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Review: Angels of Destruction by Keith Donohue

Ten years ago, Margaret Quinn lost her only daughter, Erica. Erica ran away with her high school boyfriend, set on joining the Angels of Destruction, a radical student group. She hasn't heard from or spoken to Erica in all this time.

One night, Margaret is startled when a nine year old orphan shows up on her doorstep one cold winter night. Mrs. Quinn takes in the child, and comes up with a plan to pass her off as Norah Quinn, her granddaughter and the daughter of her long-missing Erica.

Mrs. Quinn introduces Nora to Sean Fallon, a lonely neighborhood boy, and requests that he escort Nora to and from school each day. The community seems to accept the story of Nora's past, until she starts proclaiming she is an angel. The school and the community are in an uproar after Nora puts the lives of several children at risk in order to prove that she has divine powers. Who is this little girl, and where has she come from? And who is this mysterious man that seems to lurk in her shadow?

The secondary storyline revolves around Erica. Donohue uses flashbacks to inform the reader of her terrifying trek to what she believes is her salvation, but in actuality it almost brings upon her destruction.

ANGELS OF DESTRUCTION is a powerful and unforgettable tale about love, trust, and heartbreak. I find Donohue's writing to be mesmerizing, and his character development is astounding. I listened to the audio version of this book and it felt as thought the characters and the writing was so detailed that it felt as though the characters and storyline were developing around me. Highly recommended! One of my favorite books so far for 2009!

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Review: Angels of Destruction by Keith Donohue + TIME