads Richard to the place where her killer buried her bones. But Richard finds skeletons from several different children . . . and evidence suggesting that perhaps the shadow isn't who she says she is.
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2014
15 people are currently reading
727 people want to read
About the author
Peter Adam Salomon
23 books125 followersPeter Adam Salomon’s second and third novels, ALL THOSE BROKEN ANGELS and EIGHT MINUTES, THIRTY-TWO SECONDS, were nominated for the Bram Stoker Award® for Superior Achievement in Young Adult fiction. His first two novels were named a ‘Book All Young Georgians Should Read’ by The Georgia Center for The Book.
He founded both National Dark Poetry Day (Oct. 7) and the annual international Horror Poetry Showcase for the Horror Writers Association.
His poem ‘Electricity and Language and Me’ was performed by The Radiophonic Workshop on BBC Radio 6. Two of his poetry collections were nominated for the Elgin Award. In addition, he was the Editor for the first books of poetry released by the Horror Writers Association: Horror Poetry Showcase Volumes I and II.
He is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Horror Writers Association, the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, the Science Fiction Poetry Association, the International Thriller Writers, and The Authors Guild.
He founded both National Dark Poetry Day (Oct. 7) and the annual international Horror Poetry Showcase for the Horror Writers Association.
His poem ‘Electricity and Language and Me’ was performed by The Radiophonic Workshop on BBC Radio 6. Two of his poetry collections were nominated for the Elgin Award. In addition, he was the Editor for the first books of poetry released by the Horror Writers Association: Horror Poetry Showcase Volumes I and II.
He is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Horror Writers Association, the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, the Science Fiction Poetry Association, the International Thriller Writers, and The Authors Guild.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
August 13, 2014
3.5 stars
Also reviewed for Addicted2Heroines
There are two ways I typically use the word creepy, and this book contains examples of both.
A) Creepy:
I'm in the house by myself, and I hear something thunking around upstairs. Veeery creepy!
Honorable mention: You wake up in the middle of the night, and one of your little kids is there. Just staring at you. Watching you sleep. Creepy little bastard.
Or
B) Creepy:
I went shopping with a friend. We ran into her brother, and she greeted him by giving him a kiss on the mouth. *shudder* Creepy!
Honorable mention: You see a woman nursing her six year old child in public. I don't care what the La Leche Nazi's say...it's creepy. The kid has teeth. Toss an apple at 'em, and wait till you get home to permanently scar their psyche.
I said that to say this, All Those Broken Angels is full of creepy.
You have the Ooooh-Woooo (that's my ghostly wail, in case you couldn't tell) moments when Richard's Shadow comes out to play, but then you also have quite a few Ewwwww? moments. Kind of like the examples from B, I wasn't totally sure how creeped out I should be by the Ewwwww? moments. Like, sure it's semi-weird for someone to kiss their brother on the mouth, but as long as they're not frenching him...it's not really wrong, is it? Maybe they just do things differently in their family? Or the nursing thing? My kids' old pediatrician always bragged about how she nursed her kids till they were 5 or 6. It's healthy, and gives them antibodies!
*GAK*
So yeah. Not wrong-wrong, just icky from my (and a lot of other fucking people's) standpoint.
*GAAAAAAAK*
Sorry. I just...uuuuuuh!
The problem is, I can't thoroughly explain the parts that I thought were borderline gag-worthy, without spoiling the plot. And the plot is actually pretty good!
So let's just say that Richard is a bit closer with his Shadow than I expected. In fact, the Shadow got close with the other Melanie, too. All that closeness gave me the heebie-jeebies. Especially when I found out the truth about the Shadow.
So you go into this not knowing whether the Shadow is good or evil. And there's a lot of grey area involved in finding your way to the end of the story. Some of what happened was fairly obvious, but some of it took me by surprise.
There's also a serial killer angle to the story, and I really did not see some of it coming. Very well done!
There's this one part where Melanie is drinking tea, and all of a sudden it hits you...
Ahhhhhhh!
I may not have loved every part of it, but I finished it in one day, if that tells you anything. Also, I haven't read tons and tons of young adult horror. I've read some, but I wouldn't call myself an expert on the genre. I'm purely rating this on my enjoyment level, because I don't have a lot to compare it to. It was good, but there were too many times I did a WTF?/Facepalm for me to rate it any higher.
Digital arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Also reviewed for Addicted2Heroines
There are two ways I typically use the word creepy, and this book contains examples of both.
A) Creepy:
I'm in the house by myself, and I hear something thunking around upstairs. Veeery creepy!
Honorable mention: You wake up in the middle of the night, and one of your little kids is there. Just staring at you. Watching you sleep. Creepy little bastard.
Or
B) Creepy:
I went shopping with a friend. We ran into her brother, and she greeted him by giving him a kiss on the mouth. *shudder* Creepy!
Honorable mention: You see a woman nursing her six year old child in public. I don't care what the La Leche Nazi's say...it's creepy. The kid has teeth. Toss an apple at 'em, and wait till you get home to permanently scar their psyche.
I said that to say this, All Those Broken Angels is full of creepy.
You have the Ooooh-Woooo (that's my ghostly wail, in case you couldn't tell) moments when Richard's Shadow comes out to play, but then you also have quite a few Ewwwww? moments. Kind of like the examples from B, I wasn't totally sure how creeped out I should be by the Ewwwww? moments. Like, sure it's semi-weird for someone to kiss their brother on the mouth, but as long as they're not frenching him...it's not really wrong, is it? Maybe they just do things differently in their family? Or the nursing thing? My kids' old pediatrician always bragged about how she nursed her kids till they were 5 or 6. It's healthy, and gives them antibodies!
