Introduced in Book 1 of the Exodus series, former addict Charles Langley returns in this second installment from author Mister C. A fast-paced crime thriller from deep in the underbelly of the human trafficking scourge, DROWNING ANGELS is an immersive blend of genres and emotions.
Moving from Oklahoma to Texas in an attempt to escape the demons of his past, Charles Langley remains a man haunted by loss and failure. Mister C. employs the right amount of psychological tension while tracking Langley’s transition from civilian life to member of the Red Sea Initiative, an elite organization devoted to rescuing children from sexual predation. Plagued by countless episodes of PTSD and a lingering addiction, Langley belatedly realizes he might have been bitten off more than he can chew. In portraying the demands and pressures of Langley’s new role, the author provides several glimpses into Langley’s fragile recovery—allowing for effective characterization and steady pacing that mirror the nature of the mission.
Tasked with the performance of a lifetime—acting like a sexual predator—Langley doesn’t have much time for healing and emotional regulation. Uncertain of whom he can trust and confide in with the details of his past, and suffering from issues he’s afraid might disqualify him from the undercover mission, he fumbles his pervert identity and makes rookie mistakes. When he catches a lucky break early on in the investigation, it doesn’t take long for Langley to decide that trial by fire is the only option when locked into the gritty reality of the Initiative. He makes a brave statement to his partner: “No, Jimmy, I like it. I chose to be here, and I want this. There’s no one more devoted than I am. You’re right. They’ll just have to kill us over it.”
Firmly in the crime-thriller genre, DROWNING ANGELS reads as if the author has some background knowledge of undercover operations—or at the very least signals he’s done some research on the topic. Mister C. does a good job of balancing Langley’s fragile identity with the uncertainty of the mission itself, often calling up the very past Langley is trying to erase. While the novel moves fast and keeps a good pace, it doesn't spend much time recapping the events of its predecessor—which causes DROWNING ANGELS to feel slightly abrupt on takeoff. However, this does not detract in a major way, allowing this second book to read well as a standalone.
Written by Mister C., DROWNING ANGELS is a highly readable thriller that immerses its audience the whole way through.
~ Allison Barilone for IndieReader