¿Qué ha podido empujar a tres hombres normales y corrientes —un topógrafo, un contable y un arquitecto— al desesperado acto del suicidio?
Esa es la cuestión a la que se enfrentan el inspector jefe James Talbot y la periodista Catherine Reed, quienes tendrán que relacionar estas muertes con una serie de profanaciones en el cementerio local. Cada tumba exhumada pertenece a un niño. Mientras Catherine investiga estas atrocidades, su hermano descubre que varios de los alumnos del colegio en el que da clases muestran claros signos de abuso físico. Al parecer, lo que todos temían se está convirtiendo en realidad… una red de pedofilia a gran escala.
Pero la sombra del abuso infantil no es más que la punta de un iceberg aterrador. A medida que se hace más urgente averiguar la verdad, Catherine y Talbot descubren que algo mucho más oscuro podría estar detrás de todo aquello, algo que no solo pone en peligro sus vidas, sino también su cordura
Why are those men mysteriously committing suicide? What's behind the smearings inside the church and outside the cemetery. A ring of child abusers, witchcraft, satanism? As Cath, an investigative journalist, is gathering facts the situation becomes extremely dangerous for her. Talbot, the DI, was abused as a child slowly has to understand that there is more here than suicide. What is Janina's role? Is her brother Frank also molesting children? Breathtaking action and a fine denouement in this fast paced Hutson classic. Highly recommended. You won't regret reading this classic. There will shivers run down your spine!
A Satanic child abuse ring, a series of incomprehensible suicides, and a pregnant witch. A blast from start to finish - perhaps lacking in a lot of his Herbert-esque set pieces, but written with his usual breakneck brio. There's a great scene where the social workers get together after questioning the kids and we're drip fed info - we never actually get to see the shadowy circle, only glimpses, which makes the novel stronger. A twisted tasty morsel for a prosaic world.
Ángeles Robados de Shaun Hutson. Horror hecho carne
No será porque no lo avisaba el propio autor en la introducción: “Escribí Ángeles Robados en 1994, antes de ser padre. […] No estoy diciendo que no hubiese escrito el libro de haber sido padre por aquel entonces, pero mi hija nació entre la finalización y la revisión del primer borrador de la novela, de modo que quedé profundamente afectado. Escenas y pasajes que no habría dudado en escribir antes del nacimiento de mi hija, ahora me resultaban aterradores, y fue en ese momento cuando comprendí lo verdaderamente espantoso que era el tema en que se basaba la novela que estaba escribiendo.” Stephen King ha explotado en muchas ocasiones, sin dejar de lado lo sobrenatural, lo que denominamos el terror cotidiano; basado sobre todo en la cualidad de encontrar el terror poniendo como base lo que es más cotidiano y aparentemente inofensivo, precisamente por estar en un intervalo de comodidad en el que nos manejamos; si lo que nos da estabilidad se convierte en fuente de miedo, ese miedo suele ser mayor, de ahí que siempre temamos más aquello que nos puede suceder a nosotros. Por estas razones uno de los libros que más me ha sobrecogido en los últimos años ha sido La chica de al lado de Jack Ketchum, un ejemplo de tensión narrativa llevado al límite y una mezcla de truculencia y realidad que, sencillamente, es brutal, inimaginable hasta que lo lees; Ketchum añadía otro ingrediente que hacía aún más reveladores los hechos que narraba: la presencia de niños. La indigesta mezcla causaba una enfermiza situación de malestar según lo ibas leyendo que, desde luego, se volvió inolvidable por la sensación vivida. chicadealladoEn Ángeles Robados, salvando las distancias (menor grado de truculencia y el manejo de niños como víctimas, no como ejecutores de maldad), Shaun Hutson consigue en algunos momentos recordarme las sensaciones que tuve al leer al maquiavélico Ketchum; este es un libro que impresiona aún más en el caso de ser padre, es un hecho innegable; pero, afortunadamente, la trama está tan bien llevada que impresionará a todo lector que se sumerja en su lectura. El desencadenante de la trama es la sucesión de una serie de suicidios de personas aparentemente felices, Hutson lo refleja muy bien en cada uno de ellos: “-Maldito machista –dijo entre risas. Parriam se tambaleaba de la risa. -Me acordaré de eso, Graham –se burló. Luego, con un movimiento experto, hizo girar el tambor de la 357, se metió el cañón en la boca y apretó el gatillo.” Personas con una conversación normal, incluso riendo, que deciden de pronto suicidarse sin causa aparente. Por otro lado tenemos a un protagonista, James Talbot, que se va perfilando según avanza la historia, un pasado dudoso en el que recibió malos tratos y abusos le predispone ante lo que pueda llegar: “-¿Es cierto? ¿Le pegaste durante el interrogatorio? -Por culpa de sus malditas acusaciones me suspendieron durante dos semanas, ¿recuerdas? Por culpa de ella y de sus “fuentes”. Puede que fuera algo brusco con él, pero te diré algo, yo no fui el único poli que lo trató mal. -Fueron varios niños, ¿no? -Tres. Era un puto pederasta.