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PAPERBACK
ANGEL EYES
By Eric V. Lustbader
Ballantine Books (1991)
Reviewed by Bob Thompson 5/26/91
I really want to re-read this book in a single sitting; I missed a lot as I had to read it sporadically. In some ways this book is a slight departure from what Lustbader fans have come to expect. I don't know if he has matured as a writer, mellowed as a person or what; ANGEL EYES has a plethora of martial artists, spies, violence, political machinations and exotic locations like the usual Lustbader book. However, he has added a new dimension to his characters that I can only define as heart. In his earlier books, almost every significant character was basically a cold, hard professional with nothing in mind but accomplishing their missions at any cost.
In this book, the characters, even the bad guys sometimes have doubts, fears, loves and regrets. This gives an added dimension
to the characters that makes them more human, and easier for the reader to identify with.
ANGEL EYES takes place primarily in South America, Japan and Russia, with stops in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco and a few other places. The central character is Tori Nunn, the daughter of wealthy and famous parents who rejected their lifestyle and ran off to Japan at an early age, studied martial arts and was later recruited by a small, super secret U.S. Intelligence organization known as The Mall. (It has little to do with shopping, but the origins of the name will be revealed to you in the book if you are curious.)
There are several other "heroes and heroines" in the book, some as important as Tori, but she is the one that ties it all together. Some characters you will feel empathy with, some will surprise you.
The Plot? I'm not telling. I will say that it is topical, perhaps somewhat prophetic (Many of Lustbader's books have had parts of their premise come true in "real life" a few months or so after publication, making me wonder if the author isn't tapped into something interesting, or whether he is just a superb analyst and forecaster.) Of course there are plot twists, but the climax is not a complete surprise if you pay attention to the minor details as the story progresses. For you mystery fans who like to figure out "whodunnit" you can put your skills to work here, although it is not so much a "whodunnit" as it is a who-is it, and a why-did-they-do-it.
I liked the book, found something to identify with in all of the characters (good and bad), and the ending brought a lump to my throat. If you have read earlier Lustbader books and dismissed them because of a tendency to one dimensional characters, give him another try with ANGEL EYES. There is something for fans of any genre, from mystery to science fiction.