Title: All Angels Have Wings
Author: Mai Thomsen
Publisher: AuthorHouseUK
ISBN: 1728376408
Pages: 206
Genre: Suspense; Mystery
Reviewed by: Liz Konkel

Read Book Review

Linda has already been through a horrible tragedy as her family gathers together to mourn the loss of a beloved loved one. Afterward, she never wants to go to another funeral again. But that may be too much to ask for when a chilling turn of events finds a mysterious figure known as the Angel Maker circling her family. When someone close to her is targeted by the serial killer, Linda knows it’s just a matter of time before she’s next and wonders if the culprit could be closer than she believed. As her life becomes increasingly more terrifying, she struggles to stay one step ahead and receives help from her friend Arnold who is devoting his time to catching the killer.

Suspense is an essential factor in the story that keeps you on the edge of your seat as Linda’s life is repeatedly hanging in the balance. The suspense is built on telling the reader what the characters don’t know, such as notifying you who the culprit is and allowing you to see from the killer’s perspective. An intensity is drawn into the plot immediately from the prologue which takes you into a chilling moment which sets the tone for the story that follows. Showing the killer’s identity creates tension as you watch the killer in close proximity to Linda without her being aware of it. Thomsen successfully establishes the mindset of the killer with an obsessive fixation on the idea of angels which carries throughout the story. The victims are being “elevated” to this status of angel in a way that is bone-chilling and creates vivid imagery.

Family is an essential aspect as Linda and her siblings are at the core of the events that are unfolding around them. As the story begins, this family is facing a loss which sets the characters in a mentally darker place tinged with grief and tragedy which only escalates as Linda is stalked. The familial bonds are seen in how the various members band together in the wake of a loss and the love they show each other. Thomsen creates a connection with Linda so you experience the emotions she does as she struggles to balance being a single mother with the pain that she harbors inside. She’s a realistic character who struggles with what it means to be human with various circumstances which have left internal scars such as having an abusive ex, loss, and terror. Thomsen explores through her the concept the universe is out to get you when bad things keep happening and the feeling of isolation and being unwanted.

Grief and trauma feel like a presence which consistently follows her and her family which also intensifies the suspense. Linda is a well-rounded character readers will sympathize with and Thomsen delves into her mental state which makes her more relatable. She’s a character who carries a lot of self-hatred which tears her down internally via negative emotions (grief; self-blame; guilt) which has given her destructive tendencies and has created a loneliness in her that feels amplified as the Angel Maker continuously torments her. The mystery elements are driven by Arnold who has devoted time to protecting Linda and investigating these tragic events. He is dedicated to his job to the extent he refuses to back down even if he were to be in the hospital and is driven to catch the killer by anxiety over Linda’s safety.

All Angels Have Wings is a suspenseful read that will leave you on the edge of your seat as you enter the mindset of a killer, delve into a realistic emotional mystery, and explore the fragility of being human.