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Angels Burning
“Compelling, fast-paced.” — Library Journal , starred review
“Stellar.” — Publishers Weekly , starred review
“A page-turner.” — Kirkus Reviews
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Oprah Book Club pick Back Roads comes this fast-paced literary thriller about a small town police chief who’s forced to dig into her own shadowy past as she investigates the murder of a teenage girl.
On the surface, Chief Dove Carnahan is a true trailblazer who would do anything to protect the rural Pennsylvanian countryside where she has lived all fifty of her years. Traditional and proud of her blue-collar sensibilities, Dove is loved by her community. But beneath her badge lies a dark and self-destructive streak, fed by a secret she has kept since she was sixteen.
When a girl is beaten to death, her body tossed down a fiery sinkhole in an abandoned coal town, Dove is faced with solving the worst crime of her law enforcement career. She identifies the girl as a daughter of the Truly family, a notoriously irascible dynasty of rednecks and petty criminals.
During her investigation, the man convicted of killing Dove’s mother years earlier is released from prison. Still proclaiming his innocence, he approaches Dove with a startling accusation and a chilling threat that forces her to face the parallels between her own family’s trauma and that of the Trulys.
With countless accolades to her credit, author Tawni O’Dell writes with the “fearless insights” ( The New York Times Book Review ) she brought to the page in Back Roads and One of Us. In this new, masterfully told psychological thriller, the past and present collide to reveal the extent some will go to escape their fate, and in turn, the crimes committed to push them back to where they began.
“Stellar.” — Publishers Weekly , starred review
“A page-turner.” — Kirkus Reviews
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Oprah Book Club pick Back Roads comes this fast-paced literary thriller about a small town police chief who’s forced to dig into her own shadowy past as she investigates the murder of a teenage girl.
On the surface, Chief Dove Carnahan is a true trailblazer who would do anything to protect the rural Pennsylvanian countryside where she has lived all fifty of her years. Traditional and proud of her blue-collar sensibilities, Dove is loved by her community. But beneath her badge lies a dark and self-destructive streak, fed by a secret she has kept since she was sixteen.
When a girl is beaten to death, her body tossed down a fiery sinkhole in an abandoned coal town, Dove is faced with solving the worst crime of her law enforcement career. She identifies the girl as a daughter of the Truly family, a notoriously irascible dynasty of rednecks and petty criminals.
During her investigation, the man convicted of killing Dove’s mother years earlier is released from prison. Still proclaiming his innocence, he approaches Dove with a startling accusation and a chilling threat that forces her to face the parallels between her own family’s trauma and that of the Trulys.
With countless accolades to her credit, author Tawni O’Dell writes with the “fearless insights” ( The New York Times Book Review ) she brought to the page in Back Roads and One of Us. In this new, masterfully told psychological thriller, the past and present collide to reveal the extent some will go to escape their fate, and in turn, the crimes committed to push them back to where they began.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 5, 2016
64 people are currently reading
2425 people want to read
About the author
Tawni O'Dell
13 books590 followersTawni O'Dell is the New York Times bestselling author of Fragile Beasts, Sister Mine, Coal Run, and Back Roads, which was an Oprah's Book Club pick and a Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection. Tawni's screen adaptation of Back Roads is currently in development to be made into a film with Adrian Lyne set to direct. Her work has been translated into 15 languages and been published in over 30 countries.
Tawni was born and raised in the coal-mining region of western Pennsylvania, the territory she writes about with such striking authenticity. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and spent many years living in the Chicago area before moving back to Pennsylvania where she now lives with her two children.
Tawni was born and raised in the coal-mining region of western Pennsylvania, the territory she writes about with such striking authenticity. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and spent many years living in the Chicago area before moving back to Pennsylvania where she now lives with her two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 384 reviews
August 28, 2017
4.5 Stars!!
This was the first my first read from Tawni O'Dell, but I doubt that it will be the last.
"Angels Burning" opens with the horrifying discovery of the body of a 16-year-old girl. The murdered girl, Camio Truly a member of the notorious and extremely dysfunctional Truly family that resides in the small Pennsylvania town. Police Chief Dove Carnahan, who has lived in the same small town for 50 years is determined find who killed Camio and why.
Dove and her team are investigating the case with Police Detective Nolan Greeley. Throughout the investigation some of the demons from Dove's past pop up, and we learn more about the tragedies in her family's past.
The author did a great job showing the dynamics of the small town and a great portrayal of the dysfunctions in some troubled families. The characters were quite detailed and I had an interest in all of them. Tawni O'Dell brings a lot of life to her characters and I understood them for who they were, even though most of them were people I would never want to know. I was rooting for Dove. I enjoyed her sister's character as well as many others. One of my favorite characters was the young Derk Truly. The author's description of him and his antics were priceless. Although this was a thriller, I found there were many entertaining and funny moments.
A lot of twist and turns both with the present murder case and also with Dove's past. The book deals with some very upsetting issues but I thought that the author really handled them well. Of course as well as you can handle issues like murder and abuse etc.. In my opinion she gave the details but didn't seem to go overboard in her descriptions.
It took me a little while to get into the story but once I did I found I had a hard time putting it down. My Kindle died when I only had about 20 percent left and I was right in the middle of an important part! I was excited to get back to this book. There was a lot going on but I never felt lost or confused. There were a lot of great twists and turns both with the current case as well as with Dove's past. I liked the fact that I wasn't able to guess what was going to happen next.
The plot was intriguing and compelling and I will definitely be reading more by Tawni O'Dell.
This was the first my first read from Tawni O'Dell, but I doubt that it will be the last.
"Angels Burning" opens with the horrifying discovery of the body of a 16-year-old girl. The murdered girl, Camio Truly a member of the notorious and extremely dysfunctional Truly family that resides in the small Pennsylvania town. Police Chief Dove Carnahan, who has lived in the same small town for 50 years is determined find who killed Camio and why.
Dove and her team are investigating the case with Police Detective Nolan Greeley. Throughout the investigation some of the demons from Dove's past pop up, and we learn more about the tragedies in her family's past.
The author did a great job showing the dynamics of the small town and a great portrayal of the dysfunctions in some troubled families. The characters were quite detailed and I had an interest in all of them. Tawni O'Dell brings a lot of life to her characters and I understood them for who they were, even though most of them were people I would never want to know. I was rooting for Dove. I enjoyed her sister's character as well as many others. One of my favorite characters was the young Derk Truly. The author's description of him and his antics were priceless. Although this was a thriller, I found there were many entertaining and funny moments.
A lot of twist and turns both with the present murder case and also with Dove's past. The book deals with some very upsetting issues but I thought that the author really handled them well. Of course as well as you can handle issues like murder and abuse etc.. In my opinion she gave the details but didn't seem to go overboard in her descriptions.
It took me a little while to get into the story but once I did I found I had a hard time putting it down. My Kindle died when I only had about 20 percent left and I was right in the middle of an important part! I was excited to get back to this book. There was a lot going on but I never felt lost or confused. There were a lot of great twists and turns both with the current case as well as with Dove's past. I liked the fact that I wasn't able to guess what was going to happen next.
The plot was intriguing and compelling and I will definitely be reading more by Tawni O'Dell.
March 7, 2016
I seem to be gravitating to thrillers lately - I'm sure there's a psychological message in there.
This story starts off with a brutally murdered teen in a small hick town in Pennsylvania, where everyone knows everyone and no family secrets are sacred. At the head of the investigation is Chief Dove Carnahan and as she attempts to solve the crime, other memories are drudged up and threaten her own equilibrium.
It started off as a meh read. It was a quick page turner with likeable characters but didn't start grabbing my attention until the last 70 pages. I need MORE! MORE character and MORE plot development. Great potential but it fell a little flat. However, that being said, I liked O'Dell's writing style and will look for her other novel, Back Roads, which has gotten rave reviews. 3.75★
This story starts off with a brutally murdered teen in a small hick town in Pennsylvania, where everyone knows everyone and no family secrets are sacred. At the head of the investigation is Chief Dove Carnahan and as she attempts to solve the crime, other memories are drudged up and threaten her own equilibrium.
