ANGEL OF THE DARK - SIDNEY SHELDON - Book Review

     Almost a month back, I received a gift voucher from Flipkart.com , and I decided to get some books for my self, of the books that I had ordered, I happened to order ANGEL OF THE DARK - SIDNEY SHELDON

     To begin, Let me tell you - this book wasn't completely written by Sidney Sheldon, Its author is Tilly Bagshawe, who built up this book on some unpublished work from Sidney Sheldon.

Sidney Sheldon - Angel of the Dark (Review)

STORY PLOT:-     The story starts with the first chapter dating to 1996, LosAngeles, where an Old , rich man named Andrew Jakes is murdered and his beautiful young wife Angela Jakes is brutally raped and beaten, then tied to the corpse of her dead husband. The case investigations were begun by Danny Mc Guire, an LAPD detective. But, due to lack of evidences at the crime scene, and the LAPD failing to find the accomplice, the case is closed. The wife (Angela Jakes) was rescued from the crime scene treated at the hospital and then later discharged, following which the young widow disappears from LA - the only witness to this case, leaving back her inheritance to charity. Once the case was closed , everyone decided to move on, but Danny Mc Guire was amongst those who never wanted to give up on this case and swore to himself to find the psychopath behind this case, but en route to find out the mystery he ends up ruining himself
Back at LA, Matt Daley, the estranged son of Andrew Jakes , decides to work upon this case and make a documentary


     9 yrs later, Danny Mc Guire is at France, with a new life, working with the interpol, still unable to forget Angela Jakes and the mystery with the case, until he meets Matt Daley- who is very much curious about his fathers murder. Matt Daley had collected all relevent data's relevant to the case and he happened to analyze on it. What's shocking was three identical killings - similar to the one that happened with Andrew Jakes (his father) had happened across the globe, where an old wealthy millionaire is murdered and his young wife is brutally raped , following which the young wife disappears, leaving away the wealth to charity... The mystery open again, had the murderer struke again ...???

     A year later 2006, a similar incidence happens and Matt decided to fly to Hongkong and meet the widow  (Lisa Baring) of this latest strike, so that he could uncover something interesting from the incidence. Soon the HongKong police send Lisa to Bali where Matt happens to sneak in, and soon as time passes, Matt gets infatuated by Lisa Baring beauty until they are caught by Chinese Police and put on a house arrest. Amidst the house arrest at Bali islands, both Lisa and Matt plan for an escape plan, but one fine morning Lisa finally goes missing like the wives from other cases....

     A few months later, in Mumbai, India- David Ishag an old wealthy Indian tycoon was to marry an young Jewish lady named Sarah Jane, following the instructions and predictions from the murderers insctinct at the interpol Danny Mc Guire comes to India, and follows up on David Ishag, he also warns David Ishag about his wife, which David wasn't ready to accept. Following which, one fine night Sarah Jane along with the murderer try killing David Ishag, but the police happen to reach there on time and end up catching them red handed, during which Matt Daley happens to be at the spot and ends up putting his life at risk.

     The Murderer in this case was ' Francis Mancini ' a.k.a Tony Renalto who was also the lawyer for Andrew Jakes and activly involved in the 3 murders. Also as the case opened up at the Court, it came forward that the widows didnt dissapear, but were all the same. It was Sofia Basta (real name ) who underwent many corrective surgeries and language training to become Angela Jakes, to Irina Anojou ( from a similar murder case in France) to Lisa Baring to Sarah Jane, under the orders from Francis who had misguided her and happened to torture or kill her identical sister who didn't exist. The court summit also put a light that Francis Mancini and Sofia Basta both had some psychological problems. The final decision by the court was that Francis Mancini is the murderer, but Sofia is not guilty, hence Sofia was sent to a psychiatric rehab center.

     A few months later, Matt , who was deeply in love with Lisa (Sofia) finally hooks up with Clarie and they happened to get married (before which he was told that Lisa was dead), soon his life comes back to track, also the documentary is released, on the other side his wife Clarie is also pregnent.  But one fine evening he happens to meet a woman with a known face and a heard voice, it was Sofia (his Lisa ) that he meets at a coffee shop, this time they happen to make an escape plan and finally succeeding in running away to stay happily forever.

MY REVIEW :-
   
    Firstly, must admit that Tilly Bagshawe has done justice to the Sidney Sheldon's story only to a certain extent (it could have been a tip better) . The story is well paced, exciting with some spectacular twists and certainly has that factor to keep the reader hooked and doesn't lag at any point. There have been times, where the story becomes predictable. There have also been some loop holes in the story , which seems to be funny, but it is better to carry on with the story..... Also at the end, the story ends up leaving you reeling and wondering - was justice actually served ??  for the way Sofia escapes even though she was involved in all the 3 murder cases ..?? was it right for Matt to impregnate his newly married wife and run away broke with Sofia??

My Rating - 3.8 /5

--> Sulaiman Sait