FAB: The Fifth Angel: What If John Lennon Had Lived?

FAB #2

by Mark Gillespie

John Lennon Is Writing Songs Again. He's Also The World's Most Wanted Man 1995

John Lennon. Whereabouts unknown.

The former Beatle and US Presidential candidate - who took the world to the brink of nuclear war in 1988 - has disappeared, seemingly off the face of the earth.

Frank Vogel is the FBI agent who let Lennon slip through his fingers back in '88. Now working as a small-time bounty hunter, Vogel has spent the last seven years following up countless Lennon sightings all over the world, but with little success.

One day, Vogel receives a tip from across the Atlantic. There’s a rumour going around that John Lennon - the world’s most wanted man - is writing songs again.

Vogel travels to the UK where he encounters The Angelicas. Known to their fans as 'the Angels’ - the band’s meteoric rise to stardom is largely credited to an anonymous songwriting collaborator, known only as the 'Fifth Angel’.

But who is the 'Fifth Angel’? Can it really be John Lennon? And if Vogel manages to track the ex-Beatle down, will revenge lead to redemption?

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 24, 2016

About the author

These days, Mark Gillespie writes psychological thrillers, suspense and horror. Previously, between the years 2016-2020, he wrote a lot of apocalyptic/dystopian fiction.

Mark is a former professional musician from Glasgow, Scotland, who nowadays lives in Auckland, New Zealand with his wife Íde and a small menagerie of four-legged rescue creatures.

Favourite books: I am Legend, The Razor's Edge, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Body (Stephen King), I'll Be Gone in the Dark, Trainspotting...

Favourite films: Jaws, Ikiru, The Invitation, Vertigo, The Thing, Eyes Without a Face, Seven Samurai, The Wicker Man...

You can find him on Facebook as Mark Gillespie's Writing Stuff. He's also on Twitter as MarkG_Author.

Website: www.markgillespieauthor.com

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second part of the alternative history of John Lennon follows the FBI agent he fooled in the first book, obsessively following the one that got away, losing his job and family in the process. He receives a lead in the mail and goes to England, following the trail.

Bit of a sophomore slump, I think.

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not kindle unlmited, All individually available, bit cheaper to get the 3 pack set. Bought this while back but hadn't read it until now. Few insosistencies or just worded too oddly {if he bought a beard why was he cutting up a wig to make a beard, etc} even though could have been just a bit better was interesting alternate history type thing. The ending/last 1/3 was definitely uhm 'different'. Liked this one bit less than the other 2. Got 1 on freebie day then bought the trilogy.

FAB: The Fifth Angel
1995. John Lennon: Whereabouts UnknownThe former Beatle and Presidential candidate is now the world’s most wanted man. Nobody has seen or heard from him in seven years.Until now.Former FBI Agent, Frank Vogel has been hot on Lennon’s tail since he disappeared in 1988. Just as Vogel is on the brink of giving up the chase, a rumour comes floating across the Atlantic that might – at last – lead him to the elusive Lennon.FAB: The Fifth Angel is a gripping, revenge-driven tale of cat and mouse that’s set in New York, London and Liverpool.

FAB : What If John Lennon Had Lived? (The FAB Trilogy Book 1)
FAB: The Fifth Angel : What If John Lennon Had Lived? (The FAB Trilogy Book 2)
FAB: Revolver : What If John Lennon Had Lived? (The FAB Trilogy Book 3)
The Complete FAB Trilogy: What If John Lennon Had Lived?

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avid John Lennon fans may not be thrilled with this alternate portrayal of the music icon, though readers of Mark Gillespie will not be surprised by the bizarre and unexpected events found in the second book of the FAB Trilogy.
Continuing the imaginative saga begun in his first book of the series, Gillespie leads the reader through the obsession-laced drunken stupor that now comprises the life of former-FBI-agent-turned-bounty-hunter, Frank Vogel, since Lennon gave him the slip. In true Gillespie style, the reader is taken on a wild ride of twists, turns and humorous foul-ups as Vogel pursues Lennon, now an international fugitive. As in the first book in the trilogy, Gillespie intertwines television interviews, magazine articles and the local news with the storyline to backfill some details and keep the story moving along.
While I personally have some issue with the foul language at times, I understand its use to draw a more accurate, believable and even relatable picture of the main character. I enjoyed the unlikely addition of Rose to the story at about the midway point. I won’t give too much away here, but she certainly adds a little spunk to Vogel’s otherwise tattered life. All in all, The Fifth Angel is a solid continuation of the FAB Trilogy. I can’t even imagine what Gillespie has in store for the final installment. As with the first book, keep turning the pages to the very end – you won’t be disappointed.

[Nunyah Biznuss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as much fun as the first book in the trilogy, and not as laugh out loud either. Still a good, fast moving read, though.

It's 1995 and former Beatle and US presidential candidate, John Lennon has ruined Frank Vogel's life. Vogel's wife kicked him out, he lost his job, and lost his self-respect when Lennon duped him. Now, seven years on, an event happens that offers him a way back... can Frank finally nab Lennon and get his life back, or will he screw it up again?

[Ernie Earnest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me reading. A great read if you grew up in the 60's. Beatles fans of any age will enjoy the wild ride.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good effort by Mark Gillespie. This continuation of his FAB series takes off nearly a decade after where it left off with FBI detective Vogel haunted by the events at the end of the previous novel.
Nicely paced with a good conclusion.
Personally, I preferred the first book, but that's just my opinion. This book is still well worth the price and a damn enjoyable tale.