*GAK*
So yeah. Not wrong-wrong, just icky from my (and a lot of other fucking people's) standpoint.
*GAAAAAAAK*
Sorry. I just...uuuuuuh!
The problem is, I can't thoroughly explain the parts that I thought were borderline gag-worthy, without spoiling the plot. And the plot is actually pretty good!
So let's just say that Richard is a bit closer with his Shadow than I expected. In fact, the Shadow got close with the other Melanie, too. All that closeness gave me the heebie-jeebies. Especially when I found out the truth about the Shadow.
So you go into this not knowing whether the Shadow is good or evil. And there's a lot of grey area involved in finding your way to the end of the story. Some of what happened was fairly obvious, but some of it took me by surprise.
There's also a serial killer angle to the story, and I really did not see some of it coming. Very well done!
There's this one part where Melanie is drinking tea, and all of a sudden it hits you...
Ahhhhhhh!
I may not have loved every part of it, but I finished it in one day, if that tells you anything. Also, I haven't read tons and tons of young adult horror. I've read some, but I wouldn't call myself an expert on the genre. I'm purely rating this on my enjoyment level, because I don't have a lot to compare it to. It was good, but there were too many times I did a WTF?/Facepalm for me to rate it any higher.
Digital arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2024
This book was crazy! I honestly had no idea what to expect. It was brilliantly written, and as a reader, you could definitely feel the panic, desperation, and craziness!
Richard is 6 years old when he is playing hide-and-seek with his best friend Melanie. After counting to 100, he turns around to find her, but she is never found again. A shadow/ghost suddenly appears in his room that night, and he knows it is the ghost of Melanie. He lives his life excluded from anything else except his relationship with the ghost of Melanie.
Richard's loner status and erratic behavior have led him to find release in his artwork. The dark passion of his art has him accepted into an art school and at the age of 16 a new girl appears claiming to be the Melanie of his past that was a missing girl.
The suspense is immense, as there are so many events tangled together. This book is interesting because it could very easily be dissected as not being very well done in sections, but in its entirety, the book is well done in depicting Richard's mind as the events unfold.
5 stars for me.
Richard is 6 years old when he is playing hide-and-seek with his best friend Melanie. After counting to 100, he turns around to find her, but she is never found again. A shadow/ghost suddenly appears in his room that night, and he knows it is the ghost of Melanie. He lives his life excluded from anything else except his relationship with the ghost of Melanie.
Richard's loner status and erratic behavior have led him to find release in his artwork. The dark passion of his art has him accepted into an art school and at the age of 16 a new girl appears claiming to be the Melanie of his past that was a missing girl.
The suspense is immense, as there are so many events tangled together. This book is interesting because it could very easily be dissected as not being very well done in sections, but in its entirety, the book is well done in depicting Richard's mind as the events unfold.
5 stars for me.
January 24, 2015
3.5 Have to admit this really held my interest. Was just mysterious enough, eerie enough that although I guessed part of it, the ending was somewhat of a surprise.
February 13, 2017
This was a very interesting read. It was weird and yet I enjoyed it. I was confused at times. However, the ending made this more clear. Normally I don't like confusing and weird books but this one kept my interest. If you're looking for a quick and different kind of read than I recommend this book.
December 1, 2022
I really enjoyed this book, and it kept me on the edge of my seat at all times. Richard was a very relatable character and he represented the ups and downs life can be. At some points he was very happy and others very sad. It was one of my favorite mystery books of all time. I would recommend this to people who have trouble getting into books because this book starts out right away. Overall a very good book.
October 4, 2019
At the start of the book Richard, the main character is talking about a time when he was playing hide and seek with Melanie, his best friend when he was younger. However, when it was his turn to seek he never found her. This event happened when Richard was around 6 years old. Now Richard is in high school and a new student joins his class and it turns out her name is Melanie which is the same as the girl who has been lost. Richard is trying to figure out if this is the same girl that has been missing. I liked this book because the suspense makes you want to keep reading. However, Towards the end of the book was confusing for me because the mystery started to unfold and it was really weird. All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Mysteries.
September 22, 2014
Richard Harrison's best friend went missing when they were six. He knows Melanie is dead, because she's been haunting him ever since. When a girl shows up claiming to be Melanie, he knows that he has to discredit her. But the truth may be even stranger than a boy who believes himself haunted can dream.
I really enjoyed the way my perception of ALL THOSE BROKEN ANGELS shifted throughout the story. It is not long, but it is unpredictable. Often, people are both right and wrong at the same time, mostly because no one would guess what is actually happening.
ALL THOSE BROKEN ANGELS does have strong horror elements, which I didn't guess from the blurb and cover. (I was expecting a contemporary with a light paranormal edge.) The shadow that Richard perceives seems to mostly help him, but it has hurt him unconsciously, alienated him, and proves to be a danger to some other people. The new Melanie has her own terrible secrets that are grounded in a more terrible reality than sinister shadows.
Everything comes together very neatly at the end of ALL THOSE BROKEN ANGELS. I didn't mind too much, because the question of who done it wasn't the point. The relationship between Richard and Melanie (and Richard and Melanie) is what drives the novel, along with the terrifying atmosphere. I really flew through this novel, because author Peter Adam Salomon keeps the pages turning.