It started off as a meh read. It was a quick page turner with likeable characters but didn't start grabbing my attention until the last 70 pages. I need MORE! MORE character and MORE plot development. Great potential but it fell a little flat. However, that being said, I liked O'Dell's writing style and will look for her other novel, Back Roads, which has gotten rave reviews. 3.75★
July 8, 2018
I really enjoyed this literary mystery because all of the characters have complicated, messy backgrounds that are revealed slowly over the course of the book, including the victim, Camio Truly, and the chief of the small rural town, Dove Carnahan.
Camio’s body is found bludgeoned and burned. It’s the worst murder in the town since Chief Carnahan’s mother was found dead thirty-five years earlier. Camio comes from a family in which addiction, petty crime, and hatred for everyone that’s not family runs rampant. The murder is so appalling, the state troopers are called into help Dove and her small police force.
It’s Camio’s and Dove’s complex family ties that make this a compelling read for me, as well as the wonderful writing. I will look for more of O’Dell’s work.
For more reviews, please visit: http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
Camio’s body is found bludgeoned and burned. It’s the worst murder in the town since Chief Carnahan’s mother was found dead thirty-five years earlier. Camio comes from a family in which addiction, petty crime, and hatred for everyone that’s not family runs rampant. The murder is so appalling, the state troopers are called into help Dove and her small police force.
It’s Camio’s and Dove’s complex family ties that make this a compelling read for me, as well as the wonderful writing. I will look for more of O’Dell’s work.
For more reviews, please visit: http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
November 26, 2015
I fell in love with this author when I read her BACK Roads and that hasn't changed. Although this starts with a murder, who killed a young sixteen year old girl, I can't really say this is just a mystery. This author's strength is in her brilliant portrayal of troubled families, people with less than idea pasts, very much character driven novels.
Dove is the sheriff in this Pennsylvania town, she is unorthodox and downright amusing at times. She and her sister carry a big secret which threatens to catch up to them in this novel. The Truly family is beyond dysfunctional, a family that preys on each other but also sticks together whether wrong or right. Makes for a very interesting read.
Things from the past bearing on the present and future. A murder to solve. Personal problems to be worked out. An entertaining read, pages fly by and a family that makes me so glad I don't know them. Awesome read.
ARC from publisher.
Dove is the sheriff in this Pennsylvania town, she is unorthodox and downright amusing at times. She and her sister carry a big secret which threatens to catch up to them in this novel. The Truly family is beyond dysfunctional, a family that preys on each other but also sticks together whether wrong or right. Makes for a very interesting read.
Things from the past bearing on the present and future. A murder to solve. Personal problems to be worked out. An entertaining read, pages fly by and a family that makes me so glad I don't know them. Awesome read.
ARC from publisher.
January 3, 2016
O’Dell Coal continues her tradition of morality tales among dysfunctional families in the coal mining communities of Appalachian Pennsylvania, but here moves into the genre of the police procedural. Our hero is a tough, 50-something female municipal police chief, Dove, who is a loner with a grown daughter and a debilitated mother. The body of a teenaged girl has shown up half-burned in a chasm where underground coal fires have been smoldering for years. Dove has to world with an old friend, mentor, and occasional lover on the state police. The presumption is that she is a rape victim, possibly a prostitute. Other alternatives are that she was a runaway or victim of family violence in the region. With little to go on, Dove has to probe closely the regional communities that she knows so well from having grown up there. This work takes her into the lives of honest hard-scrabble families struggling with hard times and with clans marked by violence, abuse, and crime. The work brings up a lot of emotional issues from her own childhood with an unstable mother and ongoing efforts to keep her siblings, a brother and sister from different fathers, from crumbling in the aftermath of their mother’s murder. She and her sister Neely share a dark secret about revenge they wreaked, and Dove carries the burden of secret knowledge of certain bad things that happened to her brother Champ. Dove has a lot of balls in the air, but she has amazing resilience and swims the course. Her ability to empathize and understand the downtrodden in this rural community helps her in the challenging path to finding truth and justice for an innocent girl. She effectively is collateral damage arising from the ills of this economically depressed society, and the role of making a detective a sort of doctor to diagnose and address its broken parts is well played.
In sum, I liked this even better than her Back Roads and Coal Run. The book was proved for review by the Netgalley program and will be published Jan. 5.
In sum, I liked this even better than her Back Roads and Coal Run. The book was proved for review by the Netgalley program and will be published Jan. 5.
February 8, 2016
3.5 Stars
ANGELS BURNING is a multi-layered mystery with more than one gruesome murder, disturbing and shocking secrets, and a "Truly" dysfunctional family from hell.
Chief of Police Dove Callahan has her hands full with the investigation, a missing brother, an x-con out to get her (and her family) and a disastrous shooting, all while dealing with a questionable relationship with Detective "super-hero" Nolan of the state police.
I admit to wavering a bit between 3 & 4 Stars on this one, but in the end decided to round up bc I really did love sister Neely and all her animals (especially Smoke) and I "Truly" was entertained!
February 16, 2016
What a pleasant surprise this turned out to be!
Angels Burning opens at the scene of a brutal murder of a young local teen. Chief Dove Carnahan, who has lived in this small town her entire life, is on the case and determined to find justice for Camio Truly. But Dove has secrets of her own, and the further she digs into Camio's murder, the more ghosts and skeletons come out of her closet. Can she solve this crime and remain intact?
While this is a solid murder mystery with a great team of investigators at the helm, there is so much more involved here. This is a story about family and the ties that bind us together. It's a story that showcases the depths people go to, right or wrong, to protect the ones they love. But most important, its a story that's going to make you think....what would you do?
This is my first book by Tawni O'Dell and she's made me an instant fan. I highly recommend to all mysteries lovers and I look forward to her future work.
ARC by NetGalley
Angels Burning opens at the scene of a brutal murder of a young local teen. Chief Dove Carnahan, who has lived in this small town her entire life, is on the case and determined to find justice for Camio Truly. But Dove has secrets of her own, and the further she digs into Camio's murder, the more ghosts and skeletons come out of her closet. Can she solve this crime and remain intact?
While this is a solid murder mystery with a great team of investigators at the helm, there is so much more involved here. This is a story about family and the ties that bind us together. It's a story that showcases the depths people go to, right or wrong, to protect the ones they love. But most important, its a story that's going to make you think....what would you do?
This is my first book by Tawni O'Dell and she's made me an instant fan. I highly recommend to all mysteries lovers and I look forward to her future work.
ARC by NetGalley
April 26, 2022
A compelling small town story that kept me turning the pages!
Chief Dove Carnahan has a dead teenage girl that was brutally murdered. Multiple suspects, buried secrets and dealing with her own haunted past has Dove on edge. Things like this just don't happen in her small town! Dove is a badass and I grew to admire her. There was a twist at the end that I did not see coming, which is always a win for me.
Chief Dove Carnahan has a dead teenage girl that was brutally murdered. Multiple suspects, buried secrets and dealing with her own haunted past has Dove on edge. Things like this just don't happen in her small town! Dove is a badass and I grew to admire her. There was a twist at the end that I did not see coming, which is always a win for me.
December 30, 2016
Dove has gone from a poor orphan girl raised by her grandmother to being chief of police in a small PA backwater. Her estranged brother has shown up with a nine year old son no one knew about. Dove is an attractive fifty, and her self-deprecating humor kept me laughing, while at the same time a very gruesome murder has occurred which Dove and the state police are investigating.
I stand in front of my bathroom mirror examining my Morning Old Face, or MOF as I've come to think of it. It's a syndrome I've identified that occurs when I first wake up and my face looks much older than it is. My color is bad. I have dark circles under my eyes. My cheeks sag. The lines on my forehead pop out. Later in the day I improve, but until then....
Sound familiar?
She is very friendly with one of the state policemen, if you get my drift. She can't help but seek his approval at each turn of her investigation; but still we're privy to her internal conversations, which are so entertaining:
"You need to decide if you're a law enforcement officer or a glorified babysitter who ignores the rules and does whatever the hell she wants," he told me roughly. When he put it that way, I kind of preferred the second option.
