Graham Woodard is hired to restore part of a previously lost silent movie; Angel of the Abyss starring the rising star Grace Baron that mysteriously disappears after the film had premiered. What he didn't count on was that his little work trip to L.A would result in several murders.  Together with his friend Jake Maitland must he now find out who is willing to kill people for an old lost silent movie and perhaps even find out what happened to Grace Baron.



I knew I wanted to read this book when I saw this on NetGalley. I mean love old Hollywood movies and Darkfuse books. What a perfect combination. The book was good, the story intriguing, Graham was a good and likable main character, Jake was a bit annoying first, but I started to warm up to him when the book shifted focus to him. Also, I enjoyed that the book shifted between 2013 and 1926 so that we both followed Graham and Jakes pursuit after answers in the present and Grace Baron in the past acting in Angel of the Abyss and everything that happened around the movie. 

But and this is for me a big BUT, I was expecting a horror novel, not a mystery/ crime novel. All the time I read the book I just waited for the story to turn horrific. But it never did. As a mystery/crime novel is it great, but I was disappointed never less. Because I really was looking forward to something weird, not an ordinary crime novel.

But if you are into mystery/crime novels, or/and have a fondness for old silent movies or just looking for a good book this is the one. But if it is horror novel you are after then pick another Darkfuse novel like Sunblind or Blackout!



Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review! ( )

Graham Woodard is hired to restore part of a previously lost silent movie; Angel of the Abyss starring the rising star Grace Baron that mysteriously disappears after the film had premiered. What he didn't count on was that his little work trip to L.A would result in several murders.  Together with his friend Jake Maitland must he now find out who is willing to kill people for an old lost silent movie and perhaps even find out what happened to Grace Baron.



I knew I wanted to read this book when I saw this on NetGalley. I mean love old Hollywood movies and Darkfuse books. What a perfect combination. The book was good, the story intriguing, Graham was a good and likable main character, Jake was a bit annoying first, but I started to warm up to him when the book shifted focus to him. Also, I enjoyed that the book shifted between 2013 and 1926 so that we both followed Graham and Jakes pursuit after answers in the present and Grace Baron in the past acting in Angel of the Abyss and everything that happened around the movie. 

But and this is for me a big BUT, I was expecting a horror novel, not a mystery/ crime novel. All the time I read the book I just waited for the story to turn horrific. But it never did. As a mystery/crime novel is it great, but I was disappointed never less. Because I really was looking forward to something weird, not an ordinary crime novel.

But if you are into mystery/crime novels, or/and have a fondness for old silent movies or just looking for a good book this is the one. But if it is horror novel you are after then pick another Darkfuse novel like Sunblind or Blackout!



Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review! ( )

I received an ARC e-book of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Once again, a very good monthly selection from Darkfuse. Not horror, this time. One half historical mystery, one half modern LA Noir---which made for a very interesting read. I found the historical elements of this novel so interesting that I loaded up several classic silent films into my Netflix queue.

Plot-wise, a copy of an (in)famous silent film, thought to be long lost, has surfaced. However, not everyone is enthusiastic about this discovery. In fact, it is clearly quite dangerous to know anything about his film as everyone connected with this discovery soon winds up dead.

I knew that I would enjoy this novel the minute that I read the plot-line. I am fascinated by horror movies, the older the better, and the idea of a “lost” classic (eg. “London After Midnight”) being found really gets me going. Add to that the fact that the back-story works in the framework of a modern LA Noir tale and you have me standing in line for a ticket.

And Angel of the Abyss did not disappoint. Enough history to satisfy film buffs and enough dark menace to create a very good modern LA Noir tale and you have a thoroughly satisfying read. Not terribly gritty as Noir goes---this is not a James Elroy novel, but the humorous characters provided a freshness that I enjoyed.

Four stars and two thumbs up. Check it out.
( )

Graham Woodard is hired to restore part of a previously lost silent movie; Angel of the Abyss starring the rising star Grace Baron that mysteriously disappear after the film had premier. What he didn't count on was that his little work trip to L.A would result in several murders.  Together with his friend Jake Maitland must he now find out who is willing to kill people for an old lost silent movie and perhaps even find out what happened to Grace Baron.



I knew I wanted to read this book when I saw this on Netgalley. I mean love old Hollywood movies and Darkfuse books. What a perfect combination. The book was good, the story intriguing, Graham was a good and likable main character, Jake was a bit annoying first, but I started to warm up to him when the book shifted focus to him. Also, I enjoyed that the book shifted between 2013 and 1926 so that we both followed Graham and Jakes pursuit after answers in the present and Grace Baron in the past acting in Angel of the Abyss and everything that happened around the movie. 

But and this is for me a big BUT, I was expecting a horror novel not a mystery/ crime novel. All the time I read the book I just waited for the story to turn horrific. But it never did. As a mystery/crime novel is it great, but I was disappointed never less. Because I really was looking forward to something weird, not an ordinary crime novel.

But if you are into mystery/crime novels, or/and have a fondness for old silent movies or just looking for a good book this is the one. But if it is horror novel you are after then pick another Darkfuse novel like Sunblind or Blackout!

3,5 stars!



Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review! ( )

Review copy

Footage from a lost film from the age of silent movies is discovered and Graham Woodard is brought to Hollywood from his home in Massachusetts to work on restoring and preserving what's been found.

Unknown to Graham when he takes the assignment, there is a reason the film has been "lost" all these years and certain people will do whatever it takes to keep it's secrets from being revealed.

Angel of the Abyss was to be the debut film of a new starlet, Grace Baron, formerly Grace Baronsky, from Boise, Idaho.

There are two stories here. The one where Graham Woodard and his friend Jake Maitland are trying to find the rest of the film, while becoming embroiled in a series of murders, potentially their own, and another about the actual making of the film and what really happened to it's star.

The author, Ed Kurtz, does a very nice job of pacing the two stories, revealing the secrets a bit at a time, and dove-tailing them nicely at the book's end, where all is revealed. The characters are fully developed, even bit players are richly fleshed out.

Crime novels are generally not my thing, but there are definite similarities between the crime and horror genres and there is certainly a touch of horror in Angel of the Abyss.

Due to be released on December 2, 2014, Angel of the Abyss is published by Darkfuse and will be available at Amazon.com. You can pre-order the book now at Amazon and if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this one at no additional charge .

Highly recommended. ( )