[…]” Por último, el hermano de la periodista Catherine Reed, profesor y que descubre que algún alumno puede estar recibiendo abusos físicos. Hutson urde una trama aparentemente inconexa que se va uniendo poco a poco: lo que sospechamos siempre puede ser peor según avanzan las páginas: “-Creía que ya había quedado claro lo que tenemos, María –dijo Nikki en tono mordaz-. Una red de pedofilia. ¿Cuántas pruebas más necesitas? María Goldman mantuvo la vista en la hoja de papel trazando con los ojos el contorno del dibujo que había en el centro. -No me cabe duda de que tienes razón, Nikki –dijo ella, tocando el dibujo garabateado-. Solo espero que eso sea todo.” El británico ahonda en la impunidad de los actos que se cometen, no tanto echando la culpa a la prensa sino a los que la leen, más interesados en el último cotilleo que en las desgracias de los demás. Su radiografía de la sociedad es ciertamente poco halagüeña: “-No es una noticia novedosa –dijo Cross. -Dios mío, Phil, estamos hablando de la violación de al menos nueve niños, una posible red de pedofilia, padres bajo sospecha de abusar de sus propios hijos y, para colmo, la probabilidad de que haya elementos rituales en todo el asunto… y a nadie le importa un carajo. Prefieren saber cuánto se ha gastado la princesa Diana en una maldita manicura.” Hutson no da respiro al lector, ni siquiera le da la oportunidad de completar la novela con un final feliz; no esperéis redención, esperad más bien indefensión y, desde luego horror, mucho horror. Un verdadero mal rato, una muy buena novela de terror. Los textos provienen de la traducción de Javier Martos Angulo de Ángeles Robados de Shaun Hutson para Tyrannosaurus Books.
The book had quite an abrupt end, as the whole story had been slow paced from the beginning but in the last chapters everything was just out in an instant. Plus the fact, that they found the box but frank still died( I like characters to fight not , give up). The story feels quite incomplete as in the end we don't know what happens to the children(are they abused again or not) , we don't know the reaction of Ellen knowing about Frank's death, we don't know if Talbot's mother dies or not, we don't know if the abuse ring is found and arrested, we don't know if all those incidents with the cemetery stop, we don't know what happens to Shanine, we don't know if Cross gets to know about shanine from Cath. We don't know if Talbot deals with his psychological problems or not. Alot of things were left unresolved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Добре написана книга, но с изключително неприятно усещане, което оставя. За подробна рецензия последвайте връзката: https://citadelata.com/stolen-angels/
It's been a long time since I've read a book that's kept me so engrossed. This was a great read, well paced and well written with a gripping story complete with plenty of twists unwinding as you read through.
The plot is primarily focused around Chief Inspector Jim Talbot and journalist Cath Read and their individual investigations around three suicides, the desecration of childrens graves and child abuse, the cases overlap and not as you would expect.
An interesting twist especially in the last few pages that really delivers in shock factor (although don't get me wrong I guessed a couple of bits). The only problem with this book is it leaves you with unanswered questions and craving a sequel.
Horrible in part with its subject matter but overall a great read. I would definitely recommend.
Subject matter in this book is for adults only. Grossed me out and horrified me. Overall, it was well told and the characters solid. The ending confused me a bit and I had to reread it twice.
Having read through a lot of Peter James novels recently, I found that his pre-Roy Grace career transformed him from a no more than average horror writer into a very good crime thriller writer and from there became selling author. Whilst I don’t see Shaun Hutson making that last step, it is interesting to note than he has followed a similar journey with some of his writings, although even this far into his career, there is evidence that he is not the writer Peter James is.
In “Stolen Angels”, three men with everything to live for, commit suicide for no obvious reason and whilst it comes to light that they have all worked on the same project, albeit from different perspectives, there is no clear link between them. There may be more of a link between the desecration of children’s graves and the worrying physical marks on a schoolboy, whose baby sister was buried in one of the graves targeted.
Catherine Reed is the journalist investigating both stories, helped by her brother being a teacher of the boy involved. However, the detective isn’t keen on the supposedly Satanic links, believing it to be no more than standard child abuse and that the suicides are just that and the common ground between the victims nothing more than coincidence. His prejudices are shaped by his own past, both long ago and more recent, as he is not a fan of Reed’s work, which has not always been kind to him.
There is a lot going on here, but that is a hallmark of Hutson’s writing, who has always liked to ensure he has more than enough plot to go around. This has good and bad points, as it does help keep the plot moving along at a fair pace and he tends to write in short chapters which also assist with this. On the other side, it does mean that some of the plots lack depth and there are some jumps over large gaps in events and you can miss some of the clues towards what may happen because they aren’t there.