I really enjoyed the way my perception of ALL THOSE BROKEN ANGELS shifted throughout the story. It is not long, but it is unpredictable. Often, people are both right and wrong at the same time, mostly because no one would guess what is actually happening.
ALL THOSE BROKEN ANGELS does have strong horror elements, which I didn't guess from the blurb and cover. (I was expecting a contemporary with a light paranormal edge.) The shadow that Richard perceives seems to mostly help him, but it has hurt him unconsciously, alienated him, and proves to be a danger to some other people. The new Melanie has her own terrible secrets that are grounded in a more terrible reality than sinister shadows.
Everything comes together very neatly at the end of ALL THOSE BROKEN ANGELS. I didn't mind too much, because the question of who done it wasn't the point. The relationship between Richard and Melanie (and Richard and Melanie) is what drives the novel, along with the terrifying atmosphere. I really flew through this novel, because author Peter Adam Salomon keeps the pages turning.
July 25, 2020
My thanks to NetGalley and Flux for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT
The premise sounded interesting, but the actuality of it was a bit of a hot mess to me. I'm not overly into horror/thrillers and two of three bad guys were pretty obvious, even if their connection wasn't. If I hadn't been skimming to get to the big reveal at the end, I probably would have figured out the final bad guy, but I wasn't overly impressed, as it all seemed a tad too convoluted.
And squicky.
The scene with Melanie's drunk dad had some less than wholesome tones that left me wondering if he was going to assault her. He was drunk and going on and on about how much she looked like her mom and how much he missed her and how pretty she was, etc and it was very uncomfortable.
Then you add in the possibility that there might have been some half-sibling kissing going on and I was properly squicked out. It is quite possible, though the family tree is not fully explained, that the first Melanie and Logan are the product of wife #1 and the dad and that the second Melanie is the product of wife #2 and the dad. So when Logan is practically forcing himself onto the second Melanie, that's his half sister. And when the first Melanie, who was maybe six or so when she was killed, is kissing the boyfriend through possessing Melanie, while also kissing Melanie through possessing the boyfriend at the same time, is both possessing and kissing her half sister. And she's very underage. Yes, she was around the boyfriend for ten years after the murder, but she for her last moment on earth, she was a very young girl. Did her mind and emotions age as she was haunting the boyfriend or would they have been frozen at the age of death? Either way, disturbing on multiple levels.
And the ending was over the top and not overly believable with how the teens were allowed to go off, after they had been found the first time. Also unbelievable is how the dad managed to capture two girls who were close to the two MCs, so they had to go to save their friend and her sister, rather than call the police and have them do it.
I admit, horror and thriller are not my genre, so this book didn't work as well for me as I am sure it will for others. I will recommend to the YA horror readers who come to our store, but I wouldn't recommend to just anyone. This is a more niche book for a more niche audience I think. 1.5 stars, rounded down to 1, because I didn't enjoy the writing style, the characters or the way things unfolded. I didn't hate it, but it just isn't for me.
SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT
The premise sounded interesting, but the actuality of it was a bit of a hot mess to me. I'm not overly into horror/thrillers and two of three bad guys were pretty obvious, even if their connection wasn't. If I hadn't been skimming to get to the big reveal at the end, I probably would have figured out the final bad guy, but I wasn't overly impressed, as it all seemed a tad too convoluted.
And squicky.
The scene with Melanie's drunk dad had some less than wholesome tones that left me wondering if he was going to assault her. He was drunk and going on and on about how much she looked like her mom and how much he missed her and how pretty she was, etc and it was very uncomfortable.
Then you add in the possibility that there might have been some half-sibling kissing going on and I was properly squicked out. It is quite possible, though the family tree is not fully explained, that the first Melanie and Logan are the product of wife #1 and the dad and that the second Melanie is the product of wife #2 and the dad. So when Logan is practically forcing himself onto the second Melanie, that's his half sister. And when the first Melanie, who was maybe six or so when she was killed, is kissing the boyfriend through possessing Melanie, while also kissing Melanie through possessing the boyfriend at the same time, is both possessing and kissing her half sister. And she's very underage. Yes, she was around the boyfriend for ten years after the murder, but she for her last moment on earth, she was a very young girl. Did her mind and emotions age as she was haunting the boyfriend or would they have been frozen at the age of death? Either way, disturbing on multiple levels.
And the ending was over the top and not overly believable with how the teens were allowed to go off, after they had been found the first time. Also unbelievable is how the dad managed to capture two girls who were close to the two MCs, so they had to go to save their friend and her sister, rather than call the police and have them do it.
I admit, horror and thriller are not my genre, so this book didn't work as well for me as I am sure it will for others. I will recommend to the YA horror readers who come to our store, but I wouldn't recommend to just anyone. This is a more niche book for a more niche audience I think. 1.5 stars, rounded down to 1, because I didn't enjoy the writing style, the characters or the way things unfolded. I didn't hate it, but it just isn't for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2014
The premise for this book sounded fascinating, a mix of mystery, crime, horror, and fantasy. Peter Adam Salomon did not disappoint my expectations in the slightest. The mystery begins with Richard, the protagonist. His best friend, Melanie, disappeared when they were both only six. No one was sure what happened except Richard—from the time of her mysterious vanishing, some kind of shadow/spirit has attached itself to him. He’s sure she’s dead, murdered by persons unknown. No one will listen when he tries to explain, and eventually, he is careful not to mention the shadow. Everything is as normal as it can be for a haunted teen, until Melanie shows up.