All is not fun and games of course. There are some very loathsome characters within the family of the murdered girl, all who kept me guessing about what could possibly happen next. A really enjoyable read. I also loved her Back Roads many years ago and I wager her other books are worth checking out too. Any recommendations?
I stand in front of my bathroom mirror examining my Morning Old Face, or MOF as I've come to think of it. It's a syndrome I've identified that occurs when I first wake up and my face looks much older than it is. My color is bad. I have dark circles under my eyes. My cheeks sag. The lines on my forehead pop out. Later in the day I improve, but until then....
Sound familiar?
She is very friendly with one of the state policemen, if you get my drift. She can't help but seek his approval at each turn of her investigation; but still we're privy to her internal conversations, which are so entertaining:
"You need to decide if you're a law enforcement officer or a glorified babysitter who ignores the rules and does whatever the hell she wants," he told me roughly. When he put it that way, I kind of preferred the second option.
All is not fun and games of course. There are some very loathsome characters within the family of the murdered girl, all who kept me guessing about what could possibly happen next. A really enjoyable read. I also loved her Back Roads many years ago and I wager her other books are worth checking out too. Any recommendations?
February 9, 2016
Angel Burning by Tawny O’Dell is a 2016 Gallery Books publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have read at least one other book by this author, and was pretty impressed. I had no idea how this story would be presented, but I was certain it wouldn’t be the usual crime novel. I was not disappointed!
Set in rural Pennsylvania, this story centers around Chief Dove Carnahan, a middle aged woman coping with dark family secrets, a horrific crime, and her unconventional approach to law enforcement.
When a teenage girl is murdered and her body found partially burned, Dove begins looking for her killer alongside Nolan, her on and off lover. To complicate things, the man who spent years of his life in prison for murdering Dove’s mother has been released and is trying to make trouble. If that weren’t enough to stretch someone to the max, Dove’s long lost brother shows up with a pretty bad drinking habit and a nine year old son, Dove didn’t know even existed.
This is an outstanding murder mystery which explores the dark secrets families can harbor, and how easily one can be deceived by what they see on the surface. The story has an unmistakable irony to it, which makes it a potent and engrossing read. I couldn’t bear to put the book down for too long. I kept mulling over the facts in my mind, and found myself worrying about the characters.
The characters are very extraordinary and unlike any I’ve encountered recently. I loved Dove and her style, and because of her age, I could relate to her better. I admired her grit and determination, appreciated her flaws, which some may find just a tad unconventional, and cheered her on as she faced several emotional kicks in the teeth.
But, I couldn’t write a review for this book without mentioning Dove’s nephew, Mason, who makes a grand appearance and then steals the show. He held my heart in his hands.
The only problem I had with the book were a few loose ends hanging, and the very abrupt ending, which left me with a tight stomach and a very bad sense of foreboding, coupled with a healthy dose of denial. Having said that, I am hoping the author has more stories in the works featuring Dove and her family so I can get an update on Mason.
Overall, I really liked this book a lot and highly recommend it.
4.5 stars
I have read at least one other book by this author, and was pretty impressed. I had no idea how this story would be presented, but I was certain it wouldn’t be the usual crime novel. I was not disappointed!
Set in rural Pennsylvania, this story centers around Chief Dove Carnahan, a middle aged woman coping with dark family secrets, a horrific crime, and her unconventional approach to law enforcement.
When a teenage girl is murdered and her body found partially burned, Dove begins looking for her killer alongside Nolan, her on and off lover. To complicate things, the man who spent years of his life in prison for murdering Dove’s mother has been released and is trying to make trouble. If that weren’t enough to stretch someone to the max, Dove’s long lost brother shows up with a pretty bad drinking habit and a nine year old son, Dove didn’t know even existed.
This is an outstanding murder mystery which explores the dark secrets families can harbor, and how easily one can be deceived by what they see on the surface. The story has an unmistakable irony to it, which makes it a potent and engrossing read. I couldn’t bear to put the book down for too long. I kept mulling over the facts in my mind, and found myself worrying about the characters.
The characters are very extraordinary and unlike any I’ve encountered recently. I loved Dove and her style, and because of her age, I could relate to her better. I admired her grit and determination, appreciated her flaws, which some may find just a tad unconventional, and cheered her on as she faced several emotional kicks in the teeth.
But, I couldn’t write a review for this book without mentioning Dove’s nephew, Mason, who makes a grand appearance and then steals the show. He held my heart in his hands.
The only problem I had with the book were a few loose ends hanging, and the very abrupt ending, which left me with a tight stomach and a very bad sense of foreboding, coupled with a healthy dose of denial. Having said that, I am hoping the author has more stories in the works featuring Dove and her family so I can get an update on Mason.
Overall, I really liked this book a lot and highly recommend it.
4.5 stars
September 30, 2016
This is a fantastic read! There was nothing about this book that I did not like and it's been added to my favourites list. 2016 is kicking off with some really great books so far. This is my second novel I have read by Tawni O'Dell and this one shone for me much brighter than the last. I found the writing to outstanding, the plot is taut and intriguing and the characters memorable with each of them standing out on their own merits.
On the surface, Chief Dove Carnahan is a true trailblazer who would do anything to protect the rural Pennsylvanian countryside where she has lived all fifty of her years. Traditional and proud of her blue-collar sensibilities, Dove is loved by her community. But beneath her badge lies a dark and self-destructive streak, fed by a secret she has kept since she was sixteen.
When a girl is beaten to death, her body tossed down a fiery sinkhole in an abandoned coal town, Dove is faced with solving the worst crime of her law enforcement career. She identifies the girl as a daughter of the Truly family, a notoriously irascible dynasty of rednecks and petty criminals.
During her investigation, the man convicted of killing Dove’s mother years earlier is released from prison. Still proclaiming his innocence, he approaches Dove with a startling accusation and a chilling threat that forces her to face the parallels between her own family’s trauma and that of the Trulys.
Dove has not forgotten where she hails from, nor has many of the families in the town that she now watches over, this aspect alone makes for very interesting reading. She is a flawed, imperfect character but so likeable and multi-faceted, if she was to feature in a series I would be happy to read more of her story without question. This literary thriller with it's crime elements is a stunning read.
A young teenager's body is found, a heinous crime and Dove is on the case to find out who out of many players locally has done the awful deed. And why. The book keeps weaving it's magic and cleverly introduces quite a number of characters but you won't lose track of them, each and every one pops in this book with a gritty realism that I just loved. The book definitely has some characters that you are going to really dislike, alongside those you love and many you will feel mixed feelings about. O'Dell does a brilliant job here!
The plot is taut and solid, the pace steady and I devoured this book over a few hours. There are plenty of dysfunctional people in the book with the murder victim hailing from one of the most despised, bad and messed up families in the county. This is not a clear-cut murder investigation as the family closes ranks and seeks it's own vengeance on those they believe took one of their own.
I really enjoyed every single minute of this book for so many different reasons, there really is nothing that doesn't work for it. This one gets 5* from me! Highly recommended reading.
Many thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for my copy of this book to read and review.
For more of my reviews, books to win and author features: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
On the surface, Chief Dove Carnahan is a true trailblazer who would do anything to protect the rural Pennsylvanian countryside where she has lived all fifty of her years. Traditional and proud of her blue-collar sensibilities, Dove is loved by her community. But beneath her badge lies a dark and self-destructive streak, fed by a secret she has kept since she was sixteen.
When a girl is beaten to death, her body tossed down a fiery sinkhole in an abandoned coal town, Dove is faced with solving the worst crime of her law enforcement career. She identifies the girl as a daughter of the Truly family, a notoriously irascible dynasty of rednecks and petty criminals.
During her investigation, the man convicted of killing Dove’s mother years earlier is released from prison. Still proclaiming his innocence, he approaches Dove with a startling accusation and a chilling threat that forces her to face the parallels between her own family’s trauma and that of the Trulys.
