«Everyone needs something to help them forget»
The first part is enjoyably Marlowian, but then the real investigation begins and the pace slows. However, the city remains in the background: the Times building, Broadway, the Avenues, and... the bridges. Descriptions like this made me reflect on their role, which goes beyond just connecting to Manhattan.
I looked up at the complex framework of the Queensborough Bridge and the clear blue sky caught in that tangle of girders. Enjoy the view. Such a clear day. The bridges of NY are iconic. Think of the movies you've seen. They don't just lead into the center; they are places in themselves, celebrated with bird's-eye views and slow pans.
Despite New York, when the characters started to be too many and increasingly improbable (rarities and sideshow phenomena), when the occult became a cult, I gave up trying to understand. It's a book that could be succinctly summed up in one sentence: “The story of a man who searches for himself.” And if this definition holds true for most of the books that have been written, it holds even truer in this case. A private investigator is hired to look into the disappearance of a singer. The client has a rather ambiguous name: Louis Cyphre. That's all you need to know if you want to read it, and in case the film Angel Heart - Elevator to Hell - directed by Alan Parker and starring Mickey Rourke and Robert De Niro is unknown to you. I'm not a regular reader of Noir. The two stars are due to the addition of Rouge. Genre readers, however, might appreciate William Hjortsberg's book.

I was on the phone the other day with a musician friend.

He recommended this to me with great enthusiasm. “You'll love it!” He told me excitedly. “It takes place in The City and it's all places you know – PLUS there's a lot of jazz references you'll catch too. I read it in two days.”

When I got off the phone, I immediately checked Kindle and there it was. I downloaded it without hesitation and began reading. Just like my friend, I read it in two days also.

Noir, Jazz, Mystery, Voodoo, The Occult, a familiar locale and even a real life character I remember. That's a five star formula for me. Hjortsburg works the hard boiled genre extremely well. Even the characters' names seem well chosen and highly appropriate: Johnny Favorite, Harry Angel, Louis Cyphre, Epiphany Proudfoot, etc, etc. It's really good stuff.

The real life character is a guy that used to stand in front of 1619 Broadway in NYC and swear at people walking by. Al Cooper mentions him in his autobiography Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards. Hjortsburg puts him in the story for verisimilitude and to create a unique atmosphere. It adds an interesting touch to the already captivating narrative.

Hard-boiled noir fiction at its best.

This book is truly a masterpiece within the genre. It was translated to film, Angelheart, in the 1980s starring Mickey O’Rourke. The movie adaptation managed to capture some of the essence of the book, but the written word still holds a unique charm.

I remembered the twist early on, yet it in no way detracted from the enjoyment of the book. In fact, it added an extra layer of anticipation as I continued to read, wondering how the story would unfold.

The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of suspense and mystery. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. If you're a fan of hard-boiled noir fiction, this book is a must read. It will transport you to a dark and seedy world filled with complex characters and unexpected twists.

Don't miss out on this classic piece of literature.

It doesn't happen to me very often that I read a whole book in less than one day, but sometimes it has to start. The culprit for this is the book itself, which is simply impossible to let go of and focus on something else. Since everyone has watched the legendary classic by Alan Parker that was filmed based on this book, there is really no need for me to say anything about the plot of the film because everyone already knows everything.

The writing style is just to my taste, that is, such that the plot develops at a dizzying speed, there are absolutely no unnecessary babblings, philosophizings, character developments and similar pretentious foolishness. Also, there are no fifteen-page descriptions of hands, each one is short and specific, a maximum of two or three sentences, just enough to bring us a little closer to the atmosphere in which our main character moves.