The girl who claims to be his best friend quickly proves to him that she is Melanie; her mother was basically playing keep-away with her alcoholic husband. With her death, Melanie’s father realized his daughter was still living and got her back. With that mystery out of the way, what else could this book be about? Easy—the shadow remains attached to Richard. It definitely responds to the name Melanie but also seems jealous of and violent with anyone he knows, including the living Melanie. Most authors would probably have the rest of the book involve the teens finding a way to exorcise the shadow or defeat it in someway. Salomon has Richard and the living Melanie working out that the shadow’s rage and violence come from being murdered and knowing her killer is still out there.
They decide to find her body and find themselves uncovering evidence of serial killings. They find a way to get the police involved without discussing the supernatural aspect, knowing that will just result in residence involving padded rooms. The pair keep working to solve the ongoing disappearances, even when they have to confront uncomfortable facts: How many little girls have been murdered? The killer may have a living victim or two now; how can a couple of high school kids uncover his identity and rescue them?
The overall story is realistically portrayed, aside from the fantastic elements—for instance, Melanie’s reappearance is not easily accepted. Police and reporters are both wanting to talk to her until they are distracted by the new disappearances. Salomon also seems to be one of those writers who doesn’t tell you anything you don’t need to know. What seems to be trivial details in many places become clues to solving the disappearances and rescue.
This story is set against the wonderful backdrop of Savannah, and Salomon makes great use of it. The city and its famous cemeteries provide a great atmosphere, and Richard even has a part-time job working for the ghost tours—a plot point that would have just been fun in and of itself but is also used to keep the action moving. And move it does. I’m still not sure if the last quarter was at breakneck speed or if I just read it that way. Either way, this book is a thrilling ride.
The girl who claims to be his best friend quickly proves to him that she is Melanie; her mother was basically playing keep-away with her alcoholic husband. With her death, Melanie’s father realized his daughter was still living and got her back. With that mystery out of the way, what else could this book be about? Easy—the shadow remains attached to Richard. It definitely responds to the name Melanie but also seems jealous of and violent with anyone he knows, including the living Melanie. Most authors would probably have the rest of the book involve the teens finding a way to exorcise the shadow or defeat it in someway. Salomon has Richard and the living Melanie working out that the shadow’s rage and violence come from being murdered and knowing her killer is still out there.
They decide to find her body and find themselves uncovering evidence of serial killings. They find a way to get the police involved without discussing the supernatural aspect, knowing that will just result in residence involving padded rooms. The pair keep working to solve the ongoing disappearances, even when they have to confront uncomfortable facts: How many little girls have been murdered? The killer may have a living victim or two now; how can a couple of high school kids uncover his identity and rescue them?
The overall story is realistically portrayed, aside from the fantastic elements—for instance, Melanie’s reappearance is not easily accepted. Police and reporters are both wanting to talk to her until they are distracted by the new disappearances. Salomon also seems to be one of those writers who doesn’t tell you anything you don’t need to know. What seems to be trivial details in many places become clues to solving the disappearances and rescue.
This story is set against the wonderful backdrop of Savannah, and Salomon makes great use of it. The city and its famous cemeteries provide a great atmosphere, and Richard even has a part-time job working for the ghost tours—a plot point that would have just been fun in and of itself but is also used to keep the action moving. And move it does. I’m still not sure if the last quarter was at breakneck speed or if I just read it that way. Either way, this book is a thrilling ride.
May 10, 2014
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Flux and Netgalley.)
16-year-old Richard has lived with the ghost of his best friend Melanie for 10 years since she disappeared during a game of hide-and-seek and was never seen again. But now Melanie is back, for real, and Richard is no longer sure who is the real Melanie – the girl who stands in front of him, or the ghost who has haunted him for the past ten years.
Who is the real Melanie? And can Richard discover what’s really going on with his ghost?
I enjoyed this book, even if I’m not 100% sure that I know what happened!
Richard was an interesting character. As the story went on I really wasn’t sure if what was happening to him was psychological or paranormal, but I really did feel sorry for him. To live with the ghost of his best friend for ten years, and to be constantly teased about it, only to find out that she isn’t even dead, is just so sad and so frustrating!
I was really unsure about Melanie as well. Was she really Melanie? Where had she been for so long? And why was she back? Even when these questions were answered, the presence of the ghost ‘Melanie’ made it difficult to know if what we were reading was really the truth!
The storyline in this was filled with little shocks – starting with Melanie coming back, and continuing all the way through the story. It was difficult to know what was real and what was possibly due to some other reason, and I was continually both puzzled and surprised by the turns this story took. There was some mystery, some paranormal elements, some little bites of horror story in the background, as well the question of mental illness, and a little touch of romance, all snowballed together in this!
The ending to this was certainly interesting, although I do have to admit to having a couple of outstanding questions over what exactly happened. I think this could probably be cleared up with a bit of a re-read of the last chapters again, but I’m not that bothered!
Overall; interesting mystery story, with plenty of little surprises,
7.25 out of 10.
16-year-old Richard has lived with the ghost of his best friend Melanie for 10 years since she disappeared during a game of hide-and-seek and was never seen again. But now Melanie is back, for real, and Richard is no longer sure who is the real Melanie – the girl who stands in front of him, or the ghost who has haunted him for the past ten years.
Who is the real Melanie? And can Richard discover what’s really going on with his ghost?
I enjoyed this book, even if I’m not 100% sure that I know what happened!
