Who wouldn't be enthralled by a supernatural crime noir story that is set in the 1950s? This tale is filled with elements like voodoo, satanic cults, and brutal murders, all of which add an air of mystery and danger. And at the center of it all is a hard-boiled detective named Harry Angel. His no-nonsense attitude and determination to solve the case make him a captivating character.

I can clearly understand why this particular story is regarded as a classic. It has all the ingredients that make for a great crime noir: a dark and seedy setting, complex characters, and a twisting plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The combination of the supernatural and the criminal underworld creates a unique and engaging atmosphere that is truly unforgettable.

Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good mystery or crime story with a touch of the supernatural. This is a classic that will continue to be enjoyed for years to come.

Folks who witnessed the 1987 Alan Parker film are already acquainted with the ending. However, reading it subsequently offers some delicious theatrical irony. I also noticed numerous crumbs that writer William Hjortsberg left for us to navigate through this steaming morass of "god-damn-what-in-the-hell-am-I-reading???"

There are certain differences. Primarily, this is set in New York City in the 50s rather than New Orleans as in the film. As is often the case, the book outshines the movie. And that's high praise considering the movie, starring Mickey Rourke and Lisa Bonet, was quite good.

Horror. Indeed, this is a Neo-noir mystery with strong occult undertones. But when stripped down to its essence, it's a horror novel. The lean style and unrelenting pace reminded me of Gary Brandner’s The Howling (published just a year earlier in 1977).

Ever seen a Pharma ad about dry skin on your elbow but then WATCH OUT!! Some of the side effects include satan worship and cannibalism? Well, we might just have to learn to live with that patch of dandruff as Hjortsberg bombards us with one bone-crushing, horrific, and grisly detail after another.

Damn dude.

Anyway, it's well-written, spookier than all get out, and I guess I'm deeply damaged as I'm actually considering reading more from this twisted SOB!

I'm not going to assert that this is an outstanding book. However, goddamn it, I adored it.

It combines noir detective fiction with satanism and a hodgepodge of other supernatural elements. It is written with a clear sense of purpose and without a happy ending that would spoil its sharpness.

Certainly, it gives hints about where it's headed, but the journey is incredibly enjoyable. There is an abundance of gruesome horror and a healthy dose of hard-boiled violence.

The story was so engaging that it made me want to read long past the time I should have stopped. It truly captivated me and held my attention throughout.

Despite not being a perfect or overly polished work, it has a certain charm and appeal that makes it a must-read for fans of the genre.

I highly recommend giving it a chance and experiencing the unique blend of noir, satanism, and supernatural elements for yourself.

New York, in the 1950s. Harry Angel, a private detective, receives a seemingly ordinary assignment from the eccentric Louis Cyphre. His task is to find a well-known pre-war singer, Johnny Favorite. What's the big deal about finding someone? However, during the course of the investigation, everyone who has any information about Favorite soon dies...

The style in which this is written really appealed to me. It is full of hidden demonic symbolism, and there is no shortage of black humor laced with irony. The narration is masterfully done, and through the eyes of the protagonist, we witness the development of the situation. We step into the dark, dirty world of black magic and voodoo, feeling the sinister aura that thickens more and more. The descriptions of the surroundings are brilliant, with amazing attention to architectural details. I had the feeling as if I could see every building and every corner myself.

I was hooked on this novel from the very beginning, and the further I read, the more it kept me on the edge of my seat. The intrigue is fascinatingly constructed. The strength of this book is its atmosphere, dense and stuffy, in which one wants to immerse oneself. Genre-wise, it is a combination of noir crime and horror. The occult themes add a delicious flavor to this story. There is no room for boredom here! Mysterious ceremonies, black masses, ritual murders, and at times it is brutally and perversely so. A dark mystery hangs in the air. Unusual, colorful characters. The ending? Mega! As for me, completely unpredictable! My jaw dropped in surprise. I have a great weakness for such classic noir crime novels

Until the last 30 pages, this book held nothing that compelled me to keep reading.

I managed to persevere only by taking a long break and then forcing myself, given that the book was short.

The last 30 pages are somewhat okay, but even they fall short of being sufficient to recommend this book.

If you've read any pulp horror magazines or reprints from the 1930s and combined them with Rosemary's Baby, you'd essentially have this book.

The author overdid it in his attempts to remind you that the story is set in the 1950s.

If he had chosen his plot direction as carefully as these reminders of the setting, he might have had at least a 3-star book.

To make matters worse, the big reveal, which is all but given away by the time you finish the first chapter - it's that predictable - was not convincing in its presentation.

You knew it was coming, but the author didn't do enough to make you feel satisfied that, yes, that is the way it was going to end all along.

I give it an extra star for the slightly more detailed than usual use of voodoo as a plot point.

On that subject, it sounds like the author did his homework.

Again, if only he had had a more original plot in which to couch his studies.

William Hjortsberg's Falling Angel served as the foundation for the movie Angel Heart. Despite Mickey Rourke's performance, it's an outstanding adaptation. Even if you've watched the movie, the book is still highly worth reading. And for those who haven't seen the movie, it's a special treat in store.

Falling Angel narrates the tale of Harry Angel, a private investigator hired by a mysterious stranger to track down the whereabouts of 1940s crooner Johnny Favorite. What initially seems straightforward becomes increasingly complex as the investigation progresses. Soon, bodies start to surface, and it appears that Angel is being framed to take the blame. Every new piece of the puzzle he discovers reveals how much of the story he has yet to be told. The investigation takes numerous unexpected twists, and eventually, Harry finds himself involved with blues musicians, fake swamis, voodoo priestesses, and a satanic cult.