The important question is whether there is any need to read the book if you have already watched the film, that is, whether there are any specific differences between the film and the book. I watched the film a long time ago, but I remember it much better than most of the films I have watched in the meantime. Besides the undeniable fact that it is one of the best films in the world, it also shows that it is a very good adaptation of the book, that is, that the original material is maximally respected (plus the fact that in the film we see the whole voodoo aspect with our own eyes, which is done brilliantly, and that is, of course, much more convincing than when you just read it), so the essence is the same, but with quite a few smaller changes and at least one extremely significant one. Therefore, Bay of Pigs, even if you watched the film yesterday, by all means pick up the book, although of course its effect would be the best if you read it completely innocent, without having watched the film before (if there is anyone today who has not watched that great film).

A few things can be mentioned without spoiling. First, and at the same time the worst, the main character in the book is not called Harry Angel, but Harry Angelos (I watched the film first, so this last word constantly bothered my eyes while reading), he has a beard and short, straight hair, while in the film he is played by Mickey Rourke, so it is clear who has the advantage here. Second, however, I like the ending more in the book, although both the film and the book solve it in a completely sensible way. Third, the film, due to its visuality, is obviously at an advantage in what it can show, but in the book there are several scenes that are so disgusting that they CANNOT be found in the film, so this is a great example of a brilliant overlap and supplementation of the film adaptation and the original text.

I am catastrophically bad at predicting and guessing plot twists, but here I knew the ending from the film, so there was no element of surprise, however the book offers such a wealth of hints that I think the situation is perhaps made even a little too obvious, so that even someone who has not watched the film could guess the solution to the mystery if they read carefully enough. Aside from this detail, if you are inclined towards a top-notch thriller with occult voodoo and satanic elements, this is the book for you, of course if you can get past the letter "o" in the main character's surname and the fact that he has a beard.

If you can manage to look beyond the rather silly names such as Harry Angel and Louis Cyphre, and also ignore the goofy winks like people having lunch at 666 Fifth Avenue, what you'll discover is truly the best noir/horror hybrid that has ever been written.

This unique combination of noir and horror elements creates a captivating and chilling atmosphere. The story likely unfolds with a sense of mystery and danger, drawing the reader in and keeping them on the edge of their seats.

The noir aspect might bring in elements of a gritty, urban setting, with morally ambiguous characters and a complex web of secrets and lies. Meanwhile, the horror elements could add a touch of the supernatural or the macabre, sending shivers down the reader's spine.

Together, these two genres create a truly unforgettable reading experience that will leave you haunted long after you've turned the final page.

At one point in William Hjortsberg's masterful horror novel "Falling Angel," Epiphany Proudfoot, a 17-year-old voodoo priestess, tells our detective hero Harry Angel, "you sure know a lot about the city."

The city in question is the New York of 1959. If Angel knows a great deal about this crazy burg, then Hjortsberg, throughout the course of this tale, shows that he knows even more.

While much has been said about this book's scary elements - its voodoo ceremonies, Black Mass meeting, and horrible murders - what strikes me most about this story is the incredible attention to realistic detail that the author imparts to it.

I'm not sure if the author grew up in this town in the '50s or simply did an outstanding research job, but the reader truly gets the impression that this book (published in 1978) was written several decades earlier.

Roosevelt Island is correctly called Welfare Island; street names are given the names they had 45 years ago; subway ads are described that I can faintly remember from my youth at that time; one-cent peanut-vending machines are in the subways (boy, does that bring back memories!).

And it goes on and on. This is the kind of book where if something is described, you can be certain that it really existed. For example, at one point our hero walks into a 42nd St. theatre called Hubert's Museum and Flea Circus. I verified it; it was indeed there in the late '50s!

You can truly learn a great deal about the city as it was by reading this fast-paced tale; it's almost like a history lesson wrapped up in a hardboiled voodoo thriller.

And what a thriller it is! Even without the remarkable attention to detail, this book would be a winner. In it, Harry Angel is hired by Lou Cyphre (get it?) to track down '40s crooner Johnny Favorite, and by the time Angel concludes his quest, we have been introduced to all kinds of eccentric NYC characters and grisly happenings.