Richard was an interesting character. As the story went on I really wasn’t sure if what was happening to him was psychological or paranormal, but I really did feel sorry for him. To live with the ghost of his best friend for ten years, and to be constantly teased about it, only to find out that she isn’t even dead, is just so sad and so frustrating!
I was really unsure about Melanie as well. Was she really Melanie? Where had she been for so long? And why was she back? Even when these questions were answered, the presence of the ghost ‘Melanie’ made it difficult to know if what we were reading was really the truth!
The storyline in this was filled with little shocks – starting with Melanie coming back, and continuing all the way through the story. It was difficult to know what was real and what was possibly due to some other reason, and I was continually both puzzled and surprised by the turns this story took. There was some mystery, some paranormal elements, some little bites of horror story in the background, as well the question of mental illness, and a little touch of romance, all snowballed together in this!
The ending to this was certainly interesting, although I do have to admit to having a couple of outstanding questions over what exactly happened. I think this could probably be cleared up with a bit of a re-read of the last chapters again, but I’m not that bothered!
Overall; interesting mystery story, with plenty of little surprises,
7.25 out of 10.
April 25, 2014
When I saw this title listed on NetGalley, I was really intrigued by the blurb and was excited to read the book. Mostly, it lived up to the anticipation. The premise is fairly novel and interesting; however I was slightly disappointed that the true identity Richard's ghost friend was not who he initially thought it to be. I felt the tone of the novel changed for me from that point. I also found that, due in part to the writing style and to my fast reading, I sometimes had to re-read information or take a moment to work out exactly who was who or what had happened. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the book; the characters are interesting; the plot kept me gripped ( I read the book in two sittings) even if the ending did feel a little like it didn't match and was ever so slightly predictable; and this is definitely a book I would recommend.
September 13, 2014
Peter Adam Salomon is an emerging voice in horror, a voice that everyone should listen to. All Those Broken Angels is YA horror of the truly horrific kind--creepy, morbid, and disturbing in all the right ways. The "Shadow" that haunts 16-year-old Richard is both more and less than she seems.
Salomon seizes control of the dread inherent in the story and magnifies it, resulting in one of the best ghost stories I've ever read.
Salomon seizes control of the dread inherent in the story and magnifies it, resulting in one of the best ghost stories I've ever read.
January 24, 2019
Richard's best friend Melanie disappeared when he was six, and ten years later she shows up back in town. This compelling setup launches a tale of phantom friends, secret guilt, and two teenagers struggling to find out if their interrupted friendship can blossom into romance. Salomon is an accomplished poet, and it shows in his rhythmic prose. This award-winning YA novel is entertaining and thoughtful.
February 18, 2015
16 year old boy meets Melanie, his friend who disappeared/died 10 years before. Creepy horror, crime, mystery, ghost fantasy. For fans of Asylum series by Madeleine Roux and Anna Dressed in Blood series by Kendare Blake
February 2, 2024
I semi enjoyed this book, however I do not love reading paranormal type books and I was not aware that this book was based around that. Some parts freaked me out quite a bit however I did enjoy the plot and found it interesting.
June 27, 2015
Richard Harrison’s parents, doctors and therapists believe that ever since the delicate age of six years, he has suffered from “Peduncular Hallucinosis”, a fancy term for Richard that means having an imaginary friend to replace the best friend he lost. A way to deal with the depression, stress, loneliness and loss. In the eyes of his parents and medical staff it makes perfectly good sense that Richard is suffering from this – for at the age of six he and his best friend, Melanie, were playing hide and go seek outside. When Richard finished counting to one hundred and turned around, his best friend was gone, never found and legally declared dead with a funeral of burying one of her favourite dresses in the coffin since no body was found.
That very night when Melanie disappeared Richard was the first to know that she had died for one reason – he was visited by Melanie’s ghost that night. The word ghost is not the best term to use for what state Melanie is visiting Richard in; when one thinks of a ghost they see a white, glowing apparition of the spirit. Melanie is described as being a shadow lurking in the corners, a strong presence flowing over Richard that screamed inside his head and cast invisible flames on his skin. Along with fear, Richard embraces Melanie, claiming that he is able to feel her love for him and that no matter what they would always be best friends.
Years pass and now Richard is sixteen years old and attends the Savannah Arts Academy. The only friend he has is Melanie, and her shadow is never far from him. Over time Richard has become haunted by her presence and semi – possessed; there are times when Melanie will sink into Richards’s body and take control of his arms, fingers and even eyes. Other times, if Richard smiles at another girl the ‘shadow’ would ignite and swallow him up in non-existent flames, wailing, letting out her hate and jealousy. However, no matter what pain is caused, physically or mentally, Richard is content. He has his best friend with him all the time, filling the empty void in his heart.
One day Richards’s world, and all that he ever is believed is torn to pieces leaving chilling questions when a new girl approaches him claiming to be Melanie – his long lost friend. Sure enough, it is her which leave a disturbing question – who is this shadow that also claims to be Melanie? And after a few days being back in her home town why is this ghost possessing Melanie as well?
Both teens must reunite after ten long years and unbury the truth about who this lost spirit is and what happened to her. Answers only lead them to more questions and an understanding that this is bigger than one shadow, for to uncover the truth behind her death, Richard and Melanie will have to uncover a grave full of broken angels.
