When a mysterious child turns up on the doorstep of a widow in the middle of a night, there’s nothing else to do but bring her in out of the cold. But Margaret Quinn has never gotten over the loss of her child some years ago and so instead of just taking the child in, she offers her a home. So begins the brilliant ‘Angels of Destruction’.
From the very start this is a tale full of mystery and the reader is almost always left with questions. The child, Norah, is something of an enigma. She can’t explain where she’s from, she hasn’t eaten in who knows how long and appears nothing short of desperate. How does one so young and vulnerable just turn up on a stranger’s doorstep?
Later, Norah reveals some kind of magic powers. Yet in amongst all of the confusion there seems to be a polite, intelligent and well adjusted young lady who is bursting with potential.
Meanwhile, we learn that Margaret’s daughter disappeared in mysterious circumstances many years ago and that it’s been some time since she had heard from the runaway. Nursing a broken heart and missing her lost daughter like only a mother could, it seems only natural to take in the mysterious little girl and pass her off as family. But nothing can be as simple as that, can it?
Angels of Destruction is a wonderful book full of surprises, mystery, hope and tension. Norah, it turns out, is never far from some kind of trouble despite her well meaning nature and this in turn impacts not only on Margaret but the local community too. This leads to a fair bit of tension; as a reader one can’t help but feel sympathy for Margaret and so we want her to continue taking comfort in the new lease of life that Norah gives her. But Norah just can’t seem to stay out of trouble. And as the story unfolds, more and more is revealed about Norah, Margaret and their worlds.
We find out about more Margaret’s daughter Erica, herself a bit of an enigma who’s disappearance takes on quite an epic life of its own. In turn, we learn of Wiley, the drifter that Erica took off with and their quest to join the Angels of Destruction, a West Coast cult. And thus, we can fully understand Margaret’s angst and her subsequent decision to take in Norah. But will Margaret ever see Erica again? And with the community becoming suspicious, what will happen with Norah?
Keith Donohue has written a fabulous novel and created a world full of intriguing characters and marvellous adventure. There’s always something going on and rarely a lull in the tension or mystery. And while there’s always hope in the novel, especially concerning Margaret, it’s always tinged with sadness and an ever present sense of tension.
The novel sways back and forth in time, sometimes in the present day telling Norah and Margaret’s tale, while at others going back in time to give us background on Erica, the lost daughter. And all the while we encounter mysterious figures who threaten to shatter Margaret’s world some more while wondering if an when anyone will find out the truth about little Norah.
‘Angels of Destruction’ is a remarkable tale, full of mystery, fantasy and intrigue yet tinged with a sense of loss. As such, you’ll find yourself immersed in a world where it feels like almost anything might happen.
I give ‘Angels of Destruction’…
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