Sins of the Angels - Linda Poitevin - Review

A detective with a secret lineage. An undercover Hunter with a bullet-proof soul. And a world made to pay for the sins of an angel…

Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis answers to no one. Especially not to the new partner assigned to her in the middle of a gruesome serial killer case—a partner who is obstructive, irritatingly magnetic, and arrogant as hell.

Aramael is a Power—a hunter of the Fallen Angels. A millennium ago, he sentenced his own brother to eternal exile for crimes against humanity. Now his brother is back and wreaking murderous havoc in the mortal realm. To find him, Aramael must play second to a human police officer who wants nothing to do with him and whose very bloodline threatens both his mission and his soul.

Now, faced with a fallen angel hell-bent on triggering the apocalypse, Alex and Aramael have no choice but to join forces, because only together can they stop the end of days.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: Sins of the Angels (Grigori Legacy #1)

Author: Linda Poitevin

Genre: Adult Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Ace Books

Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Format: E-ARC

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Brady from Penguin US for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository, Chapters

My rating: 4/5

Sins of the Angels is aptly named as the world is set to pay in blood for the sins of one angel in particular. Aramael is sent to hunt the Fallen Angel wreaking havoc on earth, and goes undercover as a police officer to assist in the hunt for said angel. Alexandra Jarvis is one of the lead detectives on the case, and is highly annoyed when she learns that she has acquired a new partner midway through the investigation. She does not realize that the case has a supernatural angle, and it will take more than the entire police force to stop this killer. 

Sins of the Angels ramps up the action, and keeps us guessing as to how different characters are tied into the story. Motives vary, and it is hard to decipher just which side of the playing field some of the characters are on. Alexandra Jarvis is a tough detective used to relying on no one. She is a believable character, and I enjoyed reading her story, even when she balked at various points throughout the novel. The interaction between her and her new partner, Jacob Trent, led to some interesting scenes. She doesn't want a partner and he doesn't want a partner, but they are forced to work together.

The action keeps the plot flowing rapidly, and the reader will inhale the book until they finish it. It is that captivating. There is a romantic sub-plot as well. Watching the two characters fight their feelings was intriguing especially knowing that said feelings should not exist. I'm curious to see what happens in the rest of the series, as the world could be irrevocably changed by said feelings. Trent or Aramael is also an engaging character. Watching him fight his emotions, and fulfill his duty to hunt down the Fallen Angels adds another dimension to the read. Knowing who the killer is and his relationship to Aramael also adds another twist to the story. 

Certain descriptions and scenes are particularly gruesome, and realistically portrayed. The killer is methodical, and his lack of caring make the scenes all the more chilling. 

Though there is a romantic sub-plot in the novel, it ramps up from barely there to all-consuming in moments without really spending time in between those stages. With the twist thrown in though, I'll be waiting to see what happens next between the characters, especially since there is the potential for a love triangle to develop in the next few books. 

All in all, a bold and brilliant new read to add to the roster of great urban fantasy reads. Those new to the genre, and those who voraciously read the genre will enjoy this new author. Sins of the Angels may have left us with more questions than answers, but I'm sure Sins of the Son will answer some of them for us. I know I'll be reading it as soon as it comes out. Poitevin is one to add to the must read list.