Blood of Angels: A Novel [Hardcover]

Reed Arvin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 28, 2005

Senior prosecutor Thomas Dennehy doesn't recognize Nashville anymore: a decade of relentless immigration means cops are learning Spanish and the DA's office needs Vietnamese translators. Thomas's latest case is prosecuting a Sudanese refugee accused of killing a white woman. A conviction seems certain until a university professor claims Thomas sent the wrong man to the death chamber in a previous case.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Thomas Dennehy, assistant DA of Davidson County, Tenn., is about to become famous. Unless he can figure a way out of it, he'll be certified as the first lawyer in the country to have sent the wrong man to the death chamber. As if that isn't enough, he must also prosecute a charismatic member of the local Sudanese community, Moses Bol, accused of killing a prostitute, in a trial that threatens to engulf Nashville in a full-scale race riot. Dennehy is tough, in court and out, and has plenty of interesting personal problems—primarily an ex-wife for whom he has conflicting feelings and an 11-year-old daughter he adores. He's a highly sympathetic figure, as are Arvin's other characters—except the bad guy who's harboring a deadly grudge and a diabolical plan that confounds both Dennehy and the police. While trying to sort through his problems, Dennehy falls for an unlikely lady, Fiona Towns, a local minister and Moses Bol's alibi. Perhaps this material isn't quite as original as Arvin's debut, The Last Goodbye, but the author is among the top handful of legal thriller writers working today, and this is another winner that thriller, mystery and general fiction readers alike will relish.
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From Booklist

Nashville prosecutor Tom Dennehy is legendary for convicting two unrelated men of the same crime. Wilson Owens just received a lethal injection for a convenience-store murder. David Bridges was an EMT called to the scene of the crime, who--under the influence of drugs--botched a procedure that may have saved Owens' victim. Bridges got seven years for negligent homicide. Now, as Dennehy builds a murder case against a Sudanese refugee, the Owens case resurfaces when a lifer in the pen claims to have committed the shooting for which Owens was executed. Meanwhile, Dennehy's best friend and coworker is murdered in a manner similar to the recent killing of a parole officer, one of whose clients was none other than the recently released EMT, David Bridges, who has subsequently vanished. Coincidence, or is someone after Dennehy? Complicating matters further, Dennehy has become romantically involved with a female minister who is a personal advocate for the young Sudanese man charged with murder. Dennehy has always stood arrogantly on the higher moral ground, but now he is being force-fed a huge piece of bloody humble pie. This nail-biter is Arvin's third thriller--following The Will (2000) and The Last Goodbye (2004)--and each has been better than the last. He matches sinister plots with flawed protagonists to create melancholy, suspenseful, epiphany-filled, and pain-drenched noir novels. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Harper; First Edition edition (June 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060596341
• ISBN-13: 978-0060596347
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,166,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reed Arvin delivers with Blood of Angels, June 27, 2005

By 

B. Larson (Palatine, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blood of Angels: A Novel (Hardcover)

Blood of Angels was the first Reed Arvin book that I have read, and it is not going to be the last. Blood of Angels delivers on all levels and introduces a cast of characters that is very interesting.

While you are reading from the perspective of a lawyer, this is not a court room legal thriller, this is a book about revenge pure and simple. There are multiple sub-plots and action that keep the story moving along, and you will not want to put this one down.

Reed Arvin writes in the first person, which I thought would be a distraction, but I really enjoyed the smooth style. I would recommend this book to all who are looking for an interesting plot, and a fast moving book that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Is As Good As It Gets!!!! Great Writing!!!, September 5, 2005

By 

John R. Linnell (New Gloucester, ME United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blood of Angels: A Novel (Hardcover)

I'm so glad that Reed Arvin didn't settle for being a successful Nashville music producer, because he is well on his way to being one of the best of the court room/thriller/mystery writers of our time. His previous two novels (The Will and The Last Goodbye) are excellent reads and all three are stand alone books. Thomas Dennehy is the central character in this book, but he has a wealth of company from the fertile mind of Mr. Arvin to keep this novel going at full throttle from page one to the end. Others have set out the story line quite well, so I will only say that if you enjoy this type of novel, there is none better on the market right now that you could buy.

The characters and dialogue are so authentically written that their voices and sounds come right off the pages. The villian in this book does not reveal himself for a while, but when he does, he is enough to give you nightmares.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome legal thriller!, August 15, 2005

By 

N. Larrabee (Tarrytown, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blood of Angels: A Novel (Hardcover)

Thomas Dennehy works as a prosecutor for the District Attorney's office in Davidson County, Tennessee. He has worked his way up the ladder, sacrificing his marriage, to be able to prosecute capital crimes. Three years ago, Wilson Owens killed Stephen Davidson, the manager of the Sunshine Grocery store. Owens received the death penalty. Thomas is now prosecuting a Sudanese refugee for the rape and murder of a local resident. Another criminal already in jail confesses to the Sunshine murders which sets his office into turmoil. Reverend Fiona Towns complicates matters further for Thomas. The heart-pounding action builds as those close to him suffer consequences. The edgy writing and the range of characters keep you in suspense. Excellent page-turner!