Many scenes are impressive, most notably the late-night Central Park voodoo ceremony, the Black Mass in the abandoned subway station, and an off-season walk through the Coney Island midway.

The book is rightfully included in Jones' and Newman's excellent overview volume, "Horror: The Hundred Best Books." It functions on multiple levels - as a thriller, as a scarifier, as a Faustian object lesson - and succeeds on all of them.

I haven't seen the "Angel Heart" movie that was made from this wonderful book, but I can't imagine it being any better. This book merits all the praise that has been lavished upon it. Fortunately, it's still in print, as it most definitely should be. I highly recommend it.

This is a crime noir hardboiled detective horror novel that was first published in 1978.

Immediately, this type of book captured my attention. Firstly, the addition of the horror genre to a genre that I don't typically read was intriguing. Secondly, it was written decades ago, in the late 70's, which added a certain charm and historical context. Thirdly, there were a lot of good reviews.

I had never seen the movie Angel Heart (1987) which is based on this book, so I went into it with very little knowledge of what would happen. Now, I really want to watch the movie!

The story is set in 1959 in New York City. P.I. Harry Angel is hired to find a former popular singer named Johnny Favourite. As Angel delves into the case, the history and background become deeper and far from straightforward. Murders occur among those involved, and the story gradually creeps into the realms of voodoo, black mass, devil worship, satanic rituals, and the occult.

The writing is concise and powerful, and the descriptions of the locations help to firmly place the story in 1959. I was able to pick up on clues about what was happening, and then the big twist came. Although it wasn't a complete surprise, it was still a massive twist that fit perfectly with the story.

After reading this, I decided that my next read would be another mystery thriller, perhaps one that may or may not have a supernatural horror element. I'm considering The Intruders.

Selling the soul seems to me a very risky business. Eternity lasts a long time.

A mysterious man hires the private detective Harry Angel to find Johnny Favorite.

This book will take us through this investigation that begins with different clues and alleys, seemingly without an exit and simple, but then it will become a much more mysterious journey, leading to a story full of beliefs, voodoo and satanism.

I have been greatly entertained. It manages to capture and set an atmosphere of mystery that unfolds, from a certain point, quickly through the short chapters that make it up.

It has many macabre elements and connections in the story that give meaning to everything and that have made me enjoy it, but at the beginning, the first 100 pages, I felt it was very simple to the point of making the reading pace a bit slow for me. Then the whole story becomes dark and thrilling.

The author has done a great job in creating a complex and engaging plot that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The characters are well-developed and the setting is vividly described, making it easy for the reader to immerse themselves in the story.

Overall, this is a great book for those who enjoy mystery, thriller and horror genres. It has a unique blend of elements that make it stand out from other books in the same category. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.

Falling Angel is truly everything that was promised and even more. It is an absolute gem of a book that I devoured every single page of. I am still in a state of shock when I think about the fact that I was completely unaware of its existence until 2018. How could such a remarkable piece of literature have flown under the radar for so long? It baffles me. Why doesn't this book receive the attention and acclaim that it so richly deserves? It is, without a doubt, a goddamned masterpiece. The story is captivating, the characters are vividly drawn, and the writing is simply superb. It has the power to transport the reader to another world and keep them on the edge of their seat from beginning to end. This is a book that should be widely read and celebrated. It is a work of art that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page.

It takes an extraordinary author to successfully cross genres within a single novel, and this is precisely what William Hjortsberg accomplishes. He seamlessly blends a spine-tingling horror story into a hardboiled detective noir. What a brilliant concept! And it functions perfectly.

Although a film adaptation, Angel Heart, was made of this novel in 1987, the book had been released nearly a decade earlier. So, despite the recent promotion by the new publisher, I still consider this an undiscovered gem. The author, Hjortsberg, I place in the same category, at least for me (more about him later).

