Synopses & Reviews
A thrilling epic about an ancient clash reignited in our time- between a hidden society and heaven's darkest creatures
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them.
Genesis 6:5
Sister Evangeline was just a girl when her father entrusted her to the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in upstate New York. Now, at twenty-three, her discovery of a 1943 letter from the famous philanthropist Abigail Rockefeller to the late mother superior of Saint Rose Convent plunges Evangeline into a secret history that stretches back a thousand years: an ancient conflict between the Society of Angelologists and the monstrously beautiful descendants of angels and humans, the Nephilim.
For the secrets these letters guard are desperately coveted by the once-powerful Nephilim, who aim to perpetuate war, subvert the good in humanity, and dominate mankind. Generations of angelologists have devoted their lives to stopping them, and their shared mission, which Evangeline has long been destined to join, reaches from her bucolic abbey on the Hudson to the apex of insular wealth in New York, to the Montparnasse cemetery in Paris and the mountains of Bulgaria.
Rich in history, full of mesmerizing characters, and wondrously conceived, Angelology blends biblical lore, the myth of Orpheus and the Miltonic visions of Paradise Lost into a riveting tale of ordinary people engaged in a battle that will determine the fate of the world.
Review
"What do you get whan an Iowa Writers' Workshop graduate and critically acclaimed memoirist trolls for the same readers who loved Dan Brown's search for the grail of best-sellerdom in the
The Da Vinci Code? In the case of Danielle Trussoni's
Angelology, a spellbinding quest novel. Move over, vampires. Dark angels are on the horizon in Trussoni's hefty fiction debut...She offers up intriguing characters, lyrical nature descriptions, hidden clues, secret codes, hidden manuscripts and treasure hunts, creating a sumptuous and surprising novel."
-Jane Ciabattari for National Public Radio
"Angeology finds an almost hallucinatory power....fusing the debased, the psychological, and the theological, into a single rich, strange tableau that transmits a shock of truth."
-Time Magazine
"Breathtakingly imaginative.... Once you've entered Angelology's enthralling world...you'll be thinking, 'Vampires? Who cares about vampires?'"
-People Magazine
"An elegantly ambitious archival thriller in which knowledge dwells in the secret underground places, labyrinthine libraries and overlooked artifacts that have been hallmarks of the genre from The Name of Rose and Possession to Angels and Demons and The Historian. Angelology is richly allusive and vividly staged with widescreen-ready visuals, a dewy but adaptable heroine and a dashingly cruel villain.... Sensual and intelligent, Angelology is a terrifically clever thriller-more Eco than Brown, without the cloudy sentimentalism of New Age encomiums or Catholic treatises. It makes no apologies for its devices, and none are necessary. How else would it be possible to bring together the angels of the Bible and Apocrypha, the myth of Orpheus, Bulgarian geography, medieval monastics, the Rockefellers, Nazis, nuns and musicology? And how splendid that it has happened."
-New York Times Book Review
"Beautiful, powerful, cruel, and avaricious, the half-human, half-angel Nephilim have thrived for centuries by instilling fear among humans, instigating war, and infiltrating the most powerful and influential families of history. Only a secret group of scholars, the Society of Angelologists, has endeavored to combat the spread of evil generated by Nephilim. Now, a strange affliction is destroying the Nephilim, and the cure is rumored to be an ancient artifact of great power. Sister Evangeline of the St. Rose Convent discovers an archived letter regarding the artifact's location and is thrust into the race to locate the artifact before the Nephilim do. She uncovers her family's past as high- ranking angelologists, and their secrets assist in her dangerous hunt. Trussoni, author of the acclaimed memoir Falling Through the Earth, makes an impressive fiction debut with this engrossing and fascinating tale. With captivating characters and the scholarly blending of biblical and mythical lore, this will be popular for fans of such historical thrillers as Kate Mosse's Labyrinth or Katherine Neville's The Eight. Sony Pictures Entertainment has purchased the film rights."
--STARRED Library Journal
"Critically acclaimed memoirist Trussoni (Falling Through The Earth, 2006) breaks into the fiction market in a big way with an epic fantasy that combines a rich mythology with some Da Vinci Code-style treasure-hunting.