Dove has not forgotten where she hails from, nor has many of the families in the town that she now watches over, this aspect alone makes for very interesting reading. She is a flawed, imperfect character but so likeable and multi-faceted, if she was to feature in a series I would be happy to read more of her story without question. This literary thriller with it's crime elements is a stunning read.
A young teenager's body is found, a heinous crime and Dove is on the case to find out who out of many players locally has done the awful deed. And why. The book keeps weaving it's magic and cleverly introduces quite a number of characters but you won't lose track of them, each and every one pops in this book with a gritty realism that I just loved. The book definitely has some characters that you are going to really dislike, alongside those you love and many you will feel mixed feelings about. O'Dell does a brilliant job here!
The plot is taut and solid, the pace steady and I devoured this book over a few hours. There are plenty of dysfunctional people in the book with the murder victim hailing from one of the most despised, bad and messed up families in the county. This is not a clear-cut murder investigation as the family closes ranks and seeks it's own vengeance on those they believe took one of their own.
I really enjoyed every single minute of this book for so many different reasons, there really is nothing that doesn't work for it. This one gets 5* from me! Highly recommended reading.
Many thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for my copy of this book to read and review.
For more of my reviews, books to win and author features: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
December 26, 2018
En el pequeño y deprimido pueblo de Buchanan, Pensilvania, aparece el cadáver de una joven. El cuerpo, que se encuentra en el interior de un pozo perteneciente a una mina abandonada, está medio abrasado. La chica se llamaba Camio, y todo indica que era el único miembro de la conflictiva familia Truly que podría haber tenido un futuro.
Ángeles en llamas es una historia demoledora, terrible, tanto por la historia de Camio, como por la personal de la comisaria encargada del caso y narradora: Dove Carnahan, que verá cómo todos los fantasmas y secretos de su pasado regresan de golpe.
La trama no es demasiado enrevesada, no hay grandes giros, el desenlace no es excesivamente sorprendente, el misterio se va desenredando poco a poco. La novela es realmente buena, principalmente por los personajes, complejos, perfectamente perfilados, sus personalidades, sus circunstancias y cómo su pasado los ha convertido en lo que son hoy en día.
Ángeles en llamas es una historia demoledora, terrible, tanto por la historia de Camio, como por la personal de la comisaria encargada del caso y narradora: Dove Carnahan, que verá cómo todos los fantasmas y secretos de su pasado regresan de golpe.
La trama no es demasiado enrevesada, no hay grandes giros, el desenlace no es excesivamente sorprendente, el misterio se va desenredando poco a poco. La novela es realmente buena, principalmente por los personajes, complejos, perfectamente perfilados, sus personalidades, sus circunstancias y cómo su pasado los ha convertido en lo que son hoy en día.
February 9, 2023
De las mejores novelas negras que he leido en mucho tiempo, sin un ápice de trampa ni de sentimentalismo barato, ni tópicos tan manidos que todos repiten una y otra vez. Había dejado de leer novela negra precisamente por eso, porque la mayoría me acabaron resultando repetitivas y sin nada de profundidad, respondiendo a un patrón previamente diseñado para engatusar al lector y llevárselo al huerto con engaños, pero con Tawni O'Dell he recuperado mi fe en el género. Una novela emocionante.
November 17, 2015
Sometimes a book really falls into the mystery category more than any other, but Angels Burning falls much more into the fiction genre, or more precisely contemporary fiction. It is also very humorous, literally laugh out loud comical. I loved her previous book, Back Roads, there was so much depth of character building of the lives of some very poor and unfortunate people. Well, she does it again in Angels Burning but goes so much further by integrating a family that grew up in poverty and neglect but found their way out, well some of them, and created meaningful, productive and respectful lives. It is a hopeful and inspiring story of growth and redemption, and using ones own childhood experiences to understand and solve this murder case within a highly dysfunctional family. The book made me think of people needing to belong to a group, regardless of whether the group is of any worth whatsoever, the power of belonging being perhaps the most important thing in life, to just belong, good or bad.
Chief Dove Carnahan is the local chief of police of a small town in rural Pennsylvania. She grew up in this town along with her sister and brother. A young girl from the Truly family, a poor, red-neck, poverty stricken family has been murdered and Chief Dove Carnahan along with Corporal Nolan Greely who is a detective with the Criminal Investigations Division of the state of Pennsylvania. Dove and Nolan has a bit of a history.
In the process of trying to figure out who murdered the Truly girl she revisits her own past and the murder of her mother, and now the man put away for her murder, Lucky, is out of prison and he wants some answers.
The Truly family from which the victim comes from is a group of people who are not easily dealt with. Tawni O'Dell digs into their individual lives and how they all interconnect and deal with each other with their own kind of love, manipulation and hatred combined, make for a most interesting group of people, a family. Perhaps not a family any of us would want to belong to, but still a family.
This book is a page turner and you won't want to put it down.
It is a story of depth, sorrow, compassion, understanding and growth, a story of life.
I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
Chief Dove Carnahan is the local chief of police of a small town in rural Pennsylvania. She grew up in this town along with her sister and brother. A young girl from the Truly family, a poor, red-neck, poverty stricken family has been murdered and Chief Dove Carnahan along with Corporal Nolan Greely who is a detective with the Criminal Investigations Division of the state of Pennsylvania. Dove and Nolan has a bit of a history.
In the process of trying to figure out who murdered the Truly girl she revisits her own past and the murder of her mother, and now the man put away for her murder, Lucky, is out of prison and he wants some answers.
The Truly family from which the victim comes from is a group of people who are not easily dealt with. Tawni O'Dell digs into their individual lives and how they all interconnect and deal with each other with their own kind of love, manipulation and hatred combined, make for a most interesting group of people, a family. Perhaps not a family any of us would want to belong to, but still a family.
This book is a page turner and you won't want to put it down.
It is a story of depth, sorrow, compassion, understanding and growth, a story of life.
I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
January 4, 2016
You must read this - already earmarked for a place in my Best of 2016 reads.
My View:
“We are what we know. Not what the world tells us we should be. Not even what our own heart wants us to be.”
Let’s just cut to the chase - after reading this book I already know this is going to be on my “Top Reads of 2016” list! Yes it is that good!
This is a very deceptive narrative – the outward appearance, the style is relaxed, personal and the brutal murder is almost a sub story…this an intriguing look at communities, abuse, relationships and secrets and in the end, a murder is solved.
Tawni O’Dell manages to somehow hood wink you into a state of false security, of ease, of almost thinking this is a story of inconsequence, just another story about a senseless crime – but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Quietly narrated by the Chief of Police – Dove (named after the soap) Caranhan, we share the Chief’s thoughts, black humour, wit and sarcasm and her down to earth approach to life and policing. The parts I loved most of this narrative are where The Chief acts as a person not as a police officer whilst on duty- she is smart mouthed, honest, responsive and humane in her approach. She doesn’t always play by the rules and mostly that is ok. And what a life she has to share with us. (And did I mention we have a protagonist who is female and fifty and flawed? Perfect. About time.)
There is a twist here that you just won’t see coming, well probably a few of them….as you read you are thrown little hints, little tastes of what is to come…as you read you say to yourself, ok yes I get this but what is the author holding back? What is the bigger picture? And the bigger pictures are surprising, sad and illuminating. This book has such depth; the characters, communities, the families…so interesting and yet so sad. I feel like I am looking into the gold fish bowl of society; at the complex and integrate social structures that makes families unique and communities strong – regardless of their moral code. What an amazing read.
Add this to your library – you won’t be disappointed.
My View:
“We are what we know. Not what the world tells us we should be. Not even what our own heart wants us to be.”
Let’s just cut to the chase - after reading this book I already know this is going to be on my “Top Reads of 2016” list! Yes it is that good!
This is a very deceptive narrative – the outward appearance, the style is relaxed, personal and the brutal murder is almost a sub story…this an intriguing look at communities, abuse, relationships and secrets and in the end, a murder is solved.
