It is impossible for me to evaluate "The Fallen Angel" without forgetting Alan Parker's adaptation. The director of "Midnight Express", the author of the screenplay, knew how to enhance a series of narrative aspects in which Hjortsberg was rather blunt. Especially in that atmosphere that darkens and increases in the film with that displacement to New Orleans, perfectly aligned with the musical and voodoo elements of the plot.

The book is more of a detective story that is very threadbare, with a dull first person and rather gray dialogues. However, Hjortsberg managed to write powerful chapters, such as Cyphre's two speeches in front of his followers or the black mass in the New York subway. And to fill the story with references to the ending, which I don't know if they are too obvious or not, but which have made me smile more than once.

This does not prevent me from believing that with the film one gets more out of this story.

This is the novel that was adapted into the movie Angel Heart, starring Mickey Rourke and Robert De Niro.

I have always been a huge fan of the film, but I had never read the book before. I am truly glad that I finally did. It is an absolutely brilliant read.

The movie made a few changes, with the most significant one being the setting. In the book, the story is set in New York. The writing is powerful, presenting a genuine noir private eye story that is filled with the supernatural, black magic, voodoo, violence, and sex.

It has been widely regarded as one of the best supernatural thrillers of the 20th century, and I wholeheartedly agree. It is truly superb. The book takes the reader on a dark and twisted journey, filled with mystery and suspense at every turn.

The characters are well-developed, and the plot is engaging from start to finish. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good supernatural thriller or a classic noir story.

2.5/5. I'm not very satisfied. It's a well-written thriller, but the truth is that it wasn't anything special and the plot didn't really surprise me. I've seen much better descriptions of the devil in other works by other people. Somewhere between the first third and the middle of the novel, I already knew exactly who John Favorite really was and suspected that the ending would be a cheat. I knew both. In terms of style and writing method, Hortsberg reminds me a lot of Ira Levin. In practice, I wouldn't recommend it and I would hardly pick up another one of his books.

The story had its moments, but overall it failed to engage me on a deeper level. The characters didn't feel fully developed, and the pacing was a bit off at times. There were also some plot holes that bothered me. While the writing was competent, it didn't have that spark that would make it stand out from other thrillers.

Perhaps if I had come into this book with lower expectations, I might have enjoyed it more. However, as it stands, I can't say that it was a particularly memorable read. I'll be looking for other thrillers that can offer more excitement and originality.

This is the book upon which the movie 'Angel Heart' was based. When the movie came out, I really liked it - but that was quite a while ago.

So, I didn't remember all the details clearly - yet I continuously had the feeling that the story sounded extremely familiar. (For instance, I couldn't fathom why all the reviews and blurbs claimed it was'strikingly original', and so on). ;-)
There are indeed some differences. The book is set solely in New York City, not in New Orleans as in the movie.

It is very much a noir/mystery. It's the story of a private detective who is hired to search for a missing former pop singer. There is a horror element that only becomes evident at the end. It is well-written and has a good emotional impact. However, in order for it to make sense, you really just have to say, "Well, I guess Satan, I mean, Louis Cypher, hahaha, does inexplicable things for no good reason other than that he is evil."

This book offers a unique blend of mystery and horror, with a setting in the bustling city of New York that adds to its allure. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat as you follow the private detective's investigation, and the unexpected twist at the end leaves a lasting impression.

What can I say and what can I write now? I still can't quite wrap my head around this incredible finale, which was so beautifully and simply described by Prötigkan in his comment on the back cover of the book: "a finale equivalent to a crash into a wall at a speed of 150 kilometers per hour."

But let's start from the beginning: In the late 1950s, in New York. The tough private detective Harry Einzel is called by the mysterious and enigmatic Mr. Saifer to find Johnny Fieberit, a music star who shone in the 1940s in the United States but mysteriously disappeared after the war. A classic case of searching for a missing person, right? Wrong! Einzel will be involved in an extremely dangerous case, a nightmare with mountains and black magic, and will find himself face to face with the terrifying deaths of people related to the case he is investigating. What he discovers in the end is beyond any crazy fantasy and will leave the reader gasping.

The writing of Gortsberg slightly resembled Raymond Chandler, although of course Einzel seemed to me less of a wisecracker than Marlowe. Here, however, the classic noir is mixed with horror and the supernatural, something that Chandler's books don't do. I really liked the whole atmosphere of New York and how gradually the case of searching for a person turned into a nightmare for the private detective. Gortsberg's writing is really very good, with nice descriptions and without wasting many words to say what he wanted to say.

The characters didn't have particular depth, although there were many of them, but that didn't matter at all, because the plot was interesting and you didn't know how the whole story would end up in the end, so it was a minor flaw. I was expecting a revelation - a blow to the head with a baseball bat from where you least expect it, but not like this. An incredible book. Is there something supernatural in the book? Read the book until the end and you will find out...

Regarding the Greek edition: Beautiful with a good translation, but I would like a map of New York, because many streets and buildings are mentioned. The price is definitely low for the number of pages, but I believe the story is worth twice as much as what it offers.

When I came across a post on the FB Books of Horror page stating that the movie "Angel Heart" was actually based on a book, I knew without a doubt that I had to read it. The process of ordering it was a long and arduous one. It had to be shipped all the way from the US to England, then to Northern Ireland, and finally further south. But when it finally arrived, I was absolutely thrilled.