The contest between good and evil is waged not in the heavens but here on Earth, between warring factions of biblical scholars and heavenly hosts. The unusual central character is Sister Evangeline, a 23-year-old nun at St. Rose Convent outside New York City. In the course of her work, she stumbles across a mislaid correspondence between philanthropist Abigail Rockefeller and the convent's founding abbess concerning an astonishing 1943 discovery in the mountains of Greece. Simultaneously, the book introduces Percival Grigori, a critically ill, once-winged member of one of the most powerful families in an ancient race of beings born of a union between fallen angels and human beings: the Nephilim. These parasitic creatures, the "giants" referred to in the sixth chapter of Genesis, have engaged in spiritual warfare for generations with the Society of Angelologists, a group that included Evangeline's parents. "It has been one continuous struggle from the very beginning," says one of Evangeline's comrades- in-arms. "St. Thomas Aquinas believed that the dark angels fell within twenty seconds of creation-their evil nature cracked the perfection of the universe almost instantly, leaving a terrible fissure between good and evil." As Evangeline and Grigori are drawn into conflict over control of a powerful artifact, the lyre of the mythical Orpheus, Trussoni constructs a marathon narrative arc, ending the volume with a satisfying, if startling, transformation. A film adaptation and a sequel are already waiting in the wings.
An ambitious adventure story with enough literary heft and religious fervor to satisfy anyone able to embrace its imaginative conceits and Byzantine plot.
--Kirkus Reviews
"A richly detailed, brilliantly conceived work that opens a golden door into another world-or, even more alluringly, another sphere."
--Lincoln Child
"Danielle Trussoni has written a great, cracking thunderbolt of a story. Angelology is an exquisitely crafted adventure into untold realms of imagination, religion, and history. Meticulous in its research and delicious in its execution, the novel weaves Western theology together with ancient myth in a way that will make readers question what they think they know about angels. A triumph."
--Katherine Howe, author of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
"Angelology is everything a reader wants . . . a clever, fast-paced thriller with a strong sense of place and beguiling, emotionally engaging characters [and] a skillful, satisfying history. . . . A pleasure from start to finish . . . A wonderful achievement."
--Kate Mosse, author of Labyrinth
"Angelology by Danielle Trussoni is a thrilling, gorgeous read. Atmospheric, beguiling, and-if you'll pardon the pun-diabolically good." --Raymond Khoury, author of The Last Templar and Sanctuary
"Angelology lets loose the ancient fallen angels to the modern world with devastating results. Trussoni has written a holy thriller that will arrest your attention from the opening pages and not let go till its mysteries take wing."
--Keith Donohue, author of The Stolen Child and Angels of Destruction
"Danielle Trussoni creates a gorgeous gothic world for the reader, where the people who surround us are not what they seem, and stories are unveiled as more truth than fable. This is a book that resonates as both haunting and holy. A must read."
--Brunonia Barry, author of The Lace Reader
Review
Praise for THE WATCHERS by Jon Steele: “A seductive cosmic thriller stoked by historic fact, an ancient Jewish religious text, and a literary classic... Steele’s lavishly atmospheric, witty, bloody, and swashbuckling tale of age-old struggles for dominion between angels and demons is the propitious first book in an ambitious series.”—
Booklist (Starred)
“An imaginative metaphysical thriller… Steele keeps his tale tantalizingly ambiguous, casting it with fey characters and skillfully concealing until the climax whether apparent weird events haven’t been manipulated to make them seem so. This solidly plotted tale, the first in a trilogy, will appeal to readers who like a hint of uncanny in their fiction.”—
Publishers Weekly “A first novel (and first in a series) from Steele, for years a master cameraman for Independent Television News and author of
War Junkie, an underground classic; really smart work for serious thriller readers.”—
Library Journal “Reads like
Paradise Lost by way of John Connolly, although Steele, formerly a war reporter, brings hard-edged modernity to this timeless tale as he roots his depiction of evil in the contemporary world. Clever, stylish and epic in scale, it’s a tremendously satisfying debut.”—
Irish Times Review
"Lusciously rich with detail, atmosphere, and history, and yet as fast paced as a locomotive,
The Yard will keep you riveted from page one. It's truly a one- or two-sitting read."