Tawni O’Dell manages to somehow hood wink you into a state of false security, of ease, of almost thinking this is a story of inconsequence, just another story about a senseless crime – but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Quietly narrated by the Chief of Police – Dove (named after the soap) Caranhan, we share the Chief’s thoughts, black humour, wit and sarcasm and her down to earth approach to life and policing. The parts I loved most of this narrative are where The Chief acts as a person not as a police officer whilst on duty- she is smart mouthed, honest, responsive and humane in her approach. She doesn’t always play by the rules and mostly that is ok. And what a life she has to share with us. (And did I mention we have a protagonist who is female and fifty and flawed? Perfect. About time.)
There is a twist here that you just won’t see coming, well probably a few of them….as you read you are thrown little hints, little tastes of what is to come…as you read you say to yourself, ok yes I get this but what is the author holding back? What is the bigger picture? And the bigger pictures are surprising, sad and illuminating. This book has such depth; the characters, communities, the families…so interesting and yet so sad. I feel like I am looking into the gold fish bowl of society; at the complex and integrate social structures that makes families unique and communities strong – regardless of their moral code. What an amazing read.
Add this to your library – you won’t be disappointed.
January 18, 2016
I really like Tawni O'Dell, but after reading her two most recent books (this, and One of Us), I just can't help but think that she could do more with them. She's a good writer and she has amazing ideas that snare you in and keep you racing through the pages...but so many of them end up falling a little flat. In this particular story, there are kind of 3 main threads: the murder of a teenage girl, Camio Truly, who comes from a typical dysfunctional hick family, which Chief of Police (and main character) Dove Carnahan is trying to solve. This brings up memories of her own mother's murder many years earlier, which also happens to coincide with the release of the man who went to prison for the crime and the return of her younger brother, who hasn't been home for 25 years.
The dynamics of the Truly and the Carnahan families are extremely well done - O'Dell develops characters well and is an expert at bringing backwater towns, their troubled families and their many secrets to life. Where she falters a little is in the plot - each of the mysteries is solved without ambiguity, but the incidents from her past involving her mother and brother feel very rushed, and the "confrontations" with Lucky go absolutely nowhere. The circumstances of Camio's death are given more attention, but the conclusion isn't particularly surprising after all of the very intriguing lead up.
Overall, an enjoyable but forgettable read that could have used another hundred pages to flesh everything out a bit more.
The dynamics of the Truly and the Carnahan families are extremely well done - O'Dell develops characters well and is an expert at bringing backwater towns, their troubled families and their many secrets to life. Where she falters a little is in the plot - each of the mysteries is solved without ambiguity, but the incidents from her past involving her mother and brother feel very rushed, and the "confrontations" with Lucky go absolutely nowhere. The circumstances of Camio's death are given more attention, but the conclusion isn't particularly surprising after all of the very intriguing lead up.
Overall, an enjoyable but forgettable read that could have used another hundred pages to flesh everything out a bit more.
January 16, 2018
Estupenda novela, más del estilo de Lehane que del de escritores europeos. Personajes,personajes http://huellalibrosicc.blogspot.com.e...
January 8, 2016
Could a book get much better than this? I was glued to the seat of my reading chair, I didn't want to miss a second of this whodunit.
Chief of Police, Dove Carnahan is called out to a brutal crime scene of a young girl. She knows she's over her head on this case so she calls in State Police CID Investigator Nolan for assistance. I fell in love with Chief Dove when she's out in this no man's land barefoot because she was dressed for a Chamber of Commerce luncheon that day. She just bought a new pair of shoes at Kohl's with a 30% off coupon and didn't want to get them messed up. That's my kind of female protagonist when they are a law enforcement official. Well, let's just say she doesn't make the luncheon that day.
When the young girl's identified as the youngest daughter of the Truly clan who happens to be one of the counties most dysfunctional families this case hits Dove pretty close to home. She came from one as well, but even she can't get over the indifference that awaits her with this case.
There are several subplots going at the same time, that wove this novel brilliantly together. I didn't want it to end.
The dialog never got stale and the setting is so real you could feel the heat, plus taste the dust the of the old mining town.
Could a book get much better than this? I don't think so, at least not one I've read in a long time.
I would like to thank Gallery Books and NetGalley for e-galley of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
Chief of Police, Dove Carnahan is called out to a brutal crime scene of a young girl. She knows she's over her head on this case so she calls in State Police CID Investigator Nolan for assistance. I fell in love with Chief Dove when she's out in this no man's land barefoot because she was dressed for a Chamber of Commerce luncheon that day. She just bought a new pair of shoes at Kohl's with a 30% off coupon and didn't want to get them messed up. That's my kind of female protagonist when they are a law enforcement official. Well, let's just say she doesn't make the luncheon that day.
When the young girl's identified as the youngest daughter of the Truly clan who happens to be one of the counties most dysfunctional families this case hits Dove pretty close to home. She came from one as well, but even she can't get over the indifference that awaits her with this case.
There are several subplots going at the same time, that wove this novel brilliantly together. I didn't want it to end.
The dialog never got stale and the setting is so real you could feel the heat, plus taste the dust the of the old mining town.
Could a book get much better than this? I don't think so, at least not one I've read in a long time.
I would like to thank Gallery Books and NetGalley for e-galley of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
December 28, 2015
I love reading a book that is so different from what I originally thought it would be, especially when it is a cop story. I was expecting a thriller and a bit of suspense in this new book. But what I ended up with was a wild ride that leaves the reader with plenty of surprises along the way.
I have never read a Tawni O'Dell novel before so I was not sure what to expect. The twists and turns in this book were awesome. You really never knew who was committed the crimes in this psychological thriller until the very end. I love when an author has the ability to keep you guessing and leave you begging for more too! With the addition of the chief of police's family secrets and a wonderful writing ability to keep those pages turning, this thriller was surprising in many ways.
The author did a fabulous job crafting interesting and deep characters that bring together heart pounding events, a bit of snarky humor, quirky personalities, and even a bit of gory crime scenes to create a well rounded story that is unique and even a bit twisted. I found myself engrossed throughout and I could not wait to get to the end to find out who did it!
While this is the first book I have read by this author, she is definitely one to keep in mind when looking for books that cross over into cops, crime, mystery, and thrillers. She has a knack of writing in-depth characters that are not at all what you think. A captivating story not to be missed!!
I have never read a Tawni O'Dell novel before so I was not sure what to expect. The twists and turns in this book were awesome. You really never knew who was committed the crimes in this psychological thriller until the very end. I love when an author has the ability to keep you guessing and leave you begging for more too! With the addition of the chief of police's family secrets and a wonderful writing ability to keep those pages turning, this thriller was surprising in many ways.
The author did a fabulous job crafting interesting and deep characters that bring together heart pounding events, a bit of snarky humor, quirky personalities, and even a bit of gory crime scenes to create a well rounded story that is unique and even a bit twisted. I found myself engrossed throughout and I could not wait to get to the end to find out who did it!
While this is the first book I have read by this author, she is definitely one to keep in mind when looking for books that cross over into cops, crime, mystery, and thrillers. She has a knack of writing in-depth characters that are not at all what you think. A captivating story not to be missed!!
November 19, 2015
When you've got a police chief named Dove Carnahan who jokes (or maybe not) that she was named for her late mother's favorite soap, what's not to love? Nothing, in my mind - nor was there anything not to love in the rest of this book (even though I was introduced to more dysfunctional families than I've seen since the days of Starsky and Hutch).
Dove, who's 50, has a younger brother who hasn't been heard of for years, a sister who much prefers dogs to people and a beautiful but dead mother who was totally devoid of motherly instincts and was murdered brutally in her bathtub when Dove was a child. Dove enjoys her job in the rural Pennsylvania town, where serious crime isn't the norm. But then, a beaten-to-death girl is found in an old, still-burning mine sinkhole; turns out she belongs to the Truly clan of local rednecks and [mostly] petty criminals.
To say family members are uncooperative when it comes to the investigation is an understatement; cooperating with police isn't even on their radar. In the middle of all this, the man who was convicted of killing Dove's mother gets out of jail and shows up, insisting he was innocent and threatening to make Dove's life - and her sister's - a living hell. Throw in news of the wayward brother, and things quickly get complicated.
