Well written but very violent.

Any additional comments?

Ugh, cant get along with answering the questions that this 'write a review' format throws up. Here is the review…
Well written in the main though you will get tired of constantly being told what tune each character's mobile phone plays when it rings!! Very funny in parts, extremely graphic violence, some likeable people. Grips you from beginning to end. Very well read. Tada!

9 people found this helpful

Really good read.

Enjoyed this book. Haven't read a Graham Masterton book for years. His writing has greatly improved. Although I think it was helped by the exceptional reader. I shall look out for more books narrated by her in the future. Sometimes a good narrator can make a mediocor book much better!!

3 people found this helpful

Worth a listen

Having listened to 'White Bones' (the first book in this series), and having agreed with the positive And negative comments, I wanted to listen to 'Broken Angels', so that I can give a more informed review.
I agree that the violence is very graphic, and unpleasant to listen to. However, it would not put me off listening to, or reading books by this author. The violence, albeit pretty relentless when it happens, does not take over.
Graham Masterton has a very descriptive, engaging style of writing, that makes you want to keep turning the pages. It wouldn't ,
therefore make sense, if integral parts of the story were made easier to stomach.
A big part of listening, is obviously the narration. Bad narration has made me give up in the past, and return to reading a book, instead of listening. However, I think this narrator does a grand job!
I also really like the main character, and I love her relationship with her father. It will be interesting to see where the author takes her in Book 3! Give it a listen and find out what I mean 🙂
Enjoy!

1 person found this helpful

Very unpleasant

I found this and the previous book full of gratuitous violence which I don’t even think the human body could endure, it’s sensationalism for the sake of it, this detracted from the story. We should be much more knowledgeable about the characters by book two but there’s no depth to them. I also find Johns quiet manipulation both sinister and frankly, upsetting. I don’t know if he’s supposed to be that way or it’s just my interpretation. Will give book three a chance before giving up.

Caroline Lennon, wonderful as ever.

Fantastic narration, story has plotholes

In Broken Angels, the second book featuring County Cork DI Katie Maguire, Graham Masterton focuses the plot on religion and beliefs. It picks up 18 months after the end of White Bones, when Katie is investigating the murder of a priest who has been castrated. While this could be a very obvious story line if you think about possible motives, it was anything but. I admit I found the brutal torture scenes in this one more disturbing than in book 1. Listening to the graphic descriptions actually made me squirm, which is highly unusual for me. But the scene with the rat really was horrendous. It's definitely not for the faint-hearted!
The police procedural blends well with the plot line about Katie's personal life. But there were several inconsistencies that really should have been picked up by an editor. Those were details regarding the content that made no sense and were contradictory. And my last bit of criticism, please Mr. Masterton no more of those Katie sex scenes. I don't mind them at all if done well, but in this instance, there was just so much wrong with them. I also hope the recurring lesbian attraction angle will be dropped now.
Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this very much and I think a lot of it was due to the absolute perfect 5 stars audio book narration by Caroline Lennon.
While the above may actually sound rather negative, I still think this was a terrific thriller and I really liked it despite my points of critique. On to book 3.

Excellent book!

What did you like most about Broken Angels?

Well written and had me hooked till the very end. Quite tense in some places.

What did you like best about this story?

Fast paced with many a twist and turn. Characters also very real, believable and down to earth.

Have you listened to any of Caroline Lennon’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No I haven't but I found her very enjoyable to listen to and I've heard another couple by her since then.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, it did make me chuckle in places.

Any additional comments?

I would thoroughly recommend this book and author to anyone. I couldn't wait to read the next few in the series!

Disappointed

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. The story line was good but there were inconsitences within the book itself and with book 1(White Bones) in this series. I read (listened to) Book 3 (Red Light) first and as a stand alone book it was fine. I then read Book 1 before reading this one (Book 2). Things happen in book 1 that don't follow on. Also in this book there is a huge error in cosistency which had me very puzzled.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I found the history of catholic choir boys and castrati interesting (and horrifying too).

Which character – as performed by Caroline Lennon – was your favourite?

I'm not sure I had a favourite

If this book were a film would you go see it?

Possibly

Any additional comments?

I was disappointed that the book had inconsistencies becasue I really enjoyed Red Light and went back antcipating the first 2 books would be equally as good.

Riveting from start to finish, highly recommended.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was not my usual genre, but it kept me listening constantly, never once was it boring or predictable. It is fast paced and contains chilling, grisly and very graphic descriptions! So if you are easily offended or squeamish then this is probably not for you. However it's an excellent listen with a great storyline that at times will make your toes curl. Highly recommended. I loved it so much, I have now downloaded the next one of the series.

This is a very good story, wonderfully read

Where does Broken Angels rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Definitely one of the best, outstanding.

What did you like best about this story?

The subject was sensitive and the story quite gruesome in places but I felt it came across well. There were some sub plots re the main characters which, in case you needed it, kept your interest and made you want to find out what happened to them. A gripping story which I wanted to listen to until the end and was sorry when it finished.

What about Caroline Lennon’s performance did you like?

She was extremely good. She managed to describe the gruesome bits without making them seem gratuitous. I loved her accent and she was also very good at all the characterisations. I will look out for more of her performances.

Any additional comments?

Great listen. Caroline made the book for me. If it had been done by somebody else, I'm not sure it would have been as good.

Gruesome but gripping

What made the experience of listening to Broken Angels the most enjoyable?

That the book is written from a female perspective of a woman in a senior role within the guarda. She was well written, and three dimensional and I liked her as a person, also I liked the emphasis on her personal life as well and the decisions she was grappling with.

Would you be willing to try another book from Graham Masterton? Why or why not?

Perhaps. The story was enthralling and well written but a bit too gruesome for me,if they are similar in style in terms of being very detailed in crime scenes etc then perhaps not as my nerves couldn't take it!

What three words best describe Caroline Lennon’s performance?

Interesting, funny and excellent! ;)

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, too gruesome, had to steel myself and pause the audio at points.

Any additional comments?

Good story but a bit too horrific for me to be honest, a bit unnecessary at points which spoilt what was a interesting and thought provoking read.