—Jeffery Deaver, author of Carte Blanche and The Bone Collector
Review
"Alex Grecian’s
The Yard is a brilliantly crafted debut novel with unforgettable characters. An utterly gripping tale perfectly evokes Victorian London and brings you right back to the depraved and traumatic days of Jack the Ripper. And I mean that in the best possible way."
—Lisa Lutz, author of The Spellman Files
Review
“Outstanding. If Charles Dickens isn’t somewhere clapping his hands for this, Wilkie Collins surely is.” – Marilyn Stasio,
The New York Times Book ReviewReview
“Grecian’s debut is the promising start of a new series and should be one of the most acclaimed and popular mysteries of the year. Caleb Carr’s
The Alienist> is the obvious comparison, thanks to
The Yard’s attention to detail and mix of historical facts and vivid fictional creations.” –
Huffington PostReview
“A winner, filled with Victorian arcane and eccentric characters and more humor than one expects from such a work.” –
The Rap SheetReview
“Grecian powerfully evokes both the physical, smog-ridden atmosphere of London in 1889 and its emotional analogs of anxiety and depression. His infusion of actual history adds to this thriller’s credibility and punch. A deeply satisfying reconstruction of post-Ripper London.” –
BooklistReview
“This excellent murder mystery debut introduces a fascinating cast of characters. Grecian displays a flair for language as well as creating vivid (and occasionally gruesome) depictions of places and events.” –
Library JournalReview
“This second volume seriously ramps up the action: Mysteries are explored but not yet fully explained, and the shocking final scenes are definitely intended to make us come back for the finale. Fans of
The Watchers wont want to miss this one.” -
David Pitt, Booklist
“Steeles sequel to 2012s The Watchers does everything the middle of a trilogy should do…. a brutal cliffhanger… accessible to readers who missed the first book.” - Publishers Weekly
Review
“Seriously ramps up the action....Fans of
The Watchers wont want to miss this one.”—
Booklist “Steeles sequel to 2012s The Watchers does everything the middle of a trilogy should do…a brutal cliff-hanger…accessible to readers who missed the first book.”—Publishers Weekly
Praise for The Watchers
“A SEDUCTIVE COSMIC THRILLER.”—Booklist (Starred Review)
“A MODERN THRILLER MASTERPIECE…ONE HELL OF A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE.”—Popcorn Reads
“DIABOLICAL.”—Kirkus Reviews
“READS LIKE PARADISE LOST BY WAY OF JOHN CONNOLLY…although Steele…brings hard-edged modernity to this timeless tale as he roots his depiction of evil in the contemporary world. Clever, stylish, and epic in scale, its a tremendously satisfying debut.”—The Irish Times
“AN IMAGINATIVELY METAPHYSICAL THRILLER.…Steele keeps his tale tantalizingly ambiguous, casting it with fey characters and skillfully concealing until the climax whether apparent weird events havent been manipulated to make them seem so. This solidly plotted tale, the first in a trilogy, will appeal to readers who like a hint of uncanny in their fiction.”—Publishers Weekly
“FAITH, LOVE, LUST, MURDER, INNOCENCE, DANGEROUS DEMONS, FALLEN ANGELS…meld together in to one glorious, spellbinding, addicting story that readers wont soon forget.…The Watchers delivers a one-two punch of good versus evil in a fresh, unique, and decadent manner…brilliant enough to capture the attention of romantics, religious zealots, and historian buffs alike. Not just good, but DAMN good. I didnt just like it. I LOVED it, and its a rare treat for me to experience such pleasure. A must read. Seriously.”—Luxury Reading
Synopsis
Beneath Lausanne Cathedral, in Switzerland, there is a secret buried before time began, something unknown to angels and men, until now...
Marc Rochat watches over the city at night from the belfry of the cathedral. He lives in a world of shadows and "beforetimes" and imaginary beings.
Katherine Taylor, call girl and daydreamer, is about to discover that her real-life fairy tale is too good to be true.
