Not Forgotten (Angel)

Even if it takes an eternity, he will make amends....

Burning Bodies

A crime wave has swept the Los Angeles area, which under normal circumstances would be par for the course. But nothing links these particular victims except the cause of death -- their bodies were burned from the inside out. Obviously supernatural forces are at work.

While Angel investigates the murders, Cordelia tracks down a band of child pickpockets. Surprisingly, both searches lead to the same place: a wealthy slumlord who has all but imprisoned the children's immigrant parents.

And conducts elaborate rituals to Latura, the Indonesian God of the Dead.

Angel, Doyle, and Cordelia may have had a rocky start in L.A., but they realize they've got it much easier than the immigrants. Characteristically, Angel wants to help. But can he free them before the Feast of Latura? And if not, will they become the next sacrifices of someone's quest for immortality?

Starting in the jungles of Southeast Asia the fate of Rais family has become inextricable woven with Latura, the Indonesian god of death and sickness, Fueled by the gods power to prolong life and grant favors Bang Rais has risen to great wealth and power. Now he, his son Jusef, and his nephew Slamet are on the verge of accomplishing the unthinkable - incarnating Latura in a human vessel, granting the deity absolute power.

Called in to rescue the workers in a sweatshop, Angel finds himself confronted by a strange Indonesian wizard in a deadly firefight. Curious about Angel's involvement, Kate Lockley reveals that there has been a string of weird deaths by fire recently - people who burn up from the inside out. Angel investigates these crimes but is hampered by a lack of clues. Until Cordelia runs into both Jusef Rais and a purse snatcher while bargain hunting and winds up with an invitation to a funeral.

Nancy Holder sets out to create an action story with an intricate plot. Angel, Cordelia, Doyle, and a host of supporting characters weave back and forth to the point where it is sometimes difficult to tell who is the wizard and who is the sacrifice. Despite these confusing moments, the story works, very much due to Holder's natural ability to develop characters.

'Not Forgotten,' despite its flaws, is an interesting story with a careful balance between the often sarcastic humor of the Angel team and the grim cult that they are trying to defeat. Prepare to be both entertained and baffled, right up to the surprise finish.

Nancy Holder, in "Not Forgotten" has done a great job with the characters. With only a few minor flubs, their actions and interactions seem like they came right out of a season one script. (Flubs include a little more humor than standard from Angel, some incorrect Irish phrasing from Doyle and flashback Angel, and the fact that Angel's human name was Liam, not Angelus - but at the time the novel was written the show had not revealed that latter point).

I was able to hold on through all the twists in the story and had no problem believing that Ms. Holder would make all clear in the end. In fact, I told my girlfriend when I was half through the book that this was the best Buffy or Angel book I'd read so far and the first one that I'd recommend to her.

Then I got to the end.

I had to re-read the last few pages several times. I was sure that I was more tired than I thought and just wasn't getting something. But no. I won't spoil the end here except to say that it does not successfully tie up any of the dangling plot threads and does not do a good job of making clear what the author intended. I am sure that Ms. Holder had in mind an ending that would wrap up everything nicely and leave the reader going "Oh.... so that's what was going on this whole time!" I can see the edges of the idea she was trying, but in my opinion she left a little too much of the ending up to the reader to interpret. Just a little more laid out would have let us grasp the rest.

All-in-all, a frustrating experience. Only recommended to die hard fans of the show or the author.