Customer Reviews

Angel's Tip

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Angel's Tip is the title of the second in Alafair Burke's Ellie Hatcher series. Dead Connection is the first in the series. I haven't read Dead Connection and I do not feel that it is necessary to understand or enjoy Angel's Tip. I do intend on reading it at a later date just for a fuller history of our heroine Ellie Hatcher. There is enough of Ellie's history given in this novel to satisfy most readers, but after finishing this one, I find myself yearning for more.

I fully expected Ellie to be a tough, good detective who was short on personality and charm. Yet I loved Ellie. She is soft, feminine, brave and smart. And she truly cares about people. There's a part where she talks to a victim's mother about her daughter that brought tears to my eyes. I found her to be someone I can respect.

The chemistry between Ellie and her brother Jess and Ellie and her new partner Rogan is wonderful and one of my favorite things about the book. Their interaction kept the novel from becoming too dark and too depressing.

I'd like to commend the author on making the victims human. So often victims in novels are one dimensional characters fabricated just for killing. Burke makes them fully fleshed and you find yourself hoping they make it. Here, it's the killer that is flat and uninteresting. There's no real reason ever given as to why the killer started killing or why he kills the way he does.

At first, it seemed to me that Ellie was jumping to conclusions when she suspected a few people of being the killer. She does get it right in the end, but at that point it seemed like another guess to me. In retrospect, I can see that there are clues leading to the true murderer's identity.

The pace of this book is fast, never dull and surprisingly funny. I finished it in a week - difficult to do as I only have snippets of time here and there. It was nothing for me to polish off 100 pages in a sitting. The story is about a serial killer and has the requisite violence for said story line. If you're a fan of Criminal Minds or any of the CSI's, this is light stuff. I'd highly recommend it to fans of a mystery. 5 stars. Can't wait for the next in the series.

I don't normally read books in the mystery genre but I was glad when I selected this book. This is the first book of Alafair Burke's that I have read and it won't be my last! Just when I thought I knew who the killer might be, Burke introduced more clues to prove otherwise.

The book starts out with Chelsea Hart, a college student, on spring break celebrating in NYC. After partying all night long, Chelsea is found in a park, dead. NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher is determined to find Chelsea's killer. She thinks that the case is solved after arresting Jake Myers, young hedge fund manager. However, she has her doubts. Hatcher discovers that there are three previous cases that are similar to this case. In all cases, hair is taken as a souvenir.

Burke's criminal law background definitely enhances the book as well as add authenticity to the story. It helps to flush out the lawyers and cops in the book too.

I found it to be a fast paced book that I could not put down. I read it in one day since I needed to know who the murderer was in the story. I recommend this book to people who love to solve mysteries. This book has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing!

NYPD Det. Ellie Hatcher has a new partner, and a new confidence in her own ability. She hasn't been on the Homicide Squad for long, so some officers don't appreciate it when she's the first officer on the scene of a murder. Naturally, the case of a blond co-ed found dead after a night partying attracts the attention of the media. And, everyone is quite happy when Ellie and her partner, J.J. Rogan, quickly find a suspect. But, something about the case doesn't feel right to Ellie. Could it be the cold cases her late partner pulled, all dealing with blond girls found dead with their hair cut?

Alafair Burke's character, Ellie Hatcher, has grown into the complicated plots. She has a terrific new partner to support her in these complex police procedurals. This is an outstanding book, recommended for readers of crime fiction who enjoy character-driven novels with intriguing plots. Take an "Angel's Tip," and pick up this enjoyable crime novel.

I really enjoyed this story. The author pulls the reader into the action immediately and gives a little time to get to know the victims. So many murder mysteries like to make it seem the victim deserved their fate, but in this book the victims are made more human. My only complaint was that the main character had been in her job only a week, but her relationships with coworkers and superiors were written as if she'd been there quite a while. She was way too familiar with everything and seemingly nearly infallible! She was the only one coming up with ideas to solve the murders. That said, I didn't want to put this book down and would welcome another installment.

Chelsea Hart is an Indiana University student in New York City on spring break. She and her friends are out at a trendy night club on their last night in town. It's late and her friends are trying to pry her away from the club. Chelsea, however, doesn't want to leave yet so she talks her friends into returning to the hotel without her. It's a deadly decision. Chelsea isn't seen alive again.

Ellie Hatcher is one of the first to find Chelsea when she and her brother Jess are out for a morning run. Ellie is back in NYC and back with the homicide department, this time as an official detective IN the department. She calls her new partner J.J. Rogan and tells him to get to the crime scene, they've just snagged a murder investigation.

All seems great in NYC when a suspect is arrested and an air-tight case appears to be in order. But in the process of the investigation, Ellie discovers three cold cases her old partner Flann McIlroy had been looking into. Cases he believed were connected...and cases that look eerily similar to the Chelsea Hart case.

