Turning Angel

***** MINOR SPOILERS *****

I enjoyed this book immensely.....so much so that I've ordered the other books in the series. Penn Cage is definitely a character that I'm interested in reading more of.

My one and only criticism is the unbelievability in regards to some of the relationships. I don't have the big issue with Dr. Elliotts and Kates relationships that some of the other reviewers do.....its reality....it happens.
Ok, then you have a coach also sleeping with a teen.... not unheard of.....although, being in the same community as Dr Elliot makes it a bit of a tough sale.
But now we're supposed to believe that Penn...who has a young daughter....lost his wife a few years back.....and currently in a relationship with a woman he's show more supposedly crazy about....also falling for a high school senior?? It seems as though Greg Iles may have a teen girl fetish.

All in all, it was a good book and I'm looking forward to reading the series. show less

Turning Angel, the second in the Penn Cage series, is a gripping thriller that focuses on the privileged teens attending St. Stephens, Penn's old high school. In the dying city of Natchez, Mississippi, the kids are making risky choices, which inevitably lead to illegal sex, drug use, and murder. After the police discover seventeen-year-old Kate Townsend's pregnant body in the river, Drew—Penn's close childhood friend—is arrested by a DA with his own agenda. As racial and political issues grow in the wake of another death, Penn realizes he might be the only one who can save his friend from being convicted of a murder he didn't commit.
The book sucked me in immediately and kept me hooked with plot twist after plot twist. I found the show more characters authentic and complicated. Some are disgusting but still authentic. I can see from the reviews that some people consider the subject of underage sex distasteful. So is rampant drug use in our schools. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen. That part of the book didn't bother me. My only critique concerns the main character's choices. Penn Cage is a widower and a single father to Annie, his nine-year-old daughter. The entire story is about his quest to save the life of his friend, Drew Elliott, by proving he didn't kill his girlfriend so he could be there to raise his nine-year-old son, Timmy. Yet, Penn recklessly risks his own life—which would leave Annie motherless AND fatherless—by pursuing dangerous drug dealers without backup or even a weapon over and over again. In this respect, some of Mr. Iles' plot choices were frustrating. However, after our hero's run-in with Cyrus, we are reminded that Penn is only human. show less

Audiobook narrated by Dick Hill

Book two in the Penn Cage series. Drew Elliott is a highly respected doctor in Natchez. He is also a life-long friend of Penn’s, having saved his life when they were boys, and he serves alongside Penn on the school board of their alma mater, St Stephen’s Prep. When the nude body of the school’s valedictorian is found near a creek bed behind the school property, the entire community is shocked. But Penn soon discovers that Drew had an inappropriate and passionate relationship with the girl, and Drew’s likely to be accused of her murder.

Okay… Iles can write a compelling story with lots of suspects, many twists and turns in the plot, complicated motives and subplots, and a fast pace that keeps the show more reader turning pages. Penn’s background as a prosecuting attorney in Houston serves him well, but also complicates matters; he’s no longer practicing law, though Drew wants to maintain an “attorney-client” privilege to their communication.

Iles books are full of violence … and of the three I’ve read, particularly against women. Murder is always a violent crime, of course, but the sexual component herein is particularly disturbing. But I have a major problem with THIS book due to the basic underlying relationships. We have a doctor having a torrid love affair with a TEENAGER who is his PATIENT! And her mother “approves” of this?!!!??!!?!?! Then Penn is attracted to and kissing the teenager who babysits his daughter …. YUCK and DOUBLE YUCK.

So the basic “thriller genre” gets 3 stars (even with the violence against women), but loses a star for the particularly distasteful – and disgraceful – underlying theme here.

And by the way … Penn is going on about how he wants to improve Natchez and bring more people to the community. But the author is sure doing a good job of painting it as a den of iniquity that no one would want to visit, with shoot-outs in hotels and drug cartels running rampant. Um, not my idea of a vacation spot (or a place to live).

Dick Hill does a pretty good job performing the audiobook. He sets a good pace and I like his voice for Penn Cage. He manages a decent teenaged Mia too, which is a bit surprising given his deep voice. But I really disliked the voice he used for Drew, who sounded whiny, cowardly and weak. No way I believed he was a big, strong man. show less

As an avid reader, my first choice of genre is usually drama or humor. Favorite authors include Richard Russo, Murakami, Nelson DeMille and countless others. But as of the past months, Greg Iles has risen to the top! Turning Angel is the 8th book read by this author and I plan to read the rest.

Meticulous at developing a 'launch pad for action', the reader is engaged from the very start. What's unique about Greg as a suspense/crime author is how he weaves humanity and family into an explosive story filled with unexpected plot twists and action. Penn Cage, a former prosecutor turned author is a great character; dedicated to the city of Natchez, his family and daughter, his integrity is unquestionable. Quentin Avery, a black high power show more attorney is reminiscent of Atticus Finch (Mockingbird). Whether antagonist or protagonist, the characters are engaging and filled with surprises.

For those who enjoy stories of depth, prefer page turners to romance and seek an author who's mastered the craft, Greg Iles should be added to your 'to read' list, Turning Angel included. show less

Although I'm not much of a fan of murder mysteries, I've come to like the writing of author Greg Iles very much. What stands out for me is that his home town of Natchez, Mississippi, has just as big a role in his novels as do his characters. A sense of love for his hometown is always in the forefront even if the plots of his novels are somewhat malevolent.

Turning Angel is the third book by Iles that I have read, and it does not disappoint. I like the level-headed character of former lawyer, and now writer, Penn Cage. I also like that the novel, although pretty hefty at almost 500 pages, moves along steadily. It's not like other mysteries in which nothing is unravelled until the bitter end. It could have been a bit shorter (and maybe a show more bit more believable), but I think the author wanted to take time to develop the story and provide the reader with unexpected plot twists.

The history of the south seems to rattle through Iles' books with an eye to educate rather than anger. I especially like this quote:

What's the third type of black leader? ... The prophetic leader. That's Martin, Malcolm...Ella Baker. Or James Baldwin in the intellectual sphere ... The current generation has produced no leaders of this type, much less of that caliber. I'm watching Barak Obama, but I'm not sure yet.

After reading those lines, I was curious to see when this book was written. It was copyright 2005, well before Barack Obama was a household name.

The story begins with the revelation that stunningly beautiful Kate Jennings, a 17-year-old Harvard-bound high school senior is found raped and murdered. Penn Cage's friend Dr. Elliott, a well respected 40-year-old physician, reveals that he has been involved in a secret love affair with this woman although he firmly states that he did not kill her. So who did? If the true killer is not found, a jury is soon to put Dr. Elliott behind bars for 30 years.

If you've never read a book by Iles before, I must admit that I liked Mortal Fear and The Quiet Game better. However, this story will give you an idea of how Greg Iles can twist the history, the setting, and the people of Natchez, Mississippi, into a captivating story. show less

Gritty and violent legal murder mystery page turner about teen sex, raves, drugs and immorality in Mississippi. Didn't really like the subject matter but couldn't seem to put it down.

It begins as a taut legal thriller where Penn Cage (From Quiet Game and Sleep No More) has to defend his friend who had saved his life previously. His friend was in love with a high school student who turns up dead. All clues begin pointing to Penn's friend as the killer. Meanwhile, the story touches on drug warfare, adolescent sex and more double-crossing and political reaching than you can imagine. "Turning Angel" is a good book that explores the loss of innocence among the young. Is there anything that can be done? Iles doesn't answer that question but still writes an fun novel.