Johnny Favourite was a pre-2nd World War crooner who achieved great success until he was drafted. After being discharged due to an injury in New York, he mysteriously disappears. Enter Louis Cyphre, a mysterious figure who hires private investigator Harry Angel to find Johnny Favourite. As the story unfolds, it encompasses all kinds of voodoo, black magic, rituals, and other witchery and dark arts. Harry Angel finds himself right in the middle of it all as he searches for the elusive Johnny Favourite.

The book is slightly different from the movie, but in my humble opinion, it is well cast with Mickey Rourke and Robert de Niro. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and was able to put faces to the names. Despite being quite detailed in terms of scenery and what the characters were wearing, it is written in the language of a 1950's private eye, similar to Mike Hammer, which made it very enjoyable. I would highly recommend this book. Now, I'm off to watch the movie again!

I was absolutely and fabulously entertained by this story.

It was filled with mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat, a sense of scariness that sent shivers down my spine, and an intriguing plot that made it impossible to put down.

Moreover, it was SO much better than the movie. Although Harry might always be associated with Mickey's face in some way, this written work had its own unique charm and depth.

The elements of devil worship, voodoo, and dark powers on the streets of New York added an extra layer of excitement and danger.

It was truly a great read, one that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a thrilling and engaging story.

I can't wait to explore more works by this author and see what other amazing adventures await.

Overall, it was an unforgettable reading experience that left me craving for more.

Decades after falling deeply in love with the movie Angel Heart, I finally got my hands on the book upon which the movie was based. And let me tell you, the book is an absolute page-turner. It's a story that you can't help but devour in huge gulps.

However, there were only two issues that arose from seeing the movie first. Firstly, I kept wondering throughout the book when Harry would make his way to New Orleans, only to realize that he never does in the book. Secondly, even though it had been a long time since I last saw the movie, about a quarter of the way through the book, I suddenly remembered a HUGE SPOILER. As a result, my first reading of the book felt more like a second read.

So, I would highly recommend reading this book first and refraining from seeing the movie until you've finished it. That way, you can fully enjoy the story without any preconceived notions or spoilers.

Now, I'm eagerly looking forward to diving into the sequel, Angel's Inferno. I can't wait to see what new adventures and mysteries it holds.

I watched the movie and I didn't like it. Years later, when I had almost forgotten it, I decided to read the novel on which it was based, and I liked it.

It's a classic detective investigation about the disappearance of a famous person. Little by little, the plot gets complicated and we can imagine even less where it will end. The most characteristic thing and what has really been decisive for me to like it is the dark and sordid nature of the plot, in which satanic rituals are the axis of everything.

Really, it seems out of place in this collection. Or perhaps it is so dark that it actually belongs?

I was amazed. In one word, it was wonderful. It was both classic and extremely striking. I think it's a very good option for those who like crime thriller. Especially, it was beautifully blended with supernatural elements.

The story begins with an ex-cop, Harry Angel, who is now a private detective, being hired to find a singer named Johnny Favorite. I really like the first-person narration in crime novels because it allows us to follow the progress of the story along with the character. Regarding the events that follow, Harry Angel was just as unprepared as I was.

While searching for Johnny Favorite, our hero finds himself among satanic rituals and black magic. As the book progresses, he regrets finding the clues he finds. Maybe you can guess while reading, or even while reading what I wrote, a plot twist may come to your mind. But the way it is handled is so good that I was also shocked by what I knew would happen. I haven't read a crime novel that has surprised me in such a positive way for a long time. I really, really, really liked it. It's an ideal book for those who like to chase mysteries, go on adventures to find missing people, have shocking developments, follow clues, and be dragged here and there.

Fantastic mingling of hard-boiled detective novel and Satanic horror. I mean, count me in, right?

This unique combination sounds truly captivating. The idea of a hard-boiled detective, with his tough exterior and no-nonsense approach, being thrust into a world of Satanic horror is simply thrilling.

One can imagine the detective, perhaps a grizzled veteran, investigating a series of strange and disturbing crimes that seem to have a supernatural origin. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he discovers a web of Satanic rituals and evil forces at work.

The contrast between the detective's rational and logical mindset and the chaos and horror of the Satanic underworld creates a fascinating dynamic. It would be interesting to see how he copes with the unimaginable, how he uses his skills and experience to solve the case and ultimately defeat the forces of evil.

Overall, this mingling of hard-boiled detective fiction and Satanic horror has the potential to be a truly unforgettable and spine-tingling read. I can't wait to get my hands on it.

Falling Angel is an absolute masterpiece that completely hooked me from the very beginning.

It artfully blends the classic and stereotypical Detective Noir vibes with an occult horror storyline, creating a unique and captivating atmosphere that glued my eyes to every single page.

Admittedly, around two-thirds of the way through, it did start to feel a bit like a slog. The pacing seemed to slow down, and I found myself losing a bit of momentum. However, any doubts I had were quickly erased by a phenomenal last act and a truly chilling ending.

Some of the twists in the story I saw coming from a mile away, but others caught me completely off guard. It was a pleasant surprise to be constantly kept on my toes. Even now, some time after reading and writing this review, I still find myself audibly shouting "goddamnit!" as I continue to realize more and more foreshadowing that completely went over my head when I first read it.

All in all, I very much enjoyed getting caught up in Harry Angel's downward spiral. It was a thrilling and unforgettable experience that I would highly recommend to any fan of mystery, horror, or detective stories.