This occasional superficiality of plotting also happens with the characterisation, as many are described only in the briefest of forms. A lot of the reason for this is that many of them aren’t destined to be important and so you don’t have to remember them, but there were moments where names were mentioned later in the story from where they started and I couldn’t recall who they were and how they fit in to the story at first thought.
The one aspect of the story where Hutson does pay full attention is in the sex scenes, which are more detailed than anything else he writes. This has been a trademark of his since the early days and whilst there are fewer gratuitous scenes that bear no relation to the plot, the sudden increase in detail is noticeable and jarring. It’s also slightly off putting that he tends to have his favourite words for these scenes, which means that for all their details, many of them end up sounding quite similar.
“Stolen Angels” is one of the better Shaun Hutson novels I’ve read, although it’s not without its flaws. Had this been my introduction to him, it wouldn’t have made me rush to check out his other works, but neither would it have made me mark him down as someone to be avoided. His early books were very weak on both story and writing and he’s improved both, but not yet to a level that makes him stand out.
Hoy os traigo este libro de Shaun Hutson, editado por Tyrannosaurus, con el que me he topado y el cual me ha dejado buenas sensaciones.
Me ha costado bastante encontrar reseñas en la web referentes a esta novela, ni en español ni en inglés he logrado grandes resultados. Las pocas que he encontrado simplemente me han reafirmado las conclusiones que he obtenido al terminar el libro.
Para ambientaros os contaré que estamos ante una novela policiaca negra con tintes paranormales que chapotea, llegando a sumergirse, en los rituales satánicos, la pederastia y los suicidios.
Para los amantes del terror más truculento hará sus delicias, no llegando a ser "La chica de al lado" de Ketchum pero no dejando en ningún caso indiferente.
El libro es ágil, se lee muy rápido y mantiene la tensión desde la primera hoja hasta el final, lo que hace que no puedas dejarlo de leer.
A mi parecer este libro abre seis estupendas historias y las conecta bien, pero luego el autor directamente se olvida de ellas y cierra solamente una de ellas. No se si en su día pensó en escribir una segunda parte que finalmente nunca escribió, en cualquier caso me deja con una sensación agradable por un lado pero frustrante por otra al no poder saber más sobre la trama. Supongo que Hutson tendría sus motivos para dejarnos así.
Este famoso autor británico tiene más novelas que deberé conseguir y leer. Alguna de ellas ha llegado al cine como por ejemplo "Slugs, muerte viscosa".
Finalmente calificaré este libro como muy recomendable, ya me contaréis. Si alguno lo ha leído ya me contará sus conclusiones.
It was a good book but the ending felt rushed. Why were they desecrating the graves? Was Phil Cross and the ring ever caught? Was Shanine and her baby saved? What happened to Talbot’s mother? Becky and Ellen Reed? So many questions… it would have been good to have a sequel..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I read lots of Hutsons books in my youth and enjoyed his edgy horror stories. This is the first one I’ve read in 20 yrs and thoroughly enjoyed it. Nice twist in the final few pages.
This is the second Satanic Panic inspired book I've read recently and they were both meh. Needs more ridiculous demon rituals and 100% less graphic child abuse.
Good thriller by an author not usually linked to that genre (not without some gore, at least). He tackles bravely and with taste a very delicate matter.
I am reviewing the novel Stolen Angels by Shaun Hutson which is a very good book which I bought from a car boot sale. I enjoyed reading this book although it's about a disturbing subject and it's well written. The plot is there are 3 suicides by professional people who seemed to have everything to live for and their graves are desecrated. The theme to the story is child abuse and satanism which I think often go hand in hand. I think this book kind of lets you think there is something to the magic that they work in satanism which certainly helps the story. A teacher notices that quite a lot of the children in his class are showing signs of sexual abuse and notifies the authorities which leads to raids on their homes. There is also a lady reporter who is investigating the case and much of the story follows the progress both she and the reporter make. I think the ending is a little bit bitter sweet but then that is quite common in horror stories. It's not a shock ending. I think this book is around 330 pages so is a reasonable length.
This was a really good gripping read that follows a number of people embroiled in a terrifying mystery of abuse, satanic ritual, control and murder. Each has their own demons that cloud their judgement and lead them down false paths with Talbot and Reed adding extra dimensions to the police/media conflict as each becomes personally involved in the case/story. Add to this the ending where in the last few pages Hutson shows his own demonic side leaving the story on a knife edge and the reader to make up their own mind as to how things really end.
I read this when it came out but I didn't remember it. I've been trying to find a good new Shaun Hutson book and this was recommended. It is good as it doesn't go too crazy with the supernatural part. It's more urban thriller.