That very night when Melanie disappeared Richard was the first to know that she had died for one reason – he was visited by Melanie’s ghost that night. The word ghost is not the best term to use for what state Melanie is visiting Richard in; when one thinks of a ghost they see a white, glowing apparition of the spirit. Melanie is described as being a shadow lurking in the corners, a strong presence flowing over Richard that screamed inside his head and cast invisible flames on his skin. Along with fear, Richard embraces Melanie, claiming that he is able to feel her love for him and that no matter what they would always be best friends.
Years pass and now Richard is sixteen years old and attends the Savannah Arts Academy. The only friend he has is Melanie, and her shadow is never far from him. Over time Richard has become haunted by her presence and semi – possessed; there are times when Melanie will sink into Richards’s body and take control of his arms, fingers and even eyes. Other times, if Richard smiles at another girl the ‘shadow’ would ignite and swallow him up in non-existent flames, wailing, letting out her hate and jealousy. However, no matter what pain is caused, physically or mentally, Richard is content. He has his best friend with him all the time, filling the empty void in his heart.
One day Richards’s world, and all that he ever is believed is torn to pieces leaving chilling questions when a new girl approaches him claiming to be Melanie – his long lost friend. Sure enough, it is her which leave a disturbing question – who is this shadow that also claims to be Melanie? And after a few days being back in her home town why is this ghost possessing Melanie as well?
Both teens must reunite after ten long years and unbury the truth about who this lost spirit is and what happened to her. Answers only lead them to more questions and an understanding that this is bigger than one shadow, for to uncover the truth behind her death, Richard and Melanie will have to uncover a grave full of broken angels.
September 9, 2014
This book definitely falls into the category of super creepy. I will say that I'm not a huge fan of the cover; I don't see the strong connection to the story, especially since Richard is a visual artist. There were so many other options that would make the initial sight of the book much more striking. I really enjoyed having a book set in Savannah, having just recently visited, because I could recognize some of the locations. The story also made a lot of sense in the context of the city, which claims to be one of the most haunted in America. The plot was definitely the highlight of the novel. It had a great combination of meandering moments and edge of your seat twists and turns. The ending was masterfully done, with the reveal of the killer happening in a subtle manner that still made me gasp. Authors take note; that's the way to begin the final unraveling of a mystery.
The characters themselves aren't the main draw of the book and really exist to serve the plot. Richard was fine as far as protagonists go, with the nice little addition of having a sentient shadow living inside him to make it more interesting. I did appreciate hearing about Melanie's previous trauma and how her reaction is different than the standard resilience. Her early experiences broke something inside her instead of strengthening it. There is some weird development with Richard, Melanie, and the shadow that I'm not entirely sure how to feel about. It might give a bit of an ick factor to some readers, especially when you put everything together at the end.
Overall this is a great read if you're looking for a murder mystery with a creepy supernatural twist. It's nice and atmospheric for the fall, with enough turns to keep you engaged. The ending is absolutely awesome and makes the book completely worth reading from cover to cover.
ebook from Netgalley
The characters themselves aren't the main draw of the book and really exist to serve the plot. Richard was fine as far as protagonists go, with the nice little addition of having a sentient shadow living inside him to make it more interesting. I did appreciate hearing about Melanie's previous trauma and how her reaction is different than the standard resilience. Her early experiences broke something inside her instead of strengthening it. There is some weird development with Richard, Melanie, and the shadow that I'm not entirely sure how to feel about. It might give a bit of an ick factor to some readers, especially when you put everything together at the end.
Overall this is a great read if you're looking for a murder mystery with a creepy supernatural twist. It's nice and atmospheric for the fall, with enough turns to keep you engaged. The ending is absolutely awesome and makes the book completely worth reading from cover to cover.
ebook from Netgalley
August 2, 2014
READ IN ENGLISH
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
Richard was just six years when his best friend, Melanie, disappeared. Her body was never found. Ever since, Richard has had company from a shadow. But then, after then years a new girl at school claims she's his Melanie. Richard doesn't know what to believe, and if she's Melanie, then who's haunting him?
This was a very quick read. I read the last over 200 pages in a few hours when I also did a lot of other things. At first I was not sure what to think about the story. The beginning is a bit weird and I didn't know what to expect. But after the first pages that feeling disappeared and I really quite enjoyed myself reading the story.
I was curious what was about to happen with Melanie, Richard and even the shadow. Some things were a bit simple though. I don't think that it would have been so easy for Melanie to return after all those years, without everyone asking a lot of questions. I also was a little bit disappointed by the ending. Everything fit in a bit too neat and literally everything was somehow connected. It's just a personal thing, but I don't really like it that way. Would still recommend though, it's a nice (different) ghost story.
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
Richard was just six years when his best friend, Melanie, disappeared. Her body was never found. Ever since, Richard has had company from a shadow. But then, after then years a new girl at school claims she's his Melanie. Richard doesn't know what to believe, and if she's Melanie, then who's haunting him?
This was a very quick read. I read the last over 200 pages in a few hours when I also did a lot of other things. At first I was not sure what to think about the story. The beginning is a bit weird and I didn't know what to expect. But after the first pages that feeling disappeared and I really quite enjoyed myself reading the story.
I was curious what was about to happen with Melanie, Richard and even the shadow. Some things were a bit simple though. I don't think that it would have been so easy for Melanie to return after all those years, without everyone asking a lot of questions. I also was a little bit disappointed by the ending. Everything fit in a bit too neat and literally everything was somehow connected. It's just a personal thing, but I don't really like it that way. Would still recommend though, it's a nice (different) ghost story.
July 15, 2017
Libro muy bonito, realmente me mantuvo pegada de principio a fin, personajes bien narrados.
