When Angels Fear

by P.J. Mordant

3.5 out of 5 

Synopsis

Exhausted, desperately seeking sanctuary from a terrifying partner, Emma arrives in the pretty English village of Flammark. But she cannot rest. A strange sleeping sickness stalks the village, and a young woman has disappeared. Why won't the police investigate? As events unfold, Emma becomes embattled yet again, compelled to fight for her life, against a deadly curse linked to a past about which she had no knowledge. She is the only one able to vanquish the evil, but doing so will entail confronting an horrific and all-too-familiar enemy.

The question is, after all she's been through, will she be strong enough?

Review

Emma runs from her violent ex and hides in a small town, only to find herself in more danger. Sickness and violence are creeping in, and a family curse may be the cause of it.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

After suffering at the hands of her abusive ex, Emma flees to town picked at random, so there's no chance of him following her.

Flammark seems like a normal town, quaint and full of good people that know nothing of Emma's history.

Except the town has a history of its own, and Emma's choice may not have been as random as she hoped.

This story explores domestic abuse. Emma is a victim of a man who not only hurt her physically, but has mentally scarred her. His control and OCD were so subtle, he stayed so charming and smart, she knew that no one would believe her. Her only hope was to run away.

When Emma learns more about Flammark, and the questionable Blackstone family, the story also explores the lives of women in history. That some things never change, that they are hurt by the men around them.

I thought that the subject of domestic abuse was approached in a sensitive manner, but was never afraid to shy away from the topic.

I also liked the paranormal elements. I was pleasantly surprised when the police force were included, and the book took more of a Thriller turn. It was almost Midsommer Murders with angels and curses!

The not-so-good.

The pacing was a little slow for my liking. It flowed well in some parts - perhaps where the author's vision was strongest; but at other times it dawdled, losing momentum at some important times.

I felt that the different elements of the book didn't always gel. I wasn't a fan of the villain's narrative, I found it quite clunky and one-dimensional.

Overall, this was a 3.5 out of 5 for me.

This was an imaginative debut, and I would be interested in reading more of this author's work.

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