Book Review: Angel of Darkness by Charles de Lint
Back in the early 1990s, Charles de Lint decided to publish some darker fantasy/horror books under the name Samuel M. Key, as some of the fans weren’t thrilled by him going in a horror direction. By the 21st Century, it was decided Mr. de Lint’s reputation was such that it could handle the strain of these books being officially added to his main list.
Chad Baker is a recording genius. He’s also quite mad, and has decided to create the perfect sound…of pain. To this end, he’s been secretly torturing and killing people, and tonight he’s got the final piece. He mixes the music and it all goes horribly right.
Ex-cop Jack Keller has been looking for a young runaway, and has finally tracked her to Chad Baker’s door. It is far, far too late and he catches a glimpse of an angel, beautiful and terrifying.
Soon, people begin dying in horrific ways, many of them the police officers who inspected the Baker crime scene. The barriers between worlds have been pierced, and a vengeful angel lurks in the liminal place between sleep and death.
The alternate dimension that looks like post-apocalyptic Ottawa if the end of civilization was caused by a hate plague is effectively creepy at first, but wears thin fast. It veers into “trying too hard” territory. I do like that people eventually start thinking logically about how to deal with a threat that only attacks in your sleep (or so they thought) and that these measures turn out to be the exact opposite of useful because of the true nature of the threat.
Trigger warning for rape, torture, and various kinds of abuse. Several of the characters are quick to use obscene language, and there are some squicky sex scenes.
I don’t think this is one of Mr. de Lint’s better works; mostly for completists.