Richard, Sombra y aparentemente la nueva Melanie, todos esos personajes son los que le dan la vida a la historia, se dan acontecimientos muy espeluznantes alrededor del lugar donde nuestros personajes viven.
Creo que la situación que se crea entre Richard y la sombra es muy buena porque ella fue la única en estar con él durante tantos años y es lógico que le cueste adaptarse a la nueva situación.
SPOILER
Dejando eso de lado, creo que es un muy libro si te gusta el misterio.
Richard, Sombra y aparentemente la nueva Melanie, todos esos personajes son los que le dan la vida a la historia, se dan acontecimientos muy espeluznantes alrededor del lugar donde nuestros personajes viven.
Creo que la situación que se crea entre Richard y la sombra es muy buena porque ella fue la única en estar con él durante tantos años y es lógico que le cueste adaptarse a la nueva situación.
SPOILER
Dejando eso de lado, creo que es un muy libro si te gusta el misterio.
Read
January 29, 2015When Richard was six years old, his friend Melanie disappeared during a game of hide-and-seek. That night he was visited by a strange shadow that became his new best friend. For years, this shadow, that Richard was convinced belonged to his best friend, kept him company. Ten years later, a new girl shows up claiming to be the very Melanie that disappeared. His shadow, however, isn't too happy with Melanie's appearance. When the truth about Melanie and her disappearance comes to light, Richard realizes there an even deeper mystery involving this shadow, a mystery that he's determined to solve.
This is a weirdly interesting novel. The shadow is creepy as it engulfs Richard and controls him and at time seduces him, which is a bit odd. It's not creepy scary - as in it will give you nightmares - just creepy out-of-the-ordinary. There's definitely intrigue in finding out what's really going on with the shadow and its connection to Melanie. I felt that the revelation was a bit predictable given that there were only so many players in the novel, although there was one twist that I found interesting. Even though it was a bit obvious, it was still an enjoyable ride and a quick read.
This is a weirdly interesting novel. The shadow is creepy as it engulfs Richard and controls him and at time seduces him, which is a bit odd. It's not creepy scary - as in it will give you nightmares - just creepy out-of-the-ordinary. There's definitely intrigue in finding out what's really going on with the shadow and its connection to Melanie. I felt that the revelation was a bit predictable given that there were only so many players in the novel, although there was one twist that I found interesting. Even though it was a bit obvious, it was still an enjoyable ride and a quick read.
June 20, 2014
Peter Adam Salomon captures his reader in the uncomfortable and eerie world of All Those Broken Angels. His prose is melodramatic and unnatural, yet still I found myself ironically obsessed with events, but also troubled.
The novel begins with Richard's confession that after the disappearance of his best friend Melanie six years ago he has been haunted by her shadow. As the story unravels we witness Richard's ghostly companion becoming stronger, particularly when a new student begins at Savannah Arts Academy. The identity of this girl is as shocking as the story she tells about her past and I was initially cynical about her.
As we understand more about Richard and his new friend, the horrifying truth of the mystery which is about to unfold hits us. I anticipated none of the later developments of the novel and whilst I felt helpless and despairing I made myself late for an appointment because I had to know how the book ended.
All Those Broken Angels is not a long story, but it is one which will haunt you after its conclusion. . . . So help me God.
The novel begins with Richard's confession that after the disappearance of his best friend Melanie six years ago he has been haunted by her shadow. As the story unravels we witness Richard's ghostly companion becoming stronger, particularly when a new student begins at Savannah Arts Academy. The identity of this girl is as shocking as the story she tells about her past and I was initially cynical about her.
As we understand more about Richard and his new friend, the horrifying truth of the mystery which is about to unfold hits us. I anticipated none of the later developments of the novel and whilst I felt helpless and despairing I made myself late for an appointment because I had to know how the book ended.
All Those Broken Angels is not a long story, but it is one which will haunt you after its conclusion. . . . So help me God.
November 16, 2015
I was lucky enough to meet Peter at a book signing event and spend a little time with him discussing his writing style. But that conversation didn't prepare me for how beautifully written this book is. I loved the story, the suspense builds and the plot takes some interesting - and unpredictable - twists and turns. It's a fast read and I couldn't put it down. I LOVED this book. But the thing that really earned a 5-star rating from me is how beautiful the prose is. Peter has a knack for description that can be creepy, chilling, AND poetic at the same time. I think English teachers everywhere need to be assigning this book as a "must read" to students as an example of just how to use the English language to get the most out of every word. Also, side note, I'm very familiar with the Savannah setting, even Dublin Georgia, and Peter really got it right in the passages describing particular roads and places.....not a big deal in fiction, but I appreciate the attention to detail. I plan to read more from this author and hope to see him again at future book fairs.
September 17, 2015
When Richard was 6, he was playing hide and seek with his friend Melanie. After he counted to 100 and then yelled, "Ready or not, here I come," Melanie was gone . . . and she wasn't hiding. After days of searching, the community and police gave up looking and assumed she'd been abducted and killed. Since that day, Richard hasn't forgiven himself . . . and he's been haunted by the ghost of Melanie.
Or so he THINKS it's the ghost of his Melanie.
Richard is 16 now and one day a new girl named Melanie shows up in his classes and acts like she knew him back when they were kids. Richard has a hard time accepting that this girl is HIS Melanie particularly since the ghost Melanie doesn't leave when the new alive Melanie comes back.
Maybe this a different Melanie who is trying to tell him something . . .
