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Tense and suspense-filled thriller from the author of The Straw Men and The Lonely Dead. Since aiding in the capture of his brother, the serial killer known as the Upright Man, Ward Hopkins has been avoiding his demons holed up in a log cabin with his girlfriend, FBI agent Nina Baynam. But when Nina's boss turns up with an intriguing new serial-killer case for her, the couple realise they can't hide forever. Especially when they learn that the Upright Man has escaped from custody. Ward's brother must have had help. The most likely candidates are the Straw Men, the shadowy organisation founded on murder as a way of life that killed Ward's parents. Former homicide cop John Zandt is obsessed with tracking them down following their murder of his daughter, and as he digs deeper he discovers extraordinary secrets about American history and society. The shadows are gathering, and across America sinister forces are stirring. Only Ward, Nina and John stand against the Upright Man and his terrifying allies. It's just a question of when the next killings will start... and whether they will ever stop.… (more)
User reviews
We follow three separate story threads starting out at opposite ends of America as they
What strikes me most about Marshall's work is his subtle, yet completely realistic commentary on the human condition. That and the fact that I love a good conspiracy theory.
Raged against this attempt by a shadowy group to spread fear, confusion and death amongst an unsuspecting populace is an eclectic group of characters; Ward Hopkins ex CIA agent recovering from the shock and death of his parents and their association with The Straw Men; John Zant an ex LA homicide detective with a personal interest in the capture of The Upright Man who he believes was responsible for the death of his only daughter Karen; Nina Baynam discredited FBI agent believing totally in both the existence of The Straw Men and their murderous agenda; Paul Hopkins, brother to Ward and identified as the notorious serial killer The Upright Man.
What is so readable about Blood of Angels is that even the minor characters we meet play an important role in the unfolding drama and they all contribute to the pulsating tension that radiates from page one; James Kyle/Jim Westlake is a killer in retirement in Key West Florida until his services are required by The Straw Men one last time; Lee h
Hudek his friends Grant and Sleepy Pete all wealthy middleclass kids dealing drugs until they encounter The Upright Man, a meeting that will alter their lives irrevocably......there is no going back!
The search is on for Ward's brother The Upright Man who has escaped from a secure institution. Has he been broken out for a reason? Have The Straw Men got a hidden agenda that will ultimately mean the destruction of society as we know and love. Ward, Nina and John are on the case and in the very capable hands of Michael Marshall we are treated to an extraordinary reading experience. The UK paperback version of this story is some 540 pages but I can honestly say I devoured this story in some 3 reading sessions. It still puzzles me that Michael Marshall, although a popular author, has never received the acclaim and credit he so deserves.....so, dear reader of my review, do yourself a favour and read all 3 books in this well researched, intelligent, dark and above all well written tale. A pleasure to read and a pleasure to recommend 5+++++ stars!