Not, though, for the reader; the author is adept at showing us inside the lives and minds of all the characters - whether or not they're lovable (all I'll say about that is that nobody's flawless). There are some plot twists, one of which made my jaw drop; and while the ending didn't come as a total surprise, it certainly tweaked my heartstrings.
For me to highly recommend this one, then, is a no-brainer - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it. It's just too bad that the rating scale tops out at 5 stars.
Dove, who's 50, has a younger brother who hasn't been heard of for years, a sister who much prefers dogs to people and a beautiful but dead mother who was totally devoid of motherly instincts and was murdered brutally in her bathtub when Dove was a child. Dove enjoys her job in the rural Pennsylvania town, where serious crime isn't the norm. But then, a beaten-to-death girl is found in an old, still-burning mine sinkhole; turns out she belongs to the Truly clan of local rednecks and [mostly] petty criminals.
To say family members are uncooperative when it comes to the investigation is an understatement; cooperating with police isn't even on their radar. In the middle of all this, the man who was convicted of killing Dove's mother gets out of jail and shows up, insisting he was innocent and threatening to make Dove's life - and her sister's - a living hell. Throw in news of the wayward brother, and things quickly get complicated.
Not, though, for the reader; the author is adept at showing us inside the lives and minds of all the characters - whether or not they're lovable (all I'll say about that is that nobody's flawless). There are some plot twists, one of which made my jaw drop; and while the ending didn't come as a total surprise, it certainly tweaked my heartstrings.
For me to highly recommend this one, then, is a no-brainer - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it. It's just too bad that the rating scale tops out at 5 stars.
January 27, 2016
Tawny O’Dell has been compared to Pat Conroy and for good reason. Her powerful voice and intriguing characters gives life to the small southern towns she writes about. Angels Burning starts out as a run of the mill mystery surrounding the death of a young girl. As the story progresses, O’Dell begins to reveal the real story behind this senseless death, examining and dissecting into the lives of the girl’s dysfunctional family and the similarities between her and the police chief who found her body. O’Dell speaks of the secrets all families have and the lengths many will go to make sure those secrets stay buried, even if it means hurting the ones you are sworn to protect. The story flows along at a steady pace, indulging us with witty dialogue, humorous scenes, and heartbreaking revolutions as it keeps us twisting and turning with each new clue. There is a light romance but it is used to help us further understand the heroine’s mindset rather than a competing storyline in the book. As always, O’Dell never disappoints me with her stories and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
July 27, 2015
This is another couldn't-put-it-down read from one of my favorite authors. Dove Carnahan, the protagonist is a likeable, funny, irascible small-town police chief, female. Recently turned 50, she still turns heads even as she is concerned about the inevitable sagging and widening. When the lovely teen-age daughter of a notorious family is found dead (and partially burned, hence the title), she and her longtime ally and sometime friend with benefits, a state police detective, end up working the case together. Meanwhile, demons (and angels) from Dove's past reappear to complicate matters and add depth to the story as well as the reader's understanding of Dove's character and the texture of life in her small Pennsylvania town. The plot twists will keep you guessing and reading but, as always, the most compelling elements of the novel are O'Dell's wry, raunchy and wise observations about life, law enforcement, family and the seamier side of rural Pennsylvania.
July 20, 2017
Excelente novela policiaca, con un caso enrevesado desde el principio y por el que conocemos la vida de la comisaria de Bucanan y gran parte de sus habitantes. Es una historia contenida, de realidades y maldades cotidianas, que son las que más miedo dan, con personajes que cambian a lo largo de la narración según se van descubriendo sus pliegues ocultos.
La resolución final no es una sorpresa, todos llegamos a la misma conclusión junto con la jefa Dove, pero tampoco es algo que importe esa falta de sorpresa. Sí es importante todo lo que lleva a ese momento, la maldad, la ternura, el miedo, la ignorancia, que desembocan en el asesinato principal. Y también el reconocimiento del "asesinato paralelo", anterior en el tiempo pero con premisas muy parecidas.
El humor casi negro que recorre la novela, (a la vez que el dolor, el amor y el reconocimiento de que nada es blanco o negro), se agradece en medio de tanta desolación.
Muy recomendable .
La resolución final no es una sorpresa, todos llegamos a la misma conclusión junto con la jefa Dove, pero tampoco es algo que importe esa falta de sorpresa. Sí es importante todo lo que lleva a ese momento, la maldad, la ternura, el miedo, la ignorancia, que desembocan en el asesinato principal. Y también el reconocimiento del "asesinato paralelo", anterior en el tiempo pero con premisas muy parecidas.
El humor casi negro que recorre la novela, (a la vez que el dolor, el amor y el reconocimiento de que nada es blanco o negro), se agradece en medio de tanta desolación.
Muy recomendable .
February 17, 2016
Angels Burning by Tawni O'Dell is one of those rare novels where the characters are so powerfully crafted and so infused with their own strength of personality that you would swear that you were seated in a dark theater as the tale is acted out on an off Broadway stage. The lighting is dimmed and the voices hushed at times, but the chills never leave you. You are a voyeur into the hearts and lives of this small town and the people who live there. People who will haunt you long after you leave the theater, the book closed, but still held firmly in your grasp.
"...I just turned fifty a couple of weeks ago. The number on its own doesn't bother me. I didn't even get upset when Singer unthinkingly proclaimed with sincere admiration, 'Wow, fifty! That's half a century.'
I'm in good health. Aside from a little bit of gray in my hair that I cover, a few lines on my face, and the beginning sag of certain body parts, I still look good. I'm okay with my age, but nobody else is. Especially men..."
Chief Dove Carnahan would do anything to protect the rural Pennsylvanian countryside where she has lived for the last fifty years. She is a rare thing. A female Chief of Police in a profession filled with testosterone. Her past and that of her family has never gotten in the way of her job but now she may have to face that past as she investigates the brutal murder of a teenage girl.
"...People don't want to believe someone living in their town could kill a young girl and light her on fire. They want the perpetrator to be an outsider so they can continue to believe evil doesn't bloom in their own backyards. However, if they are forced to acknowledge that an unsavory element exists right under their noses, a family like the Trulys is an acceptable choice..."
As Chief Dove Carnahan investigates the murder of the young girl, she must confront the evil that lies just beneath the surface of her small town. An evil that in her own heart, she has always known was there. Because before this death, the only other horrible crime that had been committed in this small town was the murder of Dove's own mother. To complicate matters, the man imprisoned for the murder of Dove's mother is released and has come back to the small town. He wants to know why Dove and her sister lied all those years ago when they testified that he had killed their mother.
To look at Dove Carnahan is see a woman who has made her life her own. The scandal of her mother's life and death are behind her. She is loved and respected in her small town. She lives her life with the quiet ghosts of her past hidden away. Ghosts that are now coming out. Through it all is the beaten and burned body of a young girl. Calling out for justice. Calling out to Dove.
Angels Burning is a triumph. An ode to the way novels were once written. Driven by strong and damaged characters. It is akin to a Tennessee Williams play. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. With a mystery and a crime so horrible that is is unshakable. More so as it becomes clear who the true killers must be. This is small town America you won't find in any travel guides or touted on Route 66. This is a bus stop in no where ville, or dare I say? This is Virgil Tibbs stuck for days in the dark and dreary streets of Sparta.
If it seems that I am being vague it is because I am. Angels Burning is a novel to be read, to be savored, to be experienced. It is not a book to be told about in passing. It is early in the year, yes I know, but Tawni O'Dell's Angels Burning is going to be one of the books of this year that all others will be measured by.
A damn good read!
"...I just turned fifty a couple of weeks ago. The number on its own doesn't bother me. I didn't even get upset when Singer unthinkingly proclaimed with sincere admiration, 'Wow, fifty! That's half a century.'
I'm in good health. Aside from a little bit of gray in my hair that I cover, a few lines on my face, and the beginning sag of certain body parts, I still look good. I'm okay with my age, but nobody else is. Especially men..."
