Fiction Addict

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Faith Words

Publication Date: April 2009

Reviewer: Josh Olds

A wispy bat-like creature hovers over the darkened forest, its presence called forth by a cult of teens playing with powers they know little about. Awaiting his opportunity to attack, this Angel of Wrath knows he must be patient. His time will come. It will be soon.

On the outside, it appeared Thomas Harmon’s life was coming together for him. Pastor of an exponentially growing mega-church inherited from his father, Thomas was making his mark on the world. But things aren’t always as they seem. His work at the church leaves little time for family, and it shows in the attitude of his son Will, who is the epitome of a rebellious preacher’s kid.

But something more serves to upset Thomas’s rise to fame. People in his church are being murdered. One right after another. Quickly. Each time, the murdered were guilty of a secret (or not so secret) sin, and the killer had executed his righteous judgment upon them.

Enter in Charlie Madison, an ex Special-Ops agent, and his deaf niece, Jazmin. Charlie gets asked by friend and former co-worker, Lisa Harmon,—Thomas’s sister—to go investigate. 13 year old Jazmin gets to tag along for the ride.

As the plot thickens and tension mounts, Charlie and Lisa uncover a local cult of teens who may be responsible. But even more than the murders, the teens may have unleashed a creature that they cannot control, the Angel of Wrath.

With well-drawn out characters and great action, Myers crafts a story that not only serves as a page-turner but also as a thought-provoker. From pastoral issues, to the nature of forgiveness, to the importance of family, to spiritual warfare, Myers raises questions that will keep your mind turning long after you’ve closed the last page. What comes first, congregation or family? Can one truly forgive someone who destroyed one’s life? What would you do if a demon looked into your soul and reminded you of all those sins you thought were secret, all the evil that lies within your own heart?

Angel of Wrath is a triumph of storytelling. The crisp action sequences and murder mystery serve only as a backdrop to further this character-driven drama. Regarding the characters of Charlie, Lisa, and Jazmin, perhaps I would have been more informed as to their stories had I read Myers’ 2008 release The Voice, which introduces these three. While Angel of Wrath is a sequel, Myers does a good job ensuring that it stands alone. References to The Voice serve to intrigue the reader to salivate to know the fuller story rather than leaving one in confusion about an important piece of information.

Angel of Wrath is one of my favorite kinds of stories. Instead of merely telling a story, there is a strong sense of message. I cannot wait to see what Myers has in store for his next book, The God Hater, which he has called one of the most important things he’s written.

Review copy provided by Faith Words.