Alafair Burke is back in prime form! She hit another Ellie Hatcher homerun with ANGEL'S TIP, the follow-up to Hatcher's debut in DEAD CONNECTION. Like Harlan Coben, Burke is a master of "imitating life." I love the pop culture allusions that weave throughout the plot.

The nightlife, club scene in ANGEL'S TIP is one that is very foreign to me. BUT, Burke had me connecting with Ellie because that wasn't her scene either. I could FEEL her discomfort at wearing clothes that just weren't HER.

The introduction of J.J. Rogan was a fantastic addition to the series. J.J. is a fun and rich character - and I'm not talking about his inheritance either. It's refreshing to have two relatively young, intelligent professionals working together - of opposite genders - who have great chemistry that doesn't necessitate jumping in the sack.

Both Ellie and J.J. have such a realistic passion about their jobs as police detectives. The way Burke illustrates this passion you would think she was a New York City detective herself.

Another point of realism that reminded me of how "unreal" television can portray police work came when Ellie took off running after a suspect. J.J. was screaming for her to stop. She didn't have a protective vest on; she didn't know if the suspect was armed; they didn't have back-up - that wasn't correct procedure. Yet, we see that every night on the crime dramas and we expect it. But the "correct procedure" sure does make a lot of sense. I always feel like I've learned something after reading a book by Alafair Burke. This point also reminded me why I like Ellie so much - she's human. She makes mistakes in the heat of the moment; rookie mistakes, if you will. But she's also accountable for her mistakes. She doesn't need some Superman to come save her. There's even a point where the young ADA is with Ellie and she tells him she doesn't need a protector, he can go home. He informs her that he's there for HER to protect HIM! Priceless!

All of this excellent character development and realism sets the scaffolding for a fantastic plot. There are twists and turns at every chapter. While at one point in the novel I suspected the culprit, Burke threw in so many twists that I ended up constantly oscillating trying to guess who the real killer was, "well, it can't be HIM because..." "hmmm, maybe it's HIM..." "then again, it could be...".

Thrillers like ANGEL'S TIP are the only roller coaster rides I enjoy. I'd line up again and again to experience Alafair Burke's kind of thrill! Outstanding!!

I really liked this story very much and it got me interested right away and held my interest all the way through the book. This who-done-it by Alafair Burke had short chapters which made it easier to start and stop reading when I was pressed for time. All in all, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author. One final note, I enjoyed the way this book was formatted, the spacing between each line made for a very comfortable reading.

"Angel's Tip" by Alafair Burke had me from page 1. I kept this book with me everywhere I went; reading in the doctor's office, on break at work, EVERY spare moment I could!

Alafair Burke does an amazing job of dropping clues and giving hints to the killer's identity without giving away too much! I was sure I knew who did it - then was sure it was someone else - only to find out it was someone else! I loved it!

The book begins with Chelsea Hart, an Indiana college student on spring break with a couple of her college friends. Chelsea knows how to have fun! On their last night in New York City, when she is enjoying herself in the VIP lounge of a hip bar, she just can't call it a night when her friends want to go back to the hotel with only a few hours left until their flight. She stays behind promising to be right behind them. Instead, she becomes the latest victim of a killer with a fetish for hair. Ellie Hatcher and her partner are the detectives on the case. Another body shows up and things start appearing as if Ellie is the next target.

That's all the description I want to give or I'll tell you too much! I highly recommend this book for all mystery lovers! Very highly! I enjoyed every single turn of the page and look forward to reading more of Ms. Burke's future works!

This book holds a proud spot on my bookshelf!!

-1smileycat :-)

This normally isn't the type of genre that I read, but I'm a big fan of shows like 'Law and Order', and this book is very similar. I found the book to be very well written and the characters were well developed to say the least! The book definitely pulls you in and it's hard to put it down. I don't want to give away too much of the story in the review, but in short I recommend and I think you'll enjoy it even if you're not the type to normally read murder mysteries/thrillers.

When i look out to read a mystery novel...i need it to be engrossing from the time i pick it up till i drop it down...also the language has to understandable and the story has to done tastefully...I hate talkin about the mystery in these novels...so i wont delve into that ..or u might just hate me for not lettin u buy the book...but if what u look out for when gettin a novel is a movie building up in ur head from beginning to end...this book doesn't disappoint one bit...i didnt find the book to drag at all..I think the language..the cultural references ...only imparting knowlege and the wonderfully laid out story...all make this a winner all the way.

I will buy from the same author again...and am now interested reading more books from the same author.

Buy it...u wont regret it!

I have all of Alafair Burke's books and I love Ellie Hatcher. What a remarkable character the author has created. A kick-ass, smart and beautiful detective. The story line is brilliant with action, suspense and a dab of humor...what more could a reader ask for. Good work Alafair.