Chief Dove Carnahan would do anything to protect the rural Pennsylvanian countryside where she has lived for the last fifty years. She is a rare thing. A female Chief of Police in a profession filled with testosterone. Her past and that of her family has never gotten in the way of her job but now she may have to face that past as she investigates the brutal murder of a teenage girl.
"...People don't want to believe someone living in their town could kill a young girl and light her on fire. They want the perpetrator to be an outsider so they can continue to believe evil doesn't bloom in their own backyards. However, if they are forced to acknowledge that an unsavory element exists right under their noses, a family like the Trulys is an acceptable choice..."
As Chief Dove Carnahan investigates the murder of the young girl, she must confront the evil that lies just beneath the surface of her small town. An evil that in her own heart, she has always known was there. Because before this death, the only other horrible crime that had been committed in this small town was the murder of Dove's own mother. To complicate matters, the man imprisoned for the murder of Dove's mother is released and has come back to the small town. He wants to know why Dove and her sister lied all those years ago when they testified that he had killed their mother.
To look at Dove Carnahan is see a woman who has made her life her own. The scandal of her mother's life and death are behind her. She is loved and respected in her small town. She lives her life with the quiet ghosts of her past hidden away. Ghosts that are now coming out. Through it all is the beaten and burned body of a young girl. Calling out for justice. Calling out to Dove.
Angels Burning is a triumph. An ode to the way novels were once written. Driven by strong and damaged characters. It is akin to a Tennessee Williams play. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. With a mystery and a crime so horrible that is is unshakable. More so as it becomes clear who the true killers must be. This is small town America you won't find in any travel guides or touted on Route 66. This is a bus stop in no where ville, or dare I say? This is Virgil Tibbs stuck for days in the dark and dreary streets of Sparta.
If it seems that I am being vague it is because I am. Angels Burning is a novel to be read, to be savored, to be experienced. It is not a book to be told about in passing. It is early in the year, yes I know, but Tawni O'Dell's Angels Burning is going to be one of the books of this year that all others will be measured by.
A damn good read!
February 10, 2016
A special thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tawni O’Dell returns following One of Us (2014), with another haunting suspense mystery, set in the rural Pennsylvania area. Where secrets are buried— and the past threatens to roar its ugly head in the present.
Dove Carnahan a fifty-year-old tough police chief in the rural Pennsylvanian coal town. A mom’s murder has been hidden. Thirty-five years ago, the most heinous crime this town has ever seen—until today.
The crime has been forgotten by most, except her children, her mother, and the man who unfairly paid for it. Dove is loved by her community; however, beneath her badge lies a dark secret, she has kept since she was sixteen. Neely, Champ, and Dove—then they moved to Gil’s mansion when they were fourteen, twelve, and nine.
As the book opens, someone has stuffed a girl, beaten to death in a fiery hole in the ground. The top portion of her body had been badly burned. Her hair is gone and the damage to her skull is obvious. Hopefully she was dead before she was lit on fire.
One of the worst crimes she is faced with solving. Plus, one of the worst families. Dove and Nolan are on the case (they also have a little history). To further complicate her life, the man convicted of killing Dove’s mother is released from prison, where he has spent the last thirty-give years.
Years ago, her mother’s only standard for men was that they could afford her. Young, old, handsome, homely, muscly, portly, blue-collar, white-collar, married, single, educated, and as dumb as dirt: she had watched all kinds come and go. Very few of them appealed to Neely and Dove. Lucky had been a jerk from the start.
Now she is dealing with the dead girl’s family – The Trulys. Camio Truly, only seventeen years old. The girl went missing and now they will need her dental records to identify her. Who would do such a horrific thing to a young girl?
During her twenty-seven years in law enforcement, each homicide was committed by a family member, spouse, or significant other.
At the moment, she has no idea why anyone would want Camino truly dead, but someone has to answer the question.” She wants Camio’s killer brought to justice as much as anyone—including her own family.
Told from Dove’s POV, readers get the down and dirty from all the rednecks, hillbillies, and dysfunctional families in town; mixed with wit and sass. Intertwined with the present day girl’s murder, Dove has an angry man out of prison on her trail, and demands answers why her family lied and sent him to prison.
Can you say, psychological damage? The two stories connect. The ties that bind---despair, family; and the lengths they will go to protect those they love, crossing moral lines of right and wrong (victim and survivor).
For me, I would not classify the novel as a psychological thriller, as much as it is a mystery; family dysfunction, and character-driven, with a feisty protagonist.
Tawni O’Dell returns following One of Us (2014), with another haunting suspense mystery, set in the rural Pennsylvania area. Where secrets are buried— and the past threatens to roar its ugly head in the present.
Dove Carnahan a fifty-year-old tough police chief in the rural Pennsylvanian coal town. A mom’s murder has been hidden. Thirty-five years ago, the most heinous crime this town has ever seen—until today.
The crime has been forgotten by most, except her children, her mother, and the man who unfairly paid for it. Dove is loved by her community; however, beneath her badge lies a dark secret, she has kept since she was sixteen. Neely, Champ, and Dove—then they moved to Gil’s mansion when they were fourteen, twelve, and nine.
As the book opens, someone has stuffed a girl, beaten to death in a fiery hole in the ground. The top portion of her body had been badly burned. Her hair is gone and the damage to her skull is obvious. Hopefully she was dead before she was lit on fire.
One of the worst crimes she is faced with solving. Plus, one of the worst families. Dove and Nolan are on the case (they also have a little history). To further complicate her life, the man convicted of killing Dove’s mother is released from prison, where he has spent the last thirty-give years.
Years ago, her mother’s only standard for men was that they could afford her. Young, old, handsome, homely, muscly, portly, blue-collar, white-collar, married, single, educated, and as dumb as dirt: she had watched all kinds come and go. Very few of them appealed to Neely and Dove. Lucky had been a jerk from the start.
Now she is dealing with the dead girl’s family – The Trulys. Camio Truly, only seventeen years old. The girl went missing and now they will need her dental records to identify her. Who would do such a horrific thing to a young girl?
During her twenty-seven years in law enforcement, each homicide was committed by a family member, spouse, or significant other.
At the moment, she has no idea why anyone would want Camino truly dead, but someone has to answer the question.” She wants Camio’s killer brought to justice as much as anyone—including her own family.
Told from Dove’s POV, readers get the down and dirty from all the rednecks, hillbillies, and dysfunctional families in town; mixed with wit and sass. Intertwined with the present day girl’s murder, Dove has an angry man out of prison on her trail, and demands answers why her family lied and sent him to prison.
Can you say, psychological damage? The two stories connect. The ties that bind---despair, family; and the lengths they will go to protect those they love, crossing moral lines of right and wrong (victim and survivor).
For me, I would not classify the novel as a psychological thriller, as much as it is a mystery; family dysfunction, and character-driven, with a feisty protagonist.
October 29, 2018
ANGELS BURNING
Written by Tawni O’Dell
2016; Gallery Books (288 Pages)
Genre: fiction, mystery, domestic suspense, psychological thriller, literary
RATING: ★★★★
"On the surface, Chief Dove Carnahan is a true trailblazer who would do anything to protect the rural Pennsylvanian countryside where she has lived all fifty of her years. Traditional and proud of her blue-collar sensibilities, Dove is loved by her community. But beneath her badge lies a dark and self-destructive streak, fed by a secret she has kept since she was sixteen.
When a girl is beaten to death, her body tossed down a fiery sinkhole in an abandoned coal town, Dove is faced with solving the worst crime of her law enforcement career. She identifies the girl as a daughter of the Truly family, a notoriously irascible dynasty of rednecks and petty criminals.
