“Better Angels” is a dark, gritty story that takes place in the underbelly of a dying city.  The main characters are a petty criminal, his abused girlfriend, Russian mafia types, and a man returning to the city he once escaped from.  It’s well-written, but the overall feeling is dingy, violent and down-trodden.

The prologue sets the scene by describing how the city has been emptying and decaying since the mills and factories closed.  The first chapter starts with a guy being hauled out of the trunk of a car for questioning about some missing drugs.  Then we spend some time with his girlfriend who is worried about him, despite that fact that he hits her, and who hopes that this time he’s going to make some major cash so they can finally get out of this town. 

Nikki is a small time crook who has managed to get in with the Russians in order to get hired for bigger jobs.  He thinks he’s clever but he’s not.  He thinks he can get away with telling the Russians some story that will pin the blame for the job failing on another guy.  The Russians like dealing out pain too much to let him get away without paying something, and don’t really care whose fault it was.  They want their stuff back.  They probably know exactly what’s happened and are waiting for him to make the next move.  While meeting up with his girlfriend Layla, Nikki crosses paths with Max, a man returning to the place he grew up in order to look for someone or something, despite warnings from his friends.  He remembers the way the city used to be and wonders at how much things have gone downhill.

The author is very good at creating a mood.  Everything about the story feels dark, dingy and hopeless.  There’s a lot of tension created from the feeling of impending violence, and the gut feeling that things aren’t going to work out the way Nikki and Layla want.  The characters feel like people I’ve seen on TV or in the movies whose lives don’t get any better, and often get worse.  They’re worn down and desperate.  The characters are well-written and distinct but not fun people to spend time with.  It’s as if the minor characters from an episode of “CSI” or “Law and Order” were made the stars.  So far there really isn’t anybody to cheer for, or any humour to lighten the gloom. 

I stopped reading after 7 chapters, because I found the story too dark and depressing for my tastes.  However, it is solidly written and the pace is good.  If you enjoy moody stories about crooks jockeying for position and trying to beat the odds to get the big score, you might want to check it out.

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