Devon’s Review of Fallen (7 Deadly Sins, Book 2) by Erin McCarthy
Paranormal Romance released by Jove 29 Apr 08

Fallen is the second book in Erin McCarthy’s darker paranormal series. It has a gorgeous cover, an intriguing premise revolving around unsolved murders, a tormented hero, and an unusual heroine. While there were certain elements that I enjoyed, these parts did not add up to a particularly strong whole.

Fallen angel Gabriel was doomed to remain on the mortal plain, chained to New Orleans until he completed his punishment. He became addicted to alcohol, particularly absinthe. One night he passed out, awakening to find his mistress brutally murdered. While Gabriel was acquitted of the crime, he has always wondered what happened that night. Did he do it? If not, who else did it and why? In the present day, Gabriel is a true crime writer still living in New Orleans. Intrigued by the parallels between a recent Florida murder and that long ago crime, he invites the victim’s daughter, a forensic pathologist named Sara Michaels, to collaborate on a project to investigate the two events.

The murder mystery aspect was very intriguing. I enjoyed the flashbacks and the records that revealed the earlier murder and subsequent investigation. The idea of a connection to Sara’s mother’s murder was interesting. But the whole thing kind of lost steam. Sara kept an important secret regarding the two incidents from Gabriel, for no good reason. Then it was Gabriel’s turn to look like a bonehead, when he made a discovery that he should have noticed long before, if he had been a decent researcher. The mystery was resolved rather abruptly, with too many loose ends. That was just a fake out, but the final resolution still felt weak to me. With a strong mystery subplot, I want a climax with some impact and more explanation.

The hero and heroine are interesting characters. Both are a bit emotionally distant, both have struggled with addiction. They had a great friendship, but a rather boring romance. I’m not even sure why. I just could not figure out why, when and how Gabriel fell in love with Sara. I thought they made great friends, but I was supremely unmoved by their passion.

There were things here that I liked, but overall the book felt a bit disjointed. Perhaps too much had to be packed in: the paranormal worldbuilding, the murder mystery past and present, the love story. The focus jumped around, and by the end, no aspect was fully developed. This was my first read by McCarthy, and I’d be interested in reading her lighter stuff, which I’ve heard raves about. But I’d only recommend this to fans of the author or those who like fallen angels/demons.

Grade: C

Read LauraD’s review here.

Blurb:

New Orleans, 1880s. Sent to watch over the decadent city, the angel Gabriel loses himself in the liquid pleasure of absinthe. So when his mistress, Anne, is murdered—and all evidence points to him— a foggy Gabriel cannot be sure he didn’t do it. His penance: to be forever denied love. Should he seek pleasure with a woman, she’ll know the depths of despair.

New Orleans, today. Hoping to unlock that unsolved mystery, forensic scientist Sara Michaels, Anne’s great-great-granddaughter, meets the ageless, tormented Gabriel. To work together would mean suppressing their mutual attraction—he can’t allow himself to touch Sara, for her own sake.

And for Sara, already familiar with the dangers of addiction, Gabriel poses the ultimate threat to her self-control. But can the desire burning between them turn into their salvation—or lead them both to destruction?

Read an excerpt here.