Although the story is filled with supernatural elements, the style is firmly that of a hard-boiled detective story from the Hammett/Chandler/Cain era. It's a great juxtaposition of style and content. The noir detective is naturally cynical, so Angel's disbelief in the occult occurrences feels genuine. The crime novels from that era deal with various conspiracies and trickery, but everything is firmly rooted in reality. There's always a reason, a human reason, for all the trouble that unfolds. It's a delight to take that same style and those same assumptions and view them from a different perspective.

Hjortsberg does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing as the plot unfolds. Just when you think you know what's about to happen (or what just happened), the story slips out of your grasp. Hjortsberg manipulates us as subtly and thoroughly as his characters manipulate each other. Up until the final revelations, you're never entirely sure how it will all end.

Now for the bad news: those who've seen Angel Heart know the surprise that Hjortsberg has in store for the reader. Knowing the outcome before you reach it is truly a letdown. While this doesn't nullify the story, it does mean that you're constantly hit over the head with foreshadowing every other paragraph or so. This was extremely disappointing for me the first time I read Falling Angel. I was actually angry at the movie for being such a good adaptation and thereby spoiling a great read. But you know what? If the worst thing you can say about a book is that someone made a pretty good movie out of it, then that's probably a pretty safe recommendation.

I tried to get hold of this book when I first saw ‘Angel Heart’, which is still the best film I have ever seen. However, I failed to find it. What a great joy it is to discover that it is now available for Kindle.

Like many of the previous reviewers, I thought it might be spoilt for me because I already knew what happened at the end. But that was not the case. The language in this book is stunningly beautiful.

Just look at this opening sentence: ‘It was Friday the thirteenth and yesterday’s snowstorm lingered in the streets like a leftover curse.’ Isn't it captivating?

Or take this description: ‘It was easy to imagine those pampered hands gripping a whip. Nero must have had such hands. And Jack the Ripper. It was the hand of emperors and assassins. Languid, yet lethal, the cruel, tapered fingers perfect instruments of evil.’ It really brings the image to life.

And as for my foreknowledge of the plot, the book is sufficiently different from the film that there are still surprises. In fact, I found myself unable to put the book down as I approached the end. I knew - I KNEW what would happen and yet I still couldn't stop reading.

I firmly believe this book to be a classic, one of the very best I have ever read. I am now in the process of buying William Hjortsberg’s other works, but I'm also fearing that there might not be enough of them for me to devour.

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On the one hand, I firmly believe that it's a perfect book.

On the other hand, unfortunately, it was slightly marred by the fact that I had already watched the movie "Angel Heart" which was based on it. As a result, a significant amount of its power was lost for me.

On the third hand, since so much of its impact was diminished simply because I was aware of what was going to occur, it might not seem like a 5-star book. For example, "The Maltese Falcon" by Dashiell Hammett and "The Chill" by Ross Macdonald actually get better with each successive reading or viewing.

However, on the fourth hand, this book is truly fucking genius. So, to hell with the third hand! It definitely deserves 5 stars and is truly one of a kind.

It's a remarkable piece of literature that manages to captivate and engage readers despite the potential drawbacks of prior knowledge from the related movie.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates great storytelling and unique literary works.

Atrapante.

I saw the movie many years ago and when I learned that it was an adaptation of this book, I wanted to read it.

Finally, I managed to get it and finally, I enjoyed it as much as the film.

Both are sublime.

The story in the book is just as captivating as it was in the movie.

The characters are well-developed and the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat.

It's a thrilling ride from start to finish.

The author has done a great job of bringing the story to life on the page.

Reading the book allowed me to see details and nuances that I may have missed in the movie.

It gave me a deeper understanding and appreciation of the story.

If you loved the movie, I highly recommend reading the book.

You won't be disappointed.

I thought that one of the fundamental aspects of storytelling was the inclusion of at least a few boring parts. This, however, didn't seem to be the case here. There was no hint of boredom at all. So, I'm guessing that this story wasn't written in the traditional sense.

Despite this, the story had a constant pacing that kept me engaged from start to finish. It never lagged or dragged, and the plot moved forward at a brisk pace.

Moreover, the ending was more than satisfying. It tied up all the loose ends and left me with a sense of closure. I was really impressed with how the author managed to bring the story to such a great conclusion.

Overall, I would highly recommend this story. It may not follow the traditional formula for storytelling, but it more than makes up for it with its engaging pacing and satisfying ending. I give it a solid 4.5 out of 5.

Falling Angel, by William Hjortsberg, was published in 1978. It is a gritty and hardboiled crime thriller that also incorporates elements of occultism. The movie Angel Heart was adapted from this novel, but there were significant changes in the film. So, even if you've seen the movie, some of the plot elements in the novel are different. The story features a cynical gumshoe, blues bars, Voodoo, Satanism, murder, and mystery. All of this takes place on the grimy streets of New York City in the late 1950s. If you enjoy classic hardboiled detective stories and don't mind a healthy dose of sensationalist occultism, this is a great read. I personally finished it in one day. Hjortsberg passed away in 2017, but a sequel to this novel, titled Angel's Inferno, was published posthumously in 2020. It's currently on my Want To Read list.