Rage of Angels is the story of Jennifer Parker, a young woman whose life's dream has always been to become a lawyer. Her only living relative, her father was a lawyer but passed away Jennifer's senior year of law school. Being a devoted student she passes her bar exam in one attempt and lands a prestigious position with the Attorney D.A.'s office in New York City. Her first day on the job she is to assist Robert Di Silva in prosecuting Michael Moretti, son-in-law to one of the leaders of the Mafia organization. Things go terribly wrong and Jennifer makes a grave mistake that almost costs her to be disbarred from practicing law. The first part of Rage of Angels, is the story of Jennifer establishing herself as a lawyer despite the role she played in the disaster of Michael Moretti's trial. The second part of the book follows Jennifer's fall from grace.The first time I read this book, I was in high school (guessing 15 or 16 years old) and I was absolutely riveted to the pages with the trials and tribulations Jennifer Parker faced in this story. I even remembered some of the details to the book, like Jennifer's first trial with the convicted prisoner who murdered a man while in the correctional facility. She wins his case and it makes her a huge success and gives her much needed positive publicity. I also remembered Jennifer being very likable and a really great person who was willing to offer her services for free to those who couldn't afford her. She believed in the law and felt that everybody had a right to a fair trial. I remember her being very clever and she would win cases that seemed just down right impossible to win. I was pretty sure there was romance in it, but I couldn't remember the details.As much as I did remember, there was a lot of stuff I didn't remember. It's funny how we tend to block out the things we don't like about a book. Like I pretty much blocked out the whole second part of the book, which is the part where things take an ugly turn for Jenny. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I won't be going into detail. See the thing about Jenny is that even though she seems so great, she still makes mistakes and she pays dearly for those mistakes. Jennifer makes some choices that I didn't agree with. I understood them, but I didn't like her decisions. Jennifer has a relationship with two men in this book, Adam Warner a Senator and Michael Moretti the Mafia leader. Both of those men are married, so obviously a "happily ever after" isn't in the cards for her with either of those men. Since being a fan of romance, I really didn't like that Jennifer was committing adultery. It left a sour taste in my mouth.I can still say that I was riveted to Rage of Angels once again. I really enjoyed reading this story. The amount of research Sheldon put into the court trials was meticulously done and they were fascinating. The characters are richly drawn. I would recommend this book to fans of regular fiction, but if you are looking for a "happily ever after", you won't find it here.
This is the first Sidney Sheldon novel I've read, and I can now understand why he's so popular.Jennifer Parker is on her first day of her new job working for the District Attorney's office in New York City, when she does something horrible. She takes a package from a man in the courtroom and delivers it to the witness. She thinks the man works for her boss, but she's wrong. And the package contains a dead canary. With his Mafia trial falling apart once the witness refuses to continue his testimony, the district attorney vows to disbar Miss Parker. The defendant was Micheal Moretti, heir to one of New York's great Families.Weeks after the trial, Adam Warner steps into Parker's life. He's been asked to investigate her case for the disbarment hearing and to make a recommendation. People have political ambitions for Warner, and Parker's case is seen as a stepping stone for his great future.But nothing goes as planned. Moretti used Parker, and finds himself fascinated by her. Warner sees in her everything he's missing in his wife. The triangle between these three people will change their lives and the lives of everyone around them.The opening pages of the book are set in 1969, and it moves up to near the publication date of 1980. When I was reading the book, I had no idea that it was published thirty years ago. The writing felt vital and alive, and it was a powerful story.
What do You think about Rage Of Angels (1999)?
I read all Sidney’s stories, not including the last two books published. After knowing so many great books, I put Sidney Sheldon out of my priority.But from all the book he (I thought it was a she) wrote, this one and Sand of Times is my favourite.This book is about Jennifer (see, I still remember her name though I don’t have the book), a young lawyer who entered her career in a positive manner and optimism in her blood. But then many things happen and many people came along the way, that changed her innocent way of thinking.I found it scary, that people actually can change because of the situation happened to them.I still feel my ‘crush’ on Michael Moretti (me and my best friend discuss about this guy a loooot) and reading about her boy –Joshua if I’m not mistaken- brought tears to my eyes.I hate end of the story by the way. Her loneliness described very well, cause I felt a sting in my heart imagining her closing the door and trying to remember when was the last time she was happy. Hiks. I need end of Sands of Time to recover my sadness from reading this.
—Sondang
I know this book was written in the early seventies and I tried really hard to keep that in context, but I just couldn't get past the rampant chauvanism this book was laden with. Sheldon tries to portray Jennifer Parker as a strong, independent woman but throughout the story, her life revolves around men! Her father dies of a broken heart after his wife's affair and subsequent abandonment...and his daughter proceeds to have not one but two relationships with married men! It just didn't jive. I found very little to like about Jennifer. She was just so needy. But I think what I disliked most about Rage Of Angels was that by the end, it had turned me into a feminist and I really hate feminists.
—Draven
I love this book. Once this book was on my hand, I didn’t want to put it away. It was with me days and nights. I felt asleep reading it and in the morning, I would still find it, with page turned on where I left before involuntarily closing my eyes. This is the first book of Sidney Sheldon that made me cry. Once I started reading it, I was so deeply engrossed in it that I frequently lost the track of what’s happening around me. I wanted to finish it so quickly but at the same time, wished it would never be finished. At some point, I just wished I were alone with this book. Another masterpiece of Sidney Sheldon; This is the story of Jennifer Parker, a lady with beauty and brain, who falls in love with two men from completely different background. One is the highly rated upcoming candidate of US president and another, the boss of the most powerful mafia organisation in the world. The story emphasizes on how Jennifer struggles around the strategized maze of vengeance, politics, love and crime. Jennifer faces injustice and betrayal that forces her to choose the path she didn’t want to. The part of her raising her son without his father knowing he ever had son with her is very emotional. Great finishing and attention to detail is mind blowing. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I definitely know that whenever I am alone and quiet, and its raining outside, I will be staring out of my window, with coffee in one hand and this book in another; refreshing each detail of the story, that has left enormous impact in my heart and brain.
—Parva 'chhanu'
