William Hjortsberg (1941–2017)

Hjortsberg's first novel is an apocalyptic joyride with a wedding, newlyweds, sex (interspecies included), perversion, mountain climbing, nuns, a howitzer, avalanches, betrayal, and--oh yes--cannibalism. It's a black comedy, of course, and Hjortsberg's fascinating career was off to a great start. So, even if you aren't a Hjortsberg completist, if you have a weird sense of humor and like a good (and short) novel--and if the interspecies thing and a few other plot points don't bother you--jump show more right in. show less

This sequel to Falling Angel, written almost 40 years after the original, is compelling from start to finish. You may have a feeling where it is going to end up, but Hjortsberg delivers the goods right to the end. I remember recommending Falling Angel to my wife to read--and her disgusted reaction! She would react the same to this sequel, no doubt. But like its predecessor, Angel's Inferno is an incredible blend of noir, detective story, devil worship, and (at least in this case) travelogue show more as Johnny Favorite travels to Paris and Rome in his pursuit of the devil. There is something here to offend just about everyone, especially faithful Catholics, but the book does (if you accept its premise) explain the rise of Donald Trump. I wouldn't be surprised if he is one of the Council of Thirty...

Highly highly recommended. I will now go back and re-read Falling Angel, which should take on new meanings in light of this sequel.

For some reason, this book doesn't even seem to be published in the USA, other than a very limited edition that has sold out. I ordered mine via Amazon from Britain. Do the same! show less

Despite having seen the film version (which differs significantly from the source on several key points) a half-dozen times, this was the first time I had actually ever read Hjortsberg's novel. As a tremendous fan of both the noir and occult sub-genres, I found this book squarely within my wheelhouse. Enjoyable ride from start to finish, with the true highlight being the incredibly evocative painting of mid-20th century New York as a backdrop to the whole affair. Clever and more than a bit show more melancholy, this is a stand-out work of neo-noir fiction with a healthy slice of occultism. show less

4.5 stars!

There are two reasons I bought this book. 1. I bought it at my favorite brick and mortar bookstore, Bunch of Grapes(http://bunchofgrapes.com/), because I wanted to contribute in some small way to their beautiful store. 2. Because my friend Marc has been hounding me to read it for a couple of years now. He was right, and I now wish I had read this book sooner.

This is a crime-noir novel, written in the 70's but actually taking place in the early 50's. As such, there are some racist show more comments and remarks, as well as some slang with which I was unfamiliar. For instance, did you know that shamus was slang for private detective? Yeah, I didn't either. What puts this novel in the dark fiction category was the voodoo and Satanic worship which both play a role in the plot.

Speaking of which, the plot was excellent. It got a little complicated, but I never lost my way. The story was also peppered with a bit of dry humor, which I always enjoy.

Going into the last chapters, I have to say I was a bit disappointed. I've been told so much about this book, I guess I was feeling a bit let down. Then...


...the ending of this story blew me away.

Highly recommended for fans of crime-noir and dark fiction! show less