ANGELS Of MUSIC

Newman, old characters

released OUT NOW! 405 pages | Paperback/ebook

Author Kim Newman

Publisher Titan Books

In many way, Angels Of Music is classic Kim Newman: a melange of fictional characters, and a story composed of a series of shorter stories building up to a climax. Because of the way it ranges through time, it’s probably most akin to 2000’s Seven Stars in that respect.

It’s set in Paris, with Erik, the opera ghost, running his own agency, a sort of Edwardian/ Victorian Charlie’s Angels. There are always three Angels, and over time they are replaced – and so in each story, a different trio of Angels takes the lead. It gives Newman a chance to weave fictional characters, both forgotten and still-recognised, into his narrative. The time frame is one that Newman seems to excel at depicting, and there’s a sense of fluidity and fun that makes the story really enjoyable. What’s more, the ending is solid, and feels satisfying too (unlike that of Johnny Alucard).

If there’s one thing that’s slightly disappointing, it’s the return of very familiar Newman characters at the heart of the action. It’s not that Kate Reed and Genevieve Dieudonne are bad characters, far from it, but it’s a delight to see him playing with new-old characters instead. But that’s a small gripe, and many Newman fans will see it as a plus point anyhow. Miriam McDonald

The falling chandelier in Phantom Of The Opera was inspired by a real-life death at Paris’s Palais Garnier.