A delicious, suspenseful ghost story with an interesting twist at the end.
Or so he THINKS it's the ghost of his Melanie.
Richard is 16 now and one day a new girl named Melanie shows up in his classes and acts like she knew him back when they were kids. Richard has a hard time accepting that this girl is HIS Melanie particularly since the ghost Melanie doesn't leave when the new alive Melanie comes back.
Maybe this a different Melanie who is trying to tell him something . . .
A delicious, suspenseful ghost story with an interesting twist at the end.
October 13, 2016
Richards best friend Melanie died when they were both six years old. Richard was the last person to see Melanie. The police couldnt find Melanie so they officialy ruled her dead and made her a grave. Once Melanie died Richard had no friends, at least not people. His best friend was a shadow that he felt was a part of Melanie. For ten years the shadow kept him company until a new girl came claiming to be Melanie. Is she Melanie? Read the book to find out. Some parts of the story for me could get really confusing, but overall I liked how the author didnt give much information until closer to the end of the book. I felt like I was the shadow that Richards best friend was. This book will always keep you guessing what will happen next. You will love this book if you love suspense. If you like ghost and mystery series you will also love this book.
February 1, 2015
My first horror book.
I am not a fan of horror for I do not enjoy being frightened. I picked this book because I love the cover and the title. Did not even read the back until I was home.
Not horror as I expect horror to be, frighteningly, breath-stopping, panic-raising scared to breathe, to think, to imagine, so I was pleasantly surprised. Perhaps if I was a teenager I would feel differently.
The protagonist, Richard's shadows weave their tale of fright & terror throughout this love story that keeps the reader wanting to know more so that the book is finished before one realizes. Even with some foreshadowing, no pun intended, I did not follow all the clues and I did not see the end coming, which to me is a sign of a great story-teller.
Well done Peter Adam Salomon.
I am not a fan of horror for I do not enjoy being frightened. I picked this book because I love the cover and the title. Did not even read the back until I was home.
Not horror as I expect horror to be, frighteningly, breath-stopping, panic-raising scared to breathe, to think, to imagine, so I was pleasantly surprised. Perhaps if I was a teenager I would feel differently.
The protagonist, Richard's shadows weave their tale of fright & terror throughout this love story that keeps the reader wanting to know more so that the book is finished before one realizes. Even with some foreshadowing, no pun intended, I did not follow all the clues and I did not see the end coming, which to me is a sign of a great story-teller.
Well done Peter Adam Salomon.
March 29, 2016
If I had to read one more page of this ridiculousness I would have gone crazy. Extremely boring book, fairly slow paced, and the writing only slowed down the pace and story even more. I couldn't distinguish any of the characters from each other; they all spoke the same with nothing to make them stand out from the other.
Some people say this book is creepy. It certainly has a creepy aspect, but I didn't find it creepy, save for a scene or two. Sorry, but FAIL. Not to mention the writing style is ridiculously dramatic. So much "woe is me" in the writing.
Give me a break. Make something interesting happen already.
This book had so much potential, but failed in every way imaginable. *middle finger emoji*
Some people say this book is creepy. It certainly has a creepy aspect, but I didn't find it creepy, save for a scene or two. Sorry, but FAIL. Not to mention the writing style is ridiculously dramatic. So much "woe is me" in the writing.
Give me a break. Make something interesting happen already.
This book had so much potential, but failed in every way imaginable. *middle finger emoji*
July 22, 2014
I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
I really thought I was going to hate this book. The first chapter was really slow to start and a bit strange, but I stuck with it. The. I didn't like how within the first 80 pages the female main character is abused by three different men. But again I stuck with it even despite the low ratings on goodreads.
Don't get me wrong, this book remains morbid and becomes very creepy. It talks about ghosts, child abduction, murder and abuse. But once I got through the beginning, I got into the book. It creeped me out in a horror story way. It was a fast read, but definitely not a light one!
3.5 stars
I really thought I was going to hate this book. The first chapter was really slow to start and a bit strange, but I stuck with it. The. I didn't like how within the first 80 pages the female main character is abused by three different men. But again I stuck with it even despite the low ratings on goodreads.
Don't get me wrong, this book remains morbid and becomes very creepy. It talks about ghosts, child abduction, murder and abuse. But once I got through the beginning, I got into the book. It creeped me out in a horror story way. It was a fast read, but definitely not a light one!
July 25, 2014
A beautifully written mystery that held me on the edge of my seat! All Those Broken Angels tells the story of Richard, a teen who is haunted by the ghost of his best friend, Melanie. Melanie disappeared when they were six, and Richard has felt the presence of her ghost ever since. But true to most mysteries, nothing is what it seems. It's rare for me to be surprised by the ending of YA novels, but I was definitely not expecting this one to end the way it did. Suspenseful and compelling!
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
October 14, 2018
A thoroughly captivating ghost story novel! High school student Richard is haunted by a ghost he believes to be his childhood friend Melanie, but his perceptions are thrown into doubt when a girl moves to town who claims to be the friend he thought was dead. As Richard and the “new” Melanie investigate what happened to the ghost-Melanie, the novel gets progressively more creepy (a good thing in a ghost story) until the brutal truth is revealed. Highly recommended!
December 4, 2015
The first few chapters were awkward and difficult to get through, but when Melanie shows up, the tone of the book changes and from that point on, it held my interest. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot and the supernatural elements added an air of mystery and kept me guessing. I wouldn't have predicted the ending, but it was satisfying. This is a very absorbing, quick read.
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