Jay Harper, private detective, wakes up in a crummy hotel room with no memory. When the telephone rings and he's offered a job, he knows he has no choice but to accept.
Three lives, one purpose: save what's left of paradise before all hell breaks loose.
Synopsis
Victorian London is a cesspool of crime, and Scotland Yard has only twelve detectives—known as “The Murder Squad”—to investigate countless murders every month. Created after the Metropolitan Police’s spectacular failure to capture Jack the Ripper, The Murder Squad suffers rampant public contempt. They have failed their citizens. But no one can anticipate the brutal murder of one of their own . . . one of the twelve . . .
When Walter Day, the squad’s newest hire, is assigned the case of the murdered detective, he finds a strange ally in the Yard’s first forensic pathologist, Dr. Bernard Kingsley. Together they track the killer, who clearly is not finished with The Murder Squad . . . but why?Filled with fascinating period detail, and real historical figures, this spectacular debut in a new series showcases the depravity of late Victorian London, the advent of criminology, and introduces a stunning new cast of characters sure to appeal to fans of The Sherlockian and The Alienist.
Synopsis
Jon Steele’s electrifying new novel brings together his unforgettable characters from The Watchers in an action-packed romp that easily stands alone, even as it reveals more of the earthly—and cosmic—mysteries of the Angelus trilogy.
Synopsis
Its been almost three years since we left Detective Jay Harper and high-priced escort Katherine Taylor on the esplanade of Lausanne Cathedral, bruised and battered from a biblical showdown with the Nephilim. Katherine has retreated to small-town life in the woods of Washington State with her son, Maxand a close protection detail of heavily-armed, elite members of the Swiss Guard. Harper is living in Paris, haunted by voices in his head and bone-tired after what turns out to be two and a half million years on Earth.
Though Katherine and Harper have been prevented from remembering each other , baby Max has unwittingly stirred the interest of vengeful spiritsand only a worldwide (and cosmic) effort to save his life will bring Harper and Katherine together again.
Meanwhile, from the shadows steps a defrocked priest named Astruc, whose face looks as if it has been clawed by some terrible beast and who hides his eyes behind blue lenses. He and his brilliant young ward, Goose, have discovered something unfathomable in the Catacombs under Paris, something that will confirm that the time of the prophecy” is at hand. . . .
Electrifying from its explosive first scene to its unexpected and shocking conclusion, Angel City reunites the unforgettable characters from The Watchers to reveal more of the earthlyand otherworldymysteries of the Angelus trilogy.
Synopsis
Electrifying from its explosive first scene to its unexpected and shocking conclusion, Angel City revisits the unforgettable characters from The Watchers to reveal more of the earthlyand otherworldymysteries of the Angelus trilogy. Katherine Taylor, ex-escort, and Jay Harper, private detective, no longer remember each other. They no longer remember the cosmic battle they fought against the Nephilim. In fact, the only memory of the events of their pasts takes the form of a child, Katherines infant son, Max, who has, unbeknown to anyone, stirred the interest of the same vengeful spirits.
Meanwhile, from the shadows steps a defrocked priest named Astruc, whose face looks as if it has been clawed by some terrible beast and who hides his eyes behind blue lenses. He and his brilliant young ward have discovered something unfathomable in the catacombs under Parissomething that will confirm that the time of the prophecy” is at hand.
Synopsis
The earthlyand cosmicadventures of Katherine Taylor and Jay Harper come to an electrifying, action-packed conclusion in The Way of Sorrows, the final installment of Jon Steeles critically acclaimed Angelus Trilogy.
About the Author
Jon Steele worked as an award-winning cameraman for twenty-two years, traveling and working through more than seventy countries across six continents for Independent Television News of London. While based in Moscow and Jerusalem, Steele wrote
War Junkie, a gut-wrenching memoir covering a year in the life of a news cameraman. The book was published in 2002 and is today recognized as a cult classic of war reportage. In 2003, in Baghdad on the eve of the Iraq War, Steele became disillusioned with television news, put his camera on the ground and quit.
THE WATCHERS is Steele’s first novel. He now lives in Switzerland.