During her investigation, the man convicted of killing Dove’s mother years earlier is released from prison. Still proclaiming his innocence, he approaches Dove with a startling accusation and a chilling threat that forces her to face the parallels between her own family’s trauma and that of the Trulys." (From Publisher)
Tawni O'Dell's first novel, Back Roads is one of my favourite books. I have read it a few times, and even listened to it on audio! It is a dark story but also so realistic and very well-written. O'Dell also has this dark humour that balances the book and keeps it from getting too depressing. The "heroes" of her novels are always so interesting as they are not what you would expect. I read O'Dell's second and third books and liked them but they lacked the punch of Back Roads. I had a chance to read and review this book, but went in with no expectations...punch! Dove reminds me a lot of Harley - an older sibling trying to take care of the little ones, while trying to grow up themselves. Right off you feel for them, but come to realize there is so much more to them. The secrets and mystery are key to the novel's allure but it is the characters who will stay in your mind. Highly recommend this book!
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
Written by Tawni O’Dell
2016; Gallery Books (288 Pages)
Genre: fiction, mystery, domestic suspense, psychological thriller, literary
RATING: ★★★★
"On the surface, Chief Dove Carnahan is a true trailblazer who would do anything to protect the rural Pennsylvanian countryside where she has lived all fifty of her years. Traditional and proud of her blue-collar sensibilities, Dove is loved by her community. But beneath her badge lies a dark and self-destructive streak, fed by a secret she has kept since she was sixteen.
When a girl is beaten to death, her body tossed down a fiery sinkhole in an abandoned coal town, Dove is faced with solving the worst crime of her law enforcement career. She identifies the girl as a daughter of the Truly family, a notoriously irascible dynasty of rednecks and petty criminals.
During her investigation, the man convicted of killing Dove’s mother years earlier is released from prison. Still proclaiming his innocence, he approaches Dove with a startling accusation and a chilling threat that forces her to face the parallels between her own family’s trauma and that of the Trulys." (From Publisher)
Tawni O'Dell's first novel, Back Roads is one of my favourite books. I have read it a few times, and even listened to it on audio! It is a dark story but also so realistic and very well-written. O'Dell also has this dark humour that balances the book and keeps it from getting too depressing. The "heroes" of her novels are always so interesting as they are not what you would expect. I read O'Dell's second and third books and liked them but they lacked the punch of Back Roads. I had a chance to read and review this book, but went in with no expectations...punch! Dove reminds me a lot of Harley - an older sibling trying to take care of the little ones, while trying to grow up themselves. Right off you feel for them, but come to realize there is so much more to them. The secrets and mystery are key to the novel's allure but it is the characters who will stay in your mind. Highly recommend this book!
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
December 28, 2015
This is more of a portrayal of people and an intricate drama than it is a crime novel. I'd call it a contemporary fiction story, set around the murder of a teenage girl. The chief of police, 50 year old Dove Carnahan is an engaging character. She's smart, brave, tenacious and intelligent, but has a dark backstory, including a murdered mother, a convicted killer who is out of jail and bringing back the past, a missing brother, a protective sister, a married lover and on top of this she still has to do her dayjob of looking after a small town with a major homicide! She manages to do this with a great sense of humour, intelligence and determination, remaining witty and focused - for the most part. We see how emotional and difficult her job can be, as she investigates the Truly family, the main suspects in the murder, reminding her of her own poor upbringing. This book really is Dove's story; and not of the murdered teenager.
There are lots of intricate connections in this book, the mystery itself is very subtle but the drama unfolds at a steady pace. I thought the writing was insightful, throwing me a glimpse of a very different world to the one I've experienced, yet giving me plenty to empathise with, showing how blood matters, even if it's buried beneath a river of hatred and contempt.
I loved Dove, CID officer Nolan and her police force, each one a well fleshed out character. I read it quickly, devouring the pages, and whilst I wasn't surprised by the outcome, this didn't disappoint me, since I felt it was more about the journey than the result. Fantastic writing, and a fiction book I'd recommend to anyone.
There are lots of intricate connections in this book, the mystery itself is very subtle but the drama unfolds at a steady pace. I thought the writing was insightful, throwing me a glimpse of a very different world to the one I've experienced, yet giving me plenty to empathise with, showing how blood matters, even if it's buried beneath a river of hatred and contempt.
I loved Dove, CID officer Nolan and her police force, each one a well fleshed out character. I read it quickly, devouring the pages, and whilst I wasn't surprised by the outcome, this didn't disappoint me, since I felt it was more about the journey than the result. Fantastic writing, and a fiction book I'd recommend to anyone.
July 22, 2018
"There's nothing like witnessing the savagery of the human animal firsthand to make our bodies ache for a reminder from our species that we're capable of exquisite acts of mercy."
This book was a nasty little piece of work. And I mean that in the best possible way.
Tawni O'Dell takes on abuse, poverty, sexism, and familial strain with a surety that I haven't seen in a long while. I was completely sucked into the storyline and had a hard time putting this book down to get anything accomplished; I was simply riveted from start to finish.
Dove Carnahan's innocent sounding name completely underlies her tough personality as the chief of police in her small town. She deals with the rampant sexism and constant questioning about her abilities to lead an investigation, let alone a police department with much more grace than I think I would be capable of. She's a heroine worth rooting for, even when you find out things about her that might otherwise tarnish her reputation. The rapport between her and her sister is very loving and adds a lot of character development that keeps her character from being yet another typical 'tough cop'.
The mystery at the heart of this novel is one of abhorrent family secrets and the dysfunction with those families. It's one I won't forget in for a long time, and if you take the time to pick up this book, make sure you do it on a day you have no other engagements planned. Because chances are, this book will suck you right in and won't let you go until the explosive final act.
This book was a nasty little piece of work. And I mean that in the best possible way.
Tawni O'Dell takes on abuse, poverty, sexism, and familial strain with a surety that I haven't seen in a long while. I was completely sucked into the storyline and had a hard time putting this book down to get anything accomplished; I was simply riveted from start to finish.
Dove Carnahan's innocent sounding name completely underlies her tough personality as the chief of police in her small town. She deals with the rampant sexism and constant questioning about her abilities to lead an investigation, let alone a police department with much more grace than I think I would be capable of. She's a heroine worth rooting for, even when you find out things about her that might otherwise tarnish her reputation. The rapport between her and her sister is very loving and adds a lot of character development that keeps her character from being yet another typical 'tough cop'.
The mystery at the heart of this novel is one of abhorrent family secrets and the dysfunction with those families. It's one I won't forget in for a long time, and if you take the time to pick up this book, make sure you do it on a day you have no other engagements planned. Because chances are, this book will suck you right in and won't let you go until the explosive final act.
May 27, 2016
I had heard & read so many terrific reviews regarding this author since she was an Oprah pick many years ago. When this book was released, all of the critics raved, one even said that she was putting it on her "best of 2016" list.
Well with such high praise, i was surprised to find that this story is a straight forward police proceedural. It is set in a small Pennsylvania town where a young girl from a local, notorious dysfunctional family is found murdered. And it's up to Dove, the town's female sheriff (with help from the state police) to solve the case. As the formula goes, the murdered girl's crazy family is uncooperative, which keeps the reader wondering how much they know about the murder and how closely they are involved.
There is a side story about past secrets that Dove and her sister and brother are keeping, they were part of a dysfunctional family as well.
Overall this story did keep me reading to find out "whodunit". Not a standout, but a pleasant read, 3.5 stars.
Well with such high praise, i was surprised to find that this story is a straight forward police proceedural. It is set in a small Pennsylvania town where a young girl from a local, notorious dysfunctional family is found murdered. And it's up to Dove, the town's female sheriff (with help from the state police) to solve the case. As the formula goes, the murdered girl's crazy family is uncooperative, which keeps the reader wondering how much they know about the murder and how closely they are involved.
There is a side story about past secrets that Dove and her sister and brother are keeping, they were part of a dysfunctional family as well.
Overall this story did keep me reading to find out "whodunit". Not a standout, but a pleasant read, 3.5 stars.
December 13, 2015
Chief Dove Carnahan has lived in her community all of her life and when she is called to investigate the death of one of their own she does not realize just how close to home this death will hit. She has kept a secret for most of her adult life and this case brings all those memories to the surface. Her brother who has been gone for many many years without any contact except a text once a year has returned with his son. A nephew that she and her sister Neely did not even know he had. Great read. I would like to thank the publisher and Not Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
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