If you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend reading this book first (available in Kindle) to fully appreciate the twists and turns that the author leads you through. It is written in the classic style of the gumshoe, with a cynical and leery protagonist grudgingly going through the necessary labors of solving a case, specifically a missing person investigation. His investigation ultimately leads to an unexpected conclusion, one that lies outside the realm of normal belief.

Unlike the film, the setting throughout the book is New York City, including a creepy scene in an abandoned part of the subway system, rather than shifting to locations in Louisiana.

The genius of this novel is no mere quirk, and Hjortsberg is not a one-genre writer (though he is a rather bizarre author). His sci-fi novel Gray Matters is set in a dystopian future where disembodied brains are kept alive in tanks, waiting to earn a new body, and features a 12-year-old boy as the protagonist. Alp: A Macabre Comedy is a comic fantasy set in a fictional Switzerland populated with foolish mountain climbers, trolls, witches, and honeymooners. Jubilee Hitchhiker: The Life and Times of Richard Brautigan is a comprehensive biography of the late novelist and poet Richard Brautigan. And Ma�ana is a novel centered on a hippie involved in a drug-fueled thriller.

I will most definitely be adding more of his books to my shelf.

I really liked this book.

It begins as a typical detective story, perhaps even a bit stereotypical at first. But then, it gradually evolves into an occult tale involving voodoo and satanism. The detective, Harry Angel, agrees to search for Johnny Favorite, a popular singer who was active on the circuit before World War II.

Angel interviews a diverse cast of characters, and initially, the story seems to follow a rather ordinary "interview and look for loopholes in the story" plot. However, the occasional gruesome murder that haunts Angel keeps the story flowing and creates an edge-of-your-seat tension. It makes you constantly wonder what will jump out next.

The first half of the book might seem to move slowly, but once the occult aspects of the case start to emerge, the mystery itself adds to the tension in the plot. I found myself suspecting everyone. Angel's Columbo-like attitude provides a nice contrast to the many characters he encounters, and nothing is truly as it seems.

I eagerly wanted to see what Angel would discover when he finally found Johnny Valentine. The more I read, the more certain I became that he would find him.

Fortunately, I had long forgotten the plot of the 80s movie "Angel Heart," so this book wasn't spoiled for me. I only remembered enough to have a nagging feeling that I knew something was going on, but not enough to figure it out completely. If you saw the film a while ago, this book can be an enjoyable read. I don't remember the details well enough to determine how closely the film and the book are aligned.

Overall, this book offers a nice blend of the detective and voodoo/satanic murder genres. The story builds gradually until it reaches a brutal and almost over-the-top finale.

Four stars.

Hjortsberg is a rather elusive author to come across on the shelves. In my opinion, he is truly worthy of being searched for.

After approximately twenty years or so, I made the decision to pick up this book and read it once more. It has withstood the test of time remarkably well - perhaps because in the intervening years I have read a great many other authors, his literary allusions now seem to stand out more prominently in my mind. The story commences as a first-person narrative by a private detective, told in the now-familiar style of Chandler and Ross MacDonald. The action unfolds over a span of ten days in 1959. A mysterious and highly aristocratic figure engages him to locate a once-famous swing-band singer who vanished during the Second World War. And then things take a dark, murky, frightful, and diabolically strange turn.

Hjortsberg描绘了大约1959年的曼哈顿这座城市的诸多细节 - 正如他在自己的后记中所揭示的那样，完全基于他自己年轻时的记忆，甚至不辞辛劳地去精确研究那个时期的天气状况。他的人物形象塑造得十分丰满且富有色彩（以一种奇特的明亮与阴暗色调的混合）。到书的结尾，他已经超越了黑色电影的风格。这绝不是一部让人感觉愉悦的作品，但至少对我来说，它已经深深地铭刻在我的脑海中。

不幸的是，这本书的知名度在很大程度上依赖于1987年根据它改编的电影《天使心》。千万不要让你对那部糟糕的胡言乱语之作的记忆影响你决定是否阅读原著。