Book Review

Basic Details:

Book Title: AVENGING ANGEL

Subtitle: Love and Death in Old Brooklyn

Author: Charles S. Isaacs

Genre: Fiction

Part of a series?

Order in series:

Best read after earlier books in series?

Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60638217-avenging-angel

Overall score:

I scored this book 4/5

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Short Summary of the book:

When 12-year-old Cassandra is gangraped at her own home by 3 men from the KKK, she vows to take revenge. Her behaviour causes concerns for her dad, and she is enrolled in a community scheme which promotes discipline through martial arts.

Years later, she takes her revenge and goes hunting at night for would-be predators.

An unlikely romance between the black woman and a white Italian retired cop, a friendship with a white young woman she saved and plans to better the world. A great story.

What I liked about the book:

The book was action-filled and didn’t shy away from subjects like gangrape, racism, interracial relationships, and domestic abuse.

What I didn’t like about the book:

The book was enjoyable in its entirety.

My favourite bits in the book:

Where Cassie takes more positive actions for the future.

My least favourite bits in the book:

I enjoyed the entire book.

Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and he left room for a next in the series to come out.

What books could this be compared to and why?

It has a mixture of other books, but is unique in its approach.

Recommendation:

In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:

Children No

Young Adult Yes

Adult Yes

If you like action and mystery, this book may be the book for you.

I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Book Description by Author:

A riveting tale of revenge, survival and redemption, wrapped around an unlikely love story and set against an urban backdrop corrupted by violence against women and racism.

Following a racially motivated rape by three Ku Klux Klansmen, 12-year-old Cassandra Monroe vows revenge. After eight years of training, now a strikingly beautiful assassin, she accomplishes her mission.

Her campaign continues with solitary walks through dark city streets, hoping to be assaulted by men with bad intentions. Those entrapped by her spider’s web pay dearly for their efforts.

Surrounded by white men one night, she’s rescued by Mike Borelli, an Italian-American passerby. A stormy up-and-down relationship ensues. Ultimately, as her rage matures into purposeful action, and as he begins to see the world through her eyes, they become a team.

Along the way, they encounter serial killers, wife-beaters, actual and would-be rapists, gangsters, crooked cops, a kidnapper and a pedophile priest, as well as numerous women in desperate need of their help. Beneath all the action, though, is the blossoming of a most unusual love story.

About the Author:

Charles S. Isaacs has been a schoolteacher, college professor, social activist, community organizer, real estate consultant, gambler, storyteller, bad golfer and occasional journalist.

His undergraduate studies were in Mathematics (LIU-Brooklyn), after which he attended the University of Chicago Law School. His later graduate work was in the Social Sciences, earning an M.A. (New School for Social Research) and a Ph.D. (The Union Institute & University).

His published work encompasses fiction, poetry and award-winning non-fiction. He lives in New York's Mid-Hudson Valley.